D-Day Is Wednesday…

Monday, October, 6, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

They’re calling it another Yom Kippur War here in New York.  Okay, so I’m the only one calling it that but Andrew Cuomo - what are you thinking?  Suing Arbitron on the eve of the holiest day of the Jewish year?  Shame on you!  Good luck in getting re-elected as New York’s Attorney General…

Mr. Cuomo has gone on record saying that he intends to begin litigation against Arbitron should the measurement company use its Portable People Meter (PPM) methodology beginning Wednesday, October 8th.  Cuomo has given Arbitron until Tuesday to show why a suit shouldn’t be initiated.  Arbitron said it was “disappointed” by Cuomo’s intentions but will not back down.  Arbitron also said “we fear that the radio industry will suffer continued harm and be placed at a competitive disadvantage if PPM is delayed further.” …

The Wall Street Journal reports that Alphonso David of Cuomo’s Civil Rights Bureau states that “(the PPM) has not been accredited by the Media Rating Council Inc., the primary accrediting agency for rating services and appears to contain design flaws that will disproportionately impact minority communities, broadcasters and businesses.”  Arbitron has shown that this is not the case so many times they’ve blown out their pps software.  Neither side is likely to back down.  D-Day is Wednesday…   

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1927] Premiered on this date: “The Jazz Singer” becomes the first ‘talkie’ based on the short story “The Day of Atonement” by Sampson Raphaelson. Al Jolson stars…1959] “Pillow Talk” starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson. This is the first of 3 films starring the box office favorites…
2. 1945] The “Billy Goat Curse”: begins in Chicago when a Cub fan is refused admission to a Cubs World Series game because he had a goat with him. William “Billy Goat” Sianis, owner of a local tavern puts a curse on the Cubs. It works. Not only do the Cubs lose that WS but they would never win another one. There must have been a curse on the Cubbies earlier, too. The last WS they won was in 1908.  Meanwhile the Billy Goat Tavern lives…
3. 1956] Wiping out Polio: Dr. Albert Sabin discovers the oral polio vaccine, just about eradicating the disease forever…
4. 1963] Getting out the broom: The Dodgers sweep the Yankees in the 60th World Series as Sandy Koufax wins 2 games and is voted series MVP.  Jimmy Durante sings about the great Koufax…
5. 1973] “The Yom Kippur War”: erupts in the Middle East as Egypt and Syria attack Israel…
6. 1977] Walk-off home run: The Yankees win the AL Pennant when Chris Chambliss hits a dramatic home run against Kansas City.  Chambliss reminisces…
7. 1978] Wedding Bells: Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad of ABBA rock down the aisle…1991] Larry Fortensky becomes victim #8 for Elizabeth Taylor…1996] Faith Hill and Tim McGraw become a duo…
8. 1981] “Happy Trails“: Egyptian President Anwar-el Sadat, 63, is assassinated by Islamic militants at a military rally in Cairo…1983] Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York succumbs to cancer at 62…1989] The legendary Bette Davis dies in France from cancer at 81.  Bette is seen here guesting with Joan Rivers…
9. 1983] Crossing the Hudson: The New York Jets announce they are leaving Shea Stadium for the Meadowlands where they play their 1st game in NJ in 1984…
10. 1996] That’s debatable: Bob Dole and President Bill Clinton meet in their 1st debate in Hartford (CT) as a TV audience of 46.1 million viewers look on.  Stohs Beer makes a commercial out of it…

Music Memories:

• 1970] Number One on this date: “Cracklin’ Rosie” - Neil Diamond…
• 1976] Gold Standard: “Disco Duck” - Rick Dees (quack quack).  Rick Dees most embarassing moment..
• 1979] Released on this date: “Heartache Tonight” - Eagles…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Richard Seymour (29), Elizabeth Shue (45), REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronan (57), Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd (59)…Former Met pitcher Gary Gentry (62), Millie Small (66) and Britt Ekland (66)…

Timeline Countdown: 19 days until the first game of The World Series and 27 nights until Halloween…

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