A New Internet Radio Is Set To Launch…

Friday, December, 5, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition) 

Forget HD Radio, the new Sanyo Internet Radio could actually be relevant.  In January, 2009 Sanyo will launch it’s new Internet Radio, the R227.  It’s an Internet radio that works with any broadband connection (WiFi or Ethernet).  No computer is needed and you can tune to stations by Country or genre.  It’s equipped to share music files from computers on the same network.  It also contains an FM stereo digital tuner with 8 station presets.  The radio costs $169.99 which isn’t bad considering there’s no subscription fee for Internet use.  You cop that on your own.  This is a portable radio which you can listen to throughout your house or apartment…

This is not a product that laptop junkies will buy but I can see those not married to a keyboard, buying one.  I might even buy one.  I said might because I’m still a local radio fan who favors tame contemporary music with a dash of recurrents…

What I also like about this radio is its Internet capability since the best Web radio is global and now it will be attainable without a computer.  This is ideal for people who 1) Not only like listening to a diverse array of Internet radio (and) 2) Have a cutoff point for their computer use, and that’s a lot of us… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1865] Ratifying: The 13th amendment is ratified, abolishing slavery (12/6)…
2. 1908] Numb3rs: The University of Pittsburgh Panthers are the first college football team to put numbers on their jerseys (12/5). When I was program director at KQV, I could see the Pittsburgh U. tower through my apartment window. The school is located in a section called Oakland…
3. 1923] On the Radio: Calvin Coolidge becomes the first president to deliver a radio address. Cal addressed a joint session of Congress (12/6).  In this 1924 clip Coolidge addresses his hands…
4. 1941] The Day of Infamy: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, putting us into WWII. Some 2,400 Americans are killed, 200 wounded. Much of our Pacific Fleet is destroyed along with more than 200 planes. FDR calls it “a day of infamy” (12/7)…
5. 1988] “Happy Trails”: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Roy Orbison dies from a heart attack while visiting his mother near Nashville. Orbison was 52 (12/6)…
6. 1991] Bad timing: Richard Speck who murdered 8 student nurses in Chicago in 1966, dies from a heart attack in prison at 50 (12/5). Why couldn’t this have happened in 1965???
7. 1993] The 5:33 from Hell: Colin Ferguson murders 6 and injures 19 others on the 5:33 p.m. Hicksville local of the LIRR. Ferguson is currently drawing on his Attica jail cell wall with crayons, something he will continue to do for the next 200 years (12/7)…
8. 1996] Greenspanning and spinning: Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan sends everyone scratching their heads after his famous “irriational exuberance” speech about the stock market and whether or not it was overvalued (12/5). Greenspan turns out to be overvalued…
9. 2002] Sticky fingers: Actress Winona Ryder is sentenced to community service for stealing more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills (12/6).  And then she steals from a drugstore…
10. 2006] Trans fixed: New York becomes the first city in the nation to ban artery clogging trans fats at restaurants (12/5)…

Music Memories:

• 1948] Debuted on this date: “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” debuts (12/6) and runs for a decade, ending in July, 1958. Some of the talent discovered on the show include Rosemary Clooney, Pat Boone, Steve Lawrence, Connie Francis, Patsy Cline and Rod McKuen. Elvis Presley flunked an audition for the show in 1955.  Here’s Patsy Cline on AGTS…1956] Alan Freed’s movie, “Rock, Rock, Rock” starring Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Johnny Burnette, LaVern Baker, The Flamingos and Moonglows. Tuesday Weld’s singing voice is dubbed in by Connie Francis (12/5)…
• 1964] The best part of breaking up is making up: Brian Wilson suffers a nervous breakdown on a flight from L.A. to Houston (12/7). He will stop touring with the Beach Boys.  Recently Brian sang “Heroes and Villains” live…1968] Eric Burdon announces the break-up of the Animals effective 12/23. He will pursue acting interests and while that didn’t pan out, he will have a nice run with War (12/7)…
• 1965] Number One on this date: “Turn, Turn, Turn” - Byrds (12/5) (Lynn’s favorite)…1975] “Fly Robin Fly” - Silver Convention (12/5). The original title was “Run Rabbit Run” (honest)…1983] “Say, Say, Say” - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (12/6)…1985] “Broken Wings” - Mr. Mister (12/5). Richard Page and Steve George, members of the band, wrote the song in 20 minutes…
• 1966] Not so stupid: Nancy Sinatra joins daddy Frank on the CBS-TV special, “Frank Sinatra: A Man & His Music Part II” (12/7). They sing “Something Stupid” which will top the charts…

Commentary:

Donna L. Halper, well-known media historian and friend of some 40 years since our WRKO days, has written a new book called “Icons of Talk”, The Media Mouths That Changed America.  It’s available through the Greenwood Publishing Group.  Donna is an excellent writer and I can’t wait to read it.  You’re sending me one, right??? 

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

(12/5) Frankie Muniz (23), Andy Kim (56), Morgan Brittany (57), Jim Plunkett (61), Jim Messina (61), J.J. Cale (70) and Richard Wayne Penniman a.k.a. Little Richard (76)…(12/6) Janine Turner (46), Steven Wright (53), JoBeth Williams (60), James Naughton (63), Jonathan King (69) and Dave Brubeck (88)…(12/7) Mervin Phillips (32), Larry Bird (52), Johnny Bench (61), Gerry Cheevers (68), Ellen Burstyn (76) and Eli Wallach (93)…

Timeline Countdown: 16 days until winter, 17 nights until Hanukah, 20 shopping days until Christmas, 26 nights until New Year’s Eve and 29 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs…

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