Paul Harvey Now Knows The Rest Of The Story.

The Radio world, and America in general, has lost an icon.

Chicago-based radio legend Paul Harvey, often called "the most listened-to man in the history of radio", passed away today at the age of 90.  His "News & Comment" and "Rest Of The Story" programs helped millions of people get to work (or in my case, drive home from work) every day.

He had a unique presentation style, to say the least.  His staccato delivery style, mixed with huge pauses ("I'm Paul Harvey...{pause pause dead air pause pause}... Good Day!!!") when combined with a mellow baritone was instantly recognizable.  From a radio standpoint, dead air is the #1 no-no, but he realized that it could also be a great tool and made it work.

His news show were aimed to appeal to the common person.  They weren't intellectual, they weren't partisan (though he was considered "conservative", it wasn't unusual for him to state his displeasure with conservative issues and viewpoints), they were folksy and... warm.  And he was, without a doubt, the greatest pitchman in history.  He didn't take on a customer he didn't feel comfortable with, and advertisers lined up for years to get a spot on his show.  If he took on a product, they were made.

He'll be missed.

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Sprained Knee Update

I'm taking an anti-inflammatory that seems to help a bit.  I can actually bend my knee more than 15 degrees now.

Yes, that's exciting.  At least it is to me.

I've also acquired a cane, and it really helps.  Except when I'm on ice... then it doesn't help for squat. 

Still hurts like the dickens, though.

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It Could Have Been Worse, I Suppose...

Three weeks ago as I walked from the parking lot to Pond Central, I had the misfortune of slipping on some ice.  While I didn't fall down, my left knee twisted in a way that knees aren't really meant to twist.  It hurt, but it wasn't too bad... until the next day, which was the last time the manager of the Duck U. Bookstore was around (she's on maternity leave). 

That day the pain was pretty impressive, and my knee was awfully stiff.  For the next week, it got better slowly, until it really didn't bother me much anymore.  Oh, a weird step would make it hurt, but nothing too bad.  It was making some really cool popping noises, though.

This afternoon as I walked out of the back room at the store, my knee suddenly felt like someone had hit it with a spiked baseball bat.  I swear it was the worst pain I've ever felt, and this is coming from someone who passed 13 kidneystones in 12 months, and had a foot twisted backwards (not at the same time).  Fortunately, it only lasted a second or two, but ever since, my knee got stiffer and stiffer, and it got harder and harder to find a position that didn't hurt.

Well, tonight I went to a medical clinic, and the doc (who looked like she was maybe 15) took some x-rays and checked the swelling and range of motion.  Diagnosis: severe sprain.

Prognosis: ow.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 09:30 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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And Now For Something Completely Different...

Yep... made me laugh.  A lot.

Lyrics below:

more...

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Happy V-D!

Pizza, beer and Fallout 3 for me and my duckies tonight.

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What If...? #2

Outwardly, Warrant Officer Takeo Koyani, pilot of the G4M, looked calm and capable.  On the inside, however, he was cursing everybody involved on sending him on this stupid mission.  "Fly Admiral Yamamoto on an inspection tour of  the Solomons," they had said.  "It'll be easy, and the morale boost will be enormous."  And so it had, these past few days.  Then that airstrip commander at Rabaul had warned of ambushes coming from Guadalcanal, and yet here he was, flying towards Ballale island near Bouganville... in the direction of Starvation Island itself... in a damned "One-shot Lighter."  Still, here he was, and the flight had been uneventful so far.  Buka was nearby, and some additional Zeros would be lifting off right about... now... to provide additional cover.  Then he'd be... well, not safe exactly, but he'd feel a lot better.

Then the tailgunner shouted a warning.  With a curse, Koyani pushed the nose of the G4M down, picking up speed to get closer to Buka as fast as possible.  Tracers shot past the cockpit, but he heard the unmistakable sounds of bullets whipping through the fuselage.  Dammit, where was his escort?  A solid whump drew his attention to the left wing, where he saw a huge plume of smoke pouring from the engine.  Suddenly, the G4M snap-rolled that direction.  Koyani frantically struggled to level the bomber out, an American P-38 flashed by, the jungle below looked very green.  "We're going to crash, brace yourself," Koyani yelled as he hauled back on the stick.  Dammit, why hadn't he been picked for fighters?  Why the hell was he here right now anyway?   

Some miles away, an IJN minesweeper cruised in the Solomon Sea.  The brief aerial struggle had been in clear view, and the captain radioed back to Rabaul that two G4Ms had been shot down by Lightnings.  That task done, he turned as the man next to him spoke quietly.  "No wonder we lost at Midway.  They've been reading our mail."  The captain nodded.  "Take me back to Rabaul, Captain.  I've got a lot of work to do, and the inspection can wait."

As the minesweeper came about, Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto strode from the bridge and began calling for his aides.


more...

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Ph.Duck, This is for you.

CLICK HERE.

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I Hate Illinois Zombies!

Here they come... the zombies left Texas, now they're in southern Illinois.  Oh, sure, the authorities deny everything, but they're coming... they're coming.

Next stop, Yonkers.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 09:51 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Well, it was new to me...

Watching last night's SuperBowl, I finally figured out what bothered me about Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin:

...he's a dead ringer for House actor Omar Epps.

Turns out this has been noticed before, by only about thirty gazillion people.  Well, I didn't know!

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Stealing From Brickmuppet...

It's Brickmuppet's Wonderduck's Banality Blogging!  To avoid boring whatever readers I have left, the details are below the so-called fold.  For everybody else, here's a nice picture which is completely unrelated to the subject matter:

more...

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