December 23, 2003
Today on MorningWood
Today on MorningWood, on Community Radio WMNF 88.5 fm, Tampa, and streaming at wmnf.org.
4 to 6 am every Tuesday!
Today’s MorningWood highlights:
The Pledge continues, and is now considered “labor friendly”!
I, Norwood, do hereby pledge to play absolutely no holiday songs on MorningWood during this holiday season. These days. we are inundated with Muzak-ical versions of traditional holiday classics literally everywhere we go. Restaurants blare this noise into our ears during meals, malls crank up the volume to encourage sales, TV commercials try to get cute or all sentimental with their own pro-capitalist carol-based holiday pap. Even WMNF programmers are not immune: whole sets, and sometimes entire shows are dedicated to holiday themed tunes. (That’s fine. In fact, these special sets and shows would be sorely missed if they all stopped happening, but for me, it’s just too much.)
Yeah, I have, in my collection, a good number of quirky, different, edgy, and downright hysterical songs that are appropriate only during this season, and the vast majority have never been heard on WMNF or any other radio station. You’re not gonna hear them on my show either. And I’m not sorry. Just tired of being a captive consumer trapped in a season in which mass consumption has become the highest form of spirituality most people can comprehend. And because the entire season is so tightly intertwined with over-consumption, I refuse to do my part and play the expected holiday music. Consider this a little vacation from what, for many people, is perhaps the most stressful time of the year. Relax. “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” will be right back after this short 2 hour MorningWood break.
From tbo.com:
Labor unions in the Czech Republic demanded Monday that stores stop playing Christmas carols incessantly or pay compensation for causing emotional trauma to sales clerks.Some stores here play the same songs all day - and play them loudly. Employees say shifts have become unbearable.
"To listen to it for eight hours a day is not healthy, that's for sure," said Alexandr Leiner, a union leader. "And for the customers, it's almost unbearable as well."
So, no holiday music this week. See below for what I plan to play instead, and tune in next week for my Best of MorningWood year-end radio extravaganza!
Playlists
Thanks for your help. Keep the calls coming!
Lots of people have already called or emailed PD Randy Wynne. Thanks for your support. It is making a difference.
DJ DDP is leaving Saturday Asylum, so there is an opening for a programmer on Saturday afternoon. Call or Email WMNF Program Director Randy Wynne and ask him to pick Norwood for this slot from 2-4 PM on Saturdays! (Phone number is 813-238-8001, ex 16) I know: I’ll have to come up with another catchy name, since MorningWood seems somehow inappropriate in the afternoon, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice.
WMNF
WMNF is a non-commercial community radio station that celebrates local cultural diversity and is committed to equality, peace and social and economic justice. WMNF provides broadcasts and creates other forums to serve the community by the exposure and sharing of these values.
Volunteers, like myself, are the lifeblood of this station. If you live in the Tampa Bay area and are interested in volunteering at WMNF, call Gene Moore at 813-238-8001.
Posted by Norwood at December 23, 2003 02:33 AM