Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Ronnnn Owens: Up Close And Personal; My Reaction To The Voice of Reason on KGO

 Ronn oh Ronn.

The cynic in me says the "Up to 30" segment was staged.  You had to know people were, sooner or later, going to bring up the fact how much KGO sucks these days, Ron--that's you're real name, not the affectation-littered "Ron with two 'n's" you so gleefully told me about when your ego was about the size of Tahoe way back when.

I finally heard your bullshit, Ron, Mr. Lowenstien, again, let's make it real.

"We were slipping, (in the ratings)", Ronnnnn told a caller on Tuesday.

Yeah, speaking of ratings, how's those ratings looking today, Ronnnnnn? I mean, slippin? Shit, like the Titanic?

"They've treated me really well, "Lowenstein told his audience. "I like this format." Excuse me while I vomit.

OK, I'm really charged up and have a lot to say but since most of you know how I feel already it's useless to dredge up past misery. If you want misery, listen to Owens and his distinct brand of bullshit radio, his tangy largess of Cumulus-inspired dog doo placed directly in front of the 55 Hawthorne cluster.

Owens, I feel sorry for you.

They all know. You know it. I know it. Fuck the 8 million ads and listen up a bit. You really pulled a fast one Tuesday; the problem is, Ronnnnnnnnnn, that those in the biz who know what really happened; your peers know, the fired hosts know, everybody on the universe knows, Mickey, Jack, they all know.

The day after the massacre you were so shocked and taken aback you devoted 15 minutes to the albatross before being hijacked by Jared and talking about cellphones. Maybe it's you that's slippin.

We know, Ron, that "KGO will never be back." You didn't have to tell us, we knew that already, it's old business. Old, as in, why did it take you, Ronnnnnnnnnn, two years to address all this? Did you suddenly have a guilt trip? Was the Mayor of Union St so consumed with frail hurt that he decided to pull a stunt to take homage with a wide swath of listeners who long ago left the radio Titanic to carry on and pull past the captain from 9-Noon.

Ron, get past the bullshit. Stop making me the culprit. I didn't give a flying fuck about you, your contract, your work. Really. Tell the truth. It was YOU, Ronnn, that did the dirty deed. You could have said the same bullshit, lame and utterly fucked-up as it is and was, two years ago and probably would have escaped the wrath from your listeners. Instead, you cowered. You retreated into the deep abyss of dirty Lake Lowenstein.

Gene Burns would have raked your ass over the coals and you know it. Wattenberg already has and you know what he thinks of you--I know you know. You seem to think, Ron, that they wanted you back. Really now? Ronn, tell the truth. They wanted you back BECAUSE you took a pay cut and were willing to work for less than a third of what you were making. You told Gene that you were ready to retire and fuck this Cumulus company but you ended up going back because you need to pay the mortgage and that's fine, OK, Ronn, nobody really gives a shit now because, like you said, they really treat ME good. I mean, they killed Gene Burns; did you hear, Ronnnnnnnnn, how, when Gene collapsed when the lady in the black skirt talked with the hosts in the back and gave them their last check? Did you call Gene? Did you, between playing with your 66 "gadgets", have the heart to call "Mr Burns" and inquire of his well-being? Certainly, the added stress, the amazing ultra-anxiety may have played a part in his last stroke and ultimate undoing, but you were too busy being "treated so swell" by the company.

"I'm tired of you all taking shots at our news dept--we got some damn, hard-working people and ...."Shut up Ron. Stop the bullshit. Nobody believes you anymore, even the 30-something housewife in Pleasanton you talk to knows the story. For you, Mr. Lowenstein, to DEFLECT the attention away from the real juggernaut of this is typical you. You, Mr EGO-central. You don't give a shit about the news people, the directors, the writers, the engineers, the interns, you care about one thing and that's you, and that's fine, we all gotta make a living but spare us the bullshit about the people taking out their venom on the little people in the back.

You prided yourself on not being told what to say. You were emphatic that the day they, (whomever), you were told what to say you would leave. YOU said it, not me. You took the last payday so you could get 40 years at KGO and a trip to the radio HOF. That's cool, why didn't you say that two fucking years ago? Why were you even on the air? Who made that call? And how on God's Earth could you have the chutzpah to proclaim on that day that "this is gonna be a great new format!" Shit, even I couldn't do that and I'm one pretty anxious and unpredictable motherfucker.

Owens, you are one cowering turd. "This is the last time I'm going to talk about this." Really? You think they care anymore? Honestly, they're wise to you. They know, like I told you. They have proof positive of what you are and what you aren't. They know, for example, that you repeatedly shunned their thirst for opening up about what happened--I know because I get regular e-mail from them. They know you and your boy, Jared, ran roughshod over them for the better part of two years; that you censored their calls, that you concealed the misery from not only them, but some of the news people in the back office you talked about so piously on the air. Too bad you used them as fodder for a gimmick that really didn't work, your bullshit, sanctimonious drivel aside.

Nobody expected you to quit. You were "under contract." Nobody ever predicted you would be a hero and stand up for your fallen colleagues because that's just so not you. You fucked up bad. You even said it on the radio Tuesday, gimmick and all. "Should have handled it better", no shit, Sherlock!

I'm just getting started. Everybody in the industry knows what happened, Ronno, and that's fine. The guys in the suits and those at the cocktail party don't really get too involved with listener feedback, listener loyalty, the people, the little old lady in Burlingame who depended on KGO before it became kgo. They care about demos, they care about the bottom line and yes, you was slippin. You needed a change, the station too, but what has that transpired into TODAY?

Your station used to have 10-15 AE's, (acct. execs); what do you have today? 2, 3, maybe 4? You billed about $40-50 million, 25, lowest at the time of the massacre--how much you billing today? You could have tweaked the format; hired a few new, younger voices and added some depth to the operation and picked up some steam. Instead, Ronno, your "great company" took the dog out in the backyard and shot it. God knows Cumulus knows really how to run a radio station. Aren't they great!

Ronn, you could have leveled with the base. Your listener. Your average Volvo driver, about 55, buys travel trips, takes a lot of vacation, (almost as much as you), buys cars and eats at expensive restaurants and purchases IPhones and computers? Remember that demo? Talk about fuckin' with the core demo!

You didn't level, Ronn, Face it. You hid and cowered like the toad, the shill, the real corporate tool you officially became and still are today, and again, that's fine as long as you so much admitted to it but you're so incapable of being transparent. I mean, look, nobody's perfect--even me. I have some loose lips and sink ships in me and I fully acknowledge it, seriously, as you know Ronn, but I never cowered like you did. And see, that's the thing. You always told me privately that you respected your listener base. We had lunch only a few weeks before, at Grumpy's across the street; we were shooting the breeze. It was one of your rare moments when you acted with a degree of modesty and injected humor into a somewhat dreary day.

You still wonder Ronn, why I have issues? I don't have issues. Never. You know that. Tell em. I don't have an agenda either but you seem to think I do/did. Bullshit. And you know it.

What I do have issues with is the manner in which you handled the whole thing. I could care less about kgo anymore since kgo has been essentially drecked down to wallpaper these days. Yes, Ronnnnn, there's GOOD PEOPLE who work there. A few news people in the back who hate your ass and a few who don't care anymore because they just show up to work and hope to avoid the wrath, the pink slip, the garbage spewed forth by the company that "treats you so beautifully."

Ronn, you can fool some people some of the time but you can't fool all the people all the time.

*Follow me on Twitter

126 comments:

  1. What did you do, Rich? KGO's website is down. Did you incinerate them?

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  2. Nice rant. Somewhat related, and without reflecting anything positive or negative on them, who exactly DOES work in the KGO news department these days? Any names recognizable to someone who has not listened to the station in a while? I know a couple of ex-KPIXers came on board a couple of years ago. Are they still there? A job's a job, so I'm happy for anyone who is collecting a paycheck.

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  3. One thing that stood out as an example of his "disconnect" was his praise of the sales department. Something like, "Good people doing a great job". Ronn, if both of those things were true KGO would not be airing so many junk spots. Come on, man. Dietary supplements for pets?? Job openings in sales dept?? Don't recall that sort of thing making to air 3 years ago. Hmm, what has changed since then?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh but they are doing a great job. KGO is so bad that when I hear spots by the Ad Council, I know the sales staff is doing a great job.

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    2. You are aware of PSAs?

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  4. Rich, your anger is well deserved. Ronnnnn's stupid comments made me furious as well. He acted as if the whole station was sinking except for his show, and so that is why they kept him, and "had" to let everyone else go. Ronnnnnn has the biggest ego in the Bay Area and I look forward to the day he is no longer on radio.

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  5. Dear Mr. Lieberman,
    Could you please explain why you are so extraordinarily furious about this. Frankly, you sound out of control.
    Thanks,
    Nancy D.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lieberman is out of control. Ronn Owens is a big success, Lieberman is jealous.

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    2. Jealous? No, really feel sorry for the bastard. If you only knew but then again, you're probably one of Ronnnn's toe suckers.

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    3. Rich, you capitulate and kiss ass just as much as Mr. Owens. The only difference is that he's better at it.

      You "feel sorry for the bastard," that's ridiculous. You just want to be him. No other reason to get so insanely outraged.

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    4. **I want to be him** ...I'd rather have anal warts than "be him." Him hath no courage.

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    5. Ronn, stop posting on blogs, you're supposed to be doing a show.

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    6. NancyD - I totally agree. Mr. Lieberman - you seem to have gone over the edge - and you didn't have THAT far to go. Get a grip!

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    7. NancyD makes far more sense than Lieberman. Time for Rich to grow up.

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    8. Been with KGO for over 50 years... Rich is only saying what's on his mind and My & other's truth also. KGO was. It may come off as a bit street as lawyers don't like the Truth spoken in common mans tone... Too Fing bad... Thank you Rich !

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  6. Don't hold back, Rich!

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  7. One thing I learned from that segment: Ronn doesn't care a whit what his listeners think.

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  8. I never listen, but was in the City running errands and hit KGO for the next traffic report. Not that they report actual city traffic, but what the heck. Up to 30 and I thought this will be good. His tirade at 11:30 still got challenged by callers. Thank you for bringing up the ratings, they would be ecstatic to have the so called slipping ratings they have them - he's a shite filled opportunistic weasel and I wish he'd been turned away at Burns' memorial.

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  9. The only difference between the Owens tirade and Lieberman's tirade is that people pay attention to Owens. No one knows or cares who Lieberman is and that's the only reason Lieberman is so furious.

    Here's a hint Rich; when you end up ridiculing someone because they've changed their name, you're no longer rational.

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    Replies
    1. Here's a hint, asshole. Keep interning and swalloing well and don't forget to rinse your mouth out, MB.

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    2. Lieberman has better ratings.

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    3. Lieberman has no ratings. He once had a teeny weeny little radio program in Watsonville that was cancelled. Now he has nothing.

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    4. Hey Anonymous 10:24...

      I know a lot of respected media employees who follow this log. You are totally wrong.

      Delete
    5. @11:12 - more people read Rich's column daily than listen to Ronn. Especially after the hilarious "we were slipping" comments. Kissing up to the minimum wage newspeople/commission only salespeople, while you still have a low six figure contract. Team building at its finest.

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    6. @11:53, do you have any data that supports your ridiculous claim that "more people read Rich's column daily than listen to Ronn."

      Owens listeners exceed Lieberman readers by several orders of magnitude. Just saying otherwise doesn't make it true.

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    7. I'm guessing 10:24 has teenaged grandchildren.

      For all of you oldsters that like to hate on blogs, we millennials understand the importance of blogs and recognize that they are the wave of the future.

      Talk radio and newspapers are OVER. Blogs, podcasts, and twitter are the new way of life. Rich has those down to a science

      Rich's blog was really on the cutting edge and you can just look at how many comments each of his posts generates. That is what discourse is in today's world. A blogger posts something, most people agree, some people get pissed off, others make asinine, unrelated statements, but everyone gets their two cents in. Gone are the days of the unidirectional radio broadcast that has Ed in Pleasanton and Marge in Tiburon call in to gripe and complain. When was the last time someone in his or her 20s called in to a talk radio program? I'll wait. . .

      I fully expect some geriatric commenter to make some snarky or pithy comment about how I'm somehow related to Rich either by biology of career. I'm not. If implying that makes you ignore that yours is an outmoded and outdated form of media, go your merry way. It doesn't change the power of a blog.

      So, whoever commented at 10:24, grab your little newspaper, and your AM radio and make sure your Metamucil mixes well. Only 4 more days until you can watch a new episode of "60 Minutes".

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    8. I totally agree with you, youngster!

      Blogs are absolutely the wave of the future~~~>
      It's just like meeting up with fellow peeps on the local street corner discussing current events.

      AOL once had the the most successful Message Boards.
      My favorite was The Political Boards. It was fascinating to discuss politics with RightWing folks from fly-over-country. Some had seldom if ever spoken to a real live Liberal and we realized a brilliant commonality and eventually we came to see how similar we Red/Blue State Voters really were.

      AOL discontinued those Boards...

      I keep thinking it would be a great success for someone to create similar Political Message Boards...now Blogs.
      Some young entrepreneurial person looking for the 'Next Thing' should contemplate such an endeavor. It actually could have the potential of bringing this beautiful country back together.

      Being able to honestly converse with those holding misguided FOX & Radio Friends misinformation/lies...and being able to express to them where Dem are sincerely coming from could...go a long, long way in healing our nation.
      People would pay for such a blog opportunity!

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    9. bishopandwarlord, [from 10:24]

      Your are knocking down straw men. I never wrote a word criticizing blogs and yet you go on and on defending them.

      My comment compares Lieberman to Owens. They both have their shortcomings. However Owens is far more popular.. Most people in the Bay Area know who Ronn Owens is; few people ever heard of Rich Lieberman. Just ask around.

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    10. to 10:24-

      you just proved that you're ignoring how important a blog is because you're citing the fact that you think Ronn is some kind of well-known personality and implying that Rich is not. Rich's stuff gets more comments than Ronn gets calls. Rich's posts generate hundreds of comments. When was the last time Ronnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn got that many phone calls?

      "knocking down straw men" is the whole point of blogging, twitter, message boards and other digital media.

      Delete
  10. Jeez, get a grip. It's a radio station, albeit light years from the station it once was. I liked the old format and have pretty much given up listening to KGO. I couldn't believe what terrible business decisions were made. Furthermore, Ronn's one-sided critique of the nuke talks with Iran was horrible. But, as I said, it's just a radio station. JW

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    Replies
    1. KGO wasn't "just" a radio station. It was a way of life, where we could learn and interact and have input (i.e, TALK shows with callers). That's gone and people are still unhappy about it.

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    2. you need a better life.

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    3. @ 4;39 BS.. If we have to explain you wouldn't understand. For generation KGO WAS the bay area in all ways... If you where woken up in the idle of the night, You could and would turn on KGO before doing anything else... earthquake across the bay.. People where talking!.... woken up to the smell of fire.... Turn on KGO 1st! people where taking before the news knew! KGO The more you listened the more you knew! Now all you get is a wall of commercial's with the same loops pf crap and fake happy folks... F>U>

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    4. You don't get me at all. I completely understand what KGO was to the Bay Area, including me. I was a faithful listener to Ronn, Pete, Gene and John R. I attended three of the "debates." I met Mickey Luckoff, considered him the best ever in the business and swapped stories about our mutual connections back in Michigan, where it all started for him. Moreover, I've always had throughout my adult life the greatest admiration for the once-great full-service AMs like WCCO, WSB, WJR etc. I would love to have the old KGO back. Ain't gonna happen. So, I'm not going to wallow in misery over the loss. I miss JFK's press conferences too. They ain't coming back either. Forward! JW

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  11. Dear Mr. Lieberman,

    When you realize that you are digging yourself into a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

    Suggest you refrain from commenting any further on Ronn Owens and go see your therapist as soon as possible.

    Nancy D.

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    Replies
    1. You're the one who read this and RESPONDED. Maybe it's YOU that needs therapy...oh and btw, I see a therapist and am proud of it. It helps me and a whole lotta others.

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    2. Suggest you and your therapist work on your anger issues or perhaps find a more competent therapist.

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    3. Rich - you seem to need a new therapist - this one doesn't seem to be working.

      Professionalism isn't your forte, is it?

      Delete
    4. Rich - name-calling and angry insults reflect poorly ON YOU, not the target of your apparent hatred.

      Delete
  12. It is interesting to note that all these folks who hate the "new" kgo,and vow never to listen again, must have been listening to KGO in order to call in the up to :30 segment.

    On another matter, Ryan Scott, I'm sure , knows all the innards and outs of making a delish thanksgiving turket meal. I'm surprised, though, since he talks about his bout with colon cancer, that he eats so much sugar, salt and animal parts. Actually, thenumber of purchased dead birds is way down all across the country, as people discover how to live longer and healthier lives thru good nutrition. There's excellent reason, as well to be concerned about the human side effects of birds stuffed with..not dressing..but antibiotics..googleMRSA

    Yes, I know that animal fat and butter and sugar are tasty...in the moment,creating the perfect environment for tumor growth and metastasis.
    Does that mean I won't get the "niceness" tiara?

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    Replies
    1. Christine you are just a misandrist!!!!

      Delete
    2. 'just a misandrist"? If you are going to use big words, you should know what they mean. Please, enlighten me as to how what I posted reveals a hatred of males? I opined that even though people called "up to :30" and many expressed continued disappointment with the format change,they had to be listening to KGO in the first place. Did that indicate I hated men? how? I commented on Ronn's guest, ryan Scott that he was surely a fine cook. Is that man-hating? how? I said I was surprised that someone who talks about his bout with colon cancer(Mr Scott, onthe air, frequently) would promote a food regimen which invites that disease. Did you somehow think that I hated colon cancer? but only when males had it? Please support your observation. I'm waiting.

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    3. Everything in moderation, Christine. : )

      -SF STATE Nutrition Graduate

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    4. Wow. Look up the definition of WET BLANKET in American English, and there you will find.....

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    5. Would you be looking for that in your dick-tionary...as one word....or two?
      We just finished a long swim here, prepping for main event which includes roasted butternut squash with kale and amond pecan "parmesan", vegan pumpkin cheescake, other great food, great friends,kids, dogs, horses and craft
      beers...literally..enjoy!
      and for 9:10...antibiotic immune turkey in moderation? go right ahead. sf state? leading the charge to improve the nation's intake? since when?

      Delete
    6. Christine you are flat out pathetic...Let's see, you just finished a swim, prepping for main event...bla bla bla beer with great friends, kids dogs horses pffffffffffffft. What a load of crap.

      Yes, yes while this fantasy big party is going on you decide to do what? Post on a blog? What? Come on Christine. No one is buying the big Thanksgiving party with friends.

      Hilarious

      Delete
    7. Wanna bet? Hilarious? For one who pretends to know sooooo much about my life, you are clueless. Every morning my alarm clock is the sound of horses. There they are, yards away, waiting. Even Sacramento has little (inexpensive) areas of paradise.
      Every day, with rare exception, I swim, in a pool, back and forth and back and forth. Now I know you frown at that, but for swimmers, it's a way of life, a good and necessary thing.
      My neighbors and I will be doing a similar big Christmas dinner, just like we did last year and the year before. Much like thanksgiving, we will have great food, kids, dogs, and yes, the horses get special treats too.
      It's not fancy. There's no champagne(just the craft beers), and each of us brings a humble offering. This year I brought the roasted butternut squash and the vegan pumpkin cheesecake. Everybody loved it. You have to bake the squash dish, not the cheesecake. When the food is cooking,you can do other things, you know, including using your computer. Do you lose a lot of bets? Did you want pictures?You could eat them..

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    8. Great insight 10:09.

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    9. Why is Christine CONSTANTLY telling us how great her life is?

      Normal people don't feel the need to convince the world how fabulous their lives are.

      Delete
    10. I was specifically attacked for posting a question about a radio personality who talks about his colon cancer battle, but promotes a diet far too friendly to colon cancer. I dared to suggest that there are many wonderful, tasty , festive, holiday foods that aren't made from animal parts, things that can actually protect you from colon cancer.
      As a consequence, I was accused of "pretending" to spend thanksgiving with not only those scary vegan recipes, but with my neighbors and our dogs and horses, preceded by my daily swim. I have never expressed any pretense of being "normal", mercifully. I am surprised, 12:32 that you would think our humble, very real celebrations here would be something "fabulous" to you. Why is that? Are you sure you don't want pictures?

      Delete
    11. Yeah, and we're supposed to care that she eats "roasted butternut squash with kale?"

      Christine loves kale, big surprise there! LOL

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    12. Christine says: "When the food is cooking,you can do other things, you know, including using your computer." Suuuuuure Christine...we all run to the computer to post on a blog on Thanksgiving day...especially when we're smack dab in the middle of a fabulous party with family and friends....like I said....pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft Pathetic

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    13. 12:32 "Normal people don't feel the need to convince the world how fabulous their lives are." Exactly...her posts here only reveal her sad desperate need for ANY acknowledgement. Pathetic sums it up.

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    14. Typically, as a talk show host, I look at the computer every day,several times a day. I filled in for my friend, Karel on his syndicated show last week. I can't imagine why you'd think I wouldn't be going online. I have a radio studio in my home, next to the horses, dogs, acreage and great neighbors. Why does this get your tummy turning?
      We celebrate big holidays with funky contributory feasts. This is fun because you don't have to go out and become a CHP statistic. You can drink with abandon, not threateing anyone on the roadway. I guess that's boring to you? This year we were thrilled that the 38 year old dad in our group had survived a very intricate surgery to remove at C-2,C-3 neural tumor, two months ago!
      I swim every day. For some odd reason, you can't bear that I live like this. Why is that? jWhen my law firm colleague and myself were struck by an 85 yr. old confused driver who came up on a sidewalk three years ago, our injuries were quite serious. I could have done the "normal" thing and just shriveled up into a ball. Instead I kept swimming and it kept me upright(multiple back fractures). Do you have something against people with disabilities?
      Whatever is "normal" to you, I never want to be.

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    15. Who is this Christine? She posts an awful lot and the bloggers seem to know her. Just curious.

      Delete
    16. Christine says "I can't imagine why you'd think I wouldn't be going online." Uhhh helloooooo Christine. Remember the cooking, the people, the beer, the kids, the dogs, bla bla bla....You're having a Thanksgiving get together...right???? Yet you take the time to log in and post on this blog??? Wake the hell up. No one...again I say NO ONE is buying your fantasy story. It's ain't that hard to figure out. And when you defend it with one rambling incoherent post after another you only confirm my assertions.

      Get some help.

      Delete
    17. Christine has a screw lose. She's tone deaf. She goes on and with her weirdly inappropriate stories like the one above about "the 38 year old dad in our group had survived a very intricate surgery to remove at C-2,C-3 neural tumor, two months ago"" and is totally oblivious to the fact that her story is uncalled for and actually makes no sense in the ongoing conversation.

      She goes on and on making a complete ass of herself is painfully oblivious to how she is perceived by others. I don't think she can help herself. She's just plain off. Seems to be missing normal perception.

      Delete
    18. I like kale. It's very good for you. I fail to see the connection.

      I don't know you, Christine, but you need a different web persona.

      Delete
    19. once more with feeling. If you are so distressed that you can't bear to read something I post, pull your smart hat out of your ass and see that I use my own name. That means, if you see my name, knowing in advance how verklempt it makes you, just don't read it. You are certainly free to create your own "web persona" that isn't genuine. I'll pass. and dear 9:08 you don't determine what is "called for" and "uncalled for", do you? In recounting the details of our thanksgiving festivities, which I was accused of creating out of whole cloth, I included the detail of our friend who almost wasn't here this year. This isn't evil. It added particular joy to our humble little celebration. Why would you hate that so much? and 8:57, come out of your shell, tell me who you are? I'll give you a thousand dollars if you can prove I'm lying.. Should be easy for you to get some easy money, right? get with it. You can cough up a thousand easily to pay me when you fail. Are you suddenly getting a little less certain, coward?

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    20. Christine, I don't think anyone is claiming to be distressed by what you write. The point is that people read what you have written and post their comments about what you have written, how obnoxious your comments are and what a peculiar and unlikeable persona your comments project.

      Christine, you seem unable to pick up on cues from others in the course of normal human interaction. I wonder if you might actually be somewhere on the continuum of autism spectrum disorder.

      Perhaps that's the real reason for your protracted history of workplace conflict rather than the self-serving explanation of various forms of discrimination.

      Delete
    21. hahahahahaha....So I'm supposed to prove you're lying? bwaaaaaaaaa...hahahahahaha....Silly Christine you've already provided all the proof anyone would ever need. Just stop this ridiculous charade. You really are clueless as to how you come across. It is readily apparent to anyone reading this blog that there is something seriously wrong with you.

      I think it's as simple as .....wait for it.....---->YOU'RE BATSHIT CRAZY

      Delete
    22. 2:07, I'm amazed to discover I have a "protracted history of workplace conflict" What exact workplace "conflict" have I ever created at any Bay Area station where I've worked? KPIX? KQED, KGO radio? If you are referring to protracted federal litigation, our case involving Tittle VII and a kansas city t.v. station was actually remarkably quick. To try a federal case, not just once, but twice in front of different juries in different cities, proceed up to the 8th circuit, all the briefings, oral arguments etc. and then on to a writ at the SCUS in six years is incredibly swift, not protracted.
      As for my offer to the cowardly 5:52, who claimed that no one believed my account of a humble thanksgiving here, because it was soooo obviously a lie, I up the offer to $2,000 for charity. How can you prove the matter? Easy, tell me who you are and you can come out here and see that I live on acreage , with horses, with a home radio studio, and with neighbors. You can talk to the neighbors about our fun celebrations with everyone donating food items for a collective meal. It will all be right there in front of you. You can even eat some of my cooking. It'll be fun, really and when you discover that I made it all up , you'll have $2,000 to give to the charity of your choice, your expenses covered of course. Just one big problem, or two: I didn't lie and you won't win.

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    23. Christine, yes of course I am referring to your famous federal case which as we all know you eventually lost.

      It is so revealing that after all these years you are still incapable of accepting the cold, hard fact that you lost and instead talk about some of the minor victories along the way.

      Delete
    24. dear 9:47.."incapable of accepting the cold, hard fact that you lost"??? really? I wrote a book about it.
      Does that mean you are afraid to take the bet?
      btw, most federal cases that go to trial and don't settle and proceed up the federal ladder take much longer than six years. So you are wrong about the "protracted" part. You are also wrong in believing that jury verdicts(in this case two unanimous federal juries in two different cities) are "some minor victories" ..Where did you develop this profound hatred for the voice of the people?

      Delete
    25. Dear Christine,
      All these details about your convoluted legal entanglements speak volumes about your problems dealing with others and difficulties in the work place.

      I have no "profound hatred for the voice of the people" but it's funny to realize that heroic, martyred Christine Craft imagines she is "the voice of the people."

      Delete
    26. No I don't. Look at your Bill of Rights. The jury is the "voice of the people". I didn't bring up any of this about landmark civil right litigation affecting the broadcast workplace, you did. If you bring it up, get it right. I am the one who refused to be either victim or martyr. Look up those words and see if you can figure what they mean. I fought back. The victimized and the martyred don't.
      I don't know what speaking "volumes" you are talking about. I know that colleagues in Kansas City were called as witnesses at both trials and had no such complaint to make about me.
      Can you give me any example of my having any problematic workplace dealings in the Bay Area media? ever? Did I have any problems dealing with others and difficulties in the law firm workplace?What were they? You may proceed.

      Delete
    27. Christine, you filed a lawsuit and lost. Seems like you never got over it. I'm hearing lots of self-righteous indignation. Why so much anger?


      Delete
    28. To 6:37 Christine is Christine Kraft, she is a fill in host at KGO, these days she is not on very much, but she use to fill in quite a bit, when it was the "old KGO" although I don't always agree with her, and don't always like the way she handles callers, her shows are intelligent, well researched, and since KGO fired, most of their better hosts (Gene Burns, John Rothman)she is now one of the better hosts, when she is on.

      Delete
    29. 7:33 well thank you ..for more see Newseum...the Museum of Broadcast History...or just wikipedia.
      The last name is spelled like the boat, not the cheese.

      Delete
    30. 5:18 asks,"Why so much anger?"
      trade deficit
      push for US to unilaterally and pre-emptively attack Iran
      poverty
      animal abuse
      cancer syndicate
      the use of public funds to support sports arenas when crumbling sewer system gets no attention
      fracking
      more fracking
      peripheral canal sending norcal water to socal agribusiness.
      people who are too anaesthetized by video games that they aren't angry
      People who think that when they can't substantively refute what a woman says, call her angry or uppity, thinking that will leave her trembling and tarnish her efforts to win the "Miss Congeniality " award.
      I'm for more, not less "uppity".

      Delete
    31. Yes Christine, I'm sure it's all because you're a woman and has nothing do do with your behavior and personality.

      Delete
    32. what is "it"?

      Delete
  13. Community request to Ronn Owens:
    If you believe in yourself, then show it by engaging in a public discussion on the air with Rich L. We are requesting that. If you do not agree to it, then it shows that you have no faith in yourself and are truly a limp diluted empty shell. Please respond, I know you are reading this. At least do your family honor by attempting to defend yourself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rich routinely stacks the deck and censors comments to fit his agenda.

      My "community request" would be for rich to give up the comment approval process and let the chips really fall where they genuinely may.

      Rich is hardly the altruistic hero you paint him as 11:31 and needs to tend his own garden before pointing fingers.

      Happy Thanksgiving bloggers, drive safe.

      Delete
    2. Agree with anon@1:19 about the way Rich frequently fails to publish comments critical of himself. It's dishonest and reflects his insecurity.

      Delete
    3. Give me a freaking break @1:19... there are TONS of comments on here that are derogatory towards Rich. Did you um... did you take the time to read the comments? Or did you just... you know... jump to a ridiculpus unfounded conclusion? Oh- yeah. Definitely the latter.

      Delete
    4. If people are posting comments that aren't being approved I think that's proof enough of censorship.

      There's a lot of irony between the topic at hand here and Rich censoring posts.

      Delete
    5. Many comments I've written, even slightly critical of Lieberman, are not published whereas pure drivel, no matter how inane (think. Stan) is routinely published.

      Lieberman will publish any junk so long as it's not critical of him, plain and simple. That's not journalism.

      Delete
  14. Thanks for saying all the things we're thinking.
    KGO was a brilliant diamond! It's eloquence and clarity could be heard from Mexico to Canada. And we lost it all to the bottom-line: $$$$$.

    Someone here previously dissed Pat Thurston, the only gem left on KGO, saying she's far too liberal. I ask...Compared to what?

    THIS SWAMP OF RABBLE-ROUSING, USA-DISHARMONY,
    LIES & MISINFORMATION:
    http://www.toptalkradio.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. http://vaca.bayradio.com/kgo_archives/21200.mp3

    Rich, although the Ronnn podcast omitted the 3rd hour of Tuesday's show, they forgot about the SEVEN DAY ARCHIVE! This link should be good til next Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rich,

    Thank you for posting the face of KGO Radio! It's definitely a stark contrast to a smiling Ronn Owens in the TV commercial promoting KGO. Happy Thanksgiving to former KGO listeners.

    -David K.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Don't know much about this clown, haven't listened to him, but the reviews on Yelp seem to agree with you: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ronn-owens-show-san-francisco

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Rich, please continue to give them hell!!! I hardly ever read anything over 2 sentences in Facebook, but I read your rant all the way. You're right!!! Everyone reading this knows it already. Maybe this was all a plot to get me to buy satellite radio. KGO REALLY SUCKS!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. How do you spell JEALOUSY?

    It's obviously the fire fueling Lieberman's uncontrollable rage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jealousy? More like the truth and devoid of Lowenstein bullshit, hate to mess your day up but thanks for reading me and responding.

      Sincerely, Jessie Jealousy.

      Delete
  20. Wow. Rich, grab the meds, or stay off of them. Make a call.

    I've known Ronn for many years, and your depiction of him is way off the mark. I'm starting to question if you know the guy at all. Yet on the other side it, are you just super jealous of the guy?

    First of all, why is it up to Ronn Owens to declare, on the air, that he doesn't care for the direction the company is going? How does that help anyone? As for all the people who work there, isn't it their choice? For those who were fired, isn't that life? I am guessing that you, Rich, have never worked for a large company, and don't understand the realities of having done so.

    This is the nature of the game. If we choose to stay in it, that's on us as individuals. I don't need Ronn Owens to declare on my behalf how upset he is about the company, or make apologies. It's nonsensical.

    So what if Ronn doesn't know science like Wattenberg, world affairs like Burns, or plants like Savage? This is the man the company chose to keep on the air, and for whatever reason they did so, that's the reality. Should that be held against him that he's a professional? That's why he has maintained a job, and you're still searching for one.

    I listened to Ronn's take, and I thought it was quite rationale, unlike your post against him.

    As for you, if you ever want to be taken seriously, you just took yet another step toward not being. There's no quarrel between you, a blogger, and Ronn Owens, a long-time radio host, outside of the one in your mind. Any belief otherwise is silly.

    I stopped reading halfway through because I was actually embarrassed for you.

    You're better than this. I read the blog because it's like a tabloid of TV and Radio, but when it becomes this I have no interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Didn't this same jerk, post the exact same comments a week or so ago over something else? An intern that came up with a response and it was copied off for all to use in reply to anything said by Rich on the blog?

      Another comment, about the supposedly negative comments about the newsroom of kgo by either Rich or posters. Huh? The ONLY person of the "news" that has received any note here is Mel Baker...and I would hardly give him the credit of being a news person, and deserves every negative comment that comes his back biting way. I actually admire many of the news people (kind of hard to make a distinction of what is a news person and what would be considered a host or a reader) especially Brett, he's really weathered a lot and he is a reporter, so deserves the classification as a news person. I like many of the other people that are associated with the news, like Kim and Nicki, but not sure exactly what their classification is. I tend to think they do the reading, but not the "gathering". lc

      How many of these Ronn glorification posters have the same ip?

      Delete
    2. It sure did sound like Ron

      Delete
  21. Rich, your self-righteous rant is insane. I don't know what your problem is but clearly you are a very unhappy, angry man.

    Try to calm down and get some help.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Harold B. (35-Year KGO Listener)November 27, 2013 at 4:20 PM

    Regarding Ronn's statement that KGO "was slippin'" in the ratings two years ago, does anyone know what ratings position KGO was in at the time of The Massacre and what position its in now? I suspect the station is a LOT further down the totem pole in November 2013. Wouldn't THAT be proof positive that What Cumulus did in changing the format was a really, REALLY stupid decision?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I miss KGO. You guys were the Vanguard for the people! RIP KGO 810 AM

    ReplyDelete
  24. The reason ronnnnn didn't protest too loudly or long is because he was happy that kgo, going to a primarily news format, most of his direct competition for popularity would be gone and being surrounded by his minions such as copeland and the other non starters like monte he would be riding the crest. He thought he could be the king in the tower and stroke himself (oh, so San Francisco) without any criticism.

    Well, ronnnn, welcome to Lava soap. Stroke away.

    ReplyDelete
  25. 20 minutes of Ronn Owen's Tuesday Surprise 2 w/o the fluff .. for your listening enjoyment .. or not.

    http://philchurch.podbean.com/2013/11/27/20-minutes-of-ronn-owens-tuesday-surprise/

    ReplyDelete
  26. Consider yourself lucky that you're not making a living in radio these days Rich. The current state of affairs has derailed many careers. Unfortunately that's true with many other businesses in America these days, as this short sided and infantile "what have you done for me lately," attitude has gone way too far.

    And the young people today don't seem to understand anything, (except technology), because their frame of reference seem to only be last 20 years of their own lives; a tiny section of American history. Before that: "IT DOESN'T MATTER, WHO CARES!" No wonder Radnich uses that phrase so often. I think he is desperately still trying to connect to that sacred: 'Young Demographic.'

    Does Radnich really think that many young people in the bay area are even listening to the radio anymore? Very, very few of them are.


    Most of them are too busy, texting, tweeting and Facebooking to tune in. They'd rather share some ridiculous youtube video or a share a picture of what they're going to eat at some restaurant. My retort to that: 'WHO THE FU... CARES!"

    Rome is indeed burning, but young people who could actually make a difference don't really want to know. They are too busy staring into tiny screens while their thumbs flit over tiny keyboards. Madness!

    ReplyDelete
  27. BTW- thought you should know this (you probably already do), that "Ronn's boy Jared" has taken a job at a radio station in Philly. The same station where Lowenstein started his career back in the late 1960s.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Rich,

    Way to go, you said everything I wanted to say and more! I too heard him last Friday...he is a fraud and a shill. He should just do his job and say nothing about the topic rather than spew that kind of disingenuous crap. I was a Ronn listener from day 1, now maybe once a month... for a few minutes. I can't forget the crap he spewed on that Friday, the day after the KGO massacre. Again, thank you Rich.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks Rich, for providing a place for us disappointed listeners to continue to grieve.
    I heard that hour and Ron(nun) was pretty weak in handling caller after caller who expressed disappointment with kgo.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The weird thing about the whole deal is I could understand keeping Owens, if only to try to retain a semblance of the old KGO, something long-time listeners could hold on to - but instead - this guy has pretty much torched anyone and everyone who loved the old KGO, disrespected the audience that put him where he his and shown himself to be a "me-first" guy who never respected his colleagues.
    Why would anyone, listener or advertiser, want to associate themselves with that?

    ReplyDelete
  31. BRAVO !!! Let the truth be heard.

    ReplyDelete
  32. You people on this site surprise and befuddle me. How can you hold onto your anger for so long? That Total Eclipse of The Heart happened two (2) bloody years ago! Everybody who cares knows the saga of 810,, we have heard the Ballads of Disintegration, we hummed along to the Odes of Tribute , and the soliloquies have now been memorized. Are you not yet tired of carrying that heavy cross through the hilly streets of San Francisco? I haven't heard this much violin playing since I last heard the #3 Brandenburg Concerto by J.S. Bach, first and third movements in particular with those troublesome cellos.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I haven't listened to him since the bloodbath but I did listen to the "Up to 30" archive and he does not seem to get the fact that viewers are not complaining about the workers but they are unhappy with the format. To simply say its not coming back disrespects the whole point of up to 30. If your viewers are complaining you should at least acknowledge rather than ignore it.

    At the beginning of the hour he was talking about how long he has been doing "Up to 30" and he just has to sit and listen. After 20 minutes he says we are never doing this again. The "Up to 30"s I remember in the past have had just as much crazy talk and complaining.

    The only conclusion I can come up with is the suits called down to the producers and said pull this now.

    Anyone know what the clauses in the contract are for saying bad things about the people you work for other than immediate termination.

    I would think at his age and savings he shouldn't give a crap anymore and just say what he thinks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The odds that suits called down to the show are about as good as Rich actually posting the majority of comments on this forum, like mine from yesterday.

      Delete
  34. I loved Gene Burns for a long time, but he really turned over the past few years. If it's true that he became so weak minded that a change up at the company that he worked for caused his death, then it's hard to blame anyone for that but Gene and his ailing mind. He should have been let go years ago.

    As for Ron'n', he's always been a mealy-mouthed moderate on everything. he has to be, it's the only way he can draw in the sort of guests that he gets and not piss them off. Taking a strong stance means scaring away people he wants on his show. He's done that for so long, he probably doesn't feel strongly about anything other than his paycheck and perhaps his children.

    After the firings, I totally stopped listening to KGO. Their "news" is little more than a mouthpiece for local politicians and decent traffic reports.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are lying. You didn't "love Gene Burns for a long time" at all. He didn't "turn over" in the last years of his life and become "weak-minded". He had lived for decades with several profound disabilities which would have killed most, mental impairment was not one of them. Gene Burns could have had you as a canape.

      Delete
    2. Thank you Christine for yet another hostile, obnoxious comment.

      Delete
    3. Christine, your grammar is incorrect on this last post above.

      It's either two separate sentences, with the first ending with "killed most," or a semicolon should be used.

      Delete
  35. Wow, quite a blog, I have tried to respond a few times, but all of sudden my comments disappear, or I just hit the wrong button? Kind of like what happened with the ipod of Ronn's 3rd hour, I guess. Much of what Rich writes about is speculation or second hand knowledge, I believe, which is fine, but does Rich really know that Ronn never called Gene Burns after he was fired? Was Ronn's response to the firings weak, yes, did I care for it? Not one bit, but does that mean I have to dislike everything about Ronn and his show, no. I listen to radio hosts, musicians and movie stars because I like the kind of entertainment they provide, I don't have to like them or agree with their politics. When Ronn has a good show I will listen, when he has a format or topic I don't care for I turn the station. Attacking Ronn for his name change is neither here nor there, it is a personal thing, and no one business. Savage changed his name from Weiner, is that any different? I don't think so, many people in show business change their names. As a matter of fact I have several friends (not famous) who have changed or altered their name. Years after my divorce I took back my maiden name, it felt more comfortable, some of my girlfriends have kept their married name for decades, because they like it better, what is the big deal. I like this blog and read it every day, I don't always agree (obviously) with everything, but that is what makes it interesting, I do think this blog about Ronn is way over the top, although it has some important points, but it provide the readers with a forum where we can respond, so I hope Rich post every blog, critically or not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad someone said it. I do not understand why Rich and many of the posters here are harping on Lowenstein. What exactly is the issue? Many people in the public eye change their names, and I am often surprised by people that do not. Why is it suddenly an issue with Ronn Owens? Attacking a stage name constantly is pathetic. I am not a Ronn Owens fan or a KGO intern, so don't bother trying that line of attack. Ronn was the one of the hosts I rarely listened to.

      Delete
  36. Well, I thought the rant was entertaining, so I listened to the archive to hear what I expected would be a total corporate suck up meltdown. Instead, there were a few calls from people unhappy with the changes (leaving aside the question of why they were still listening) and Ronn's rather temperate and realistic response. I mean, really, what's he going to say? Yeah, KGO is no longer the talk powerhouse. Not even close. But he's right: formats change, owners change, jobs change. He was able to keep something of a paycheck, probably at the expense of losing habitual station listeners, but that's his choice. Sorry your favorite station is gone but it's not coming back. Find something else to do with your time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The problem with the change at KGO was that it was akin to the "we had to destroy the village in order to save it" reality. Its not change when you drop precipitously in ratings, it's a disaster. Now maybe the Big C has managed to save enough on salaries to offset some of the revenue losses, but as a business model you think someone up in corporate would take notice and try something different. Something better. Radio mime perhaps.

      Delete
  37. Tony the issue to me is that he forever cancelled "Up to 50" because he did not like what they were saying. Rather than letting the listener express their feelings he said I don't want to hear your feelings. That is the opposite of talk radio!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Rich! Don't be so wishy-washy! Tell us what you really think of Ronnnnnnnnnn Owens!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rich is too busy scrubbing posts to tell us what he thinks. It takes time to censor this page.

      Delete
  39. I just listened to the 'Up to 30" and what perplexes me is why Ronn decided to cancel that segment from this day forward. I've learned over time, that it's best to let family, friends, clients, clerks, strangers, etc rant until they have said their piece/peace. Then the frustration is diminished. Letting the anger bottle up and go unspoken is to ignore the reality of what KGO's customers feel. They feel cheated and ignored!!! Why be surprised at the anger? Would this "Up to 30" fiasco even be an issue if Ronn had allowed it to be discussed thoroughly, on his show, the day after the massacre?

    ReplyDelete
  40. All I can say is Sirius Radio for the car. What a great choice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How do I go about getting Sirius Radio for my computer?
      Do I need a machine? How much does it cost monthly?
      Any info would be appreciated.

      Delete
    2. Sirius is great for music, but the talk programming isn't too exciting. If you like Stern you pay a premium, but that's worth it at that point. It does sound digitized though, and when you go under bridges it cuts out. For home use you get a home player they send you.

      Delete
    3. Not so. No premium for Stern. I pay $14.49 per month for Sirius for internet and smartphone (which is about $2/mo). Dial up their customer service and get it activated immediately. By the way, I get to listen to Hardball, POTUS with Julie Mason and much more talk. It's such a great option.

      Delete
    4. I want to listen to Talk Radio across the country!
      Here in my little Orinda Valley, on my pocket radio, I can only barely hear 960-KNEW, or 910-KKSF. KGO comes in crystal clear, yet, KGO is only worth listening to on Week-ends. While KSFO comes through OK...but there's nothing of value on there whatsoever!
      I do listen to Barbara Simpson when KGO has Football...only to hear her Republican lack of heart and empathy toward our fellow man. Absolutely none of the San Francisco Talk Show Hosts can hold a candle to Pat Thurston though, she's a real gem!

      Thanks for any information on Sirius...if only it could be heard on a pocket radio, I'd be happy!

      Delete
  41. Was Ronn on the grassy knoll, too? Who KNEW he had such power!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Well well well...FINALLY KGO uploaded the podcast of the Nov. 25 3rd hour! http://www.stationcaster.com/download.php?file=http://cdn.stationcaster.com/stations/kgo/media/mp3/November_25__11AM-1385506260.mp3&id=2107043

    ReplyDelete