Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Open Thread

NPR related comments welcomed.

2 comments:

Porter Melmoth said...

My daily disgusto-comment:

Yesterday I heard that Missy Block thingie give an intro to a story (which I did not care to listen to) about how the art market in India is taking off. For the billionth time, NPR's making a big deal about how the economy is absolutely 'booming' in India. Now, I've spent a bit of time in that part of the world, and I've yet to hear many reports from the globally-fried plains of Bihar or the tubewell-drying-up back country of Andhra Pradesh, or communing with the families of farmers in Tamilnadu who have committed suicide en masse because they just can't do it any more. No, NPR's India is all Bangalore-y bright with middle and upper-class young people, who are the 'new' India, and everything's going to be fine because the market will provide for everybody. Yeah, but in what future millennium? Believe me, I don't WANT to hear about the 'real' India via NPR. Once they latch onto what I'm talking about, I'm sure we'll hear token reports, with trickly water soundbytes, from out there in the fields somewhere. I'm sure the condescension will be subtle and the tone will attempt to be sincere, but I just don't want any part of it. I'd feel dirty.

As I've said before though, I'd trust P. Reeves, but he can't do all that stuff. I heard his voice again this morn, but I missed the story. Will catch on the net.

I wonder, honestly now, is there anybody at NPR, on-air or behind the scenes, who, even privately, thinks Missy's delivery is, well, sickening?
I grew up with radio station culture (two of my brothers work in the biz) and part of the liveliness in the midst of the daily grind was playful commentary about on-air talent. Yup, it could be pretty cutting. I don't think that sort of thing exists at NPR, except for the stale discharge that leaks onto the air, that passes for the 'humor' we're regularly inflicted with...

Anonymous said...

I'm wich'oo, Port. I really (x5) detest her lollipops-cotton candy-and-cupcakes delivery.

But I'd wager the only comments she probably attracts around the water cooler are something within the "I'd tap that" mentality; such is the depth.