Scattershooting Once More / Can Radio Still Be Relevant?

I'm long overdue for more scattershooting, so let's do this right here. This is the time where I go here, there, and anywhere whenever something on my mind just has to be regurgitated. And I don't think you'd mind......

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In the era of AM, FM, and now XM, the question can often be asked: Can radio still be a relevant component in everyday living? The answer's yes. Where corporate conglomerates are seeking to make radio less local and more canned to a point where there's so much sameness, there are still places that offer local programming that is unique to the listener. If you know where to look, then you can find it. On the Internet, I've found one station (and I know there are many others out there) that offer things that the so-called big giants can't. The station I frequently listen to is out of Lubbock, Texas. It's KDAV-AM (1590), and it offers an oldies music lineup that you just can't get in too many places, including big cities such as Dallas, Houston, or Austin, or any other big city in America. They're the Buddy Holly station, but they have an extensive playlist of oldies that weren't just Top 40, but also flip sides of singles and songs that never made the charts. The station also has local deejays who have their own commercial formats whenever they want to put them in. In many hours, the station is on autopilot (meaning no deejay), and the computer system plays songs, commercials, and the top-of-the-hour ID. Another station I sometimes listen to is KBEC-AM in Waxahachie, Texas (1390). It's a small-town country music station that is available on the web, but I've been listening to it in the car, particularly on a Sunday morning lunch break. It's significant because there's a show on there at that time that does nothing but play Polka music. That's just for a two-hour block on Sunday, but they've got a lot of things the rest of the week such as flea markets, Western swing hours, the Gulf Coast Cowboy Hour, the Classic Texas Coffee Cup, the Ol' Doc Gospel Music program, and much more. And all local.

Face it, sports fans: If you're tired of the same ol', same ol', perhaps you should try some different ol', different ol'. They're out there.

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How much sodie pop is too much sodie pop? You don't want to end up in this woman's shoes.

Coca-Cola Habit Cited In Death Of Natasha Harris

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Some Texas tidbits: Frisco, TX is getting their first Del Taco location. It is going in at the northwest corner of Preston Road and Hickory. The chain recently made its second entry into Texas (with a few exceptions in Wichita Falls since they never left there) and are looking about 80 locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, with additional stores in Houston and possibly Austin in the next ten years.

Bluebonnets are really blooming across my home state. I've seen people gathering in places where you can't mow and sit amongst the piles of same for picture taking. Makes me want to go grab a woman friend and follow suit myself....

And here's something cooking in Downtown Houston as the folks there seek to further transform that area into a true destination. It also means big business for the community. The new Comcast SportsNet Houston network wants to house their new facilities in the Houston Pavilions development.

More in this link: Will a new Comcast SportsNet studio save the struggling Houston Pavilions? - 2012-Mar-08 - CultureMap Houston

The new regional network will launch this fall with Rockets basketball and will eventually broadcast Astros baseball games, too. Stay tuned.

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Want to do something unboring with those salad greens?? Here's a list of ideas for this spring season.

Spring Salad Recipes - Ideas for Green Spring Salads - Delish.com

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I've recently replaced my old Toyota Avalon (serious hail damage) with a brand-new (well, kind of) 2011 Toyota Camry. Smooth ride. It's the first time that Sirius XM is programmed into my channel choices on the radio, so there's even more to offer. There are six different channel settings to choose from now, as opposed to just two. Cool or what?

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The Houston Astros got the season started with an eye-opening 3-1 start (unfortunately beginning with an Opening Day defeat), but have since fallen back to Earth in the past week and a half. They've got a good group of young players ready to break out, and a few of them should. What they must do now is build a winning attitude and create a winning culture. It's not instant, and it will take some time. Young players have to learn the nuances of their opponents and oftentimes you need a full season to do it. Astros fans will need to be patient in the team's final year in the National League. The bright spot, so far, has been the starting pitching, and the team hasn't given up more than six runs in any of their regular season games thus far.

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Miley Cyrus is seriously trying to break out from the Disney mold. Guess she'll have to wait it out a little more....

Miley Cyrus Crying Out For Attention After Career Setback

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And just when you thought some specific forgotten brands on certain items have gone away, well, think again....

Six Brands That Have Come Back From the Dead | Fox Business

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And now, we've arrived once again at that thing I call The Word Of The Day. Today's word is car. I previously mentioned my new car a few paragraphs ago. This new car is running just fine and it's comfy and has so much upside and cruisability (if that, indeed, is a word). Looks like I'd best wrap this scattershooting up so I can get in my car to run some errands......

And there you are.