Archive for December, 2005

Kris McKenzie on the weekend

Kris McKenzie, newsreader on 2CC and 2CA, has moved into presenting shows today, filling in for Mike Frame on Weekend Magazine and The Trading Post. Not only is Kris an excellent newsreader, he has proven that he is a very good presenter, with a friendly and approachable style.

Whilst Kris is still a newsreader, I can certainly see him being handed more fill-in roles after his excellent performance today. Well done Kris!

Coming up today and tomorrow, Glenn Wheeler will be hosting his afternoon show, although he did say he would only be doing so from 2PM tomorrow…hopefully this will mean that Canberra is saved from Sydney gardening, that would make a fantastic Christmas present. Stuart Bocking appears to still be running New Day Australia over weekend, although the other shows are still a mystery to me.

Samuel

4 comments December 24th, 2005 at 12:51pm

A Christmas Present?

It probably wasn’t intentional, but it was nice anyway. The current “Open Line” promo on 2CC, where they take a bunch of snippets of calls to their shows and put them all together as an advertisement for how you get to have your say, features roughly two seconds of one of my calls. From memory it contains me saying “I suppose he was partially correct”, as it happens I seem to recall that I was talking about the Cronulla riots (although I can’t remember who I was referring to), I think I was talking with Mike Jeffreys at the time.

Thankyou 2CC, as I said, I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, but it still makes a nice Christmas present.

Samuel

3 comments December 24th, 2005 at 12:24am

Christmas Shopping and Notices

I finally did my christmas shopping today, and had lunch with a friend. In amongst the presents are some edible presents for Nattie. Now all I have to do is wrap them.

Just a reminder that my Musician(s) Of The Week Award is being moved forward to tomorrow so that I can get the final Christmas version in before Christmas.

Next week should see the release of the first episode of Samuel’s Persiflage, I was going to do some work on that tonight, but I don’t think I can be bothered, I’m too hot and bothered after today.

The 2005 Samuel Awards should also be released next week.

I will do my best to keep you up to date with 2UE/2CC presenter movements over the Christmas/New Year period, although I won’t be glued to the radio so I will probably miss a few.

For those of you going on holidays, take care and enjoy yourself, if you’re on the road remember to stop every couple hours and slow down a little bit, let’s try and keep the carnage to a minimum.

Merry Christmas everybody, this site will slow down significantly over the next few days whilst I take a bit of a break myself, although I will try to update the site at least once a day. Replies to your comments and emails will also be slow, but I will try to get around to it.

Merry Christmas!

Samuel

1 comment December 23rd, 2005 at 06:07pm

A Christmas Song?

I was rather surprised to find on a Christmas Album (“Christmas The Album” – Universal Music 1999) a song which John Laws uses on a daily basis. After his intro he has a song (probably a karaoke mix) playing in the background while he runs through the news of the day, once he has run through the news he plays the last 20 seconds or thereabouts of the song. So what is this song? It is “Keeping The Dream Alive” by Frei Heit (seemingly reduced to one word on most websites as “Freiheit”, which is a German word for freedom).

Personally, I’m not entirely sure that it is a Christmas song, it makes no reference to Christmas or related events, and instead seems to focus on relationships. None the less, it is an uplifting song, and probably sounds like a christmas song, and in fairness, if Universal hadn’t put it on this album I probably wouldn’t have known that it really is a song and not just a jingle. If anyone can shed any light on the real year of release I would be appreciative, as Universal claim it was 1988 whilst half the internet claims it was 1989…

One thing is for sure, the royalties these musicians must be earning from Laws playing their song daily must be giving them a decent little income of sorts.

Anyway, here is Keeping The Dream Alive by Frei Heit (or Freiheit).

Tonight the rain is falling,
full of memories, of people and places
and while the past is calling,
in my fantasy I remember their faces.

The hopes we had were much too high,
way out of reach but we have to try.
The game will never be over
because we’re keepin’ the dream alive.

I hear myself recalling,
things you said to me the night it all started.
And still the rain is falling,
makes me feel the way I felt when we parted.

The hopes we had were much too high,
way out of reach but we have to try.
No need to hide, no need to run,
’cause all the answers come one by one.
The game will never be over
because we’re keepin’ the dream alive.

I need you.
I love you.

The game will never be over
because we’re keepin’ the dream alive.

The hopes we had were much too high,
way out of reach but we have to try.
No need to hide, no need to run,
’cause all the answers come one by one.

The hopes we had were much too high,
way out of reach but we have to try.
No need to hide, no need to run,
’cause all the answers come one by one.

The game will never be over
because we’re keepin’ the dream alive.

The game will never be over
because we’re keepin’ the dream alive.

The game will never be over
Hummed: because we’re keepin’ the dream alive.

Samuel

1 comment December 22nd, 2005 at 03:06pm

Christmas Card from John Kerr

I was surprised to recieve an envelope in the mail this morning bearing the old 2UE logo. Upon opening the envelope I was greeted by a rather nice Christmas Card.
The front of John Kerr's 2UE Christmas Card

The first thing I noticed was that it was from “John”, thankfully it did say “Lovely to meet you”, which instantly told me that it was from John Kerr.
The inside of John Kerr's 2UE Christmas Card

The back of the card is blank, except for a small Southern Cross Broadcasting logo.
The back of John Kerr's 2UE Christmas Card

Anyway, thankyou John, the card was lovely, and I will ring you before the end of the week.

Samuel

15 comments December 21st, 2005 at 05:02pm

Australian Independent Radio News celebrates one year of operation.

On December 21 2004, a new community radio news service started, then known as Australian National Radio News. This service started on a trial basis, running three bulletins per day Monday-Friday. Within the first two days ANRN picked up their first subscriber station, and within three months they had 12 stations.

In April, director Artie Stevens relaunched the service as Australian Independent Radio News, on a subscription basis with an expanded service, only three stations stayed with AIR News. Now, 12 months after the first day of operation, AIR News is back to 12 stations, spanning every state and territory except for Tasmania and the ACT. At present seven stations are trialling AIR on a free, non-broadcast basis.

Director of AIR News, Artie Stevens remembers the start of ANRN,
“I remember the doomsayers telling me it wouldn’t work, and me being a stubborn old coot and saying it would.”

AIR News has developed a “virtual newsroom”, enabling news readers from all over the country to operate from the comfort of their own studios.
“One of the things we have developed is our Virtual Newsroom and it seems to work so well. All our readers operate from their own home studios, some a little more flash than others, but they all work fine and sound great” Artie said.

Since moving to a subscriber basis, AIR has expanded to provide more than just a news service.
“We provide AIR Sports Mon – Fri at around 6:15am, AIR NEWS Headlines around the same time and The World Mon – Fri around 10am Eastern. ”
Artie describes The World as a “10 minute daily magazine style program compiling reports from our affiliate reporters around the world” on the AIR News website.

AIR has established not only a national presence, but also brings in stories from all over the globe, as Artie explains.
“Our association with Feature Story News in Washington has given us access to reporters around the world, with Washington, New York, Orlando, Ottawa, London, Brussels, Moscow & Tehran all on board.”
Artie also says that AIR News provides Asia-Pacific reports for Feature Story News.

Sport is also covered,
“We also have an association with The Broadcasting Company in London which provides us with elite sports reports. We had some great “exclusives” during the Ashes test series and currently we’re getting updates on the Volvo round the world yacht race.”

Radio historian, Wayne Mac, thinks that AIR has been a fantastic success.
“It’s bloody terrific see someone put themselves out there and to make something happen in this business. As we all know, there are many armchair critics always waiting to pounce or poo-poo an idea.”

Artie Stevens agrees.
“I think it’s been a bottler of a year and I think I’ll have a cold one
tonight to celebrate.”

For more information about AIR News, or to recommend AIR to your local community station or blackspot commercial station, visit www.air-news.net

Samuel

Disclaimer: Samuel Gordon-Stewart has a commercial agreement as a newsreader for Australian Independent Radio News.

4 comments December 21st, 2005 at 01:47pm

Schnappi Missing In Action

I could have been certain I wrote this earlier in the week, but not to worry.

It would appear that Schnappi has gone on holidays, as he is not currently filling a position on the ARIA singles chart, is this going to be a permanent thing? I suspect that it probably will be, but I’ll keep you informed anyway.

Samuel

December 21st, 2005 at 12:49am

Samuel’s Persiflage Update

Regular readers would be aware that I am starting a podcast called Samuel’s Persiflage. I am pleased to announce that this is starting to take shape, with a few people already agreeing to interviews. With any luck, the first episode should be out before the end of the year.

Samuel

December 20th, 2005 at 05:36pm

Samuel’s Santa Photo

In what has become an annual tradition, I had my photo taken with Santa today at the David Jones Canberra City store. Unfortunately it is too late in the year for the photo to come back before Christmas, but as soon as it does return I will be posting it here.

I used to have my Santa photo taken at Myer (Grace Bros at the time), but since 2000 (the year when Myer/Grace Bros in Civic didn’t have Santa) I have been getting the photo at David Jones, and to be perfectly honest with you, I think they do a better job of it. Myer do have Santa again, but I find the staff to be a bit impersonal, and much prefer the service and photo quality at David Jones.

Samuel

12 comments December 20th, 2005 at 05:34pm

Glenn Wheeler filling in for Stan Zemanek

With Stan Zemanek on leave for a few weeks (I think 4 weeks was the quoted figure), Glenn Wheeler will be pulling a seven day a week shift filling in for Stan. Glenn has also announced that he will still be doing his weekend afternoon show on Christmas Day and New Years Day.

For those who are still wondering where Glenn Wheeler is now that he isn’t on 2GB, you can find him on 2UE and network stations from 8PM-Midnight on weekdays, and Midday-6PM on weekends. Note that network station times may vary, I would say “check your local guides”, but has anyone seen a radio guide lately? What happened to them?

Samuel

December 19th, 2005 at 07:38pm

What’s The Time Mr Wolf?

You may have heard the story recently about NatWest bank removing their clocks in an effort to prevent people complaining about waiting times. Oddly enough, ANZ are doing something similar, rather than removing clocks, they have introduced a “no queue” system where you take a ticket and wait for your number to be called. For this they have a display borad which shows the time and the current ticket number, the time is also printed on your ticket, except the time printed on your ticket is five minutes or so ahead of the time shown on the clock.

If you are waiting for ten minutes, you could look at your ticket and end up thinking “that was a long five minutes, but it’s not too long and I’ll keep waiting”. This might work for now, but ANZ, you really need to think about this properly, I’m not going to be the only person to notice, and god help you if Today Tonight or A Current Affair find out.

For your own sake ANZ, fix this before it damages your reputation and loses customer confidence.

Samuel

December 19th, 2005 at 04:48pm

For those with a time machine…

If you have a time machine then you might be able to benefit from the ads running on 2CC telling us that Carols In The Park will be held at Norwood Park on December 17.

Anybody care to tell me who the bright spark was that bought advertising to run after the event?

Samuel

2 comments December 19th, 2005 at 04:33pm

Humphrey and Nattie

This morning at 10:30 Nattie, Humphrey and myself watched an episode of Here’s Humphrey in which Humphrey built a magic car which went on an adventure and sent him postcards. As always, Here’s Humphrey was a lot of fun. Nattie sat on my lap right through the show, as did Humphrey, and after the show I took this photo of Nattie sitting with Humphrey.
Nattie sitting with Humphrey

As per usual, Humphrey will be making an appreance with his good friend Santa on Christmas eve on Carols By Candlelight. Nattie, Humphrey and myself will all be watching.

Samuel

20 comments December 19th, 2005 at 12:09pm

ACTION and the Emergency Cabbage

When I have a strange dream, I have a very strange dream.

Last night I dreamed that I found an ACTION bus (of the Renault PR100.2 type, not the horrid green contraptions) and decided to run an intertown service before parking it near my house, when I got home I needed to ring 000 (Australia’s emergency phone number) for some reason, so I picked up the phone and dialled 000, only to be greeted by an operator who wanted to talk about cabbages.

Samuel

4 comments December 19th, 2005 at 12:35am

Samuel’s Musicians Of The Week

As we approach Christmas the Musicians Of The Week award is being awarded in a different manner, this week it goes to everyone who has sung “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.

What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That’s the jingle bell,
That’s the jingle bell,
That’s the jingle bell rock

Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
Oh come ye, Oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Oh Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
All Hail Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Oh Jesus for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Next week the award will go to the singers of three Christmas songs, and will be awarded on Saturday.

Samuel

December 18th, 2005 at 11:54pm

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