99XWatch.org

Calandro on 99X

One of the side effects of this blog is that I've gotten to know Calandro.  Calandro is a complicated individual.  I say that because nearly every time I read something he writes, I want to vomit. Yet, I consider him to be a friend--a self-promoting morally retarded friend--but a friend none-the-less.  Here's his thoughts on 99X:

During my undergrad at the University of Iowa, I was the program director for the campus' student-run alternative radio station, KRUI.  When I graduated in 1993, I sent my tape and resume to every P1 New Rock radio station in the country.  One of those stations was 99X.

Six years later, the Regular Guys would bring to me to Atlanta.  Every day after the morning show I'd close the door to my office and listen to Sean Demery doing the midday.  I listened to Axel (and sometimes Toucher) on the way home.  After the Regular Guys and I parted ways in March of '01, Leslie Fram and Jay Harren called me at the beginning of the summer to see how long it would take to pass a drug test.

"I thought you'd never ask," I told them.

I was up close and personal for the end of one of the greatest and longest running morning shows, The Morning X with Barnes, Leslie, and Jimmy.

I was in the 99X Master Control Room when the second plane hit the towers.

I was there for the beginning of Toucher's transition to broadcast greatness.

Despite the fact (and partially because) it was a gig that nearly killed me, my four-year tenure at 99X was rich and rewarding.

I learned a tremendous amount from Leslie, Jimmy, and Steve from The Steve Show.

With 99X's rich history and heritage, I'm proud to say I was a part of it, and I'm sad to see it go.

Happy Birthday Calandro

Christopher Calandro turns 37 according to his MySpace page.  It's a testament to Calandro's personality that I like him despite his Neanderthal political beliefs and shameless self promotion.   

Calandro Doing Traffic for Salem

Christopher Calandro returns to the airwaves Tuesday 11/6/2007 doing traffic on two of Salem Communications' Atlanta Stations:   920 WGKA (noon till 8pm) and 104.7 The Fish (3pm till 8pm.)

99XWatch Makes Calandro Poster Boy for Staph Infection

Warning, this is pretty disgusting...but funny.  Check out the ninth result for a Google Images search for "staph infection".  (Note Google rankings are pretty dynamic, so #9 today, gone tomorrow.)

I traded emails with Calandro a couple of days ago.  He's pursuing some interesting non-radio opportunities, right now.

Everyone poops...

...but Calandro writes about it. 

Jaffe's Left

Jimmy Baron writes a funny blog about the best friend vacuum created by Billy Jaffe's departure to New York to do television for the Islanders.  Jimmy also explains why Christopher Calandro misses the cut.

 He's a sharp guy (except with life decisions) and does make me laugh, but he's out of contention for two reasons. 
1) He has two, and only two, styles of wardrobe: Utter Slob and Clown so you're limited to where you can take him, and
2) He doesn't have a penny to his name so he can't do anything.
Also, he'd chew my ear off if I didn't at least mention him as a candidate.

Jimmy also gives a shout out to my screen name on FredToucher.com, "Jaffes leaving?" 

Calandro-thon

Calandro is throwing a charity fundraiser on September 29, 2006.  From a "press release":

The Lymphoma and Leukemia Society’s Team in Training (http://www.lls.org) is a quality organization I’m proud to be a part of and represent. I’m way behind on my fund-raising, so hopefully with the cooperation of Budweiser, Carolyn’s Gourmet Café, and whomever I can get to attend The 3CL Philanthropic Throwdown, I can get the funds I need in one fell swoop. Anything I make over my goal goes to Heart for Africa (http://www.heartforafrica.org), in an effort to impress Some Girl.

Leave it to Calandro to turn wooing a chick and self-promotion into a charitable event.  Never-the-less, the last Calandro event had lots of interesting people, so the staff* at 99XWatch.org will be there.  Besides, it's for a good cause.

*Me

Calandro--A Right Wing Blog Case Study

Former 99X Morning Show Producer Christopher Calandro is a self described neo-conservative.  His recent blog posting is symptomatic of a phenomenon I see in a lot of right wing blogs:  it's ok to be prejudiced against Muslims.

Calandro writes:

While all Muslims aren't terrorists, according to MY market research, all terrorists are Muslims.  When we refuse to profile at airport security points we look stupid and vulnerable.

And before you cry "racist," or "bigot," know that I'm not alone in this thinking, citizens.

[From NewsMax.com]

U.S. Poll: Large Minority Fear, Mistrust Muslims

Nearly four in 10 Americans admit having feelings of prejudice against Muslims living in the U.S.  -- are in favor of having Muslims carry a special ID, a new Gallup poll reveals.

Also, 22 percent of those surveyed said they would not like to have a Muslim as a neighbor.

...

When I can't take a GOD-damned bottle of water on my DOMESTIC flight, it feels as if the Islamic fascists have won. 

Makes me want to punch an imam.  Firebomb a mosque.  Burn a turban.

To paraphrase Christopher and NewsMax, don't feel bad about your prejudice against Muslims--you're not alone.  But the NewsMax article doesn't give you the entire picture.  They omit the following from the same Gallup Poll:

12. Next, I'm going to read a list of various groups of people. If I read the name of a group that you would NOT like to have as neighbors, please say so. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

2006 Jul 28-30 (sorted by "would not like")	Would not like as neighbor	Would like/ would be okay/ wouldn't bother	No opinion
	%	%	%
Drug addicts	92	8	*
Heavy drinkers	72	26	2
Homosexuals	27	71	2
Arabs	24	72	3
Muslims	22	75	4
Immigrants or foreign workers	19	76	5
Hindus	14	80	5
Jews	4	94	2
* Less than 0.5%

Last time I checked, unless you count the last season of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, homosexuals, who beat out Arabs, aren't responsible for a lot of terrorism. My guess is that if you subtract the 19% garden variety bigots, who didn't want to live next door to "immigrants or foreign workers" from the 24% who didn't want to live next door to Arabs, then you're left with 5% who share Calandro's thinking.

Our collective outrage against terrorists is legitimate.  It starts to lose its legitimacy when we that outrage against people whose only crime is sharing the religion of terrorists.

Update 8/14/2006 5:10 PM
Calandro has posted a response on his blog.  I'll let him have the last word.

Jimmy, Calandro Back on Free FM

I got the chance to listen to the Jimmy and Rick show tonight on 106.9 Free FM in San Francisco. Jimmy was in good form, as was Calandro who produced and was involved in several segments.  Jimmy had blogged several weeks ago that a San Francisco gig was a no-go, but things change and presumably this is one of the "possibilities" he mentioned in his June 15th post.

Calandro Draws Crowd for Website Unveiling

Christopher Calandro, who is branching out from humble morning show producer to new role of "Communicator, Daymaker, Mental & Spiritual Warrior," unveiled his new website, ChristopherCalandro.com, in front of a crowd at Carolyn's Gourmet Cafe, a popular midtown bar/restaurant.  Jimmy Baron delivered a funny introduction to Mr. Calandro who then entertained the audience with three essays presumably into which he's developing into a book, tentatively titled "2006:  Annus Mirabilis, The Year I Came Back from the Dead."  Annus Mirabilis is "a Latin expression meaning miraculous year,'" although I suspect an alternate definition may be "the year of self-promotion." 

Photo courtesy of Mike Beavers

In addition to Jimmy Baron other attendees of note were Political Operative / Sunday Paper Columnist Lisa Baron, SP Columnist Blane Bachelor, WSB's Mark Arum, the recently employed Fat Kid, former TJ&L tertiary character Donshay (in the background of the above picture,) Joey Mills of FreeFMATL.org, and yours truly. 

Edited 6/7/2006 10:11 AM to add picture.