iDontCare

We are mere hours away from the historic launch of the iPhone. Here are a few facts I uncovered that I found interesting.

* The over/under for the number of people that will be trampled today in an iPhone incident is three. I'll take the over.

* You have to buy an adapter (retail value $59.95) for the device to actually place a call.

* 27% of the people think they're in line to see Transformers.

* There is a new term coined by Apple Store employees for all the lovin that will be going on around 6 pm: stevejobs.

* There is an app on the iPhone's touch screen that links up with the nearest Sheetz and lets you order Schmuffins.

* Average number of contacts in each owner's iPhone by Sunday? Three.

* The phone at launch will come in 4 different varieties: 4gb, 8gb, Nacho Cheese, & Cool Ranch.

* The phone is backwards compatible to play VHS tapes.

* The first 500 people in line will get a complimentary shirt that says "NOTICE ME" in big, bold letters.

* Nokia employees are paying good money for footage of anyone standing in line who will say "iApple" quickly while holding their tongue.




I'm actually anxious to see the phone in person myself. Maybe if/when T-Mobile carries the it I'll consider buying one.

Have fun in line! Just remember to pack a lunch, your spf 45, and $600 bucks!

This post about The Sopranos has nothing to do with The Sopranos

The drive from Indianapolis to Erie tests your patience. It's pretty much this for about 7 hours.





Unlike my taste in women, I don't like my States flat, white, and boring. I suppose if you have to say something positive about the trip it's that there aren't any trees, heathens, or minorities blocking all of the radio waves buzzing through the air.

Back in the day I was a radio junkie, but now I've pretty much sworn off of terrestrial radio. It's been replaced by my mp3 player and satellite radio. After listening to commercial free radio and uncensored talk radio (mostly Howard Stern, but I don't mind O&A/Ron & Fez) going back to "regular" radio is painful.

Forget the music channels. Those have been suffering a slow deather for a while. The best thing you can come up with in the last 15 years is Jack FM? Go screw. Nobody wants to hear a Hall & Oates/Sevendust/Neil Diamond/Gwen Stefani/Beach Boys rock block followed by 8 minutes of commercials. Appealing to everybody makes you appealing to nobody.

But what really irked me this morning were the inane talk shows. None of the content was compelling or interesting. Through the wonderful landscape of corn fields, bibles, and Stuckey's came horrible programs from Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Louisville, and Cleveland. Their lack of originality and overall laziness bored me to tears.

Every single show talked endlessly about the Sopranos finale and every show had the same conversation:

Wacky personality: This show was a train wreck. Where was the blood? I want closure! If you liked this ending, you're stupid.

Conservative Personality: It was a tremendous ending. It went against stereotype, was open to interpretation, and left you wanting more. If you didn't get it, you're stupid.

Fine. Point, Counterpoint. That's the basic foundation for all talk radio...especially caller driven talk radio. But the differences didn't stop there. Every show talked about the same possible endings that didn't happen. Every show made the same series finale comparisons (Cheers, Newhart, Dallas, Seinfeld), and every one of the talked about the same potential spinoff options. They were all using the same playbook.

With so many entertainment options, you would think media outlets would understand that originality is important. Why have 40 different shows in 40 different cities broadcasting essentially the same program when the station owners would gladly transition to one show broadcasting into 40 different markets?

At this point, would that even be a bad thing?