Al Franken podcast newscast

According to the folks at Air America Radio, beginning in January Franken will launch a daily podcast newscast. It will be Franken’s voice, but according to Air America, the audio will be lip-synced by attractive underwear models, with both male and female versions. [B&C]

How I would have loved to have been in the meeting where that idea was first floated.

Scott Adams: Intelligence, god, dogs and dentists

“Dentists are generally pretty smart and they have the highest suicide rate of any profession. In stark contrast, dogs are goofy and they always look happy. You almost never hear about a dog trying to shoot himself. I know you want me to make a joke along the lines of “Dentists would be happy too if they could lick themselves.” But this is a serious discussion and I won’t have it. Plus that’s why dentists have office assistants.”

— Scott Adams

Lucy and Ripley: Christmas Card

The embargo has been lifted on this year’s Golden Retreiver Holiday Card. Barb has mailed to her list but I’ll got right up to New Year’s Eve and still miss some folks. This year’s theme is Mardi Gras. I don’t think this has anything to do with Katrina…Barb just likes the masks.

If you can imagine the patience required to shoot this photograph, you begin to understand how it has been possible for Barb to live with me for 28 years.

Jeff Bassinson Greeting Card

Bass in frigWhen I had lunch with Jeff Bassinson last week he was stressed from being unable to come up with an idea for his annual holiday greeting card. The bar had been set awfully high last year (he used tiny magnets to hold the lights to his head and face). In a moment of inspired desperation, he has again come through with what I am sure will be this years most original card. Again. [Larger image]

Newsroom naming rights

Madison radio station WIBA has sold the naming rights to its newsroom. According to a story in the Wisconsin State Journal, beginning January 1, the WIBA newsroom will be called the Amcore Bank News Center. Jeff Tyler, vice president of Clear Channel Radio-Madison, says the deal will not affect news content.

(Disclosure) Our company does business with WIBA and I met Jeff Tyler some years ago. A very sharp guy and a well-respected radio station.

What happens if the FDIC decides to investigate some of the Amcore Banks in Wisconsin? If WIBA does a story (or does not), a listener might wonder if there was any influence. Now that I think about it, it won’t matter. A swarm of bloggers will be all of any such story. Just one more missing frog in the broadcast journalism ecosystem.