Pet Peeve: FM in mono
[Posted Saturday, June 13, 2026 6/13/26 8:48 am]
Since December 2021, when 97.1 FM in Los Angeles dropped its top 40 music format and started simulcasting news with KNX AM, they switched off their stereo and have been broadcasting in Mono. Makes sense, news is all talk, why would they need stereo? But I was hoping that with the switchover to 97.1 The Fan last month, they'd perhaps turn the stereo back on.
But they haven't.
Now, I know the practical reason for this, an FM mono signal travels about twice the distance of a stereo signal, and can be picked up further away with better clarity. So, broadcasting in FM mono increases their potential audience.
But to me, looking at an FM radio that doesn't have its Stereo indicator lit, looks like someone missing a front tooth.
To hear 97.1 The Fan in stereo, you can stream it on the internet, but that's not always convenient to do.
So, I wish they'd turn the stereo back on at 97.1. Although I understand why they don't.
Yes... Way
[Posted Thursday, June 11, 2026 6/11/26 7:35 am]
And while we're on the subject of street signs:
Found on Facebook, this sign was spotted on private property (not a public street) in the sleepy town of Brick Township, New Jersey.
I'd love to have this as a return address!
My Birthday present to myself
[Posted Tuesday, June 9, 2026 6/9/26 12:27 pm]
Today is my birthday, and I treated myself to lunch at the best pizza place in the valley.
Joe Peep's in North Hollywood has great pasta and salads, but if I go there I have to get a slice (or two) of their real NY style pizza! It's like being in Times Square! It's great!
If you haven't been there, you definitely should check it out!
Signs of the times
[Posted Sunday, June 7, 2026 6/7/26 7:15 am]
The BBC reports that because of the new Paul McCartney album, these street signs for Dungeon Lane in Liverpool have been disappearing.
We have a sign problem like this here in my own city, Los Angeles.
George Harrison wrote the song Blue Jay Way while staying in a house on this street in the Hollywood Hills up above Sunset Blvd. back in 1967.
These signs have also been sought after by Beatles fans, so much so that replacement signs have been mounted higher up on the pole than normal and just in case the sign goes missing again, the name of the street has been painted on the street corner's curb.
If you must have one, nice reproductions of these Blue Jay Way signs are available on the internet, and Paul McCartney sells Dungeon Lane signs on his own website.
So, be careful. If these signs are missing, your friends might lose their way.
Fact Check: McDonald's Drive Thru
[Posted Friday, June 5, 2026 6/5/26 1:35 pm]
Pictures of signs like this are making the rounds of the Internet this week:
I'm happy to report these stories are fake, McDonald's confirms to the media that such a convenience fee does not exist.
But with fast food prices skyrocketing lately, I wouldn't be surprised if such a thing happens. They know we'll keep going.
Well... I will, anyway... I love their hotcakes in the morning!
How Brian made All You Need Is Love broadcast happen
[Posted Thursday, June 4, 2026 6/4/26 10:05 am]
Taking a moment today to reflect on the upcoming anniversary of The Beatles' appearance on "Our World," the first live global satellite television broadcast, on June 25, 1967.
It was the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, who persuaded them to make their history-making appearance. It was also Brian who encouraged them to write and perform a special new song rather play an existing tune. He arranged for the band to represent Great Britain on the broadcast which resulted in a worldwide audience of over 400 million viewers simultaneously watching the Fab Four premiere "All You Need Is Love".
The "Our World" broadcast was a massive undertaking, featuring contributions from 19 different nations. Epstein enthusiastically championed the project to the group, viewing it as a perfect opportunity for them to deliver a universal message of love and unity in very stressful times, which included the Vietnam War.
For the performance of "All You Need Is Love", Epstein and the band transformed the studios at Abbey Road into a party-like atmosphere by inviting close friends and fellow musicians such as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and Graham Nash.
The event was the final triumph of the astonishing five and a half years during which Brian steered the group from obscurity to global Beatlemania. Tragically, he passed away just two months later in August 1967.
Click here for more information about Brian Epstein.
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Adam Forrest: 
