Radio On My Mind

Reading about Brian May's recent efforts to save the UK's number 1 classic rock radio station got me to thinking about another one. Although they could never reach the same standards as the award winning Planet Rock, I still have a place in my heart for a fictional station known as WKRP In Cincinnati.

WKRP In Cincinnati - Pilot: Part 1

WKRP In Cincinnati - Pilot: Part 2

IIHF Hall Of Fame 2008 Inductions

The IIHF inducted seven new members into their Hall Of Fame last week. These were of course internationally known hockey people. You should recognise some of the names, if you've been following the sport for any amount of time. Igor Larionov and Mario Lemieux were among the male players. Three women were also inducted, including Tony Granato's sister Cammi Granato. Cammi is the all time leading scorer of women's international ice hockey. It's nice to see some women finally get recognised for their contributions.

Rest In Peace Jon Pertwee

In remembrance of one of the great Doctors - Jon Pertwee, who died on this day, in 1996.

From Wikipedia:

John Devon Roland Pertwee (7 July 1919[1] – 20 May 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, where he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge. He also hosted the murder mystery quiz programme Whodunnit! between 1974 and 1978 for Thames Television. Pertwee also voiced the character of "Spotty" in the 1980s cartoon series SuperTed.

Death announcement via Australian (?) TV news



YouTube Tribute by Andrew Webb


Thanks for entertaining us Jon!

Russia Wins Gold At 2008 World Championship

For the first time in 15 years, Russia won the IIHF World Championship. Congratulations to Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and their fellow countrymen for a brilliant achievement. Russia and Washington Capitals fans are very proud. It's nice to see some of our Cap's enjoying a championship win before going on holiday. That's got to make the time between now and the start of the NHL's 2008-2009 season a little bit happier and easier. They've got a lot to celebrate right now. Let's hope we get to celebrate a different kind of championship next spring. Winning at the Worlds might just add some experience that could be very helpful in that effort.

Say Goodbye To Olie Kolzig

It looks like goaltender Olie Kolzig will not be playing for the Washington Capitals anymore. After 19 years of mostly excellent service to the organization that drafted him, it appears he will be playing elsewhere if at all next season. The Washington Post's Tarik El-Bashir was first to break the news. Comcast SportsNet's Jill Sorenson has since interviewed Kolzig as well. You can watch the video on Washington Post Live tonight. Also, Mike Vogel's article on the end of the fantastic Kolzig era is a must read.

The news is a little hard to take for many of us, although we all probably knew it was coming. You can't carry three goalies forever, even if all three are good. Kolzig wasn't at his best for much of the season, but don't forget that his teammates weren't much help early on. Around the time of the trade deadline, when the Cap's picked up netminder Cristobal Huet, Olie's play really picked up. Huet played as well as he has ever played in his entire career, though some of his wins came with a good bit of help from his teammates, especially in the playoffs. I'm being serious when I say that Kolzig was just as good as Huet down the stretch. However, I agree that Kolzig's effectiveness is never going to be as consistent as it used to be. At 38 years of age, you've got to expect that.

It's heartbreaking to think about how Olie stuck around through the hard times, and when the Capitals finally raise the Stanley Cup sometime within the next couple seasons, he won't be around to share in what he has rightfully earned. There have been many other great hockey players who never won the cup, and there will be plenty more. When Huet faltered in the playoffs and Kolzig wasn't even given the chance to play in one game, it became very clear that his time in Washington was over. Sad that it had to end this way, but it's "Time To Say Goodbye".

Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman - "Time To Say Goodbye"

Skid Row - "I Remember You"

Thank You Olie!

Happy 60th Birthday Bill Ward

Happy 60th birthday to one of rock's finest drummers, Bill Ward. Bill is my personal favorite heavy metal drummer of all time. He has done some great solo work, but he will always be remembered for his many years playing for the greatest heavy metal band - Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath - "Fairies Wear Boots" (Paris 1970)


Black Sabbath - "Children Of The Grave" (Reunion Rel: 1998)

Brian May To Be On 95.5 KLOS FM 05/05/2008

Listen Live to the Brian May interview on Los Angeles radio station 95.5 KLOS FM via their web site at 11:00 PM EDT.

Dr Brian May Speaks For Dr Francisco Sanchez

ASTRONOMERS VIEW ROCK STAR UP CLOSE

GAINESVILLE SUN
By Karen Voyles
Sun staff writer
May 4, 2008

Photo by Brandon Kruse/The Gainesville Sun

Queen guitarist Dr. Brian May speaks Saturday afternoon at Pugh Hall on the University of Florida campus during a ceremony for Dr. Francisco Sanchez, who received an honorary doctorate from the Department of Astronomy.

Rock fans around the world know Brian May as the star guitarist of the rock group Queen. Astronomy fans inside Pugh Hall at the University of Florida Saturday know Brian May as a professor with a keen interest in, and understanding of, the motion of dust in the solar system.

"My dad used to say to me 'It's nice that you're playing music but one day you're going to need a proper job,' " May said "I just thought 'It's never going to happen.' "

The guitarist's visit was among the highlights of a weekend of commencement ceremonies that continue today. About 6,200 students - of the 8,675 set to graduate this semester - will participate in their commencement ceremonies throughout the month, most of which were slated for this weekend, depending on the college.

With more than 2,000 students receiving bachelor's degrees, the College of Liberal Arts and Science's two ceremonies Saturday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center were by far the university's largest.

May, who completed his doctorate in England last fall after a 30-year break in his studies, is still touring with Queen. He flew to Gainesville Saturday to see his mentor and close friend, astronomer Francisco Sanchez, receive the first honorary degree ever bestowed by the Department of Astronomy.

May had been working on his doctorate with guidance from Sanchez in the mid-1970s when May's rock career took off and he set his studies aside.

VIDEO link

While introducing May to the audience Saturday, Stanley Dermott, professor and astronomy department chair, noted how pleased his own 90-year-old mother-in-law in England had been when May received his degree last fall.

"When she heard on BBC that Brian May had received his Ph.D. she said 'Oh good. That will give him something to fall back on,' " Dermott said.

Despite the years rolling by after May left school, Sanchez would encourage him not to give up on his research, serving as what May said was his primary inspiration to eventually complete his doctorate.

"Every time I saw (Sanchez) he said, 'You can still do it,' " May told the audience of astronomers and undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. "Over the years I would talk to him and feel guilty and I said to him that I felt like a bit of a fraud because I hadn't been an astronomer in 30 years. Then he told me he hadn't been doing astronomy for 30 years either - that he'd been doing administration."

Sanchez received his honorary degree in part for the work he has done to make Spain and the observatories on the Canary Islands major players in the world of astronomy.

When Sanchez began his work, Spain had a handful of astronomers. Today that country is home to between 300 and 400 astronomers, drawing more than two dozen countries who have built observing facilities on the islands of Tenerife and La Palma.

Sanchez is also credited for spearheading construction of the world's largest optical telescope. The University of Florida is a 5 percent owner and partner in the $190 million Gran Telescopio Canarias.

May has agreed to write a special piece of music to be performed with Queen when the telescope opens.

Commencement for students receiving professional degrees are scheduled for later this month.

The Levin College of Law's ceremony will take place on May 9, the College of Medicine's on May 17 and the College of Dentistry's on May 16.

The university's final spring ceremony, for graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine, is set for May 24.

Goalies Gone Wild

Here are some wild moments for NHL goalies a few years back. Remember these?

Happy 58th Lou Gramm

Just wanted to wish a great 58th birthday to a great singer and song writer, Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico), who is best known for his time with the band Foreigner. But "That Was Yesterday".

Foreigner - "That Was Yesterday"