KLOS-FM's Ouster of Jim Ladd

The best rock 'n roll radio show in Los Angeles ended last month with the ouster of KLOS-FM DJ Jim Ladd.

The new owners of the station abruptly fired Ladd without allowing a "farewell show." Ladd got to say his piece today on KFI-AM this afternoon.

Ladd's late-night show was a throwback to the "free form" style of rock radio of the 1960s and 1970s. Ladd would allow listeners pick the music by coming up with themes or a certain word or topic. Another popular feature of Jim Ladd's show was his weekly "Theme of Consciousness" shows.

A few weeks ago, Ladd had a remote broadcast from the legendary Whiskey A Go-Go nightclub of Alice Cooper's performance. Great stuff!

This approach apparently did not meet with the approval of the station's new owners, who prefer formulaic robotic programming with no personality or imagination.

Although Ladd is an unrepentant leftie who sings the praises of Barack Obama (which I personally find annoying), his show of classic rock 'n roll was still the best that Los Angeles FM radio had to offer.

Jim Ladd will land on his feet somewhere. I just hope the station who picks him up is in L.A.

Survey Predicts Japan Tourism To Rise

Above, early morning in Ginza, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A recent survey predicts that Japan tourism is to rise.

According to an article in eTurboNews.com:

The aggressive efforts by the Japanese travel and tourism industry to lure tourists back to Japan following last March’s catastrophic events seem to be paying off. At least, this can argued based on a recent study that revealed “Japan is still a key destination for international travelers.”

Japan remains firmly on the wish list of destinations with global travelers, according to the recent Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011, which polled 11,620 respondents from 23 countries and territories around the world.

The article states that since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Japan tourism has been down by an average of 33% from 2010 figures.


Since the March 11 disaster, Japan embarked on an aggressive campaign to lure back tourists. Lady Gaga and other celebrities have also spoken out, saying that Japan is safe to visit. This writer has also beat the drums for Japan tourism while promoting The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan (right)

To read the full article, go here.

Passings of Note

There are two recent passings of note:

Richard Gordon, Producer




The Los Angeles Times reported:

Richard Gordon, a B-moviemaker whose credits as a producer and executive producer of science fiction and horror films included "Fiend Without a Face" and "The Haunted Strangler," has died. He was 85.

The British-born Gordon died Tuesday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. He had been hospitalized in recent months for heart problems, said Tom Weaver, a friend.

Andy Rooney, Commentator


Andy Rooney, who was a mainstay of CBS's 60 Minutes, passed away at age 92 last night in New York. His death came hardly a month after delivering his last commentary on 60 Minutes.

Obama's Top 7 Marxist Communist Policies

Top 7 Marxist Communist Policies Being Implemented By Obama Today

1. Seizing Control Over The Free Flow Of The Nation's Money

2. Stripping Capitalists Of Their Assets

3. Changing The Structures Of Government To Suit



4. Taking Advantage Of A Crisis To Impose Communism

5. Controlling Higher Education

6. Punishing Residential Property Owners

7. Demolishing The Economy To Replace It With State Control

To see what actions Barack Obama took under each category, go here.

Crittenden Claim Services Opens Website

Above, Gabrielle Crittenden, the boss.

The claim adjusting company I work for, Crittenden Claim Services, now has its own website!

Crittenden Claim Services is "your eyes and ears in the field" for multi-line insurance claims handling. The new website gives details on our claim services, service areas and contact information.

To view Crittenden Claim Services website, go here.

BBC News: Quake-hit Japan Entices Tourists Back

Above, holiday lighting adorns Ginza, Tokyo in December 2010. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The BBC News has a story on the plight of the Japanese tourism industry, "Quake-hit Japan Entices Tourists Back."

In it, they wrote:

With tourism revenue in Japan falling by a third since the earthquake and tsunami, the government is looking at ways - including free flights - of attracting visitors back.

On 11 March Japan was hit by its most powerful earthquake since records began. The quake and subsequent tsunami led to almost 16,000 deaths. Nearly 5,000 people are still missing.

But with the human tragedy came an economic problem, with tourism dropping sharply.

In April 2011, tourism numbers fell by over 60% compared to the year before. They are yet to recover to pre-tsunami levels, despite a new 12.1tn yen ($157bn; £100bn) budget for the reconstruction.

Eight months on, life in Japan's capital seems back on track.

Construction on the Tokyo Sky Tree is proceeding - when it is finished in May 2012, it will be the tallest broadcast tower in the world and the second tallest building, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

But even now, some tourism boards are still a little reluctant to recommend Japan as a holiday destination.

Around 1.5bn yen (£12.3m) has been set aside by the government to dispel "harmful rumours" about the current situation and radiation risks.

Above, Tokyo Sky Tree and Asahi Beer Hall from Asakusa, Tokyo, December 2010. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is unfortunate that so much money has to be allocated to refute the false stories about the Fukushima nuclear power plant's radiation problems and the rumors that still persist.

Regular readers of this blog know I've been beating the drums telling potential tourists that Japan is a safe place to visit while also promoting The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read the full article, go here.

Tokyo In 48 Hours

You're in Tokyo but only have 48 hours to see the sites around the city. Lebanon's The Daily Star has an excellent article on what to see and do in 48 hours in Tokyo.

They have a day-by-day schedule of places to see in Tokyo if one is pressed for time. Places include Roppongi, Akihabara, Sumida River, Tsukiji Fish Market (photo at top) along with suggestions on where to eat. They've also a photo of the view of Tokyo from the first observation deck of the new Tokyo Sky Tree.

To view the article, go here.