1. The weather, and knowing that I can leave the house and never need more than 2 layers of clothing. I shiver when it's less than 65 degrees, and even I haven't found the need to unpack my collection of sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, and thermals. For season-affect disorder sufferers like me, you just can't underestimate the value of waking up nearly every morning to sunshine, palm trees blowing in the light breeze and a craving for Slurpees (my favorite summer treat).
2. The abundance of varied activities. Within a few hours drive (maybe a little more if you take the freeway), you can be at the beach, or in the mountains, or in a big city's downtown area, at a museum, at a club, an amusement park, a ball park, the desert, a casino...
3. The freaks. For example, I was driving around Beverly Hills a few days ago, and a guy wearing a bandana and a ratty t-shirt was hanging out of a mercedes convertible. He looked like he wanted to talk to someone, anyone, in the next lane of traffic, maybe to ask directions or yell an obscenity. As I watched him, a tiny ferret peeked out from beneath his shirt, exposing the guy's ulterior motive of showing off his unusual pet, and its unusual hiding place. Another time, I was down in Huntington Beach, and I was mesmerized by an english bulldog who was totally obsessed with riding a skateboard. For 10 minutes, I watched the dog push the board, run along side of it until it picked up enough speed, and ride it until it stopped. Then he turned it around and started the process again, obsessively, over and over. That dog so obviously LOVED to skate that you knew it LIVED to skate, much the same way that my skater friends in high school loved nothing more than crusing through parking lots, practicing new tricks, falling down, getting all banged up, and getting right back on to try it again until they got it right.
4. The proliferation of vegetarian food options. No matter where I go to eat, whether it's the pricey, lousy-with-celebrities hotspot or the food court at the local mall, there are always at least 3 or 4 things that I could choose from to satisfy the picky veggie girl that I am (and there are probably 2 or three other choices that I wouldn't care for, but are still available).
5. Indie 103.1, a radio station that's a mix of modern formats and a throwback to the days when radio DJs had the freedom to play what they wanted. You could hear great songs in a million different styles in a 1-hour period. You could hear obscure tunes from a band that had plenty of radio hits. The next song would be an early punk tune that never got radio play in its own day because it was too weird, or offensive. After that, you'd get a Johnny Cash tune, or some Sinatra, and that would be followed by tunes from local bands, bands that hadn't broken yet, or a band that, tragically, probably never would break.
But now one of those favorite things has been cruelly yanked away.
At the end of March, Indie 103.1 made a tragic mistake and fired it's biggest draw: Dicky Barrett, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones leader and host of the station's Mighty Morning Show. Dicky's subtle wit, working-class charm and punk rock attitude made my ridiculously long commute something I actually looked forward to in the morning (the afternoon drive is another story). Whether it was Tattoo Tuesday, time for his curmudgeonly banter with his news staff and show regulars, or his brilliantly irreverent editorials on the stupidity of today's political or celeb-filled media landscape, he always provided something worth listening to. And when he wasn't talking, he was playing the best mix of music imaginable -- punk rock classics, emerging musical geniuses, novelty tunes, "old's cool" country tunes...as well as the modern rock staples that on any other station feel overplayed and stale.
Apparently, it came down to Dicky's refusing to submit to Clear Channel's content demands, and his refusal to bend over and take it (and I'm sure you can imagine where he was asked to take it). You can read the whole story by following the link that I so clumsily provide here.
If you live in the LA area, or followed the Mighty Morning Show's streaming broadcasts, I urge you to write to KDLD and tell them they better change their name from Indie 103.1 to Idiocy 103.1. Or better yet, shell out a few bucks and go for a satellite radio system. Tell them Dicky sent you.
LA Voice article
Indie103/entravision
5700 Wilshire Blvd #250
Los Angeles, CA 90036
877.900.1031
