Focus Focus Ooops

By now you know that I come from a radio background. I spent 20 years on air, as production director and for seven of those years as a program director. Now, a program director is supposed to be in charge of the overall on air product. Everything from the morning show to the overnight show to the weekenders. Of course, everyone who's ever worked for me will tell you, my favorite oxymoron is "Steve's in charge". Things just get away from you, things just happen. You take your eye off the ball for even a moment and BOOM!, you've struck out, you've missed the goal, you've hit a triple bogey.

I'm figuring that's what happened awhile back on Iowa Public Radio. Yes, I happen to love public radio. Oh sure there's that Splintered Table show and some that I could probably live without, but overall, public radio is a real treasure. Except for that one fateful morning when I just happened to be in the car for the start of "Talk of Iowa".

You see, one of the reasons that I enjoy public radio is that they cover things that commercial outlets really don't have much interest in. But this one may have gone a little too far. "Good morning and welcome to Talk of Iowa. I'm Katherine Parkins, (I've changed the name to protect the innocent) and our special guest is Iowa State University veterinarian, Carl Rove." (Okay, I changed this name too.) "This morning's topic is Pet Safety, in particular Pet Water Safety. If your pet fell in the water would you know what to do? Would your pet know what to do?" (Please take a few moments to let that statement sink in. Honest, that's exactly what was said.)

Now, it may be because as a former program director, I think all radio content should at least be relevant. But at that moment...MY HEAD EXPLODED. I didn't know whether to laugh at the absurdity or cry at the obvious programming feau paux. I chose to laugh.

You know, maybe this is a microcosm of the world we live in today. When the identity of Anna Nicole's baby's father leads the newscast rather than the dozens killed in Iraq. When how Howard Stern may or may not have manipulated American Idol is more intriquing than global warming. But Pet Water Safety?

I've got to tell you, that when Jeff first convinced me to start blogging, I was hesitant. Not because I don't like to write, but because I really didn't think that folks would really care to read what I had to say. But hearing that the discussion of Pet Water Safety was worthy of an hour of conversation on public radio, I don't feel so bad about thinking you'd spend just a few moments reading my ramblings.

Oh, and just for the record: "ANIMALS REALLY DO KNOW HOW TO SWIM." I'm thinking if you have a dog or cat or your pet Harpy Eagle with you on the boat and they fall in, they'll figure it out. If they don't, I think that falls under the evolutionary heading of "Natural Selection". Now, get right back to having fun, thanks for reading and we'll leave the mic on for ya.