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"People who still have their ideals don't stand a chance in television..." Lou Grant, WJM-TV

Alan and Sharon Kline's website

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Hot Time in the Windy City... Print E-mail
Written by Alan Kline (admin)   
Friday, July 31 2009 19:32

 

...or, "How to make a splash with a new website." NBC just launched its new series of local websites--NBC Chicago, NBC Los Angeles, and so on. If you used a so-called "browser" like Internet Exploder, with Javascript enabled, you probably didn't notice too much. But, if you surf like I do, using Firefox with scripts disabled for new sites, you might have seen this:

I didn't even know that Chicago has topless beaches!

Well, it's obvious that the site had a small bug that let it display improperly if Javascript isn't enabled--you can tell because the "NBC Chicago" logo is cut off at the top by the "Register | Login" pane. But you do have to admit that it's interesting to see a Top 5 market O&O appearing to endorse public nudity. One would think that the NBC folks have a few other things to worry about right now, like making sure that the new Jay Leno show doesn't totally ruin the affiliates' late newscasts...

 
The FBI wades in... Print E-mail
Written by Alan Kline (admin)   
Wednesday, July 22 2009 18:17

Well, let's look at the inbox again, shall we? Today's installment of spam scams written in lousy English once again involves the FBI...

It has been discovered that your contract/inheritance/winning FUND was about being transferred to an unknown account under your name. This attempt was perpetrated by someone who claims to be working for you, and that you have given him due authority to have the FUND moved to the account specified below:

SOUTHWESTERN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
WESCORP 924 OVERLAND COURT
SAN DIMAS, CA 91772. USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxxx
ABA/ROUTING NUMBER: xxxx-41-21-9
SHARETYPE NO.: 25
FINAL CREDIT HABIB FENZI AND CO. (Beneficiary).

Sorry, but I haven't seen good ol' Habib in years and years...

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) waded in after being alerted by the supposed bank.

Waded in??? The FBI waded into an investigation like a timid 4-year-old approaches a pool? Yeah, right.

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End of an Era Print E-mail
Written by Alan Kline (admin)   
Tuesday, June 23 2009 09:20
An era in television history has truly ended, with the passing of Ed McMahon early this morning. When Ed and Johnny Carson finished their run on the "Tonight Show", late-night television started a long slide downhill (although I'm still pretty fond of David Letterman's show). Johnny and Ed were truly the class acts of the business, and they have never been, nor will they be, matched. Vaya con Dios, Ed...
 
If Spammers Only Knew English... Print E-mail
Written by Alan Kline (admin)   
Monday, June 22 2009 19:17

Usually, I blow away spam email without a second thought. ("Mailwasher" is a wonderful little program that prevents junk email from ever seeing the inside of my computer...) But once in a while, it's fun to see just how bad some of these low-life's can be. For our amusement, here are a couple.

First, the FBI wants to talk to me...

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Devaluating master control operators: a false economy? Print E-mail
Written by Alan Kline   
Saturday, May 16 2009 20:42

TELEVISION
BROADCAST

December, 1991

GUEST COMMENTARY

Devaluating master control operators: a false economy?

By Alan H. Kline,
OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN
KTSF-TV SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO--In the March (1991) issue of TELEVISION BROADCAST, Tom Bracanovich, the engineering group vice president of Malrite Communications, described his master control operators as "...the lowest skilled positions at the stations. They usually come to us with no background at all. Those with technical schooling go into repair and maintenance."

To me, this comment indicates a lack of understanding and lack of respect for what is still a highly skilled position. It seems to imply that MCR work is beneath anyone with any significant background. Unfortunately, this also seems to be an attitude shared by many within the industry today.

 

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