February 26, 2003
Emotionally Scarring International Radio
When I was in France, the radio was so bad that it made me cry. I'm searching to recreate that disorienting experience with online radio, but I am finding little success.
Today's stop was CFAX - Victoria, British Columbia.
While I was disturbed by the infallible earnestness of the canadian broadcasters -- they sound like gifted thirteen-year-olds who could barely contain their excitement at pretending to be adult radio announcers -- they did not induce tears.
HOST: A few good young Victorian women have come to speak to us this morning! (The phrase "Victorian women" tricked me into thinking of corsets and bustles, distracting me from the next disturbing greeting.)
GIRLS: Good morning! (which was sung out in unison by both girls with lithium-like pleasantness)
HOST: On such a sunny day in British Columbia, I can't imagine what you'd want to talk about!
What followed was a remarkably good-natured and upbeat conversation about cheap wine. And while ennui was plentiful, I was generally unimpressed by the lack of strangeness.