Making Noise

Testimonials

2011-06-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

So, the past couple weeks, I've been working on what are called "testimonials." As many listeners of National Public Radio will already know, most stations are supported in part by underwriters; businesses and organizations who help support a show and in return we mention their support on the air when the show plays. Testimonials are when we bring in people from those businesses and record them talking about how underwriting has worked out for them, so other businesses can hear that and decide to underwrite as well.

I've been tasked with running the microphone while we record these people and also editing down the interviews; removing all the dead space and cutting down the length so they can be played on the air. What's amazing, that I've noticed during editing, is that some people (myself included) tend to pepper their speech with so many "um"s and "uh"s that they can't finish a sentence without using them, and some people can speak for several minutes without using them once or pausing to think about what to say. Equally amazing is the fact that you wouldn't really notice either way unless you're actively listening to tell (or trying to edit those words out).

We're all finished recording the businesspeople and now all that's left to do is "tag" the spots (record one of us talking about how people can sign up for underwriting) and edit it all together with music. Then, they should be ready to hear on the air. So next time you're listening to SPR and you hear someone talking about how great underwriting was for their business, now you know what those little spots are called and how they're made.

A New Blogger.

2011-05-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

With Evan gone, there has been a Making Noise power vacuum at SPR. In light

of this opportunity, I, Luke the production intern, have seized power. But by "seized power," I mostly mean "volunteered to start writing for Making Noise." But since I will be the new blogger at SPR, here’s a little info about me:

As mentioned, I am the community production intern here, which is a volunteer

position. About a month ago, I started doing work for the station because I’ve

always enjoyed listening to NPR, and felt like I wanted to do my part after

congress voted to stop funding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Being unemployed, however, I had more free time than I had money, so

volunteering looked like a better option than donating.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I first came here, but I soon

found that everyone was quite friendly. Mostly, it’s like a normal

office, wherein everyone has their own tasks that they’re working on in

their own offices, but nobody is so busy that they can’t take a little

time out to give some advice to a new production intern who can’t figure

out why the speakers on the editing station keep playing Beatles music

instead of what’s on the editor.

Speaking of production intern, I should probably talk a little bit about my

duties here. When I signed up to volunteer, I put three smiley faces next

to the “Computer Help” box because that’s the kind of thing I’m

good at. Fortunately, they had a lot of that for me to do. Primarily, I

put up podcasts onto the Spokane Public Radio website and do the same for

news stories. I also write some promos, provide a little tech support, edit

audio, and I took photos of Carl Kasell’s performance when he came to

Spokane (more on that later). I guess you could describe me as an “intern

of all trades.”

And now, I’ve volunteered to start writing for the SPR blog as well, and

that’s where I am. I’ll be taking Evan’s place writing about the

daily life here at SPR, as well as interesting happenings. Or, if

there’s anything you want to know about KPBX, KSFC, or KPBZ, or just general stuff

you want to hear about, let me know in a comment.

Until next time,

Luke

Fond Farewell

2011-04-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

Farewell lunch with the gang

How time has flown over the last several months. The moment has come for me to write my last blog post as the marketing intern. The summer is fast approaching and with school almost done, I will soon be heading home to Denver. It seems like yesterday that I sat down for the first time at the station to write my introduction post. Before this, I had never had to write for an organization or even heard much about blogs before, it was difficult to put pen to paper and find my style of writing. Over time the blog has slowly, but surely improved and matured to what it looks like today. Designing and writing for the blog has been an amazing and enjoyable challenge that has allowed me to express creativity and share my thoughts.

The two semesters I have spent at SPR have been without question a rewarding and memorable experience. I have met some great people and developed new music interests while receiving invaluable knowledge about marketing and business.

The hardest part of concluding my internship is saying goodbye to all the staff that make SPR truly special. Many listeners are acquainted with the station’s program hosts, but I was lucky enough to get to know the staff behind the scenes. Even though I was the only guy in the back office, it was never difficult to strike up a quick conversation with all the women. Whether it was chatting with Ann, about this year’s excellent skiing conditions or discussing with Stephanie, the Volunteer Coordinator, our favorite TV series, I will miss each and every person at the station. It was great to be in a welcoming environment and I always looked forward to arriving at the office each day, except during pledge drives. I think everyone can breathe a sigh of relief now that I will no longer be asking them to take ridiculous pictures with donated items for the website during the pledge drive.

Reflecting back on my time spent in the office, I am amazed at how much I have transformed. Verne can attest to how nervous I was at first of doing even the simplest of tasks, such as take pictures in the studio of him and his guests, while on the air. Now, I don’t hesitate to snap a quick photo of an interview. There have been times where deadlines and unexpected events caused me anxiety, such as answering the phones during the pledge drive. A big thank you needs to go out to all those listeners that called into the station and were patient enough to repeat their contact info multiple times for me. One of the most stressful times I can distinctively remember was the day when I accidentally deleted The Making Noise blog. In a panicked frenzy I tried to remain calm, but was overwhelmed with the task of having to build the blog from scratch without anyone noticing what I had done. In the end everything ended up for the better and all those stressful times were learning experiences that made me stronger.

Last but not least, I can’t forget the readers of Making Noise. Through all the changes you managed to stay with the blog and continue to give your reactions to posts, vote on the poll question and leave comments. One of the most satisfying parts of being the intern at SPR was when I received responses back from people about the blog. Everyone has been so supportive and I appreciate all the feedback. My goal with the blog was to make it an interactive site where a dialogue could occur instead of a one-sided lecture.

I now pass the blog onto the next intern who will give it a new voice. Spokane Public Radio will forever be close to me and I look forward to returning back to school for my senior year, so I can once again volunteer at events and be a part of the public radio family.

Will Summer Ever Arrive?

2011-04-22T11:04:00.001-07:00

The spring equinox may have passed, but winter seems to not want to take a vacation. Staring out the second floor window at the station on Monday, I was stunned to see such large snow flakes falling. Apparently everyone has come to the same consensus about the strange weather. Martha the front desk receptionist, on the intercom mentioned in a bummed voice that gardening season will be a little late this year.

Not everyone hates the snow. A friend of mine (who wishes it was ski season year round) was celebrating the whole 0 inches of non-accumulating snow, even if the rest of the world criticized his Facebook post. This time last year, I was pulling out the shorts and getting ready to throw on some tanning lotion to begin bronzing up for the summer. This year, my morning routine consists of first instinctively grabbing the t-shirt and cutoffs and then realizing I need to make a realistic switch to jeans and a sweater. Living in Spokane, many people get used to the rainy and cloudy weather, but after a several months of relentless cold and non-stop windy weather it shouldn’t be much to ask for a few continuous warm and sunny days. Looking at the 10 day forecast today, there is some possibility for a sunny and relatively sizzling Easter weekend in the 60s.

What are your thoughts on the strange weather pattern we have had this year?

Sunny Stroll

2011-04-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

It seems like every time I stroll by the studio, Verne is in the midsts of another interview. Today, Gabriela Montero stopped by to chat. Last year she had to postpone her visit to the station and for good reason. She got the opportunity to perform with Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman at the White House. The forecast for most the weekend is calling for gloomy weather. In order to keep myself active and off the couch, I might have to make a visit downtown and check out one of her perfomances with the Symphony.

Hot off the Press

2011-04-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

In quintessential KPBX Kids’ Concert style, Saturday’s tribute to Django Reinhardt featuring the Hot Club of Spokane had the Bing Theater aisles bustling with kids dancing to the Gypsy-Jazzy beat. It’s a hard task to keep kids attention let alone their parents for an hour concert performance, but the Hot Club did just that. With their catchy rhythm and interaction with the audience via sing along, the group kept the audience active. Guest guitarist, Steve Bauer of 6 Foot Swing had parents laughing feverishly when he mentioned his favorite performer’s eccentric spending habits. The kids got their good laugh when later in the performance he imitated Django’s bizarre playing style. The hour long concert culminated with Miss Lee Lee, a diva that would have had the 1920’s Parisian audiences roaring. I can honestly tell you I did not recognize the music of Django Reinhardt before the concert, but after hearing some of his tunes, I can now say that I have become a fan of Hot Club music. Before starting as an intern at Spokane Public Radio, I thought I was aware of a wide variety of music. After helping out with several KPBX Kids’ Concerts and the R&V Sale, I have realized that I have much to learn. It’s great that the children who attend the station’s concerts get to listen to alternative music at such a young age.

The Run In

2011-04-05T21:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever unexpectedly bumped into a person you know? Whether it's family, friends, people from your past, or co-workers -- it can be an strange but stimulating experience. Last week, while at a Gonzaga music performance featuring French guitarist Florian Larousse, that’s exactly what transpired. After listening to Larousse play passionately, I was surprised to run into Leon Atkinson. The crowd had exited the concert hall, but the two of us remained to chat. After exchanging greetings and discussing the performance, our conversation had run its course. I like talking to Leon, so instead of ending the conversation there, I prolonged our meeting by mentioning the weather, the ultimate conversation stretcher. While not the most ideal topic to discuss, at the very least, I was able to enjoy the chat a little longer. After we went our separate ways, I realized it was not that unusual to run into Leon at a performance in Spokane, especially since it is Spokane. However, there might have been another reason that we ran into each other. Could it have been the Law of Attraction? The law states that you will attract to yourself whatever you give focus, attention, or energy to; whether wanted or unwanted. For example, if you think about being broke, poor, lonely and believe in your thoughts, then most likely you will be. This extends to the synchronistic "coincidence" of being in the same place at the same time as someone you know. Leon may be the host of KPBX's Guitar Hour, but on that night we both were brought together by the positive energy of a few relaxing acoustic guitar sets. You would have never known that a demanding week-long pledge drive had just concluded. If you have a story about an unexpected meeting or the Law of Attraction feel free to post a comment on the blog.

Drive Update

2011-03-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

By now you’re quite aware that the station’s spring pledge drive is in full swing. While the semi-annual drive can be very strenuous, everyone so far has been up to the task of attaining the stations pledge goals. Coinciding with the tremendous financial support from listeners, the down in-the-trenches support from all the staff and volunteers has been sensational. Everyone is working diligently and doing their part to make sure the week-long event ends as soon as possible, even if it means burning the candle at both ends. Several staff are arriving as early as 4 and 5 am and not leaving ‘til evening so that they can complete their duties.

The volunteers answering the phones are working hard too. On Friday, I was lucky enough to answer calls with three ladies, several of which had already done multiple 3-hour shifts for the drive and were planning to do more. They were energized to be there and enjoyed taking pledges so much that at one point in Pledge Central, it was more like the game show Jeopardy when an easy question is asked. It’s all a matter of who had the quicker reflexes and could connect to the caller first. I was never fast enough, which seems to be the story of my life. Even though the drive may still have a few days left, it’s apparent that all involved are staying steadfast in seeing the final hours through.

Humdinger

2011-03-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

We all know the sailors adage referring to the quiet before the storm, but is it really true? In regards to weather, but is it always the case? According to How Stuff Works, warm, dry air is the main contributor needed to produce the calmness we experience before a cloudburst, because it is a relatively stable air mass. The quiet before the storm possibly describes Spokane Public Radio before a pledge drive. All is relatively quiet at the station currently. Starting Thursday, it won’t be that way. Pledge Central will be hectic and filled with volunteers sitting at tables and answering non-stop phone calls. The staff will be hard at work; running around making sure everything is going as planned and even spending their extra time in the studio to help make a push for the cause. The aroma of lunch provided by local restaurants will have people attempting to determine whether they’re at a restaurant or a radio station.

The staff has been briefed, the setup in pledge central is complete and only several things are left to be finished. Electricity is in the air, and the staff at the station is excited to have all the calls pour in as it warms up with all the community support. A tremendous amount of effort goes into a pledge drive which includes the generous support from volunteers who contribute their time and local businesses that donate food and other items to help fuel the drive. Of course, the listening community is imperative to the endurance and success of the station. It has been especially warming to witness the amount of pre-pledges that have been received by the station. The perfect conditions seem to be in place during this calm before the pledge drive storm. Let's hope it's a humdinger.

My First Meeting

2011-03-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Ask any college student what their least favorite part of school is, and the answer isn’t a surprise. Of course, finals and midterms top the list, but immediately after -- is going to class. Sitting in a classroom for over an hour as a professor monotonously rambles on about some “fascinating” topic is torture for most students.

Excited to go the SPR special meeting today regarding the upcoming pledge drive, I realized shortly after sitting there that I had been deceived into adding an extra class to my Tuesday schedule.

Without realizing it, I began to follow my normal class routine. I grabbed a seat in the back row and watched as everyone trickled in several minutes late. My new professor for the hour, Linda, began to outline the meeting’s agenda. While at first I was active and interested in the subject matter, eventually I started to feel the Charley Brown effect where the teacher makes non-sense whopping “wa-wa” noises. It is also interesting to note that I was not the only one feeling this way. Like always, the guys in the room livened up the discussion by adding several humorous (wise-ass) comments -- something typical in most of my college classes. Linda did, however, get everyone through the material in a little over an hour, and I was impressed that the staff and volunteers felt free to give their unique two-cent perspectives and ideas. And I certainly learned that there’s much more that goes into running a pledge drive than I have ever even thought about.

As the meeting began to wind down, and the aroma of the Aloha Island Grill after-meeting meal began to waft through the room distracting everyone’s attention, I was struck by the thought that maybe some things never change. Will my future work meetings be like class lectures where my mind wanders and I can’t wait get out and go skiing? Is this what I have to look forward to when I graduate? Or is it that, maybe, the employees at SPR have just found it hard to grow up? Either way, I’ll find out in a year or two.

Shelf Shuffle

2011-03-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

Do you remember that feeling as a kid when you were forced to visit the dentist for the first time and in your mind you way over-blew the event? Friends and family (even though they were joking) petrified you by telling outlandish stories of their first visit being a time where dentists tortured people with drills and sharp pointy objects? I guess some things never change--since there are people that still hate going to the dentist.

When I first started interning at the station, the same over-blown thought processes occurred in my mind, except this time it was the stereotype that all interns were errand-running servants. I will admit that most of my perception came from the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” (I won’t go in to the details of why I watched the movie, since it is a chick-flick). For those of you that haven’t seen it, Anne Hathaway runs around as the assistant to an over-demanding boss (Meryl Streep), who everyone fears because she is so malicious. Up until Tuesday, my internship fears never had any merit, since I never had to do monotonous tasks. What made Tuesday an interesting day was that I was asked to bring up from the basement an all-metal shelf unit. I was more than willing to grab it, and even assemble it, until I realized that the box had to weigh nearly 200 pounds. With no elevator, and only a dolly for support, I was anxious about getting the IKEA-style shelf up the intimidating flight of front stairs. I did manage to get my load up the 20, or so, steps with a little elbow grease and was able to start putting the shelving-system together.

Like a dad trying to put his child’s bike together on Christmas without the adequate tools, I didn’t have a hammer (suggested in the manual as essential equipment) to help me complete the job. If you have ever put one of these units together, you know that it can be tedious to get the support panels locked into place so the whole thing doesn’t collapse. Using my body weight, I’m sure I looked foolish hanging off the ground while holding on to the side panel to get it to lock into place. When it was all put together (and I had done my pull up workout) I was glad that I had followed the directions (the second mistake that fathers perform). When all was said and done, though, I was pretty astounded that I had built the shelf without any prior experience -- even though there were two extra pieces, go figure.

Ecstatic of my accomplishment, I was a little irate when several staff members walked by and told me how easy it was to put shelves together. At least now I can say that I am a real intern and have done the grunt work.

R and V Aftermath

2011-02-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not - vinyl is not dead. This past weekend was a testament to the sustained popularity of this old-school musical medium. For two days, the KPBX Recordings and Videos Sale had hundreds of people lined up early to get first grabs at all the pristine vinyl they could buy. As the new kid on the block who had never participated in the event (and who knows relatively nothing about vinyl) I was amazed at the continuous flow of record groupies all day in the Spokane Masonic Center Auditorium, where the event took place.

I lent my time as a volunteer for several hours on Saturday and was given the duty of putting rogue records back into boxes and helping buyers carry their stuff out to their cars. I soon realized why no one else wanted the task: vinyl records are like carrying lead when you get dozens of them stuffed into a box. If I were asked “what is humankinds’ best invention to date?” - I would have to say the dolly. While loading records, equipment, and other dusty treasures, I got a chance to converse a little with sale-goers about the items they purchased. You would have thought that they had discovered gold with the way they described all of their stuff! One gentleman bought a load of old 78s, and as we were putting them in the cab of his ’69 Chevy truck (another potential conversation piece), he told me that it’s a hobby of his to keep “the good stuff of the past.” I guess he gave me the nostalgia fever, because at the silent auction I decided to bid on a turntable that, surprisingly, I won.

Finishing up all the duties for the day with the rest of the volunteers and staff who worked long hours to make sure the event ran smoothly, I felt invigorated. Placing equipment on the tables for the next day’s auction, I now understand why vinyl continues to survive even if digital allows you to access thousands of songs in the palm of your hands. Sure, it could be the quality of the sound or the artistic album covers, but the sense of community and the history are what make it even more special. I’m not quite there yet to join the vintage LP fan club, but I am enthusiastic about next year’s sale. Especially because I can bid on that receiver I forgot I would need to go with my new turntable.

New View 2

2011-02-18T10:31:00.001-08:00

You may have recently observed that some major updates have occurred to the SPR blog. While many of the updates over the past several months have been intentional, changing the entire layout on Tuesday was not. With one click of the mouse, I managed to alter Making Noise forever by deleting the template that organizes the design of the blog. Originally, I thought I had deleted all the content on the site as well. Thankfully, after several panicked minutes, I realized that everything was not lost. This created an opportunity to further tweak Making Noise and design a layout that could better handle new interactive features such as the weekly poll, picture of the week and the Photoshop designed header. When I started interning at SPR last October and took over responsibilities for the blog, I had no clue how to manage it. With a modest amount of HTML and website design knowledge from a college class I took a year ago at Gonzaga, I had the ambition to give the blog more pizazz. With the recent changes, I feel as though Making Noise is one step closer to that goal. In the coming weeks there will be more minor changes as I fiddle with the aesthetics. If there is anything you would like to see added to the blog feel free to leave a comment.

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me

2011-02-11T15:44:00.000-08:00

With a great deal of hype surrounding Watson, the IBM computer that can play Jeopardy, I thought that Making Noise should jump on the quiz show bandwagon and ask the staff some questions. Just like the title of the NPR quiz program Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, many of them tussled with the deep, thought-provoking questions asked. Here are a few samples:

Choose a movie title that is the story of your life?

Jerry Olson, chief engineer – “Sleepless in Seattle.”

Reason behind answer: Not getting enough sleep

If you could only see in black-and-white and one additional color, what color would you choose?

Brian Lindsey, operations assistant and Weekend Edition host – “Gray, the world is not always back and white.”

Can you name four words that rhyme with pencil?

Mary Cravens, membership coordinator – “Stencil, tinsel, utensil, and pencil (Wait… that shouldn’t count!).”

If you could go on a road trip with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?

Verne Windham, program director – “I would like to take a drive with Dr. X, who is down on Obama-care.” Verne felt in order to properly address all the issues surrounding the subject, the length of the road trip would need to be similar to the amount of time it takes to drive to Seattle.

What do you think the greatest invention is in your lifetime?

Ann Torigoe-Hawkins, underwriting representative – “The GPS. Good or bad it’s amazing we can find out exactly where we are in the world at any time.”

If you would like to answer some unique questions NPR's, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me has an interactive question section. Link: http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/

Also, if you have a question you would like anyone at the station to answer, leave a comment and we will added it to the post.

Car Talk

2011-02-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

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Wow! I was wrong that gas prices would remain low during and after the recession. Washington now has the seventh highest gas price in the country, with a gallon of gas costing nearly $3.25 according to gasbuddy.com, and it’s only February! What is a driver to do to save at the pump?

With the economy recovering and car sales up, it seems that the manufacturers are gearing up to take advantage of drivers’ smaller pocketbooks. Just look at the Super Bowl, where there were over a dozen advertisements for a variety of new models: electric, diesel, hybrid, there is so many options to choose from these days to save energy and money.

I grew up listening to Car Talk with my dad on Saturdays and I still find Click and Clack’s advice helpful when I’m trying to find ways to save gas money since I drive a Jeep Wrangler, essentially a vehicle that is a brick on wheels. I am always looking for ways to improve my estimated 15 MPG (which it rarely is). Recently on their show, a caller asked a question about whether having a full or half filled tank is better for keeping gas costs down? After much debate and shared stories of how callers were able to beat the system and drive on fumes for hundreds of miles, it was determined that more gas equals more weight, thus causing worse mileage. So, I guess that means that even the pennies from my ashtray will get me where I’m going.

If you’re looking for something to listen to this weekend, my recommendation is to turn the dial and enjoy some ‘Car Talk.’ If you're a fan of the show leave a comment about your impressions.
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Catchy Converations

2011-02-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

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Strolling into the SPR office each morning you don’t quite know what to expect. I find it similar to playing Roulette, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. Take for example, last Tuesday. It was a peaceful time at the station; it felt like few were in attendance. Then the blackout occurred. With the station without juice for nearly an hour, it was interesting to see how the noise level escalated as people emerged out of their offices, some of which I still have no clue where they're located. Even with the computer monitors turned black and the sound of typing hushed, the noise of multiple conversations still echoed. All the action focused to the lobby and the studios, thanks in part to a generator that kept the lights on. One of the first perceptions I had when I first started interning at the station was the welcoming environment, where it seemed that striking up a conversation was effortless. Now I wouldn't go as far as to say that its like the Who’s in the Grinch Stole Christmas after they all got robbed, but it’s great to see all the interactions that occur each day between staff. I know it’s a consensus that some days it can be distracting and just when you think that nobody will be in for the day that everyone suddenly does arrive and the decibels start to rise. According to a Cornell study just recently released that looked at 40 clerical workers, the impact of low level office noise dramatically reduces productivity (it’s true). Those studied in a noisy environment made forty percent fewer attempts to solve an unsolvable puzzle and made half as many ergonomic adjustments to their workstations. (I always knew Rubik cubes were unsolvable puzzles). One thing the researchers noticed was that the subjects typing wasn’t affected. While a quiet environment would be great, apparently I have no excuses when it comes to typing blog posts. My slowness is probably related more to the archaic hunt and peck method of typing I use.
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As far as my perfect work environment, I wouldn’t have it any other way than to have a sporadic mixture of conversation and noise. It makes every day a new adventure.
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Voice Rejoice

2011-01-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard a recording of your own voice? If you’re anything like me, it’s reminiscent of sounding one octave lower than if you just breathed a balloon full of helium. Today, I got a chance to get in the studio and record my first promo for the station's blog. It took several days of brainstorming script ideas and searching for audio tracks to select just the right clips and finalize the promo. In the studio, it was a little nerve racking to put on the headphones and hear myself for the first time. Maybe it was the caffeinated beverage I had sitting next to me, but I couldn't refrain from speed-talking and sounding like I was a hostage forced to read a scripted plea. It wasn’t until I started enunciating all my lines, especially k-p-b-x (dot) org that it started to flow. Something about the letters “p” and “b” next to each other created issues with my tongue getting tangled. While it would have been great to do everything in one take, it was only a matter of time before practice made perfect…or so I thought. I didn't realize it, but in a span of 15 minutes we probably went through two dozen takes. Stretched thin for time, Patrick tried to make the best of it and we were able to get everything recorded that we needed for the first 15-second promo. My fears of sounding high pitched and nasally like Fran Drescher were dispelled. I have hopes for my future promos. Next time, maybe I can conjure up a deep Barry White voice. Tune in to KPBX or KSFC and maybe you can catch me in action.

Blast from the Past

2011-01-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

I’ll admit I was a tad bit envious after stopping by the growing collection of music and videos downstairs at Spokane Public Radio. I couldn’t stop myself from flipping through the endless rows of organized vinyl records. Even though Bill Wright the Guru of donations was tired of the constant stream of staff members pursuing and parading through his organized area, I couldn’t pass up the chance to take a sneak peak at all great album art. What do Blondie, Ted Nugent, and Christmas with Johnny Mathis all have in common? Not much, except they all have outlandish album covers that are up for sale at the KPBX Recordings and Videos Sale, February 19 and 20, in the Spokane Masonic Center. Bill, in the last several days, has started to display some of the colorful, unique, and odd records on a wall in his downstairs dungeon for all of us to see. While visiting the music lair I was also amazed to see all the retro turntables, tape decks, speakers, (and something I’ve only seen in movies) a reel-to-reel tape machine. So, if you have ever thought about getting into vintage vinyl, or your looking for equipment, seize the moment to grab a turntable and some LPs for some classic listening this next month. If you’re into DVDs and videos there are plenty of those too. Are you ready music aficionados? “I got my 45 on so I can rock on” - Sheryl Crow

Bagel Burglar

2011-01-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

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Have you ever placed leftover food in the fridge for safekeeping, just to find out later someone already grabbed it? Today, a similar unjust crime occurred at the station. John a volunteer was nice enough to drop by with a spread of bagels and cream cheese. One by one in the lobby, everyone constructed a mid-morning snack. Then, it was discovered that someone left only half a bagel in the bag! Fortunately, Eckart Preu, the conductor for the Spokane Symphony, was in the studio with Verne promoting the group's upcoming concert theme, C.S.I Neurotic Composers. He sparked the idea to do some perusing and analyze the crime scene. Amid an array of cream cheese containers sat the lone half bagel in the bag. There were too many suspects, too little time. The only break in the case came when some spilled cream cheese was discovered on a desk. The sample has been sent for analysis, but meanwhile the bagel burglar remains on the loose. Who could have committed such an etiquette offense?
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Revealed Resolutions

2011-01-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

Resolution season has arrived and every year along with millions of other Americans, the staff at SPR has set their goals. While chatting with several people at the station, I discovered that even though Verne says his best resolution is not having one, Kathy did resolve to get organized and have more fun. Stephanie the volunteer coordinator has set her goal to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Unsuccessful for several years, my plan is to also get in shape and get organized. Another 2011 resolution I have is to cut back on the sweet treats. This might be a difficult goal since on my first day back from holiday break there is still candy and goodies lingering around the station. With indication that more candy canes, chocolate, and baked goods are on their way in the next few days, I might have to put off my goals for the unforeseeable future. If you have any resolutions you want to share post a comment on the blog. After being on hiatus for several weeks for the holidays the blog will return to being updated regularly. It’s been too long since the last picture of the week. With a big dump on its way, a snowy picture seemed fitting. Take a guess where it was taken. Hope everyone is having a great start to 2011!

2010-12-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

With Christmas only a few days away, I was bummed that I scheduled my flight to Denver the same day as the KPBX kids' concert at the Bing. It would have been great to listen to some live festive holiday music by the Spokane Area Children's Chorus. I would like to hear your opinion's of the performance if you attended. You can post a comment below this post. Also, you can post your guess for the picture of the week, which is for all the listeners to the east of Spokane. Now that I am in Denver for the holiday season, the blog won’t be updated as frequently. Every Monday there will still be a picture of the week. Hope your having a great start to the week!

'Tis the Season

2010-12-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

The last several weeks have been great for viewing light displays around town. Even though the snow is quickly melting, it is evident that the holiday spirit is in full swing. Holiday movies are just beginning to air nonstop on television and even though we have all watched Christmas Vacation or Christmas Story a hundred times over the years, they are still entertaining to watch, especially when you can relate. Clark Griswold and my father must be related, since he decides each year to decorate the area around our house with hundreds if not thousands of white stringed lights. The first sign he is ready for the holiday season is when he plays Christmas music before Thanksgiving. By the time the family is eating leftovers, he’s untangling boxes of lights out in the yard, while listening to more Christmas music. The best part is sitting inside the warm house watching him try and reach the tops of the trees in the dark. My dad is not anywhere close to the Griswold’s in the amount of lights he displays and by the actual holiday roles around he can’t stand listening to another version of “All I want for Christmas.” Since our new neighbors moved his holiday stamina might change. For the last several years he had no competition as the Light King on our street, but now the house to right has more lights. KPBX is also getting in the holiday spirit by playing a mix of cheerful Hanukah, Christmas, and other holiday songs and specials. Verne even decorated the studio with lights. If you have any of your own holiday stories feel free to leave a comment.

Spokane Sunset

2010-12-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

Photo by: Conner Discoll

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Before the forecasted freezing rain arrives in Spokane, I thought it would be great to post a picture of some recently good weather. If you know the location of the picture, post a comment. Weather wasn’t an issue for the open house last night. Quite a few people turned out at the station for the meet and greet. The discussion part of the night, had some great questions from listeners from all across the region. Sitting in the studio taking the minutes, the night seemed to go quickly. Before we know it the next open house will be upon us.
Have a good hump-day.
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Icky Leak

2010-12-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

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While the fallout from the Wikileaks scandal continues to gain momentum, Spokane Public Radio has been concerned with a different type of leak. After the city was blanketed with several layers of snow last week, the warm daytime temperatures have now started to gradually melt the once frozen precipitation, which has conveniently manifested itself into an “icky” leak just in front of the door way of the lobby. About the same time Hilary Clinton was addressing the public about the disclosure of classified government documents, Jerry Olson the chief engineer at the station was constructing a makeshift water feature for the entrance. By placing a funnel under the leak and duct taping it to a gradually suspended rope, the water was guided into a bucket away from the constantly revolving lobby door. Just as the government braced for more classified documents to be released, the station was alarmed at the possibility of additional drips developing, thankfully there have been none, thanks to Jerry. If you have had any problems with melting snow let us know, drop a comment about your own icky leak. Even though today is Monday, I will put up a picture of the week up tomorrow. Hope the week's starting out great and your enjoying our partly sunny weather.

Winter Wonderland

2010-11-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

It's a winter wonderland outside. The snow has been relentless all day and shows no sign of stopping. Travel around the city seems to be getting difficult as the white stuff starts to pile up again. Spokane Public Radio has you covered on all the closures and up to date information on the storm. I know I will be rejoicing about all the snow once this latest system moves through the inland northwest. If you're planning to take a trip up to the slopes, like I am, instead of listening to all your buddies' play-lists for the hundredth time, turn the dial to SPR. The station can be heard at all the ski resorts around Spokane. Can you guess the location of where this picture was taken and where you're also able to listen to SPR?

Back to Reality

2010-11-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. I know Verne was excited to be at the station for the holiday, playing many of his favorite songs. Even though I was quite a distance from Spokane, it was great to be able to listen to Spokane Public Radio on the Internet at kpbx.org. I have to say, Verne’s weather updates caught me off guard, considering there was no snow before I left for the week. When he mentioned that Spokane would receive large amounts of the white stuff and the high temperature for a few days would be below freezing, I was ready to book another vacation to somewhere warm. Today is Monday, and normally time for another picture of the week. Tomorrow I will post a photo since today I am still making my way back to Washington. The correct answer to last week’s picture was the Monroe Bridge. Stay cozy and happy holidays.

Turkey Time

2010-11-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

Picture Courtesy: Conner Discoll

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, it’s becoming apparent that people are already catching the holiday fever. In the past, I laughed at all the people fighting to get out of town during the half week holiday we call Thanksgiving. Now I laugh no more since I am one of the 42.2 million people who will travel more than 50 miles from home this year, according to AAA. From my experience, it can be a hassle to travel during that time, so this year I developed a new strategy to avoid the long lines and the boycott of full body screening on Wednesday. Leave a week early.

All those times I went to class even though I was sick or was exhausted from battling friends in video games late at night have paid off. Having no absences in my classes, I was able to escape with my teachers none the wiser and finally enjoy some quality living at home in Denver. Sure, spending the extra time with the family is great, but it’s the home cooked meals and not eating instant noodles or fast food that makes the trip worthwhile.

Today will be the last post for several days and, since it is Monday, I have posted a new picture of the week. Take a guess and leave a comment by clicking directly below the post on the word, "comments". Several people posted some great guesses to the picture last week, but unfortunately they were not the location where the picture was taken. The answer to last week’s picture was Mission park. Have a great Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I know I will be sleeping in after a good Thanksgiving meal.

Verne the Next Food Network Chef

2010-11-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

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Last Friday, during halftime of the Gonzaga basketball game, I was flipping through television programs and came across the Food Network: a channel I refuse to watch ever again. After several minutes of observing the host create an effortless and delicious dish of crème brulee. I sat there with a craving for the dessert – but with none of the ingredients.
Have you ever heard of the story of Stone Soup? The kid’s story about soldiers returning to their homeland from the Napoleonic Wars who are in search of food in the midst of winter and face the grim reality that they don’t have food or a place to stay? The soldiers developed a plan to deceive the residents of a town by making “stone soup.” Without any initial ingredients except for a stone, the crafty soldiers convince the villagers, one by one, to find ingredients to add to the community pot.

Arriving at Spokane Public Radio today, I was reminded to the Stone Soup tale. During the winter on Wednesdays, the lobby is filled with the aroma of cooking soup, instigated by Verne, who grabs left over ingredients from the station’s cupboards, and many of the staff who bring in ingredients to add. By the time Verne is done with his broadcast at noon and he has made the announcement on the intercom that the soup is complete; almost every chair in the lobby is filled with staff, volunteers, and guests partaking in the cuisine. After several hours slaving away at my internship duties today, the soup acted as a comforting motivator, especially on a cold day. Today’s soup was, Italian Wedding Soup, a blend of beef and vegetables and was delicious. You could of thought Verne may have worked for the Food Network at one time…

Unlike during Friday’s basketball game, it was great this morning to be nourished with soup at the ready. It is no wonder that college students consume so much instant noodles. In the future, I will have to employ the “Stone Soup Strategy” on my friends and family, except next time it might be crème brulee.
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Where in the City is Evan?

2010-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Hey! Hope everyone had a terrific weekend even though it’s been gloomy outside for the last several days. Today is Monday, and that means time for a new picture of the week. Last week’s picture was taken on the Gonzaga campus, and featured the granite fountain. It was brought to my attention though that there are similar fountains throughout the city. This week’s picture will include a riddle: Where can kids pretend they are astronauts launching into space, but are restricted by the number of chain links? Take a guess and feel free to post a comment by clicking the word comment below this post.

Note to Self: Guitar Instead of Sax

2010-11-11T12:52:00.000-08:00

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Guitar Hour today featured Jay Hildebrand playing live in the studio. After a quick listen while taking pictures, I found myself trying to refrain from making an impulse guitar purchase. This wasn’t the first time a musical instrument has tempted me. In the fifth grade, I started playing the alto saxophone after I heard the song, “Havana,” by Kenny G. All I can remember is buying a sax at DJ’s music box in Denver, and the owner telling me that the majority of kids quit after the first year of playing. I told him that I was an exception and that I would be the next great sax player. I showed him! After two years of playing in the school band, I quit and never picked up the instrument again. Watching Jay today, it was obvious that he has a passion for playing from the quality of the sound he creates. I’m sure he never had the temptation to quit. In hindsight, maybe I should have started on the guitar? Catch Jay’s show tonight at 8pm in the Whitworth Music Building, it should be an inspired performance.
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Picture of the Week

2010-11-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Take a guess at this week's Picture

Re: Picture of the Week

2010-11-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

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Daylight-Savings Time has arrived. The first several days after adjusting your clocks can be a confusing time. In honor of daylight savings, the picture of the week will be pushed back until later today. Several people commented that last weeks picture was difficult. The location of the picture was from Silver Car Collector Auctions, just down the street from the station.
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Ahoy Mates!

2010-11-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

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Hey, it’s Friday! The last several days have been great weather-wise. Saturday just might be the last great fall day before the storms roll in. So, while you’re out and about, drop by the Spokane Masonic Center Auditorium at 1pm to see KPBX’s FREE Kids’ Concert. Tom Lewis will be performing shanties and telling sailing tales. Bring the whole family - it is a must ‘sea!’

Election Day

2010-11-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

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"The country's 24-hour politico-pundit-perpetual-panic conflictinator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them much harder," John Stewart

It probably is a cliche at this point in the election to say that I am sick of all the negative election coverage. Flipping through cable television channels the last several months it was impossible not to witness attack ads and talk show hosts bashing candidate's and propositions. Since I'm from Colorado, living in Washington, election season is a unique experience that has its trade offs. I can't vote here, so I've tuned out the local coverage, and at the same time, I haven't kept up on the issues in Colorado. Since turning 18, I have only voted by mail. While the last presidential election energized everyone to vote, I'm not as motivated this election cycle. It wasn't until I started hanging out at Spokane Public Radio that I remembered why I liked to vote. Unfortunately, I missed the mail-in ballot deadline.

Election day at SPR is a stimulating time. Every hour at the station, staff members are commenting about election results. The news department is getting prepared for a long night of partying. Actually, they will be asking tough questions at the local Democrat and Republican election centers. In the news department no side is safe, considering the brief time I stopped by their office, they were making jokes about how the local Democrats are meeting at the Lincoln Center. Wasn't Lincoln a Republican? The station tries to remain unbiased during elections and does not support any candidate, unlike Glenn Beck or other cable television show hosts.

Last weekend the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" MC-ed by John Stewart, the host of the "Daily Show" was regarded as a success after tens of thousands of people turned out to proclaim that they are tired of the bickering in politics and the biased opinion of cable television pundits. While standing in front of the steps of the Capital Building, Stewart said, "The truth is, we work together to get things done every $%#* day. The only place we don't is here, or on cable TV-but Americans don't live here or on cable TV"

During the election, employees and volunteers at SPR may not agree on issues or candidates, but for the most part everyone still works together to ensure that programming and news is professional.
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Picture of the Week

2010-11-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

It has been two weeks since the last picture of the week. Several people commented that the Riverfront Mall escalators were too easy of a location for the last picture. This week hopefully will be a little more difficult. Leave a comment by clicking on the comment link below this post to let other's know how well you know the city of Spokane.

Pledge Drive Recovery

2010-10-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

The final phone rang at 8:12 a.m. to end the week-long pledge drive of fall 2010. Extended for one more day, in a mere two hours the pledge drive was able to generate ten thousand dollars in pledges. Not long after the station reached its goal the building seemed to return to normal. When I arrived at the station at ten in the morning the pledge center no longer buzzed with excitement. The fridge had been emptied of all the delicious donated treats and the hallways no longer echoed with conversation. It felt like the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas. The staff was grabbing salads for lunch, after several days of eating tasty, but high calorie food. Some retreated to their desks to finish their daily work while others mingled in the lobby talking about their plans for the weekend.

Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, was finishing the last of the thank-you cards and was noticeably excited that she and others no longer had to arrive at the station at 4 am. I completely understand after spending three hours the day before answering calls; I was worn out. It was great talking to many of the generous donors. Several callers were probably not as excited to talk to me as I was to them, since multiple times they had to repeat their contact information before I finally got it right. Pam and Helen, two other volunteers working with me, seemed to have no problem quickly getting people’s information. These two generous ladies helped the rookie out when I fumbled to get the courage to say, “Spokane Public Radio volunteer, May I take your pledge.” “It’s best if you say volunteer when you first start out because they will cut you some slack” Pam said, as with ease she answered another call. Reflecting back on my first pledge drive, I was amazed at how well the pledge drive went considering the size-able number of dollars that the station needed to raise. Spokane and the surrounding communities have great listeners and the people who volunteer and work at the station are great as well. This partnership between the listening community and the committed volunteers and station staff makes me proud to be an intern at the station.
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Community Chest

2010-10-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

I will not play Monopoly anymore! Do you hate playing for hours and landing on properties that produce no income, like the Electric Company, while other players live it up with Boardwalk and Park Place? I always feel obligated to buy every property I land on. Later I regret that decision, while I watch as time after time other players pass by with plenty of cash, and I sit there broke. In reality, don't we all wish we owned the utility company? If life was a Monopoly game, Spokane Public Radio would be the first player pursuing that property. While in the studio today, I learned that SPR spends well over $3,000 dollars in electricity costs on a monthly basis. It takes a lot of juice to power up a radio station! The SPR pledge drive continues through Wednesday and is a way for you to help the station pass GO and collect $200 in order to keep the airwaves operating.

Today's Pledge Drive Pic

2010-10-22T13:43:00.001-07:00

Patricia Felgenhauer won tickets to the YWCA
"Women of Achievement Luncheon"

“Mmm…sprinkles.” This morning the Homer Simpson in me emerged when Maggie, a volunteer at Spokane Public Radio brought in doughnuts. It was hard not to grab a pink pastry and retreat to a desk to take a siesta. Instead, there were guests in the studio and pictures to be taken. The last several days have been interesting taking shots of studio guests, drawing winners, and daily events. After spending time in Pledge Central, it became apparent how enthusiastic the volunteers are about answering calls. Everyone was so excited to answer phones that an informal competition emerged. Between the volunteers battling for phones, and the staff hovering over the new “delicious dish” in the lobby, it seemed more like a scene from “The Bird’s” than a friendly public radio pledge drive. Today is Friday! But at SPR it’s just the beginning of the week. While I might pull out the hammock and relax on a fall day like Homer, the volunteers at SPR will be working hard to take your donations throughout the weekend. Pledge your support at (509) 328-5729.

Daily Pledge Drive Picture

2010-10-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

It's pledge drive time at Spokane Public Radio! Verne and everyone at the station are energized by the amount of outgoing support for SPR. Each day during the pledge drive "Making Noise" will be featuring a picture of the day. If you have a spare moment, log on and check out the action going on behind the scenes and call into the station to pledge your support (509-328-5729).

Verne got an unusual surprise this morning when a listener dropped by the station to give her donation.

Pledge Drive

2010-10-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

It is pledge time at Spokane Public Radio! Everyone at the station is excited and anticipating a great upcoming pledge week. All the phones and equipment have been setup next to the studios for volunteers to accept pledges.

“Where are the tote bags? I'm not leaving the premises without tote bags. I was promised tote bags and tote bags I shall have.” Kramer from Seinfeld

George is not bringing the Yankees to answer pledges and there are no tote bags, but SPR does have some great gifts to raffle off. Earlier this week I took some photos of the many superb items being raffled off to donors who pledge their support. Along with a bike and a one-of-a-kind sculpture, there are many other great items that will be raffled to donors.

The pledge drive starts tomorrow and will be running through October 27. I will be answering calls on Wednesday and look forward to receiving your pledges. I might just have to wear my puffy shirt.

Picture of the Week

2010-10-18T11:20:00.001-07:00

Do you think you know Spokane? Every Monday and during the pledge drive, “Making Noise” will feature a new photo from somewhere in the Spokane area. Take a guess and leave a comment by clicking the comments link below to show others your knowledge of the city.

Musical Musings

2010-10-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

Today, I arrived at SPR earlier then normal to take pictures of Verne’s guest, Daniel Gaisford the cellist playing with the Gonzaga Orchestra this Saturday. Director Kevin Hekmatpanah also made an appearance, but had to leave quickly to teach a class. I grabbed the camera to take shots before he left, but before I could make it into the studio the on-air light flicked on. The red light above the door rattled my nerves. We have all had our phones ring at inappropriate times. I have visions of my embarrassing ringtone playing on the air when I’m taking shots of a guest. Instead of going into the studio, I waited patiently in the lobby and listened to the broadcast on the intercom until the next set of music played. Gaisford was talking to Verne about the amount of practice he does. “Now that I have the callouses I can practice six hours a day. That wasn’t true when I started, maybe a half an hour tops,” he told Verne. I played the saxophone growing up and getting me to practice even an hour (let alone six) was like giving a kid a shot from the doctor. The music started playing and I went into the studio and took the photos I needed and chatted with Gaisford. He was upbeat and was excited about his upcoming performance in Spokane. I know several members of the Orchestra, and had planned to attend, but Gaisford’s dedication sealed the deal. Monday, I will update “Making Noise” with my impressions of the performance. Check out the performance at the Fox at 7:30 pm on Saturday.

A New View

2010-10-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

I used to joke about people driving hybrids. Driving a gas guzzling Jeep Wrangler it never crossed my mind that my commute could ever be considered environmentally friendly, until I started riding the hybrid Spokane bus.

Taking the public transportation for the first time to SPR was like reliving the childhood experience of taking the bus for the first time to school, but this time my parents weren’t there, so instead, I stood with strangers waiting for the #28 Nevada to arrive. My adrenaline really started pumping when I had to deposit a $1.25. The driver quickly grew impatient after my wrinkled bill was rejected time after time by the fare meter. Without notice, he gunned through the intersection to make the changing light. I held on for my life and was able to finally grab a pass and make my way to a seat. I finally made it to the station with time to spare--even after making a transfer downtown.

While meeting people at the station during my first week, I learned that Verne, Brian Flick, and others also use alternative transportation to get to work. Verne rides his bike in any kind of weather and Brian walks two miles to work every day. “I could get a gym membership and rarely go, or I can walk to work and ensure that I always go,” Brian told me.

With class in the afternoon at Gonzaga, I had to make my way back to campus. With the light turning green, the arriving bus quickly stopped for all the soon-to-be passengers. The driver opened the door and waved people on as through he had just stolen it and was prepared to finish the job by following the plot of the movie “Speed.” I then came to find out that the fare meter was broken and the ride was free. It was a spectacle to see old ladies giving “high fives” to each other while other riders with contented faces were discussing how great the day had just become.

I realized that day that taking the bus allowed me to take my eyes off the road and start seeing the minute things that my surroundings have to offer. In the past, I only used a bike for exercise and left all my commuting to the Wrangler, but now, taking a stroll downtown, using my bike, or grabbing a ride on the bus has opened a new “hybrid” way of thinking for me.

Bing!

2010-10-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night’s are usually a slow time for downtown Spokane, but last night was unique. Sorry, AC/DC wasn’t headlining at The Factory last night, but at the Bing, Howard Berkes, a national reporter for NPR, was putting on a show.

Arriving late I was surprised that the only seats in the house were in the upper level. With the lights dimmed and the presentation already in full swing, it was interesting to see and hear Berkes present audio clips from past news stories. After playing several moving audio excerpts, he then presented insight. His explanations brought deeper meaning to the stories, and he even admitted that he was amazed about the new ability to present reports on the internet, which to him seemed to be a great way to involve the NPR audience.

Growing up in Denver, a stone’s throw from Fort Carson Army Base, I know first hand about some of the Western stories Berkes mentioned in his presentation. The local news does a good job reporting on family members who have been impacted by the loss of a loved one, but nothing compares to the way Berkes audio clips captured children impacted by the loss of a father in Afghanistan.

The lights went up and the night concluded after a question and answer session. As I was leaving, it became apparent that the night brought a mixture of new and old, and I am not just talking about the audience. The Bing is a theater enriched by tradition. The presentation referenced the internet as a growing news outlet and used contemporary technology to exhibit what is considered, to some, old technology in radio. Berkes presentation highlighted a key point that no matter the medium in which the news is presented, old or new, it should be presented as complete, impartial, and as fair as possible. I became aware last night of the importance of radio as a news outlet. I receive my news in many ways, but, sometimes, you need the impact that radio provides.

Where in Spokane is Verne?

2010-10-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

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Have you ever been the new kid on the block? Being the new kid at Spokane Public Radio so far has been an interesting experience. While making the rounds I met many great personalities at the station. Verne Windham, the on air host from 9am-noon on KPBX, was one of the people I ran in to. After talking with him for the first time I was amazed at how incredibly active he is in the community. For many people working as an on air host would be enough, but Verne does more. Let’s Follow him as he makes his way though the week:

Tuesday:
Morning: Jim Tevenan takes over for Verne on the KPBX airwaves - while Verne is busy working with camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d'Alene.

Night: “Orchestra” seems to be the theme of this day since Verne conducts for the Spokane Youth Orchestra and will also be rehearsing for the opening of South Pacific, where he has been recruited to play horn.

Wednesday:
For most, Wednesday is hump day. But for Verne, it’s just the beginning --

Morning: Jim Tevenan continues with Verne’s on air duties with a surprise special guest from the cast of South Pacific. NPR Correspondent Howard Berkes will be around to chat as well. Rehearsal for South Pacific continues where you will hear Verne playing his French horn in the 26 piece orchestra.

Night: Before the lights go down for Howard Berkes, Verne will be meeting and greeting with SPR members and answering questions at the Bing from 6:30-7pm. If you’re out on the town that night you might catch a glimpse of Verne riding his bike to perform at the INB at 7:30pm.

Thursday-Saturday:
Finally a regular day and time for rest (or so we thought):

Mornings on Thursday and Friday: Vern returns from his journey and is back in the studio hosting morning radio.

Night: South Pacific continues and so does Verne.

Sunday:
For many, it’s the day of rest but “Jam for Bread”- A benefit for the teen shelter Crosswalk will be emceed by “Mr. Community”: Verne Windham

While making this post it was hard not to check out Facebook for signs of Verne -- but I couldn’t help take a quick glance. There on “The Verne Windham Fan Club” page I noticed that not only does he have a following, his 184 admirers rival most people’s friends lists. And after he filled me in on his weekly schedule, it is not hard to see why.
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Hello! October Beginnings

2010-10-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

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It's the start of a new month and along with that the seasons are changing. "Making Noise" is changing things up as well. My name is Evan Winiger and I am going to take over for Nicole as the marketing intern. In the weeks ahead, some exciting events are coming up at Spokane Public Radio. This Wednesday, NPR coorespondent Howard Berkes will be dropping by the station and also will be making a presentation at the Bing in the evening. I will be updating the blog every few days so stay close to your computer and hit that refresh button.
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Goodbye

2010-09-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering why this blog has not been updated for a few weeks. Well, I'm back at school, beginning my junior year at Gonzaga University. Sadly, that means my internship at SPR has come to an end.

It's been a wonderful experience for me. I've gotten to write press releases, design ads, and even hear my own voice on the radio. I learned so much about what makes a radio station run smoothly. It's so much more than just the voices you hear from your car stereo. Behind the scenes many different people are organizing events like An Evening Under the Stars and the SPR Kids' Concerts, conducting interviews, calling sponsors, and managing publicity.

In addition, I had the chance to meet some amazing people in this position. Neesha gave me my first complete tour of the station. Nancy, the "comfort woman" for A Prairie Home Companion, always had a smile and a "good morning" for me. Amy, the sweet receptionist, helped me to find whatever I needed at the station - whether it was one of the staff, more paper, or a sugary snack to help me through the morning. Verne was always willing to let me bother him for an update for this blog, as well as making some incredible ice cream. Patrick was so much help with the promo for this blog and more importantly, didn't laugh at my timorous first attempt at recording. Then, of course, there was Shelley, who taught me everything from advertising design, to podcast uploading, to how to write a good press release.

In all, this internship was great fun and very intersting for me and I will miss my time at SPR. This blog will stall for a few weeks until a new intern takes my place. Thanks for everything SPR!

"Songs of Survival"

2010-08-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

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Walking into the station this morning, I was met with a very different sound. The song's lyrics were sung in a different language. Passionate and beautiful, it was tinged with an unmistakeable sense of sorrow.

Gonzaga alumna Julia Riegel sat in the studio with Verne, explaining that the song, composed during the Holocaust, was part of her thesis presentation "Songs of Survival." For the project, she demonstrated how music from the Holocaust can contribute to understanding what it meant to be a prisoner in a concentration camp and to an overall understanding of that period in history.

For her part, Julia is fascinated by both the music and the history. She analyzed songs with the confidence of extensive research, barely glancing at any notes. She smiled as Verne played a song with a title translating into "It Burns."

"This is one of my favorites," she said. "It's so powerful - kind of like a rock song from the Holocaust."

Julia and Verne have been known each other since she played the viola in his youth symphony. "She was about two years old and came forth fully-formed," Verne joked. The two have shared a love of books and music for many years, and Verne attended Julia's original thesis presentation this past May, where she first explained her work on "Songs of Survival."

"She's really great," Verne said of Julia after the broadcast. "She's so bright and can express things just wonderfully."

Me Making Noise!

2010-08-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

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Last week Shelley decided that it would be a good idea for me to create a promo for this blog to be run on both KPBX and KSFC. As I had never written copy to be read before and had no experience in advertising, this was quite the daunting task. My first draft turned out to be far too long and not catchy enough for radio. So, with much editing from Shelley, I returned to my desk and eventually came up with a few usable versions of the promo. I timed each one, reading it out loud at a reasonable pace, to make sure that it would fit within the specified time limit for the slots between musical pieces.

When Patrick had some free time, we headed to the recording room. I was very nervous and kept wringing my hands as I ran through the copy, occasionally adjusting words or inflection with suggestions from Patrick and Shelley. I discovered that "KSFC" is surprisingly difficult to pronounce clearly. And never again will I write "s" alliteration into my copy. After a few good recordings, though, Patrick said that he had enough to work with and returned to edit the fresh promo. I was directed to find an instrumental song to layer behind each recording.

With that instruction, the next day I was set loose in the music library. I might as well have been given the keys to Candyland. Walls upons walls, shelves of CDs and vinyl records met my amazed eyes. There was even an entire shelf dedicated to one of my favorite artists, Tito Puente, "El Rey de los Timbales." I spent the morning browsing through the library and playing wonderful music on a dusty boom box to my heart's content. Finally I returned to Patrick with a stack of CDs, my favorite tracks marked on bright yellow sticky notes.

At the moment, Patrick is meshing my voice recording with a few different songs to create a couple promos to play in between daily programming. Soon, I'll get to hear my own voice on the radio. I can hardly wait!

Helping with Dinner

2010-08-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

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Much like the elementary school teachers who don't actually sleep under their desks each night like their students suppose, the folks at SPR also have lives of their own. This often results in a lot of good for Spokane. For example, each Tuesday, Amy, Shelley, and Stephanie head over to the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant to help provide over 80 nutritious meals in two hours for the needy people of Spokane. Recently, Amy was named Volunteer of the Year.

"I was really surprised," she said, blushing slightly. "I do so little compared to everyone there." But of course, every Tuesday for over a year, plus special events like their summer barbecue where the Restaurant feeds over 1000, tends to add up.

"It's a wonderful, wonderful place," Amy said. The Restaurant, which is located in the basement of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, serves the poorest zip code in the entire state of Washington. Dinners are provided on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a big lunch and fresh "take-out" produce on Fridays. The food is completely donation-based from local groceries, farmers, and home gardeners.

Amy had wanted to be more active volunteering in the community and "this is something I think does a lot of good for a lot of people," she said. "I'm in a fortunate position and everyone needs help from time to time."

For two hours each Friday women and children can come into the Restaurant and fill out "menus" detailing the food they would like for themselves and their families. Volunteers collect these menus, looks over them, and fill recyclable bags with the requested items. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, hot, healthy meals are served to all guests.

"It's really a great example of how a few people wanting to make a difference can become a lifechanging service," said Amy.

Party!

2010-07-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

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Sprinkles.

Sprinkles and syrups.

Sprinkles and syrups and fresh cherries and decorations.

That's how the table in the lobby grew this morning. Each year about mid-July, the station has a hot dog roast and ice cream social during the lunch break to celebrate summer birthdays. Right now Verne is playing 52 minute stretches of music to snatch a few extra minutes to help with preparations. A line of ice cream machines churn away on the back porch. Stephanie is coordinating buns, beans, and barbecue. All in the midst of actual station work.

"We like to do this each year to zero in on our real love... food," said Verne. I've been told that his homemade (or rather station-made) ice cream is a big tradition. Added to Verne's vanilla, Patrick and Shelley have brought chocolate ice cream, Neesha is making, according to Verne "something Neesha-esque," and Nancy is whipping up a batch of sherbet for a non-milk-based alternative.

"We've also been eyeing the root beer in the fridge," Verne said. "Somebody might experiment with that."

Luckily for me the annual "ice cream orgy" as Verne put it, falls right on my birthday. So, as a special treat, I get to take a bit of a break from press releases and promos to blog about ice cream. The only concern is that we might wind up with more ice cream than the station can handle.

"It's like why I don't wear Spandex," Verne said.

Spandex? I gave him a look of complete puzzlement.

"You don't have to gear up and make a big fuss to ride your bike to work. Just like that, you don't have to go all crazy to enjoy some ice cream at work. It should be something normal," he added in explanation.

Well I, for one, am all for the normalization of ice cream at the station. Yum!

Work Song

2010-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

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Right now Nancy and Verne are at work on a new project. Early in September, KPBX's program The Bookshelf will feature the popular regional writer Ivan Doig's latest book, Work Song. Just A Theory host Tony Flinn has already begun recording readings from the sequel to The Whistling Season, a story about the miners of Butte, Montana. What makes this particular selection from The Bookshelf special though, is that the station has commissioned a local composer to create an actual work song to be played with the reading of the novel.

Composer, musician, screenwriter, and novelist Don Caron will bring to life what Nancy says should be "an infectious marching tune" like the song meant to organize the miners in Work Song. The lyrics to the song will most likely be accompanied by a concertina. Between the work of bestselling author Doig and that of award-winning composer Caron, this chapter of The Bookshelf should be page-turning.

Un "Promo" Muy Caliente

2010-07-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

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Early Tuesday afternoon, as I was doing a little design work, Shelley called my name.

"Could you come here for a minute? We need your Spanish expertise."

Because this year's An Evening Under the Stars fundraiser is Latin-fiesta themed, they've needed my limited Spanish much more often than one might expect from a public radio station in Spokane. As I entered Shelley's office, our Production Director Patrick looked up with a grin and said "Hola!" with an unmistakeable American-trying-to-be-Spanish accent. One quick glance at the computer monitor that he and Shelley were facing revealed the words: An Evening Under the Stars 2010 Promo - Antonio Banderas style.

"Errrre, errrre..." went Patrick, attempting to roll his "r's." "How would you say 'the beautiful grounds of Arbor Crest Wine Cellars' in Spanish?" Shelley asked me with a critical look at the screen. And so, I became one of the voice coaches to a Spokane radio announcer trying to be Antonio Banderas.

On Wednesday, after we had hammered out the perfect mixture of Spanish and English words so that an everyday listener might understand the promo, the three of us headed to the recording studio. Patrick's voice is naturally pleasantly mid-range but to transform into the sultry latino, he kept deepening it as he practiced the script.

"Buenos días," he said normally. "Buenos días," a little deeper. "Buenos días." With that, he went too deep, reaching instead the voice of a latino you would hope not to run into in a dark alley. Patrick readjusted and ran through the entire script several different times, pausing to ask the correct pronunciation of "señores," to perfect a Spanish-accented version of the word "radio," and several times just to laugh with Shelley and me at the silliness of the whole situation. When Patrick decided that he had enough usable takes, he took the sound recording back to his office to piece together the best versions of each section of the script.

Behind the promo recording he layered (what else?) music from the soundtrack to The Mask of Zorro.

National Impact

2010-07-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

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When the sun is beaming cheerfully as it is today, after a gorgeous 4th of July weekend, it's easy for the average person to forget (if only temporarily) that America is at war. Here at the station though, Amanda is knee-deep in the daily effects of war on our country. Part of NPR's Impact of War, the story Amanda is working on will be part of a series called “Living With War At Home.” She is writing about the difficulties for members of the armed forces who plan for a return to civilian life after service in the military.

"Some come back with PTSD; some come back with injuries or, at the very least, trauma," Amanda said. "My story is basically, how do you go back to the grocery store after something like that? How do you return to focus on school when you have trouble even leaving the house?"

The hardest part of this story, she said, has been finding veterans willing to share their day-to-day experiences after the military.

"I can find policy advisors all day," Amanda said, "but I want to know what it's like for the people actually readjusting to regular life."

Her conversation was filled with terms like PTSD, transition, and therapy.

"This is the white noise in my head right now," she said. "It's the hum that's always in my mind."

The story, which will be broadcast in the coming weeks, is one that is not often remembered.

According to Amanda, "This story is so important because it's something you just don't hear about. These people blend in, but they're at a loose end in their lives and there's not a lot of help."

Musical Kids

2010-06-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

This morning at quarter 'til 11, Verne had the nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something. As he pondered over what it could be, a line of excited 8-to-15-year-olds filtered into the lobby. It suddenly hit Verne that today was the live broadcast for the Holy Names Music Center piano camp and he shot into action.

"Us trapeze artists were about to splatter on the pavement," he said of the accidental lapse of memory and the unprepared live-recording studio. Together he, Jerry, Brian, and Patrick cleared out the room and set up sound equipment with record speed just in time for the 11 am broadcast.

It was at this point that I entered the office, only to be asked by a station volunteer, "Are you one of the pianists? They already went to the back room."

"Pianists?" I replied confusedly and sure enough, the strains of a lovely classical piece reached my ears. Shelley handed me a camera and I tracked down the tinkling notes to discover this scene:

35 kids of varying ages and attention-levels coated the carpet of the little room. A small strawberry-blond head bent over the piano.

Verne perched upon a stool, narrating between each of the 14 child-performers' turns on the piano and the camp instructor shuffled her students into place. Parents and friends spilled out into the hallway, listening to each piece and snapping rapid-fire photos of their children. Some kids waited patiently for their turn.

Others waited less patiently.

But when they sat down at the piano, the music was beautiful.

And everybody remembered to applaud.

The applause actually proved to be a bit of a problem. In an adjacent room, John was trying to record a news story in between the clapping and sounds of the piano. Because the building is not sound-tight, a few bars of a piano solo leaked onto the end of his recording.

"I had to redo it a couple times to make sure there wasn't any extra sound on it," he reported.

Overall, though, the broadcast of the young pianists' performances was a complete success.

"It was a wonderful rush of energy," Verne said with a grin.

Paper Parade

2010-06-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

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Today SPR is preparing for one of its biggest mailings just as The Guide is nearing completion for the printers. So, everywhere I turn there is paper. Third, fourth, and fifth versions of pages from The Guide hit my desk to be proofread and then passed on to Neesha or Stephanie's desk to be proofed again. Every little detail must be caught and made perfect before the finished product can go to the printers for distribution. Shelley types away correcting everything that the office full of proofreaders manage to spot, and dozens of papers in various stages flit from chair to chair.

At the same time, Mary, our Membership Coordinator, is organizing for a massive mailing on Friday. Just moments ago, Brian's voice came over the intercom with a polite, "If you'd like some exercise we could use help setting up for the mailing." Then came Amy's voice, a little more insistent, "Whether you want exercise or not, now is the time for action!" At that, people from across the office rose from their chairs and were put to work carrying stacks of envelopes, address sheets, and chairs down to the mailing room. By the time the paper parade came to a close, the room was ready for mailing and The Guide was ready to go to the printers.

A Red, White, and Blue Brainstorm

2010-06-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

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While for most people the 4th of July means food, flags, and fireworks, at SPR the patriotic holiday means brainstorming. This afternoon Verne padded into the office with no shoes and a harried but eager look on his face, clutching a fistful of scribbled notes on 4th of July special programming. During any holiday listeners expect something different and exciting from the station to match the mood of the day. This all boils down to the need for a surge of creativity from the broadcasters. Verne ran his fingers through his hair so that it stood wildly on end as he went over the first draft of the holiday weekend schedule. In addition to special programs like satirical singing group Capitol Steps performing their 4th of July version of “Politics Takes a Holiday" and the critique of government action during the Vietnam War "Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers” performed by L.A. Theatre Works, Verne said that the station will also run a mix of holiday-appropriate music throughout the weekend.

“We’ll have patriotic songs and music to burn burgers by,” he said, thumbing through notes. Verne mentioned the tentative schedule (that Capitol Steps will air on KSFC on July 2 and 5 at 5 pm and on KPBX on July 4 and 5 at 4 pm and noon respectively) but be warned that times may be altered.

“That’s the fun of radio,” he said, heading back to work, “changing our minds at the last minute!” And with that he ducked out the door, leaving half-formed notes as the remains of a patriotic brainstorm behind him. For an up-to-date schedule of 4th of July weekend programming go to kpbx.org or follow Spokane Public Radio on Facebook.

Taking cover from the Prairie

2010-06-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

This week at SPR my job has become to help wherever I can... mainly by staying out of the way. The station is a flurry of activity as the countdown to "A Prairie Home Companion" rapidly draws to a close.

Shelley has been painstakingly designing and proofing program fliers for the event. Amy and Nancy are busy fielding phone calls about tickets. Soon, a small group will be headed down to the Spokane Arena to set up and make final preparations for the show. People fly in and out of the door bearing stacks of fliers, programs, and paperwork. Everywhere you can hear the low murmur of "Garrison! Garrison!" The entire station is driving to make this show the best it can possibly be.

As for me, I find I can be most helpful by keeping out of everyone's hair for a while and working on other tasks. I'll come out from under my desk when all this is over and we can enjoy the success of "A Prairie Home Companion."