February 28, 2008
KPCC Drops the Oh-aRe-Gee; Earns Our Pledge; and Thanks
Last November we put out a desperate plea to 89.3 KP-CC to go e-z on the O-R-G.
In the new year, however coincidentally, we've noticed a near-total abolition of this redundantly rhyming spellin' lesson for Luddites.
In early January, we thought it was a dream. One by one -- Julian, Mantle, Stoltze and Xaykaothao -- all starting throwing around "dot org" as if they finally believed that most of us have a degree from an accredited e-d-u and know the difference between an org, an Org, an orgy, and the befuddling O-R-G F-M with I-Q.
By MLK weekend we realized it was true. Kari Moran, Shirley Jahad, and even Senior News Editor Nick Roman were saying it not spelling it like it's no big deal.
Why would a public radio station go through the trouble of spelling out O-R-G, which sounds like orgy when you say it fast, as opposed to just saying ORG, we asked.
Jon Rabe, award-winning host of KPCC's Off-Ramp, was brave enough to attempt a rationalization:
We say O-R-G because, even though it sounds like "orgy," it sounds better than "org," which conjures up images of glistening internal organs. Or alien invaders. ("I am Org, from the planet Novo Nordisk! You will obey!")Almost as funny as the t-shirt he sports on the Off-Ramp homepage (it reads: "I make stuff up").
Truly the only thing more ridiculous than our anti-O-R-G diatribe was the station management's insistence on spelling it out as well as claiming that KPCC aired on an F-M with I-Q (and yes, we also love when support for NPR comes from [planet] Novo Nordisk).
In all seriousness, now's the time to thank KPCC for growing into LA's most informative public radio source in a matter of five quick years. 89.3 is taking pledges for the rest of the week on their Web site or at 1-866-888-5722. Weekend joyrides just wouldn't be as fun without Off Ramp, Weekend America, and TAL w/ Ira G. Throw some bones at KPCC -- you know you're listening... and who knows -- maybe we'll even hear the return of Sound Opinions by the time the next pledge drive comes around ;-)
Next time on You're So Addicted to NPR It's Annoying: Has KCRW's Nic Harcourt even bothered to listen to any new music since he fell in love with Tom Waits' nanny's record... what's her name again? Will Nic rediscover new inspiring music and bring back the eclectic or will he start his own adult contemporary station. Find out next time....



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So, so true and very funny. Thank you for the laugh after a long day.
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I swear I heard O-R-G today. Let's hope it's an old promo recording that'll get dumped in the coming weeks. Every time I heard org spelled out since the original post it made me chuckle. Thanks for pointing it out!
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It might happen sometimes, but the transition seems to an orgy-free broadcast has been quite swift. I think I noticed that the flexyourpower.org spot redone to the power of org just the other day.
Also, I wish OKGO would do another NPR theme song -- the number they did for Gretchen Helfrich's old Odyssey program on WBEZ was an inspiration to all public radio theme song aficionados. Who knew?
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While you're at it, would you please start a similar campaign to rid the airwaves of Sandra Sandra Tsing Loh.
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LUCKILY, having solved all of the world's problems, you now have time to harass radio station announces about about the way they talk! Thank you, LAist, for solving another of LA's crucial problems, you wannabe journalists you!