Day 84: Women's Conference Radio

My Best Guess: Shark Week is here! I mean...wait...what's going on here? The logo says that this is Discovery Channel Radio...so why does the screen say "Women's Conference Radio?" I'm confused...

According to Sirius: For two days, Sirius will devote an entire channel to the Women's Conference 2007, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Women's Conference, a non-partisan event, has grown into the largest one-day conference for women in the nation and has become an iconic destination for important and lively discussion. Shriver, in her fourth year hosting the annual event, shaped this year's conference theme "Remarkable Lives. Remarkable Legacies. What's Yours?" to encourage women to think about their own legacies.

Curt's Rebuttal: Um...so...no shark cage?

Sample Playlist

• Linda Ellerbee
• Nora Ephron
• Jamie Lee Curtis
• Ed Begley, Jr.
• Presidential Candidates' Wives

High Point: Nora Ephron talking about sex after 50. And 60.

Verdict: Well, not really worth discussing, as this channel only exists for two days...

Day 83: RadioClassics

My Best Guess: Go back in time to the classic days of radio serials, where mysteries, westerns and high adventure awaited you with every turn of the radio dial. From thrillers to the great comedy duos, you can relive the Golden Age of Radio on RadioClassics!

According to Sirius: RadioClassics invites you to experience the audio magic of legendary and old time radio. RadioClassics features the best dramas, mysteries, comedies and variety programs from the Golden Age of Radio.

Curt's Rebuttal: I say that I get a point for this one. I pulled "Golden Age of Radio" out of butt, and it ended up being a match.

Sample Playlist

• Inner Sanctum Mysteries, Corridor of Doom (starring Boris Karloff)
• The Abbott and Costello Show (with guest star Cary Grant)
• Gunsmoke, Prairie Happy
• The Lone Ranger

High Point: Also getting to hear commercials from the Golden Age of Radio. Was quite entertaining to hear how smooth Camel cigarettes are.

Verdict: Was a fun change of pace, and good listening for extended trips. Gave it a bookmark.

Day 82: Kids Stuff

My Best Guess: Musical fun for kids of all ages, with everything from sing-along favorites to your more grown-up kids' favorite cartoon theme songs. Nothing says fun like Kids Stuff!

According to Sirius: If you're old enough to walk, you're old enough to ROCK! Pre-schoolers will love the familiar music picked just for them. (And we won't tell if we catch you singing along, too!)

Curt's Rebuttal: Gag. Also, the evening show was called "Big Kids," folks. So it's not all pre-schoolers. And yes, I'm 32 and getting worked up about this.

Sample Playlist

• Winnie the Pooh, Rumbly in My Tumbly
• Laurie Berkner, Walk Along the River
• Justin Roberts, Picture Day
• The Wiggles, Here Comes a Bear
• Danger Rangers, Rules of the Road
• Dan Zanes and Friends, Linstead Market

High Point: Whenever a song by the Danger Rangers came up. While the one above was about car safety (from the point of view of someone who has a good decade before they're behind the wheel), there was also an instructional song that warned against listening to music too loudly, and the permanent damage it might do. Ah...good times. I will say, though, that I will be using the Winnie the Pooh phrase "Rumbly in My Tumbly" a lot more now...

Verdict: Um...no. I'm still bitter that yesterday and today I spent an inordinate amount of time in the car...and was forced to listen to children's songs.

Day 81: Radio Disney

My Best Guess: The magic of Disney, piped in directly through your radio, along with the coolest teen music that you love to sing along to. It's Radio Disney...your music, your way!

According to Sirius: Radio Disney is a 24/7 radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. The network's current playlist, driven by listener requests, includes artists such as Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, the cast of High School Musical 2, Keke Palmer and B5.

Curt's Rebuttal: Well, I tried writing it as if it was geared towards the younger audience. I did mean to mention High School Musical and Hannah Montana, actually, but decided not to get that specific...

Sample Playlist

• Baha Men, Who Let the Dogs Out (Radio Disney Edit)
• Choo Choo Soul, Bullet Train
• The Wiggles, Fruit Salad
• Baby Jamz, Dis Ol Man
• Ralph's World, The Mighty Worm
• Winnie the Pooh, Little Black Rain Cloud

High Point: Hearing Who Let the Dogs Out. I actually went to a Radio Disney concert while living in Chicago and working on the Juicy Fruit account, which was a sponsor of Radio Disney (about ten of us from work went). I believe that I saw not only the Baha Men there, but also the A*Teens. Good times.

Verdict: Sad to say...some of the music here was actually lifting my spirits. But then I heard the same song from High School Musical three times, and it promptly dashed those raised spirits upon the rocks of annoyance. Not like I would have bookmarked it, anyway. Give me some credit.

Day 80: Lime

My Best Guess: From living at peace with the environment to finding your inner peace, Lime features programming about healthy living...with a twist.

According to Sirius: LIME radio connects listeners with leading experts on a range of topics from personal transformation to the environment, from corporate responsibility to building better relationships, from the intuitive arts to alternative healthcare. LIME has everything you need to bring balance to your life...in your way. LIME...healthy living with a twist.

Curt's Rebuttal: I had the spirit of the idea down, I think. Plus, it was pretty obvious they would use their radio tagline in the description. You can check out more info on it through their official non-Sirius website, www.lime.com.

Sample Playlist

• The Lazy Environmentalist: It seemed to be a radio program about simple ways that you can live a more "green" and enviro-conscious lifestyle. Today's show focused on the documentary The Real Dirt on Farmer John, which brings to the world (it's being shown overseas as well as locally) an untold perspective on a slice of American life that the world doesn't get to see. This show was a re-broadcast from earlier this past summer, as it referred to Father's Day being "right around the corner." It also happened to be the show that I caught on my drive home...so not a lot of perspective on this channel.

Verdict: I was writing this review thinking I wouldn't end up bookmarking the channel. After having checked out all the different programs on their site, though...and having read their own summary of what kind of content they serve up (see above), I decided that it would only bring positivity into my life if I were to bookmark it.

Day 79: Martha Stewart Living Radio

My Best Guess: Become an expert at everything from cooking and home decoration, to social etiquette and facing challenges at work, with the help of "how to" guru, Martha Stewart, and her line-up of well-informed experts.

According to Sirius: Martha Stewart and her team of lifestyle experts will teach, advise, and inspire you.

Curt's Rebuttal: Can't believe I ended up being overly wordy on this one. I nailed the word "experts," but kind of danced around the idea of "lifestyle."

Sample Playlist

• Everything Food: This show was "All About Chocolate" today...I guess because it was National Chocolate Cupcake Day. I learned random facts, like how the diameter of a standard cupcake is 2.5 inches. I didn't learn, however, the different between a cupcake and a muffin.
• Whatever, with Alexis and Jennifer: Martha Stewart's daughter, Alexis, heads up this show with her friend. All I listened to today was a trivia game they were playing with callers. You could call up, request either a mug or magazine subscription (to Martha Stewart Living), and then had to answer random trivia about current events. There were a lot of fart jokes, surprisingly.
• It's a Dog's Life: People call in with questions about dealing with their dogs. Actually pretty informative...too bad I don't have a pet.

Verdict: More likely to bookmark this one than Cosmo Radio, but still had to pass. Sorry, Martha...nothing against you personally.

Day 78: Cosmo Radio

My Best Guess: From all the latest entertainment gossip, as well as tips for surviving the dating scene and finally landing the man of your dreams, Cosmo Radio brings all the best of Cosmopolitan Magazine to your Sirius dial.

According to Sirius: Love, sex, fashion, news and gossip -- everything you need to be the most informed girl at the water cooler.

Curt's Rebuttal: Wow...it wasn't just regurgitating stuff I heard on the radio, and it also wasn't a five paragraph long piece that looked like it belonged in a media kit. I stand corrected.

Sample Playlist

• Wake Up! with Cosmo: A morning drive talk show, starring Taylor and Tori, in which they covered Cosmo's Daily Horoscope, and focused a lot on the upcoming big Cosmo event, "Cosmo's Bachelor Party," where the fifty most eligible bachelors (one from each state) were going to be put on display. There was also a "Who's the Best Bachelor?" competition among the three male hosts of various shows throughout the day, judged by the ladies, with such events as "Knowledge of Women" and "Who Can Make the Best 'Morning After' Breakfast?"
• Music: Surprisingly, the rest of the time I spent listening to the radio featured music by such "girl power" artists as Pink, Avril Lavigne...and Britney Spears (twice). Also, a little Justin Timberlake.

Verdict: I have a man card to hang on to, thanks...