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WABC (770 AM), known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of the Westwood One Network (successor to Cumulus Media Networks; formerly Citadel Media and ABC Radio Networks). WABC shares studio facilities with sister stations WNSH (94.7 FM), WPLJ (95.5 FM), and WNBM (103.9 FM) above Pennsylvania Station in midtown Manhattan. Its transmitter is located in Lodi, New Jersey. WABC's 50,000 watt non-directional clear channel signal can be heard at night in much of the eastern U.S. and Canada.
Since 1982 WABC has programmed a talk radio format. From 1960 to 1982, WABC broadcast a Top 40 music format and was the dominant contemporary music station in the New York City area, serving as a template for many other Top 40 stations around the country. During this time, WABC was among the most listened to radio stations in North America.
Today, WABC uses on-air slogans such as Breaking News and Stimulating Talk, New York's 50,000 Watt Beacon of Freedom and Where New York Comes to Talk. Many of WABC's hosts have now moved on to national syndication. The station serves as the flagship station for syndicated talk-radio hosts Mark Levin, John Batchelor and Don Imus. It was also where the nationally syndicated programs hosted by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity got their start, although those programs are now heard on WABC's Talk Radio rival in New York, 710 WOR.
In January 2009, the station began simulcasting on WPLJ's HD3 sub-channel.[2]
WABC began broadcast operations, originally as WJZ, in early October 1921. In November 1920, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company had established its first broadcasting station, KDKA, located in its plant at East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in order to promote the sale of radio receivers. This initial station proved successful, so the company developed plans to set up additional stations in major population centers, including WBZ, originally in Springfield, Massachusetts, and KYW, originally in Chicago, Illinois.
WJZ Newark
On September 30, 1921, Westinghouse was issued a broadcasting authorization for a station with the randomly assigned call letters WJZ, located at the company's meter factory at Orange and Plane streets in Newark, New Jersey, and transmitting on a wavelength of 360 meters (833 kHz).
WJZ's studio and transmitter were initially housed in a shack located on the factory roof, that was only accessible by ladder. The station later expanded to a larger studio on the factory's ground floor. The station began test transmissions around October 1, 1921, followed, beginning October 5, by broadcasts of the 1921 World Series baseball games. Announcer Thomas H. Cowan in Newark simply relayed the description phoned in from the Polo Grounds playing field by Newark Sunday Call sportswriter Sandy Hunt. (Initially station announcers were identified only by initials, in Cowan's case as "ACN", for "Announcer-Cowan-Newark").
The station soon expanded to feature a wide variety of live programming. A popular early feature were the "Man in the Moon" bedtime stories, written by Josephine Lawrence and read over the air by Bill McNeary. (Both were Newark Sunday Call employees.) Beginning on November 27, 1921, a weekly 90-minute show presented by Vincent Lopez band was aired.
When it began its broadcast service, WJZ was the only station in the New York City area transmitting on 360 meters. In mid-December 1921, station WDY, operated by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) from Roselle Park, New Jersey, began sharing the wavelength, with WJZ now broadcasting on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and WDY operating on the other three nights. This soon ended when WDY ceased operations in mid-February 1922 and was merged with WJZ, with RCA now assuming half of WJZ's expenses. However, within a few months a large number of additional broadcasting stations began operating on 360 meters, and WJZ was stubborn about having to share "its" wavelength. In May 1922 a proposed timesharing agreement among 15 local stations assigned more than half of the available airtime to WJZ, but the station did not feel this was sufficient, which in turn led the Radio Broadcasting Society of America to petition that WJZ's license be canceled for being uncooperative.
There were no formal standards in the United States defining broadcasting stations until December 1, 1921, when the Department of Commerce, which regulated radio at this time, issued a regulation specifying that stations making broadcasts intended for the general public now had to hold a Limited Commercial license that authorized operation on 360 or 485 meters.[2] WJZ was one of a small number of stations that already met this standard at the time of its adoption. It was also the second oldest of the two licenses previously issued for the state of New Jersey, preceded by RCA's WDY grant. However, WJZ was the first to go on the air, as WDY didn't begin operations until two and a half months after WJZ's debut.
WJZ had difficulty convincing New York City performers – who were not paid – to make the trek to Newark, so on February 5, 1922 a more convenient remote studio was opened at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Fifth Avenue and Thirty-Fourth Street.[2] The American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) was unwilling to provide a telephone line to connect the Waldorf-Astoria studio to the Newark transmitter, so the link was instead made using specially prepared telegraph wires provided by Western Union. However, this expedient only provided marginal audio quality, and "the line was so noisy that when Newcomb Carleton, the president of Western Union, broadcast over it, his voice was completely drowned out".[2]
On March 15, 1922, WJZ broadcast a studio performance of Mozart's Impresario, probably the first full-length opera broadcast in the New York City area. In October 1922, the station aired its second World Series, this time also feeding it to WGY in Schenectady, New York. Shortly after midnight on December 9, 1922, WJZ became the first broadcasting station confirmed to have been heard in Europe, consisting of a short program featuring greetings from the British consul in New York to British listeners and Vaughn De Leath singing her "Oliver Twist" song.
WJZ New York City
May 15, 1923 saw a number of simultaneous major changes. Most notably, on this day the station moved from Newark to New York City, and the ownership was changed from joint Westinghouse-RCA responsibility to full control by RCA. WJZ now occupied studios on the sixth floor of the building where the Aeolian Hall was located, and station publicity heralded the upgrade: "Located in the heart of the city's musical and theatrical district, where entertainment of the highest order is ever available, this station will offer to the American public the most elaborate radio programs yet attempted and with a degree of faithfulness in reproduction that marks the beginning of a new era in radio broadcasting."[2] This was also the day that the Department of Commerce implemented an expansion of the broadcast band, which now consisted of a range of transmitting frequencies from 550 to 1350 kHz, with WJZ assigned the sole use of 660 kHz. Finally, a sister station with the call letters of WJY, operating on 740 kHz, was established, which shared the "Broadcast Central" Aeolian Hall studios, with WJZ providing more serious programming, and WJY's offerings considered more informal.
Program logs from May 15 to December 31, 1923, show WJZ aired 3426 programs, including 723 talks, 67 church services, 205 bedtime stories and 21 sports events. Many of the broadcasts were musical and ranged from Carnegie Hall and Aeolian Hall recitals to harmonica and banjo solos.
As part of the move to Aeolian Hall, WJZ's transmitting antenna was constructed atop the building, but the location in the middle of New York City proved to be a poor choice. At the end of 1925, the station began operations from a new transmitter site located at Bound Brook, New Jersey. However, this overwhelmed several other stations on the air, forcing WJZ engineers to visit homes in central New Jersey to deal with the complaints. As a result, WJZ didn't operate regularly at 50,000 watts until 1935.
Initial network operations
Westinghouse and RCA's original financing plan envisioned that profits from receiver sales would provide the funds for broadcast station operations, but this revenue soon became insufficient. In 1922, AT&T adopted a more practical approach, of selling airtime, which it called "toll broadcasting", in addition to connecting stations together using telephone lines to form a radio network that could broadcast programs simultaneously to multiple sites. This first radio network was called the "WEAF chain", named after the flagship AT&T station (now WNBC), located in New York City.
RCA, along with its "radio group" allies of Westinghouse and General Electric, responded by creating a small network of their own, centered on WJZ. Due to AT&T's interpretation of a patent-rights cross-licensing agreement, the telephone company claimed the sole right to sell airtime, so WJZ was not able to charge for advertising, and again there were technical limitations, since the network had to use inferior telegraph lines to interconnect its stations.[2]
NBC-Blue network flagship years
In the summer of 1926, AT&T decided to withdraw from the broadcasting field, and sold its stations and network operations to RCA. Included with this sale was the right to sell advertising time, and access to telephone lines for radio network connections.
The earlier network operations were reorganized as the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), with the primary network, now known as the NBC Red Network, originating from WEAF. A second network, known as the NBC Blue Network, with WJZ as the originating station, debuted on January 1, 1927. (The WJY sister station was quietly discontinued at this time.) In October 1927, WJZ moved into NBC studios still under construction at 711 Fifth Avenue. A month later, WEAF joined WJZ – and both were together under one roof. On November 11, 1928, as part of a general station reassignment produced by the Federal Radio Commission's General Order 40, WJZ moved to 760 kHz.
On March 24, 1932, WJZ became the first radio station to broadcast a program from aboard a moving train; the station aired a variety show produced aboard a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passenger train travelling through Maryland.[2] In November 1933, WJZ, WEAF plus the NBC and RCA corporate headquarters moved to 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
In 1941, under the provisions of the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, stations assigned to 760 kHz were shifted to 770 kHz, which has been WJZ/WABC's dial position ever since.
WJZ and the Blue Network presented many of America's most popular programs, such as Lowell Thomas and the News, Amos 'n' Andy, Little Orphan Annie, America's Town Meeting of the Air, and Death Valley Days. Each midday, The National Farm and Home Hour brought news and entertainment to rural listeners. Ted Malone read poetry and Milton Cross conveyed children "Coast To Coast on a Bus", as well as bringing opera lovers the Saturday matinée Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts. Cross would continue to host the Met on NBC, ABC, CBS and NPR until his passing at the beginning of 1975.
Occasionally, a show would premiere on NBC Blue, which had a weaker lineup of stations nationwide, and be shifted to the Red Network if it grew in popularity. Fibber McGee and Molly is one example.
Birth of ABC
In 1942, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that no broadcaster could own more than one AM, one FM and one television station in a single market. On January 23, 1942, the FCC approved the transfer of WJZ's operating license from Radio Corporation of America to the Blue Network, Inc.[2] A year later, on October 12, 1943, WJZ and the NBC Blue Network were sold to Edward J. Noble, then the owner of WMCA. Technically, this spun off network was simply called "The Blue Network" for little over a year.
On June 15, 1945, "The Blue Network" was officially rechristened the American Broadcasting Company, when negotiations were completed with George B. Storer, who had owned the defunct American Broadcasting System and still owned the name.
In November 1948, WJZ and the ABC network finally got a home of their own when studios were moved to a renovated building at 7 West 66th Street. On March 1, 1953, WJZ changed its call letters to WABC, after the FCC approved ABC's merger with United Paramount Theatres, the movie theater chain owned by Paramount Pictures which, like the Blue Network, was divested under government order.[2][2][2]
The WABC call letters were once used previously on CBS Radio's New York City outlet, before adopting their current WCBS identity in 1946. Westinghouse, however, did not let the WJZ call sign go forgotten. After acquiring Channel 13 WAAM in Baltimore, Maryland in 1957, Westinghouse applied to change the calls to WJZ-TV in honor of its pioneer radio station. The FCC granted the unusual request (perhaps because Westinghouse was highly regarded as a licensee by both the industry and the FCC at that time), and the Baltimore TV station, now owned and operated by CBS, retains the call letters to this day, along with sister radio stations 1300 WJZ (AM) and 105.7 WJZ-FM.
WABC's first era (1953–1960)
Although WABC continued to air ABC programming during this time, ABC Radio – like the other major radio networks of that era – began to drop significant amounts of long-form comedy and dramatic programming, many of which migrated over to television. In response, WABC began using deejays playing recorded music in greater frequency. Some programs featured Middle of the road (music), including Broadway and Hollywood showtunes and popular music, while other portions of the schedule included ABC Radio's remaining long-form newscasts and dramatic program lineup, in tandem with CBS Radio's WCBS and NBC Radio's WNBC.
(This would continue until 1960, as the Musicradio 77 era formally began, but WABC was still required to carry several of ABC Radio's non-music and entertainment shows, including the long-running Don McNeill's Breakfast Club during the 10:00 am hour, and a long-form news block in the afternoon-drive period. While this was not an issue prior to 1960, such commitments created a programming clash with the Top 40 format up until the network was dissected into four sub-networks in 1968.)
In 1958–1959, legendary rock'n'roll disk jockey Alan Freed hosted a daily evening show on WABC, which was similar in format and musical policy to the early rock shows he had gained fame with on WJW in Cleveland, and later WINS in New York. Freed's time at WABC ended when he was caught up in the investigation of the "payola" scandals of the era.
At different times in the pre-top-40 era, famed comedian Ernie Kovacs and dean of early disc jockeys Martin Block were heard on the station.[10][11]
The Musicradio 77 era (1960–1982)
Early years
When Harold L. Neal, Jr. was named General Manager of WABC, he was charged with making WABC successful in terms of both audience and profits. Neal had been at WXYZ in Detroit. By 1960, WABC was committed to a nearly full-time schedule of top-40 songs played by upbeat personalities. Still, WABC played popular non-rock and roll songs as well, provided they scored well on the Top 40 charts. WABC's early days as a Top 40 station were humble ones.
Top 40 1010 WINS was the No. 1 hit music station and WMCA, which did a similar rock leaning top 40 format, was also a formidable competitor, while WABC barely ranked in the Top Ten. Fortunately for WABC, the other Top 40 outlets could not be heard as well in more distant New York and New Jersey suburbs, since WINS, WMGM, and WMCA were all directional stations. WABC, with its 50,000-watt non-directional signal, had the advantage of being heard in places west, south, and northwest of New York City – a huge chunk of the growing suburban population – and this is where the station began to draw ratings. Early in 1962, WMGM, owned by Loew's, which then owned MGM, was sold to Storer Broadcasting. Upon its sale, WMGM reverted to its original WHN call letters and switched to a middle of the road music format playing mostly non-rock artists such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Andy Williams.
Sam Holman was the first WABC program director of this era. Under Holman, WABC achieved No. 1 ratings during much of 1962, after WMGM reverted to WHN. By the summer of 1963, WMCA led the pack among contemporary stations, with WABC at No. 2 and WINS slipping to third place. It has been said, but is difficult to verify, that WMCA dominated in the city proper, while WABC owned the suburbs. This would be consistent with WMCA's 5,000-watt directional signal.
Dominant years
Hal Neal hired Rick Sklar as WABC's program director. He would go on to become a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and be credited as one of the pioneering architects of the Top 40 format. Under Sklar, the station went to the shortest playlist of any contemporary music station in history. The number one song was heard about every hour during the day and every 75 minutes or so at night. The other top 5 songs were heard nearly as often. Other current songs averaged once to twice per airshift. The station played about 9 current hits per hour and several non-current songs. The non-currents were no more than 5 years old and the station played about 70 of them in total. In his book Rockin' America, Sklar said he was sensitive to payola concerns and advanced airplay. Through the years, WABC was known by various slogans, "Channel 77 WABC" and later "Musicradio 77 WABC". Due to the high number of commercials each hour, WABC played no more than two songs in a row and there was frequent DJ talk and personality between every song. The station averaged 6 commercial breaks per hour but they were no more than 3 ads in a row. Often the air personalities delivered live commercials in their own humorous style, so that listeners would consider the spot part of the entertainment.
Early 1960s disc jockeys included Dan Ingram, Herb Oscar Anderson, Charlie Greer, Scott Muni, Chuck Dunaway, Jack Carney, and Bob "Bobaloo" Lewis. But some of the best known WABC DJs are the ones that followed them in the mid-1960s and 1970s: Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, "Cousin Brucie" Bruce Morrow, Chuck Leonard (one of the earliest African-American DJs to be on the staff of a major mainstream radio station), Johnny Donovan, Bob Cruz (a Dan Ingram sound alike), Frank Kingston Smith, Roby Yonge, George Michael, Jim Nettleton, Jim Perry and Steve O'Brien. Meanwhile, Radio Hall of Fame member Dan Ingram, perhaps WABC's best known DJ, was held over from the early staff, being heard in the afternoon for much of WABC's Top 40 history. Noted sportscaster Howard Cosell did a brief weekday evening sportscast on WABC, as well as hosting a late Sunday night interview show called "Speaking of Everything."
Especially in the afternoons and evenings, WABC was the station that teenagers could be heard listening to on transistor radios all over the New York metropolitan area. Due to its strong signal, the station could be heard easily over 100 miles away, including the Catskill Mountains, Pocono Mountains, through much of Connecticut and Rhode Island. After sunset, when AM radio waves travel farther, WABC's signal could be picked up around much of the Eastern U.S. and Canada. Bruce Morrow often spoke about how he felt an almost psychic bond to his young listeners.
A famous tape, or aircheck, of WABC from August 1964 features some of the DJs speaking from a window of the Beatles' hotel room (The Delmonico Hotel) during the Fab Four's second visit to New York City, while Dan Ingram, back in the studio, played WABC jingles to thousands of teenagers in the streets below, who enthusiastically sang along with them. Ingram later noted that this was actually illegal under FCC rules, but said that they didn't know it at the time.[12] In the wake of the success of "W-A-Beatle-C" (as it was briefly called around the time of the Beatles' U.S. visit), competitor WINS finally dropped out of the Top 40 battle in 1965, adopting an all-news format. As a tribute to WABC, the television network also called itself "A-Beatles-C" whenever it promoted airings of Beatles-related films.
Just before the famous Northeast Blackout of 1965, Dan Ingram noted that the studio's electric power was fluctuating and began having fun with the slowed-down music. After playing "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" by Jonathan King, he quipped it was played "in the key of R." Ingram then proceeded to run some recorded commercials and a portion of Si Zentner's "Up a Lazy River", backtimed to the news, while commenting on how everything seemed to be running slower than normal. During the 6 pm newscast, WABC left the air as the outage settled in for real. Ingram later drove out to the transmitter site in Lodi, New Jersey, with a box of records, and continued his show from the backup studio housed there.
In the 1970s, WABC was either No. 1 or No. 2 consistently, often trading places with WOR. Once in a while, a station attracting an older audience (like WOR or WPAT) would move into the top spot. These stations were not truly WABC's direct competitors because they targeted a much older audience. Chief competitor WMCA began running evening talk by 1968 and stopped playing top 40 music altogether in the fall of 1970. Then in 1971, Country Music station WJRZ abruptly flipped to a Top 40 format and became known as WWDJ. That lasted until April 1974. WOR-FM evolved from progressive rock to Adult Top 40 playing the hits of 1955 to current product by 1968. They dropped most pre 64 oldies in 1972 and became known as WXLO 99X. That station evolved into more on an Adult Contemporary format in 1979 and a Rhythmic Top 40 format in 1980. Other FM competitors like oldies station WCBS-FM, soul station WBLS, and album-oriented rock stations like WPLJ and WNEW-FM all did well in the ratings, but none rivalled WABC's success. AM competitor WNBC also never came close to WABC's audience during this period. WNBC then had a format similar to 99X playing Adult Top 40. In 1977, WNBC tried sounding younger and moved their format musically closer to WABC. Then by 1979 they tried sounding older and somewhere in-between. Until 1978, WABC remained dominant.
WABC's ratings strength came from its cumulative audience, what the radio industry calls "cume". Most listeners didn't stay with WABC for long periods of time, as the station had some of the shortest "time spent listening" (or TSL) spans in the history of music radio—an average listener spent about 10 minutes listening to WABC. It was the price paid for a short playlist, and numerous commercials between songs (the large number of commercials being due to WABC's large audience), but what WABC lacked in TSL it more than made up for with its sheer number of listeners. By 1975, WABC tried becoming more music-intensive, reducing commercial breaks to three per hour. It began playing 3 to 5 songs in a row, still mixed with talk and personality, but done in a tighter manner.
Fed up with the short playlist, Cousin Brucie left in August 1974 to defect to rival WNBC. Rick Sklar was promoted in 1976 to vice president of programming for ABC Radio, and his assistant program director Glenn Morgan became WABC's program director. The station's influence could be found in odd places: Philip Glass' 1976 opera, Einstein on the Beach, has as part of the background a recitation of WABC's DJ schedule in the 1960s.
"Disco" era
The end of the 1970s found FM radio beginning to overtake AM music stations in most markets. In June 1975, an FM station on 92.3, owned by the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Racing Association flipped to Soft Rock and became known as Mellow 92 WKTU. That station had very low ratings and had no effect on WABC. But on July 24, 1978, at 6 PM, WKTU abruptly dropped its Soft Rock format in favor of a disco-based top 40 format known as "Disco 92". By December of that year, WABC was unseated, as WKTU became the No. 1 station in New York City. The first "disco" ratings saw WKTU with 11 percent of the listening audience—a huge number anywhere, let alone in a market the size of New York City—and WABC dropping from 4.1 million listeners to 3 million, losing 25 percent of its audience practically overnight.
After this initial ratings tumble, WABC panicked and began mixing in several extended disco mixes per hour and sometimes played two back-to-back. Some of the disco songs ran in excess of eight minutes. What regular listeners heard was a major change in sound. While the station continued playing non-disco and rock songs about a third of the time, familiar format had seemed to disappear and as a result, WABC began to lose its identity. In late spring 1979, Billboard magazine reported that Rick Sklar had demoted program director Glenn Morgan to "moving carts" instead of making programming decisions. WABC's numbers dropped for four consecutive ratings periods.
On August 2, 1979, the Donna Summer disco hit "MacArthur Park" was playing during Dan Ingram's afternoon drive program. During the song, DJ George Michael (who also was a sports reporter) interrupted to break the news that New York Yankees catcher and team captain Thurman Munson had died in a plane crash. In late summer, WABC moved, temporarily, back to their tight playlists.
The "More music, less talk" era
In September 1979, Al Brady Law took over the station, and according to an account by DJ George Michael, Rick Sklar was removed from his oversight of WABC and was moved "upstairs." Law cut back the current songs moderately (though still playing the top song over a dozen times a day) and added more 1970s rock, some album cuts, and a few big 1960s hits. He also changed the presentation of the station. The goal was to increase the station's poor time-spent-listening, and for this, he desired a new direction. He tightened personality on the station, limiting length of talk to 10 seconds and that was to always be done over the instrumental intros of the songs played.
Longtime DJs Harry Harrison, Chuck Leonard, and George Michael exited that November. Dan Ingram moved to mornings, Bob Cruz (a Dan Ingram sound-alike, that until 1979 was Dan's designated fill in guy. While filling in, he would say he was on the Dan Ingram show, but did not identify himself, nor would he claim to be Dan either) moved from overnights to afternoons, and Sturgis Griffin joined for overnights, while Howard Hoffman did evenings. Hoffman was one of the first of the 1980s style of contemporary hit radio (CHR) DJs—heavy on brief phone bits from listeners and a sarcastic sense of humor, sounding "hip", as the future Z100 DJs would a few years later.
The time-spent-listening did improve, and WABC was now holding onto decent overall ratings, but they were under extreme pressure to regain the lost ground. The station started to become slightly information-oriented during drive times, adding morning traffic reports by Shadow Traffic's Jack Packard (aka Bernie Wagenblast) on December 3, 1979. The station also used veteran traffic reporter Joe Nolan in afternoons. WABC did add New York Yankees baseball games that all-news WINS was unable to air due to their coverage of the Iran Hostage Crisis and the 1980 Democratic and Republican conventions. It was the first sign of the end for the music format of WABC.
"77 WABC, New York's Radio Station" and the transition to talk
Al Brady left WABC in July and soon became General Manager of crosstown WYNY, which by then had a similar format to their then-fraternal twin sister station WNBC, as well as WABC. That fall, Jay Clark took over as program director at WABC. Jeff Mazzei arrived as assistant program director from crosstown WNEW (which was moving from adult contemporary to big bands and standards).
Under Clark, the station played current music leaning toward a more Adult Contemporary (AC) sound, trying to appeal to a slightly older audience, as most younger listeners had moved to the FM dial. Part of the reason was the Top 40 chart was leaning that way at that point as well. So WABC still played rock and soul crossovers in moderation, but began to move away from album cuts and more toward 1960s and 1970s oldies. They also dropped the "Musicradio WABC" slogan and became "77 WABC, New York's Radio Station", the apparent implication being that the station was more than just music.
By early 1981, WABC's cumulative audience was down to 2.5 million—rival WNBC, a perennial also-ran, was by this time beating them with 3 million. Fewer people were tuning into WABC, listeners who had switched to FM were not coming back, and, while still moderately successful, the ship was sinking. Like Al Brady Law, Jay Clark tried to improve the time-spent-listening. In March 1981, Bob Cruz departed, Dan Ingram went back to his familiar afternoon slot, and the team of Ross Brittain and Brian Wilson from Atlanta moved into morning drive. Ross and Wilson, as the show was known, was very information-oriented, playing exactly four songs in an hour except on Saturdays when they played the usual 12 or so songs an hour. A week later, the station also began airing a weeknight sports-talk show with Art Rust, Jr. from 7 to 9 pm. WABC's ratings by this point were mediocre and they were still going down.
Also, that March, WABC became the full-time flagship radio outlet for Yankees baseball games, a distinction the station carried through the end of the 2001 season. This would be the longest continuous relationship the team would have with any flagship station (to date). Jay Clark reasoned that Yankee baseball would bring back some listeners to the station and that they would recycle back into the music format, but not even the "Bronx Bombers" could save music on WABC.
In the fall of 1981, WABC dropped the remaining heavy-rock cuts and non-crossover urban hits. They began playing more oldies, as well as songs from the adult contemporary chart, and added an "advice" talk show with Dr. Judy Kuriansky from 9 pm to midnight on weeknights. Howard Hoffman and Sturgis Griffin exited at this point. By then, WABC was almost unrecognizable as a Top 40 station, the ratings were languishing, and rumors were rampant that the station would be changing its format.
In February 1982, WABC officially confirmed it would be going to an all-talk format that May. The airstaff began saying goodbye with a comment here and there from February into May. Finally, on April 30, it was announced that the switch to all-talk would occur on May 10 at noon. From May 7 to 9, the departing station air-staffers said their goodbyes one last time. Staffers that departed included Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram, Marc Sommers, and Peter Bush. Assistant Program Director Jeff Mazzei left for a similar position at WCBS-FM where he would stay for well over 25 years. Marc Sommers also went to WCBS-FM and eventually Ron Lundy and Dan Ingram would. Johnny Donovan and Mike McKay remained at WABC as staff announcers and producers. Mike McKay did not long survive the transition to talk and Johnny Donovan has since retired from WABC.
Monday, May 10, 1982, the day WABC stopped playing music, is sometimes called "The Day the Music Died". WABC ended its 22-year run as a music station with a 9 am–noon farewell show hosted by Dan Ingram and Ron Lundy. The last song played on WABC before the format change was "Imagine" by John Lennon, followed by the familiar WABC "Chime Time" jingle, then a few seconds of silence followed by a minute jingle for talk radio before the debut of the new talk format.
The NewsTalkRadio 77 era (1982–current)
Early years and success
Initially after the format change, the station ran satellite talk shows from corporate ABC's "Talk Radio" network. Initially, WABC's lineup consisted of Ross and Wilson until 10 am, Owen Span from Satellite until noon, Art Athens and News until 1 pm, Money Management talk until 2 pm, Michael Jackson (a talk show host and not the late pop star) from satellite until 4 pm, another advice show with Dr. Toni Grant from satellite until 6 pm, and ending with a half-hour of news at 6. Sports Talk began at 6:30 pm and remained on until 9 pm. Doctor Judy remained in her time slot. Overnights were hosted by Alan Colmes, who played some music initially, but he stopped playing it by mid-1983. At that time, he was less politically based and more entertainment-based. Weekends had Child Psychology advice shows (Dr. Lawrance Balter), Home and Garden shows, talk about religion (Religion on the Line), and of course, the Yankees. Ross and Wilson stayed on and continued to play 4 songs per hour (mostly 1960s and 1970s hits) throughout 1982. In 1983, they stopped playing music as well. Ross and Wilson split up in 1983 when Ross went over to WHTZ. While the station's final ratings as a music station were mediocre, their talk ratings initially were even lower.
Still, the station stuck with the new format. After Brian Wilson left in 1984, Alan Colmes moved to mornings. Jay Clark left that year. He was replaced by John Mainelli and at that point they dropped satellite programming. They added more issues-oriented talk shows, with an increasing number of conservative talk show hosts, although several liberals, including Colmes and Lynn Samuels, also hosted shows. The ratings grew and by the late 1980s, they were a very successful talk station.
From 1984 to 1996 WABC broadcast the popular Bob Grant, a controversial, early "right-wing" talk radio host. After years of what many considered inflammatory remarks, he was fired in 1996 for a controversial comment regarding the death of United States Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown. After a number of years at competitor station WOR, Grant returned as a host as of July 2007, was removed again in December 2008, and returned again as a weekend host in September 2009. Alan Colmes would leave in 1985 and by 1987 he emerged at WNBC on overnights, where he played moderate amounts of music there. He would move to afternoons on WNBC and eventually drop music there as well. He was on the air at WNBC's sign off in 1988. Colmes eventually returned to WABC.
Within its first years, the revamped WABC brought in Rush Limbaugh, who would go on to be the anchor program of the local station for two decades, and soon after the giant of talk syndication, the model for countless other conservative radio shows to follow. In the early 1990s Phil Boyce took over as program director.
Under Citadel
On February 6, 2006, the Walt Disney Company announced that it would sell WABC and other radio properties not affiliated with either Radio Disney or ESPN Radio, along with ABC Radio's News & Talk and FM networks, to Citadel Broadcasting Corporation for $2.7 billion. The transaction became final on June 12, 2007. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[13]
In December 2007, Don Imus moved his program Imus in the Morning to WABC after 19 years at WFAN. Imus was fired from WFAN in April for controversial comments about Rutgers University's women's basketball team.
As of January 2012, the WABC broadcast day begins at 5:00 am (Eastern time) with the WABC News Hour. The Imus in the Morning program follows at 6:00. Connell McShane serves as sidekick and newscaster for the program, which is also simulcast on the Fox Business Network cable television network. He replaced Charles McCord, following his retirement on May 5, 2011.
On January 1, 2013, the traffic reports on WABC switched from Clear Channel's Total Traffic to Radiate Media's Right Now Traffic. Taking over traffic during the syndicated Imus In the Morning and the afternoon drive Sean Hannity Show is Jeff McKay, one of New York City's most recognizable traffic voices.
Limbaugh and Hannity departed WABC at the end of 2013.[14] To fill Limbaugh's spot, WABC revived Curtis and Kuby; Curtis Sliwa had been hosting the morning show at WNYM since his departure from WABC while Ron Kuby had for the most part been a commentator on various news shows since his show on Air America Radio was cancelled.[15]
Geraldo Rivera became host of WABC's 10 AM to noon slot beginning in January 3, 2012, replacing Joe Crummey. Curtis and Kuby follows from noon to 3 PM followed by Michael Savage at 3 PM. NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan hosts a 5 PM hour program. Mark Levin takes over in the evenings from 6–9 PM. Late-night hours are covered by Red Eye Radio, a nationally syndicated program hosted by Eric Harley and Gary McNamara.
On weekends, the station plays a mix of political and lifestyle programs, including syndicated programs by Monica Crowley and Larry Kudlow.
Sunday afternoons featured the latest incarnation of Bob Grant's talk show until his death in January 2014, a program hosted by Jason Mattera, and an evening show hosted by Aaron Klein, while on Saturday and Sunday nights, the station carries a newsmagazine by John Batchelor. In January 2013 it was announced that Klein's Sunday night program became #1 on the AM dial in New York City in his time slot, according to ratings information released to the media.
Most recently, WABC added the GluckRadio podcast to its website, hosted by famed life coach Dr. Errol Gluck. The show features the most popular guests in the field of sexuality, culture and psychology.
Previous programs/segments
Previously, WABC carried Paul Harvey's newscasts during Imus in the Morning (Paul Harvey News and Comment) and in-between the midday host and Limbaugh (The Rest of the Story) up through Harvey's death in 2009.
Flagship-wise, Limbaugh's show was produced at WABC from 1988 until the early 2000s, when he started doing the program from Premiere Radio Networks and a studio in his home in South Florida. (Even then, until WABC dropped the program, substitute hosts for Limbaugh still used the WABC studios, and Limbaugh on occasion had hosted from WABC.) Imus in the Morning originates from WABC, while Levin originates from Washington, D.C. sister station WMAL. The latter two shows are now syndicated by Westwood One, the successor to the original "ABC Radio Network" (known as Citadel Media from 2009 until 2011, and as Cumulus Media Networks from 2011 until 2014).
In 2004, the station earned the distinction of being a news/talk radio station even longer than it had been a Top 40 station, by marking 22 years in its present format.
Some of the station's former locally based hosts include John R. Gambling, Jay Diamond, Ed Koch, Lynn Samuels, Joy Behar, Mario Cuomo, Steve Malzberg, Richard Bey, Lionel, Harley Carnes, Dick Oliver, Penny Crone, Sam Donaldson, Jerry Agar, Michael Kay, James Golden (in partnership with Joel Santisteban), Brian Whitman, and Mancow Muller. Several nationally syndicated talkers have included Howard Cosell, Ed Hardy, Tom Snyder, Art Bell, Mike Gallagher (first heard locally co-hosting with Penny Crone, later in a syndicated show), Laura Schlessinger, Matt Drudge and Laura Ingraham. Long time WABC (AM) newsman George Weber, who reported the events on 9/11 for the station, was murdered in 2009.
Although the station had good ratings, it underperformed in terms of total revenue, an example being WABC billing $21.3 million in 2008,[16] not even close to industry giant KFI in Los Angeles at $54.4 million.
Phil Boyce departed as program director in October 2008, eventually replaced in February 2009 by former XM Satellite Radio programmer Laurie Cantillo. Laurie Cantillo resigned on October 31, 2011. Chuck Armstrong was named interim program director in November, 2011.
Sports programming
WABC's only current sports contract is with the United States Military Academy for Army football games. In addition to the aforementioned Yankees coverage, the station served two separate stints as the flagship for the New York Jets and was also the home of the New Jersey Devils beginning in 1988. WABC also previously carried Seton Hall University men's basketball.
Early in its Top 40 incarnation, WABC served as the original radio flagship of the New York Mets. A notable aspect of WABC's Mets coverage was Howard Cosell and former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca handling the pre- and post-game shows. The station lost those rights to WHN following the 1963 season.
The Jets first called WABC home in the 1980s, but left toward the end of the decade for WCBS. The team would return to the station in 2000 after spending the previous seven seasons on WFAN. After then-sister station WEPN became the Jets' flagship, WABC began simulcasting the games over their airwaves due to its stronger signal. The arrangement ended in 2008 as WEPN began simulcasting all its programming on two other stations.
In December 2001, broadcast rights to the Yankees were lost after 21 years to WCBS. WABC also lost the radio rights to the Devils in 2005, as New Jersey's hockey team moved to WFAN to substitute for the station's loss of the New York Rangers to WEPN. WABC served as an overflow station for the Rangers from 2005 through 2009, and also served the same purpose for the New York Knicks when their games moved from WFAN to WEPN, but those rights moved to WNYM in 2009. The loss of evening sports programming has forced WABC to attempt to solidify its evening talk lineup.
New Jersey Devils on WABC
|Flagship station
|Color Analyst
|Studio host
|Mike Miller
|Sherry Ross
|Mike Miller
|Randy Velischek
|John Hennessy
|Randy Velischek


text:
July 29, 2015
Agility has initiated a CEO search process after Barry Engle announced that he will be leaving his role for an executive vice president position with General Motors.
In the interim, Bill Nowicke, the company's chief operating officer, has been named Agility's interim CEO and will work with Engle to ensure a smooth transition. Engle will remain a member of Agility's board of directors and a shareholder of the company.
Mike Gallagher, Agility's chairman of the board, praised Engle's contributions over the past four years. "He guided the company through a period of rapid growth, assembled a fantastic team and built a great foundation for continued success."
At GM, Engle will become a member of the GM Executive Leadership Team and serve as president, South America with responsibility for operations in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Agility Fuel Systems, Santa Ana, Calif., develops turnkey natural gas systems for heavy trucks and buses, from concept to installation.
Related: Agility Now Freightliner's Sole Natural Gas Fuel System Provider
We offer e-newsletters that deliver targeted news and information for the entire fleet industry.
Scott Sutarik from Geotab will answer your questions and challenges
Steve Carlson from Xantrex will answer your questions and challenges
On the Spot: The Inaugural NACV Show [Video]
On the Spot: Kinedyne at the NACV Show
On the Spot: The Mack Trucks Anthem Launch [Video]
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subset: commoncrawl


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Japanese destroyer Yayoi (1925)
Yayoi in February 1927
|Empire of Japan
|Uraga Dock Company, Uraga
|Laid down:
|11 January 1924 as Destroyer No. 23
|11 July 1925
|28 August 1926
|As Yayoi, 1 August 1928
|20 October 1942
|Sunk by American aircraft, 11 September 1942
|General characteristics
|Mutsuki-class destroyer
|9.16 m (30 ft 1 in)
|2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
|Installed power:
|2 shafts; 2 × Kampon geared steam turbines
|37.25 knots (68.99 km/h; 42.87 mph)
|4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
|Service record
|Part of:
|Destroyer Division 30
The Japanese destroyer Yayoi (弥生 "March") was one of twelve Mutsuki-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1920s. During the Pacific War, she participated in the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941 and the occupations of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in early 1942.
Design and description[edit]
The Mutsuki class was an improved version of the Kamikaze-class destroyers and was the first with triple 61-centimeter (24 in) torpedo tubes. The ships had an overall length of 102.4 meters (335 ft 11 in)[1] and were 94.54 meters (310 ft 2 in) between perpendiculars. They had a beam of 9.16 meters (30 ft 1 in), and a mean draft of 2.96 meters (9 ft 9 in). The Mutsuki-class ships displaced 1,336 metric tons (1,315 long tons) at standard load and 1,800 metric tons (1,772 long tons) at deep load.[2] They were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 38,500 shaft horsepower (28,700 kW), which would propel the ships at 37.25 knots (68.99 km/h; 42.87 mph). The ships carried 420 metric tons (413 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their crew consisted of 150 officers and crewmen.[3]
The main armament of the Mutsuki-class ships consisted of four 12-centimeter (4.7 in) Type 3 guns in single mounts; one gun forward of he superstructure, one between the two funnels and the last pair back to back atop the aft superstructure. The guns were numbered '1' to '4' from front to rear. The ships carried two above-water triple sets of 61-centimeter torpedo tubes; one mount was between the forward superstructure and the forward gun and the other was between the aft funnel and aft superstructure. Four reload torpedoes were provided for the tubes.[3] They carried 18 depth charges and could also carry 16 mines. They could also fitted with minesweeping gear.[4]
Construction and career[edit]
Yayoi was laid down by the Uraga Dock Company at its shipyard in Uraga on 11 January 1924,[2] launched on 11 July 1925[4] and completed on 28 August 1926. Originally commissioned simply as Destroyer No. 23, the vessel was assigned the name Yayoi on 1 August 1928.[3] In the late 1930s, Yayoi participated in combat during the Second Sino-Japanese War and later in the Invasion of French Indochina in 1940.
Pacific War[edit]
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Yayoi was assigned to Destroyer Division 30 under Destroyer Squadron 6 of the 4th Fleet. She sortied from Kwajalein on 8 December as part of the Wake Island invasion force. This consisted of the light cruisers Yūbari, Tenryū, and Tatsuta, the destroyers Yayoi, Hayate, Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Oite, and Asanagi, two old Momi-class vessels converted to patrol boats (Patrol Boat No. 32 and Patrol Boat No. 33), and two troop transports containing 450 Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) troops.
The Japanese approached the island early on the morning of 11 December, and the warships began to bombard the island at a range of 8,200 meters (9,000 yd) at 05:30. As none of the six American 5-inch (12.7 cm) coast-defense guns replied, Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka, commander of the invasion forces, ordered his ships to close the island, believing that the American guns had been destroyed by the earlier aerial attacks. Encouraging this, Major James Devereux, commander of the United States Marine garrison, had ordered his men to hold their fire until he gave the order to do so. After the Japanese ships had closed to a range of 4,100 meters (4,500 yd), he ordered his guns to open fire. They did so with great effect, sinking Hayate, near-missing Kajioka's flagship Yubari, and causing to him to order his forces to disengage.[5] During this time, Yayoi was hit by a 5-inch shell, which killed one man and wounded 17 others. Yayoi returned on 23 December with the second (and ultimately successful) Wake Island invasion force before returning to Kwajalein.[6]
The ship escorted a convoy from Kwajalein to the naval base at Truk in January 1942, where a sponson was installed for a pair of license-built 13.2 mm (0.5 in) Type 93 anti-aircraft machineguns on the forward side of the bridge. Yayoi then escorted a troop convoy from Truk to Guam later that month, and then joined the invasion of the Solomon Islands, covering the landings of Japanese forces during Operation R (the invasion of Rabaul, New Ireland and New Britain), and during Operation SR (the invasion of Lae and Salamaua on New Guinea) in January–March. From 28 March to 1 April, she participated in the initial occupation of the Shortland Islands and Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Later that month, the ship supported the occupation of the Admiralty Islands.[6]
During the Battle of the Coral Sea from 7–8 May 1942, Yayoi was assigned to the Operation Mo invasion force for Port Moresby. After that operation was cancelled, it returned to Japan in July for refitting at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal.[6]
After repairs were completed in mid-July Yayoi was reassigned to the IJN 8th Fleet and participated in the bombardment of Henderson Field on 24 August 1942.[7] During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 25 August 1942, Yayoi rescued survivors from her sister ship Mutsuki, which had been sunk in an attack by USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers.[8]
At the end of August, Yayoi made a number of Tokyo Express troop transport runs to Milne, New Guinea. From early September, it began participating in Operation Ke, the evacuation of Japanese forces from Guadalcanal. On 11 September 1942, after departing Rabaul on an evacuation mission to Goodenough Island, Yayoi came under attack by Allied B-17 Flying Fortress and B-25 Mitchell bombers, 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Vakuta Island at coordinates 08°45′S 151°25′E / 8.750°S 151.417°ECoordinates: 08°45′S 151°25′E / 8.750°S 151.417°E. The attack also killed the commander of Destroyer Division 30, Captain Shiro Yasutake. Taking on water uncontrollably, Yayoi's captain, Lieutenant Commander Shizuka Kajimoto, gave the decision to abandon ship. The destroyers Mochizuki and Isokaze later rescued 83 survivors from nearby Normanby Island. Yayoi was struck from the Navy List on 20 October 1942.
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Devereaux, James P.S., Colonel, USMC (1947). The Story of Wake Island. The Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-264-0.
- Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
- Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). The Struggle for Guadalcanal, August 1942 – February 1943, vol. 5 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-58305-7.
- Nevitt, Allyn D. (2009). "IJN Mutsuki: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- Nevitt, Allyn D. (2009). "IJN Yayoi: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- Watts, Anthony J. & Gordon, Brian G. (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. OCLC 202878.
- Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.
- Wukovits, John (2010). Pacific Alamo: The Battle for Wake Island. NAL: Caliber. ISBN 978-1-101-65818-5.


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NEW YORK – Just when the rocky Soprano marriage seemed to gain new life, Carmela was tipped to Tony's dalliances by one of his scorned girlfriends. Now Tony -- played by series star James Gandolfini -- is out of the house and his family is devastated.
That was the powerful punch with which The Sopranos wrapped its fourth season Sunday night.
Other twists from the HBO mob drama's finale, which re-airs Monday at 10 p.m. EST on HBO2:
-- The drawn-out legal battles waged by Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese) came to a tidy end thanks to a hung jury (a certain frightened juror followed his orders from Tony's crew).
-- Christopher (Michael Imperioli) was released from his drug-rehab program professing to be free from his heroin addiction -- but little suspecting that fiancee Adriana (Drea de Matteo) remains a snitch for the feds.
-- An on-again, off-again scheme to erase rival boss Carmine Lupertazzi was scrapped by Tony at the last minute. But now the author of the plan, Carmine's own underboss Johnny Sacks (Vincent Curatola), is pretty sore at Tony for backing out. Put Johnny Sacks near the top of Tony's enemies list next season.
Whacking Carmine was only one of two deals on which Tony reneged during the finale. The other was his all-too-soon-aborted plan to buy a weekend house on the Jersey shore for Carmela (Edie Falco) and the kids.
Initially thrilled by Tony's surprise, Carmela was quickly laid low by another surprise. An ill-timed phone call brought her fresh news of Tony's philandering. Soon his clothes and golf clubs were pitched in the driveway.
"You have made a fool of me for years ... You've had quite a time on my watch," she seethed as Tony tried to lie his way out of the jam.
Later, when the fight got uglier, Carmela took her best shot: She informed Tony of her abstinent romance with one of his soldiers, ponytailed Furio -- who, smitten in return, ducked this sticky situation last week by fleeing back to Italy.
Explaining the effect Furio had on her, even from glances exchanged when he dropped by the house to get Tony, Carmela said, "I felt probably like someone who was terminally ill, and somehow they manage to forget it for a minute."
In the finale, co-written by series creator David Chase, the clash between Tony and Carmela is as powerful as anything ever seen on The Sopranos, which is saying a lot. So is this: In her portrayal of a wife betrayed, enraged and despairing, Falco outdid herself. It was an electrifying performance.
All in all, this special 75-minute episode was an impressive rebuttal to complaints that the action lagged during some of the season's previous 12 hours (though no one complained about the episode where Tony decapitated his captain Ralphie).
Now the season ends with everybody miserable (including Uncle Junior), but none more than Tony and Carmela. Can their marriage be saved? Production on the fifth, perhaps last, Sopranos season begins in January, but answers must await its return to the air next fall.


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Happy 1st Anniversary Celia & David!
Happy, Happy Anniversary to Celia & David!
They were the first couple to be married by Andrea Eppolito Events and will forever hold a very special place in my heart!
Your Beauty Call was on hand to tend to Celia's hair & make-up, turning this already beautiful woman into an absolute stunner!
The entire day was documented by John Michael Cooper, owner and visionary of AltF Photography. It is through his eye and lens that we captured the day and visited some of the most glamorous spots in The Cosmopolitan Hotel...
And some of the not so glamourous area of Las Vegas. But hey! What's a groom to do when he needs a coffee fix?!!?
Celia & David exchanged vows in a lush, private garden far away from the lights of the Las Veags Strip.
Afterwards, we traveled downtown to old Las Vegas, where they played off of the stereotype of the Las Vegas wedding.
Thank you Celia & David for letting me be a part of your lives! I will always celebrate October 24th with you in mind!
Las Vegas Wedding Planner Andrea Eppolito is often published, with works featured by the likes of BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, The NY Times, LA Times, Junebug Weddings, and more. With an eye catching style that shares not only the story, but the soul, of a wedding, Andrea's clients praise her for being their wedding planner, event designer, advocate, and friend.
An internationally acclaimed speaker, Andrea appears and speaks at events for the Engage! Luxury Wedding Summit, NACE, The Knot, the Wedding MBA, and more. Named the Best Wedding Planner in Las Vegas (2013, 2015, 2016), Wedding Professional of the Year (2011) and ranked as one of the top 50 wedding planners world-wide, Andrea works with celebrities, athletes, executives, and all people in love!
Based in Las Vegas, and working as a destination wedding planner world wide, you can learn more at www.AndreaEppolitoEvents.com.


text:
Strategist anticipates fourth-quarter stock market rally
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
As investors look at recent stock market performance, a rally isn't the first thing that might come to mind. But a rally is exactly what Robert W. Baird & Co. investment strategist William Delwiche says could emerge in the fourth quarter. "The weight …
Source: stock market – Google News
Sharing information is key – Stock Market Dealing Business News UK. Social Commerce and Social Media Management playing a big part. Suaju Ltd


text:
Founding editor of award-winning paper sacked in freedom of speech row
In a plot line worthy of Scoop, Evelyn Waugh's satire on journalism, the founding editor of an award-winning Highland paper has been sacked over his defence of freedom of speech.
Brian Wilson, the former Labour MP, has written for the West Highland Free Press for 38 of its 43 years, since founding it with four others in 1972.
The only gap in contributions came when he was a minister in Tony Blair's government.
He was dismissed for using his weekly column to defend his friend and fellow columnist, the Free Church of Scotland theologian Prof Donald Macleod, after he wrote about the spread of Islam in the UK.


text:
Elizabeth City State University medical insurance coding
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
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Find information about Elizabeth City State University medical insurance coding, and registering for elective lectures. Which college degrees give you the best chances of finding employment after graduation? You can enter nursing with either an associates degree or BSN. As a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), you may provide patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). Concentrating on Elizabeth City State University medical insurance coding, for example, you may gain an advantage in job recruiting on-campus. Check with the medical assisting department for course registration deadlines, and insurance coding program requirements. Please use the form above to request admissions info for Elizabeth City State University.
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The outlook for technical medical careers is especially bright. Opportunities for employment for medical laboratory technicians are expected to increase by 10% to 20% in the next eight years. The increasing number of elderly people is seen as a factor in this growth. As people age they have more medical problems, and hospitals will require more laboratory technicians to perform lab work for them. Aside from a good salary, most medical personnel receive comprehensive medical and dental benefits, as well as retirement plans. Beyond major requirements within the medical assisting department, you may consider Armstrong Atlantic State University nursing prerequisites as a complementary elective to your primary course of study.
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Skin irritated by psoriasis may be relieved from a soak within an oatmeal bath. A cupful of oatmeal or perhaps oatmeal-based bath product might be included in bath water for relief of psoriasis skin irritation. Sometimes a secondary infection can occur of the epidermis. A teaspoon of turmeric mixed within a glass of amla–or gooseberry–juice and brought daily can be a remedy created to help diabetics to normalize blood glucose and reduce insulin resistance. Gout often develops asymmetrically, affecting one knuckle joint yet not the corresponding joint on the reverse side from the body. Gout may be acute, flaring up in painful short-term instances, or chronic. While there is no remedy for nummular eczema, taking precautionary measures can reduce symptoms. In line with the McKinley Health Center, located in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the itchy red circles that develop from nummular eczema are in reality dried-out skin at its worst. However, even dark skin appears red after having a skin infection. This is because the redness is undoubtedly an effect of the inflammation that plays a role in wound healing. Our bodies direct circulation of blood to the area of infection or trauma, and that causes the initial redness – www.masca-project.eu. It normally takes around three months of very low or no vit c intake to formulate scurvy, DermNet NZ reports. Skin manifestations of scurvy include hemorrhagic papules, reddish bruise-like spots that develop around the hair follicles. The hairs carry out a corkscrew appearance.
In severe cases, you could experience bleeding or perhaps pain in the event the cracks with your skin become deep. View your doctor should you experience pain or bleeding. Treat the situation in your house having an over the counter moisturizer. Wounds about the legs and arms could also occur if you have a lack of blood flow to the area from arteriosclerosis or peripheral vascular disease. Take your lab test leads to a wound care specialist which will likely advise culturing the wound for bacterial and fungal infections. Many factors play a role in itchiness along with an itchy scalp may be combined with redness or blisters. Occasionally, an itchy scalp signals a critical disease and a doctor's care can be essential to make sure your well-being. Third-degree burns are the most severe, affecting the deepest layer of skin tissue, which might cause either whitened or blackened skin discoloration and may even also feel numb. Your daily diet is combined with simple exercises, daily being exposed to sunlight, and water and coffee enemas. You should avoid all trans-fats, hydrogenated oils like margarine, extra virgin olive oil, white sugar, soy products and soy milks, and butter throughout the diet, advises the Budwig Center.
Diaper rash, which presents as red splotches over a baby's butt and genitals, is the most common skin disease in infants, as outlined by MedlinePlus. This condition generally takes place when feces or urine stay in contact with the sensitive skin of the baby's bottom a long time. For irritating bumps, or bumps which could possibly be cancerous or pre-cancerous, your medical professional may choose to surgically take away the bump from the skin. This reduces the level of bacteria in your system by improving your defense mechanisms, reducing the level of acne. Vitamin D and Psoriasis If you have psoriasis, there exists a thick, patchlike, layer of dried-out skin cells in the outer layer of the skin. The frequent use of a warm compress might help boils heal without requiring a visit to the doctor. The Mayo Clinic advises utilizing a warm, damp compress for about ten minutes at any given time each day to advertise drainage from the wound. The rash of contact dermatitis usually feels itchy and may lead to the formation of blisters. Psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, takes place when the immune cells in your body send faulty signals that speed up the expansion cycle of skin cells, as described by the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Dead Sea Salt Treatment Psoriasis
Your skin can also be the biggest organ of your body which is exposed to pollutants and Ultra violet rays. Good nutrition, including eating grapefruit, is vital for healthy skin. Grapefruit can promote healthy skin. Grapefruit is loaded with ascorbic acid, which can be necessary for collagen production within the skin. The narrow spaced teeth work effectively to lift the scale from your scalp and distribute the avocado and olive oil right through to the ends of your respective hair. The oil mixture will make a mess, but it is possible to clean out of the shower. Indoor allergens that may cause eczema are dust mites, mold, pet dander and other foods for example nuts and dairy. A pediatrician may recommend a regular antihistamine to regulate the child's seasonal allergies. Shampoos containing tea tree, rosemary or lavender oil are available in health food stores. Peppermint, spearmint and eucalyptus oils will also help alleviate intense itching. Coal tar shampoo may discolor hair and irritate the scalp and really should be utilized only like a final option. Breast-feeding offers a valuable means of feeding your baby nutrients and the antibodies the body naturally possesses. However, dry skin can make it a tricky process for many women. In case you have dried-out skin, particularly around the nipple, breast-feeding becomes painful.


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Here's How To Quit The iPhone And Switch To An Android
Steve Kovach, Business Insider
Last week, news broke that a former iPhone owner is suing Apple. She alleges that when she changed to a non-Apple device, she stopped getting text messages.
In fact, an Apple employee admitted that if you switch from iPhone to Android, iMessages won't deliver texts from iPhone users to your new Android device.
But that shouldn't stop you from switching to a new device that might be bigger and possibly better than what the iPhone offers.
Check out how to switch to Android »
30 Big Tech Predictions by BI Intelligence. Get the Report Now »
30 Big Tech Predictions by BI Intelligence. Get the Report Now »
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As always, you can subscribe to The Firewall & Iceberg Podcast over at the iTunes Store, where you can also rate us and comment on us. [Or you can always follow our RSS Feed.]
And as always, feel free to e-mail us questions for the podcast.
As always, you can subscribe to The Firewall & Iceberg Podcast over at the iTunes Store, where you can also rate us and comment on us. [Or you can always follow our RSS Feed.]
And as always, feel free to e-mail us questions for the podcast.
Oh wow, that "salt on my deviled eggs" comment dovetailed so horrifically w/ thoughts that were already conjugated w/in my head from the previous couple sentences. Please, no more…[lol?]
I'll be tuning, given that I've been a fan of Hope since (almost) the beginning – and also since NCIS is on spring break this week. Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze in some night-of DVR viewing (in addition to its pre-established place in my constantly fluid Wednesday 9pm hour) even when NCIS does first-runs up against it.
You guys are really harping on the whole "build jokes on the references, don't just drop them into the pool" thing. For good reason, of course…
Inner volleyball player? Wow does that not make sense…
It's like Wikipedia says of Dukes of Hazzard…it was "suspiciously rural".
I'd just eliminate all of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, even if that means ABC stays stuck in fourth in the ratings…[bazinga]
On a more serious note, I wouldn't mind eliminating parts of Alias seasons 3 and 4. Maybe cobble what's left of those two in the same way you said should be done to The OC s2 and 3…and unabort the arc concerning Jack Bristow's true nature.
Yeah, I thought there was something up for a show that was supposed to be of "Emmy winning quality". That aforementioned half-hour in my Wednesday 9pm hour occupied by DVRed Raising Hope? It was originally the 9:30 half-hour, until I decided that MF season three wasn't doing it for me, and I swapped Hope to the 9pm half-hour in response.
The time breakdowns are not showing up for me when I download. Is that true for everyone else or a problem with my iTunes?
I noticed it too. And then I checked, it also was not there on a show from a couple weeks ago.
I was thinking about adding Raising Hope to my Hulu queue. Now that I hear that it is in ratings trouble I definitely will.
Why just add it to your queue? Watch it live, man!
Pete Campbell! Yeah. That's a character I've always liked, even in S1 even though he's a horrible person.
Wow, your opinion on Julianne Moore's performance is pretty much totally different to anything I've read in the other reviews.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times:
"She looks about as much like Palin as she can, but that's not the point. She conveys the essence. In a way, she's unprotected. Not a hardened, cynical politician, but a woman who has gone through life expecting good things and usually found them. … Moore conveys these feelings with tenderness and subtlety. Her performance is not a barbed parody, but based on the actress' instinctive empathy with a character."
Newsday: " 'Game Change' isn't a parody — some extended Tina Fey skit — nor a hatchet job. It's a portrait; and, while I can't attest to its fairness (Palin supporters have already attacked the film), I can attest to Moore's performance, which is superb. The Palin that emerges here has dimension and humanity; when you cut her, she bleeds. She yells when she gets angry, gets lonely, feels lost, and finds solace in the most important people in her life: her family. BOTTOM LINE A luminous and fully alive portrait by a first-rate actress."


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Bubba Watson reacts after his shot from the bunker goes long on the first hole of in the final round of the Chrysler Open in Tucson, Arizona February 26, 2006. (UPI Photo/Will Powers)
United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.
With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.


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What are the five best things to do with kids in Lisbon?
Answers from Our Experts (1)
Slowly exploring labyrinthine cities such as Lisbon can prove daunting for energetic kids constantly on the lookout for the next adventure, but that won't be a problem in a city as diverse as this one. Our Forbes Travel Guide editors have picked the five most fun things to do with children in Lisbon, from riding cable cars to traipsing ancient castles:
1. Lisbon Zoo: Yes, you might be able to visit a zoo back home, but we're guessing it doesn't compare to this one. Kids will enjoy the normal spectrum of zoo activities, plus cool extras including cable cars, the Animax amusement park and one of the most impressive dolphin shows you'll ever see.
2. St. George's Castle (Castelo de São Jorge): Visible from most areas of the city, St. George's Castle has roots dating back to medieval times and is the former home of Portuguese royalty. Much of the castle has deteriorated over the years, but it still looks like a scene from a fairy tale. Kids will love climbing around on the towers – as well as the views from the top of them.
3. Park of Nations (Parque das Nacões): Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring this thoroughly modern part of Lisbon, which was revamped in 1998 when the city hosted Expo '98. The site includes water gardens, cable cars, striking views of the Vasco da Gama Bridge and tours of the area on toy trains.
4. Carousel: Located at the entrance to the Lisbon Zoo, the opulent carousel is a fun and easy ride for everyone before or after a visit to the zoo.
5. Lisbon Oceanarium: The city's oceanarium is the largest aquarium in Europe and home to more than 8,000 plants and animals. Kids can get face-to-face with sharks, stingrays and a variety of other wildlife that live in the giant tanks representing four oceans. Guided tours are available, and this is also a great place for an outdoor picnic.


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Went to 44 & X Hell's Kitchen, which of course is on 44th street and 10th Avenue.
Was very impressed by the food. Creative and high quality. I had a tuna tartar with seaweed that was excellent. The waitress reccomended the prime rib with parma ham and chanterelles. For some reason it was rib steak. That was one of the best I've ever had. Dinner companions were equally please with the other dishes.
The service was uneven. Our first waiter discouraged me from one wine and reccomended anotehr. I appreciated his honesty. Then another waiter came and it was an unusually long wait for the appetizer followed by one soup being luke warm. Once we complained they made it right and we were generally pleased.
Would love to know about other experiences including anyone who's tried brunch or desert.


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I have an older version of python on the server i'm using and cannot upgrade it. is there a way to get the uuid module?
Get it from pypi -- just download and install, it will work with Python 2.3 or better.
Edit: to install, first unpack the
.tar.gz you just downloaded, i.e., from a terminal, cd to the directory you downloaded it to, then
tar xzvf uuid-1.30.tar.gz, then
cd uuid-1.30, and
sudo python setup.py install (the
sudo may or may not be needed depending on how your Linux system is set up; if it is needed, it will probably ask you for your password unless you've done another
sudo very recently).
To continue where Alex left off..
Similar Questions


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Yesterday, Maylin and I both took free acting classes at the Berkeley Rep. Maylin didn't have the best of times since it sounded more like running and jumping than actual acting, but my experience was awesome. We did a lot of breath-work, connected with our bodies while lying on a mat, and made our own personal connection to a few lines from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. My big take-away from that class was learning the importance of making the text your own -- finding your own personal truth in it and making it real for yourself. I guess it sounds obvious, but how many times have you seen a production where you say to yourself, "That actor delivered those lines perfectly, but I don't feel anything." The actor may have been trained to deliver the lines well enough to be heard and understood, but has not made the text true for himself so that the audience can feel the emotion of that personal truth.
Last night, before going to bed, I read a few brief bios of essay writers, gleaning a similar message -- that a good writer writes words that are the most true to herself. That is so true. Some writers' work seem so contrived. In fact, my college essays sounded quite contrived because I was writing with the voice that I thought I was supposed to have instead of writing with my own voice. But how is a young adult supposed to know her own voice already? I know some talented teens who have probably already discovered their true voices, but I certainly had not by the time I entered Cal. In high school, I learned how to write a good analytical essay, but I don't remember anything about learning how to write a good personal essay. We should have learned since one of our most important essays in our lives was the college application essay -- a very personal essay.
Anyways, I woke up at five this morning to the revelation that good acting and good writing is a lot Iike good living. I haven't done the best job living until now. For a long time, I hadn't found my voice -- I hadn't given myself permission to live my own life on my own terms, not someone else's. And now that I'm in control, I'm going to really listen to myself, do only what feels right to me (follow my gut, because it's always right), and not be swayed by what I think I should be doing. Overthinking can get me into trouble, but when I am really in tune with my feelings and follow through in action, then things usually turn out just great. More on this later...
Monday, September 13, 2010
Being true to yourself, part I
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Now that you have chosen your perfect breed, how do you find that perfect kitten who is meant to share your life?
You can always go to a pet shop that sells purebred kittens, but since professional cat breeders will not sell to pet stores, your best bet is to buy directly from a breeder. This assures you of knowing the person who bred the kitten, knowing about the parents of the kitten, having complete health information, and proper registration forms along with a true evaluation of the quality of the kitten in case you are interested in showing the kitten. Also, by buying from a breeder, you have someone you can call for advice or if you have questions.
One of the easiest ways to find a cat breeder is by checking the advertisements in Cat Fancy magazine. The breeders who advertise there are currently active in breeding their particular breed and usually have kittens that are available or will be available in a short time. Using the ads also enables you to choose a breeder who may be close to where you live so that you can pick up your kitten or, at least, minimize the distance the kitten will have to fly. If you contact a breeder who has no kittens for sale, be certain to ask for a referral to another breeder. Most breeders work with other breeders and we tend to know who has kittens available. If the breeder you have called can't give you a referral to another breeder, ask the breeder for the address of her breed society. Every breed of cat who is accepted for Championship status in the show ring has a breed society. This is a great source of names of breeders who specialize in the particular breed you are interested in. In addition, most breed societies have a written Code of Ethics which the breeders in the society must adhere to.
Professional breeders exhibit at cat shows in order to gain titles on the cats in their cattery so cat shows are also a great place to meet breeders. In fact, some breeders even have kittens for sale at the show . To find a cat show that you can attend, check the cat show listings in Cat Fancy. The listing will give you the name of a contact, usually the Entry Clerk, who can give you information on the show hours for spectators.
You can contact a breeder either in person, by letter or by telephone. Most breeders will spend plenty of time with you and answer all your questions. Breeders generally have a package of materials they can send to you along with photographs of some of the cats in their cattery. Just remember that a breeder's weekend may well be taken up with a cat show which may entail travel on Friday and Monday. If you want a breeder to have plenty of time to talk to you, the best time to call is during the week.
Even though you may want to get that special kitten as quickly as you can, you may find that you will have to wait. Some breeds of cat are still rare in this country with very few kittens born each year, so you may have to wait longer for a Japanese Bobtail, Devon Rex, or Korat than you would for a Persian, Himalayan, or Siamese. Also, responsible breeders rarely release a kitten to any home before the kitten is 4 months (16 weeks) old. This is for many reasons including the fact that it is not until that age that all of the inoculations your kitten needs will have been given. Also, if you kitten has to be shipped by air, most airlines will not ship a kitten younger than this. But the most important reason is that the process of adjusting to a new home, with new food, new water, a new place for the litter, and the like is easier if you wait until the kitten is at least 4 months old.
When you first contact a breeder, you will find that you are being interviewed more than you are interviewing! You will be asked many questions about the way you live, your knowledge of cats in general and your understanding of the breed you are interested in specifically. You may be asked for references from your Veterinarian and you will most certainly be asked to sign a contract.
After the breeder interviews you, you must interview the breeder. You are entitled to know exactly how the kitten was raised because this information is very valuable to you. The most important thing you should find out is how your kitten was treated during it's early life. Professional breeders follow the Veterinary literature and know that the ages between 2 to 7 weeks are critical in the future life and adjustment of a kitten. If a kitten is not handled during this period, it may not become fully socialized in the future. Be certain to ask the breeder about this. In addition, you will want to ask what kind of food the kitten is used to eating and what kind of litter is used in the cattery. This will enable you to make the adjustment from the cattery to your home an easy one for your kitten.
Of course, the best way to find out about the breeder and the cattery would be to visit and see both the cats and the breeder in the cattery environment. Most buyers consider that this is a great way to check on cleanliness and to watch the cats in action which gives you an indication of their personalities. However, a cattery visit is not always possible so don't rule out a cattery because the breeder does not permit visitors at that time. You must remember that if you already own cats, you are bringing your cat's germs into the cattery. If your cat has a cold, you may pass that cold onto the cattery cats. When a breeder has a pregnant Queen, or kittens who are too young to have been vaccinated, new germs being introduced into the cattery can cause a real health concern.
An alternative to a cattery visit would be to ask the breeder if their cattery is a "CFA Approved Cattery" or a "CFA Approved Cattery of Excellence". This is a relatively new program available to professional breeders. In order to qualify, your cattery must be inspected by a Veterinarian and pass a set of standards set up by the Cat Fanciers Association. These standards will not guarantee the health of any individual kitten, but they are an indication that the cattery meets the standards for cattery cleanliness and the proper care and treatment of cats living in a cattery.
In dealing with breeders, you should be aware of many terms that breeders use.
A "registered" kitten is a kitten which has had its birth accepted for registration with one or more of the associations which register cats. A registered kitten is not the same as a show kitten. Registration is not a guarantee of the kitten's health. It is only a guarantee of the kitten's breed and lineage. On the other hand, if a kitten is not registered, it is really not a "pure-bred". That is because without registration papers, you cannot be sure about the breed of its parents. That means if you see a "pure-bred" kitten for sale at a pet store, don't assume that it is registered. And, if you see a "registered" kitten at a pet store, please don't assume it is also a "show" kitten. So, from your point of view, buying a registered Siamese kitten means you have bought a pure-bred Siamese. It does not necessarily mean that the parents were show cats. It does mean, however, that the parents are also registered.
A "show quality" kitten is different from a registered kitten. A show kitten is one which is registered and which can be shown in competition. In addition, it will probably win titles or awards in competition.
In discussing the "quality" of a kitten you are interested in purchasing, you should also have an understanding of the terms that breeders use. The most common terms you will hear from breeders when you are looking to buy a kitten are "show quality", "top show", and "pet". The key here is that, regardless of what anyone tells you, there is no "standard" definition of "show quality", or of any of the other terms often used by breeders to describe the quality of registered kittens. When you are looking at a breeder's kittens, ask what that particular breeder actually means by the terms the breeder uses.
So you can understand what these concepts can cover, let us explain the definitions our cattery uses in its contracts:
"Top Show" means that when a adult, the kitten is expected to be able to achieve a title of "Grand Champion";
"Show" means the same, but the title achieved would be that of "Champion";
"Pet Quality" means that, while the kitten is a pure-bred, the breeder believes that the kitten is not suitable for show competition against other pure-bred kittens for one or more reasons. These include matters such as color and color placement, relative size or perfection of physical features such as ears, tail, etc., and other subjective, cosmetic features, measured against the standards of perfection as adopted by a specified cat federation. Pet quality does not mean that the kitten is unhealthy, but merely that the breeder does not believe that it is suitable for showing as a championship kitten.
If you are interested in showing your kitten, even though the kitten is pet quality, there is still a place for you at most cat shows. If you want to show the kitten, take it to the Household Pet class and show it there. You can get rosettes, and, in some associations, you can even earn titles and awards. The rules on how you do this differ from association to association.
When looking at a kitten for purchase, check carefully for indications of good health. The coat should be glossy, not rough. The eyes should be bright, not weepy. The body weight should be in line with the breed - a Siamese kitten will look thinner than a Persian kitten. In general, the kitten should feel firm and not mushy.
Since cattery cats are socialized at an early age, the kitten should have an alert, friendly attitude and allow itself to be held. However, each kitten is individual and some are more outgoing than others. Don't neglect that sweet little kitten in the corner just because he is not as demonstrative as his littermate. Also, the attitude of kittens varies with their age. All kittens go through a stage where toys are much more fun than people. It seems that they start to develop their loving ways at about 3 1/2 months of age. If you see a kitten who is a little younger than that, check the kitten's attitude by playing with it using a toy.
As a general rule, we find boy kittens to be sweeter than girls. In fact, our best "mommy" is an altered male! Despite what you may hear, boys are easy to care for. Make certain the boy is neutered as soon as your Veterinarian feels is safe and ask your Vet to remove all testicular material. This will prevent any "spraying" in the future. If you choose a little girl, you will generally find the kitten to be a little smaller than the boy as well as a little more active. Again, have the kitten spayed as soon as possible. Studies have found that when a female is spayed before her first heat, her risk of developing breast cancer decreases dramatically.
Raising a kitten from the time it is born until the time it leaves the cattery at 4 months of age, assuming nothing ever goes wrong, costs approximately $150-$200. This includes the cost of the disposable equipment necessary for delivering the kittens, a contribution to the cost of the permanent cattery equipment necessary for breeding kittens (such as caging, heating units, etc.) the food we use for weaning the kittens, kitten food after they are completely weaned, litter, inoculations, the cost of registering the litter so that the kittens can be registered, and a routine "well kitten" veterinary exam. This does not include the cost of the acquisition of the Queen and the Sire, their housing, feeding and health care. When you figure in the cost of stud service (if you are going outside the cattery), and the shows required to get a title on the cats you are breeding, the costs can become enormous. So when someone asks me why a purebred kitten costs $400 and up, I'm always tempted to respond that I, too, am shocked that the cost is so little! If you are really interested in acquiring a Pet Quality purebred kitten, you should be prepared to spend anywhere from $250 to $1000 depending upon the rarity of the breed. If you are interested in a cat who is Show Quality or Top Show Quality, you must expect to spend much more. I am constantly amazed that people would not hesitate to spend this amount of money on a dog or a horse but are shocked to find that a kitten can cost this much.
When you do spend this much money for a kitten, you will be dealing with a professional breeder, one who is knowledgeable and continues to learn and study about Veterinary Science as well as about their breed. In dealing with a professional breeder, you can expect to receive at the time you take possession of your new kitten: a complete written shot record for the kitten; a copy of the cat's pedigree (probably not signed); and a set of papers permitting the kitten to be registered
in one or more associations.
A common practice of breeders is to withhold the registration papers until you provide proof of neutering which will be given to you by your Veterinarian. When you get the registration papers, they will usually be "restricted", that is they will be marked so that you cannot breed this kitten, or that you can register it only as a Household Pet. The breeder does this to make sure that you do not "accidently" breed the kitten and contribute to the population of non-pedigreed cats.
In addition, the breeder should give you a "health certificate". This is document, approved by the state in which the Vet practices, and signed by a Veterinarian stating that the kitten has been examined and appeared to be in good health at that time. Some breeders do not do this, and, instead, state in writing that the kitten is "in good health". Obviously, the Veterinary Health Certificate is a better protection for you. If you are willing to proceed without that, make sure that you let the breeder know that the new kitten will be seen by a vet within 48-72 hours from the time it gets home. You will also want a detailed medical history of your kitten as well as a list of inoculations given. Most professional breeders give their own vaccinations, but will give you a list of what was given and when it was administered. Take this record to your Veterinarian when you take your new kitten for his first visit and have your Vet make it a part of your kitten's medical records.
Depending on the cattery, you may get one or more of the following along with your kitten:
Despite the fact that the purchase of a purebred kitten may sound like a long, complicated process, it really is not. You must always keep in mind that each and every kitten born in a cattery is very precious to a breeder. We arranged and witnessed the breeding, worried over the mommy, delivered the kittens (usually at 3:00 a.m.) and then watched over them each and every day. We socialized them, loved them, and are always reluctant to let them leave the cattery. The breeder must feel that this kitten belongs with you and that you will care for it and love it all the days of it's life. A breeder may let a kitten leave the cattery, but the kitten will never leave the breeder's heart.
Copyright 1993, 1997. Reprinted with permission.
No further reproduction or use authorized,"without the consent of Carolyn Vella and John McGonagle".All rights reserved.
American Cat Fanciers Association
P.O. Box 203, Point Lookout, MO 65726
Phone: (417) 334-5430, Fax: (417) 334-5540