I see a IKEA and it makes me sad

As the Goose and I were commuting to work this morning we were listnening to a morning radio show whose name shall remain secret to protect the truly stupid. This is a morning show already in trouble...it recently lost its lead player, the individual the show was named for. The remaining members have tried to carry on but they are missing a key element...balance.

For example, their music selection. It has narrowed to one style of music. Song after song has the same dreary, moody feel to it. Individually each song is listenable and perhaps even enjoyable. But only when they are interjected between some other styles of songs. However, Boring and Dumb*** seem to only like this style so they only play this style...a maneuver designated to alienate a good percentage of their fringe audience. I am definitely one of those people...even when they had their star I could take or leave the show. Yet people like me, not the hardcore fans who will listen to the show whether it is good, bad, or indifferent, are the ones who make or break a show. If a show can draw in the new and occasional listeners it will succeed. If it loses them...well, have fun at your new job. Choosing depressing song after depressing song is not a good way to draw in people like me. Just one more reason I can't stand country.

Be that as it may, the REAL problem the show had this morning was their focus. For whatever reason they thought it would be a great idea to focus their show this morning on...wait for it...the grand opening of IKEA.

That sentence was so stupid I am going to rephrase it just so you don't think I mis-typed or mis-spoke. The theme of their show revolved around the grand opening of a furniture store. I can see why this is exciting...Portland is seriously lacking in furniture stores. There are no independants, no Levitz, no Tom Petersons, no ...well, I could name 20 or 30 places off hand where you can purchase furniture in most cities, Portland apparently has none of them. We have all been sitting on floors eating off cardboard boxes for so long that the opportunity to purchase tables and chairs and beds is something not to be missed.

There was apparently a line of like 500 people waiting to get in. The aforementioned radio station was running special traffic reports so you could know how much extra time it would take you because of the idio....individuals going to IKEA.

This morning show snuck a guy inside. They spent about 5 minutes having him describe the decorations and a hot dog sale.

Now THAT is quality radio (editor's note: previous statement may contain such a high level of sarcasm it threatens to violate Geneva Conventions regarding toxic waste).

I am not sure what is worse...people lining up to be the first inside a retail establishment or a radio show dedicating a morning to that "event". They both strain the bounds of credulity that they are not considered so mentally retarded they should be locked up for the safety of themselves in particular and the public at large. Actually, about the only good thing to come out of this was the title; phonetically, if you read the "a" in it, it rhymes: I see uh I kee uh. And even that is hardly worth hearing...