Of course every time there is a major storm, the power is out. So it gives the old battery powered shortwave set a chance to be used. But of course there is so much atmospheric noise above 5MHz this evening that what is left of international shortwave broadcasting was worthless tonight. So I tuned the AM dial for a change.

When scanning the AM dial, it seemed like every other station was broadcasting either Michael Savage, phobic radio preachers, or sports commentary, none which are of interest to me.

Then I come across a gem of a station which... GET THIS ...actually plays music - AM 740 - which broadcasts out of Canada (obviously it is not an American terrestrial if one can listen to it for more than 15 minutes). Bing Crosby, The Beatles, some 1950's-era "Beautiful Music", some 1970's version of smooth jazz, Ray Conniff, Dave Brubeck, Anne Murray, Glenn Miller Big Band, Nat King Cole, Ole' Blue Eyes, The Ray Charles Singers, more 50's-era "Beautiful Music", more 70's-era smooth jazz with lots of vibraphones (but unfortunately no Roy Ayres in their line-up so far, but they are forgiven), Tommy Dorsey Big Band, Dean Martin, The Rightous Brothers....

While the above selections are not exactly my first choice in music, what AM 740 is playing is SO TOTALLY LISTENABLE that if I didn't have an XM at my disposal this AM 740 station would now be set as my default station. If the record companies would be smart, they would bring back this kind of music, or at least music of this quality.

Just my rant for this evening....