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• PEOPLE OF FASHION - United Press International - Princess Lee Radziwill, Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy's sister, said in Paris today she was "tired, just tired," of all this Givenchy business."The "Givenchy business" stemmed from Hubert de Givenchy's refusal to allow Princess Radziwill to attend one of his couturier house's customer shows next week. Givenchy said he considered the princess a member of the working press. She has been writing about fashions for an American magazine, but this work would have been finished by tomorrow. Her visit would have been as a potential buyer, she said. This was not good enough for Givenchy. The princess could see his collections with the rest of the press next month, he said, and not before.
  "Yes, it's true I said I won't darken his door again," the princess said. "But I'm tired of the whole thing now, just tired. I think he (Givenchy) has got enough publicity." The princess is considered one of the world's best-dressed women. She shopped at Givenchy for six years, but recently turned to a new designer, the youthful Yves Saint Laurent.

  • Givenchy: You are not invited, media rat!
    Radziwell: I didn't want to go to your dress-up party anyway.
    Givenchy: Burn! I guess I rattled your cage. (tee hee)
    Radziwell: You campy twink!
    Givenchy: I know you are, so what am I?
    Radziwell: I'm rubber, you're glue. Bounces off me and sticks to you.

• Susan Stamberg, an original National Public Radio staffer who went on to become the first U.S. woman to anchor a nightly national news program, died Thursday at the age of 87.

• Thanks to historylink.org

  Seventy-three years ago this week, Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy made his first political visit to Washington, campaigning for Republican presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower and incumbent Republican Senator Harry P. Cain. He also hoped to speak out about the dangers of Communism in America, but his trip didn't turn out quite like he had planned.

  McCarthy missed his first appearance in Everett when his plane was socked in by heavy fog in Portland, Oregon, and he had to speak on behalf of Cain by telephone from Vancouver. He arrived late in Seattle the next afternoon, and rather than give two more scheduled talks he opted to prepare for his speech at that evening's fourth annual Gridiron Banquet, hosted by the Washington State Press Club.

  Unbeknownst to McCarthy, the Gridiron Banquet is a traditionally unserious event, where members of the press crack jokes and throw verbal potshots at everyone. The senator seethed as he sat through the folly, and became angrier when he was heckled during his speech. The heckles became jeers and boos when McCarthy badmouthed General George Marshall, who was looked upon as a hero for his role in rebuilding post-war Europe with the Marshall Plan.

  McCarthy finished his talk and left before the end of dinner for an appearance on KING-TV, but his troubles weren't over yet. When he arrived at the station, KING-TV officials requested that the Senator remove two paragraphs from his planned talk that appeared to be libelous. McCarthy refused, and his telecast was cancelled. As he left the station for the airport, he threatened to have the station's broadcast license revoked.

  

  Back in Washington D.C., McCarthy never filed a complaint with the FCC . . . MACO

  • Joe McCarthy's heavy alcohol consumption (he was an alcoholic) and volatile temper alienated many. Biographers like David Oshinsky (A Conspiracy So Immense) describe him as charming in small doses but distrustful and quick to accuse even acquaintances of disloyalty, which eroded potential friendships.

    McCarthy had few genuine allies. Early supporters like Senator William Jenner or Roy Cohn (his chief counsel during the hearings) were more like subordinates or ideological partners than close friends. Cohn, for instance, was a professional collaborator, but their relationship soured over time amid scandals. Many senators avoided him.

    He befriended some journalists (those who amplified his claims), but these were transactional. His staff turnover was high due to his demanding and abusive style.
    McCarthy often used people instrumentally.

    McCarthy did not have many close friends. He had acquaintances, enablers, and admirers during his peak (1950-1954), but historical records (e.g., from the U.S. Senate archives, books like Thomas Reeves' The Life and Times of Joe McCarthy, and declassified FBI files) paint him as a lonely, distrustful man whose behavior repelled lasting relationships.

    Why So Few Close Friends? His McCarthyism tactics—baseless accusations and blacklisting—made enemies across party lines, fostering paranoia that extended to personal interactions.
    Post-censure, he became increasingly isolated, dying alone in a Bethesda naval hospital with minimal visitors.

• . . . but encourages them to apply for the miracle programming challenges just around the corner . . . digital . . . ai . . . broom and mop . . . dust pan and bucket . . .

  https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-10-15/nbc-news-lays-off-ratings-declines-and-msnbc-cnbc-spinoff-versant-cable-news

• https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-10-15/iheart-radio-layoffs-mo-kelly-radio-show-ends

• "As of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, only the MAGA-friendly One America News had said it would sign the policy."
  -- Washington Post

  To the holdouts: Dare we say, backbone, spine, courage?

  • On social media, Hegseth responded with the “goodbye” emoji to outlets saying they wouldn’t agree to the new restrictions. He has said those who do not agree with the new policy would be kicked out of the Pentagon.
    Bottom line: The Pentagon wants complete control over what is reported about the department.

  • Pete Hegseth's socks have a tag attached with instructions: Insert foot in mouth

• Really enjoying the articles here and the "Now Hear This" audio collection!

• Sorta like how the news media repeated the Biden talking points ad nauseum, evidence to the contrary be damned.

  • Or just CNN and MSNBC?

    • Trust no one. Alexa is over there on my shelf listening to every conversation we have. If I mention a specific brand of tennis shoes, ads for those shoes will show up on my social media feed. I am being followed. Not in a good way that earns me "clicks" and "follows."

      • The lady who painted my house last year relied on up-to-the-second weather forecasts. She'd finish up for the day and say, "I can't paint tomorrow - that bitch Alexa says it's gonna rain." Or she'd be working and talking to herself and her phone would start saying something and I'd hear her yell, "Shut up, you bitch!"

        • I have two GPS map programs on my phone. I once set both of them with a destination and they both started giving instructions. One of them had misheard my command. So, now I had competing navigators telling me to go in different directions. It was comical. My wife did not see the humor in it.

        • Instead of saying "I misspoke" when you're caught lying, say "You misheard."

• National Association of Broadcasters has released :30 spots and scripts for its campaign to require auto makers to continue installing AM radios in all vehicles, including electrics and hybrids.

  https://www.nab.org/AMToolkit/spots.asp

• I'm bookmarking this one. "RadioCountryLive.com" from the very heart of Manhattan. Digging out some pretty interesting cuts from vintage LP's besides newer stuff with which I am totally unfamiliar but am totally enjoying. Short liners every 20 minutes or so.

  Wanda Jackson - Sweet Dreams
  The Dixie Chicks - Pink Toenails
  Faron Young - If You Ain't Lovin'
  Reba McIntire - O Holy Night
  Garth Brooks - Papa Loved Mama
  Brenda Lee - Everybody Loves Me But You
  Ashley McBryde - A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega
  (Dahlonega is the county seat of Lumpkin County, Georgia, accent on second syllable)
  Tracy Lawrence - Sawdust on Her Halo
  Sawyer Brown - Trouble on the Line
  George Strait - That's My Kind of Woman
  Shania Twain - When He Leaves You
  The Mavericks - This Broken Heart
  Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs
  Alison Krauss - Oh, Atlanta
  Tim McGraw - I Like It, I Love It
  Alabama - Reckless
  Taylor Swift - Picture to Burn
  Travis Tritt - Southern Justice
  Rodney Atkins - If You're Going Through Hell
  Rosanne Cash - The Truth About You

  Music for lovelorn pokes and pokettes! Park your boots under my cot anytime! Sweet Dreams!

  • Over 17,000 listeners tuned in at the time that I checked it out.