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July 8, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Duty to save gullible from themselves?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Islamists have the West just where they want us

JWisdom:: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 3: The Fully Loaded Human Being by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 3, 2008

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget (TOUCHING!)

Jeff Jacoby: Israel still paying for its defeat

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part IV by Rabbi David Aaron

JWisdom:: The Moses Method by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 2, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Appeasers Make Poor Patriots

The Kosher Gourmet By Kathleen Purvis: Slaw, y'all: For BBQs or Sabbath dinner, these southern recipes are something else!

JWisdom:: Rabbi Mordechai Becher: Jewish Rx for A Simpler Life

July 1, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. I think it's important to leave a legacy to my children. How much should I save towards this end?

Paul Greenberg:A President who is history deficient?

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism

June 30, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Remembering the architect of Torah Judaism for the modern world

Abe Novick: Hulk: Still a Jew?

JWisdom: : Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 2: The Abandoned Child

June 26, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Quantum leap to evil

Caroline B. Glick: Victimized families must not be allowed to dictate policy

June 25, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Today in Biblical History: King Jeroboam of Israel prevents pilgrimage to Jerusalem

Jonathan Tobin: Real Friends and Real Enemies

JWisdom: Raping of reason By Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 25, 2008

Steven Emerson: Kristof: Never Mind the Terrorists

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: Mediterranean Flyover: Telegraphing an Israeli Punch?

JWisdom: Rabbi David Aaron: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part III

June 24, 2008

Caroline B. Glick: What were they thinking!?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Guilty knowledge

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Warping Innocence

June 23, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Diploma dilemma

Jeff Jacoby: A world without children

JWisdom: Rabbi Dovid Gross: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality --- Introduction

June 20, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Man: The Crowning Glory of Creation

Caroline B. Glick: Israel's darkest week

JWisdom: We aren't worthy? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 19, 2008

Rabbi Elazar Meisels: The saints who don't come marchin' in

Chris Christoff: Muslim woman demands an apology from Obama after camera snub

June 18, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Still Dancing Around Jerusalem

The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky: Chilled fruit and vegetable soups

JWisdom: Souls Need A Check Up? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 17, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Baby Einstein

Caroline B. Glick: Bush's rhetoric, Bush's policies

JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part II by Rabbi David Aaron

June 16, 2008

Varda Branfman: Bob Dylan, won't you please come home?

Diana West: Academic dares to question the 'religion of peace'

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Positive Backfire

June 13, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: Trading manna for whine

Caroline B. Glick: Peace with friends

JWisdom: From the mouths of … by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 12, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet Paul Revere's pal, the Orthodox Jew who played a key role in laying Boston's cultural and business infrastructure

The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Manweiler: No need to be tempted by Wendy's mandarin chicken salad

JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part I by Rabbi David Aaron

June 11, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: What would Hillel say?

Jonathan Tobin: UNRWA and NGOs: The Real U.N. 'Insult'

JWisdom: Sara Yoheved Rigler: Greatness Made Simple: How a momentary decision shifted life's course and destination

June 6, 2008

Rabbi Pinchas Stolper: Revelation: The basis of faith

Binyamin L. Jolkovsky: Mere hours after becoming Israel's new 'best friend' Obama backtracks on status of Jerusalem

Caroline B. Glick: UN choosing to protect rogue nuclear programs

JWisdom: Sameness in difference by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 5, 2008

David Lightman: Now Obama wants to be Israel's newest 'best friend'

Obama's remarks to AIPAC policy conference

The Kosher Gourmet By Ethel G. Hofman: Shavous cuisine: Ruby Fruit Soup, Lokshen Kugel with Cheese, Key Lime Curd, Calsone Casserole Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Sun-dried tomatoes and Olives, Baked Tilapia with Pepper Cheese Cream and Brown Sugar Shortbread

JWisdom: Why a Jewish Jerusalem makes so many nervous by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 4, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: A different sort of 'religious broadcaster'

Jonathan Tobin: Misgivings on the Road to Damascus

JWisdom: 44 Years Without An Argument? by Sara Yoheved Rigler

June 3, 2008

Daniel Pipes: Obama vs. McCain on the Middle East

Everything's Relative: There is a crisis growing in Orthodox synagogues worldwide, reveals Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkel

JWisdom: White Facades; Black Secrets by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 2, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: Lie to outsmart discriminator?

He writes the songs that make our souls sing:Gavriel Aryeh Sanders interviews Jewish music legend Ben Zion Shenker; includes stirring, uplifting song

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Of laws and lives

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Nov. 22, 2005 / 20 Mar-Cheshvan, 5766

Radio has gone to the dogs — literally

By Lloyd Garver


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | As many media critics have noted over the past several years, "broadcasting" has become "narrow-casting." In the past, television and radio programs were aimed at the widest possible audience. Today they go for "niche programming." So, on the radio, there are all-sports stations, all-talk, hip-hop, country, oldies, and classical stations. TV gives us cartoon stations, all-news stations, crime shows for adults, sex-oriented comedies for adults, and sex-oriented comedies for young people. Now there's a new niche in radio programming — a radio station just for the listening pleasure of pets.


DogCatRadio.com is an Internet radio station that aims its programming at, well, dogs and cats. It's broadcast from — no surprise here — Los Angeles. Adrian Martinez started it when he noticed that his cat, Snickers, likes to listen to music — especially 80s rock. I remember when a Pet Rock was a silly gag gift.


Success in the radio and television business is all about demographics. Since there are approximately 140 million pets in the United States alone, this is a listening audience that won't go untapped for long.


DogCatRadio.com has DJs who play the music, but so far they are all human. That doesn't seem right, and I'm sure dogs and cats will soon be manning — uh, animaling — the turntables. How hard can it be to teach a pet to turn on a record? The difficult part will be keeping their headphones on. But if pets can walk around in those silly sweaters that some owners make them wear, I'm sure they can be taught not to tear off their headphones.


The station takes requests, and among the most popular songs are, "Hound Dog" and that "who let the dogs out — woof,woof, woof" song. I'm not sure if these requests are made by humans who assume their pets like certain music, or if the animals themselves call the station.


One human listener complained to the station that they weren't playing anything specifically for "our equine friends." This leads me to believe that soon the niche will have other niches. HorseRadio.com, Parakeet Radio, and "All-Gerbil, All The Time" will not be far behind. And let's not forget, "Radio Flea Europe." Sorry about that.


Those of you who have been reading my column for the past couple of weeks should know that DogCatRadio is bilingual. In addition to English, it broadcasts a Spanish program. It's not clear if this is for the benefit of Spanish-speaking owners or if it's for pets who might prefer Spanish, like Mexican Chihuahuas. If it's the latter, soon we'll be seeing demands for equal time from French Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and, of course, Alaskan Malamutes.


I have the feeling that DogCatRadio.com is just the beginning. And with the holidays around the corner, and the knowledge that we spend $35.9 billion a year on pets in the United States, smart businesspeople will be trying to fetch a bone or two from this latest development. Watch for iPaws, little iPods that attach to a pet's collar. Laptops for Lapdogs will probably be on sale soon. And don't be surprised if you find yourself buying a computer mouse for your cat.


Once radio cashes in, you can bet a pig's ear that TV will follow. And I don't think it will stop at pet programming. Television is always looking for ways to air all those failed pilots and canceled shows that cost millions of dollars. I can just see some Harvard MBA/Vice President of Programming saying, "Why don't we just put those unsuccessful shows on for the cats, dogs, and fish? They won't know the difference." You know, the same attitude they have towards people.


I hope this doesn't happen. I think that attitude underestimates our pets' intelligence, and subjecting our pets to bad TV would definitely qualify as animal cruelty.


I played DogCatRadio for my dog. He just continued to sleep through the songs and the pet-friendly chatter. Now, if they were to broadcast the sound of food hitting the inside of his bowl, he'd perk up and start wagging his tail right away. Just a suggestion. Actually, make that a request.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. Comment by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.

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