OT- Dan Rather Signs Off. So what IS the Frequency Kenneth?

[Anonymous]

RR frequncny?

[Anonymous]

What's the story behind R.E.M.'s song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth"?
Dana
Nashua, New Hampshire

Dear Dana:
CBS News anchor Dan Rather, renowned for his unusual expressions and sayings, has led a colorful life. However, one bizarre event really takes the cake.
One night in October 1986, Rather was walking down a Manhattan street when he was punched from behind and thrown to the ground. His assailant kicked and beat him while repeating, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

No one could explain the event, and the rumors flew fast and wide. Some speculated the assailant was a KGB agent, while others claimed the attack was the work of a jealous husband. Rather himself couldn't shed any light on the subject. His explanation at the time?

I got mugged. Who understands these things? I didn't and I don't now. I didn't make a lot of it at the time and I don't now. I wish I knew who did it and why, but I have no idea.
Apparently the strange event moved R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, who said of the incident:

It remains the premier unsolved American surrealist act of the 20th century. It's a misunderstanding that was scarily random, media hyped and just plain bizarre.
The attack inspired the 1994 R.E.M. hit "What's the Frequency, Kenneth." Being a good sport, Dan Rather even accompanied the band when they performed the song on a Late Show with David Letterman appearance.

In 1997, based on a tip from a psychiatrist, Rather's attacker was identified as William Tager. According to the psychiatrist, Tager, who was currently serving time for killing an NBC stagehand, blamed news media for beaming signals into his head, and thought if he could just find out the correct frequency, he could block those signals that were constantly assailing him. Hence the enigmatic inquiry.


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[Mookie]

Hey Zardoz: Pink Floyd? I am impressed!!!!

[:O]

Mook

[Junctionfan]

I don't know about the railroads but I'm sure Bush has popped open some bubbly in response to his retirement.

[spbed]

He was not one of my favorites. I prefer CNN or MSNBC myself.

[dharmon]

And you guys think I'm the one taking drugs......sheesh!

[Anonymous]

It's an interesting generation change. Walter Cronkite blew Rather out of the water on CNN for his mishandling of the Bush National Guard service record story. We are watching CBS evolve from the Ed Murrow school of broadcasting, to the Watergate school of broadcasting, to something different.

I just hope broadcast journalists learn how to report the news without analysing it, which for the most part, they can't do.

Erik

[vsmith]

· Was Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" purposely aligned with "The Wizard of Oz"?

I have heard this for years, even known a couple people who tried it , They say its the bizarrest thing they've ever seen, but that its true..Example.. in the song Us and Them theres the words "Black, and blue, and who knows which is which and who is who"

if cued right, the scene is Dorothy's first encounter with the Wicked Witch, the song words "Black" come up ,the witch in black is on screen , "and Blue" it cuts to Dorothy dressed in blue, "and who knows which (scene cuts back to the witch right of cue) is which and who (back to Dorothy right on cue) is who"

This goes on all the way thru but it HAS to be timed perfectly so the album starts at the same instant the movie does. If I have a spare day this summer I might try this.

[dharmon]

Vic.....does LA county require urinalysis of it's employees?

[vsmith]

Yep, I'm clean.!!!!

[dharmon]

Uhhh...Okay...okay...okay..it's just a little pin***...

[Anonymous]

Then you go AHHHHHHH, but you may feel a little sick...

[Anonymous]

You know NY has a higher percentile of people whi are mental then any other state

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dunkirkeriestation

You know NY has a higher percentile of people whi are mental then any other state

Case in point......

......Can you stand up? ....Good.......I do believe its working....Good.....That'll keep you going for the show....come on it's time to go....

[Anonymous]

I remember back about 20 yrs ago when Dan did a feature on the railroads removing cabooses. My choice for evening news: Lou Dobbs on CNN.