NationStates Jolt Archive


Talk Radio vs. Goobergunchia [open]

Allanea
04-12-2004, 20:23
State of Aissur, Allanea

Michael Ravager, a famous Aissurian talk-radio host, chuckled. “So, peeps, we’ve all been pretty annoyed when the neanderthal’s up in Goobergunch city condemn that corporation, what was it’s name, Dolphin or such? Well, I’ve given it some thought, there, and, you know, there’s no reason to be angry. After all, they have no evil intent. The hilbillies up north just don’t know any better, you know. They’ve been living that way for centuries. Look – their government doesn’t even need to get a standing army to oppress them – they are so far gone they actually willingly submit to the nonsense. Now, behind all this, I, Michael Ravager, give you an idea: We should help the poor folks.”

He paused, revelling in the sudden silence in the studio. He glanced at the shocked faces of the studio crew behind the large glass wall in front of him and thought of all the people all over Aissur that paused for a second, petrified: what kind of insanity would the maverick host suggest this time? A war? An invasion? Or actual help of some form to Goobergunchians – creatures whom most Allaneans patently despised?

“Well,” he continued, “obviously we ain’t going to send the Marines there to take ‘em out of their misery – though they have definitely suffered enough. We are going to do better. A friend of mine down in Daikatana has one of ‘em high-power AM stations he won’t need no more– he’s closing shop and moving to Mars, of all things. Anyhow, here’s what I suggest: let us buy the station. Let us put it on a small boat – just the kind those Dolphin people use – and take it as far out to the North-West Gulf as we can – and give the Goobergunchians the message of freedom.”

A few days later

Michael blinked. “What now?”

The idea he has suggested jokingly a few days ago has mushroomed out of any proportions. Over a thousand people have taken it seriously, and bombarded him with checks and money – admittedly, not much, only about twenty thousand, in total – and even suggestion about what to put on the first broadcast.

“Well, sir, Dolphin, Inc, called. They said they will willingly sponsor this. So have Allanean Entertainment.”

Ravage gaped at the secretary. “Oh well. Tell Entertainment we’re going for it. We’re probably going to last long as a show, but hell, imagine what it will look like on the resume/

And so the preparations began.
Goobergunchia
04-12-2004, 20:31
Somewhere in the Goobergunchian Ministry of Transportation, Ayalan Bureau

"I hear the Allaneans are planning on some sort of radio broadcast to Goobergunchia."

"Fine, let them go ahead with it. People probably won't care anyway. Just make sure that they don't enter our territory."

This has been a Goobergunchian Tag.
Allanea
04-12-2004, 21:17
A month later

“Goooood morning, Goobergunchia!” – shrieked Michaer Ravager. Wow. This made him feel good – not just like an ordinary broadcaster, but like someone doing something good. He knew that not just the people in South Goobergunchia heard him, but also those in Northern Allanea – and this made him feel even better.

“I am Michael Ravager, and I am a talk radio host from the United States of Allanea. You know, the place where we all supposedly carry guns and eat children. I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t eat children. I greatly prefer beef.”

He paused.

“Now, I’m not going to go all propagandish at you at first, I’m just going to say that this is the first broadcast of Radio Free Goobergunchia, and that Radio Free Goobergunchia is broadcasted from the good ship Brotherhood, bought for us by our kind sponsors at Allanean Entertainment corporation.. Thirty minutes from now, you will hear the famous Allanean actor George Mikashvili read you some fine poetry by Rudyard Kipling.”

Mikashvili wasn’t very famous, really. He starred in a film or two, and might be recognised, that’s all. At present, Radio Free Goobergunchia couldn’t really afford anybody of really big caliber. Still, he was the best they could get.

“In the meanwhile, I’m going to play some music to you. Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I will introduce Goobergunchia to Bob Marley! That’s right, Bob Marley’s "Get Up, Stand Up (http://members.aol.com/modderbeimer/getup.html) ", after which you will hear Queen's "We Will Rock You", and Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road (http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/easyrider/data/copperh.htm) ”. Enjoy us! Let’s rock!”
Goobergunchia
05-12-2004, 19:48
Given that no Goobergunchian laws nor international laws were being violated, the Transportation Ministry had no choice but to allow the broadcast to go ahead and not block it. LBN ran a story on the upcoming Radio Free Goobergunchia broadcast, and probably about two-thirds of the population of the southern Goobergunchian coast were aware of it. However, given that the vast majority of Goobergunchians didn't particularly like Allaneans, especially in the South, only a handful tuned in to the broadcast.

Those that did tune in enjoyed the Marley song, but started to have content issues with the latter two. Barely any Goobergunchians knew what a "D.E.A." was, and only a few diplomats knew of a "Vietnam" (although they knew of the region and no nation by that name). However, pretty much all Goobergunchians that had actually bothered to listen decided to just relax and enjoy the music.
Allanea
07-12-2004, 16:01
Aboard the Brotherhood

Goooood morning, Goobergunchia!" - the greeting was beginning to become a special tradition for the people who worked at Radio Free Goobergunchia. It seemed that the radio kept afloat - donations were flowing in at extreme amounts, ad some Allaneans listened to the music as well - which allowed for some advertising money.

The radio broadcasted Bob Marley, Metallica, Duke Ellington, classical music, adopting itself to whatever info could be salvaged on this side of the "Iron Curtain" about Goobergunchian's tastes. Of course, a little subversion here and there was used - in the form of songs whose lyrics where related to the importance of freedom and her preservation, talks with members of the Libertarian Party of Allanea and so forth - but generally, the station concentrated on pure, unadulterated entertainment - the better, thought Ravager, to capture the hearts and minds of the young. Ninety-nine parts entertainment, one part propaganda, thought Ravager.

And now, he thought, was part for something new:

Gobergunchians, I have a surprise for you. Do you want to talk to Michael Ravager, the famous Allanean radio host? Yeah, that's me. Wanna talk to me? Here' the phone number: Call 1-800-567-FREEDOM and talk directly, on the air to Radio Free Goobergunchia! Tell us what you think!