Monday, September 29, 2025

Whither Deadbeats?

A man models a tee shirt which reads "Deadbeat Dad" & lists nutritional facts: serving size 1 deadbeat dad. Amounts per serving % daily value. Biological father 100%; responsible dad 0%; role model -500%; emotional support 0%; financial support 0%; selfishness 25%; commitments 0%; bull-shit 500%; fun time - gimme a break. Two asterisks read not a significat source of any useful & values not expected to get better
(image from here)

After confessing yesterday that my own father was a deadbeat, you might think I myself might be on the verge of an admission that I too am a deadbeat. But far from it! I am mostly responsible & honor my commitments - I do three radio shows a week & sometimes more. I am a bit lazy, true, but if I promise to do something, I do it. & I have financially supported myself & others - some of whom were probably deadbeats. No, this show is neither a celebration nor indictment of the deadbeat in me. Or really of any deadbeats.

It came into my head earlier this year when I was putting together my 1989 show. Two records released that year - the Fall's Seminal Live & the B-52's Cosmic Thing - featured songs with deadbeat in the title. I wondered if that might be something that would be a good theme for the show. It wasn't something I thought about until just recently when a remastered version of Seminal Live was released. I was like, Oh yeah, didn't I want to do a radio show about deadbeats? & now I shall.

Tonight from midnight to 2am on 90.7fm in town & kboo dot fm everywhere. I wonder - with the show on so late - how many people who might be listening are deadbeats?

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