And this is just from birth through high school (if I can get this link to work right, that is:)

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Karen, who was originally dubious about this post, proofread the list above and heartily approved. We'll see if she feels the same about the next 100, when she enters the picture.

Relatively uneventful day. Bought my fifth CD Walkman in the last two years:

#1: Panasonic
Reason for Purchase: I wanted a Walkman that played CDs
Price: $89.99
Radio Included?: Yes
Quality: outstanding
Reason I'm No Longer Using It: Got caught in an unbelievable rainstorm with it. It was in my briefcase, but that didn't protect it enough from getting soaked.
Current Status: in a landfill, after waiting for eight months for it to get better

#2: GPX
Reason for Purchase: to listen to CDs in the Escort
Price: $39.99
Radio Included?: no
Quality: awful
Reason I'm No Longer Using It: Didn't work in the car, didn't fit in the pouch when I was power walking, batteries would run out before one CD could be completed
Current Status: in a landfill, and good riddance

#3: Sony
Reason for Purchase: to replace #1
Price: gift, but probably $89.99
Radio Included: yes
Quality: varies
Reason I'm No Longer Using It: volume stays constant (about 2) no matter how much you dial around, sound quality fuzzy. It did work better for about two weeks, but has since reverted
Current Status: alive, but not using it

#4: Memorex
Reason for Purchase: to supplement/replace #4
Price: $49.99
Radio Included: yes
Quality: pretty mediocre
Reason I'm No Longer Using It: works fine if you're standing still or listening to the radio, but it skips after 10-20 minutes of power walking
Status: maybe Karen will use it to listen to NPR

#5: Aiwa
Reason for Purchase: to replace #3 and #4
Price: $69.99
Radio Included: no
Quality: so far, so good
Status: full-time use for the Superhits CDs

Anyone else have opinions on good/bad Walkmen?

We're leaving for Michigan's Upper Peninsula after I get out of work today, and won't be back until July 28. No posts until then.

The final Superhits 1978-1983 CD count stands at 31, ranging from January 1978 (Diana Ross' "Getting Ready for Love") through October 1981 (Christopher Cross' "Arthur's Theme [Best That You Can Do]"). I'll finish when we get back.

Lots of positive feedback on The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments special. Look for two more editions sometime in the near future.

Also look for Peter Marshall's book, Backstage With the Original Hollywood Square at your favorite local bookstore. If they don't have it, ask for it, and then buy it! It comes with a CD version of 1974's Zingers From The Hollywood Squares, a fun LP of one-liners. Coauthor Adrienne Armstrong writes Peter Marshall will be signing copies of the book Wednesday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bookstar in Studio City, CA (it's on Ventura Blvd. west of Laurel Canyon). Joining him will be, of course, nine celebrities from the original show: Rose Marie, Nanette Fabray, Suzanne Pleshette, Abby Dalton, JoAnne Worley, Tom Poston, Harvey Korman, Arte Johnson, and Fred Willard. If you're in the area, it will be loads of fun!

Fox television, unbelievably, is contemplating getting back into late-night television. Geez, haven't they been the butt of enough jokes over their previous lame attempts (The Late Show With Joan Rivers, The Wilton North Report, The Chevy Chase Show). And yet they persist. This is painful; it's kind of like me, trying to get in with the popular kids after years of failure, going on the 8th grade talent show with my accordion playing "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)." (No, I didn't actually do this!)

Weight: 207.5. Maybe the vacation will mean lots of exercise and not too much food. (Yeah, right.)

Have a great week, everybody.