Listening to the World - Anguilla

I think that there are more than one radio stations on Anguilla, but I find this one to be so delightful that I felt no need to find any more.

Two signs that this is the sort of radio station that I find delightful.

1. If you click on their webcam, you get to see a static picture of the cam because it isn't set up yet.
2. Their photo gallery has three pictures. One of the pictures is of their parking lot. The caption reads "Loads of parking space for visiting guests and clients."

The first time I found this station, I logged in, and after a few adverts, I hear what can only be described as the "reading the obituaries out loud show." Two very long and comprehensive death notices were read, listing the names of all the brothers, sisters, cousins, second cousins, aunts, uncles and I think (my brain was starting to glaze over at this point) a few really good friends. This was done over some light jazz. It took about fifteen minutes and then they cut to some syndicated American religious program.

Another bit I caught was a two part public affairs program. The first part had representatives from the "Anguilla Beautification Club." The second half was about hurricane preparedness. The common denominator for both segments is car parts in the front yard -- Clean that stuff up, folks! It makes your yard look nice and it won't hit you in the head when a hurricane comes.

Now, people are going to read this and think that I'm just making fun. In some ways, I am. But I have a lot of respect for these scrappy little stations. These are people whacking a radio station together out of nothing. There aren't any radio executives with advanced degrees in Broadcasting Science working with squads of six-figure earning marketing wonks. If this station was in my town, I'd be pulling into their "loads of parking" and asking if I could volunteer some time helping out. And I bet they wouldn't laugh at me for doing so.

That's why I find this station so delightful.