Still talking

Imagine turning on the TV and learning that cancer had been cured. Or that you won the lottery or that 9/11 never happened.

Today I allowed myself to think, for just a minute, that "Charlotte Talks" -- WFAE's complete waste of two programming hours -- was finally off the air. It was 7 p.m., and with hands full I couldn't get to the radio's off button in time, so I steeled myself for that insufferable intro:

"HI. I'm Mike COLLINS. And THIS is Charlotte TALKS."

Instead, I was greeted by the good people at the BBC telling me to stay tuned for "The World." Oh joy, oh happy day, or rapturous wonder of a world born anew! WFAE had finally realized their folly at hiring a smooth jazz salesman -- the man is literally a shill for Centex and other local businesses -- instead of an actual journalist.

But, alas, no. Mike still occupies airtime from 9-10 a.m. while his evening rebroadcast has moved to 9 p.m. So, it's on with the insipid drone of shows about grilling, water politics, forensic anthropologists and (shudder) Open Phones.