Fallen idol.

I followed the recovery of Mike Starr on Celebrity Rehab, a show I initially thought exploitative, but came to appreciate for its purpose. Sure, much associated with reality TV is exploitative, but I do believe Dr. Drew and company honestly want to heal people. If they're accomplishing such things, why not show it to a mass audience? It might actually push someone into action; to realize his/her own problems with substance abuse. The folks at the Pasadena Recovery Center understand addiction. Many of them are past addicts themselves and they want to guide people into positive change. They hope to facilitate the patients' journey into some sort of normalcy.

On both shows--Celebrity Rehab and Sober House--Mike showed himself to be a complex yet caring man who sincerely wanted to heal. He went through some very rough times (ever see anyone throw up mountains of barf on-screen, folks?) but he always stayed for the next step. He wanted to live, to feel worthy again. Unfortunately, the death of Layne Staley haunted him; it was something he mentioned time and time again during the series. He felt so much guilt for leaving Staley that night--after an argument--never to see him again. When Mike saw Staley's mother for the first time after Layne's death, I really thought that could provide the crux--a turning point for pushing through to sobriety. I was wrong.

Starr showed up on the penultimate episode of Celebrity Rehab 4--along with success stories Mackenzie Phillips and Tom Sizemore--to give support and encouragement to the new group. I was so proud to see him with bright eyes and hope; somehow, he felt like a brother.

For whatever reason, Mike chose to return to drugs. While not ingesting something as harsh as his previous addiction, heroin--I can imagine him reasoning "it's just to help me sleep," or "this is nowhere near the level of smack"--those mind-altering/numbing substances helping him deal with his ongoing existential pain still killed him. I'm not judging him at all; I understand crippling guilt. I just wish he could have held in there--by trying to keep up with his Sober House peers, if nothing else. But the ghosts that had haunted him since 2002 (hell, years before that) wouldn't let go of his psyche.

Truly...rest in peace, Michael Starr. I have no doubt your struggle inspired thousands of people. And although you may have succumbed to the raging and demanding demons of guilt/addiction, you illuminated my own experience. Thank you.

I think the afterlife probably doesn't exist, but if it does, I genuinely hope Mike and Layne are reacquainting themselves and laughing over the inconsequence of this mortal coil.

I think...

...this is quite possibly one of the most beautiful videos I've ever watched. It probably helps that I'm from repressed Appalachia/the South. But it's lovely to me.

No more Sasha's Slot...

...at least, in Toledo. Too many logistical/communication problems with management at the station, so I stepped out of that madness. I've got too much on my plate right now to sweat it. I'll pick the habit back up in the next town I move to. And in the interim, I'll continue to put some of my fave music video selections up for you...like this one! (Interesting social commentary--but not for faint of heart/uptight.)

Sasha's Slot: tonight!

UPDATE: *Sigh* No Sasha's Slot tonight: arrived on campus only to find the Student Union locked up for the holiday. Join me next week, same time, same station!

And every Saturday night, 6-8 EST / 3-5 PST.

Listen on 88.3 FM Toledo or online at WXUT.com.

Listen to Sasha's Slot today!

6-8 EST / 3-5 PST

WXUT 88.3 Toledo or WXUT.com

It's official: Sasha's Slot has a new time!

Listen to the 'Slot tonight and every Saturday night from 6-8 pm EDT / 3-6 PDT at 88.3 Toledo or:
WXUT-FM
See you there!

Sasha's Slot is regular again!

UPDATE: No radio show today; I've hit a logistical wrinkle that's beyond my control. I will repost any changes to my time slot!

Listen to Sasha's Slot today and every Saturday from 4-6 pm EST on 88.3 WXUT Toledo, or online here.

Online, you get the added bonus of staring at the back of my head in the DJ booth!

See you there!

Sasha's Irregular Slot...today!

4-6 pm EST / 1-3 PST. Listen here.

Sasha’s Irregular Slot: Tomorrow!

I'll be riding the airwaves again, sharing many a fine tune.

Monday, December 29, 12-2 pm EST / 9-11 am PST

Listen here

And be free!

At 4pm EST / 1 PST today

hear another installment of Sasha's Irregular Slot! Featuring:

Depeche Mode, The Bird and the Bee, Ennio Morricone, Joy Division...

...and all the great sounds of the holiday season!

Listen here

L.A.

One of the things I miss about living in a big metropolitan city like Los Angeles is the random weird shit you would observe during the course of a day. Certainly, that happened when I was living in Seattle too, but the occurrences were usually more infrequent and significant enough that they garnered extensive attention...the incident in 1995 where a homeless guy stood on the corner of Pike (or Pine--they ran parallel and even after four years of living there, I never got them straight) downtown, holding up a sword for hours in a stand-off with police, comes to mind (my co-workers and I watched him off and on for hours from our safe high-rise office vantage point)...but in L.A., every day there was some bizarre piece of behavior or visual anomaly you could observe and note for sharing with your partner (or roommate, or cat) when you got home.

Anyway, one that came to mind today--that I still find particularly funny--was when I was walking into a Target in Culver City and this guy, who looked like he'd been up for about a week (and was probably doing a healthy amount of meth while depriving himself of sleep) was dragging along one of those rolling luggage bags behind him on the sidewalk that circled the strip mall. That in itself isn't really very weird, but he had a boom box resting inside of the luggage, and the zipper was pulled down so that he could blast the sounds of ABC's "Poison Arrow." It was an odd choice of music; even though it was a big hit in 1982-83, it was nearly 25 years old by the time everyone could hear it coming out of his suitcase.

At any rate, I've always been one who appreciates oddballs. Especially oddballs who are so demonstrative; who shake up the status quo of any situation, but do it without harming anyone. This guy fit the bill. Perhaps I was moved as well because the song reminded me of my childhood, and while a revisitation of music that wasn't that great in the big picture, it was nonetheless instrumental in the early formulation of my musical tastes (I still love New Wave). I'm sure my response was a culmination of all of the above, but whatever was creating the positive vibe, I felt the need to comment. "That's the coolest fucking thing ever," I said to him. He shot me an amused glance, as if to say, "Of course it is. And now, I'll be moving on."

He continued his trajectory around the corner of a Subway restaurant; to where he was headed, I don't know. But as I watched him drag away his moving piece of art/memory, I couldn't stop smiling.

Back again.

I've taken a hiatus from radio-ing since August, as this semester has been a bitch on wheels. However, I decided to indulge myself this weekend and picked up a shift.

Friday, November 14th, 2-4pm EST / 11a-1p PST. Listen here:

WRFL-FM

Meet you there!

Judas

Is simplicity best
Or simply the easiest?
The narrowest path
Is always the holiest
So walk on barefoot for me
Suffer some misery
If you want my love
If you want my love

Man will survive
The harshest conditions
And stay alive
Through difficult decisions
So make up your mind for me
Walk the line for me
If you want my love
If you want my love

Idle talk
And hollow promises
Cheating Judases
Doubting Thomases
Don't just stand there and shout it
Do something about it

You can fulfill
Your wildest ambitions
And I'm sure you will
Lose your inhibitions
So open yourself for me
Risk your health for me
If you want my love
If you want my love
If you want my love
If you want my love

~Depeche Mode, Songs of Faith and Devotion

Another of the Irregular.

Sasha's Irregular Slot

Friday, August 8, 2-4 pm EST / 11-1 am PST

Let's make it happen.

Listen here

Time for some tunes.

Sasha's Slot
Saturday night / Sunday morning
June 28th / 29th
1a-3a EST (10p-12a PST / 11p-1a CST)

Listen here

It will cure what ails you!

Slotty slotty slot slot.

Sasha's Slot

Saturday night / Sunday morning
June 21st / 22nd
1a-3a EST (10p-12a PST / 11p-1a CST)

Listen here

Funses!

Didja miss my Slot last week?

Well, it's back and raring to go:

Saturday night / Sunday morning
June 7th / 8th
1a-3a EST (10p-12a PST / 11p-1a CST)
and all through the summer!

Listen here

Two chances to feel it this week...

A little reminder of my regular Slot:

Starting May 3rd / 4th
Saturday nights / Sunday mornings
1a-3a EST (10p-12a PST / 11p-1a CST)
all through the summer!

and another return of the Irregular:

Tue. May 6th
6-8p EST (3-6p PST / 4-6p CST)

Listen here

Feel it! Feel it! Feel the vibration!

No longer Irregular!

(Well, at least for the summer...)

Ease into Sasha's Slot:

Saturday nights/Sunday mornings, starting May 3rd/4th
1a-3a EST (10p-12a PST/11p-1a CST)

Listen here
Lots of new college radio releases mingled with a healthy dose of 80s/90s darkwave and a few musical curve balls, just to keep you on the edge of your seat! See you there...

Another chance to feel it + somebody wants me as a mistress!!!

Sasha’s Irregular Slot!

Saturday night/Sunday morning, March 29/30

1a-3a EST/10p-12a PST

Listen here or at 88.1 on the dial.

You know you’re craving a B-12 shot in the ass...listen to the Slot and I won’t let you down!

----

I did a Google search on myself tonight and some random fan dude voted me as someone he would want as a mistress, back in 2002.  Wow, I really could have used that post-divorce--wish I had have known!  Scroll down to Dark Minister:

Additionally, a Chinese entertainment page put me in a lineup of naked people.  Whoo-hoo!  I’ve gone international--I feel so special!  *cough*