Samuel Alito vs. Howard Stern

Monday, January 9th will be a big day for news. Ariel Sharon will begin to be brought out of his medically-induced coma and the process of the selection of a new House Majority leader in the United States will make headlines.

For me, at least on Monday morning, there will only be two items of interest: 1) the beginning of the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito; and 2) Howard Stern's first show on Sirius Satellite radio.

Hmmm...

A Supreme Court nominee or the King of all Media?

The possible tipping of the judicial balance of our country for the next 20 years (he's only 55) or the beginning of a groundbreaking new format for expression and media content like nothing else seen since, well, he did it on terrestrial radio (over 20 years ago)?

"I'll take 'Shock Jocks' for $1,000, Trebek."

There's really no question here, Stern's debut will garner my attention Monday morning. Alito's hearings will last for weeks, if not months, and be reported to death with much speculation and interminable details and analysis. I can pick that up anytime.

SIRIUS will have the east coast feed on channel 100 and west coast feed on channel 101, both beginning at 6am in their respective time zones. Expect to hear Howard comment on whether or not he and Beth are married, as well as the final unveiling of the Stern show members' "revelations" (secret or embarrassing things they've done but told no one until this show) that were touted as a cliffhanger in the last weeks of the terrestrial show.

My weekend project was to install my SIRIUS tuner and antenna in my truck and after almost four hours on Saturday, it is done. Drilling, carving and self-adhesive wire clips were all involved. Everything works, and today will be the inaugural drive to test the reception and sound. There will be a writeup, and if I can borrow a camera, pictures too.

Related post: "Thank you, George Takei"