Roger that by Roger Nicholson

Let's Get Sirius!

"The revolution is here!” That is the familiar and often used tag line for those listening to the new "Howard Stern Show" radio program offered to subscribers of Sirius satellite radio.

I've been a big Howard Stern for the last 15 years ever since hearing him on WBCN for the first time back in 1992.

From the start I was awed by his brashness, his honesty, and his fearlessness to speak his mind at a time when the trend of soft fascism in the form of political correctness seemed to plague free thinkers every where.

After moving to Cambridge in 1991, I felt I was constantly being corrected and admonished by the pseudo intellectually elite. Words like "girl" needed to be substituted in certain circles by "pre-woman" "Black" wasn't OK, it had to "African American. And forget "American Indian" which is actually part of my genetic make up, I needed to start saying "Native American." I could barely open my mouth lest I be publicly shamed.

Racist, sexist, homophobic. All were labels being handed out in Cambridge in the early 90's as liberally as the Star of David in Germany circa 1933.

I hated it. I knew I was none of these things, but PC police were every where I turned and doing everything in their power to convince me I was a hate monger. I was worried every time I opened my mouth. It's a wonder I didn't develop a stutter at this point.

Howard Stern changed all that for me. I was floored when he referred to the ex wife of former Mafioso Henry Hill as a bitch. I couldn't believe it. For me to say such a thing aloud would have branded me a misogynistic sexist pig in the circles I was running with. Here's this guy on the radio using this word without any fear of reprisal.

Luckily for me, I have always been inherently rebellious, especially when it comes to those trying to control what I say and what I do. It might take a while, but once I catch on to the BS surrounding me, I'll segregate myself from the rest of herd.

After hearing Howard Stern, I felt a whole new world open up, one in which I could say what I wanted to whomever I wanted whenever I wanted. Free at last!

I signed up for Sirius satellite radio days after Howard left the FCC regulated, watered down, commercial infested, brain dead, censored, scrotumless, terrestrial radio. Next to getting sober and quitting drugs, I truly believe its the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Sirius offers a wide variety of radio programming that is commercial free. From 24 hours of Elvis Presley, to two different 80's music stations, alternative rock, country, gangsta rap, and any other kind of music you fancy. It also has NPR, Fox News Radio, BBC and one of my very favorites, the "Raw Dog" comedy channel. 24 hours of uncensored stand up comedy. George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield to name a few. God, I'm in heaven!

Of course, Sirius also features "Howard 100" and "Howard 101," two stations offered to subscribers who love all things Howard Stern.

His new show is funnier than ever. No longer do we suffer through bleeps during a phony phone call, or a sudden lapse in continuity because of the mandated seven second delay imposed by the FCC to "protect" our virgin ears from obscenity. Much like HBO or Showtime's original programming, Sirius radio has allowed Howard Stern and his fans to be treated like we should be treated. As grown ups. Finally!

For $12.95 a month I'm having more fun than anyone should be legally allowed. Which worries me a little. No doubt Congress and a fascist bureaucratic institution like the FCC will do everything in their power to put an end to every ones fun. But so far, their filthy dirty little hands are tied and can do nothing to stop us from having a good laugh.

Just for the record, XM satellite radio pales in comparison to Sirius. I've listened to both and its no contest. Sirius rules.

XM is also owned by Clear Channel, the huge corporate media conglomerate that fired Howard Stern and his cohort shock jock "Bubba the Love Sponge" after both were fined for indecency.

Rather than fight the FCC and making some sort of effort at defending the First Amendment, Clear Channel bent over like a pillow biting jail house prag and ended paying the FCC $1.2 million, the largest fines in the history of broadcasting.

This decision has back fired on Clear Channel. Not only did they abandon Howard Stern who generated hundreds of million of dollars in advertising for them, they've allowed Howard Stern to be direct competitor. Since his arrival to Sirius satellite radio, Sirius has been out selling XM 4 to 1.

Stay with terrestrial at your own peril. I'm never going back. I'm so happy to be sitting at my computer right now, rocking out to my favorite 80's station, 1st Wave. They're playing my favorite music, and I'm feeling quite productive. And not once did I have to suffer through a "Bernie and Phil's" commercial.