"The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working. Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand with as much regularity as an accountant settles down each day to his figures. They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration." Ernest Newman

"The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be born by an individual than to know no one cares or understands." Arthur Stainback

"Be not too presumptuously sure in any business; for things of this world depend on such a train of unseen chances that if it were in man's hands to set the tables, still he would not be certain to win the game." Herbert

Richard Perez-Pena writes How Solid Is the Deal for Tribune Company via NYT here.

I want my GMail: the email app drives Google campus products, details here.

My vote for best Cobb salad: The Grill On The Alley. Had a great lunch at the Chicago store.

The It's Only A Trend department: WCKG in Chicago is doing the right format the wrong way. Overall, 25-54, the station fails to place in the top 20 and has actually managed to fall behind some of the lesser signals in the market. The check engine light is now flashing - warning - the continuing cume slide has now put the station under 200k. The star of this show, Steve Dahl, continues to be the station's only solid ratings producer. O&A ain't making it. Middays weak. Nights took a hit, perhaps a bounce. It's Only A Trend is the odds on favorite excuse of the hour, in the on-deck circle It's Only The Summer Book. The 25-54 winners this round: WPPN, WOJO, WGCI, WVAZ, WDRV, WTMX, WUSN and WNUA. WKQX was ranked 27th in the demo, and to put this into context, stations ahead of them included WCKG, WSRB and WGRB. Ouch. WSRB beats WCKG in demo; WCKG ties WGRB in demo. Go figure.

Bonus: C. Max Magee is blogging lit at The Millions

Congrats & cheers: James Blunt. His latest title "1973" is fresh, poppy, catchy (nice hook), a tight track. Props too to the writer, producer, and all involved, sorry - not able to locate credits yet..."I would call you up every Saturday night and we'd both stay out 'til the morning light and we sang "Here we go again" And though time goes by I will always be in a club with you in 1973 singing, "Here we go again" My thanks to JB's fan forum for the confirmation of lyrics. Clever AC, A3 programmers will pair this track with a very cool '73 track. I would alternate best testing with rarely heard on the wireless, drive off the road staff favs of '73. Listener side of the radio objective: "WOW, Am I really hearing this on the radio!?" I'm most certain Teuber, and the other programming aces known by only one name, will have better ideas on staging..."what seemed so strong has been and gone"...do check out the tune. Also noted Hayley Williams, she might just be one of the most talented teenagers fronting a band this summer. Paramore's Misery Business track is cool.

Spanish red: Another good value under $10. Carchelo 2005 Monastrell.