WETA Radio may drop classical music

Subject: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:28 AM

Yesterday's Feb 2 Washington Post carried an article saying that WETA Radio (the station Mary Cliff's TRADITONS is on) is strongly considering dropping its whole classical music format in favor of all talk. The article doesn't say anything about the status of specialty programs like Mary's, but is still worisome. The decision is immanent. "Although WETA officials say they have not finalized their plans, the station's management intends to present a proposal to overhaul daily programming to the board of directors next week" [on Feb 9]. The link to the article is WETA Considers Switch to All-News From Classical

WETA's website doesn't mention this issue at all. Station "members" receive a ton of mail from them, but I have not seen a word on this. Anyone know anything about it? According to the article, members are supporting as firmly as ever- the overall dollar amount hasn't decreased, it's just that there are fewer individuals. Whenever I communicate with the WETA, I always stress why I support the station, but they give every indication that they are not listening. Anyone have any ideas for action?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 12:56 PM

Omigod, Linda, thanks for telling us about this. I love classical music, and I would really miss that, too. Public radio stations are generally a haven for musical genres which are non-mainstream and therefore not lucrative. I am still grieving the loss of WDCU, which carried great African American music. If WETA lets go of classical music, that would leave *no* noncommercial radio stations based in the nation's capital playing classical music -- a disgrace. I, too, would like some good suggestions for action.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 02:31 PM

Linda, I just read the article you linked to, and it sounds very ominous.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: treewind
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 02:33 PM

Blockheaded philistines.

But never mind that - internet radio is the way to go. There's a number of folk programmes sprung up on local and internet radio over here in the UK like this one on www.209.radio.co.uk
and www.coolasfolk.co.uk much publicised on MudCat, and there are even plans being discussed now for a whole British folk internet radio station.

And I like classical music too - fortunately well served here with some nice Handel on BBC Radio 3 as I type this.

Anahata

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 06:11 PM

so far, internet radio is not easily available in my car, or in my shop where I listen to much of what I hear. The cost to get wireless, streaming internet radio is way beyond what I'd be willing to pay.

If business keeps on cutting out what they consider the lowest profit items, logic says that eventually there will be very few choices.

It's a sad day ..........

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 06:26 PM

Since the Washington Post article doesn't say what would happen to a program such as Mary Cliff's that might well mean it would be on the chopping block too--that is what worries me the most, though I certainly would miss the classical programming also. DC is often called the "choral capital of the US" - for shame if this goes away!

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 06:27 PM

"Guest" just now was me, Linda Goodman at work. I forgot.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 06:27 PM

For those times when internet radio is a possibility, I recommend this station:

http://theclassicalstation.org/internet.shtml

It's been many years since I lived in the DC area, but aren't there one or two commercial classical radio stations around there? Like this one for instance:

http://www.classical1035.com/index.php?nid=2

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 06:48 PM

Australian Banks allegedly keep wanting to drop their bottom 10% of least profitable customers - logic suggests that there is a finite limit to doing this every year....

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:07 PM

Not sure myself what one can do, other than e-mailing them (or writing a letter) and letting them know they'll lose a member if they cut "Traditions". Which will be true in my case.

Though I'll grant also that in my case satellite radio is a viable and affordable option. And with the deep cesspool of suckage that is local hard rock/classic rock radio (my usual radio listening of choice, outside of "Traditions"), something like this could well be the thing that tips the balance.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:24 PM

BBC Radio 3 with the classics (and other interesting listening) is my standby for classics, available through the internet everywhere I go.

Poppagator's WWOZ takes care of my appetite for Louisiana music.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:39 PM

Aaargh! I don't have broadband and I can't listen to the radio on my computer. Besides, losing classical music and Traditions would be a tragedy and a disgrace.

There is one commercial station which plays classical music here, WGMS on 103.5, but I don't listen to it because of all the commercials. They often play just one movement from a classical piece so they can fill the air time with commercials. There is one station in Baltimore, WBJC at 91.5, which plays classical music. Is Baltimore more steeped in culture than Washington? Ha!

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 09:45 PM

Can people in DC get West Virginia Public Radio over the airwaves? I'm guessing some probably can. If so, they have some good classical programming. Here's their site:

http://www.wvpubcast.org/radio/default.asp

And here's their program grid:

http://www.wvpubcast.org/radio/grid.asp

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 09:47 PM

Forgot to mention... they also have some good traditional, British Isles, and folkie type programming as well.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 10:50 PM

Well, thank Goodness fir Wes Ginny Public Radio...

Sorry about DC's going down... No surprise thou since almost all radio is going ClearChannel 'er ClearChannel wantbe's....

Bobert

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 11:31 PM

West Va. Public Radio is very good for both classical and folk music. I used to listen to it when I was in the foothills of the Blue Ridge (beautiful place), but I can't get it in the DC area. So Baltimore and West Va. are more cultured than DC in some ways.

Bobert, what is ClearChannel?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 11:37 PM

ClearChannel owes some 1400 radio stations accross America. There is no other media owner that even come close to CC. CC took on the Dixie Chicks after one of their memebers made negative comments about Bush wanting to invade Iraq. Within 24 hours CC had folks breaking up Dixie Chicks CD's in the street...

CC is dangerous. Very dangerous...

Bobert

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 11:42 PM

Internet radio is great, but only for those who can afford (or whose employers can afford) broadband, and it's certainly not available in the car, where I do much of my radio listening.

Satellite radio may indeed be inevitable. I remember laughing at the notion that I'd ever pay money for television, and today I'm as addicted to cable TV as any other hapless consumer. Pay radio will probably become another such "necessity" before much longer.

I find it delightfully ironic that West Virginia is providing highbrow musical culture at a time when the nearby capital city is giving it up. I think Bobert has been conning us all along with that phony hillbilly accent -- they apparently got some very edjumacated folks living up in them thar hills! Prob'ly know how to operate real slide rules, too!

Thanks to Q for saving me the trouble of inserting my usual promo for the worlds' greatest radio station (if you like that kinda stuff) and Bob Dylan's acknowledged favorite, WWOZ.

And, to everyone who enjoys listening to the non-commercial radio station of their choice: send 'em a check when they ask, no matter how small, whatever you can afford. As noted above, the number of members can be as important as the amount of money raised, sometimes moreso. Plus which, if and when your station threatens to screw up as badly as WETA, your threat to withhold future contributions means a lot more if you are an actual contributor.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 11:55 PM

They've been doing it for quite a while, too, PoppaGator. I first started listening to West Virginia Public Radio in 1979, when I lived in the mountains of western Maryland (where we were surrounded on three sides by West Virginia). It was on West Virginia Public Radio that I first heard A Prairie Home Companion in 1979 or 1980.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 01:13 PM

There's a very nice weekly NPR program of mostly-acoustic music called, I think, "Mountain Stage." We don't get in here in New Orleans on our local NPR outlet (WWNO-FM), but I've heard it on the car radio while traveling. Isn't that a production of West Virginia Public Radio?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 01:19 PM

Yes it is, PoppaGator. I think it was originally WVa Public Radio's answer to A Prairie Home Companion. It's a pretty good show except when Larry Groce sings. That's pure torture.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:15 PM

Even before this happened, when I lived in D.C., WETA has repeatedly exasperated me. Mary Cliff e-mailed me earlier this week with the news as reported in the Washington Post. Luckily, Mary's "Traditions" show (or so she was told by the station's brass) seems to be safe for now. They probably don't dare mess with someone who's been on the air for the station's entire lifetime and who served for many of those years as WETA's shop steward. But it's probably safe to bet that when Mary retires in 3-1/2 years, all vestiges of folk programming will disappear permanently from the station. I definitely agree with those who plan to write to express their concern for protecting "Traditions" and similar programs. They need to know we care!

If, like me, you like classical music as much as you like folk, and if you want to hear really good classical programming in the D.C. area, AND if you live in the more northern suburbs (Montgomery County, parts of Prince George's Co., Howard Co., and certain parts of northern Virginia), you can tune in to my favorite all-classical station, WBJC-FM (90.1). They are public radio, based at a community college in Baltimore. They have excellent classical programming (much more intelligent and interesting music choices than the "classical top 40" format that WETA has been offering!), low-key pledge drives, and virtually no news. If, as their latest fundraising mailing indicates, they succeed in raising the money they need to strengthen their transmitter, they have a good chance of filling the classical market niche that WETA has filled so poorly in recent years.

Do not give up. Write! Write WETA to tell them how you feel. Write WBJC to tell them how much you appreciate what they have to offer.
Kathy

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 01:50 AM

WBJC may become the source of classical music in the nation's capital by default. They will need a stronger transmitter, though. Their classical DJs are very good -- lots of knowledge and good sense of humor. I believe they are at 91.5.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 08:18 PM

Yes, you're right Pauline. It's 91.5 FM. I got confused with the Maine Public Radio frequency. Apparently WBJC is working on a stronger transmitter--they're sending out fundraising mailings to help make it happen.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:26 PM

I just found out that Buenos Aires has four radio stations which play classical music, and two of them run 24 hours a day.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,TimJMU
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:42 AM

I listen to WETA classical music every nite from 12am to 6am. If it were not for this segement every evening, I would undoubtedly be at a loss for true culture while away from home (fairfax county) attending University at James Madison. How can I help stop this format change?   


p.s. I can barely deal with the loss of WHFS 99.1, and would not be able to stomach the loss of the current classical programing at WETA via the internet. WETA keeps me closer to home than care packages and phone calls to mom. Please do not drop the current format.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 09:48 AM

TimJMU--

If you're listening to the Music through the night segment via webcast, you can pick up that webcaast from other public stations in the US jsut as easily. For example, in searching for replacements for WETA, I've discovered the webcasts of Vermont Public radio (http://www.vpr.net/). The local news is a different locality and the weather forecasts give you lots of extra snow, but the music is all there.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,R. Byrd
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 01:40 PM

WETA has lost my support. This confirms ny decision to now take the money I give to public radio and get a satellite radio service instead. Classical music with no commercials.

Dick

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:45 AM

I suppose I need to learn about satellite radio. Someone told me that it costs $10/month to subscribe. Do you need a special radio or special equipment for receiving the signal?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: LuteMonkey
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:53 AM

I once lived in Baltimore, and listened to WETA. I remeber when WJHU went all talk, it was not cool. I would hate the same fate fall on WETA.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,GUEST, Dan
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:02 PM

I live in Alexandria, work in DC. With the imminent
decline of WETA, I'm switching to WBJC (91.5 out of
Baltimore). Other posters have mentioned it. It can
be difficult to get the signal to come in, being 50
miles south and all. But I find that if I set up my
FM antenna in the right direction, and switch my FM
receiver from stereo to mono (not all receivers have
that option, unfortunately), I can get a nice clean
signal.

Also, WGMS (103.5) does commercial free music each morning
from 9 till 10:45-ish. It's not much, but it's there.
Dan

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,Doug Pratt
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 10:38 AM

I consider this format change a betrayal.

Not long ago, WETA started running on-air spots to encourage people to make donations to the station in their wills and estate plans. I recall one who spoke about making sure that her children and grandchildren would be able to hear classical music in the area.

Is WETA going to refund her donation?

Sure, most of NPR news is just fine. I appreciate the depth to which they cover stories, even though most of the reporting is slanted so far left, if it was print it would be reverse italic. But did anyone in WETA management ever hear the phrase, "the world is too much with us?" Some of us need music (and art of all kinds) to help us endure. Now WETA is becoming another part of the information overload.

Public radio was supposed to be about serving the underserved parts of the community. Now it's about revenue streams. If the management wants to make that change, fine...but I don't have to buy into the idea. And don't try to tell me that I should become a member so WETA will always be there for me. I did, and now it isn't.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:01 PM

Well said, guest Doug.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:15 PM

Hmmmm ~ we all may have to rethink any impulse we might have had to bequeath money or make any kind of long-range contribution to any NPR station. The station could change at any time to something we have no interest in supporting.

I can't imagine a similar development ever happening at my beloved (and completely independent) WWOZ (dot-org), but who knows? ~ anything, apparently, can happen.

Pauline, I'm pretty sure that satellite radio requires an initial investment in special hardware in addition to the monthly subscription cost. For most people, that means at least two units, one in the home and one per vehicle. I have no idea if the receivers must be purchased or if some kind of lease arrangement might be included in the monthly tab.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:47 PM

Initial investment in satellite radio averages from $100 to $150. This will buy a receiver and a docking station for hooking it into an existing home unit or your car. You can also buy a boombox for about $100, but you do not have the flexibility of listening through your car or home stereo in that case.

I have a receiver, car unit and a boombox. With installation of the car unit (which I did not want to try to install on my own) I spent about $200.   The fee for monthly service is $10.   Additional units would be separate purchases and require additional monthly fees at a special rate.

This may be too expensive for some people, and that is understandable.   Like cable television, this is a luxury item. You get variety of programming, most channels are commercial free, the audio is better than FM signals, and it is fun. My unit also gives me a stock ticker and sports ticker option.   I love it and find it to be worth every penny. I will probably purchase units for my wife and daughter this year.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:11 PM

Guest, Doug Pratt, I also remember a non-ad on WETA quoting a German poet/playwright (Bertold Brecht?), "Music washes away the care of everyday life." We've got new loads of everyday B.S.

WFDU Ron Olesko, thanks for the information on satellite radio. Is signal strength an issue as it is with FM? How long has it been on the market? Usually, if you wait a year or two after something is introduced into the marketplace, you find that prices have gone way down. Also, can someone give me a semitechie explanation of how it works (I'm a life scientist)?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:30 PM

semitechie? *grin*

signal beamed UP to satellite from source,
signal from satellite beamed DOWN to you, if you ain't behind a hill somewhere and have paid for the service.

kinda like them TV dishes, only different.

whaddya mean I'm no help?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:12 AM

yeah... what Bill said!! :)

Seriously, the receiver has a small "dish" antenna that receives the satellite signal.   For my car, I have a small device that is attached to the hood of my car (by a magnet). If you have someone with knowledge of cars you can route the wire so it is invisible. I basically know where the gas goes, so I had someone install it so it would look neater.

The "dish" on my car is very small - about 1/4 the size of a computer mouse and similar in appearance.   The boombox that I have at home has a similar device on the back. For the boombox the device has a long cable so that you can put the antenna near a window facing south.

The signal can be picked up anywhere in the US.   That is one of the selling points. If you are going on a long drive you can hear the same programs without interuption.

There are two companies in the U.S. - XM and Sirius.   XM was the first out of the gate. They were actually scheduled to launch on 9/12/01, but the events of the day before caused them to postpone their launch. Currently they have about 3.5 million subscribers and it is growing. They expect to exceed 5 million before the end of the year. You can find out more about them at www.xmradio.com.

Sirius Radio launched a bit later and they have about 2 million subsribers. Both systems work on the same principle. Sirius is a bit more expensive per month but not excessively.   

I chose XM for several reasons. The folk music offering was more to my liking, simply because they offer programs like WFMT's THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL with Rich Warren.   The general blend is very eclectic, lots of commercial folk revival material mixed in with contemporary singer-songwriters and tradtional material. I wish they had more traditional music, but they hold promise. I just wish they would not play as much John Denver as they do!

XM will also be presenting Major League Baseball this year - you will be able to hear EVER SINGLE game for EVERY SINGLE team. Very impressive!

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 05:08 PM

We are on overload with talk shows now. With WETA'S announced new program format they may be surprised when a drop in contributions/pledges are made from their classical music listeners during their Spring fund drive. No more money pledges coming from me.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:14 PM

3/4 techie question: What is the wavelength of the signal being transmitted? Why do such small antennae work? Is the signal boosted at various places, by anology with towers that boost cell phone signals in hill country?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:56 PM

Now I have some full blooded techie questions, and I'm posting them here and on the other current thread on WETA. I've heard that BBC carries a lot of good classical music on their Radio 3, and I'm wondering how to access it. I don't have broadband, so Internet radio won't work well for me. The site provides information on various ways to listen to BBC radio 3. One is DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), and it sounds like what we've been calling "satellite radio." It uses a special receiver which costs less than 100 GBP. They also describe an alternate method. "In some other territories, Radio 3 is available on the Astra satellite and via cable." Is this "Astra satellite" something different?

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 08:16 PM

a radio signal carries a lot less information than a TV signal, so I imagine it needs far less antenna to get it...(GPS needs only a small receiver, also)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 09:00 PM

Pauline - Here is an excerpt from XM radio's webpage (www.xmradio.com)

"XM Satellite Radio consists of a state-of-the art Broadcast Center in Washington, DC, that covers 150,000 square feet and includes some 80 studios; two Boeing 702 satellites, appropriately named "Rock" and "Roll;" and approximately 800 terrestrial repeaters located throughout the continental United States. XM broadcasts digitized programming, both original and acquired, to the satellites which are positioned over the East and West Coasts in geostationary orbits. The repeater network ensures signal coverage, particularly in urban areas where tall buildings and other obstructions may otherwise interfere with signal reception. The repeaters receive the XM signal directly from the satellites and then re-transmit it to XM radios anywhere.
XM Radios:         An XM radio can receive and play XM's encrypted digital signal once that radio is activated. XM radios incorporate a proprietary chipset that decodes the signals from the satellites and repeaters. The chipset, designed by XM in conjunction with STMicroelectronics, consists of two custom integrated circuits that process satellite and repeater signals, and decode audio and data streams. Each XM radio requires an XM antenna."

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 12:24 PM

Bill D, the size of the antenna is related to the wavelength of the signal. That's why a "T" antenna for FM radio is about 1 meter long and a satellite dish for TV signals is much larger. The amount of information carried is not directly related. (Techie response)

WFDU Ron Olesko, thanks so much. The excerpt you quoted explains a lot.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 11:25 PM

Not all is lost! I've been reading about XM satellite radio on their website, www.xmradio.com. In particular, I checked their program scheduling for one of their classical music channels, and there I found Robert Aubrey Davis's Millenium of Music. How ironic that we need satellite radio to listen to centuries old music.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 12:36 PM

I've got some related bad news. The Arlington Symphony Orchestra, based in a suburb of Washington DC, has filed for bankruptcy. I've also heard from a reliable source that the decision-makers at WETA dropped classical music partly because "there's no future in it." Ow!!!

I finally got broadband Internet service at home, and I now I listen to classical music from the BBC. I thoroughly enjoy it. Can one of you Brits translate the word "Proms" for me? It's used a lot on the BBC classical radio site. (I know it's not a fancy dress ball for graduating seniors.)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 01:58 PM

Pauline, it's "The Proms," a classical music festival at Royal Albert Hall, with concerts broadcast by the BBC. They bill is as: "The world's greatest classical music festival with over 70 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and live on BBC Radio 3." You can find more than you ever wanted to know by Googling The Proms. The BBC website should be the first thing that pops up. A social summer tradition not unlike Wolf Trap in D.C., and Tanglewood in Mass., although the concerts are indoors and the focus is strictly classical.

You live in Bethesda, don't you? You should be able to get WBJC-FM in Baltimore (91.9). They play nonstop classical music--and far more interesting stuff than WETA thought to program. Cheers, Kathy (not a Brit)

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: Pauline L
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 02:11 PM

Kathy, thanks for the explanation. I live in Rockville, which is near Bethesda, I can usually get WBJC, but the signal is weak, so I sometimes get a lot of noise. I listen when I can, though.

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 02:44 PM

If you can't get a good signal over the air, try your computer:

http://www.wbjc.com/

Subject: RE: WETA Radio may drop classical music
From: KathWestra
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 04:13 PM

Slight drift away from classical here, but if you'd like to hear really good Internet folk from the BBC, check out Archie Fisher's "Travelling Folk" on BBC Scotland. The show airs on Thursday nights, U.K. time, but each two-hour show is archived for a week. My other favorite is Lester Simpson and Mick Peat's two-hour show on Monday evenings U.K. time (2:00 p.m. EDT). That one is only available as a live stream, though. Both shows play great stuff! Kathy