Brainiac, king of all media

Don't take my word for it...

* You can hear me reading Alex Beam's hate mail on his latest podcast, produced by Ann Silvio and aired today. Speaking of the Globe's lightning-rod columnist, who used to fill in for Christopher Lydon at "The Connection," he recently told me that his most painful memory of "The Connection" was hosting on April 20, 2001. The topic? Joey Ramone, of The Ramones, who had just died. Via email, Beam remembers what it was like:

I was [later] told it was some of the worst radio imaginable. I totally lost control of the show. Also, I had literally never heard of Joey Ramone -- I dunno, I guess I was listening to Stravinsky tapes on the '70s. Joey was a big fave of the then-producer (now an NPR bigwig) who, incredibly, took the day off on the Friday we did that show. A good friend [who was listening that day] pulled his car over to the side of the road because he feared that I might be taken off the air, in the middle of the show.

Beam concludes: "It was a wonderful memory, esp. the unforgettable line 'Alex, I'm the gay one.' To be fair to me, the producers had no business lining up six guests simultaneously. It was an insane [experience], though one I remember quite fondly. And I ended up really liking the music." Click here to listen to Beam's worst/greatest memory. Bonus: Debbie Harry! Another Bonus: Beam utters the phrase "Blitzkrieg Blop" [sic]!

Spotted on a newsstand in Dedham, Mass., of all places: "BRAINIAC'S BACK!"

Forget the Edith Wharton literary mystery in today's New York Times. The Harvard Crimson cares only about the Henry James/toothpick mystery! (Even if Louis Menand pooh-poohs it.)