Sen. John McCain was on Airtalk with Larry Mantle (and John Rabe) during this morning's fund drive and was almost effusive in his praise for KPCC. Sure he was pitching a book (Character is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember), but McCain hardly needs the forum. Before he left, the Senator from Arizona pledged $500.

Also on the radio today: At 2:30 pm on KCRW's Politics of Culture, Sara Terry talks with Simon Winchester about his new book on the San Francisco earthquake and fire, A Crack at the Edge of the World: America and The Great California Earthquake of 1906. If you choose to live here, it's a historical event that you probably should become familiar with. (I just noticed he's also on KPCC's Talk of the City with Kitty Felde Tuesday at 2 pm.) [* Argh. I've had Tuesday on my brain all day. Winchester is on both shows on Tuesday (incidentally at the same time), not today. KCRW airs The Business with Claude Brodesser on Mondays at 2:30, and today Kenny Turan of the LAT is on with Claude.]