More Politics

This whole NPR/PBS funding issue is really rubbing me the wrong way - in case you're among some of my more politically uninformed friends, read up on this and voice your (hopefully) displeasure in this funding cut - if for no other reason than the network was home to the post-Star Trek Lavar Burton vehicle, Reading Rainbow.

From thetripwire.com:

Editorial: Congress Plans Assassination Of Big Bird
In a country where 99% of our media outlets are dominated by multinational corporations that are bound only by the moral guidance of the almighty dollar, and who, in turn, hold a considerable amount of influence on Capitol Hill, recent actions taken by the House Appropriations Committee should come as no surprise. Last Thursday, the committee approved a spending bill that would slash funding for public television and radio by nearly 50%. More specifically, this measure would reduce the funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the organization that directs taxpayer dollars to public TV and radio stations, by $100 million dollars. Additional funding would be slashed in the following ways:

$39 million to help cover the stations' mandatory conversion to digital programming
$50 million for upgrading PBS's aging satellite technology
$25 million from the "Ready To Learn" program supervised by the Education Department (this includes funding for Sesame Street, Clifford The Big Red Dog, Reading Rainbow, etc.).

These cuts could potentially wipe out public broadcasting entirely in rural and disadvantaged areas of the country and force stations in more metropolitan areas to take on, ironically, more corporate sponsors.

Moveon.org has made it really simple to sign a petition asking congress to reconsider their position and they've already surpassed their goal of 1 MILLION signatures. You can sign up here. And please, pass this link around to everyone you know.

I find it hard to believe that in this great nation of ours we have no trouble at all spending BILLIONS of dollars to chase down imaginary weapons of mass destruction, build oil pipelines and train other countries' armies how to fight like we do (because that has worked so well in the past), but when it comes to providing free educational programming to people who don't have access to or can't afford cable, it's equally as easy to pull funding. (longest sentence ever?)

Really... make your voice heard. Take action. Do something. It takes two seconds to sign this petition.

-Reported by Matt DuFour on 06/23/2005

Insert Witty Title Here

A few weeks back I declared that I was going to rededicate myself to posting regularly on this thing now that the whole school thing is on hiatus for the summer. Well, today, that promise is coming true.

I was thinking of trying to institute some sort of daily theme or format to encourage my participation - while I reserve the right to change up the order and/or themes of any given day, for now let's go ahead and assume that Thursday will serve as a sort of set of weekend recommendations.

Here are today's:

1) If you haven't already, go see Batman Begins. I caught it earlier in the week and it is well worth even the astronomical prices they are charging at the theatres in Chicago (no student discounts - bastards) these days. Christian Bale is great, the rest of the cast is actually incredible (Liam Neeson, Gary Oldham, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman) - really hoping they can keep the crew together to make the next two that they supposedly have a deal for. The movie has what has got to be the creepiest bad guy you've ever seen in a PG-13 rated movie. Keep an eye out for a scene involving lots of Ninjas standing in rows - I think it was my favorite of the flick.

2) Get a copy of the new Billy Corgan album, have some friends over, turn the lights down a bit to give your hangout of choice a loungy feel, pour some drinks and enjoy. More electronic than a true "rock" album, the record has a cool sound to it as its base, and let's be honest - you really can't go wrong with Corgan's voice.

Also, while you're at it, hope that he wasn't blowing smoke up our asses with this full-page ad he took out in Tuesday's Tribune. Blatant attempt to increase records sales? Sure, but it'd be great to see the Pumpkins back together and give Wilco a little friendly competition on the Chicago rock scene national representation front. That, and though I saw Zwan twice, I've never seen SP in concert.

3) If you live in Chicago, buy an air conditioner. It's going to be 95 degrees. I'd be excited, except for the fact that I'm going home and it will likely be that hot in Evansville, plus infinitely more humid.

4) If you feel like burning a flag, do it while you still have the right to do so should you choose to profess your displeausre with the government in a cliche manner. Can't say I'm a fan of the practice, or really see myself doing it ever, but it doesn't put anyone in danger, so why outlaw it?

5) Take a nap when you get home from work tonight if you plan on watching the NBA Finals tonight - it's tough to stay up for the whole game if you don't as late as they start the damn thing. For god's sake, start the games at 7, David Stern and ABC.

6) If you're in Chicago, check out the Pride Parade. For the second summer in a row, it's going to pass about a block from my house and I'm unfortunately going to miss it. I hear its beyond hilarious, and you'll appear to be tolerant, even if your sense of humor often indicates (falsely) otherwise.

7) Don't be an idiot - stay in school.