is it really that necessary to teach our children corporate greed?

I usually opt against political musing here on the blog, but this has been on my mind recently. Seems like the Republicans are making an effort to cut funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, citing the organizations liberal bias as a clear cause for concern. It is clear that the Republicans have there sights on fundamentally changing public radio and television in our country:

In an unexpected move yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives approved a measure to restore $100 million of funding for NPR, PBS and local public stations. Republican leaders were proposing to slash $200 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but you helped stop them.

Everyone said it was impossible to reverse any of the House cuts with Republicans in control. Yesterday's Washington Post described the divide between Democrats and Republicans like this: "[O]n Capitol Hill, it's hard to find a Republican with anything nice to say about National Public Radio or the Public Broadcasting Service. Instead, they denounce them as liberal and elitist, when they bother to talk about them at all." Public broadcasting shouldn't divide Republicans and Democrats. More Americans trust NPR and PBS for balanced news and children's programming than any commercial network.3 Yet many Republicans have been intent on either gagging or starving public broadcasting.

So why did 87 Republicans break with the majority of their party and vote to restore the funding? In large part, because over 1 million of you signed the petition calling on Congress to reverse course. And over 40,000 of you made phone calls to your elected representatives. There was a surge of public outrage that couldn't be ignored. This victory was possible because we were joined by Free Press, Common Cause and strong allies in the House—Representatives Markey, Obey, Lowey, Dingell, Hinchey, Watson, Schakowsky, Blumenauer, Eshoo, Slaughter, and Leach, a brave Republican.

Despite this incredible progress, the House Republicans did manage to cut over $100 million, including funding for children's programming like "Sesame Street." We'll take our fight to the Senate when it considers the budget later this summer. But yesterday's vote makes it much more likely we can restore every last cent for NPR and PBS by acting together.

Yesterday also brought darker news in the fight for public broadcasting. The Republican-dominated board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) hired a former Republican National Committee chair as the next president, injecting partisanship into the very organization designed to shield public broadcasting from political meddling. This is only the latest effort by White House ally and CPB board chair Kenneth Tomlinson to remake public broadcasting as a partisan mouthpiece. To save NPR and PBS, we'll need to take on Tomlinson, but today we showed that the public can and will defend public broadcasting from partisan attack.

For now, we have a lot to be thankful for. Our kids can keep learning from PBS' children's programming. We can keep enjoying public broadcasting's in-depth, trustworthy news and cultural offerings. Most of all, we can be thankful for the ability of ordinary people to band together and do extraordinary things.

Now putting aside the fact that listeners to NPR had the lowest rate of misperception about politics than listeners/watchers of any of the other the "news" outlets (and it should be no surprise that individuals who only rely on Fox News were the least well informed), I find it reasonable that public radio should probably be void of partisanship, and if there is a left leaning slant, the Republicans are right to act to bring it back to center. In my opinion "public radio" should be as "fair and balanced" an outlet as possible. But it seems that the right wants to go beyond that and both dumb it down (is anyone else concerned with the propensity for the right to classify anything that is intellectual as elitist... it's as if in our political climate intelligence is a plague that we most cure) a transform the corporation for public broadcasting into another outlet for right wing politics.

Now this would be bad enough these proposed changes didn't adversely effect our kids. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is responsible for most of the children's programming that I find suitable for my daughter such as perenial favorite Sesame Street (we also watch Nick Jr.'s Dora the Explorer). Now while Sesame Street does emphasize many qualities like "sharing," "tolerance," and "honesty," I hate to think that we have come to the point in this country where we identify these as being "left wing" or "commie" traits. If the Republicans are successful in there attempts there are legitimate concerns that we might lose one of the few outlets for quality television programming.

First, by opening up public broadcasting to market forces we can expect Sesame Street to become either littered with advertisements designed to transform our children into mindless consumers of junk or actual advertisements for junk themselves. Recent statistics indicate that as much as 80% of (non-holiday) advertising during children's programming is for junk food (cereals, candy, McDonald's) and the government seems clear on it unwillingness to do anything to confront this. While Nick Jr. and the Disney Channel has minimized or limited the number of commercials scheduled during programming for small children (they concentrate them between shows), most children's television is not this considerate. Additionally, a majority of kids programming is little more than a 20 minute advertisement for more junk (e.g. Power Rangers, Yu-Gi-O!, Pokemon, et cetera). By ending Federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting current programming decisions will be "auctioned off to the highest bidder" and this all too often is someone who wants to fill your kid with unwholesome snacks.

Second, there is a reasonable fear that the Right will actively pursue "white washing" the CPB in efforts to promote their children's agenda as opposed to universal values. It wasn't long ago that Jerry Falwell was advocating a boycott of the Teletubbies under the justification that "Tinky Winky" (the purple one) was gay. And more recently the Right was once again outraged when an episode of "Postcards from Buster" had the title character visit a lesbian couple in Vermont. Making the Right's children's agenda to be hiding our children from those that are different and teaching us to be tolerant of only those who look like us. Now I am not, by any means, asserting that all Republicans think this way, but the Republicans have tied their hand to the ship that is the Conservative Christians and the Conservative Christians have a demonstrated record of intolerance to cultural diversity and religious tolerance and if given the distort the only quality children's programming to reflect their narrow agenda.

wilco in philly

saw wilco last thursday in philly and it was an awesome time. it was out on penn's landing and the weather was perfect about 80 degrees, low humidity and a nice breeze coming off the river.

the show was incredible. my morning jacket opened for wilco, and their live show was a lot better than what i had heard from their cd. wilco took the stage around 8.30 and played for about 2 hours (we left during the encore so my friends from new york didn't have to sit in philly traffic before invariably hitting traffic on the george washington bridge. most of the songs came from a ghost is born and yankee hotel foxtrot, but i recognized a few from being there and summerteeth.

I snapped a few pictures, but unfortunately they won't hold up to much scruttiny beyond the size they are at. we were about halfway back and i had to use the digital zoom. oh well.

get THE MAN off my back!

This came in the weekly Penn State Faculty and Staff News:

3. POLICE TO BEGIN ANNUAL BICYCLE ROUNDUP AT UNIVERSITY PARK

Beginning the week of June 27 through July 1, and continuing during the week of July 5 through 8, Penn State University Police will be confiscating all unregistered bicycles or bicycles with expired registrations found on the University Park campus. This includes bicycles not displaying a current Centre Region registration sticker or those bearing a registration sticker with an expiration date of May 31, 2005, or before. Individuals can register their bike and obtain bicycle regulations at any parking kiosk from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or at University Police, Eisenhower Parking Deck, south entrance, at any time. There is no fee for this registration. Individuals also may get a copy of the regulations and registration instructions at http://www.transportation.psu.edu/bike/bike.htm online. Also during this time, officers at University Park will be removing all bicycle parts, locks, cables and chains that are not attached to or securing a currently registered bicycle. Confiscated bicycles can be claimed at the University Police office between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The claimant must produce some form of photo identification and be able to positively identify the confiscated bicycle. Unclaimed bicycles will be held for 90 days then relinquished to Surplus and Salvage for sale or disposal. Bicycle parts, locks, cables and chains will be destroyed immediately.

Now I understand the benefits of registering your bicycle in the event of theft, but I have never heard of a compulsory registeration program before. Why should I have to put there ugly sticker on my beautiful bicycle every year? Seems like just another piece of red tape designed with harassing students in mind (standing in lines, filling out forms, et cetera). Plus, I am sure it doesn't hurt that they get to sell all unclaimed bikes. Bastards! (But maybe I am just moody). I guess registering your bicycle does prevent at least one theft: from the Penn State Police!!!

80 useless questions.

1. First Name: Daniel
2. Were you named after anyone? Not sure.
3. Do you wish on stars? No, not really. But I will probably teach my daughter to.
4. When did you last cry? umm, the other day when I "broke" my toe. My whole foot bruised up. It was disgusting.
5. Do you like your handwriting? On good days... I seem to have two different handwritings/ signatures. Maybe I'm bipolar.
6. What is your favorite lunch meat? proscuitto.
7. What is your birth date? December 23.
8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Oh I don't know, there are so many... Ashlee Simpson would probably be pretty high
up there.
9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Yes.
10. Are you a daredevil? No, not at all.
11. Who is your favorite cartoon character? Underdog.
12. Do looks matter? Yes.
13. How do you release anger? Tenchu Stealth Assassin.
14. Where is your second home? Texas.
15. Do you trust others easily? No.
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Big Wheel.
17. What class in high school do you think was totally useless? Texas history.
18. Do you have a journal? Several. But the hardbound ones are all empty except the first page.
19. Do you use sarcasm a lot? More than I should.
20. What are your nicknames? Dee, DW, Dickey, Dan, snowshoe.
21. Would you bungee jump? I haven't yet, so most likely not.
22. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? I never tie them in the first place.
23. Do you think that you are strong? Not particulary.
24. What is your favorite ice cream flavor(s)? Bavarian rasberry crunch.
25. Shoe Size? 8.5
26. Red or pink? Red.
27. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I forget things.
28. Who do you miss most? My childhood.
29. Are you looking forward to reading other people's answers to these questions? Of course, although they are not very
probing.
30. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? khaki shorts, black flips.
31. What are you listening to right now? "The Trapese Swinger" by Iron and Wine.
32. Last thing you ate? Popcorn.
33. If you were a color what would you be? Blue.
34. What is the weather like right now? 75 and clear with a light breeze (sun will set in less than an hour).
35. Last person you talked to on the phone? Mike.
36. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Legs.
37. Do you like the person you stole this from? Yup.
38. Favorite Drink? Gatorade (any flavor but red).
39. Favorite Sport? Increasingly baseball.
40. Hair Color? Brown.
41. Eye Color? Brown.
42. Do you wear contacts? Nope.
43. Favorite Food? Guacomole and tortilla chips.
44. Last Movie You Watched? Hitch.
45. Favorite Day of the Year? My birthday.
46. Scary Movies or Happy Endings? Happy endings.
47. Summer or Winter? Summer.
48. Hugs OR Kisses? Definately kisses! (unless we are talking about hershey's... then i choose hugs).
49. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? Apple dumplings.
50. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? mama_pajama
51. Who is Least Likely to Respond? duece
52. Living Arrangements? Rent a ranch style house in victorian bellefonte. How does a ranch style home end up in victorian
bellefonte? Good question.
53. What Books Are You Reading? The Alchemist; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
54. What's On Your Mouse Pad? Nothing, Track Pad baby! But I do own an x-files mouse pad.
55. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? One Tree Hill, Law and Order and the Closer.
56. Favorite Smells? garlic, fajitas, hot dogs.
57. Favorite Sounds? the ballpark, the rain.
58. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles, kukukachoo.
59. Do you believe in Evolution or Creation? Evolution.
60. What's the furthest you've been from home? I moved around a lot as a kid, so home is always where I am.
61. What time did you get up this morning? 10.15
62. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls are sexy.
63. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Star Wars "The Revenge of the Sith"
64. What is your favorite TV show? Gilmore Girls.
65. What did you have for breakfast? I don't eat breakfast.
67. What is your favorite CD at the moment? (In case you haven't been paying attention) The Shins "Chutes Too Narrow"
68. What kind of car do your drive? 2000 Dodge Stratus.
69. Favorite sandwich? Jimmie John's "Gargantuan" (although I don't eat very often).
70. What characteristics do you despise? Elitism, Presumptiousness.
71. Favorite item of clothing? My Scott Rolen Cardinals t-shirt.
72. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go? To a beach in the carribean. Or maybe back to
Disney World.
73. Ever unwrapped a Starburst with your tongue? Nope, never even thought to try.
74. How many keys on your key chain? 7.
75. What did you do yesterday? Worked on my resume, played Halo 2.
76. Best gift you ever received? My Canon Powershot A95 (thanks reen). Runner-ups: My Playstation 2 and Canon Eos Rebel
(thanks mom and dad).
77. Something you would like to learn, but haven't? Calculus or Photography.
78. Where would you retire to? Florida or North Carolina.
79. Last place you visited? Disney World.
80. What did you do on your last birthday? Project work and ate at the Olive Garden.

My Personality Test Results (and no, i don't write poetry)

I found this on smurfbrother's weblog. It's a not very p.c. personality test, but it made me chuckle a little.

Emo Kid
You are 42% Rational, 0% Extroverted, 14% Brutal, and 14% Arrogant. You are the Emo Kid, best described as a quiet p****! You tend to be an intuitive rather than a logical thinker, meaning you rely more on your feelings than your thoughts. Not only that, but you are introverted, gentle, and rather humble. You embody all the traits of the perfect emo kid. You are a push-over, an emotional thinker, gentle to the extent of absurdity, and so humble that it even makes Jesus puke. If you write poetry, you no doubt write angsty, syrupy lines about depression, sadness, and other such redundant states of emo-being. Your personality is defective because you are too gentle, rather underconfident in yourself, decidely lacking in any rational thought, and also a bit too inhibited.

I probably made you cry, didn't I? Fucking Emo Kid.

To put it less negatively:

1. You are more INTUITIVE than rational.

2. You are more INTROVERTED than extroverted.

3. You are more GENTLE than brutal.

4. You are more HUMBLE than arrogant.

Compatibility:

Your exact opposite is the Smartass.

Other personalities you would probably get along with are the Hippie, the Televangelist, and the Starving Artist.

Link: The Personality Defect Test written by saint_gasoline on Ok Cupid

My current ipod stats.

My current ipod stats are: 9893 songs, 27 days, 53.12 GB.

Most Played Song (by a band that is not the shins): "This is Such a Pity" by Weezer (43 times).

Most Played Album: "Chutes Too Narrow" by the Shins (62 times).

Most Recently Added Album: White Stripes "Get Behind Me Satan"

Guiltiest Pleasure: "Fijacion Oral Vol 1" by Shakira

why i love going to baseball games.

there is just something about the transition from the darkness of the stadium to the open of the field that is devine: it's almost as if the field is glowing. It's magical.

if i was on south park

dan
Originally uploaded by daniel.joneswhite.

my friend e.... said this is what i would look like if i was a south park character. i think i look kinda cool... if i really was a south park character i think i would be both a little more tired and a lot more anxious!

you can create your own south park character here