Drunken Pumpkin

By Ira Teinowitz

President Bush is reopening the fight over government support of public television, unveiling a 2007 government fiscal year budget that would cut federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by nearly 25 percent.

There was some confusion on how to tally the exact cut, but public TV and congressional sources said at least $114 million of the $460 million CPB budget for the fiscal year that starts in October would be cut. The Association of Public Television Stations said the total impact could be $145 million when cuts in related programs are added, including a program to upgrade radio station satellite facilities.

“It’s more of the same,” said John Lawson, president and CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations, noting previous requests to cut funding for public TV, most of which were overturned by Congress.

U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s telecom panel, ripped the cuts.

“In a 24-7 television world with content often inappropriate for young children, the public broadcasting system represents an oasis of quality, child-oriented educational programming,” he said. “We owe America’s children and their parents this free, over-the-air resource.”

A CPB analysis of the budget said the cuts include the $50 million already appropriated by Congress for next year, elimination of additional funding for digital conversion of public TV stations and a slight decrease in the Ready to Learn program. In addition to the cuts, the traditional advance funding for future years’ programs would disappear, potentially making it harder for public stations to commit to future TV programming.

A spokeswoman for PBS said that the cuts would be “disastrous” for public TV stations.

“For PBS, it could mean the end of our ability to support some of the most treasured educational children’s series and primetime icons to which CPB funding contributes,” said Lea Sloan, VP-communications.

She said the lack of advanced funding would “cripple PBS’ ability to support programs that take years to develop.”

“We are hopeful that Congress will recognize the unique value public stations offer to their communities in everything from advancing literacy, math and science skills among children to providing rich, diverse cultural arts as well as news and public affairs programming to people of all ages,” she said.

This article is quoted here in it’s entirety, from TVweek.com

Troy Hurtubise is world renowned for his Ursus Series of bear suits as well as such breakthrough innovations as Firepaste, LIMBC, AngelLight and many more. Troy Hurtubises latest innovation required 1800 hours and 150,000.00 dollars and is the first of its kind in the world–The Trojan. The first full-body exoskeleton ballistic suit of armor. The Trojan was specifically built for coalition troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan to combat the dreaded IED’s as well as for police across the world manning the front lines of riot control.

A DOCTOR has pleaded guilty to stealing a severed hand, which he gave to a stripper who displayed it in her New Jersey apartment.

The above is excerpted from an article found News.com.au

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.

Well, I’m back. I took the last few days off because I realized a couple things.

1) We didn’t have that many visitors (and that’s depressing) and
2) I was telling the same jokes over and over, which likely contributed to one.

But I’m back and I think there are going to be some changes. We’re going to amuse ourselves, and I’m not going to look at numbers for a while. Feel free to stick around and add your own two cents, but I’m not really relying on that.

While I’m here and you’re still reading I’d like to recommend the webcomic Dr. McNinja. I think there really needs to be more ninja doctors. And hey, guess what, if you look at our sidebar you have a chance to become a ninja, just go buy a book. Really.

Tune in tomorrow when Jeff’s fascination with animals and religious figures will continue.