PBS

So, the genius Gov. of Idaho has decided that it would be intelligent to get rid of PBS in Idaho. Right, let's remove something educational from a nation that is already failing at intelligence daily. Below is the link to the article. Below that is what I said in response online. I want to also thank Nate, the person who wrote this story, for letting the public know how truly greedy Gov. Otter is.

Enjoy the article!

http://uvsj.com/articles/2010/01/30/news/42.txt

-My Comment-


I can't believe Gov. Otter would even consider phasing out such an important part of local media.

There is a quality to public television that cannot be found in mainstream media. A quality of higher intellect and the rich art of well produced programming.

Public TV isn't cookie cutter nonsense media created purely for ratings and cash flow. PBS is a place where artisans of media can showcase their talent.

I watched public television as a child. My grandmother, my mother, and myself all watched the Lawrence Welk Show. My preface was to tune into Reading Rainbow rather than other popular cartoons. And as an aspiring reporter, I looked to Charlie Rose to teach me the art of a good interview.

Don't deprive the community of healthy programming geared towards an educated society.

Furthermore, local fundraising is a viable option for garnering money for the affiliates. Research VPT (Vermont Public Television) as a good model.

Diet Soda & Twitter

Over the course of the last year I have decreased my attention span to nothing. There was a time in which reading was a much loved past time. Now I only do it in airports. I've also become excessively addicted to diet soda.

All kinds of diet soda.

Diet Coke.

Diet Sprite.

Diet Dr. Pepper.

Diet Cherry Coke.

Diet cranberry seasonal Fresca.


And so on....

It takes until 1pm in the afternoon for the affine to kick in and by then I become wired until 2am at which point I go to bed and think about how I am supposed to start my diet day back up again.

I have become a zombie. Society is filled with living diet zombies. Living diet zombies who are addicted to things like Twitter.

Yep. I really like Twitter. I really do. Why? Because its minimal. It's controllable. You only have to see updates from the people you want to see them from. There are no games, gadgets, widgets, popups, pop-outs, popovers, scroll-overs, do-overs, friend requests, relationship (I don't care if you really don't love me you need to tell everyone you do anyways) requests.

Seriously. It's just quick and simple and available for those that have self-induced "CDHD".

What's CDHD you ask?

Caffeine Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

So, please stop depriving me of knowing your inner most thoughts. Sign up for Twitter and we can be "Tweeps".

Ejewkayshun

Today one of my co-workers responded with the best quote I've ever heard at work.

Me: "why don't you go kill some time after work by checking out some books at Barnes and Noble or something?"

Employee: "the only books I read are comics and porn magazines"

My Boss: "those aren't even books..."





This man is a father.

Manners

I was recently talking with someone about how no one has manners anymore. Furthermore, many men don't practice chivalry either.

This then made me think about where and how we lost the art of manners. I watched a news show recently which talked about eating disorders in Fiji. Apparently as soon as TV was introduced to Fiji anorexia skyrocketed from .1% to 11% (or something close to those numbers).

So is it possible that TV and the media are to blame?

I say no. Why don't I blame the media? Because I am a soul media fiend. I had a TV in my room most of my young life. Granted...I didn't have MTV until I was 12, but still...TV didn't teach me manners nor did it "un"-teach me manners.

My parents taught me manners. My mother really. And she would remind me constantly until it was instilled in my head that certain things you just don't do in public.

So...if you meet me, here are some things that I find annoying due to lack of manners.

Burping in public without saying excuse me.

Coughing in my face without covering your mouth.

Talking with your mouth full ( ;-p )

Walking into someone's house and acting as though it's yours when you're not particularly good friends.

Insulting yourself after someone had complimented you. (This isn't a big one but you should care enough about yourself to accept the compliment).

And the list does go on but I'll leave that to your parents to teach you.

Also, I really like pie.

The end.

Postgrad

They even made a movie about it. Starring that girl from the Gilmore Girls.

This is the decade of the "Postgrad".

People are so interested in what we're doing now. And, quite frankly, there are few things for us to do.

The job market is somewhat geared towards us for the time being. Since most of us are work-o-holics with no families and an endless supply of caffeine we're the prime employees to fill the cubicles of society.

Generally "Postgrad" only lasts for a couple years. Why? Because after a while we will fall into one of two categories.

The ones who understand what's important or crucial in their life, and the ones who don't.

Now you probably think it can't be that simple. But it can. You will eventually be the one to decide if you're a "Susie Homemaker", a true businessman or woman, a lover not a fighter, a world traveler or a suburban SUV owner. Whatever you decide...it happens post grad. Just make sure you know for sure before you make rash and unwise decisions. Weigh the pros and cons. And make this one question the premise of everything you decide...

What will truly make me happy?

------------------------------

Since this blog is still somewhat about me. An update...

I still work at Taco Bell. I've been there for...uh...we won't discuss that. I am the Assistant Manager and my job there consists of many things the least of which is actually making food.

I also work at WCAX-TV. I love it! I love working in news. I eventually want to report and produce. But since the market here is terrible I am working in production instead. The crew is fantastic. The image that they create is not a facade. They're good people to work for. My job there consists of running cameras, prompter, and tapes so far. If you watch any of the newscasts on the weekend evenings you'll see my name in the credits ;-)

I moved out of the perentals home in July and live in a condo in Essex. It's a great place to live and it's nice to have a place of your own to come home to. I have one roommate and she's pretty awesome.

I'm blogging because my boss sent me home from work because I was sick. I have a total life full of friends, work, and things to do yet I still find time to be on the internet way too much.

Oh, and I'm Mormon.

Peace,

The Postgrad Chris"TAL"

The Strength of Their Smiles

Why did I become a journalist? Why does news intrigue me? It's the strength behind the smile.

I am recently realizing how much effort many young people put into showing their smile. There is a part of my life in which I see youth on a regular basis who are going through very tough times in their lives. These people are mostly teenagers or in their early twenties. They are dealing with death, illness, poverty, sadness, and the list goes on.

Yet, each day they smile. Often I never even know what is going on in their lives unless they outright tell me.

And I am astonished.

Astonished that they can muster the courage to get up every morning and start it all over again. They are the parents, role models, providers, friends, and heroes in their own worlds.

This isn't to say that I did not have my own trials growing up. I did the same thing and garnered the same reaction out of people when they found out about my personal life. But I would also answer with a smile.

As I grow up I realize that the most courageous people don't wear capes, adopt ten babies from a foreign country, or stop global warming. They are those young souls who keep going even when they don't know what they're going for. They keep going and they keep others going too. And, eventually, they too will grow up and find out that everything is going to be okay...

And they will smile.

Done with the Me Monster

Tonight I realized what really makes me happy and why I have been so unhappy recently.

It was a small thing really. My roommate invited me to hand out condoms for AIDS awareness week.

Yes, I'm Mormon and I handed out condoms. If you'd like to debate that then you can talk to me personally or leave a comment under this post and I'll comment back.

But what happened to me tonight was fantastic. There were only five of us, armed with shirts, red ribbons, and condoms. But we were able to hand out hundreds of protection in less than an hour. It made me realize what good even one person can do.

And...it ignited the feeling of happiness I get when I serve. So, I then decided to transfer these feelings to a cause I feel very strong about. Homelessness and hunger. I realized that there are a lot of ways you can volunteer to help the homeless in the Vermont area. I also realized that I felt genuinely happy for the first time in a long time tonight.

Call me a freak. That's okay. I'm proud to say that it's true when they say that if you're unhappy then you should serve. If everyone could feel this way all the time there wouldn't be so many selfish problems in society.

Below is a great link to some things you can do in Vermont to help COTS. Please look up ways you can volunteer in your community and do something nice for someone this week. Please!

I love you all. To all my faithful readers...I wish you the best this Christmas and holiday season and I hope you can find it in your heart to give even if you yourself don't have a lot.