Mr Rogers at Congress

Fascinating clip

Mr Rogers

I loved this anectdote, but the whole article is worth reading for sure:

...a boy, no longer little, told his friends to watch out, that he was going to do something "really big" the next day at school, and the next day at school he took his gun and his ammo and his earplugs and shot eight classmates who had clustered for a prayer meeting. Three died, and they were still children, almost. The shootings took place in West Paducah, Kentucky, and when Mister Rogers heard about them, he said, "Oh, wouldn't the world be a different place if he had said, 'I'm going to do something really little tomorrow,'" and he decided to dedicate a week of the Neighborhood to the theme "Little and Big." He wanted to tell children that what starts out little can sometimes become big, and so that could devote themselves to little dreams without feeling bad about them...

more Mr Rogers here

Free Star Trek

I don't know how they do this legally, but the site has been up for a few months, and they have every episode of all five series here: Watch Trek

Personal Changes

I've been blogging a bit less, and this is partly because I have begun a new schedule that involves going to bed earlier and getting much more rest. Much of my blogging is/was done late at night and now there is less time for this.

It's not like I woke up one day and decided to start getting more sleep, it just evolved. Last fall I quit watching late night TV. That felt good. A few months later I quit watching all TV. Not that I watched a lot, but the late shows had become a regular thing for a while.

And then, when the kid's school started in August, I decided to start getting up earlier so that I could do breakfast and spend some time with my son before I left for work. I've found that my son is more of a morning person, and he likes an orderly, quiet morning. That's something I can provide. Taking over the responsibility of getting him ready in the morning has been a smart decision, and has maybe even helped him in school, because I make some big breakfasts and it starts him off calm and with a full belly.

The latest incursion into my blogging time began last month, when I downloaded the Kindle and Nook apps for the iPhone. I am thoroughly enjoying my first ebook, and definitely reading fewer blogs because now when I turn on my phone it is less to read my RSS feed, or Twitter follows, but rather to read a few pages of my book. I kinda miss the chatter, but also enjoy the mental quiet. Also, for the first time I can remember, I am reading a new-release novel. Usually I read non-fiction, and when I read fiction, it is usually some old classic in paperback. But this month I've been reading "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen, which is a big bestseller. I think I'll read another of his soon.

Anyway, just letting you know that things may not be as regular as they once were... Hope you still find it worthwhile to visit.

Late Night TV

OK, I know this is pretty irrelevant to this blog and to life in general, but I find the Conan/Leno debate kinda interesting. I never watch prime-time TV, but I often watch the late shows. That's when the kids are asleep and I have finished cleaning the kitchen and blogging etc. Personally, I prefer Jimmy Kimmel. His monologue sometime is hilarious. Craig Ferguson I also like. Conan is also good, but I never have liked Jay Leno. I can barely stand watching his show. You? Vote in my poll on the sidebar.

Free Wave Riot

NOTICE: GREAT EVENT THIS SATURDAY

As Media Bridges Celebrates their 20th Anniversary, Cincinnati Prepares for a New Addition to the Local Media Soundscape.

Cincinnati, Ohio - August 21, 2009 - On September 5th, Media Bridges, Cincinnati's community media center, will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary. For the past two decades, this local nonprofit has been providing Cincinnatians with the means for making their voices heard by creating their own media. Through the provision of free equipment and free classes, Media Bridges has enabled local individuals and organizations to produce documentaries, television shows, radio productions, websites, and other types of electronic media.

The celebration will culminate in the FREE WAVE RIOT, a live concert starting at 8pm at the Know Theater in downtown Cincinnati. Featuring performances from local musicians IsWhat?, the Tigerlilies, Fourth Letter Gang, J. Dorsey Blues Revival, Losanti, the Frankl Project, and Culture Queer, proceeds from the event will help Media Bridges in their efforts to launch WVQC-FM, a low-power FM station featuring local content.

WHAT: A celebration of Media Bridges' 20th Anniversary, as well as a fundraiser for the launch of 95.7 WVQC: Radio Free Queen City. Tickets are available at mediabridges' website $9.57. Tickets also available at the door.
WHERE: The Know Theater, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
WHEN: September 5, 2009, 7:30pm-Midnight.

"God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

They can, actually, but not very well. The wild ones can fly just enough to get up into a tree at night to avoid nocturnal predators. In daytime they mostly forage for food on foot. Farm-raised turkeys are engineered for bulk, and can't get their fat asses off the ground at all. Perhaps Ben Franklin was right about nominating it to be the national bird.

Some of you are too young to remember WKRP. Back in the early 80's, before Cincinnati was nationally known for race riots, it was known for this silly sitcom. And there was no episode more famous than this Thanksgiving thriller. Anyone you know who's in their late thirties or early forties will remember this vividly. Enjoy.

The End of the Small TV

For many years, we had a Sony Watchman with a 5" screen in the kitchen so I could watch late night TV when doing the dishes etc. Well our TV finally bit the dust, and I thought maybe I'd get a new one. The problem is no one makes them anymore. As most people know, the analog television signals will dissapear this February. And no on makes a small digital TV. The solution, iPhone podcasts:

...it could use a better holder to prop it up.

Sweathogs Book

Copying our local literary blog, Stacked, here is a book cover circa 1976 found today at the thrift store. I bet the elitist Mercantile doesn't have this!

 

First paragraph:

 

Digital TV

Just got my digital converter for my TV, and really like it. The reception is much better than analog airwaves, and to my surprise most of the channels run multiple programs concurrently. For example, UHF channel 14, which is a Kentucky channel that I never could pick up to well with my analog rabbit ears, come in crystal clear, and it broadcasts 5 different stations (14-1, 14-2, 14-3 etc...)! Last night, one had Charlie Rose, another had Deutsch World News, and the others had nature shows. WCET, channel 48 broadcasts 2 channels, and channel 54 broadcasts 5 also. Channels 5, 9, 12 and 19 each have 2, and the second one for each of these just seems to rerun the weather. But the important difference is that we now have 12 public TV stations, and that is nice.

If you are like me and do not use cable or satellite, then go to this website, and get a coupon from the government. Wait at least 4 weeks. Get your discount card in the mail. Then go to Radio Shack or some place that sells TVs and get your converter for $15 instead of $55.

Thanks to Axinar for making me aware of the coupon program.

Courtship of Eddie's Father

Does anyone else remember this?


I remember watching the show alot as a kid, but I especially remember this opening scene and song. I haven't thought of it for many years. Weird how those memories are still there to be recalled. Is there anything on TV today that is similar or a derivative of this?
Father: Bill Bixby (later The incredible Hulk)
Son: Brandon Cruz (later a Punk Rocker)
Music: Harry Nilson (did the music for Midnight Cowboy??)

1967 Spiderman TV Show

I got this for my 6yr old, and he loves it. I like it too, not too much violence, but lots of bad guys and wall climbing. Plus the catchy tune: