My First Meta-Post

I have been asked more than once so far why I wrote that article about PBS so long after the story came out. My first reaction was "A week is so long after a news story, but in today's digital blog-licious atmosphere I guess it is. My reasoning was a news story from Penn State that the university sent to my e-mail:

1. PUBLIC BROADCASTING FACES PROPOSED 45-PERCENT CUT IN FEDERAL FUNDING

Penn State Public Broadcasting joins other public broadcasting stations throughout the nation this week in a campaign to raise awareness of a 45-percent cut in federal funding proposed by a key subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives. ... The Penn State Public Broadcasting Board of Representatives, composed of volunteers within the viewing and listening areas, has mobilized a grassroots effort in response to the potential shortfall in funding. WPSX-TV and WPSU-FM are running announcements to encourage listeners and viewers to call their legislators to express where they stand on the issue -- for or against the proposed cuts.

I do have to say that this is a good idea; I will be sure to contact Senators Specter and Santorum as well as Representative Shuster to let them know I am in favor of slowing the handout of free money to essentially worthless so-called "public" TV and radio.

I guess what set me off was the fact that the university is whining about losing this free money, though Ford-forbid they go a week without starting to construct a new building on campus (at University Park, of course -- the branch campuses [campi?] don't really count). Please. Just jack up tuition more to cover it. Or jack up tuition anyway... cause it's cool to do so. But give this a rest already. To what end should these stations, or any, receive federal money? Remember that trendy (if misguided) liberal diatribe about balancing the budget? Here is a step in the right direction for a change.