A Solution for PBS and KCPT for Fundraising

Yes, indeed. Herewith, a good solution for PBS and our own Kansas City Public Television for the biannual fundraising. Instead of blackmailing us with God-awful nearly ancient 60s music and musicians.

Instead of all that, why not--please--take your BEST programs and show them, instead? Much of America out here, including me, sees a lot of New York Broadway plays on PBS. Why not use those to fund raise,instead? Sure, chop them up just the same way you do those God-awful 60s music pieces and artists but with this material we can and do only get from you, from PBS. Use Broadway plays, your "Nature" programs, "Frontline", all of it. It recognizes both your viewers education and intelligence as well as their monthly and/or annual contributions they make to your organization and existence. I'll never forget the only way or reason I was exposed to the New York Broadway play of Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby" was because of a PBS broadcast. And you know what? It hasn't been on in years. This is a perfect example of why and how you could show that, fund raise and still not insult your audience/contributors, all at the same time. They could, at the same time as the programs, run a tape at the bottom asking, begging, pleading, reminding viewers to call and support them, too. It would be perfect. So please, PBS, do this. Please make this change, these changes.Respect us. Respect your audience, your contributors. Make it all make sense. This Fall, stop showing us ancient, disconnected rock and roll. You're not an oldies FM radio program. Do this, instead. Again, please. Please. I'm begging. We're all begging. Really. Give us reasons to watch your programming 52 weeks a year, even DURING fund raising weeks. You'll gain, you'll win and we will, too. Stop insulting your audience and contributors.

Two Holiday Movie Classics: Rich v Poor, Republican v Democrat

Yes, there are two holiday movie classics, at least here in America, and not only do we love them, lots of us, but they also show the great struggle of rich vs poor. The first, Dickens' "A Christmas Carol.

It's a very simplified view of the movie but it is, in fact, true and accurate. It's very like a present situation where a man named Bezos is worth 200 billion dollars--and growing--but he doesn't offer all his employees heath insurance. And that's just one current day example.

And the other holiday movie classic? Why "It's a Wonderful Life", of course.

Is there any question, any question at all that George Bailey, fighting for the "little man", the working and middle classes, is a Democrat/Liberal while the obscenely greedy, already rich Mr. Potter is a Republican and conservative? If you do question it, George Bailey's speech should clear it up. 

"Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they’re cattle.”

Oh, yeah. Both good to great movies in their own ways and both show current day situations of, again, rich v poor and very well.

Happy holidays, everyone. Stay safe out there.

I hope.

Quote of the Day -- Then and Now

“The age of chivalry is past. Bores have succeeded to dragons.” 

--Charles Dickens

A twist on "A Christmas Carol"