Save NPR and PBS!

I have enjoyed, and supported, both public radio and public television for at least the past 21 years.  I grew up watching KCTS 9, and make room in my weekend for The Car Guys, A PHC, Vinyl Cafe, Wait Wait - Don't Tell Me!, This American Life, and so many other great programs.  During the week, KUOW keeps me company on my way to and from work.  In the evenings, I am fascinated by NOVA, inspired by Rick Steves, and hopelessly addicted to Doc Martin.  There are so many more, too, like Frontline, Masterpiece Theater, Nature, and Great Performances.  The list goes one. I can't imagine losing these rich and varied programs.

If you live in Washington State, this is information on contacting your representatives about helping to save NPR and PBS programming:


From the KCTS 9 site:

"February 17, 2011
CONGRESS SET TO VOTE ON CPB FUNDING—CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!
Dear friend of KCTS 9,

This is it: Congress is set to begin voting on a proposal that would completely eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting. The Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1) would zero out funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports KCTS 9 and public television and radio stations across the country, as well as programming from PBS and National Public Radio.

By now you've heard the message: federal investment in public broadcasting amounts to just $1.35 per person each year. In return, all Americans have access to trusted news and public affairs coverage, a safe harbor of commercial-free children’s educational programming and front-row seats to world-class arts performances.

We need your urgent help to protect federal funding for public broadcasting. Please act now and take a moment to tell Congress how you feel about eliminating federal funding for public TV and radio.

WA-01: Rep. Jay Inslee 202-225-6311

WA-02: Rep. Rick Larsen 202-225-2605

WA-03: Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler 202-225-3536

WA-04: Rep. Doc Hastings 202-225-5816

WA-05: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers 202-225-2006

WA-06: Rep. Norm Dicks 202-225-5916

WA-07: Rep. Jim McDermott 202-225-3106

WA-08: Rep. Dave Reichert 202-225-7761

WA-09: Rep. Adam Smith 202-225-8901

The vote is imminent—we need your voice to be heard. Call today!"

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Thanks for indulging me~

Valentine's Day poem

Lovers' Infiniteness
by John Donne

If yet I have not all the love,
Dear, I shall never have it all,
I cannot breathe one other sigh, to move,
Nor can entreat one other tear to fall.
All my treasure, which should purchase thee,
Sighs, tears, and oaths, and letters I have spent,
Yet no more can be due to me,
Than at the bargain made was meant.
If then thy gift of love were partial,
That some to me, some should to others fall,
     Dear, I shall never have thee all.

Or if then thou gavest me all,
All was but all, which thou hadst then;
But if in thy heart, since, there be or shall
New love created be, by other men,
Which have their stocks entire, and can in tears,
In sighs, in oaths, and letters outbid me,
This new love may beget new fears,
For, this love was not vowed by thee.
And yet it was, thy gift being general,
The ground, thy heart is mine; whatever shall
     Grow there, dear, I should have it all.

Yet I would not have all yet,
He that hath all can have no more,
And since my love doth every day admit
New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store;
Thou canst not every day give me thy heart,
If thou canst give it, then thou never gav'st it;
Love's riddles are, that though thy heart depart,
It stays at home, and thou with losing sav'st it:
But we will have a way more liberal,
Than changing hearts, to join them, so we shall
     Be one, and another's all.

Mitza

Mitza, originally uploaded by Dragan*.

Just too sweet not to share.

This photographer says:

"Mitza

Winter white Russian dwarf hamster"

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Poem for Thursday

From Poets.org

   
Good Hair
by Sherman Alexie

Hey, Indian boy, why (why!) did you slice off your braids?
Do you grieve their loss? Have you thought twice about your braids?

With that long, black hair, you looked overtly Indian.
If vanity equals vice, then does vice equal braids?

Are you warrior-pretend? Are you horseback-never?
Was your drum-less, drum-less life disguised by your braids?

Hey, Indian boy, why (why!) did you slice off your braids?
You have school-age kids, so did head lice invade your braids?

Were the scissors impulsive or inevitable?
Did you arrive home and say, "Surprise, I cut my braids"?

Do you miss the strange women who loved to touch your hair?
Do you miss being eroticized because of your braids?

Hey, Indian boy, why (why!) did you slice off your braids?
Did you weep or laugh when you said goodbye to your braids?

Did you donate your hair for somebody's chemo wig?
Is there a cancer kid who thrives because of your braids?

Did you, peace chief, give your hair to an orphaned sparrow?
Is there a bald eagle that flies because of your braids?

Hey, Indian boy, why (why!) did you slice off your braids?
Was it worth it? Did you profit? What's the price of braids?

Did you cut your hair after your sister's funeral?
Was it self-flagellation? Did you chastise your braids?

Has your tribe and clan cut-hair-mourned since their creation?
Did you, ceremony-dumb, improvise with your braids?

Hey, Indian boy, why (why!) did you slice off your braids?
Was it a violent act? Did you despise your braids?

Did you cut your hair after booze murdered your father?
When he was buried, did you baptize him with your braids?

Did you weave your hair with your siblings' and mother's hair,
And pray that your father grave-awakes and climbs your braids?