A senator wrote a column in the Washington Post today introducing his legislation that would allow newspapers to file as nonprofits.
There are two sides to the issue. First it would help newspapers get money because their ad revenue etc. wouldn’t be taxed and people could give tax deductable donations (like public broadcasting, kind of, although obviously newspapers can’t really take donations that would make their coverage seem skewed, so I don’t think that would really help). The senator seems to think it could save local papers, which obviously would be good, because they need help. And I think they do provide a valuable service. And it’s not a bailout where newspapers are beholden to the federal government.
But at the same time, newspapers who take this money can’t make political endorsements of any kind. They can still write articles about politics of course, but I think the function of a newspaper editorial board in favor of a certain candidate is important and shouldn’t be lost. I don’t know if it counts for local candidates too (which are often only covered in community papers) but if it does, then my reservations are even stronger.
Hmm, I need to go read more about this.
information is just begging to be free, people. I think we’re going to have to change the expectations for what a movie release should look like and how it’s obtained. I just don’t know how.
ALSO re: all the talk that’s been going on about the chick on jeopardy saying she witnessed panda sex, I would love to do that. Apparently it is really rare for them to like, do the deed, or whatever.
Q: What does a gay horse eat?
A: -in a really effeminate voice- HAYYYYY
Q: What does a straight horse eat?
A: I don’t know, but they’re all homophobic assholes :P
I just noticed in my dorm at duke there is an exit sign every 5 feet. Like, the neon red, lighted kind. Down every hallway on the third floor there is a bright red sign that says EXIT and has an arrow pointing to the left, often into a solid brick wall but occassionally down another hallway filled with “EXIT left” signs.
Seems useful.
In other news I just drove all the way back to Duke with only one contact in. I have to admit I was kind of hoping I could be a martyr to end the semester switch, and sacrifice my life for the greater good.
Just the term “bailout,” for instance. The country’s a sinking ship and water’s rushing in through all the holes. Money is the government’s bucket. The captains are being thrown overboard to reduce weight. The rest of us are standing on the benches, watching the ballast and the unmoored floating cargo of the ship go swirling by, hoping that the water level goes down before we’re swept underneath.
here’s my longer thoughts on it
Look, at Duke they do it so that when you swipe your card, it only brings up the print jobs associated with your ONYEN equivalent (which is what it prompts you to enter).
Here I have to scroll through 50 print jobs from people named “….. MR POOPY PANTS123” before I get to my print job. I’m not saying that we should do everything like Duke, but god dammit. Can we have a little bit of functionality please.
I long for the simplicity of mini-micro-whateveryoucallit-blogging. Basically I just want to post shit that I see that makes me think or laugh. Think of it like reed-spot.tumblr.com only more lonely!
To start, I leave you with the following message I saw written in sidewalk chalk, each line about 20 feet apart, while walking to my business class this morning.
Hey FRUITCAKE / You are not a WIZARD / YOU ARE A FRUITCAKE!!!!
pure poetry
