:: Dano's Production Journal ::

:: 6/23/2005 ::

How much is 1,724?
:: Dano 12:20 AM [+] ::
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Congressional Update: So it seems that the budget that cuts CPB funding has or will pass the House Appropriations committee today, but the big vote in the House of Representatives is next Wednesday, June 22nd. So keep those emails or phone calls going.

Apparently the subcommittee Chairman said he was sad to have to cut CPB from the budget, but he was sad for the other 49 programs too. It's like he just doesn't understand how we could have gotten into a huge deficit. Oh, wait. That's right. We had the largest war-time tax-cut EVER that punishes the middle class and now takes away services that belong to everyone. Somehow it slipped his mind. So cut Public Broadcasting, give back taxes to the richest 2% of Americans. Makes sense.
:: Dano 3:33 PM [+] ::
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This time it's real. And I may never get a chance to work at Sesame Street again. From MoveOn:

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true.

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

A House panel has voted to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year—$100 million—and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

If we can reach 250,000 signatures by the end of the week, we'll put Congress on notice.

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

***Austinites! Email Representative Lamar Smith here!***
:: Dano 1:13 PM [+] ::
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Coming this summer!
:: Dano 5:48 PM [+] ::
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I like how on this page 'Puppet Show' is listed right below 'Puppetry of the Penis.'
:: Dano 1:56 PM [+] ::
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Religion = cults with money

Be afraid. W talks to this guy every week.
:: Dano 11:28 AM [+] ::
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So if you see a commercial advertising a medical research study for a 'pain patch', guess who developed the medical diagram on the doctor's clipboard?
:: Dano 2:06 PM [+] ::
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Why it's ridiculously hard to get on the ballot in Texas - from the Campaign-Blog of Kinky Friedman:

"I've gotten quite a few emails asking for an explanation of what it takes to get Kinky on the ballot. So in an effort to answer your questions and put to bed any misconception, I figured I would lay it all out there for our curious friends.

In Texas, arguably the most difficult state in the union to gain access to the ballot, independent candidates can't simply pay a fee or file paperwork. Instead, they have to get 1% of the prior election years turnout in signatures. Now, Texas is a big state. In Rhode Island 1 % is only 3,320 signatures, a significant discrepancy from the 45,540 signatures required in Texas. Seems easy enough doesn' it? Tack on a timeframe of 30 days to collect all these signatures. Not difficult enough? What about when the Texas law forbids anyone who has voted in the 2005 primaries to sign the petition. Still not difficult enough? You have to be a registered voter to sign the petition and you have to be a registered voter to circulate the petition. Add on to the fact that many Texas cities recently declared petition gathering as soliciting, thus effectively making it illegal to collect signatures at public events.

Gaining access to the ballot is no small feat. In fact, it hasn't been accomplished by an independent since Sam Houston did so in 1859! To stifle any attempts by main stream political parties from challenging our petitions, Kinky wants to collect 90,000 signatures. That's 3,000 signatures a day, 125 signatures an hour and two signatures a minute. In order to make this happen, we are relying on volunteers to give over 6,000 hours of their time from March 8, 2006 to April 7, 2006.
So, let's recap on how easy it is to get Kinky on the ballot:

1. Hasn't been done since 1859
2. Only registered voters who haven't voted in the most recent primary can sign our petition
3. No existing infrastructure such as local political parties to provide support
4. City ordinances around Texas makes it illegal to collect signatures at public events
5. The campaign is limited to 30 days (March 8, 2006 to April 7, 2006) to collect the required amount of signatures
6. 3,000 signatures must be collected every day on average.

How you can help:

1. Register to vote
2. Take the Lone Star Pledge -- promise Kinky you won't vote in any primary in 2006 and you WILL sign the petition when the time comes
3. Sign up to volunteer on our website
4. Tell your friends and family you're supporting Kinky and ask for their help

thanks!"

So you may not really think Kinky Friedman is the best gubernatorial candidate, but you have to admit that he and any other independents deserve to be on the ballot with the likes of 'Goodhair" Perry and "insert bland Democrat" here. And it's pretty ridiculous that to vote for an independent on election day, you can't have voted in the primaries, as if you aren't allowed to change your mind. Anyway, boycott the 2006 primaries, everybody.

"So after my reading, I'm gonna sit up here and sign anything you give me - books, CDs, DVDs, photos, posters... I'll sign anything... but BAD LEGISLATION!"
- Kinky Friedman, Book People signing
:: Dano 2:49 PM [+] ::
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