NPR - Begging Update

Well, now the local Public Radio station has done it. Just as I was seriously considering a donation in appreciation of the 30 second "pledge money now" spots, they've gone into full throttle gab-fest beg-athon mode in a push to "meet their fiscal year end budget". They only need about $500,000 in the next 4 days. Each time their regular programming is interrupted by a pair of jabbering, phone number repeating, guilt inducing hosts, I get furious. The station is immediately switched - the only problem being I then am 70% likely to land on an annoying commercial, and 20% likely to land on a tune I have heard way too often and never liked in the first place. So here's my latest plan. I'll call the NPR station during the pledge drive and tell them just why I am NOT donating as long as they're asking me to. Then maybe I'll go to their website after the end of the fiscal year and donate. Except for the begging, they're better than commercials and stale music.

NPR - To Give or Not to Give - Suggestions Welcome

As always, the local Public Radio station is desperate for money to "balance the books by the end of the fiscal year". At least they're not inflicting us with an all-out pledge drive, but 20 or 30 second begs played at every program break opportunity.
I listen to NPR most every day while commuting, on Saturday morning for Car Talk and Wait, Wait - both of which I really enjoy, and Sundays for good jazz. So do I feel guilty for not "giving" to receive this free service? Not much. I hate being asked for money. If they never asked, it just might some day occur to me that here's something I enjoy, and it would be nice to give them some support or form of appreciation. Chances are I'd only think about it - but at least I'd have goodly intentions. But as soon as I'm asked for donations, and within a set time frame, I balk - probably it's a control thing. At any rate, since this is a pretty unobtrusive pleading, and since I need to charge more money this billing period on my Discover Card in order to keep my super low interest rate, and since the NPR station is giving away a new Toyota Prius to a lucky donor ......

Robin Cook - A Small Tribute

As a surly, often non-empathetic type, I'm not usually touched by the death of newsworthy personages. But Robin Cook's death at age 59 saddened me, because I admired the man. He was the Leader of the House of Commons in Great Britain, until resigning in 2003 in protest over the wrongfully justified and hastily pressed War on Iraq. I happened to be watching BBC at the time, and was able to see his entire resignation speech. It was very eloquent, civil, and to the point: There was no real evidence of a threat from Iraq, no proof of weapons of you-know-what, and no consensus in the rest of the world to join the vile neo-con rush to glory, riches, and a re-configured Middle East. (My words, not Mr. Cook's.) At the time of his speech it was inspiring to hear one voice of some authority stand up against the unstoppable stampede of fear-mongering and flag waving. It was also depressing since it clearly was unstoppable. A few months back I thought about that speech, and was able to find and read it. Here's the link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2859431.stm