Etc. Post

"Thanks to viewers like you..."

PBS announces that it will phase out all religious programming. What with being subsidized by the government, they're thinking it would be best not to give the impression that they agree with Catholic masses AND Mormon services both. Americans are unable to discern doctrinal differences between the two religions, and are furthermore so stupid as to believe that PBS is officially Catholic in one area and Mormon in another.

"PBS now will begin enforcing its rule -- on the books since 1985, but never rigorously enforced -- that all stations provide non-commercial (brought to you by JuicyJuice! Ha!), non-partisan and non-sectarian content. That means no ads, no political advocacy -- and, after Tuesday, no new religious transmissions."

We all know that PBS is totally neutral in the culture wars when Buster wants to interview families with two moms. And Sesame Street has been Evangelical-friendly for I don't know how long. One program even featured a child who had to weigh his heart and see if it were lighter than a feather, an obvious reference to Ancient Egyptian religion. Oh, and as D said in a high-pitched voice once while watching a certain episode, "Elmo likes girls, too, Ellen!"

Furthermore, we all know that the last 15 minutes of every science show is totally secular and scientific. ("What evolutionary mysteries could this drawing allude to?... Are there secrets in this glacier about the Ice Age of the past about hunter-gatherer societies?... Will scientific testing decode the enigma of...?" and so on. We can disagree about the origins of Man, but vague statements at the end of the program, or worse, actors portraying large-jawed Neanderthals in a "science" program, shows most of us the "objectivity" of the documentary.)

I still do watch PBS, but doggone it if I'm sending 'em any money voluntarily. I also take what they air with a big grain of salt because their wide range of points of view range from extreme liberal to "so way liberal that you're not sure they're speaking English any more." And those are just the "conservative" speakers they have on for balance and an air of "objectivity."

Vegemite!

Yummier! Tastier! More spreadable! Thanks to D for this link!

"While the exact recipe is a closely-held secret, the new Vegemite experience is, basically, regular vegemite combined with cream cheese.

"The result, according to the company, is a vegemite for all occasions.

"'This is a Vegemite experience that can be enjoyed at all times of the day,' said Kraft director of sales Darren O'Brien."

Thanks, I'll pass.

I would sarcastically add to the "fact" that about 3/4 of all Australian households have Vegemite in their pantries the idea that no one eats it and it just sits there... but I've been to Australia and know that it really is true that people EAT Vegemite voluntarily. They start by training toddlers to "like" the stuff. Yes, they do. I've also heard from friends there that the fact that I don't like Vegemite "proves" that I am American.

Well, what do you know. I vote for calling it Vegemello. A smoother, more mellow Vegemite. But probably too long to put on the labels. And I wouldn't want a 50-pound jar of Vegemello as a prize for naming it. :]