Banned Books Week

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By Terry Orr

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September (this year September 30 through October 6), Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted banning’s of books across America.

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If you don’t care for a radio or television program – you simply find one you prefer to listen to or watch.  Same principle applies to books.

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Commentary by author:

My question to those who believe they should band books - Where is your outrage over mainstream media in their inability to provide unbiased and informed reporting of the news?  Print media used to have sections dedicated to ‘opinions’ so the reader knew these were in fact, just that.  Television and Radio programs used to set aside time for commentary.

Tolerance of others and their beliefs and finding common ground in which we can all live in harmony is a founding principle of America. 

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I propose finding common ground between the two extremes and adopt a rating system similar to the movies and TV programs and that bookstores and libraries find a satisfactory means to store and display books.  Many book stores that I have visited over the past year already employ such a concept.

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National TV Dinner Day - 2012 Update

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By Chef Diane

Growing up dinner time at my house wasn't the greatest, that’s why every time my parents went out, and we always loved to have TV dinners.  We always love the little kids TV dinners that had hot dogs, and hamburgers...they were such a treat for us.

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The first TV dinner was invented in 1953 by Swanson’s.  The purpose was to get rid of some turkeys that they over bought.  The turkey dinner came in a metal tray with dressing, frozen peas and sweet potatoes.  They were heated at 425 F for 25 minutes, and would easily fit on a TV tray.  In the first year of production, Swanson sold the dinners for 98 cents, and expected to only sell around 5000, however the popularity of these dinners exploded, and over 10 million were sold.

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Today, these microwavable dinners are sold in dishes that are safe for use in the microwave. You can find nearly any type of meal already prepared in a frozen dinner from the original turkey and dressing, to chicken, to seafood and pastas.  My husband would love to shop in the frozen food aisle and choose various dinners; however the picture would always look better than the meal inside.  That never stopped him from trying more and more.  I personally like the mac and cheese dinners, and the frozen pizza, and I have also tried the lasagna and other pasta dishes.  These make the perfect meal for a quick bite, or when you don't want to take the time to cook from scratch.

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Today is National TV Dinner day.  The term “TV Dinner” is now synonymous with any prepackaged, frozen meal that requires little preparation and contains an entire single-serving meal. Modern-day TV dinners can be cooked in the microwave (instead of the oven) and include gourmet recipes as well as organic and vegetarian dishes.   Although they are no longer called TV dinners, you can still pick one up and cook it in your microwave and enjoy it while you are watching your favorite show.  So stop by your freezer section and pick up a TV dinner tonight and relive your youth.  Or, just get out of cooking for tonight.

New Year's Eve 2011

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By Diane Forrest,

I can't remember a New Year's Eve that I didn't spend in front of the TV watching Dick Clark, and the glittering ball drop in Time's Square.  I loved seeing all the people gather around, I knew they had to be freezing out there in the cold, but the excitement kept them warm.  I would watch all the musicians singing, and would long to be there, and to kiss my special someone at midnight.

That special midnight kiss on New Year's Eve has always been a dream of mine that I am still waiting to come true.  My prince charming would always be fast asleep at midnight, so I never got the chance. I did try to wake him up one year, but that was a disaster.  He would try to stay awake, but always fell short.

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New Year's Eve is a very special time; we are saying good-bye to the old year, and hello to the new.  It's time for a fresh new start, and forgets the past.  Time to make plans and dreams for the coming year.

I guess the most memorable New Year's Eve during my lifetime was December 31, 1999, and not just because of the song I'm gonna party like it's 1999.  There were so many fears and concerns about moving forward to a new century, it was even given its own name.  Y2K.  There were so many rumors about the world coming to an end and computers crashing, and banking problems, even electrical and communication problems.  But, as it turned out, no problems at all occurred, and the new millennium went off without a hitch.

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So tonight, on New Year's Eve, take some time to reflect on 2011 and all the good things that happened as well as the not so good, Sing a round of Auld Lang Syne, and if you are out celebrating, please drink responsibly.

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

World TV Day

By Akindman,

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World Television Day Celebrated Today

Television has become one of the most influential forms of media in our present time. It is the arena where images, forms, styles and ideas surrounding the human existence are mobilized. Television makes its mark as the most popular medium for communication and information because of the considerable convenience it offers to its audience worldwide, of all ages, nationalities and social status. Television does not require literacy and presents information in audiovisual form requiring no extra skills for comprehension. 

UNESCO recognizes the significance of television broadcasting as a primal means of communication and a standard gateway of information for the masses, most importantly in least-developed countries. Television plays an effective role in disseminating information and knowledge and serves a powerful tool for reflecting and shaping human conditions and aspirations. 

Fostering freedom of expression and increasing cultural diversity in the media, particularly by improving the endogenous production capacities and supporting the distribution of quality audio-visual programmes are highly prioritised by UNESCO programmes, including the Intergovernmental Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). 

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I vaguely remember a small television similar to this one in the 1950's - we would all gather around and watching Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob...

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Today we have smart TV that give us crystal clear images on almost anything we desire to watch and when - events in real time, will less and less censoring. 

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Ultra-thin sets that are mount on walls...

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Getting bigger and bigger (for those of us who love the bigger screens) ...

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....and the beginning of 3D in mainstream entertainment....that will no longer require wearing those silly glasses...

So how will you celebrate World TV Day?

What are your favorite memories of TV?

What changes are you  looking for on World TV Day 2015?