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Yeah, it's called "Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires". It's a pretty cool three-part documentary by Robert X. Cringely, based on his book "Accidental Empires: How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition, and Still Can't Get a Date". Check it out at the PBS Web site.

Rombu wrote:

PBS is an anachronism these days, since you can get the same types of programming over a number of widely available channels (Discovery, A&E, etc..) PBS was created to broadcast these types of programs and other things that "commercial" networks wouldn't touch. With the advent of cable and satellite we have seen that there is very little that commercial interests won't broadcast. This seems like a last desparate gasp of a dying system to try to draw attention to itself.

First off, PBS uses almost none of your tax dollars. Their federal and state funding has been cut so many times it's not funny. The total line in their financial report for grants is about $41 million of a $448 million budget. That's less than 10% of their expenses, and less than a single tank costs these days.

For that money, they not only support great programming (such as Sesame Street and Nova), but they also spearhead development projects that you never see directly, such as this digital television program, the TeacherSource program, which offers video content for our schools. They also have an impressive Adult Literacy and GED program called LiteracyLink. They have a neat program to support distance learning colleges. They also offer, in conjunction with the MIT Business College The Business Channel, which many prominent companies subscribe to.

This digital television system is not a waste of tax dollars, nor is it a last desperate gasp of a dying network. It is another step forward for an organization that has long been at the core of our country's education infrastructure.

Rombu wrote:

PBS is an anachronism these days, since you can get the same types of programming over a number of widely available channels (Discovery, A&E, etc..) PBS was created to broadcast these types of programs and other things that "commercial" networks wouldn't touch. With the advent of cable and satellite we have seen that there is very little that commercial interests won't broadcast. This seems like a last desparate gasp of a dying system to try to draw attention to itself.

First off, PBS uses almost none of your tax dollars. Their federal and state funding has been cut so many times it's not funny. The total line in their financial report for grants is about $41 million of a $448 million budget. That's less than 10% of their expenses, and less than a single tank costs these days.

For that money, they not only support great programming (such as Sesame Street and Nova), but they also spearhead development projects that you never see directly, such as this digital television program, the TeacherSource program, which offers video content for our schools. They also have an impressive Adult Literacy and GED program called LiteracyLink. They have a neat program to support distance learning colleges. They also offer, in conjunction with the MIT Business College The Business Channel, which many prominent companies subscribe to.

This digital television system is not a waste of tax dollars, nor is it a last desperate gasp of a dying network. It is another step forward for an organization that has long been at the core of our country's education infrastructure.

Rombu wrote:

PBS is an anachronism these days, since you can get the same types of programming over a number of widely available channels (Discovery, A&E, etc..) PBS was created to broadcast these types of programs and other things that "commercial" networks wouldn't touch. With the advent of cable and satellite we have seen that there is very little that commercial interests won't broadcast. This seems like a last desparate gasp of a dying system to try to draw attention to itself.

First off, PBS uses almost none of your tax dollars. Their federal and state funding has been cut so many times it's not funny. The total line in their financial report for grants is about $41 million of a $448 million budget. That's less than 10% of their expenses, and less than a single tank costs these days.

For that money, they not only support great programming (such as Sesame Street and Nova), but they also spearhead development projects that you never see directly, such as this digital television program, the TeacherSource program, which offers video content for our schools. They also have an impressive Adult Literacy and GED program called LiteracyLink. They have a neat program to support distance learning colleges. They also offer, in conjunction with the MIT Business College The Business Channel, which many prominent companies subscribe to.

This digital television system is not a waste of tax dollars, nor is it a last desperate gasp of a dying network. It is another step forward for an organization that has long been at the core of our country's education infrastructure.

Rombu wrote:

PBS is an anachronism these days, since you can get the same types of programming over a number of widely available channels (Discovery, A&E, etc..) PBS was created to broadcast these types of programs and other things that "commercial" networks wouldn't touch. With the advent of cable and satellite we have seen that there is very little that commercial interests won't broadcast. This seems like a last desparate gasp of a dying system to try to draw attention to itself.

First off, PBS uses almost none of your tax dollars. Their federal and state funding has been cut so many times it's not funny. The total line in their financial report for grants is about $41 million of a $448 million budget. That's less than 10% of their expenses, and less than a single tank costs these days.

For that money, they not only support great programming (such as Sesame Street and Nova), but they also spearhead development projects that you never see directly, such as this digital television program, the TeacherSource program, which offers video content for our schools. They also have an impressive Adult Literacy and GED program called LiteracyLink. They have a neat program to support distance learning colleges. They also offer, in conjunction with the MIT Business College The Business Channel, which many prominent companies subscribe to.

This digital television system is not a waste of tax dollars, nor is it a last desperate gasp of a dying network. It is another step forward for an organization that has long been at the core of our country's education infrastructure.

Rombu wrote:

PBS is an anachronism these days, since you can get the same types of programming over a number of widely available channels (Discovery, A&E, etc..) PBS was created to broadcast these types of programs and other things that "commercial" networks wouldn't touch. With the advent of cable and satellite we have seen that there is very little that commercial interests won't broadcast. This seems like a last desparate gasp of a dying system to try to draw attention to itself.

First off, PBS uses almost none of your tax dollars. Their federal and state funding has been cut so many times it's not funny. The total line in their financial report for grants is about $41 million of a $448 million budget. That's less than 10% of their expenses, and less than a single tank costs these days.

For that money, they not only support great programming (such as Sesame Street and Nova), but they also spearhead development projects that you never see directly, such as this digital television program, the TeacherSource program, which offers video content for our schools. They also have an impressive Adult Literacy and GED program called LiteracyLink. They have a neat program to support distance learning colleges. They also offer, in conjunction with the MIT Business College The Business Channel, which many prominent companies subscribe to.

This digital television system is not a waste of tax dollars, nor is it a last desperate gasp of a dying network. It is another step forward for an organization that has long been at the core of our country's education infrastructure.

first this is wilson's site.
and for more on R. Buckminster Fuller
also bob wilson's The Illuminati Papers explains Quantum physics, etc in easy to digest terms...
PBS.org has some info. on bucky. ( try seaching for "Buckminster Fuller" )
wish i had more time to write but i should be working...

nmarshall
#include "standard_disclaimer.h"
R.U. SIRIUS: THE ONLY POSSIBLE RESPONSE

Last weeks Cringely details exactly how MS "buys" shelf space.

If you take IDC's predictions along with these:

CNN - Opinion: Why is Microsoft worrying about Linux? - March 24, 1999
I, Cringely: The Pulpit - Windows 2000, Users Zilch

one would think that a forward-looking company would be looking *very* hard indeed at
the possible advantages of making sure they have a "Linux presence", would one not?

It'll be intesting to see just how mind-bogglingly clueless some PHBs will prove themselves
to be.

Read Cringley's The Pulpit for some clues.