Inside PBS Blog

As part of its educational mission, I'd love to see PBS get involved in creating explanatory screencasts and various computer topics (and other topics) and encouraging the public to do likewise. Maybe recognize on the PBS web site the best in screencasts created by the public, etc.

I think that before any legislator is allowed to propose any kind of legislation that tells a teacher how they may discipline children they should be required to spend at least one month totally in charge of a classroom in an inner-city school. These legislators are not educated enough to make those kind of choices for teachers. Better yet, let a group of experiences teachers who have actually taught in difficult schools make the proposals for legislation. Teachers are already burdened down and under the testing gun because of legislation that has been handed down by well-meaning but ignorant law makers. Most lawmakers don't have a clue about the reality of dealing with problem children day after day. Many of these children come from all kinds of horrific home and background situations. Legislators should be required to spend time in schools before they can make laws regarding teachers and schools.

Finally we have some movement toward rational mph. I am very tired of seeing high milage cars on the roads, I imagine seeing them falling apart before my eyes. Why.... because some of us have been driving a Ford Focus at over 35 mph quite some time. I've had a 2002 used Focus wagon since 2004 and an Escort before that. Shame on all those car companies that thought - bigger is better.

how (exactly) do i ask This Old House a question
they said at the end of today's show (which was EXCELLENT - thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
to ask a question.

installing a dry well was even better on your show then
their website video. Thanks a Million.

When I learned I needed a dry well, I thought that water
would be wasted so began looking into recycling water
which led me to learn about (but not enough about) installing
rain barrels
I saw TOH video about installing rain barrels.
However, it left more questions than answers.
My question to Ask This Old House is:

How can I use a rain barrel to capture the rain from
the downspouts and use it to water the garden with
soaker hoses going around each plant when I live
downhill from my garden and my neighbor's house?
How high up would I need the barrel to go? How would
I secure it? and because of gravity I was told that I might need a pump instead of soaker hoses. I don't know
what to do but want to learn.

I also want to know if soaker hoses are enough to water a garden because they leach water (i.e. do I need the water also to be sprinkled from above?) or if i need a pump and if so, how does that work? How does one look for a good rain barrel etc?

I know that Sesame Workshop has had great success in releasing classic episodes of Sesame Street and The Electric Company on DVD. I'm wondering if any more old children's programming is slated to be released? I have a five-year-old niece who has a strong interest in math and science, but most of PBS's current children's programming is more geared towards reading, writing, social skills, and the like. Furthermore, given the current "retro" trend among the 18-30 demographic, there are plenty of nostalgic young adults with disposable income who'd be move than happy to buy a DVD set or two.
Is there any chance that Square One Television or 3-2-1 Contact will be released -- or, somehow, rebroadcasted -- in the near future?

What are some ways the public can create content for Public Broadcasting?

What Social Media avenues are PBS exploring to further engage their audience?

How do you pitch show idea to PBS?
I would also like to hear how some PBS Producers got their start.

Can you help local affiliate stations become more energy efficient (install solar, etc) to be able to conserve finances for more world changing programming?

Perhaps we could have a website detailing local station's efforts!

Why are the musical shows only shown when you are raising money? This is the best part of your programming and you obviously know that if you use them during fundraising. That's all I like to watch on PBS and I'd donate more money for that.

I also think your children's shows are needed. Many children have only been allowed to watch PBS. Thank you for that. I think putting shows like Sesame Street on DVD's is important in these times when many parents have to cut cable service due to budget cuts. As a grandparent, I'd buy them for my grandchildren. My grandchildren only see the DVD's now.

I really really loved the show "african american lives" and I missed the sequel, will it ever be re-aired? do you have any other similar shows which deal with geneology issues?

Thanks, anita

i love most of the shows on pbs and was just wondering why they took the tele tubbies off the air, while we enjoy shows like curious george and sesame street my grandson really enjoyed tele- tubbies , can anyone pleasae shed some light on why they took them off the air? as i know from talking to other moms and grandmothers i am not the only one who feels this way.

Washington reporter, Paul Farhi, said "that the PBS board is going to vote in June on a committee's recommendation that PBS strip the affiliation of any stations that carry sectarian content".
Considering PBS is supposedly broadcasting to the public and is funded heavily by the public, where does it get off deleting sectarian programs? These programs have a "right" to be on air just like anything else shown on PBS.
I think they, the committee, is stirring up a hornet's nest where they might get badly stung... or at least I hope so.
Our family, who watches all kinds of programing, including sectarian, will get mighty angry if "fairness" isn't acted upon.

I would like to air an Horticulture and Floral Design Show from Corpus Christi, Texas. I have a Master of Science in Horticulture and Floral Design. Also I have a Master Degree in Business, Management and Human Resources Development. I own my Floral Shop "European Floral Designs" for 25 years. Here is my website.
www.europeanfloraldesigns.com. If you want to see my backround ck. out this link please http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/562159. Please contact me as I requested in Facebook. I do have a Producer I work with and I will find Sponsors if necessary. Here are my contact numbers:(361) 852-0471W or (361) 739-3029 cell. I do have my own script and I have students taking my classes which can be participants to my show. I will do that on my own or maybe including one of the 2 Colleges from our city. I am not sure yet.I aired one before for about one year, my own TV show. It was very successful but the Warner Cable didn'd provide this Educational program anymore. People here in Corpus Christi learned a lot from it and they are missing now this Educational Show. They keep on asking me about it.If we sell our tapes, I want to help raise money for PBS as I did every year by donating items to their Fundraiser. Eventually I want to air it later on Network.My goal is to build a Horticulture and Floral Designs School to give it to this community and raise funds to keep on the PBS.
Thanks,
Margaret Fratila

I was wondering why my parents in the SF Bay Area (CA) get Signing Time, but us here on the Central Coast (CA) do not. How do I go about getting it on DirecTV for the Santa Barbara feed? There are many of us that would LOVE to have that show!!! Thank you!

I can hardly wait to see this years Wayne Dyer/PBS special that airs June 1 (?) around the country. Dan Caro, an amazing drummer from New Orleans is being featured on the show. Can someone please explain why in the world this program is being aired everywhere except for in the New Orleans market where Dan is from??? Seems to me like a great fundraising opportunity for the area since more viewers would tune in to see one of their own!?!

I would love to see more shows like frontier house. Anything in the works?

How much money does it take to produce an episode of Frontline or Nova? Often before Nova I see an ad for Exxon-Mobile. How much consideration do the producers give to where funding comes from and if it could lead to a conflict of interests? Does PBS ever have to turn down funding? What percentage of the budget do you guys actually get from the viewers?

Having moved to the beautiful far western corner of North Carolina ~ Hayesville, Clay County ~ I'm still amazed that the FCC decided years ago to allow only ATLANTA, GA TV stations here and in part of Cherokee county. I'd love to be able to get Asheville or ANY PBS station on my TV with cable. And I'd really love to get NPR on my car radio! We've got a petition going (again) but what else can we do to make this happen??? Streaming is the only solution so far!

The Public Broadcast System is inviting me to ask a question.
As a recent graduate of college, my question is: how do I use PBS? Can I, a member of the public, broadcast something? I have a lot to say, trust me. How do I do that? Or if not, how do I best use this broadcasting system?
What I'm really trying to get at is that I think there is a lot of opportunity for your system to begin channeling public responses to anything and everything. Start an engaged conversation, especially with the youth - I, at least, have much to say.

I have watched my DVD of this show at least 10 times now. I would like to know where you found some of the equipment the families used, especially the metal milk jugs/containers that they kept in the spring boxes. Will there be any more "House" series in the future as I think I have them all except the "Prairie House" which I was told they are not offering for sale. Thanks fo much!

I have a question for Ask This Old House. I have a 47 year old house that has a history of paint peeling off the ceilings. They have been repainted many times, but the problem continues. Moisture does NOT appear to be the problem.

HELP!

Thanks,

Cliff Jackson

Hi, I have a problem I need help with. My mom is elderly and has a jacuzzi she cannot use because she has no way to get out once she has gotten in. I wanted to install a safety bar for her to pull herself out on but there is tile in the area it needs to go. I bought an expensive studfinder to install the bar into the joists but the studfinder is giving me false readings and I am unsure where the studs really are. Can you please help. I have no access from the back side, and I do not want to install it into drywall, so what do I do? I look forward to hearing from you soon.

On the show I watched today you helped a guy get an antenna. I have a decent antenna and can get over 30 channels, sometimes, The area I live in has stations all around me what I need is a rotor for the antenna I have but I have been unable to find one. Do you know where I could find one?
Love your show
Shirley

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
Henry Ford