Wanna Protect Marriage? Prohibit Divorce!

As a child, I read Chicken Little cackling, "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" But it wasn't, and it didn't.

Today, I heard it again ("State of the Union," July 3). The words weren't the same, and it wasn't Chicken Little, but it was more frightening than I remembered. Out of that "hen house" of a Congress came some of our talking-head elected officials caterwauling, "Marriage is doomed! Marriage is doomed! The gay agenda (whatever that is) is about to destroy the American way of life!" How in the world could anyone come up with this notion? Well, they told me: It was the Supreme Court's decision to make legal the actions of consensual men and women in private.

"We've got to amend the Constitution or our country as we know it is doomed! We must take the fundamental document that defines the nature of our government and change it," they said.

I don't think so. I don't think tampering with the Constitution to satisfy self-serving, vote-grasping, scare-mongering legislators has any place in a country beset by great economic problems. I believe the quagmires we are embroiling our military in are much more pressing issues for Congress to be worrying about. Congress should be dealing with the fact that millions of Americans are not getting basic medical care. Congress should find ways to assist states to improve education. The list of things that take priority to such a constitutional amendment is enormous.

If some were really serious about marriage, they might make a law prohibiting divorce.

--Hal Bardach

Public Stations Face Tough Choices

I am most grateful for my eight years working with public broadcasting. I left WETA TV/radio and the Washington, D.C., area six years ago to move west. When I go back to visit family and friends, I always stop by to spend time with the WETA family.

WETA started 47 years ago in Arlington, Va., in Elizabeth Campbell's garage. The Campbells were not well off, but they had a love for the mission--to bring quality educational programming to the public--and a few good people who shared that unfailing devotion. They would work, literally, for nothing or next to nothing to make it happen.

The story of the dedication and the miracles which occurred to support and grow WETA is simply amazing. Most stations nationwide, whether TV or radio, share a similar inspirational history.

Public broadcasting is not corporate America. Being there is like spending everyday with a large family. Love, dysfunction, mission and survival are mixed together--survival being the biggest concern of all.

The heyday of public broadcasting, the '60s through the '80s, is long gone. About the time PBS saw the cable TV competition/threat looming large on the horizon, the federal government started a series of large and continuous cutbacks in art and educational funding.

While I am not privy to the politics of KXCI ("Ford Excursion," The Skinny July 3), I've been exposed enough to surmise a few things. KXCI, like all public/community stations, is probably fighting for its survival. Tony Ford took on a very difficult task of keeping a station afloat in a midst of emotionally volatile issues with probably half the pay anyone in their right mind would accept. And to ensure getting from one year to the next, unique and meaningful programming and creative talent had to be cut.

I don't blame Tony Ford. Today more than ever, MONEY TALKS, or you walk. My sympathies lie with all arts and educational organizations nationwide that, like many of us, are forced to make regrettable choices in order to continue our existence.

--Ingrid Bond

Thanks for the Recording Info, Eric

After reading Joshua Ellis' timely "Solo Project" (July 10) article on building a home studio for less than $2,000, I'd like to tidy up some possibly confusing information.

Pro Tools LE, the software bundled with Digidesign's MBox audio interface, is limited to 32 tracks, not eight. Pro Tools Free, a standalone application that works only with Windows 98 or Mac OS 9, is limited to eight tracks and is available free of charge from www.digidesign.com.

Furthermore, the MBox does not include MIDI ins and outs; however, a stand-alone MIDI interface may be purchased for $39.

Oktava microphones, though excellent for the money, do not contain the same electronics as Neumann microphones.

Cakewalk SONAR cannot currently be used with the Digidesign MBox, nor can Pro Tools LE work with a Sound Blaster Audigy card. Mr. Ellis mentions two very distinct recording systems in the same article and implies they are compatible. This is not so, and in fact, only one is necessary.

Happy recording.

--Eric Klein
Rainbow Guitars