the buzz

From 'cool aunt' to education advocate!

2008-07-18T10:05:00.000-04:00

I never had a calling to be a mother, though I’m incredibly fond of kids. Sure, I’m a cool aunt and feel pretty hip dancing with my niece Eliza to songs from “High School Musical.” Oh wait, does that make me cool or just a middle-aged geek trying to hang onto my youth? Anyway, trust me, I’m still cool.

While I can “bust a move” to a predictably catchy teen song, I was never really immersed in kids’ TV shows, activities or their education until I started working at MPT. Since landing in MPT’s Education Department a few years ago, I have helped create and market a variety of products and resources for kids, families, teachers and child caregivers. I have bridged the gap from mere mortal/semi-cool aunt to an advocate for quality educational resources for our communities.

When you think about MPT, you probably think about the shows. Perhaps you catch Antiques Roadshow from time to time, or you’re a longtime fan of Outdoors Maryland. You may even think we are just "that Sesame Street station for kids," but we’re more—a lot more. In MPT’s Education Department, we develop and promote an extensive range of free, multimedia resources and interactive education tools for the K-12 education community.

Thinkport.org, MPT’s instant gateway to these resources, serves as a valuable link between educators, families and students. A journey through Thinkport will take you places you’ve never gone before, transforming ordinary learning into extraordinary learning. Comprehensive lesson plans, video clips and refreshing online field trips invigorate learning and help connect students and teachers to quality content. If you have children, teach or care for other people’s kids—or are perhaps just a loving aunt—you might want to check out Thinkport.

The department also provides early childhood education services to licensed and non-licensed child caregivers through interactive workshops and outreach, and online professional development opportunities for teachers and caregivers.

There’s always something exciting on the horizon, including several new interactive projects. The Lure of the Labyrinth, an online digital math game, helps build the pre-algebraic skills of middle school students. An engaging storyline woven throughout the game guides students through an underworld maze of mythical monsters and stimulating game play to solve math puzzles. Look for the Labyrinth online early next year.

Another interactive project in development, the PORT, will transport high school technology students to the Port of Baltimore to explore key careers, investigate various technology systems and navigate inter-modal transportation services at Baltimore’s very own seaport.

A steady stream of new projects, grants and partnerships enable our Education Department to offer these resources to the public year and after year. By partnering with community organizations, universities, schools, the Maryland State Department of Education and other established agencies, MPT continues its strong tradition of education.

So, as you can see, we are much more than TV. Sure, I’ve met a few stars along the way and frolicked with a cast of furry friends when the award-winning puppets from Between the Lions roared into Baltimore earlier this year. But it’s way more than TV. We hope to inspire, educate and enlighten families, schools and communities for years to come. And as I creep up the ladder in age, I can sit back and enjoy being a kid again, especially at work.

So give it a whirl, hop online and take a look, you’ll be surprised and inspired. You can access these great resources and learn more about what we do by visiting http://thinkport.org/.

Leslie Adler
Marketing Manager, Education Projects

Way more than television

2008-07-14T15:53:00.004-04:00

And so the paper writing began…

Flash back fifteen years to 1993. It was the height of the Barney craze, and Maryland Public Television was my personal go-to station for a “rocking good time.” At age seven, MPT was one of the few channels I could watch without restriction. Fits of laughter, bursts of singing, and even the occasional tear accompanied my years as a public television viewer. I was always exceedingly entertained.

My nostalgia for classic children’s programs, like “Sesame Street,” “Arthur,” “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood,” and of course, “Barney and Friends” fueled my desire to spend the summer working at MPT. I remembered the place MPT programs once held in my heart, and openly recognized that public television was no longer part of my life. Examining my own relationship with public TV put me on the path that ultimately resulted in this report.

And 57 pages later, I was finished.

As I typed the last period and prepared to submit the paper that would earn me a master’s degree, I realized all of the things my summer at MPT meant to me. This report about MPT, the thoughts of its people, its challenges, its successes, was an exercise that led to significant self-discovery. With each new MPT staff member I interviewed, I learned more about life, the media world and myself.

While I’m not sure I’ll ever come across a group as pleasant and helpful as the staff here at MPT, I will definitely try to find a similar work environment in the future. MPT reminded me of the importance of mentors and of surrounding myself with great people. I made a mental “note to self”: When you become successful, always take the time to help young people. Never act too busy or too important to give back. Always make a way. MPT staffers certainly made a way for me this summer.

So if I had to tell you one thing about MPT, the place that filled my childhood years with joy and the place that has given me great perspective on life as a young adult, I’d say it’s definitely WAY more than television. MPT is a place where a group of passionate people come together to share Maryland’s stories and help Maryland’s citizens. And if that’s not cool, I can’t imagine what is!

Thanks, MPT, for making this summer memorable :~)

Gretta Moody
Institutional Advancement Intern

What's it like to intern at MPT?

2008-07-03T16:50:00.005-04:00

Hear it from the interns themselves!

MPT interns Joy Thompson and Shernay Williams took a few minutes during MPT's recent intern pledge night to talk about interning at their favorite public television station (and what it's like answering phones on live TV!).

(Interested in interning at MPT? We're always on the lookout for enterprising young undergrads and grad students! Click here for more info!)

Dreams really do come true

2008-06-27T13:19:00.004-04:00

I am a self-defined MPT addict, nerd and enthusiast. I grew up watching both MPT and PBS programming, and while most people my age (19) may have stopped watching when Arthur and Barney were no longer appealing, I hung in there.

I credit my love of documentaries and cooking to MPT. Through MPT's programming, I have learned how to survive in Alaska by myself (Alone in the Wilderness), how to prepare a six-course meal (Julia Child and Jacques Pepin) and what it was like to live on the American frontier in 1883 (Frontier House).

To me, MPT is irreplaceable because no other station has programming that covers such a wide variety of topics. As a person who has lived both with and without cable television, I always find myself going back to MPT to watch a show on something I may not even be initially interested in. I get sucked in! I can’t resist when Rhea Feikin is on location covering the HonFest or when NOVA is showing the Lost Treasures of Tibet. In most other cases, I probably wouldn’t watch a show on Fermat’s Last Theorem, but I find myself mesmerized and, if given the chance, watching it more than once!

I’ve caught myself on numerous occasions in class, rambling about how much I love MPT, and turning down opportunities to hang out with my friends to stay in and watch Rick Steves and his money belt travel around Europe…again. I’ve been such an enthusiastic viewer that my friend Denisse finally got fed up and yelled at me “If you like it so much why don’t you work there!” That was my light bulb moment: I was shocked that it had never occurred to me!

About eight months later and I AM working at MPT! I’m currently an intern working with a bunch of great people at my dream internship. I must admit that coming to work the first day was surreal. I was given the grand tour, and saw some of the sets that I have watched on television my entire life and met people that have helped create shows that I am obsessed with.

I recently worked an MPT pledge drive (for MPT’s intern pledge night), and I couldn’t have been more excited. I may be an “MPT nerd,” but I am proud to wholeheartedly support a television station that is committed to providing educational and interesting programming that is not dictated by advertising dollars. I still cannot believe that my viewership has come full circle, and am now working at the station I have loved my entire life!

My ultimate goal for this internship? To meet Rhea Feikin!

Update: Since writing this blog entry, Caitlin met Rhea. She still can’t believe it happened!

Caitlin Mullett

Institutional Advancement Intern

(and perhaps MPT's biggest fan. Ever.)

Our Facebook fanpage!

2008-06-19T10:23:00.005-04:00

Are you a fan of MPT? Tell the virtual world and meet other fans on MPT's new Facebook fanpage! It features videos, discussion boards, the latest news and behind-the-scenes fun.

MPT's been on the popular social networking for a while now with an MPT group page (available only to those with Facebook accounts, which are now available to anyone who'd like to join!). But our Facebook fanpage is 100% public, so you can log on anytime to see what's new, whether you're on Facebook or not.

Just up this morning: behind-the-scenes, downright hilarious video of a few members of Ireland's famous Anuna horsing around our studios as MPT prepares to film their upcoming holiday spectacular. (And if you've ever wondered what a fire drill is like here, wonder no more! We've got a little of that for ya, too ;)

She's sew unusual!

2008-06-16T13:57:00.006-04:00

Ever since I can remember, I have shared a love of design and craftsmanship with my family. I grew up watching This Old House with my dad each weekend. At first, I looked forward to the last episodes of the season, when I could see the final results. As I got older, I learned to appreciate the design process, starting with the bare frames of an old house, and slowly, with an attention to detail, bringing the house back to its former glory.

With my mom, I would watch Sewing With Nancy. My mom loved to buy quilting books. We visited fabric stores once a week, easily. I was surrounded by mounds of fabric, each pile designated for a different project. I wasn’t quite as enamored with the quilting process as my mom was, but once again, I learned to appreciate the work that went into crafting.

So how many major home improvement projects occurred in my house? None. Though I was allowed to paint some rooms. I even used some “decorative painting” techniques, but that was the extent of my attempts to restore “our old house.”

And how many quilts did my mom complete during my childhood? Not one. But this is where I took over. I didn’t want to make myself a quilt, but I definitely wanted to learn how to sew clothes.

I made my first article of clothing–a pair of pants–when I was 15 years old. I’ve been sewing ever since. I’ve made gifts and handbags, pillows and curtains, christening gowns and my wedding dress, along with countless other outfits and projects. I love to surprise people with items...just because. I enjoy the process of quality workmanship that I learned from all those MPT shows I watched as a kid. I still search out design shows, for inspiration, and I can’t wait to get the MPT Digital Channel so I can watch The Creative Life (see clip below!).

I still sew today, and I have about 10 projects going at once. I can’t imagine my life without this creative outlet!

Jen Reece
Associate Online Producer, Thinkport.org
(Check out Jen's sewing blog at http://www.davidanddaisy.com!)

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. (Part I)

2008-06-03T13:09:00.007-04:00

This is first in a series of blog entries by the Maryland Humanities Council honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 40th anniversary of his assassination.

It was April 4, 1968, 40 years ago. I was a third-year student at Howard University Law School. With classmate, Kellis Earl Parker (who would serve as a Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis and Professor of Law at Columbia University, New York City) I was at the office/chambers of the Honorable Spottswood W. Robinson in downtown Washington, D.C. At a point in the early evening, a U.S. Marshall, clearly shaken—and almost disoriented—announced the news that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, and that many cities, communities and neighborhoods, including Washington, D.C., were being assaulted, experiencing fires, violence and looting.

An immediate call to my home assured me that my wife and our children were all safe. Kellis made contact with his family and to our relief, they were also safe. We still faced a hurdle. Because of the manifestation of action and anger, the city had been placed under police and National Guard (martial law) control, and if I were going to reach my home (at 5th and Hamilton Streets, N.W.) I would have to obtain a pass from the U.S. Marshall or face the possibility of arrest for curfew violation.

Black men, walking or driving, on that evening in the streets of Washington were likely to be detained. Very carefully, I drove toward Union Station, such that I could take North Capitol, toward the Old Soldiers Home, thus dodging and bypassing Georgia Avenue, 7th Street, H Street, New Jersey Avenue, 14th Street, and V Street, where signs of disorder were being described on the radio.

Now, some 40 years later, we look back at Rev. King's efforts, at the modern Human and Civil Rights Movement, and it is easy to realize that he was asking the nation to implement the socioeconomic and political equality promised by the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

In recent months, this nation and world have heard some strongly expressed concerns about human rights. The president of the United States and the leaders of Russia, China and other countries have exchanged verbal attacks and counterattacks with respect to which country is more humane toward its citizens, and who is more genuinely concerned about the political, social and economic plight suffered by many people around the world. The record shows that these debates have escalated.

I fully expect a continuation of these verbal exchanges, particularly between the various powers as they jockey for position on the stage of world affairs. In fact, many may look at the contest and conclude that it is a classic game of transnational politics and that their concerns and energies must be directed toward more immediate matters. Some might even say that international affairs are so far removed from domestic issues that we should look the other way.

But when we examine what is involved, it becomes transparently clear that the global search for human rights is in close kinship to the day-to-day struggle which confronts millions of people in the U.S., and those matters which affect the lives of thousands in every American hamlet, village and town.

Our experience has shown that the matter of human relations and human rights usually is examined from the perspective of political observations and social contexts. And the emphasis is placed on the constant needs in these areas. But we would advance the notion that political and social rights mean little without the existence of economic justice and economic democracy. I am of the opinion that human rights must be assured through the existence of political democracy—institutions through which every person can enjoy peace and the pursuit of happiness.

Rev. King recognized that the absence of economic justice—or economic democracy—translates into matters about which much of the nation is concerned:

l. Housing: It is axiomatic that the Black, brown and the poor of the country still believe that home ownership is security. And that home ownership is a hallmark of good and responsible citizenship. And we know that home ownership is good for the building industry and thereby improves the condition of the economy. Just about every working person aspires to home ownership.

2. Health: It is fairly clear that good health care is a salable commodity. And that its economic nature places it at the door of those who can afford to pay.

3. Education: History reveals that Black and poor people have always looked to education as one of the sure paths to participation in the American dream. Our ancestors risked life and limb to obtain education for their children, and, for themselves, some exposure to the joy and utilitarian quality of education. Long before Benjamin Roberts sued the city of Boston (in 1849) for equal access to educational resources, Black and poor people have known the value of education.

Power, prestige, political influence, social status and wealth are obtained by birth, gift or through one's personal efforts. And let there be no confusion about it, personal effort means education and training.

There are those who say that the value of an education is on the decline. That is not the case. And unfortunately, the struggle for economic and social justice is in the forefront of those movements which would increase our numbers and percentage in some of the important professional and graduate schools in the country.

M. L. King would have the Black, brown and poor demand the substantive, long-term developmental support from the government's use of our tax dollars; we must organize our own business enterprises, around mutual support rather than mass dependence on the government. We must, finally, face the reality that only we can save ourselves. We must face up to the reality that none of the privileged institutions, individuals or groups which comprise America's power brokers will favor or sponsor changes in our society which are anything more than cosmetic. If we expect those who oppress us to relieve us of the oppression voluntarily, we are mistaken. We are the ones who must change the situation. Our priorities must reflect the needs of our people.

Dr. Walter J. Leonard

Dr. Walter J. Leonard is a distinguished educator and widely published author, a former president of Fisk University and Special Assistant to the President of Harvard University. An eyewitness to one of the most tumultuous periods in recent American history, he was present in the Supreme Court when the Brown v. Board decision was handed down. For the many years following, he remained a friend and confidant of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement and today continues to share publicly his humane reflections on the state of race relations in America.

RFK Remembered

2008-05-28T15:14:00.002-04:00

Thursday, June 5 at 8 p.m. MPT will be the first television station since 1968 to broadcast Robert Kennedy Remembered, a tribute honoring the late politician’s life and work on the 40th anniversary of his assassination.

The Academy Awardwinning film by Charles Guggenheim was broadcast just once on all television networks when it was shown during the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention. This moving film tribute to a man who had hoped to win the presidency created an historic moment when it brought the proceedings to a standstill and the crowd, in tears, to its feet. It hasn’t been seen on television since.

Commissioned by the Kennedy family, the film begins with the funeral train to Washington, D.C., and follows the triumphs and tragedies in the late senator’s life through extraordinary newsreel footage, archival stills and home movies.

The film was produced in only four weeks—two months after the senator’s assassination—in order to meet the convention deadline. Charles Guggenheim, with the country’s resources at his fingertips, worked around the clock to complete this poignant eulogy and compelling reflection on the spirit, quality and commitment RFK brought to his life and work. Richard Burton narrates. The film went on to win an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Subject.

These are 30 goosebump-inducing minutes you won't want to miss.

The Big Read!

2008-05-20T16:37:00.004-04:00

(Above: Rudolfo Anaya, author of classic coming-of-age novel, Bless Me Ultima.)

This month, people all across Baltimore have joined MPT and the Enoch Pratt Free Library to celebrate the power of words by reading Rudolfo Anaya’s classic coming-of-age novel Bless Me Ultima, part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read.

Reading Bless Me Ultima is more than just a "good thing to do," like eating your vegetables. This is a fascinating, exciting, sometimes funny, sometimes sad story of a young boy growing up in a small New Mexico village, and an extraordinary window into another world. Young Antonio Marez's quiet life is changed when his Aunt Ultima comes to live with his family. Ultima, with an owl in tow, is a curandera (a healer—what we might call a practitioner of herbal medicine), and helps to teach Antonio about life and many of her secrets on his path to adulthood.

For all the differences between our world and Antonio’s, as I read, I found myself identifying with him and the conflict between his father's wild vaquero (cowboy) brothers and his mother's more sedate farming relatives. I’m sure others will also see themselves in him as he wrestles with his parents' conflicting expectations, as well as the tensions between Hispanic and mainstream American culture in his village.

For younger readers, MPT and the Pratt are also sponsoring a “Little Read,” with Anaya’s picture book The First Tortilla—the story of Jade, a young village girl who is told by a blue hummingbird to take a gift to the Mountain Spirit to bring much-needed rain to her small Mexican village. This heartwarming story is prefect for parents to read along with their children, and help bring them into the excitement of the Big Read.

Book discussions and programs focusing on Bless Me Ultima and The First Tortilla are being held throughout the month of May at libraries and recreation centers around the city. Come check us out!

Poet and librarian Reginald Harris (reggieh.blogspot.com) has received Individual Artist Awards for both poetry and fiction from the Maryland State Arts Council. He is Help Desk and Training Manager for the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore.

The cooler gig

2008-05-16T10:20:00.003-04:00

My former roommate and I are both screenwriting majors at Drexel University, released from academic purgatory for six months to get an internship in our field so we can appreciate just how good we’ve got it (I’m reasonably certain that’s not how Drexel advertises its co-op program, but after a four straight terms of classes, that’s definitely how I feel). My roommate is spending her six months in Ireland, working her butt off amid rolling fields of green, quaint little pubs and surrounded by that wonderful Irish accent that she imitates so beautifully. I’m back home, working at MPT and remembering why my brother and I get along best when I’m two hours away. There are fields of green, yes, and there’s probably a cute little pub or two somewhere, but pretty much everyone here has the same accent I do—no imitation required.

Still, all of our friends agree: I got the cooler internship.

I’m working on MPT’s documentary: Maryland Generations: Jewish Americans. Being raised Catholic, there’s a certain irony to this, but I’ve loved history all my life, and this has been a chance to not only learn history that’s new to me, but to really connect it with the places I know. I grew up in Roland Park, known back in the day for the “no Jew” clauses in the deeds to its houses. I even talked to my dad about it, and he said yup, that clause was in the deed for our old house, along with a little note saying that the clause was unconstitutional. When I asked why the offending clause wasn’t just removed, he said: “Another clause said it couldn’t be removed.” The law is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?

But the history bit is just a perk, like those “buy $50 or more worth of merchandise and get a cute little stuffed dog FREE!” promotions stores do. Even on a completely different project, one that had absolutely nothing to do with my interests (although that’d be pretty hard, considering I’m interested in pretty much everything MPT does), I’d have the best internship ever.

MPT uses its interns. Seriously uses its interns. You don’t just answer phones, take messages or take dictation of a script. In my first two weeks working here, I’ve researched Maryland’s history, met state politicians and leaders of international Jewish organizations, gone out on shoots and learned a little bit about camerawork. I’ve looked for visuals to put into the show, read through interview transcriptions and picked out sound bites to use. I’ve written outlines for the first two segments, highlighting the information we should cover and the sound bites I like best. My boss/producer actively seeks out and trusts my input. In those two weeks alone, I’ve utilized almost all the skills I’ve learned in school, and picked up some new ones. And everyone here, whether you work closely with them or just occasionally walk by their office, cares about you and what you’re doing. They must drug the water or something; you don’t get people this nice in Philadelphia.

So if you’re an undergrad (or grad student) interested in television, in Maryland, just want something more to do with your time—consider an internship at MPT. It’s a lot of fun.

Also?

We have a koi pond. Last I checked, my roommate’s place of employment doesn’t have one of those. They just make her sit in on boring seminars.

I definitely got the cooler gig.

Katie Nolan
Content Enterprises Intern

Sea of Fog

2008-05-12T14:49:00.004-04:00

As much as I’ve been waiting and working towards it for four years now, I really can’t believe I’m graduating college in three weeks. I’ve got some ideas about where I’m headed, but mostly I feel like I’m groping along in the dark.

There’s this picture (above) I really like to look at now and then, Caspar David Friedrich’s “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog.” Even though Friedrich painted it in 1818, I feel drawn to it some near 200 years later. Don’t get me wrong—for me, time is melting away faster than desert clocks in a Dali painting, but this whole sense of temporarily rising above the fold, taking a minute to reflect and then heading back down into a sea of chaos pretty much sums up my whole experience right now.

I’m going to get all dressed up, put on a gown (I’d really prefer it if they called it a robe, because that would make me feel like a king or a wizard or Hugh Hefner), have my named called and hear (hopefully) a bunch of people applaud. And then I go back into the Sea of Fog, obscurity—as Hunter S. Thompson put it, “straight into frantic oblivion . . . just another freak in the freak kingdom.”

It’s now time to make something of myself, though I’m not sure what that is going to be. I’ve always been successful, from the time the guidance counselor pulled me out of the third grade to do all these IQ tests and told me I was “gifted” to just last Friday when I was given a “certificate of excellence” by my college, but I’ve never felt quite content. And that’s probably because I’ve never quite found an enterprise that I could feel comfortable entirely devoting myself towards.

My time spent here at MPT has helped me meditate on just where to funnel my abilities. As someone who enjoys the arts, I am glad to see there are organizations out there who are trying to still support them in an age where dollar signs and immediate gratification are requisite for successful business. I spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid in the foothills of Appalachia up in Pennsylvania, so I’m especially glad to see there are organizations like MPT that are working to preserve the Chesapeake Bay.

And perhaps it’s because I have always been more than a little suspicious of change that preserving such institutions appeal to me. But, as much as I want to fight it, change is inevitable as the sun rise. So with the knowledge that there just might be some organization, some cause out there, that I can really buy into and believe in, I’ve got a little hope about things.

And now I’ve got to get on out there.

Thank you, MPT. You’ve been great.

Kevin Sunday
Communications Intern

Go Navy!

2008-04-30T13:32:00.005-04:00

Go Navy! I want to shout this every day since I have a son who’s a Navy pilot. But after watching Carrier the past few nights, I feel even more strongly about it.

There have been so many times while watching Carrier this week that I’ve thought “I know how this feels,” or “Yes, this is familiar.” The series started Sunday night with Navy families dockside, tears flowing. I relate as I remember speaking to my daughter-in-law on the phone while still a newlywed as she sobbed about her husband leaving for an extended period of time.

I relate when I hear the young men and women talk about enlisting because the Navy will allow them to pursue their college hopes and dreams. My son enlisted in the Navy. Since then he has completed his college degree, become an officer and now is a pilot. This is due to much hard work, but the Navy rewards hard work. If you are willing to put in the effort, the opportunities are there.

I relate when I see the USS Nimitz entering port in Hawaii with the crew surrounding the deck standing at attention. I’ve witnessed this first-hand at the port in San Diego when the USS Squall returned from a six-month tour. It is truly a majestic sight to see all those young men and women in crisp white uniforms. The band plays on shore and being part of this event makes your heart swell with pride and patriotism.

I can relate when the USS Nimitz heads to the Middle East. Although my son is no longer aboard a ship, I’ve faced the fear that fills you when your child goes to a war zone and is flying above hostile territory. And like those aboard the USS Nimitz, whether you agree with a war or not, you support the effort because it is your family and your country that is doing all they can do to ensure our freedom.

This is compelling television: It’s honest, it’s real, it’s hopeful. It’s full of pride, and positivity. Five thousand men and women, a vast number between 18 and 21, working as a cohesive team is impressive. Our youth can be counted on to perform. It’s refreshing to see when we are constantly inundated with news that our young people have gone astray.

If you haven’t seen Carrier, you’re missing the boat! (Pun intended!) Aside from the personal dynamics, the photography is amazing and the music is edgy. PBS has done all of us a favor by offering this to viewers.

Sue Vanskiver
Senior Administrative Assistant

Chesapeake Bay Week! (and Eatin' Crabs, hon!)

2008-04-18T14:33:00.004-04:00

It's been raining cats and dogs (some may say crabs, even!) the past two days here in Baltimore. Perfectly fitting as MPT kicks off its fourth annual Chesapeake Bay Week.

We've got a full roster of bay-themed programs lined up this week, including a lively little ditty called Eatin' Crabs Chesapeake Style that's—you guessed it—all about chowing down on the crabby crustaceans as only Chesapeakers can. (Sounds like Baltimore Sun restaurant critic and blogger Elizabeth Large will be tuning in!)

The program features local crab expert Whitey Schmidt and his “ten commandments” for eatin’ crabs, from picking the critters fresh from the water to knowing their peak season. The crab lover spent one summer visiting a whopping 275 crab houses and eating 3,000 crabs—all so he can tell YOU the best places to go and the best way to eat 'em.

For a full line up of Chesapeake Bay Week programming, visit www.mpt.org/bayweek.

Lovin' the skin I'm in

2008-04-14T12:38:00.004-04:00

On vacation every year in Florida, I couldn't wait til my dutiful grandfather left my side at the pool so I could change into the "skimpier" bikini. I then proceeded to wipe off any remaining sunblock Grandpa strongly enforced while shooting a sly wink at the lifeguard. He was now my partner in crime

Glistening blisters on my skin from my sunburn reminded me that perhaps I took it too far, though my uncomfortable memories seemed to fade by the next vacation.

I proudly displayed my tan lines back home like A's on an elementary school report card. No longer the pasty, fair-skinned redhead, I was a goddess of sorts—at least in my own biased assessment. What do you expect? I was in my early 20s and unstoppable!

Two years later at age 23, my vocabulary would soon expand. Gifted to me by my dermatologist were the words "malignant melanoma," "large excision," "five-year survival rate" as well as "reoccurrence." Now visualize a dog tilting his head in confusion! What this meant was that I had a serious skin cancer—the deadliest kind that could spread if not treated immediately.

The melanoma was found in a very small mole that was dark in color. Had it not been for my old boyfriend urging me to go to the dermatologist, I might not be blogging this happy tune.

I passed my five-year survival rate with flying colors and wound up with a second melanoma ten years after my first one. This one was again successfully removed during surgery, and I have a clean bill of health as I blog here today.

So what gives? I do the right thing (kind of like eating oatmeal every day). I wear sun block SPF 30 and carry a bottle wherever I go. I avoid the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) or wear long sleeves. I find shade when I can and wear sunglasses to protect my eyes. I visit my dermatologist every year and also check my skin monthly to look for changes.

I still wink at lifeguards whenever I get the chance, and have fond memories of the ten different bottles of sunblock lined up like proud soldiers in Grandpa's medicine cabinet. Grandpa, here's to looking at you, kid! As much as I hate to admit it, you were right!

Learn more about cancer—including living with cancer, managing the diagnosis, and cancer screening and prevention—later this week as MPT airs The Truth About Cancer Wednesday, April 16 at 9 p.m.

Jill R. Adler
Manager, Community Health Education
LifeBridge Health

Rich Woman!

2008-04-10T12:19:00.005-04:00

Most nights before turning in, I take one last survey through my favorite channels to see what’s on. Usually I settle on some reality show repeat on Bravo, TLC or MTV. But one particular night I stopped on MPT after seeing a woman standing in front of a screen with “RICH WOMAN” printed boldly behind her. This caught my attention. After watching a few minutes, I was captivated by this pledge program (yep, a pledge program!) encouraging women to acquire wealth.

The host of the show was a lady named Kim Kiyosaki who was trying to get her female audience to understand they have to take control of their finances. Surprisingly, she told them the time to start investing is now. A down market is a terrific time to invest, she explained to them. I was intrigued by this tidbit of information, especially with all of the news networks screaming the U.S. may enter a recession soon.

Who would have guessed that with interest rates plummeting and the stock market so volatile, women should throw their money hats in the ring? Not me, that’s for sure! Not until I heard from Kim. Along with three of her “girlfriends,” she chatted for nearly two hours about money. They spoke of their investment preferences; paper assets vs. real estate. They talked about women overcoming their fear of investing and taking control of their money. There were terms like “cash flow,” “options,” “mutual funds,” and “capital gains” being thrown around, and while it wasn’t easy to grab the complete definition of terms being used, it was inspiring to hear these women talk about money in a way that I could somewhat understand.

All the women stated time and time again that finance isn’t as hard as it seems. They wanted their female audience to understand that you don’t have to be a man to be independently wealthy. Any woman can learn the lingo and take the steps to become prosperous. Simple steps like educating yourself on the purpose of money, and sitting with your spouse quarterly to go over your family’s financial records go a long way. Over and over again they wanted women not to be intimidated by investing by reinforcing the “if-I-can-do-it-you-can-do-it” spirit.

There was one woman who, along with her husband, was a medical doctor and deeply in debt. (Normally I am not one to feel good about someone else’s misfortune, but two broke doctors made my financial situation seem much less bleak!) As I listened to her story one thing she said rang in my ears: she was working harder but was falling deeper and deeper in debt. That is not the work cycle I learned in school. My recollection was teachers telling us that the harder you work, the more successful you will be in all ways. Another woman was divorced with three children and homeless when she began taking steps to learn about acquiring wealth. These women were not only inspiring—they were brave. Instead of acting as though the situation was hopeless, they took it upon themselves to turn their financial circumstances around.

All three women were exceptionally inspirational and dynamic but, most importantly, easy to relate to. They made me think beyond how I normally do about money. As I finally drifted off to sleep, many questions stirred in my mind. Why can’t my money work harder for me? Why do I feel part of a rat race never really getting ahead financially? Do I want to look at my financial situation in ten years and see no real gain? And most importantly: What am I afraid of? And while I haven’t run out and opened an e-trade account just yet, I did sign up for a free options trading seminar. I’m educating myself and getting started with a new financial plan for me and my family. It’s time I find the Rich Woman in me. My family and my bank account will thank me for it!

Kamesha Milton
Manager, Research & Content Marketing

The ‘Austen formula’

2008-04-03T11:28:00.003-04:00

I’ve been looking forward to Sense and Sensibility (one part of Masterpiece’s highly anticipated series The Complete Jane Austen) for almost a year now. As a huge fan of both Pride and Prejudice and Bleak House—two miniseries with screenplays penned by the great Andrew Davies—I had high expectations. Not to mention, Sense and Sensibility is probably my favorite of the Austen novels since it was my first introduction to the world of pianofortes and Regency-era romantic entanglements. Before I read it, I wasn’t familiar with the “Austen formula,” so I experienced all the surprises and heartbreaks right along with the characters. Watching it Davies style brought back all those memories of stepping into the world of Austen characters: the Elinors and Mariannes, the Willoughbys and Colonel Brandons. It made me consider all the variables that come together to create the classic Austen formula.

Location is a key variable in the formula, especially a character’s home. This version of Sense and Sensibility seemed more true to life, exposing the struggles of living in an isolated cottage with little money (I couldn’t help but feel Davies infused a little bit of Bleak House into his screenplay adaptation). This particular version also takes Barton cottage and sets it by the sea amongst waves crashing against the rocks, which added that extra degree of intensity to the drama.

The second variable in the formula is character dynamics. The audience is left to decide whether they are more emotional like Marianne, more sensible like Elinor, shy and generous like Edward or arrogant like Willoughby. In this version (and not surprisingly), we get the added bonus of seeing intense dialogue between Willoughby and Colonel Brandon, where previous versions focused mainly on the perspectives of the sisters.

The third factor of the formula includes distinct romantic entanglements involving many tears, a great deal of patience and very long letters. The female protagonist reassesses her values and prejudices and ends up with the man she would have never in a million years considered at the beginning of the novel. In this version, however, I think that Davies does an excellent job of making the romantic relationships between characters believable. He establishes scene early on with a moving piano composition, where Marianne and Colonel Brandon grow closer through a shared love of music (to the point where I almost thought, well do they really even need to bother bringing Willoughby into the plot?).

The saddest thing about watching was realizing that I had to wait a week before seeing the second part of the series. Even though I’ve read it and seen two different versions, I was immersed in the plot as if I were encountering the world of Austen for the first time. The upside is that I have something to look forward to this Sunday.

(Part two of Sense and Sensibility airs on MPT Sunday, April 6th at 9 p.m.)

Susan Zagar
Intern, Leadership Giving

Bush's War

2008-04-01T14:32:00.004-04:00

I use television to keep abreast of sports, politics and news, but, for the most part, have to look somewhere else to find discussion of substance. It’s a shame when the most truthful team of political analysts is a pair of comedians, Stewart and Colbert.

For example, I’m conflicted about Iraq. The reasoning and the dialogue about it changes every day, and I don’t know what to think. Just as politicians line up and down on one side or the other of the aisle to spew partisan rhetoric, so do the news networks. They say they don’t, but on issues so divisive, you have to pick which audience you want to pander to. And that’s a shame, but that’s business.

So it was refreshing last week to watch the Frontline two-part series about Iraq, Bush’s War. The second part of the program was especially sobering, as that morning The New York Times ran a three-page spread of letters and e-mails from falling soldiers, as well as pictures of the most recent 1,200 to die in the war. One of my good friends from home is about to head to Baghdad, and I pray I don’t see his face someday in The New York Times.

Five years into the war, Frontline attempted to explain how we got into this mess. It’s no secret that partisan squabbling and interagency wrangling got in the way of developing clear objectives, but, for once, the whole story, as we can imagine it so far, was presented in one narrative rather than a day-long news cycle of beating a story to death and then forgetting about it.

History is always a work in progress, and by no means was Frontline’s take on the war a completely unbiased account. No work of journalism is, whether it’s about the governors of New York or a high school basketball game. But it is important to try to develop some sense of connection between past and present, or we won’t have a sense of where we’re going.

So, much to my surprise, there is decent television to be found. Once music videos, vapid reality television, celebrity gossip, talking heads and the rest of the riffraff wears thin, it’s not a bad bet to stop once or twice by MPT before turning off the channel. Who knows what you’ll find.

Kevin Sunday
Communications Intern

What, no internet?

2008-03-26T15:33:00.005-04:00

Driving home from work Friday night, I noticed a telephone pole down across the street from my condo. It didn’t register much until I got home. Then, like a bolt of lighting, it hit me. The telephone service is out, which means no internet service for those of us still using dial-up. Yes, it’s true. I work in media and still use dial-up. Perhaps the impetus for change is getting closer now.

During the dark days of this particular weekend, I was without the internet. As an internet addict and Google junkie, this left me panic-stricken and trembling. Besides the four trips I took to Panera Bread to access the internet and a few “drive bys” at my sister’s house, I was woefully without internet access for three days.

But don’t fret, my friends. During the darkness I found slivers of light. Chores were accomplished, and I found time to tune into some cooking shows on MPT. In a previous post, I mentioned my love for Lidia Bastianich, host of the scrumptious PBS Italian cooking show Lidia’s Italy. I caught an episode of Lidia’s travels to a quaint Italian town known for its delectable coffee. The town was reminiscent of Venice, with welcoming outdoor cafés and romantic waterways.

On this particular episode, Lidia recreated the complicated coffee drinks at home. Coffee never looked so good and complex. Quite honestly, I’m a Dunkin Donuts girl; I like my coffee weak and fast. Lidia took her time preparing rich specialty drinks using several shiny contraptions in a sequence. Too complicated for me, but it was beautiful to watch. She makes it look effortless, but I know better.

Still without internet access, I treated myself to more, thinking that this could get pretty addictive. I also caught most of Julia Child: Lessons with Master Chefs. Surely you know Julia, the famous master chef with a love for rich French food. Butter and cream make frequent appearances in her dishes. What’s great about Julia is her interest in learning from other master chefs. She takes in something from each chef that accompanies her on the show and incorporates these tidbits into her own cooking. Julia is relaxed, yet classy and charming. She is elegant in speech, lively in attitude and comforting like a pair of fuzzy slippers on a cold day.

But it’s not all about the women and elegance. Listen up, guys, I saw a show that’s just for you, it involves three things you might be able to appreciate: meat, grilling and beer. If you tune into Barbeque University, hosted by Steven Raichlen, you will find a meat-lovers paradise. For the meat timid, like me, I had to squint a few times and look away from the screen, because this is the real deal. Whole sides of beef and enormous ribs are displayed like art and dangle in front of the camera for your viewing pleasure (or pain, as it may be). If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, surely beef is a man’s close companion. I have an appreciation for all food, even if it’s food I don’t eat. So for those carnivores, go for it, tune into Barbeque U. and get your grill on. This is the perfect show to get you ready for spring barbeques and claim your stake as grill king.

Eventually the phone line got fixed and I went back to Google, my pacifier and gateway to the world. But I realized a few things over the course of the weekend. Some I already knew.

1. I am addicted to Google (I already knew that.)
2. Raw meat and fish still freak me out (I knew that, too.)
3. I trust MPT to keep airing quality shows that expand my mind.

Perhaps next time I won’t wait until the phone lines are down to sit and take in a few good shows. Perhaps it’s also time to throw in the towel and get broadband.

Leslie Adler
Marketing Manager, Education Projects

'Deep depth'

2008-03-19T16:45:00.006-04:00

When it comes to our roster of political analysts, we have “deep depth” (as Yogi Berra used to say). But we’re always looking for new angles and new combinations. The trick is to find guests who can offer both partisan spin and dispassionate analysis, and can also disagree without being disagreeable.

So we’re really excited that our production team has been able to line up Michael Steele and Parris Glendening to join us in a few days on Direct Connection.

Former Gov. Glendening was a two-term Democratic governor, the only non-lawyer I can recall serving in that office. Mr. Glendening had been a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, so he brings to the table both a theoretical and practical background in the art of politics.

Michael Steele used to be one of our regulars, debating local issues every few weeks on State Circle. That was before he became chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, then Maryland’s Lt. Governor, and now, as chairman of GOPAC, one of the most visible figures in national Republican politics.

Gov. Glendening and Lt. Gov Steele are scheduled to join us here at MPT on Monday March 24 at 7:30 p.m. for Direct Connection. We anticipate an interesting discussion, and, of course, welcome your calls and email at 1-800-926-0629 and directconnection@mpt.org.

Jeff Salkin

Host, Direct Connection

PBS does reality TV!

2008-03-18T13:49:00.002-04:00

PBS has finally jumped on the reality television bandwagon, except—unlike some of the more, errr, dubious reality TV shows gracing the airwaves these days—it’s really, really good.

The new series is called Carrier (airing April 27th-May 1st), and it chronicles the ins and outs of daily life in the high-stakes world of a nuclear aircraft carrier. The show follows a core cast of real-life characters aboard the USS Nimitz—a whopping hulk of ship (a floating city, really) that’s 24 stories high and three football fields long that carries more than 5,000 Navy personnel and 85 military aircraft.

Filmed from May to November 2005, nearly 2,000 hours of high-definition video were captured for Carrier during a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf (three months of which were spent in combat in support of the ground troops). For the first time, a television series takes a raw and personal look at the Navy’s role in this controversial war.

Get a sneak peek of Carrier Wednesday, March 19 (tomorrow!) at 10 p.m. on MPT. In the meantime, whet your appetite with the clip below.

We test 'em: digital converter boxes

2008-03-13T15:34:00.006-04:00

(Above: A digital converter box in MPT's break room. Easy to install! And kinda cute!)

In less than a year, we’ll be saying goodbye to analog TV. But you don’t have to buy a new set to continue watching free, over-the-air television.

I’ve been doing some research that I’d like to share with you. My $40 coupons towards the price of a digital converter box have arrived. They look just like credit cards complete with an expiration date, which is approximately 90 days from the date you receive the card. With the card comes a list of merchants in your area who have the decoders along with “rules” for using the card. In this area, converter boxes are now available at Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart.

Best Buy is selling the Insignia NS-DXA1 converter box; Circuit City and Radio Shack are selling the Zenith DTT900. The Insignia and Zenith boxes, manufactured by LG are the identical (except for the logos) with a retail price is $59.99. Wal-Mart is selling the Magnavox TB100MW9 for $49.87.

Is there a $10.12 difference? In my opinion, there is. The Magnavox decoder does not include audio and video cables and you cannot change channel without the remote. The Magnavox remote is not user friendly and doesn’t have the ability to mute or control the volume level on your TV where as Insignia/Zenith/LG come with full function remotes.

In my test, all the boxes were able to acquire the same digital signals. Setup is easy; each box has a built-in tutorial or an 800 number to call for assistance. Antenna placement may be critical for an acceptable signal, but when done correctly, the digital picture is crystal clear.

Go buy a converter box now and start enjoying digital television on your old analog set. It’s easier than you think!

George Beneman
VP Technology

Yes, we rock.

2008-03-11T12:21:00.004-04:00

Yeah, yeah, we know what you’re thinking. Public television rocks? MPT rocks? My grandmother watches MPT.

Yes, while we do admit to being popular with grandmothers throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, northern Virginia and parts of Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, we are also popular with area rockers, music fans and people who just like it loud. Case in point: Kasabian. The British rockers made a special appearance on MPT’s weekly arts show ArtWorks This Week a few months back. In case you missed it, we’ve posted the video (which includes live footage shot at DC’s 9:30 Club) on our new YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/MarylandPublicTV). Proof that we do, in fact, rock. Enjoy.

Budget mysteries revealed!

2008-03-06T11:05:00.005-05:00

As you may or may not know, MPT gets about one third of its budget from the state. Each year, we go through a lengthy process to prepare and present our budget to the Maryland General Assembly. But what really goes on in Annapolis when it comes to the budget of your favorite public television station? As MPT’s Chief Operating Officer, I’d thought I’d step in and shed some light on a somewhat mysterious—and yes, at some times, confusing!—process

The Maryland General Assembly is in session from January to April of each year. This is when new legislation is discussed and may become law. It's also the time of year that the legislature reviews the overall state budget. Maryland is a bit different from most states in that the legislature can only cut from the budget submitted by the governor. This means nothing can be added, so you really need to make sure that all your needs are met in the budget submitted by the governor.

The process really begins for MPT in August when we submit our budget to the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM). In general, state agencies are asked to submit no more than a certain dollar figure (generally last year’s budget amount) and anything above that needs to go into an “over the target” request. Over a several month period, the budget request is reviewed by DBM and the agency is asked to respond to questions and concerns. In the fall, the DBM analyst makes his or her recommendations. The agency will then respond to the recommendations. The final budget is included as part of the overall state budget submitted to the legislature for approval in December or early January.

At this point, the legislative budget analyst reviews the agency’s budget and looks for places to cut. A few days before the budget hearing, the agency will receive the analyst’s recommendations and will respond directly to the committee hearing their budget.

MPT management generally tries to meet with the members of our budget committees (both the House and the Senate) prior to the hearings. The purpose of these meetings is to insure that each committee member understands the value that MPT brings to the citizens of Maryland. Once this series of meetings is complete, it’s time to attend the actual hearings. These hearings are open to the public, and MPT management is called to testify. The hearings can be long with much discussion depending upon the agency and the issues they face. (This year our hearing in the Senate was very short. This was due in some part to the fact that the analyst recommended no cuts to our budget.) We then repeat the process in the House. If there are issues then we would also attend a “decision hearing” in both the House and Senate.

As I mentioned earlier, MPT receives about one third of its budget from the state. We raise the rest of our budget on our own from members and underwriters and a variety of other sources. We are proud to be a state agency and appreciate the support provided by the state. MPT is ranked within the top ten public television stations in the country, thanks not only to state funding, but the generous support of public television fans like you.

Larry Unger
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Death by a thousand cuts

2008-02-27T16:11:00.005-05:00

Looking back on it now, I realize that I took Lake Redman and Lake Williams for granted while I was growing up in York County, Pennsylvania. The lakes were a three- mile drive, bike ride or walk from my house. They were the first things I would see on the highway coming into town and the last things I would see as I would leave. Even though York is nowhere near the level of hustle and bustle of Baltimore, it was always nice to go out to the woods where there was nothing but the quiet sense of reflection that nature brings. Always sort of a backdrop to the area, I could never really imagine what the idyllic lakeside would look like if developers were left to run rampant and build as much as they wanted to, right up to and on top of the shoreline.

Previewing Weary Shoreline: The Chesapeake Bay's Death by a Thousand Cuts—which airs on MPT tonight at 9 p.m.—was a shock to me. All along the Chesapeake Bay, industrial complexes and residential communities are being thrown up on top of one of the most important areas of the bay’s health—the shoreline. Granted, having a bayside home affords many luxuries: a great view, easy access to fishing and sailing, a sense of detachment from the chaos of city living. But those shorelines are one of the most vital areas of concern for the bay’s health. Shoreline development leads to deforestation, which leads to increased sedimentation, which basically means a bunch of mud and dirt washes into the bay.

What’s the big deal about that? Well, the more dirt that gets pushed into the bay, the more cloudy the water gets. One of the most important species essential for bay health is what’s called Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, or SAVs. Not only do they break down CO2, (which gives underwater creatures much-needed oxygen) but they also provide homes for baby crabs as they turn from larvae into adults. Dirty water cuts off the supply of sunlight to the SAVs, putting the entire habitat in danger.

Another problem the SAVs face is that the more people that live bayside, the more people there are that want to sail and boat. The more people that want to sail and boat, the less they want these huge underwater vegetative forests to clog up their motors or tickle their feet as they swim. So what happens? The SAVs get cut down en masse.

You might say, “Yeah, all you’re doing is getting worked up about mud and some underwater plants.” In a way, yes. But these plants are one of the most important species necessary for the continued survival of the blue crab. This year’s blue crab harvest was the lowest, I believe, in 15 years. The crab is one of Maryland’s biggest and most famous exports, and gives the bay a sense of uniqueness. Should we as a community fail to keep the crab thriving, we will all be guilty of letting a beautiful natural resource go to waste.

Watching Weary Shoreline tonight will certainly make you think about what’s best for us and what’s best for the bay. Check it out and see what you think.

Kevin Sunday
Communications Intern

Weary Shoreline

2008-02-25T16:43:00.002-05:00

Everyone loves a good waterfront view, but most of us have probably never stopped to think about what price local ecosystems pay for waterfront development.

As the Maryland General Assembly meets to debate new, stricter regulations on Chesapeake Bay waterfront development, MPT will air a riveting new program that examines Maryland’s Critical Area Law. Weary Shoreline, airing Wednesday, February 27 at 9 p.m., explores how Maryland’s Critical Area Law—enacted in 1984 to preserve sensitive Chesapeake Bay shoreline by limiting growth—has instead fostered development, lawlessness and community animus through its complexity and ambiguity.

The program is featured on today's Baltimore Sun’s Bay & Environment Blog. Read all about it here.