TRAP HOUSE

It’s happening now. Disney bought out all of the venues they usually go to and they couldn’t compete with the cost so he and his fiancee aren’t going to have jobs after they get married. This is officially the last set of tours by Sesame Street, indefinitely.

He and his fiancee don’t really know what they are going to do. They think they might move to Atlanta but, honestly, they’re going to have to go where they can find work. That’s part of being a freelancer and one of the reasons I had to get out of theatre (constantly being on the lookout for a job is mentally taxing).

But, like, honestly, Sesame Street is struggling and has been for a while. Their agreement deal with HBO was a good thing.  Sesame Street’s funding is dying and I will be really shocked if it survives the next four years or remains publicly available. The people in power don’t want Sesame Street to exist. It teaches kids empathy and kindness and thoughtfulness. It exposes kids to diversity and teaches them openness and caring about others, which is exactly what fascists DON’T want. It’s exactly what CONSERVATIVES don’t want.

However, the financial situation may not be as dire as it looks from this one example. Yes, some parts of the franchise, like the tours, may close. Financial statements for Sesame Workshop indicate it will probably continue to operate, even with more limited government funding, because it gets a minority of its funding from the government now. However, it may indeed have to cut more jobs and some aspects of programming; there’s no guarantee that won’t happen even if it gets a larger portion of its funding from its parent non-profit. Here’s an article from Slate about the PBS financial situation in 2012, with historical accounts of previous tough times. Here’s the New York Times take on the same issue, with the key note that loss in state funding for local stations is a large (and largely ignored) issue.

Financial statements for 2016 for PBS are not yet available, but several previous years’ financial statements are. It would take an accountant to read those statements properly, but the for-profit subsidiaries of PBS were paying 200+K and 300+K in corporate taxes respectively. That indicates they were probably turning a small profit in those years. However, I’m not sure such profits could cover Sesame Workshop’s potential losses.

Suspect #1:

Name: Calcifer Age: 1 and ½ Occupation: Professional Gatekeeper Hobbies: Meowing to leave the bedroom when the door is closed, then meowing to get back in exactly 30 seconds later; sticking his paw in my food when I’m not pay attention; ignoring the toys we buy him and playing with dish towels instead; Napping. Motivation: None. He generally stays in his lane and behaves well.

Suspect #2:

Name: Oliver Age: 1 Occupation: Professional Attention Seeker Hobbies:  Laying on my chest while I play video games and demanding attention; eating Greek yogurt; playing with cotton balls; hiding in boxes. Motivation: Likes to hide near the game consoles because they get warm.

Suspect #3:

Name: Banjo Age: 8 Months Occupation: Professional Butt Hobbies:  Eating cat poo when no one is paying attention; eating underwear; being a Good Boy™ when treats are involved; being a sinvergüenza; giving lots of love to everyone he meets. Motivation: Likes to stick his nose in places where it doesn’t belong.  Deductions: The Xbox One on button has drool marks all over it, very reminiscent of a certain puppers’ antics… Conclusion: Banjo has been licking the on button on the Xbox One because he likes the sound it makes when it turns on. BOOK HIM, BOYS!

Botany might seem like an unlikely inspiration for lighting, but for industrial designer Mariana Folberg, it makes sense. She has a series of plant lamps, which combine contemporary lighting with the beauty of green flora.