LISNews: Librarian News

Canadian-born actor James Doohan has died at the age of 85. Mr. Doohan is best known for his work on the United States television program Star Trek.
Born in Vancouver in March 1920, Doohan was raised in Sarnia, Ontario. Mr. Doohan was a member of Royal Canadian Artillery and participated in the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach. During the battle he was wounded six times and lost his middle right finger. Doohan remained in the military, trained as a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and flew an artillery observation plane.

After the Second World War, Doohan became an actor, beginning on radio dramas in 1946. In 1966 he was cast as Montgomery Scott chief engineer aboard the fictional USS Enterprise. It was a role that stuck with Mr. Doohan through the rest of his career. Mr Doohan was awarded an honorary doctorate in Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering for inspiring countless students into the engineering and science fields.

Mr. Doohan is survived by his wife of 28 years, Wende. A BBC tribute page, where users can submit thoughts and reminisces about the actor can be found here.

lislemck writes "Andrew Taylor and the AP via SignOn San Diego sez House rescinds proposed cut in federal support of public broadcasting. This covers funding for both the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as well as National Public Radio. Yeah! More DVDs to circulate (library slant)--plus quality programming for the kiddies."

TV Turn-Off Week is here (April 25-May 1, concurrent with Saving And
Investing Education Week in the State of Ohio) and with it, suggestions for celebrations in its honor...check out the website .

mdoneil writes "The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is now dominated by Bush appointees. The CPB was created by congress in 1967. As a quango it is to act as a buffer between government authorities and broadcasters. For the first time the CPB has appointed monitors (2 veteran journalists) to screen content for bias.

PBS is all worked up over this and is calling it a potential violation of the First Amendment. Is this more liberal whinging? We report, you decide!

More can be found here.

N.B As I type this I am watching Tele-tubbies which is much better than the Stepfordp-like medicated tots on Barney."