Even NPR is running ’em out the door now. John McChesney and Ketzel Levine are among the 7 percent of staff to be unplugged, along with the shows “Day to Day” and “News and Notes,” as the public broadcaster tries to erase a projected budget shortfall of $23 million for this fiscal year.
“Companywide, NPR is laying off 64 people and eliminating 21 other positions that are currently vacant,” writes David Folkenflik.
The culprit, says NPR? Same sumbitch that nailed the rest of us in the wallet pocket — the Wall Street meltdown, which croaked interest payments from an endowment created from the bequest of the late Joan Kroc, which has typically paid NPR about $10 million a year.
Like the man said, a million here, a million there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.
Late update: That would be a billion here, etc., as Bruce has reminded me. Everett Dirksen. They told me that stuff would damage my brain, but did I listen? Nooooo.
Later update: Almost forgot to wish a happy birthday to one of my favorite authors, poet and novelist Jim Harrison. I was reminded by Garrison Keillor’s “Writer’s Almanac” on NPR. Harrison mentions NPR now and again in his latest novel, “The English Major,” which the critics love more than I do. But then what the hell do I know? I met Harrison once, briefly, following a reading at The Colorado College, and asked him to sign a copy of “Warlock.” He complied, somewhat grouchily, I thought; later I discovered he hated that novel, which he apparently whipped out at speed for money. I loved it. It seems unlikely that I will be invited to visit Montana for a week of fly-fishing with Harrison and Thomas McGuane anytime soon.
Mad Blog Media 
Patrick, Don’t sell our economy short, it was Everett Dirkson who said, “A billion here and a billion there, and soon you’re talking about real money.”
A billion, man, a billion. A mere million is but pocket change today.
Isn’t Ketzel the one who does stories about folks who change careers late in life? God has one fooked up sense of humor.