PBS lists Virginia State Capitol as #1 of top 10 buildings that changed America

We're number one. We're number one. We're #1!

The Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates had reason to be proud today as he announced that the Virginia State Capitol has been chosen by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) at the top of 10 influential buildings that changed America in the way we live, work, and play. Of course, we Virginians already knew that the architecturally appealing, historic capitol building that echoes with the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Madison, and James Monroe played a big part in the birth of America.

Speaker Howell said it best:

"Virginia's beautiful and historic State Capitol is a source of true pride for all Virginians. The Capitol is an architectural masterpiece, historical treasure and monument to Democracy. Its design has inspired numerous other capitol buildings, including the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. Its history and traditions are rivaled by few other single buildings in America. It is the foundation for modern Democracy and an enduring sign of the strength of our Commonwealth and our nation."

The one-hour show will air next Sunday, May 12, at 10 p.m. EST.

Virginia actually ended up with two buildings in the Top 10 list with the inclusion of Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia.

The list of the Top 10 buildings that changed America:

1. Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, Virginia
2. Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts
3. Wainwright Building, St. Louis, Missouri
4. Robie House, Chicago, Illinois
5. Highland Park Ford Plant, Highland Park, Michigan
6. Southdale Center, Edina, Minnesota
7. Seagram Building, New York City
8. Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia
9. Vana Venturi House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California

The program is hosted by Geoffrey Baer, an Emmy Award-winning producer and program host, best known for his popular feature-length specials about Chicago architecture and history.  The program is written and produced by Dan Protess, who has been creating critically-acclaimed television programs for WTTW in Chicago for more than a decade.

Big Bird, PBS, $$$, and Governor McDonnell

Personally I agree with Governor Bob McDonnell's proposal to cut funds to the Public Broadcasting System and, apparently, Brian Kirwin at Bearing Drift agrees, writing an excellent article in the Daily Press about those who declare Big Bird will disappear from the air waves if taxpayer money is not spent on public television:

But that's the cry you'll hear now that Gov. Bob McDonnell proposed to wean public broadcasters from special privileges and tax money. It's a cry that he should ignore.

He goes on to outline just how irrelevant PBS has become at this time of instant information:

In 1967, perhaps the three networks and a smattering of UHF stations didn't broadcast enough "quality" programming.

If I can scan past the Discovery Channel, the Science Channel, the History Channel, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel, Bravo, the Travel Channel, Arts & Entertainment, American Movie Classics, Food Network, and Home and Garden Television, I might trip over the public broadcasting station.

Public affairs programming? C-SPAN shows live coverage of the House and Senate, and there are enough 24-hour news networks to whet any activist's appetite. The only thing interesting about PBS/NPR's news reports is how different they are from reality.

Today's radio has so much public affairs talk programming that government is trying to find ways to suppress it. Add the growth in digital and satellite radio and the cry for government-funded broadcasting becomes silly.

And if cable and satellite hadn't made PBS irrelevant, the internet has made it virtually obsolete.

Gov. McDonnell gets it. Now wait for the howls of protest from those who will want to remain on the public dole.