There are a lot of things I could post about this morning: lauren_myracle's photo-riffic description of this weekend's tropical hijinx (including a rather embarrassing picture of yours truly), or the fact that Obama is finally, and awesomely, hitting back against McCain (money quote: "It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant.")

I could discuss American Teen, the Breakfast Club-style documentary I saw last night which was okay but (and I know you won't believe me on this) not nearly as interesting or incisive a commentary on high school life as MTV's The Paper.

I could point you to this very cool test to see if you have synethsia (which it turns out is a much less rare condition than everyone assumed, and you might not even know you have it), or we could discuss the fact that Joss Whedon's newest show is starting to sound as doomed as Firefly. (And while we're at it, why isn't there any buzz about JJ Abrams' Fringe, starring the ever delightful Joshua Jackson?)

We could, of course, always discuss Neil Patrick Harris.

But today, I choose to relay to you this sad news: PBS is cancelling Mr. Rogers. (Yes, arguably the universe cancelled Mr. Rogers back in 2003, but even after his death, the show has been airing in reruns.) What do you think? Is this an outdated show that holds no appeal to today's children and -- unlike Sesame Street -- can no longer adjust to fit wtih the times? Is it a piece of our own childhood that, out of misguided nostalgia, we're all determined to cram down the next generation's throats? Or is Mr. Rogers the only sane man in an insane world, giving our children the fundamental building blocks they need on issues like personal responsibility, lying, and cardigan sweaters?

Personally, Mr. Rogers himself always bored me, but ahhh...how I loved the Land of Make Believe.

Because I automatically assume that all culture from my childhood is superior to anything created after 1990 (and yes, I understand the irony here, given that I myself have become a post-90s culture-creator), it's hard for me to be objective on this one. I'm willing to accept that maybe Mr. Rogers and Mr. McFeely's time has passed. (Seriously, McFeely? Who's his boss down at the post office, Mo Lester?)  Still, it seems like a sad moment of passing.

Moment of silence . . .

. . .

Now, two questions:
1. Which show of your childhood do you wish could run forever in syndication?

2. Does anyone remember the opera episode of Mr. Rogers, which featured characters like Fork and Spoon, singing about how evil Mr. Knife was? Because this one's printed indelibly on my brain, yet I've never found anyone else who actually remembers it, and am beginning to think I'm insane.