Uploaded October 2016 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
This is one reason we can't let Congress kill the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Ride along on a video trip to install a generator for Navajo Public Radio. The CPB bought this generator. (well they made it possible) Dennis and Sam installed it. I just rode along.
It seems everyone who screams "defund the CPB!" thinks that doing so will put NPR and PBS out of business. It will not. But what it will do is kill a huge number of rural, Tribal, African-American and Latino non-commercial stations. These stations serve listeners in communities that often do not have other news and media options. They may be in remote areas of the country like KGHR Navajo Public Radio or KUYI Hopi Public Radio. In rural areas of the country like this, these stations serve as a 911, emergency services, the Town Hall or Community Civic Center. Due to unavailable or unreliable internet service, they may be the only source of local news and information.
Call Congress at 202-224-3121 and tell them to defend Public Radio and Public Television. Tell them to defend the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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I LOVE my job! I rode more than 20 miles in bed of this 4-wheel drive pickup truck (each way) on the Navajo Nation for the installation of KGHR Navajo Public Radio’s backup generator. Our "legendary" engineer Dennis Gilliam and trusted teammate (driver) Sam, told me I couldn't come along because they didn't have room for me. I objected. I said "I'll ride in the back." I can not miss this moment. Dennis explained he was terrified they'd kill me. (Dennis never actually uses a word like "terrified.") I reinforced that I'm a "farm boy" that was steering trucks at six years old and combines at 8. I think I can handle a ride in the bed of a truck. My safety is my own concern. Sam decided to test me a little on this Navajo Nation road. It would have been smarter if I held on with both hands instead of shooting 360° video with one of them. But where's the fun in that!?!
00:00:00 Opening Titles (look up in the sky) while speeding through the Desert
00:01:54 Jim feels like Slim Pickens in "Dr. Strangelove" driving over a very rough sandstone formation that is part of the road)
00:02:12 Jim explains the generator installation for KGHR.
00:05:10 Extremely rough section of road. It is followed by driving through deep sand.
00:08:08 Meet our legendary engineer Dennis Gilliam. The last patch of road was so rough that Dennis gets out and check the trailer hitch.
00:09:00 Driving through a patch of washed out road. The truck and generator are shaking and wobbling badly.
00:11:25 Very bad patch of what passes for a road.
00:12:15 Jim explains that we we are on the Navajo Nation and can see Navajo Mountain and Utah from here.
00:14:20 Jim points out the unreliable power line running over our head.
00:14:50 Jim points out that we are near Preston Mesa where we are installing this generator.
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Jim Anderson Photograpy, 2017
GoalBusters Consulting, LLC
This is one reason we can't let Congress kill the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Ride along on a video trip to install a generator for Navajo Public Radio. The CPB bought this generator. (well they made it possible) Dennis and Sam installed it. I just rode along.
It seems everyone who screams "defund the CPB!" thinks that doing so will put NPR and PBS out of business. It will not. But what it will do is kill a huge number of rural, Tribal, African-American and Latino non-commercial stations. These stations serve listeners in communities that often do not have other news and media options. They may be in remote areas of the country like KGHR Navajo Public Radio or KUYI Hopi Public Radio. In rural areas of the country like this, these stations serve as a 911, emergency services, the Town Hall or Community Civic Center. Due to unavailable or unreliable internet service, they may be the only source of local news and information.
Call Congress at 202-224-3121 and tell them to defend Public Radio and Public Television. Tell them to defend the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
-----
I LOVE my job! I rode more than 20 miles in bed of this 4-wheel drive pickup truck (each way) on the Navajo Nation for the installation of KGHR Navajo Public Radio’s backup generator. Our "legendary" engineer Dennis Gilliam and trusted teammate (driver) Sam, told me I couldn't come along because they didn't have room for me. I objected. I said "I'll ride in the back." I can not miss this moment. Dennis explained he was terrified they'd kill me. (Dennis never actually uses a word like "terrified.") I reinforced that I'm a "farm boy" that was steering trucks at six years old and combines at 8. I think I can handle a ride in the bed of a truck. My safety is my own concern. Sam decided to test me a little on this Navajo Nation road. It would have been smarter if I held on with both hands instead of shooting 360° video with one of them. But where's the fun in that!?!
00:00:00 Opening Titles (look up in the sky) while speeding through the Desert
00:01:54 Jim feels like Slim Pickens in "Dr. Strangelove" driving over a very rough sandstone formation that is part of the road)
00:02:12 Jim explains the generator installation for KGHR.
00:05:10 Extremely rough section of road. It is followed by driving through deep sand.
00:08:08 Meet our legendary engineer Dennis Gilliam. The last patch of road was so rough that Dennis gets out and check the trailer hitch.
00:09:00 Driving through a patch of washed out road. The truck and generator are shaking and wobbling badly.
00:11:25 Very bad patch of what passes for a road.
00:12:15 Jim explains that we we are on the Navajo Nation and can see Navajo Mountain and Utah from here.
00:14:20 Jim points out the unreliable power line running over our head.
00:14:50 Jim points out that we are near Preston Mesa where we are installing this generator.
-----
Jim Anderson Photograpy, 2017
GoalBusters Consulting, LLC
