SpongeBob to the Rescue

Who said kids didn't learn anything watching television?

Five-year-old Andrew Gentile can't recall much of what happened to him on Saturday, but he remembers this: "I was drowning."

His neighbor Reese Ronceray, 8, learned how to swim at Centenary College, and more importantly, learned to save a drowning boy's life by watching "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Gentile and Ronceray were attending a private party for families of students on school bus driver John Hey's route to the Benedict A. Cucinella School. Hey befriended the late Jack Borgenicht years ago, and his widow, Fran Borgenicht, allows the families to go fishing and swim in the big manmade lake on the Borgenicht property. About 40 families were there Saturday.

Shirley Gentile, during an interview at the Ronceray house Wednesday, said she thought the water was shallow where she allowed Andrew to enter the water to get to shore, only six feet away.

Andrew Gentile struggled, though, because the lake was six feet deep there, and his feet couldn't touch bottom. He splashed and struggled, prompting his mother to jump in, but she too couldn't feel the lake's floor and panicked.

Reese Ronceray, who was on shore, didn't hesitate when he saw the drowning boy.

"I just saw and then I just knew how to react, I jumped in," said Ronceray, who swam the short distance and grabbed Andrew, mimicking something he had seen on an episode of the cartoon show.

"The hardest part was when we both went under, getting us back up to the surface," Ronceray said as he sat next to Andrew in the Ronceray home. The families live four doors apart on Arrow Head Drive.

Anne Ronceray, Reese's mom, also saw what was happening.

"The next thing, Reese comes back up, he had (Andrew's) head in his arms, and he swam back to shore with him," Anne Ronceray said.

Amazing an 8-year-old pulled them both up.

This isn't the first time SpongeBob has been a lifesaver.

Now They've Gone Too Far

The human rights abuses, the Communist dictatorship, the tainted products, we've all got our problem with China. Now they're inflicting punishment on their own kids.

China will extend its ban on foreign cartoons to protect its own fledgling cartoon industry, the country's media watchdog said today.

SpongeBob SquarePants, Mickey Mouse and Pokemon are among those to be banned on all cartoon and children's channels during "the golden hours" of 5pm to 9pm.

The new regulations, which take effect from May 1, extend restrictions imposed in August 2006 that prevent foreign cartoons being screened at certain times.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said in a statement that the measures would help "create a favourable environment for the domestic cartoon industry".

Only domestic cartoons approved by the regulator will be allowed. Any co-produced by Chinese and foreign collaborators will need official approval.

Television stations will be required to observe a daily broadcast ratio between Chinese-made and foreign cartoons, and must increase funding to buy and develop local cartoons.

Foreign cartoons, especially from Japan, are increasingly popular with Chinese children. China has in turn promoted its own children's programming, including cartoons adapted from ancient Chinese stories.

The authorities have stepped up other efforts to control popular culture, banning sexually suggestive audio and video products as well as films containing horror or supernatural elements.