Advertising diatribe

[hixon]

holly.lisle@sff.net wrote:
>
 
SNIP

> Absolutely disgusting.  For a number of years, I didn't have a
> television in the house -- I got rid of it when I moved out on my own
> after my ex and I separated, when I decided that spending what little
> time I had with my kids due to the joint custody arrangement would
> be better spent _with_ them, and not seated in front of the TV.
> 
> Frankly, most times now I would be happy to have the thing gone.
> (Matt will give me a hard look over that, this being the midst of the
> race for the Stanley Cup.)  But the presence of television in our lives
> has not improved our lives.  And it insidious aspects are frightening.

Oh, come now, Holly - television is not such a terrible thing. It is a
tool like a knife is a tool. You can use a knife to cut your food, or
you can use it to stab someone, dead or otherwise. 

Being alone most of the time - and especially before getting on the
Internet - television has often been a sanity saver. Besides, the PBS
broadcasts take me places that would never be seen without it, like
Antartica. It as numberous shows that teach me about animals, geology (a
particular favorite of mine), astronomy, history, and so much more. 

There are marvelous films with great actors and actresses that would
cost a fortune to see on a stage - even if we lived near one of the
great playhouses. With my VCR it is possible for me to view any of my
more than 300 videos depending on my mood, whether it be Chitty-Chitty
Bang-Bang -- Masada -- Jumanji -- The King And I -- or any of the
numberous really good movies from the past. Have a lot of old films -
especially musicals - that are real mood lifters. 

While there aren't the really black depths any more with my change of
life long since over, and the St. John's Wort that is taken every
morning -- still from time to time things get lost and lonely around
here and television, especially in tandem with my VCR, is a big release.
The same release really that one gets from books.  

Seems to me that television is just a big book you don't hold.

Celia

-- 
Author/Publisher of the CD-ROM book: ANIMAL-DRAFTED VEHICLES. For 
ordering information, Email hixon@empirenet.com

Visit the Merry Manyr at http://www.empirenet.com/~hixon/