Contact Me
Monday, April 21, 2008
Entertainment?
Thomas of Living Next Door to Alice has alerted us that this week is TV Turnoff Week.
I was raised watching television. My dad owned a television and radio store/repair shop. I spent many hours during after-school time and summers in front of big, mahogany console televisions that were waiting to be adopted by loving families. We were the first on our block to own a color television. (And to anyone under 30, yes we did have indoor plumbing.)
Now, the only television in this house is a hand-me-down (or hand-me-up? over?) from my 29 year-old daughter. She gave it to us because the remote no longer worked. We don't care. We only turn it on when we want to watch videos a few times a month. It's a dinky little TV, but it works pretty well.
Most likely, the television in this house wouldn't get turned on this week anyway.
But back to TV Turnoff Week, I think it's a good idea to bring awareness to the fact that there are many things to do besides watching TV. Maybe a family who participates in this exercise will spend the week doing something together. Or they might read some books. Or have a CONVERSATION!
If I were king, I'd outlaw all television and decree every weekend and every Wednesday to be Computer Turnoff Days. Maybe then, all the people in the land would go outside and interact with each other and the rest of the life on the planet.
This is some kind of pelican, I assume. An inland pelican? A migrating pelican? They were hanging out at the lake near my house. What are those black things on their beaks? Cellphones, maybe?
Grape Hyacinth
I was raised watching television. My dad owned a television and radio store/repair shop. I spent many hours during after-school time and summers in front of big, mahogany console televisions that were waiting to be adopted by loving families. We were the first on our block to own a color television. (And to anyone under 30, yes we did have indoor plumbing.)
Now, the only television in this house is a hand-me-down (or hand-me-up? over?) from my 29 year-old daughter. She gave it to us because the remote no longer worked. We don't care. We only turn it on when we want to watch videos a few times a month. It's a dinky little TV, but it works pretty well.
Most likely, the television in this house wouldn't get turned on this week anyway.
But back to TV Turnoff Week, I think it's a good idea to bring awareness to the fact that there are many things to do besides watching TV. Maybe a family who participates in this exercise will spend the week doing something together. Or they might read some books. Or have a CONVERSATION!
If I were king, I'd outlaw all television and decree every weekend and every Wednesday to be Computer Turnoff Days. Maybe then, all the people in the land would go outside and interact with each other and the rest of the life on the planet.
This is some kind of pelican, I assume. An inland pelican? A migrating pelican? They were hanging out at the lake near my house. What are those black things on their beaks? Cellphones, maybe?
A tulip for TT. For tiptoeing through.
Grape Hyacinth Labels: computers, photography, television
posted by Carol at 11:06 AM
8 Comments:
Strangely, although not remembering Thomas’ plea, I yet to watch TV this week. Well, except for the DVD of the film Gettysburg that I have begun watching with Vaughn.
My family was the very last family I knew that got a color television set. We had an old black-and-white one that just wouldn't quit, and my parents wouldn't buy a new one when we had an old one that worked just fine. I think it was 1980 when we finally got one.
I remember being amazed at seeing movies and television shows in color.
I think the big problem with television sets is the commercials. Twenty minutes of every hour preaches the gospel of materialism: "You aren't good enough, but if you buy our product you will be!" I think that poisons our whole culture.
Thomaslb:
It's amazing that the vast majority of adult Americans would agree with your statement about the commercials poisoning our minds, and yet we all let it continue as if we were powerless, which I guess we are. I would think a clinical psychologist (which I am not) would have to classify this behavior as an addiction.
-Michael
Nick,
I just read about the Gettysburg film. OVER FOUR HOURS!!!
I'm not the biggest history (or war) buff, so not sure I could make it through that.
Thomas,
If we wouldn't have owned the store, we wouldn't have had a color television for years, either. My parents are still using things they got for their wedding 57 1/2 years ago.
I agree with you that the commercials poison our culture - and many of the shows do, also!
Michael,
Hmmm... I guess you weren't addressing me. Oh well, it's my blog. ;-)
I wonder... if no one ever watched the commercials, where would corporations start putting those messages? They already have magazines, the internet, the radio, newspapers, etc., etc. saturated. Because we live in a consumer culture, they have to spew everywhere.
I've had this song in my head ever since I read this post:
Blow up your TV throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try an find Jesus on your own
~ John Prine
P.S. ~ About Ted Turner's Gettysburg: it was originally a mini-series on TBS. I've never viewed it in one sitting.
The book from which it was made, "Killer Angels," is fabulous. Besides the historical events that it covers rather well, there is a wonderful story line and some outstanding scenes, including the dialogue from which the book gets its name.
Less TV! More grape hyacinths! More tulips! More pelicans!
Great song, Nick. I had never heard it. I don't know if I can go to the country and build me a home, but the rest sounds like a good idea. Especially the peaches...
Here he is, singing it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Ni6_mxAXI
I may have to check out Gettysburg - while eating peaches this summer.
San,
YES!
Post a Comment
<< Home