Prime Time

     Looking back at some of the things that helped shape my life, television had to be one of them.  I would like to be able to say I learned much of what I know from educational programs flowing through the air and into the one television set in my childhood home but that's not the case.  When I was growing up there were no Public Broadcast Stations.  Remembering those times I guess I was lucky to get the one channel our television received considering we lived about 70 miles from the television station.   As far as redeeming value, cartoons were about the only things I remember.  Later more channels arrived but even then only 3 channels were available for a very long time.  When VHF broadcast came along it added more channels but it seemed to be filled with reruns of shows missed.  Those days in comparison  with today's television broadcast choices of cable and satellite will make any one's head spin in disbelief.
     Growing up I was never glued to the TV.  I spent most of the time ridding bikes, walking to the neighborhood store and playing sports.  I don't ever remember scheduling my day around Leave It To Beaver or Popeye although both of those programs probably had a hand in forming my character.  Today I am a confessed news and information junkie who requires a healthy dose of that format.  A couch potato I've never been that is if you don't count the times I've been too loaded to get off the couch.  During those days of drug infused relaxation, the  truth of the matter is I was probably was not even able to read the numbers on the remote,  so I'm pretty sure you'll never be able to call me a remote control couch potato!
     Television is a wonderful thing, almost unbelievable.  Even today I am still amazed at how it works.  A simple push of a button can change what's in front of your eyes. Hundreds of choices but the redeeming value is about the same today as it was 50 years ago, about as long as your thumb.  Don't get me wrong I will never throw the baby out with the bath water but if you take away news, information and educational programming the rest is all just bath water. Prime Time is  like all bath water it's deluded, not good for much of anything and ready to be poured down the drain.
    I can hear all you Prime Time junkies now "what the hell is he talking about, he must need new batteries for his remote".  No my batteries are just fine but if you don't stop watching Dancing With The Stars and American Idol I'm coming to your house and kicking you off the couch along with pulling the batteries out of your remote.   If you don't like what I write you can change the channel.