I've shuffled my life's problems into two separate packages: those I can make some effort, however feeble, to control and those I can identify but not influence. The latter include global environmental regulations that are necessary to make human life on our planet sustainable, the behavior of political officials to act responsibly for the best interests of their constituency, and making the trains and buses of Portland's Tri-Met operations run on time.
The former category includes maintenance of my mental and physical health, the nurturing of my relationship with friends and relatives and the pursuit of satisfying activities to fill hours not spent sleeping. Television and reading are active players in this last life-plan.
I just just turned off the lights and left the stadium seat in my living room where I was watching a football game. It was mid-way through the 3rd quarter with the LA Rams 9 -- SF 49ers 21. I declare the season over. Advertising fatigue wins. I get it. The Covid-19 virus has shut down live fan viewing in the nation's NFL stadiums with a consequent loss of millions in ticket sales so to support the operation TV advertising has to carry the load. Sorry, coach, I can't play this game.
Rams run three plays, don't make ten yards, punt. Here come the commercials, one after another. Back to live action. Niners make a first down, then run three plays and punt. The commercial train is back. Rams run two series, punt. Car ads. Pills for joint pain. Cute kids throwing food around. On and on.
I can't do it. There is no game flow. Just a tsunami of repeating commercials that have nothing to do with entertainment. Hello, Netflix.
Hey, Joe and Kamala, after you solve global warming, dead economy, racial strife and the Covid 19 epidemic, let those people in America who have enough money left to buy a ticket find their seats in a stadium so TV can look in with their advertising share of the action adjusted back to normal. And find some way to outlaw teams using the prevent defense.
