That's what we're going to discuss in my next entry. It's not a fun one to write, and will take me some time to do so. In the meantime, check out this thought-provoking blog entry: http://bgfirstchurch.com/blogs/wp-trackback.php?p=10

in my disdain for television commercials. Read this from Free Republic:

These days, even television commercials are suspect and filled with innuendo.

This was a couple of years ago, but we were letting our kids watch some old Tom & Jerry cartoons (which is a rare event for our kids). I happened to walk through the room during a commercial and saw Ellen Degeneres' mother talking about how everybody needs to accept people for who they are, including homosexuals. Since then our kids are not allowed to watch commercials during the rare times they get to watch television.

We want our children to remain children as long as possible, and when they're old enough we'll teach them some folks are confused about their sexuality, and that there is another way out... I Do Exist.

Meanwhile, on the home front, the kiddo is still sicko...now mama is too, and superdad just called to say his throat feels all scratchy. Great.

I hate that we had to miss church today, but the kiddo and I both had a fever and didn't really care to share what we have with our church family. I wish whoever gave this to us had shown the same compassion. I know people feel as though they simply have to get out and do things - even when they're sick, but all it does is spread the joy. I know there are a lot of times you're contagious and don't know it. But if you know you're sick, stay home for Pete's sake!

is going on over at Free Republic that was picked up from Little Green Footballs
Seems that Reuters has published some pictures that have been doctored with Photoshop. And I might add as a graphic designer - poorly. Can you spot the doctored areas?



Yeah, I thought you could.

my teeth are actually numb. I could have a root canal right now - here in the comfort of my own home. The youngster is sick. Not "sleep all day and wake up long enough to drink a little soup" sick, but "lay on the couch and ask for a hundred different things, cough, moan occasionally and watch movies Mom hates" sick. He's currently watching "The Never Ending Story." I don't know why that movie bores me so, but it does. Thus the painless bicuspids.

I think  my real problem is probably not with the movie...it's the television I really hate. What we probably have here is a classic case of transference. Television used to be a fun diversion when it was too dark, wet or cold to play outside. Now I can hardly walk into the house with the kiddo before he lunges for the remote and begins waving it toward the satellite receiver  with a gusto that makes Errol Flynn look like a pencil pusher. Or I get to personally rain on his parade when he wants to watch Power Rangers. For the 3rd time. That day. Because Daddy lets him. grrrrr

Before you think ill of me, let me just establish that I do not park my child in front of the electronic babysitter and blog all night. Hey wait...uh....seriously! This is the most time I've taken for myself in several days! (Bathroom visits don't count do they? 'Cause if they do, I've already got a seat. I'll just have to move in a small desk for the computer. Wait a minute. You didn't read that.)

So moving right along, I don't park the kiddo in front of the tube. For one thing, it's unhealthy - even if you watch "Miss Goody and Mr Two Shoes Volunteer at the Nursing Home" all day. For another thing, the content is enough to make Mae West blush. And if you don't believe me, you've not watched anything since Uncle Milty walked on the sides of his shoes. Today there's an all you can eat buffet of political correctness, murder, mayhem, sexual escapades and scandals. And that's just on the evening news! You should see the ....

"What, the shows?" you ask? No. Try watching the COMMERCIALS. Yup, that's right. And I'm not being so puritan as to be irritated by advertising for < ahem > women's products or toilet paper. I'm not even talking about the horrors of sitting through Fox's nighttime programming to hear, 

"Head On! Apply directly to the forehead!"

thirty times in a row.  Argh!  We're talking downright racy, explicit commercials. Does anyone really care that "Bob" has a new "swelling of pride"?

But wait, there's more! We parents go to the trouble to avoid watching certain shows or channels because we know the content is likely to be objectionable to us. So we're sitting there with our popcorn and coke watching Cosby only to be regaled with 30 second spots for qu**r eye for the straight guy, bob and his giant genitalia and Girls Gone Wild 20 - now with 14 seconds of added footage!

So I have a proposition. As you know, television shows are all rated now. What I suggest is simple. Rate commercials as well. Then you simply match ratings. An adult rated commercial would be prohibited from running during a U7 or similarly rated show. I think it would be a great thing to do just as a rule, but it could also be a programming choice offered by the cable or satellite company. I know they have locks available now, but those do NOT make me feel better about explaining what a "qu**r" is to my 7-year-old because of a 30 second commercial aired during a G rated movie. Nor do they help when said 7-year-old figures out the code I've used. But that's a different story for a different day. When I calm down. At his high school graduation, perhaps. Who told him he could be so stinkin' smart anyway?

Oh lookie. There is a "Neverending Story part 2" I suppose the whole "Neverending" thing should have clued me in, huh. One good thing about being sick...Mama gets to cuddle and rock her "baby" again. Bye folks...I'm off to bigger and better things.

See ya when he's asleep....