Fiction Daily.
A blog on writing, writers and why we read. Posted most mornings by Marion Blackburn. www.marionblackburn.net
ACC tournament
It's time for the ACC basketball tournament and I'm embarrassed to say I will be watching the games, back-to-back, until I fall off the couch or stop breathing.

Every spring I am mortified by my ability to watch the tube this way and by the end of the NCAA tournament, feel fairly brainwashed by the commercials.

Advertising is mind-numbing, brainwashing ... no doubt about it. When I lived in Prague, Czech Republic, there was little or no advertising. This was just after the end of Communism and there was no consumer-consumption-advertising machine on the prowl for hearts and minds.

When I returned to America after two years, I was a different person, able to focus and concentrate and utterly indifferent to pop culture, materialism and consumer tastes.

How the mighty fall, I must say.

Today I can hang with the best of the TV watchers ... through countless dumb beer ads, phone and car ads, even the fast-food. I see how it infects our thinking, too. How many times have I been sitting in front of the TV when I got a sudden urge for ice cream or chips?

I digress.

Despite the poisonous commercials, there's nothing like basketball this time of year. At least the commercial breaks are predictable and timed, no more than the regulation time-outs called by coaches or umpires. And at some point, the breaks will serve a purpose ... when I need to take one of the dogs outside, feed the cats, fix someone's bedding, clean up a hairball or fix myself some Lotus Tea.

As long as I don't miss tip-off.
2008-03-13 12:25:34 GMT
Comments (2 total)
Author:Anonymous
Uh-oh ... Will the ACC tournament be over by Saturday?
--Gene-o
<mailto:eugene_downs@hotmail.com>
2008-03-14 11:01:54 GMT
Author:Anonymous
Gene ... it is a testament to the depth of our feelings for you guys that the tournament will be DEAD to us while you are here. MB
--MB
2008-03-14 11:28:56 GMT
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