So Paris Hilton finally will pay her debt to society, eh? And as she weeps and cries out for her mother and shouting, "It's not right!" like all good addicts, we just keep on watching. Some wept for her, some cheered as she was led away in handcuffs, and some tried to tie themselves to the story's coattails for some free publicity.

Over on Digg.com, someone criticized Rev. Al Sharpton who said the only reason she got out the first time was becuase she was white. He left out "rich, pretty and blond." Others wrote, "He may be a racist, but that doesn't mean he's wrong." (Someone else commented, "Umm. OJ?")

In this HDTV age, we cannot tear ourselves away from the glowing box that lives in practically every room in our house, feeding us with image after image of Paris and her ilk partying, drinking, and having sex. It's like we have nothing else to entertain ourselves. It's like there is nothing and no one outside the walls of our home that we can enjoy. Is it any wonder that we often don't know our neighbors? We're all inside watching Paris do something. Is it any wonder we don't write letters anymore? We might miss something on TV either when we write the letter or when we read the letter. The TV is a part of our family. It babysits the kids, and lulls the parents to sleep late at night. We would rather watch TV than complain about the erosion of our rights and liberties. We might miss Letterman's Top Ten List!

The only bad thing about Paris going to jail for 45 days, is the daily live update on how she's filling her time.

Fortress Amerikkka - Day 388

Immigration reform (aka "Keeping the Brown Skins Out!") suffered a blow yesterday when the Senate defeated a provision requiring that be Border Fence, henceforth known as The Great Wall Against Meskins, be in place before illegal immigrants could seek legalization or a temporary worker program. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison said that she believed the Border Patrol was a better judge of exactly where The Great Wall Against Meskins should be built, not the Senate.

At the same time, Congress failed to realize that the threat to Americans holding high paying jobs isn't Beaners, but Canadians! They are the ones taking multi-million dollar jobs from hard working Americans, not less than minimum wage jobs from teenagers. And the latest minimum wage is already depressing the unskilled and entry level job market.

Are you a certified asshole? Take this test to find out. I'm an 8. I may be an insensitive clod, but I don't think I'm an asshole.

While I don't begrudge tv stations from making money, I am beginning to wonder what business they are in exactly. Last night I watched the new Larry the Cable Guy special in snippets between commercials on the Comedy Channel. Larry made four jokes then BOOM! Cut to a 5 minute commercial block. Then four jokes and a four minute commercial block.

Over on the Discovery Channel, there is a commercial break every eight minutes: 8 minutes after the hour, 16 minutes after the hour, 24 minutes after the hour, 32 minutes after the hour, 40 minutes after the hour, and 48 minutes after the hour. And, they run the closing credits over the last few minutes of every show so they can squeeze in one more commercial.

Back in the 60s, the original Star Trek ran about 50 minutes. in the 80s, TNG ran about 40 minutes. And the networks are trying to get Tivo to fix that nasty commercial skipping thing.

And the commercials themselves are sending mixed messages. Right after a credit card commercial there's a commercial for a debt consultant, then a Ditech commercial. Or there's a soda or snack commercial followed by Kirstie Alley or a former Miami Dolphin hawking Jenny Craig diet meals.

Is it any wonder I can't save money?