Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

What a coincidence? Or maybe not. Still, in the week in which we happened to mention Neil Postman's classic indictment of television, Amusing Ourselves to Death, the medium that trivializes everything has gone into frenzy mode with round-the-clock coverage of the new Michael Jackson. Otherwise known as Paris Hilton.

"The world of television ... makes it virtually impossible for individuals to take part in what passes for a national conversation." Neil Postman? No. Al Gore. One is almost inclined to agree with him as he pushes his new book, The Assault on Reason, except this is the same Gore who has been jetting around the world, appearing on TV and lecturing people that it is too late for a "national conversation" on global warming.

But it's an ill wind, and all that. This is bonanza time for Perez Hilton. He's churning out posts like: "Paris Going Back To Jail!!!! Paris' Big Day, Paris Has Arrived! Just Like O.J. Paris Is In The Car!" Yes, it is just like O.J. Knew I had seen it somewhere before. Had, too. On TV, it was.