I stayed up till midnight
and I'm awake as I can be.
My parents said I'd be tired today
but they-- Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
-- James Proimos
Welcome to National TV Turnoff Week-- April 18-24, 2011-- also known as Screen-Free Week. Television Turnoff Week encourages participants to turn off their televisions and to turn onto reading, nature and outdoor activities, sports and games, exploration, imaginative play, and spending time with family and friends. It's a worthwhile celebration. We certainly don't want to wind up like:
Welcome to National TV Turnoff Week-- April 18-24, 2011-- also known as Screen-Free Week. Television Turnoff Week encourages participants to turn off their televisions and to turn onto reading, nature and outdoor activities, sports and games, exploration, imaginative play, and spending time with family and friends. It's a worthwhile celebration. We certainly don't want to wind up like:
Jimmy Jet and His TV Set
And you know what I tell you is true.
He loved to watch his TV set
Almost as much as you.
He watched all day, he watched all night
Till he grew pale and lean,
From "The Early Show" to "The Late Late Show"
And all the shows between.
Till he grew pale and lean,
From "The Early Show" to "The Late Late Show"
And all the shows between.
He watched till his eyes were frozen wide,
And his bottom grew into his chair.
And his chin turned into a tuning dial,
And antennae grew out of his hair.
And his bottom grew into his chair.
And his chin turned into a tuning dial,
And antennae grew out of his hair.
And his brains turned into TV tubes,
And his face to a TV screen.
And two knobs saying "VERT." and "HORIZ."
Grew where his ears had been.
And his face to a TV screen.
And two knobs saying "VERT." and "HORIZ."
Grew where his ears had been.
And he grew a plug that looked like a tailSo we plugged in little Jim.
And now instead of him watching TV
We all sit around and watch him.
-- Shel Silverstein
Philo Farnsworth was a twentieth-century American inventor and electronic television pioneer. Undoubtedly, Mr. Farnsworth would be pleased that we enjoy and appreciate his invention; however, he probably would encourage us to think outside the box, an idiom meaning to think creatively and to look at life from a new perspective.
Channel Changer
We have a billion stations.
Philo Farnsworth was a twentieth-century American inventor and electronic television pioneer. Undoubtedly, Mr. Farnsworth would be pleased that we enjoy and appreciate his invention; however, he probably would encourage us to think outside the box, an idiom meaning to think creatively and to look at life from a new perspective.
Channel Changer
We have cable and of course
a satellite night hookup
with a backup power source.
We have a giant screen TV
with Dolby surround sound.
That darn remote control thing,
though, never can be found.
That's why a Channel Changer
is a pet beyond compare.
He surfs through the commercials
and he never needs repair.His ears are each antennas.
His one eye is open wide.
I never have to walk him
since he hates to go outside.
He doesn't get much exercise
but anyone can tell he
loves to press each button
on his eighty-button belly.
--Richard Michelson
Happy National TV Turnoff Week, Poetry Paraders. Long after this week has passed, when we find ourselves falling back into the habit of channel surfing--when we're hopping and zapping through the hundreds and hundreds of good, bad, and goofy programs available in 2011-- let's not forget to tune into The Poetry Channel. It's number 811 in your LMC!
--Richard Michelson
Happy National TV Turnoff Week, Poetry Paraders. Long after this week has passed, when we find ourselves falling back into the habit of channel surfing--when we're hopping and zapping through the hundreds and hundreds of good, bad, and goofy programs available in 2011-- let's not forget to tune into The Poetry Channel. It's number 811 in your LMC!
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