there are times when I am reminded of something
radio star Fred Allen once said, after the new medium
of Television had eclipsed Radio and pretty much
ended his career,

Television is the triumph of machine over people.

last night was one of those times, as an audience of
more than 100 million viewers, including me, watched
Super Bowl XLII

we sat in front of the TV for 4 hours, watching the
New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots

and we also sat there mesmerized as corporations
were spending $90,000 per second to entice us with
their cars, soft drinks, breath fresheners, intimate
apparel, nuts, beer and, of course, more TV shows

sitting before the TV at this time and in this way
is a yearly ritual that is part of our culture and an
important part of our national identity

sitting and watching; and knowing that as we did so
countless others we doing the same -

friends, enemies, co-workers, in laws, out laws,
ex-lovers and our "leaders"

Super Bowl Sunday, is a special time -

a time when, if only for a brief moment, we know the
identity of our True Leader,