The pedantic gasbag who is Al Gore gave a speech today. I read the whole transcript so you didn't have to. It went like this (and I'm only filling in between the lines the tiniest bit, OK?): Americans are uninformed, verging on stupid; they watch too much TV. Especially celebrity-oriented news and shows. TV is a really serious threat to democracy, and causes us to be insufficiently sensitive to global warming, Bush's heinous rationale for the Iraq War, and conservative talk radio. The Internet, on the other hand, is good. But there is a grave threat to The Internet: the same evil conglomerates that control television programming, and that have dumbed-down TV news will try to buy up Internet service provider companies, making it difficult for you to access Al Gore's spiffy network called "Current TV," featuring lots of 20-something viewer-generated videos with cool music in the background, that can viewed online. The imposition of barriers such as this would be truly tragic, on the order of too many people watching the O.J. car chase.

In short, the future portends a great and lasting darkness for the American People, unless we beat back the evil large entertainment companies that engender mental sloth and inattention to oligopolies, and seek to control our online access to information. These businesses, of course would not include the satellite TV company DirecTV, or Time-Warner's digital-cable unit, which both provide Gore's "Currrent TV" to subscribers.

Rosenblog's reaction? Well, since you asked: Albert, Albert, Albert. You say "corporate mind control," I say "individual choice." And enough with the long speeches, huh? I'm drumming my fingers dude. We all know you've read a lot of books, but....sheesh. You were hoping for a "pod" segment about your speech on Current TV, perhaps? Too much naked text doth a snooze make. Instead, start a blog, and for gosh sakes, weave in some links, and pix. Like this guy, maybe you know him. And, finally, by ALL means Al, listen to that groundswell and get IN, baby, for '08.

TECHNORATI TAGS: AL GORE, TELEVISION, INTERNET

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Posted by Matt Rosenberg at October 5, 2005 06:14 PM