Screen Time

Oh, for more time before the screen. Any screen: TV, DVD, video, monitor, display. At home, at work; in car, plane, train; on lap; in pocket, hand; eye.

Ah, yes. You can almost feel the blue phosphors tickling your iris, working up a rather aqueous humour; the cathode rays gently massaging your corneas, reaching back relaxation to the retinas; the little light-emitting diodes dancing and gliding like floaters in vitreous.

Then, in time, you might advance in the devotion to passive reception: moving to the thin, healing powers of liquid crystals or to flat-out plasma -- aye, man, good for the blood -- filled as it is with rare and noble gases. Whatever the means of manifestation, it is the demigod phosphoros, the "light bearer" (Lucifer, in vulgar tongue), bringing virtual apparition to this otherwise vacant, lazy pupil.

Think of all the hours you might have wasted in the dull, "real" world: the same 100 million aspects to things we've all seen before: the rose lamp, the mottled conch shell, the Eiffel Tower off its paper-weight base, the paper clips at odds, the dusty stapler, the near-empty cup -- "40 Years & Over The Hill" -- the coiled phone cord, the soccer plaque -- "Dear Leader & Coach for Life" -- the young, smiling faces -- Hornets, Panthers, Pythons, all -- the muted speakers, the demented mouse, and... yes, the screen.

Unless... you were to look up into the light-invaded night and find the morning star at its rising. And, wish upon it? Well, no. Maybe, wonder at it, take it as sign, and strike out as pilgrim. To the Magic Kingdom? Well, no. To do as the magi-kings did -- travelling far, coming upon a bright tableau, with the glittering gifts reflected in the infant eye.

That might be something to see -- an epiphany.

Comments

[Harry]

How vain to quote me, but that's seldom slowed my style.


"We come here almost every day. Mute some arrive; hushed many sit with collective noses aimed at this glowing screen. What prize do we search for? A way out, or a way in? Do we form in this weak line to dodge the commonplace? Or do we seek this diversion to gain meaning for ordinary lives? "


Now I have to insist that the wife use her library skills to find a book copy of "End of the Tether", as these poor eyes and my scroll finger are moaning.

[Remainderman]

Harry --

Quoting oneself is not necessarily vain. I do it often -- much to the chagrin (or indifference) of the other Householders.

Given the insight of the observation, it is more likely an instance of righteousness. After all, a prophet is never accepted in his own land.