"Are you not entertained?"

Well, at least now we know what it takes to get hundreds of thousands of people to call the government:

Nearly 700,000 calls were received by a federal hot line this week from people confused about the nationwide switch from analog to digital TV broadcasts that occurred Friday.

The Federal Communications Commission said Saturday that about 317,450 calls went into the help line, 1-888-CALL-FCC, on Friday alone, the day analog signals were cut off.

About a third of the calls were about federal coupons to pay for digital converter boxes, an indication that at least 100,000 people still didn't have the right equipment to receive digital signals.

The 'weapons of mass distraction' are apparently highly addictive, as well. I suppose our governing philosophy can officially be said to have shifted from "We hold these truths" to "I want my MTV." I haven't bothered to check the numbers, but I suspect more people voted in the American Idol competition than in their local or state elections. I'd also bet good money more people could name those eliminated in early Idol rounds than could name half the primary candidates for President last year.

Bread. Circuses. Empire. The wheel turns yet again.

(Here's the deal: I'll quit referencing Gladiator when it quits being relevant...)