I truly cannot believe that TV is such a central part of American mainstream culture. OK, so I let my kid watch two hours of unadulterated blotto on Saturday morning. I did too when I was little. Speed Racer, Ultraman...

But when I was home last time my infant son was sick, I had a TV choice between regular evening network stuff and a PBS special on the history of domes in architecture. Who knew domes were so interesting?! I was glued the whole time.

But I will never, ever, ever, get cable.