During our recent and lengthy discussion about movies, DVD’s and our habits related to viewing such, someone made the point that one of the joys of rewatching movies is the lack of commercial interruption, to which I say, “Amen.”

I don’t want to sound hypocritical, because my livelihood comes basically from newspaper advertising, but commercial breaks on television have become, to put it mildly, extreme.

I had the good fortune to meet a young French family back in 2003, not long after the war in Iraq was begun. As you recall, our respective countries were in something of a snit. It seems the French press had been having as much fun ginning up this animosity as our own. These charming people, from Normandy, almost canceled their vacation plans, fearing they’d be unwelcome here. I’m proud to report that they were pleasantly surprised with their reception in America and delighted with how friendly and helpful everyone was to them. The only negative thing Frederic, the father, had to say about this country was, “The television commercials go on forever!” Alors, c’est vrais.