Actually, I got to the living room just fine. It was lunch time, and I turned on the TV to Eurosport (yes, I got cable). I started flipping through the channels, and lo and behold… There I came upon ESPN! And… ESPN America! Now, American administrations may have made a mess of foreign policy since the ‘liberation’ of Europe, but when it comes to ESPN, the entertainment value is fantastic: complete with eye soothing graphics, deep melodic broadcast voices, clean, manicured presenters with ultra-white teeth, camera hamming eyes, and well-studied smiles. You might say, “crikey, it is all make believe.” That may be so. But this is the show business, and a fine make believe it is – top notch entertainment indeed. Don’t know how long I will have ESPN for, but I am sure to make it count.

I have often wondered how the Americans have managed to be so successful at TV. I think the colour gamut of NTSC is slightly different. Something one might notice when applying broadcast-safe colours for example. They have got show business figured out. TV, and… the easy-chairs and couches with built-in fridges, or easy chairs, which actually help you get up! Yes, these strange inventions do exist.