This blows my mind: Switchover to digital 'needs rethink'. The UK is moving to all-digital TV broadcasting, but not everyone has digital TVs. The language used is astounding:

the Ofcom consumer panel said people who were socially isolated and unlikely to receive help from family and friends risked being left behind when the analogue signal is switched off.

Left behind? What is this, The Rapture?

"We're committed to ensuring that those who need practical assistance in making the switch will get it. Around 6.5m households will be eligible for this assistance, covering the vast majority of those who will have the most difficulty during switchover, namely older and disabled people," a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said.

I've heard of essential public services like healthcare, eldercare and education. I didn't know TV was one too. OK, in the UK it's government-run, but still - the way they talk, you'd think the disabled, old and isolated would go off life-support the minute their TV stopped. It's called picking up a book, people. Maybe if they went out to buy a newspaper, and read it at the local Tesco coffee counter, they wouldn't be socially isolated.

Has capitalism alienated us not just from each other, but from our own thoughts, so that an instant away from Corrie and footie is a crisis in social services?

Easy target, I know. Sorry for not posting lately - I plan to pick up the pace soon.