Stimulated Enough?

Now that we have had a financial stimulus from Washington, there still seems to be a large number of people who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Could it be that we now live in such an electronically overcharged,stimulated world that we never have a respite from stimuli? Could it be that unlike a generation or two ago when there were no cellphones, tablets and 24 hour cable tv, the mere three tv networks stopped programming at 11 pm or midnight.This was followed by the national anthem and a blank screen until about 6 am. Now anyone can be stimulated at 3 am and also post on their Facebook page that they are awake and just finished a bowl of Captain Crunch and bananas. We are bombarded with electronic sounds, sights and colors with little down time. Many billboards on the turnpike now change screens every few minutes to tell us who is a most wanted bank robber or what must see tv show is on at 9 that night. Don't forget the new notification message boards that loom over the turnpike to tell us that there is a delay up ahead( now that does make sense). But do you get robocalls at home as you dig into your first bite of dinner? Do you recieve more junk mail every week?Can you sit in any doctor's waiting room trying to read your novel and having a loud tv above your head with a Jerry Springer type program with family members duking it out? Have you been to Times Square recently. Want to be stimulated?

Every Sunday, the newspaper has a few pages of real news while the bulk of the paper consists of inserts to shop. Do you get those useless coupon-paks that urge us to clean out our gutters or reseal or driveways? Why do I have to see a constant "ribbon" at the bottom of my tv screen telling me to watch a show at 9 that night? Why do the channels( all 800 of them) need to splash there logo on the bottom right side to remind me that I am indeed watching what I am watching? Why do the drug companies tell me about the 15 fatal side effects of their wonder drug? When I go to a diner, why do I see a family with 2 teens come in and all 3( plus Dad) take out htere i-phones and talk to hteir friends who are not there? Ahh, a great night out for family bonding. Why are people posting on Facebook that they have a headache? Does your supermarket have ads embedded into the floor or on the handle of your cart? Why is the Yankee dugout sponsored by an energy drink and their tarp broght to you by TurfBuilder? The jumbotron tells us when to "clap clap clap" or "let's hear some noise". Didn't fans use to cheer naturally? Why are more kids interested at a Yankee game with the in between inning subway race or "which hat has the ball underneath"? Every batter can't hit until his favorite salsa or hipo-hop song is played. Whatever happened to "Now batting, number 2, Derek Jeter, number 2"?

At least we can always be certain that our iconic yellow school buses will not fall victim to all these stimuli. Wait, did I just read that some school boards are  thinking of putting ads on their buses? I can see it now, Need School Supplies? Come to Ed's . We Make The Grade!" Or will we lose the Happy Valley School to the new "Pepsi Academy -The School That Refreshes". I hope you at least turned off all your cellphones, beepers, pagers before you read this.