Since I gave up TV ten years ago, in order to see the inauguration I could find a stream on the internet and watch it on my computer, here, alone in my cozy little writing cave.

You could watch it on the internet, or on television (if you have one).

But maybe there's a better way to experience tomorrow's critically historic event: Check around where you live or work for restaurants, meeting rooms, or sports bars where the picture and sound can be an experience shared with dozens or hundreds or thousands of other people. The more connected with others we feel, the more hopeful we will feel. Celebrate together, person to person, with as many people as you can round up.

After the inauguration is over and you return to your house, if you have broadcast, cable, or satellite television -- disconnect it. Get rid of it. Stop watching television. If all else fails, find your television's power cord, unplug it from the wall, then use scissors to cut the cord in half, then throw away either end.

If you're not ready to irreversibly quit television cold turkey, just unplug it without cutting it in half. That way if you feel you must see BSG or The Office, you can plan for it, plug it in long enough to watch you show and then unplug it again.

Imagine how the way people interact with each other might change. Imagine what your brain might be capable of without constantly processing and filtering random aural and visual input all day and all evening long.

Watching television is not productive. At best it is entertainment, at worst it is background noise carrying messages sold to the highest bidder.

OS is not a time suck. Television is.Try giving it up for a month or two.

Just a suggestion.