Guess what? I've managed to go one full month without TV. That's right, no TV. I didn't think it could be done, but it has. Now, I didn't put myself through this torture because of a bet or for the chance at self-enlightenment, but instead, I did it because some higher power (the cable man) decided to stop giving me free cable.

That's right, I use to steal cable. So what are you gonna do about it?

So why haven't I just paid for the damn cable? I'll tell you. I'm broke! I'm just a poor black college student from the Oakland projects (Actually I'm a white college student from an upper-middle class family and originally from Southern California, but doesn't that earlier one sound so much more dramatic.) The truth is, that once I had to pay for cable it became a tough decision between eating and watching TV. For most, this is an easy decision, TV. But for me I took eating.

I know, I know, what was I thinking.

But since I've made this life-altering journey I've discovered something, I don't need TV to live! That gets easier to say every time I say it. It's true, the center of the universe isn't your TV. Now I've found better things to do with my time, like sitting in front of my computer 24 hours a day playing video games or surfing around the net.

Isn't addiction a funny thing?!

It's true, I have managed to rebound from my 22-year relationship with my TV and I've ever so swiftly climbed into bed with the comforting arms of another. But this time it will be different, I swear. No more late nights or ignoring my friends for the alluring glow of the screen. No more bad dieting or lusting for the control to be in my hand.

Shit, I'm either one sick fucker or I'm obsessing again.

So I guess I haven't really made any life altering changes, but what really makes something life altering? Spending a lot of money or committing to something long term? Those could be it. I think it is when your pattern is altered, your flow is disrupter, or your rhythm is broken. And it's the people who can get that rhythm working again that come out on top. So replacing one obsession with another was a good thing. And now my rhythm is back and I can feel that James Brown soul music flowing through my black Oakland project bones again.