"Mad Men" is killing me!

The first disk of the series came from Netflix; after reading some kudos I had to give it a try. "Just get some REAL cable instead of that ghetto package you've got, why don't you?" said Leah. "But why bother!? I can watch everything two years later on Netflix!"

After just two episodes, it's a giddy pleasure. The string of cultural norms turned tabboos are a riot; while sometimes they are a bit too self conscious, they're enjoyable nonetheless. A favorite was when the kids come running into the kitchen while playing, the girl with a plastic bag from a dry cleaner pulled over her head, sent away without a second look or worry from her mother. Blatant bigotry, criminal sexism, big rotary phones, aprons, snide catty housewives, and 60's deco all around! "Aren't we so lucky to be here? We have it all!"

Our vision of the past is often established with the assumption that it existed in the same yellowed, washed out Polaroid imagery through which we normally view it. To see it brought to life in crisp, sharp 42" plasma clarity is mesmerizing.

Oh, and booze. Lots and lots of booze.