BULLETIN:  HOUSE VOTES FOR QUIETNESS.  CIVILIZATION SAVED - AT 6:38 P.M. ET:  In an example of where priorities are in Washington, the House has taken dramatic action to save us all:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House on Tuesday voted to level off the abrupt spikes in volume felt by television viewers during commercial breaks.

The bill -- approved by a voice vote -- is aimed at stopping TV ads from playing noticeably louder than programs.

''It's very frustrating,'' said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va. ''It's an annoying experience, and something really should be done about it.''

Irritated by loud commercials, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., drafted the measure after discovering it was a common complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.

Right now, the government doesn't have much say in the volume of TV ads. It's been getting grievances about commercial loudness for decades.

Well, I'll certainly sleep better knowing this Congress is protecting me.  And their eloquence just sends me away:

Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., addressed critics who have asked why Congress has to get involved in the matter.

''You can say, 'Well, that's fine. Just turn it off,''' Stearns said. ''But it's constantly an irritant when you have to do it. And we've got all the new bowl games coming up.''

That tops the Gettysburg Address.  Don't you agree?

Okay, okay, I'm being sarcastic.  I, too, wish the broadcasters wouldn't blast commercials.  But it does seem an odd thing to warrant priority action, with all Congress has to do.

December 15, 2009