It all started with a seemingly innocuous interview of Jonah Goldberg, author of Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning. Mr. Goldberg was making the rounds, mostly on the conservative radio talk shows. However, Mr. Goldberg also stopped by the studio of comedian Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show/A Daily Show on Comedy Central.

The episode has been passed around the blogosphere, but if you've missed it, you can always check it out at the show's website. Now what was surprising, and the point of this article, is the reason The Daily Show is now called A Daily Show is because the Writers Guild of America is on strike.

Who knew?

The writers strike has been going on for some time now, but as the regular shows have migrated from chuckles, guffaws, suspense and chills to reality show competitions, it has become clear that the strike is rapidly losing relevence and meaning in this new Internet world.

And therein lies the paradox.

I found that as the writers continue to strike for such absurd requests like residuals from DVDs and compensation for media distributed via the Internet, my addiction for the standard media outlets like The Daily Show... er, I mean A Daily Show... has waned. I no longer care about the Leno and Eubanks late night banter; I now have time for writing; I don't stay up for the "Top 10"; I need to get up and work around the house; and yikes — now I am even talking with the family!

Enough of this insanity!

In a bizarre twist that would only appear in an episode of CSI: Miami, the writers duke it out, trying to get residuals from DVDs, while I find I now have time to watch the 800 DVDs that I have amassed over the years, when I paid top dollar for films which I had already purchased in VHS, but the studios convinced me that this "new media" quality was that much better that I'd pay again for the same film AND be glad (which I will no doubt do again when the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD battle is won). And now, with my media center PC coupled into my home automation system, I can now watch movies, TV, and YouTube fresh from another new media delivery mechanism called the Internet.

And now those writers want a piece of that action, as well.

So, in my small way, I am showing my support for the writers. I'm watching the DVDs and ignoring their brothers in arms who went back to work on their television shows (hey, a man has got to eat, right?). I'm watching that "new medium", the Internet, where Netflix will make their next billion(s), further validating the writers "demands."

I owe the writers that. I now have more time, and sleep, than before.

Now if we can only get the NFL to follow...