the Internet.

Perhaps someone once said: A natural part of growing forward is looking back.

This is certainly the case with the Internet. As this unwieldy multi-headed-information-dragon-beasts (the Internet) rears its head and focus its eyes on devouring all mass-media into its cavernous belly while not leaving a pearly claw idle as it seeks to control the light switches and sprinklers in all homes and the distribution of all goods -- as the Internet makes forward progress -- it also takes great pleasure in providing the now powerless gatekeepers (us) with images and memories from childhood.

For a case in point look to the folks at Overtime Comedy. This rag-tag outfit works hard to dig into the past and uncover the forgotten memories of 18-28 year olds (presumably male) who partook in a shared mass-market-multi-media upbringing. Do you remember 'Monster in My Pocket' or that strange fake 'Ghostbusters'? Nor did I, until Overtime dug into our collective past and put those awkward nuggets on public display.

The whole point of this circumlocution is to say that as focused as many are on the power of the internet to push human communication forward, its has also become a great place to store those cultural memories that might not be pertinent for day to day life but sure do provide a window into a past, and a tickle of pleasure.

This being said -- please let me contribute to this shared nostalgia by offering up two excellent examples of childhood programming. Both spots are of a Bert and Ernie nature, and not only do they outline the brilliance of children's television -- that has since faded -- but they are also dripping with the belief in world that is bigger than the playroom and that this is a hopeful thing.