No escape

As a good free-market capitalist, I support the right of businesses to advertise however they want to, wherever they can. But I do get a little tired of being constantly prodded to Buy this! and Try that! and Save! Save! Save! and Check out this bargain! every minute of every day no matter where I go or what I do. KFC apparently was pleased with its program to advertise on potholes in helped fix, now it's expanding its venture into municipal infrastructure:

Fast-food chain KFC is giving two Indiana cities $7,500 so it can emblazon founder Colonel Sanders' face on their hydrants and fire extinguishers to promote new "fiery" chicken wings.

Experts say to expect more ads like this, on public property from sewer grates to the local landfill, as companies look to cut through the clutter of traditional advertising. Cash-strapped governments have long sold space on mass transit, benches, trash cans and other public property to help stretch budgets.

And the Indiana Supreme Court is considering changing Indiana's rules governing advertising by attorneys to, among other things, "update the rules to fit modern communications technology such as the Internet." I suppose that means when I get tired of being spammed with ads for male-enhancement products and notices of the fabulous wealth waiting for me in Nigeria, I can find out which attorney I should choose to get a restraining order against all those high school brats who keep coming to the door with candy to sell to support their stupid band camps.

What am I going to have to do to get away from all that advertising, go in the closet and shut the door and turn the light off? Oh, wait. I know. I'll just read my newspaper.