This week's revelation that NBC will pay Paris Hilton up to $1,000,000 for her "story" is yet another example of the progressive media's attachment to the bizarro world of reality TV, where up is down, left is right, and bad is the new good.

According to the New York Post, Hilton has agreed to a sit-down interview with "Today" show host, Meredith Viera, the day after her release from LA County Jail. ABC's Barbara Walters lost out on the deal, which looked like a sure thing, when NBC execs contacted Hilton's father with a more lucrative deal.

Given the virtual feeding frenzy the "Paris Saga" has created, is it any surprise she will be paid more than many people make in a lifetime, for a few minutes of her time? Of course, one does wonder what could be so enthrallingly entertaining that NBC would shell out that kind of money on spec; after all, even Martha Stewart made it through her "ordeal" relatively unscathed.

Wouldn't it be refreshing, if instead of paying a millionairess to rehash her "unfortunate happenstance", the media did the socially responsible thing, and stopped sensationalizing the ridiculous?

Ok, Ok, Okaaaayyyyy! In lieu of that, how about making a large donation in her name? After all, a million dollar charitable contribution would make them all look good, and isn't that the point?

To that end, a short search of the internet produced the following facts. A million dollars will:

Send 40 Kids to College at SUNY Buffalo

Tuition and fees only ($6129/year - in-state 2006/2007)

"USA Today 2006 College tuition and Fees Survey"

UsaToday.com Sep 9, 2006

Feed 187 Families for a Year

Average yearly grocery bill $5340

"Shave 150.00 a week off your grocery bill"

CnnMoney.com Jan 9, 2006

Pay Health Care Insurance Premiums for 91 Families

12 monthly premium payments- Family Plan

"Average family health policy near $11,000"

UsaToday.com Sep 14, 2005

Buy 500 sets of Body Armor to Protect Our Troops

Dragon Skin, commercial body armor systems cost up to $2000 per set

"Navy latest service to ban outside body armor"

MilitaryTimes.com Jun 15, 2007

and finally, a million dollars will cover

6% of the Average CEO's Salary

2006 average $14.78 million total compensation of S&P's 500 Company CEOs

"Executive PayWatch"

AFLCIO.COM - 2006

OOOPS! That's another story...

UPDATE: Apparently both NBC and ABC thought better of the deal, so Paris has decided to bear her soul on Larry King Live (for FREE).