"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits."
Well... with Art gone to San Francisco, guess who has the remote controls? I've never wanted to touch it, but with Art leaving he had to teach me how to use them. It's not a matter of just turning it on because we have an attic antennae, not cable. We have to go through our DVD player to get good reception. Then there's the accessing of Netflix Instant Streaming, etc. I had him write the instructions down.
I can see why men like holding the remote. There's a certain sense of power that you get being able to raise and lower the volume, change the channels, etc. all by yourself.
Art will be back very soon. I wonder how many romantic comedies I can squeeze in before he returns. Hmmm... or maybe I could watch Pride and Prejudice again?
POSTSCRIPT: Did you all see that Netflix is raising their price as of September?!? They're now splitting their DVD and Instant Streaming so that if you do both it'll cost you $15.98 instead of $9.99? If you only want DVDs or only Instant Streaming, you can pay $7.99. Good grief!
I'm not a Netflix subscriber, but since I watch only 24/7 news channels on tv, I was already aware that Netflix would have to raise its rates, since Sony and Disney, (content providers) are raising Netflix rates to $200-$350 million annually, from $30 annually. However, the new contract rates aren't even in effect and it won't be for many months from now. They're gouging you. Netflix is planning to expand into South America and perhaps thats the revenue motive.
ReplyDeleteenjoy that power!!!!I know just what you're talkng about,, lol
ReplyDeleteI saw that Netflix price increase and thought about you!
ReplyDeleteI like the same kind of movies as you, you'll have to see 'Monte Carlo', you'll love it.
I stopped taking Netflix a while back but am considering the streaming video part. I watch quite a few movies On Demand but they are limited. Will you let him have the remote back when he returns or tell him that you'll drive now? :-)
ReplyDeletehow funny, just think of all you are learning....
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I knew you would find a positive side to being home alone.
ReplyDeleteDavid already switched to 3 discs at a time and canceled streaming. He will pay $19.99/month starting Sept 1, and this price includes blu-ray movies for his HDTV. Cheaper than before. He's happy!
ReplyDeleteWe have three different remotes-one that came with the TV, a second for the satellite box (which can also turn on the TV), and one for the Playstation 3 that we use for movies. It took me a while to remember the correct procedures for each.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to re-think our Netflix subscription based on the new price increases. For us, since we now have the $10/month, one DVD at a time plan, it would double our costs.
RE: Netflix price increase.
ReplyDeleteI have seen, over our 56 married years, restaurants open, anxious to please, eventually falling into a routine of having the best food around at reasonable prices, sell out to new owners who want only to cash in on the labor of finding and keeping customers.
Within one year the restaurant is closed down. Why?
Increased prices.
Cheaper steaks, potatoes, salads, fruit, cake, pies...
Cheaper waitresses...usually high school kids who forget to wash their hands straight out of the restrooms.
In the end, business evaporates and the place closes.
One such, here, called "Buffalo." Had a monumental American Buffalo that could be see for miles on I-70. It was a huge place perched on a cliff-like spit of land overlooking a misty morning pasture land surrounded by wooded acres.
Now. It is a dirty spot where derelict cars are left to rust away.
Netflix, will, if it is like all other buysout, disappear like Blockbuster did around here.
In our household it is just the opposite. I think it's because I like to pause and ask questions or make comments. :<) I heard the Netflix news. I haven't decided what I'll choose yet. Now that I have cable internet, I love the streaming, but not everything is available that way.
ReplyDeleteHaving the remote all to myself is one of my favorite parts of being divorced. Ha!
ReplyDeletei love the control..
ReplyDeleteBe careful how you wield all that control. You just might get used to having it. I'm with you on those those remotes and controls. We actually have three of them, and I only slightly know how to one. I seldom watch t.v., so no need to learn.
ReplyDeleteMy husband just informed me about the cost of Netflix going up this morning. He said he was dropping it. I balked a bit, but to be honest I don't use it much either. It came in handy when I was babysitting grandchildren last week. I let my granddaughter pick a movie a couple of times to watch on my lap top. I do think the price increase is too high to keep the using Netflix.
I guess Netflix is quite popular. We don't have it, nor do we have cable tv. We watch very little tv, and we are quite happy with the local channels we can pick up with our tuner. I refuse to pay for tv.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have rented movies through iTunes and watched them when I felt like it. They have all been really old movies that I read a reference to in some newspaper, magazine, or blog. Probably spent all of $12 doing those rentals. I buy books by the bushel, though. We all have our avarice.
I don't have cable so I am keeping my Netflix -- I like it and will actually save a few dollars! I suspect that this is happening because the economy is so bad. (Thank Congress!)
ReplyDeleteWhen Dick is away, I seldom think of TV, but Lindy is now used to spending bonding time in the living room, so I just search around until I find something she and I might like, and usually end up with nature channels and such. Can't interrupt Lindy's routine.
ReplyDeleteBut I know what you mean, holding the remote control does give me a certain feeling of power.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
I do love the power of complete control. I tend to really work out a remote.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking of canceling Netflix mainly because I really don't care much for most of the movies today. The price change pushed me over the edge and I will quit them when my payment is due.
I am thinking how nice it would be to sit in a theater again with some popcorn and -----
LOL
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your dominion my Sistah!
Aloha from Waikiki;
PS: My new blog posts are still not updating in blogger/reader OR links on others' blogs
but I'm still posting! :(
Comfort Spiral
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One of my former colleagues, who retired several years before I did, once said that the secret to a happy marriage was having two televisions. Hubby and I subscribe to that theory.
ReplyDeleteI have a DVD, and have never used it.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind and warm words for me.
I'm staying at mother's house.
I had a boy on 25th of June.
I'm very happy and I'm thinking couldn't be happier.
I'm coming here again after getting home.
I wanted to say thank you to you.
Aya: It's so kind of you to write at such a busy time, Aya. I'm super excited for you. I speak from experience when I say your mom must be totally loving this time with you both.
ReplyDeleteHow funny Kay. Its true of men all over the world. I hate it when they channel surf - frustrating. So enjoy the power for as long as you can and watch as many happy endings and chick flicks as you can fit in too.
ReplyDeleteI think it must be genetic -- and not necessarily a sex trait, as I'm a remote hog, too. And I love it!
ReplyDelete