On Cable July 10, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Arts & Entertainment, Lifestyle, Sociology.trackback
(photo courtesy of wykc.com)
So, I’ve spent the better part of my last four days in a state of hyper-mediation. That is, my eyes have been stuck in one position – straight on the boob-tube.
I haven’t had cable in the last five years, and now I’ve come to realize how surprisingly inept I’ve been with regard to cable technology. Terms like DVR, TIVO, and HD were never part of my vocabulary, but now I find them rolling off my tongue so easily. HELP ME!!
Even though I know it’s supposed to ease the channel-surfing tendency, the “Guide” button causes me more stress than I think it should. Within 30 seconds I can see a complete list of movies and programs that all sound good to me! So now I’ve started memorizing channel numbers (not just 100 numbers either, more like 500!), and then I utilize the “Last” button during commercial breaks.
The whole thing is seriously ridiculous. Granted, I don’t really have anything to do, or anyone to answer to, and maybe I should embrace my free time by catching up on every BRAVO marathon there is, but I still can’t help feel my brain slipping. I have three books I want to read, and every time I get the urge to pick one up I find myself saying, “Hmm, maybe a new episode of Shear Genius is on.” AAAHHHH!
Alas, I don’t think I’ll be getting cable once I settle into my own space this Fall. Maybe there are some people out there who can balance cable with reading, exercising and work. I can honestly say that I am not one of them.
But the beauty of DVR/Tivo, Netty, is that you can set them to record every new episode of Shear Genius, Project Runway (which starts next week BTW), or whatever — then watch them when you damn well feel like it — and FF thru all the commercials. OR, you can tune into the show halfway through, restart or rewind, and again — FF through all the commercials! Can’t do without it!!
Hahahaha! You are so funny! If you get a chance to do so, try to check out DEXTER on Showtime. It’s probably on the ONDEMAND feature on the cable you are watching and you can select episodes. It is truly the single best television show ever made.
Don’t beat yourself up too much about your TV watching, after all, it is the great American pastime. All your friends are doing it.