How many here.. DO NOT HAVE TV.. at home

Sierra

How many here.. DO NOT HAVE TV.. at home

Sierra

I really have to cut back

and this TV is old

it could conk out, OR NOT



and not a lot of space for it

am contemplating being without TV



have had it here

and for six months never turned it on



mind you, I want it

for elections .. but



Have not time

I read, and walk



they are so cheap these days to buy



curious as to who

is without one??





O/T a pal was just telling me about
a possum getting into her apt.. or house
goodness, the cat was after it to no avail
said it was there for 2 days

As the ending rather upset me, I wont post
it

Sierra




Sierra

abbadoodles

Sierra, hi.  Moving is so much work but exciting at the same time.  You really do get a chance to re-evaluate your life/lifestyle and see where you might want to make changes.

We do have a TV but no cable or satellite, just network channels over the air (antenna on roof).  To tell you the truth, we hardly ever watch it except for evening news and Ugly Betty at this time.  Well, maybe Globe Trekker on PBS on Sunday evenings or whenever we can catch it.  Those kids go to some interesting but God-forsaken places that I would never in a million years go!  So, I watch.

When the changeover to DTV takes place next year, we will still have some TV but severely limited as what we will be able to receive over the air will be even less than today.  The digital signal does not go over hills and dales as well as analog signal so we may not be able to get PBS.  At that time, we could probably do very well without TV at all as we can get at least as up-to-the-minute news online.  So, we maybe effectively without TV!

I say to hell with the TV, old Yankee that I am.

Good luck with your move.

Paulette531

I have a TV but rarely use it for TV viewing but do like to watch DVD'S and VHS'S on it.

Sierra

Hi Gals:



You know, Abba, (love that new avatar,love orange)

when I go to Maine,

my room does not have a TV

ocean is my Tv

that is just me

Paulette. .That is all I use mine for as well



but it is funny isn't it

how sometimes when you get rid of something

then you want it



I know you gals can fill me in on elections



I watch nature.. but walking this time of year

and summer is my forte



Also, thought I might treat self to a movie

$12.00 a shot



I bet though, I would be the only one..



Yes, moving is a real change

so many emotions kickin around in

the old.. head there..



I got some items in yesterday

not taking ANY ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS

AS V. SENSITIVE to dust





oops Globe Trekker I would like that
there used to be a fellow on TV
who travelled the globe and he's post
interesting..

O/T PS.. speaking of items
I still have 3 wigs here
and those little bonnets
always kept them .. just in case
Now, we shall see.. who knows
I tried them on and they look awful on me





Sierra

sushanna1

Sierra

I have a t.v. but have not turned it on except to watch a movie since September 12,2001.  I don't have a dvd player so I no longer watch movies. 

Sue

SLH

My husband and I grew up in extremely different homes.  My dad was very controlling and hated TV, so we rarely got to watch anything.  Then my older sister started staying up really late and watching the old movies at midnight.  Well, my dad caught her and destroyed the TV.  We didn't have one for about 10 years, and then when he bought one again, we rarely got to watch it.  We always had to rush to turn it off when we heard my dad coming home.

My husband's family had some of their closest family moments all sitting around watching the old TV comedies together. Even now they watch movies a lot, and they all laugh a lot.

They are the healthiest family, no cancer or heart disease.  My mom, two sisters and I all have cancer, and my dad died of cancer.  So maybe watching funny TV shows gave them lots of cancer-fighting endorphins!

sally 

Sierra

Hi SLH:



Too bad about your Dad being controlling



( sorry



I do believe laughter and hugs

are so important each day



I used to love the old movies



Hi Sue: same as me,

have it here, but seldom watch it



seeing as I need to cut back space

might sell this one

and then get a new one later



Especially in summer, as I am out

quite a bit



Hugs and tks



Sierra

LorenaB

Small tvs are pretty inexpensive, you could get a little one and just keep it to watch the news or an occasional interesting show.  I recently went shopping for a new tv since my old one conked out one day -- I cannot believe that people spend upwards of $3000 on a television set, it's just nuts to me.  I got a 26" flat screen that is perfect for my small place.  Or you could just ditch it and watch the news and occasional tv shows on your computer.

My issue now is with cable.  I don't watch much tv, maybe an hour or two a week, so I'd like to go down to just the basic service.  But I have a 7-year-old who is addicted -- I think he needs an intervention or something.  Part of me wants to just get rid of it so he has no access to cartoon network or nickelodeon or any of it, which might be easier than enforcing limits about tv time -- but with everything else going on with me right now (just finished chemo, mastectomy coming up soon) I don't know if I want to deal with my son being miserable on top of everything else.  I hate the fact that I use tv as a babysitter but when I feel really lousy it's hard to fight it.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Sierra. 

Sierra

Hi Lorena:



Tks for your input

and yes I believe the small flat screen

going to sell this clunker here



$3K.. sheesh, if I had that money..

but I know, have seen some of them



No problem, you are not hi-jacking

and I surely want to send special

thoughts out to you as you move

forward on your path. It must be

v. difficult with a wee one.

May all turn out well for you ))
Lots of support here for you



Hugs.. Sierra


O/T Say, are you in MAINE
OR IS IT Mass? You'll be sorry if you say
Maine, as I am addicted to that state
Mass is lovely too..

Anonymous

Sierra,

I have 3 tvs in the house, why??? I have no idea!!!!!

I watch about 3-4 hrs per week of shows that I enjoy and the rest of the time my living room tv is on the music channel.....you would think I would just buy a stereo but since I have to pay for cable because there is very limited radio reception and no antenna reception for tv where I live I also added my internet to the tv cable so I guess I justify the cable expense with that.....

Hope your moving isnt too tiring on you!!!!

Take Care, visit with you again soon

Jule

Sierra

Hi Jules:



Yes, me too

internet and cable combined

3.. I better pay a visit to you

then.. get the TV guide out!!!



Take care



will write when settled





)) Hugs

Anonymous

Sierra,

Come on down anytime you'd like.....

It would be wonderful to have you for a visit!!!!

Jule

otter

Actually, this whole TV thing is going to become a big problem at my house.  We live way out in the boonies, where there is not a prayer of a chance of cable coming this millenium.  So, we subscribe to satellite TV, which works great...but because we live in the boonies, they don't provide us with our "local" channels.  (They would if we lived in or near a big city, but to me that seems backwards--people in a big city already get local channels, probably through cable.)

Since we do live so far from anywhere, some of the "locals" (meaning 60-90 miles away) agreed we lived too far away and gave us "waivers"--that meant the satellite company can beam us signals from east coast and west coast network feeds (NY, LA, etc.).  Fine, but not so good when the sky turns black and the wind starts to howl.

We got around that by putting up a 25-ft-tall post, and putting a 6-ft multi-directional antenna on top of the post.  We have to turn the antenna to tune each channel, but we actually "get" ABC, NBC, and CBS (not FOX) through an analog over-the-air signal with our tall antenna.

Know where this is headed?  Well, in February 2009, all analog over-the-air signals will disappear, and will be replaced by digital signals.  (Thank you, U.S. Congress.)  OK, we wrote for the coupons and bought a converter box so we can get the new, digital signals on our antenna.  Theoretically possible, but it doesn't work.  Analog signals fade gradually and get snowy with weaker signal strength; but digital signals are all-or-none.  You either get it, or your screen is black.  We don't get any digital signals with our system.  We're just too far from any of the stations.

So, in answer to the original question:  Yes, we will have TV's at home after February 2009, and yes, we will still get our satellite signal.  But no, we will not get any local TV at all.  So sad (and so dangerous).

otter 

Sierra

Hi Otter:

That is quite a situation you have there

)

wondering where the boonies are

Best .. Sierra

Sierra

Hi Otter:

That is quite a situation you have there

)

wondering where the boonies are

Best .. Sierra

Isabella4

Sierra, how I wish we didn't have TV in our house, I really don't like it. We have 5 sets throughout the house, and DH even has one in his garage, he is completely addicted to anything and everything.

It took one almighty blow up from me one day to get him to switch off now while we are eating, have visitors, or are just sat reading.

As soon as he gets up in the morning it is on. This is my worst time of day, I need 2 or 3 strong coffees, and peace and quiet before I wake up and function. It is on whenever he walks into the house, and he will sit watching it 'til 2 in the morning most days.

He is just not selective at all, as long as its on and blaring away he is happy.

I now sit on my own on a morning waking up, and after the blow up we had he doesn't switch on at mealtimes anymore.

I DO like the news, one or two weekly programs, like House, Greys Anatomy and ER, one or 2 documentaries, but as I can pick up these on my pc, I would get rid of all the TV sets tomorrow if it were up to me.

Now my radio I would fight tooth and nail for, I have earplugs, so it doesn't interfere with anyone else, and I listen to that while I am working. I tune into a very good current affairs and political station, and I am quite happy without TV. 

Can you use your pc to pick up any TV you might want to watch ?

Isabella.

LisaSDCA

Interesting thread. I haven't had TV reception for over 15 years. I love not having a cable or 'dish' bill, especially when I hear about the $$$ others pay. I love having all the time for reading, not watching the commercials. I read my news online via the NYTimes, Washingtom Post and Google News. Add in some Public Radio in the car, and I'm covered.My daughter does share the 'House' episodes with me from her computer (commercial free) and I did finally break down two years ago and buy a DVD/VCR player when I had to accept the fact that DVDs were the only format for current movie releases. I still have my old favorites on VHS that I see no need to replace. I watch maybe 1 movie every two weeks. Except now, with my daughter (age 23) recuperating at home, it's more like 3-4x/week!

I definitely understand your reticence at changing routines in the midst of upheavals like chemo and surgery. You have to really protect every ounce of energy for yourself during these times. BUT You can raise children TV-free. Just unplug it, cancel the cable, whatever. Do not feel guilty. It'll probably be the best thing you ever did for their health - mental and physical! After a day or two, they'll come up with something to entertain themselves. That is uniformly the experience families have during prolonged power outages. In addition to my own daughter, I fostered two girls for three years who were TV 'addicts' when they came to me at age 6 and 12 - and both illiterate. Their lifestyle was never leaving the couch and the idiot box. They left as avid readers and athletic, fit kids.

I'm curious, otter - why do you feel it is "so dangerous" not to have local TV? In an emergency, FEMA always says to turn to radio. If there is power, computer usually has the most up-to-date info, and Google News can be customized by location. The NOAA/National Weather service site can also be customized by zipcode, which makes their reports pretty specific. Seeing that it is their data that the weather channel and local 'forecasters' use, might as well get it from the source, huh? I am a weather geek and map nerd and just love the NOAA site and all of the links and options from there. Sorry, getting OT, here.

Sierra, if you haven't even had the TV on for six months, I say pitch it or donate it. As you say, space is tight, and that's a might big knick-knack. You won't miss it. If you need to, maybe follow the elections on NPR or your computer. Fewer 'talking heads' and pundits to cope with.

Lisa

Sierra

Hi Gals:

Lisa: Yes, TV is old and just taking a space
dont even know if I can take my bookcases )

Isabella: OH< my I can relate
You know, I once had a mate who ended
up moving with me, well, when I saw him
he did not watch TV much, did know he was
a Leafs fan, (Hockey) and baseball BUT OH MY
HE HAD that tv on every night, it drove me mad
finally, we had to choose nights and although I enjoy
the odd program, am just not compatible with someone
who sits quite a bit. First thing in AM, Birds
are TV and Flowers are my visual LOL>>> Then I met
another man, and he was addicted to soaps hehhehe, he retired
and watched TV, rented movies, a great deal, became
unwell, and why, because he did not walk.. Anyhoo,
THE TV IS GOING .. lol CAN get a smaller one later

Otter: ps.. I meant to say, love that otter
picture Saw them cavorting at Monterey, CA once

Have a great day
and those celebrating your long
week-end in US, ENJOY! be safe

more packing for me


Sierra

1965sally

I just participated in the Nielsen ratings for tv, and I don't watch it!  Except my husband and I rent dvds and download certain tv show episodes and watch them more or less all at once and commercial-free.  We rent from the local video store, subscribe to Netflix, and buy episodes on computer from iTunes.  Could be we're spending just as much as we would on cable!  But difference is we're more in control.  The rabbit ears antenna on one of the tv's lets us get 2 channels, but I get disgusted every time I turn those on -either by some reality show or the commercials.  

My husband is kind of a movie addict, and though the tv isn't always on, he stays up late every night watching movies on video.  His parents tape PBS "Nova" episodes and History channel programs for him and we have quite a library!  But until they allow a la carte cable or satellite service, I'm not paying for all that junk I don't want. 

My two year old daughter now watches videos too, about 10 minutes at a time.  LorenaB, maybe that's how you could transition your son, if you decide you want to.  At least it would get him away from a lot of the commercials, and you could more easily choose what he watches.  But you'd still be able to "use the tv as a babysitter" which DOES help at certain times like these.

Me, I'm kind of addicted to the radio.  Occasionally I miss local news because I listen to national public radio and BBC instead, but if I find the discipline to scan the local newspaper occasionally, I don't miss anything except the scare-mongering (e.g. "Is Your Child In Danger??  Find out at 11!").

Sierra

I love radio and BBC is the best



tks for reminding me

right now.. dont know if Im coming or going

with all these boxes



but Im going to put it on later



Guess we all have our own agenda re tv

but mine is going going GONE



AND LATER get a small flat screen



BEst



S