HDTV

We actually bought a HDTV, it is a Panasonic Plasma TV. After much moaning and groaning, thinking and rethinking, contemplating and looking at various TV's; we bought it; we also got a "free" Blu-Ray player with it.

This purchase was really pretty frivolous. Our old 27" CRT TV worked OK & we don't really watch that much TV anyhow. But we "deserve" (in the same sense that the people that lawyers get money for their pain or injuries do) to pamper ourselves a little; as my kids would tell you, I am cheap & did not spend more than we made for all the years they were with us. We did give them money for most of college but there were few frills when they were growing up.

“All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful” Benjamin Franklin

“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” Lord Byron {Maybe someone should tell P.O.}

“I buy expensive suits. They just look cheap on me.” Warren Buffett

“I can't stand cheap people. It makes me real mad when someone says something like, "Hey, when are you going to pay me that $100 you owe me?" or "Do you have that $50 you borrowed?" Man, quit being so cheap!” Jack Handy

HDTV (abbreviation) high-definition television, using more lines per frame to give a sharper image than a conventional television

Recession

I read a science fiction short story that talks about a man who decided to not buy a refrigerator & that caused a recession.  It worked like this (approx.) the store manager had to lay off a person due to lack of sales who did not buy a new house so a builder did not buy something else, etc.

The government (like that would happen now!) figured out that this incident caused the recession & had the man buy the refrig & everything returned to normal!

I wonder if my not buying the HDTV has caused this recession!

recession (n) The act of withdrawing or going back. An extended decline in general business activity, typically two consecutive quarters of falling real gross national product. The withdrawal in a line or file of participants in a ceremony, especially clerics and choir members after a church service.

"A recession is when your neighbor loses his job; a depression is when you lose yours." (Ronald Reagan) He added:  “And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.”

Great TV Debate of '09

I was debating with a formidable opponent on the buying of a HDTV! I was on both sides! I want a HDTV but don't need a HDTV.

Pro HDTV guy looked at numerous reviews & saw a great price for a LG Electronics 37" 1080p HDTV. He talked to his lovely wife who said he could buy it if he really wanted it. He even went to the extent of putting it in the cart.

Then Con HDTV guy got into the act. He pointed out that they had a perfectly good CRT 27" TV & that they have a digital to analog converter box which presented them with close to HDTV pictures on the channels they watch the most.

Pro guy pointed out that the TV was numerous years old and though it worked perfectly now it was only a matter of time until it failed & if they had a Blu-Ray DVD player; think of the great pictures they would get plus most of the DVD movies they buy are widescreen and think of the wasted space on the old TV. Plus they could hook up their computer to it & view a big picture!

Back came Con saying we don't have a Blu-Ray DVD player & they are expensive! Plus you watch too much TV as it is! Plus why would they need to hook up their laptop to the HDTV monitor anyway!

Pro guy took it out of the cart even though the price had decreased & went to bed dreaming of beautiful TV shows & movies!

Pro guy when he woke up decided to sneak in & buy the TV. However, the HDTV had been sold out at the store that had the great price; woe was him!

Con guy laughed knowing he had won!

DECIDE (v.i.) To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.

    A leaf was riven from a tree,
    "I mean to fall to earth," said he.
    
    The west wind, rising, made him veer.
    "Eastward," said he, "I now shall steer."
    
    The east wind rose with greater force.
    Said he:  "'Twere wise to change my course."
    
    With equal power they contend.
    He said:  "My judgment I suspend."
    
    Down died the winds; the leaf, elate,
    Cried:  "I've decided to fall straight."
    
    "First thoughts are best?"  That's not the moral;
    Just choose your own and we'll not quarrel.
    
    Howe'er your choice may chance to fall,
    You'll have no hand in it at all.
                                                                  G.J.

Misc Thoughts

Reading my kids' blogs, I see these long coherent paragraphs well thought out with an elegant writing style, then I reread mine! It is good to have kids eclipse their parents (actually just their dad, there mother is also brilliant like them).

We hooked up the digital to analog converter today to see if it worked (we are dinosaurs without cable [or air conditioning either]). And behold there are extra channels out there hidden from mere mortals! One problem with digital reception using an outdoor antenna is the crazy mosaic that occurs every once in a while. I pointed this out to my wife on a picture at WalMart, she remarked about why the government thinks this is better.

My spelling is getting worse & wosre! Thank goodness for the computer spell checking (of course the numerous internet humorous letters which get past spell checking do give one pause). Just think how intelligible my ravings would be; I just type close to the spelling & it gets underlined in red, a little cntl-click or correct button on the mouse & there are options that many times include the correct spelling (some examples from above include "intelligible" & "brilliant"). I wonder if my GrandKids will even have to learn to spell!

mis·cel·la·ne·ous (adj) : consisting or formed of various kinds; varied; mixed a box of miscellaneous candies; having various qualities, abilities, etc.; many-sided