Sorry to be off tipic, but I must rant...

[Konrad in Lincoln]

Good people,

It is no wonder in my mind why the rest of planet earth hates us so much. It's the quality (or lack thereof) of programming on TV. If I have to endure my wife watching yet another "reality" TV series, I'm going to start vomiting blood. Maybe dry heaves after that.

"Reality TV"?!?.... Please. I'd rather have a tarantula lay eggs in my ear, than actually burn precious hours of my life watching overly-coached non-actors in a heavily-edited piece of trash called "Survivor", "Joe Millionaire", or the worst yet: "Are You Hot?"

*growing hysterical*

IS THIS THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO?!? IS THIS REALLY ALL THE BETTER "ENTERTAINMENT" HAS TO BE TO KEEP AMERICANS OCCUPIED AT NIGHT?!? OMG!!! I CAN'T TAKE THIS SH*T ANYMORE! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THIS COUNTRY?!? AAAUUUUGGGHHHhhh....! ! ! ! ! ! :x

IF I EVER MEET THE MARKETING SH*T-FOR-BRAINS THAT DREAMED UP THIS PROGRAMMING CONCEPT, THERE'S GONNA BE HELL TO PAY.

Ok.

I'm better now.

Thanks.

:oops:

[Knut]

Konrad,

I haven't watched TV in about one year now and surprise, surprise, I don't miss is at all. Thanks for describing some of the reasons in such plain and easy to understand language. To follow what is going on in the world I read newspapers online; european and US. Advantage: I read when I want and what I want, no ads (or almost) disturbing my reading and I get the news as seen from different angles. Quite interesting. Radio (remember that thing without a screen??) also has the advantage that you can listen while doing things (like boat building) and I find some good programs, actually.

On top of that, all the time I saved by staying away from TV has turned into a Weekender, which will put me on the water, even further away from the stupid TV-programs. Investigating the Florida Keyes from my own boat will be real reality and I am excited about it.

[Frank Hagan]

I'll admit to my guilty pleasures, and TV is one of them. I like good drama, and I like silly comedies (even some sitcoms). But I do draw the line at some things. On the positive side, I like:

Everwood

Judging Amy

24 (because my brother in law is DP this year)

8 Simple Rules

The rest I leave by the wayside ... except for those quirky cable shows you see on Home and Garden TV.

I have to leave the room when my wife watches the ultimate reality show ... "A Baby Story." This is the worst of the worst, because its REAL ... they really have babies right there on the screen, and man, if I couldn't eat pizza for a month after my first baby was born I sure as heck don't want to see it on TV!

[Bruce S Kershaw]

There used to be good sitcoms. What happened to Barney Miller, All in the family, Mash... ?

I turned on the tube the other night, for the first time in a long time, and

in one hour, on 3 stations I saw about a gazillion adds for pharmaceutical companies. What's up with that?

"Tell your doctor, you need these pills." (I thought it was up to the HMOs to decide what drugs I need and don't need.)

"Take one a day and the sky will be blue, the birds will sing, your golf game will improve, and your family will no longer be dysfunctional!

(Side effects may include abdominal pain, damaged heart valves, bleeding ulcers, and sudden death. These symptoms may go away during treatment. If they become troublesome, consult your doctor.)"

I sat there softly humming Stephenwolf's 'The Pusher'.

:usa

[Paul J]

I can see it all now.

Little Kornrad; " Dad I don't want to watch football I want to see the Survivors "15 Years Of" special.

Daddy Kornrad;

[Frank Hagan]

Watching Joe Millionaire was like watching a train wreck ... people just had to look. And feel better that it wasn't them in the twisted wreckage.

I watched one episode, and forced myself to watch the whole thing. I was aghast ... there were no heros in this tale, only villains. Nice looking villains, but bad just the same (and soooooo dumb!)

But it was instructive to listen to people who thought he was a cad for playing this role and fooling the poor women (ladies generally thought this), and to hear the folks that thought the women were getting what they deserve, those golddiggers (these were men expressing this view.)

For once, both sides were right. All of these people were despicable, of low moral character ... even the "good girl" ... and prime examples of greed.

[Gordy Hill]

Guys! we're dealing with AVERAGE intelligence here. These are the same people that elected our presidents and haven't done a very good job of it since FDR!

[Greg Luckett]

I am waiting for one on boat builders....meanwhile, I simply ignore the rest of the TV, like the most of the electorate ignores its lack of education of a grasp of history.

[Stuart Benbow]

I am waiting for one on boat builders....meanwhile' date=' I simply ignore the rest of the TV, like the most of the electorate ignores its lack of education of a grasp of history.[/quote']

Hey, now there's an idea! Two teams of every-day people given the same plans, same tools, and same materials have to race to complete each stage of building a boat. Each team that finishes last for each stage has to vote one of their team-mates into sailing prototype boats that may or may not float. Boat Designers get to submit boat designs and have the loosers test them to see if they work, and the population is gradually reduced until we're left with only those who are too intelligent to sign up for the show.

[Charlie Jones]

Guys! we're dealing with AVERAGE intelligence here. These are the same people that elected our presidents and haven't done a very good job of it since FDR!

Gordy- I don't think so. In the last presidential election only 50% of the registered voters actually showed up to vote. I really believe the ones who watch this drivel are in the OTHER half- the ones who couldn't be bothered.

Of course, where I live, way out here by Matagorda Bay, we only get ABC and there IS no cable connection. So I really miss a lot of TV --NOT!!.

[Greg Luckett]

I am so envious of where you live....sigh. I had to go and marry a Yankee girl from Cleveland. She thinks the weather here is ok, but hates the weather in Texas. Silly girl.

[ED Woerle]

"Gordy- I don't think so. In the last presidential election only 50% of the registered voters actually showed up to vote. I really believe the ones who watch this drivel are in the OTHER half- the ones who couldn't be bothered."

But I'll wager a month's salary that the other half, those too lazy to get off their fat a$$ and vote, still do a inordinate amount of bitching! Sorry, they LOST that right. No vote, sit down and shut up.

(Do I sound bitter?)

[Charlie Jones]

Luckettg- we live down here because A) both of us are sailors. My wife is rated #2 in Dolphin sailboats, which is a single hander a little larger than a sunfish. Lateen rig, but 10 more sq feet of sail. We live about five blocks from the launch ramp and the bay. And Because neither of us cares for cold AT ALL. The last day or so has been rough with the cold that hammered Texas and the Gulf coast. Our houses aren't built, nor do we have the heating capacity, to be comfortable in really cold weather. We just survive it

Ed- I really have to agree. In political discussions, we ask people we don't already know if they are registered and did they vote. If the answers are no, we refuse to discuss politics with them.

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[Robert Cox]

Since moving to Florida 2 years and 3 months ago, I've yet to watch more than a couple of hours of TV a month. While living in Indiana, there was nothing better to do in the winter. Here in Miami, it's always too nice to want to stay inside and watch TV. I don't miss it at all. It's kinda funny to listen to some people talk about this c**p they're watching on TV. All a can think is what a waist of time.

Charles, what a lucky man you are to have a wife who enjoys sailing as much as you do.

Bob 8)

[Tim Diebert]

We cancelled our cablevision 6 months ago and could not be happier.

Daphne hooks the rabbit ears up to the tv for saturday night hockey games games. We rent movies now and again.

TV has always driven me nuts.....I just had to wait until my partner felt the same.

[Stuart Benbow]

I still pay for cable, but I never watch it ... well, at least I didn't until the America's Cup (if they ever race again, but that's another rant). Unfortunately, I've got two kids, and while the childrens shows for the youngest are all on pbs, the elder one feels he will die if the tv stops working through the winter months. Once it warms up, we typically get disconnected, and reconnect in time for the christmas specials at the end of the year.

[Simon]

In general I agree with Konrad on this one, except for one example of quality North American television which aired in Australia for the first time last night, Jackass.

I saw them trying to replicate Paul Newman's feet in Cool Hand Luke of eating 50 hardboiled eggs in an hour. The results were rather messy. I'll never look at an egg the same way again. There's something about people willingly hurting themselves that makes for great entertainment. I must see the movie.