Old Time TV.
With the change to HD for TV and the need to get a converter box to receive local and/or non HD channels I've begun to notice a difference in the viewing habits of the different areas of the country. The first thing I notice was the dearth of channels the deeper one moves away from major population areas. It was like going back in time almost to the beginning of the television era. Only then the lack of programing was also in the major population areas. Back then it was known as TV, the great American waste land. Most of the performers in the old shows have gone on to that TV land in the sky.
Now I notice the types of programing that is available. Naturally ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX are almost everywhere. The next large provider of TV is Public Broadcast stations (which didn't exist back in the day). Especially near college areas. PBS is also an outlet for the states to advertise themselves to the people within their state and to the travelers. It is a great place to find interesting sites to visit while within the state.
But the greatest thing that I notice is the retro programing. The Rifleman, Dragnet, Beverly Hillbillies, Leave it to Beaver, Gunsmoke, Andy Griffin Show, Peter Gunn, and anything else that made it through the time warp of 40 or more years. There is even a station called RetroTV. To me it's retro of the mind.
My perspective on such programing is negative. Especially when one of the suggested therapies for fighting Alzheimer is to do new and different things that force the mind to work. But I also realize there is a need for some people to connect with memories of the past. I don't own the world and I don't believe that my way is the only way.
This is the programing of the good old days. Is it where the mind of the viewers are stuck. For them it appears that nothing has changed. Or is it a sancturary for the stressed out mind?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
THE GREAT SNOW STORM OF 2011.
At least that's the word for 4-8 inches of snow in what is called Upstate in South Carolina. Our reference point for Upstate is the I-85 corridor. This storm has been on the news stations radar for at least the past week with predictions of 1-4 inches for upstate. The day before the storm was for 4-7 inches with the adverse conditions beginning about midnight on the 9th of January. At five in the morning the prediction for accumulation amounts was 7-12 inches. Later in the evening of this day it is suppose to deliver us some freezing rain. Then we are suppose to have below freezing temps. That's what I like about the south??
The buzz word for the day is "Stay home".
The first priority of snow removal is the main arteries. Interstates, US highways, with back roads on the bottom of the list. In previous travels up and about the area are I'm in total agreement with the buzz word of the day. These Upstate back roads are like riding on a roller coaster. The roads are narrow. Up and down . Blind curves and hills. Shoulders. Fogitboutit. They are a hazard when the weather is good.
But when the big one finally stopped we were hit hard. About 3-4 inches. And after the snow there was freezing rain in our area, less than 1/2 inch, and a drop in temperature that caused our pipes to freeze. Well, the water pipe at our park site. But with a freezer full and water jugs for backup we will be able to weather this storm too. Seems like I ran into some of this great southern weather last year when we went to the Mardi Gras.
At least that's the word for 4-8 inches of snow in what is called Upstate in South Carolina. Our reference point for Upstate is the I-85 corridor. This storm has been on the news stations radar for at least the past week with predictions of 1-4 inches for upstate. The day before the storm was for 4-7 inches with the adverse conditions beginning about midnight on the 9th of January. At five in the morning the prediction for accumulation amounts was 7-12 inches. Later in the evening of this day it is suppose to deliver us some freezing rain. Then we are suppose to have below freezing temps. That's what I like about the south??
The buzz word for the day is "Stay home".
The first priority of snow removal is the main arteries. Interstates, US highways, with back roads on the bottom of the list. In previous travels up and about the area are I'm in total agreement with the buzz word of the day. These Upstate back roads are like riding on a roller coaster. The roads are narrow. Up and down . Blind curves and hills. Shoulders. Fogitboutit. They are a hazard when the weather is good.
But when the big one finally stopped we were hit hard. About 3-4 inches. And after the snow there was freezing rain in our area, less than 1/2 inch, and a drop in temperature that caused our pipes to freeze. Well, the water pipe at our park site. But with a freezer full and water jugs for backup we will be able to weather this storm too. Seems like I ran into some of this great southern weather last year when we went to the Mardi Gras.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Spring? Naw.
Fair Play, SC.
We've had some pretty decent weather for the past couple of weeks. In the seventies during the day and the forties at night. We have heard, from the local news stations, that the fall foliage has run it's course. I don't know where his report came from but not here. The trees have been beautiful and with the weather as good as it has been they have held on to their display of colorful leaves.
Even today with the rain and haze you can still see and feel the impact of the changing colors. What's even better you can watch the metamorphose on a daily basis. You can see each progressive change of color as they travel toward the shedding of their leaves and prepare for the next season of growth.
We've had some pretty decent weather for the past couple of weeks. In the seventies during the day and the forties at night. We have heard, from the local news stations, that the fall foliage has run it's course. I don't know where his report came from but not here. The trees have been beautiful and with the weather as good as it has been they have held on to their display of colorful leaves.
Even today with the rain and haze you can still see and feel the impact of the changing colors. What's even better you can watch the metamorphose on a daily basis. You can see each progressive change of color as they travel toward the shedding of their leaves and prepare for the next season of growth.
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