The other day at work, some coworkers and I were discussing television viewing. I commented that I have cable, but have not upgraded to HD or a DVR, or premium services, that the basic service provides what I need. Additionally, I can only watch one show at a time, so, unless there is nothing on, a DVR is of no value to me. And, if there is nothing on TV, I can read, or do other projects, including writing and doing things on the computer.
I commented that I like cable because I like sports and The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/ . We talked about viewing options. One of my coworkers commented that he just watched the local channels. He has a converter box that allows for that. I have one, that I purchased to attach to the little 18" black and white TV that I purchased in 1978. The TV used to work, but I have never connected the converter box. Maybe, someday, I will. The TV is on the nightstand in my bedroom, and I keep wondering about the logistics of balancing the box on the TV or nightstand. The last time I used that TV was several years ago, when we were under a tornado watch. I had the TV on while I sat in the closet, with Sake and Haiku in cat crates on either side of me. The tornado missed us (but since then, when the weather has frightened the cats, one or both has used the crates.)
The conversation at work then turned to renting DVDs. I commented that the library has DVDs, and VHS tapes to check out for free. Neither coworker was aware of that. Neither coworker had a library card.
I have had a library card since I moved to Lubbock in 1977. That just blew me away that they did not have a library card.
I am not sure when I got my first library card, but I know I checked out library books when I was in the second grade. http://www.montaguepubliclibraries.org/ The library in Millers Falls was at a different location when I was growing up, and only open on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, but was an important feature of my life.
After I graduated from high school, I went off to college, but moved back home when that did not work out. I kept my local library card, but also was able to get a library card for the library at the county seat, Greenfield, Ma http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/.
Then, I went to The College of Our Lady of the Elms (COLE) http://www.elms.edu/. At that time, COLE belonged to a consortium that allowed us to use five other libraries. My memory is faulty, but for sure, that included : Springfield College http://www.spfldcol.edu/, and American International College http://www.aic.edu/. I used those two libraries while I was a student at COLE.
Since I have lived in Lubbock, I have had cable at times, and other times, have not had cable. I think it is an extravagance, but one I am willing to pay for. Part of the reason for that is because of the TV channels I want to access. The other reason is for the computer Internet access.
I could try to use DSL computer Internet access at my house. But I am not sold on DSL. I understand that it is slower than cable. But the other reason I am not sold on DSL is due to the condition of my telephone lines.
My house was built in 1956. When I moved in, I was told it was wired for two telephone lines, if need be. I had no need. But, when I had a land line telephone line, and when it had rained or snowed, there was interference on my phone line. I could hear noise (indistinct voices) on the line. When I contacted the telephone company about this they claimed it was due to the internal wiring of my house, and would be my expense to correct, instead of their problem. I doubted them. I mean, why would the wiring inside my house allow me to hear my neighbors on line, when it was wet outside.
So, this is another reason for me not to use DSL. Think about it, if the DSL company is using those lines I had problems with in the past, I would continue to have problems with access.
So, I have cable access for the Internet. I have cable access for television channels, based on my cable plan.
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