Petty Vents

[Kaneohegirlinaz]

An American without TV? That's like a Brit who doesn't support the monarchy... mind blown!

Yup, Katy we "cut the cord" a few years back.
I just couldn't justify paying OVER $100/ month for NOTHING any longer!
They give you hundreds of channels and we really only watched maybe one or two programs a day, maybe!

My husband kept threatening to throw a brick through the TV some day, so there was that too.

We "stream" what we want to watch, on our TV via the Internet, the subject matter, content, etc, when we want.
We read our News online (we haven't 'taken a paper' in decades) and then we can "watch" more about it if we like.
I find YouTube (the free one btw, not YouTubeTV ) much more interesting than the ABC's as they're referred to as, or even the "cable programing" too.

And the Royals do absolutely nothing for me!

 

[PrincessFiona60]

American - no tv for the last three years.

 

[roadfix]

You are kidding! OMG who knew!?!

Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t know this, including my parents...

 

[Kaneohegirlinaz]

Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t know this, including my parents...

I'm a 'Boomer' (so I'm not exactly a youngster ) and it took me quite some time of research before
a) I understood what the HECK "cutting the cord" meant
b) how it worked
c) how to finally make it happen in our house!

Our neighbor two doors down wants me to help her do the same

 

[KatyCooks]

Yup, Katy we "cut the cord" a few years back.
I just couldn't justify paying OVER $100/ month for NOTHING any longer!
They give you hundreds of channels and we really only watched maybe one or two programs a day, maybe!

My husband kept threatening to throw a brick through the TV some day, so there was that too.

We "stream" what we want to watch, on our TV via the Internet, the subject matter, content, etc, when we want.
We read our News online (we haven't 'taken a paper' in decades) and then we can "watch" more about it if we like.
I find YouTube (the free one btw, not YouTubeTV ) much more interesting than the ABC's as they're referred to as, or even the "cable programing" too.

And the Royals do absolutely nothing for me!

If you want to watch television (in any format) in the UK, you have to pay a licence fee of £175 a year. So if you watched any of the terrestrial stations it would apply. If you buy a television (online or instore) you have to give your name and address - so that they can make sure they send you a bill for the TV licence. It is exempt it you only have a black and white TV. And there are "block" discounts for students or people in old peoples's homes. Everyone else has to pay the licence (let's just call it a tax?) If you have no television at all in your home but watch TV channels on your laptop or other device - you are still in need of a TV licence.

 

[taxlady]

If you want to watch television (in any format) in the UK, you have to pay a licence fee of £175 a year. So if you watched any of the terrestrial stations it would apply. If you buy a television (online or instore) you have to give your name and address - so that they can make sure they send you a bill for the TV licence. It is exempt it you only have a black and white TV. And there are "block" discounts for students or people in old peoples's homes. Everyone else has to pay the licence (let's just call it a tax?) If you have no television at all in your home but watch TV channels on your laptop or other device - you are still in need of a TV licence.

What if you only watch TV that wasn't made in the UK? Would they want you to pay the license to watch a Sveriges Television (Swedish Television, state owned) documentary or TV show on the internet?

 

[dragnlaw]

An American without TV? That's like a Brit who doesn't support the monarchy... mind blown!

I think you may be a bit behind the times.... there are many Brits who do not support the monarchy.

Just to keep the air clear... I'm a Canadian, living in a Commonwealth country and I DO support the monarchy, but I also support the modernization of it. So... what can I say...

Can't go into details because then it becomes political and so we can't discuss American politics either...

 

[Cooking Goddess]

Royals, schmoyals. The only good Royal was RC Cola...

We don't have TV any longer so ...

Ahem, Yes, you do.

...We "stream" what we want to watch, on our TV via the Internet...

To be technical, what you do not have is a cable or dish connection. Probably no actual TV antenna, either, since you probably could not get a basic network signal out where you live in Cowboyville. But you are watching the shows you stream on that TV.

An American without TV?...

While we have a physical television, we have not had anything but a roof antenna (actually mounted in the attic of all three of our houses) that receives TV signals from the local, free television networks. We cut the cord from cable back in 1988 when our kids were so involved in sports and scouts and extra-curricular activities that we had no time to watch TV. We pretty much watch network shows when they're shown, or just miss those episodes if we miss them. We do watch some things via optional means like Roku, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ (those last two thanks to piggy-backing on our daughter's account), but it works for us.

 

[expatgirl]

I keep up with lots of gossip/news out there and this includes what's going on across the pond Don't approve of some of the antics out there, however, though I think the queen has done an admiral job given her challenges......some of her offspring and outlaws not so much...........

 

[Cooking Goddess]

I swear that the models in the Botox commercials are 12. Who needs Botox when they're 12?

 

[Just Cooking]

Our Walmart and CVS has moved to, mostly, self checkout. Sunday, neither store had cash register clerks by 10 AM.

While I don't mind self checkout, for small purchases, I don't appreciate not having a choice.

Ross

 

[Lee Vining]

Our Walmart and CVS has moved to, mostly, self checkout. Sunday, neither store had cash register clerks by 10 AM.

While I don't mind self checkout, for small purchases, I don't appreciate not having a choice.

Ross

I feel the same way.
Walmart check out was bad enough to begin with.

In Cali you can't buy booze or tobacco at the self check outs either.
We don't smoke and the wifie doesn't want alcohol in the house so we're ok there too.

Common saying around these parts:
"Well, you know how Walmart is"

 

[Andy M.]

If there are no lines, I usually go to a regular register. When SO and I are shopping together, she'll head for the self-checkout.

Common saying around these parts: I don't work for Wal-mart.

 

[Rocklobster]

We do self check out at our local grocery store because there is never a line up..they have restricted them to 20 items or less..we rarely buy more than around 10 at the most because we live just a couple of minutes from our grocer store. I'm not crazy about Walmart and don't go there if I don't have to..

 

[Lee Vining]

I swear that the models in the Botox commercials are 12. Who needs Botox when they're 12?

Remember COSMO magazine?

My sisters all subscribed and I remember my sisters mentioning a news article they read claiming the average age COSMO non-famous cover girl was 13.

My wife and her GF's loves BOTOX.
For her 39 is the new 29.
For me 60 is the new 80.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

While I do remember Cosmopolitan magazine, I'll admit that I never bought it either, Lee. Not much of a fashionista, but I can glam it up if absolutely necessary. I never knew that nugget about the age of the cover models.

I'm the kind of person who figures there is no sin in actually looking your chronological age. I've earned every wrinkle and gray hair. I stopped coloring my hair in my early 50s and have never regretted it. I've actually enjoyed seeing how many people who did color their hair, then haven't been able to get to their stylist for maintenance during Covid, have decided to stay with their natural hair. We'll see how long that lasts, though.

As far as Botox and other treatments go, if it makes your wife happy - well, Happy Wife, Happy Life! I find the character lines in the faces of people like Jamie Lee Curtis (62) and Helen Mirren (75) far more interesting than a maintained face like that of Jane Fonda (83). On the other hand, Himself and I laughed ourselves silly watching the movie "Death Becomes Her". Maybe it's time to revisit that one...

 

[Lee Vining]

Cancer put 20 years on my face and I don’t care Im glad to be free of it.
Wife’s vices are sleeping, Botox and her dog. Our family dog.
She’s never had a bad day in her life.
A perfect definition of compassion.
Soft spoken and kind.

Very smart and that doesn’t make me want to turn in my man card.

Our marriage works because she’s never listened to anything I’ve ever said. That’s a fact.

If we come across any lost or injured wild animal she helps them out.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

Microwave...grrrrr........

Now is not the time for one to have an appliance break down. While I don't actually cook in it, I do use my microwave practically every day. While using it today, something went *poof* and now all that works are the two lights that shine down on the surface of the range below. *sigh*

Now finding one somewhere in stock is my challenge. While the Big Box stores seem to be lacking supplies, the couple of local appliance shops have some things in stock. Hopefully, they have something I'm OK with...

Looks like "planned leftovers" are off the menu for a while.

 

[dragnlaw]

appliance substitutes

CG, I hear yuh! Mine's in storage! Hopefully, will not be damaged when I do manage to dig my way to it.

I don't use my coffee maker at the moment as there is no way to re-heat without either running upstairs for the micro or using a pot on the induction burner - both of which get old VERY fast when you reheat your coffee a gazillion times a day.

I've actually switched to instant coffee for now as I found my kettle a couple of days ago. Best part of that is the coffee is actually hot when you drink it.

Leftovers will have to retreat to foil covered in the oven? - as long as it's not too hot in your kitchen. (that's the other reason I love my micro in the summer)

 

[Cooking Goddess]

dragn, I have plenty of Pyrex and Corningwear that I use for food storage, so those can go right into the toaster oven as is. My Mom used to make foil bundles of leftovers and float them in a covered pan of simmering water. That's how I heated my leftover rice yesterday after I steamed the broccoli.