As most of you know from previous blogs, there is no cable or dish TV at the Clark house. Our TV watching is FREE. Whatever comes in over the airwaves and can be picked up by my antenna, is what we watch.
Now it sounds like the new future of TV, could be ALL 'paid' TV. Free TV may be going the way of Buick and dinosaurs...they just don't...or won't...exist anymore.
It seems with the growth of 'pay-TV', with more and more channel options, the 'free-TV' system is losing more and more advertising dollars...and those stations can't compete with the system that has advertising 'AND' fees being paid into its coffers.
Since they "can't beat 'em"...they may have to "join 'em", and start charging fees. Thus...the demise of free TV.
It may not happen this year...or next...but it's likely gonna happen. Now for those of you faithful readers who have been 'paying for TV' for years, you may think "just MAN-UP Dan" and join the new millennium.
My thought is...I don't mind doing it if it's available and I 'choose' to join. I just hate to 'have to'... if I don't 'want to'.
Dan
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
ARE ALL LIBRARIES HEADED THIS WAY?
What is more important in a library than anything else - than everything else - is the fact that it exists. ~Archibald MacLeish
The best of my education has come from the public library... my tuition fee is a bus fare and once in a while, five cents a day for an overdue book. You don't need to know very much to start with, if you know the way to the public library. ~Lesley Conger
Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest. ~Lady Bird Johnson
As a child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school. I actually believed all those books belonged to her. ~Erma Bombeck
To those with ears to hear, libraries are really very noisy places. On their shelves we hear the captured voices of the centuries-old conversation that makes up our civilization. ~Timothy Healy
The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library. ~Malcolm Forbes
We all know California is a state in debt. Likely, the other 49 are as well, we just hear more about California. States are in financial trouble, cities are in financial trouble. This article is about an unfortunate task the city of Oakland has had to take on. How many other cities have done similarly, or will be forced to?
An unfortunate direction to go.
Dan
The best of my education has come from the public library... my tuition fee is a bus fare and once in a while, five cents a day for an overdue book. You don't need to know very much to start with, if you know the way to the public library. ~Lesley Conger
Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest. ~Lady Bird Johnson
As a child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school. I actually believed all those books belonged to her. ~Erma Bombeck
To those with ears to hear, libraries are really very noisy places. On their shelves we hear the captured voices of the centuries-old conversation that makes up our civilization. ~Timothy Healy
The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library. ~Malcolm Forbes
We all know California is a state in debt. Likely, the other 49 are as well, we just hear more about California. States are in financial trouble, cities are in financial trouble. This article is about an unfortunate task the city of Oakland has had to take on. How many other cities have done similarly, or will be forced to?
An unfortunate direction to go.
Dan
Monday, December 28, 2009
DUMB PHONE
With today's new 'lingo' and reading an article about smart phones, I just realized I am in the category of 'owner of a dumb phone'. I mean, if it ain't a 'smart phone', it must be a 'dumb phone'.
Sixty-percent (60%) of my kids (I include my sons-in-laws as 'my' kids) own smart phones. Hey they're young...it's the thing to do...everybody else is...why not?
Cindy & I are among the 'dumb phone' owners of the group.
You know what I'm talking about...right? The iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre, Cliq, Droid...all versions of 'smart phones', ie. phones that do more than be used as phones.
From the humongous computers of years ago that filled an entire room -to desktops - to laptops...you can now have the power of a computer...literally...in the palm of your hand.
I first saw one this summer at our family reunion. As an opening get-to-know-you-game, I handed out a game with 20+ questions on it. As everyone else struggled to figure out the answers, my great-nephew, Andrew, plugged the questions into his iPhone, and the answers were spitting out faster than he could enter the question. Soon, he was the 'hit' of the party as all the young kids were copying his answers that he found on that 'computer in the palm of his hand'.
Later, after the reunion, the 60% of our kids that I mentioned, got theirs. They have since used them to an unbelievable advantage...including GPS systems to get us to a wedding...check their Facebook account with it...check on email on their work computers...and 'oh by the way'......it can be used as a PHONE !!
If it has a downfall to me, it is that my kids are so tempted with the gadget, they are 'always' on it. It's like an extension of their hand. Every few minutes...they check to see if their friends have texted...Facebooked...or emailed them. It's like they have no 'free time' of their own, because they are always 'on' their phones.
You know, someday I'll probably break down and get one. But for now, I'm gonna play 'dumb'.
Dan
Sixty-percent (60%) of my kids (I include my sons-in-laws as 'my' kids) own smart phones. Hey they're young...it's the thing to do...everybody else is...why not?
Cindy & I are among the 'dumb phone' owners of the group.
You know what I'm talking about...right? The iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre, Cliq, Droid...all versions of 'smart phones', ie. phones that do more than be used as phones.
From the humongous computers of years ago that filled an entire room -to desktops - to laptops...you can now have the power of a computer...literally...in the palm of your hand.
I first saw one this summer at our family reunion. As an opening get-to-know-you-game, I handed out a game with 20+ questions on it. As everyone else struggled to figure out the answers, my great-nephew, Andrew, plugged the questions into his iPhone, and the answers were spitting out faster than he could enter the question. Soon, he was the 'hit' of the party as all the young kids were copying his answers that he found on that 'computer in the palm of his hand'.
Later, after the reunion, the 60% of our kids that I mentioned, got theirs. They have since used them to an unbelievable advantage...including GPS systems to get us to a wedding...check their Facebook account with it...check on email on their work computers...and 'oh by the way'......it can be used as a PHONE !!
If it has a downfall to me, it is that my kids are so tempted with the gadget, they are 'always' on it. It's like an extension of their hand. Every few minutes...they check to see if their friends have texted...Facebooked...or emailed them. It's like they have no 'free time' of their own, because they are always 'on' their phones.
You know, someday I'll probably break down and get one. But for now, I'm gonna play 'dumb'.
Dan
Sunday, December 27, 2009
PROVERBS 20:11
Even a child is known by his deeds,
By whether what he does is pure and right.
Prov. 20:11
If you can read this article and not shed a tear...I got nothin' for ya'.
Maybe there's some gifts we didn't get for Christmas...but we have so many other blessings we need to be thankful for. Try not to complain.
Dan
By whether what he does is pure and right.
Prov. 20:11
If you can read this article and not shed a tear...I got nothin' for ya'.
Maybe there's some gifts we didn't get for Christmas...but we have so many other blessings we need to be thankful for. Try not to complain.
Dan
Saturday, December 26, 2009
PAYING IT FORWARD
We've heard about it.
We've seen it.
Hopefully...we've done it.
If you want to get people talking...and scratching their head...and giving yourself a good feeling inside...do something kind for someone...but don't let them know who did it.
And you never know...they might do it in return...for someone else. That's what happened here.
Life is good. Sometimes it's real good.
Dan
We've seen it.
Hopefully...we've done it.
If you want to get people talking...and scratching their head...and giving yourself a good feeling inside...do something kind for someone...but don't let them know who did it.
And you never know...they might do it in return...for someone else. That's what happened here.
Life is good. Sometimes it's real good.
Dan
Friday, December 25, 2009
CHRISTMAS RECAP 2009
Up early.
Fixed a big breakfast.
Ate breakfast with kids, grandkids, Cindy's aunt.
Played games that Santa brought.
Watched movies that Santa left.
Visited with our friend Grace...one of our 'other' girls.
Talked to grandson away in Iowa to see what Santa brought him there.
Ate, drank, snacked, laughed, loved, hugged and kissed.
Belly's full, house is warm.
Blessings galore.
I'm a lucky man.
Dan
Fixed a big breakfast.
Ate breakfast with kids, grandkids, Cindy's aunt.
Played games that Santa brought.
Watched movies that Santa left.
Visited with our friend Grace...one of our 'other' girls.
Talked to grandson away in Iowa to see what Santa brought him there.
Ate, drank, snacked, laughed, loved, hugged and kissed.
Belly's full, house is warm.
Blessings galore.
I'm a lucky man.
Dan
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
JOBS NOW
The New York Times says the top priority in 2010 needs to be finding jobs for those out of work.
I agree!
Few things will inspire confidence and self-respect in people, than for those who are willing to work...to be able to find it.
Other things are important...but this is MOST important.
This is true in my own family. My daughter has been looking for meaningful work for years. Admittedly, she has been her own worst enemy because of choices she has made over those years. But she's gotten a little wiser. She's trying to now find work to make her life better...there's simply very little meaningful work out there. She MUST put forth the effort to make herself more attractive to employers, but there also needs to be something attractive out there to encourage her to make that effort.
My son-in-law, too, is in need of the job market to come back. A tradesman, he depends on a functioning economy for his trade to be working. When it's not working...neither is he. He needs to work...he wants to work...there's just none there.
The NYT article says that one problem on the horizon in 2010 will be the coming of midterm election politics. Our leaders will need to put less emphasis on this...and more on job creation. I believe their wish to get, or stay, in office will be determined on how they meet the needs for jobs.
But the rhetoric needs to stop...the finger pointing needs to stop...and action needs to start.
Our politicians must be held accountable for doing so. Millions across the land are going to see to it. President Obama, and others in office, were put there by an eager group of Americans, ready for a change. I believe that same group will be equally eager to vote them out of office if they don't uphold their end of the bargain.
If they will 'do their jobs', we'll let them 'keep their job'. And right now...'their job' needs to be creating new ones for our family, friends and neighbors.
Dan
I agree!
Few things will inspire confidence and self-respect in people, than for those who are willing to work...to be able to find it.
Other things are important...but this is MOST important.
This is true in my own family. My daughter has been looking for meaningful work for years. Admittedly, she has been her own worst enemy because of choices she has made over those years. But she's gotten a little wiser. She's trying to now find work to make her life better...there's simply very little meaningful work out there. She MUST put forth the effort to make herself more attractive to employers, but there also needs to be something attractive out there to encourage her to make that effort.
My son-in-law, too, is in need of the job market to come back. A tradesman, he depends on a functioning economy for his trade to be working. When it's not working...neither is he. He needs to work...he wants to work...there's just none there.
The NYT article says that one problem on the horizon in 2010 will be the coming of midterm election politics. Our leaders will need to put less emphasis on this...and more on job creation. I believe their wish to get, or stay, in office will be determined on how they meet the needs for jobs.
But the rhetoric needs to stop...the finger pointing needs to stop...and action needs to start.
Our politicians must be held accountable for doing so. Millions across the land are going to see to it. President Obama, and others in office, were put there by an eager group of Americans, ready for a change. I believe that same group will be equally eager to vote them out of office if they don't uphold their end of the bargain.
If they will 'do their jobs', we'll let them 'keep their job'. And right now...'their job' needs to be creating new ones for our family, friends and neighbors.
Dan
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