The $5 Box, Our New Vehicle, and Furthermore
by Barry Bauer
We have Charter Cable Expanded Service. We also have HD programming on our living room TV because we pay $5 extra a month for a cable box. Once we’ve been sucked into having cable TV Charter has been systematically eliminating the channels we can get on Extended Basic, at least that’s what they used to called it, which was promised to us when we signed up for it. The reason for that has to be renting more cable boxes and bringing in more rental money. They have broken their contract with us.
We have channel six (WKBD – CW) that is mute most of the time. We’re told they’re not allowed to broadcast it in its fullest because of a conflict with another station. They should replace it with something we can watch and HEAR, which left me wondering, what the hell’s the matter with them?
We’ve lost channel thirteen (HSN), channel eighteen (WCMU – PBS), channel 78 (Hallmark Channel), and lately channel 55 (Travel Channel) on our expanded service. They’ve gone HD apparently which requires . . . you guessed it, the $5 box.
I will wake up some day.
* * *
We bought a new vehicle two-weeks ago, a Buick Encore which is best described as a mini SUV. It’s kind of cute though. At my age I don’t want one of those step-ladder SUVs that ought to be painted school bus yellow. Our last vehicle, a 1999 Grand Am, was our retirement car. Fourteen years later and more than a few undeserved repair bills told us it was time to buy our second retirement vehicle. We are thankful that we have out lasted that car but with a new vehicle comes its own problems. We started to experience a noise that sounded like a beached dying whale as well as a squealing brake. I’m hoping it isn’t the same as when my brand new Toyota Tacoma had a fan noise that turned out to be a mouse that met his maker and at my cost.
We took it back to the dealer with the noise without recording the noise first – dumb mistake. Murphy’s Law says that it never happens at the shop and it made us, as buyers, look stupid.
If there’s a next time I’ll do better because I already know better – no excuse.
* * *
And Furthermore:
The first signs of spring around this house are, the ants are back, the chipmunks are eating from the corn pile again, and the Grackles are back (who cares where they’ve been). We’re still waiting for our first Robin.
If I were allowed to attend a presidential news conference I would ask one question, Mr. President, are you telling the truth? That would be followed by me being escorted out of the building. So much for being an American.
Will somebody please tell Mayor Bloomberg of New York City that he’s not God. He says more people die of obesity than starvation. If that’s true (I doubt it) why don’t we get rid of some of our free food programs? Many years ago people had to work for their food. That in its self kept their weight down.
Pope Francis reminds me of Pope John Paul I. I hope he last longer. I wish for him a hundred years. The oldest Pope was Pope Leo XIII at age 93. The youngest elected was Pope John XII at eighteen years old.
Until the next time . . .