Another grand experiment...

This January, I am going to try to live without cable.

I'm not really an idle TV watcher. That is, I don't really flip through channels until I find something to watch. I have a few shows that I absolutely adore (Lost, anyone?) and those I record with the DVR unit my cable company provides and watch at my leisure.

A couple of months back, I realized my cable bill was shockingly high. A promotional deal I had with company had ended, so I called the customer service line. I canceled the premium channels and the helpful agent found other ways to reduce my bill; she put me on another promotional rate and even removed an additional monthly charge (if you haven't tried doing this, you really should. Most cable companies will find ways to reduce your bill to keep you as a customer). But even then, my monthly cable bill is just under $100, $40 of which is my Internet access.

Do I really need to pay for cable TV? I know lots of people who don't have cable television any more. They download their favorite shows from Amazon or iTunes or watch them for free on the channel's web site or wait until it comes out on DVD and get it from Netflix.

With so many other ways to get these shows, I decided to try out alternate viewing options for quality and ease of use. Granted, I don't have a swanky home theatre set-up. I have an XBox 360, an aging Toshiba Satellite lappy, an older Magnavox TV (24" or so, one of those heavy tube monsters) and of course, a cable modem with a wireless network. If I can get a decent picture and viewing experience with this, then the experiment will be a resounding success!

My Christmas Message

In case I missed anybody (I hope not), I am posting my Christmas greeting here.

I don't particularly like "the holidays." Actually, I pretty much loathe them. I can't tell you how much this time of year fills me with irritation, though that doesn't stop me from trying to explain the depth of my dislike. As I wake up each morning to NPR, the news this Christmas is especially gloomy. Talk in the elevator is about layoffs, with whispers of "how awful! and right before Christmas." As if any time of year is good to lose your job. So why do I feel so hopeful when everyone else is so anxious? Maybe because I still see people raising and giving money to people who need it (Cliff, that moustache looks fantastic; the class room who got the cameras should take a picture of it). Or that people are still following their dreams, economy be damned (I'll be in to pick up my comics soon, Terry, and Jeff, I really need a massage). People are still writing, creating art, making music, saving the environment and doing what they do best, just being good folks and good friends. I am writing to let you know I am your number one fan. (In a good, not-a-stalker-way.) Keep doing the magic that you do. You are making the world a better place and that gives me a lot of hope. On a less sappy note, I have made a "mixtape" of my favorite Christmas songs for your enjoyment (may not be suitable for work or small children or small, working children): XXX-Mas (a christmas mix for the grinch) Merry Christmas
Power to the People!	Peace and Love, Betsy (and Jack)	"Yo."