The TV, the Computer, and a bit of Pop Culture

 

  i hadn't mentioned here our latest computer acquisition, christened "Hearth," because
it's in the living room.  Mainly it's for recording TV shows.

DVR

  i was content with the DVD recorder, though we sometimes forgot to record what we wanted.  But this appeared, to improve the viewing experience, and it does.  Like all technology, it's good when it works.

Watching with a Computer

  With Hearth, we can say, i know they're going to start showing Community again sometime.  Catch it whenever they do.  And it does.  If i know it that night, that's great, and if not, it will wait.  (And i think the 4th season of Community is just as good, despite the rude behind the scene changes.)
  And if i want to begin watching Wheel of Fortune at 7:15 instead of 7:00, i can start at the beginning instead of in the middle.  And i get to skip the commercials, and catch up.

The Valerie Factor

  However, it doesn't always work this way.
  i could pretty much always get the DVR to do what i wanted, but TVF comes into play here.
  Computers seem to notice, Hey, Valerie's driving!  Time for a vacation!
  For no discernible reason, they sometimes don't work for me.

  If MyGuy is handy, he'll take a look and get it going again.  Or maybe i'll watch something different, or watch off the air, or do something else.
  This computer is for my recreational use only.  It has cool features, and i'm learning more, but i'm no programmer.

The Programs

  i've picked up a few new/old shows that i enjoy.  When they were new, i hadn't really watched, for example, The Andy Griffiths Show, especially the early seasons, but they're everywhere now.  They make a nice "popcorn" type filler to have on hand.

Changing Times

  i especially like Episode 27, "Ellie Saves a Female."  Andy's girlfriend, Ellie, owns the drugstore, and noticed that a local girl isn't allowed to buy makeup so Ellie interferes.  Turns out the teen's father is afraid that there is no time for that foolishness, since father and daughter are the only ones to run the farm.  Andy shows dad that a nice looking daughter might net a son in law who will be a good farm hand, while daughter is only a fair farmhand.
  i got to thinking that in an earlier time, the boys on the neighboring farm would have been working the father and daughter farm too, moving the two farms toward one, possibly with an understanding that the girl would marry one of the boys.  And, in a more recent time, daddy would likely have already shut down his farm and moved on to another career.

  When i was small, i was the remote control for the TV and we had no computer in the house.  Now we support ourselves from computers, and they are everywhere.  Farms are the rare thing.