930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: pepper*sans*salt on September 08, 2004, 03:23:00 pm
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I mean, is it like satellite cable or what?
I'm thinking about getting one but i'm not very savy when it comes to electronic stuff. I'm still learning how my dvd works.
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Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
I mean, is it like satellite cable or what?
I'm thinking about getting one but i'm not very savy when it comes to electronic stuff. I'm still learning how my dvd works.
you are thinking about getting one but you don't know what it is?
basically, it allows you to record tv easily, I am sure somebody who actually has it can expand that definition
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Why would you think about getting something when you dont know what it is?
I was thinking of getting me some herpes they sound great.
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yeah but you know what those are...just cause you're a scientist...not cause you have 'em or anything
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It's just another invention by the capitalist monsters to get you to waste your money. They keep inventing junk and convincing people that they need it by using bands like Mooney Suzuki in their ads.
Instead, put the money into an account to buy a home or put it into some other investment account.
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Instead, put the money into an account to buy a home or put it into some other investment account.
But if everyone did that the economy would crumble and millions of Chinese workers would be out of a job....
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Originally posted by Celeste:
yeah but you know what those are...just cause you're a scientist...not cause you have 'em or anything
excuse me whilst I have a scratch... ... that is better.
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Thanks you guys. (note the sarcastic tone)I know what it's used for-- you record movies. But a vcr does that. What makes it so special? I hear about it all the time.
Or perhaps this question should be in the F.A.Q. forum. :p
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
They keep inventing junk and convincing people that they need it by using bands like Mooney Suzuki in their ads.
odd, cause the Mooney Suzuki would not make me want to buy anything, especially not a Mooney Suzuki CD!!!
TiVo sucks too, i agree. TV sucks i think too.
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Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
Thanks you guys. (note the sarcastic tone)I know what it's used for-- you record movies. But a vcr does that. What makes it so special? I hear about it all the time.
Or perhaps this question should be in the F.A.Q. forum. :p
uh, no, you don't record just movies
surprisingly (note the sarcastic tone) their website has a whole section explaining it:
Just choose a smart TiVo box and activate the genius TiVo service for just $12.95/mo. to start getting all of the entertainment you care about. TiVo works with any TV setup to automatically find and digitally record up to 140 hours of the programming you want--every episode of your favorite series, every Coppola movie, home improvement shows, Dora cartoons, whatever you choose--all while you're out living life. Plus, pause, rewind and slo-mo live TV. Home media features like digital music, photos and TiVo Online Scheduling also included.
Only TiVo service offers easy-to-use features like WishListâ?˘ searches and Season Passâ?˘ recordings, plus much more
TiVo Online Scheduling, plus Home Media features like Digital Music & Photos included
Works with everything: cable, digital cable, satellite, antenna, and combinations
It's easy to get started, just choose a TiVo box, and put this amazing service to work for just $12.95T a month
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Pepper: I have a crazy idea.. Check out www.tivo.com (http://www.tivo.com) I have a hunch you will find all of your answers there. not sure though :cool:
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Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
What makes it so special?
i think thats our point. nothing really. like a built in VCR thats probably easier to use.
no tapes, and probably digital quality recordings
its really not for the casual TV watcher.
ha, its like Extreme TV!!!!
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Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
Thanks you guys. (note the sarcastic tone)I know what it's used for-- you record movies. But a vcr does that. What makes it so special? I hear about it all the time.
Or perhaps this question should be in the F.A.Q. forum. :p
You can record regular T.V. too.....
Instead of recording onto tape, like a VCR, it records onto a Hard Drive, like the ones in a computer. So you can access what you hace recorded instantly.
I will automatically detect the shows you watch on T.V. and record future ones you. It will let you rewind live T.V.
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Originally posted by mark e smith:
Why would you think about getting something when you dont know what it is?
I was thinking of getting me some herpes they sound great.
Judging by the lack of people standing near you at the Liz Phair concert, it seems like you already invested in them. ;)
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also,
TiVo will allow you to record anything you want, so you wont miss one second of TV watching laziness.
you too, can be a fat american!! yay!
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Originally posted by LabelsDC:
Pepper: I have a crazy idea.. Check out www.tivo.com (http://www.tivo.com) I have a hunch you will find all of your answers there. not sure though :cool:
I know about that site. I wanted real suggestions about it though, not a bunch of fake testimonials like "I don't know how i lived without it!!" That's why i decided to post the question here.
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Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
Judging by the lack of people standing near you at the Liz Phair concert, it seems like you already invested in them. ;)
I think my loud groans aimed at her insipid lyrics and my facial grimaces at her lack of vocal ability kept people away. Actually I think the sensible people left after the cardigans.
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by the way... u can check out replay tv.. a cheaper version TIVO.. they are all DVR's Digital Video Recorders.
It plays everything in a delay, so u can pause live TV, go back to something you missed (or didnt hear). Its actually really cool if youre a couch patato.
TIVO is like a nagging spouse. It gets to the point if it see that you record certain shows, it will start suggesting things you should watch/record.. Guess that could get annoying..
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Well then put your money into cd's, of the music variety. And buy the cd's at shows, so the artists get more money.
Sorry, I just hate tv.
Originally posted by mark e smith:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Instead, put the money into an account to buy a home or put it into some other investment account.
But if everyone did that the economy would crumble and millions of Chinese workers would be out of a job.... [/b]
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the TiVo itself would probably be cool, if you didnt have to buy a new TV and the "tivo box" isnt $300 or something.
how much is that TiVo box anyway?
i only watch sports on TV and i dont watch old games, so i would have zero use for it.
I have Netflix :)
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Countdown to vansmack......
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It's better than a VCR for many reasons. 1. If the electricity goes out, you still get your program recorded (assuming it comes back on in time). 2. You can schedule it to record a certain show and it will pick it up no matter when it's on. For example, say I set it to record Scrubs always. It will notice if they switch nights and times and record it for me. And I only have to set it once and it will record it week after week so I don't have to remember every morning what to record and then try to find a blank tape. 3. The newer ones allow you to go online and set it via a webpage. So, if you're at work and hear about something good coming on in an hour, you can record it without running home. (this is assuming you have it plugged into a router or your wireless network at home) 4. It will save your shows for you until you run out of room or want to delete them. And then, if you want, you can record them from the Tivo to a VCR.
Really, it's mostly people who really love TV that like them. A lot of cable and satellite companies have their own versions of them, too, that don't require a subscription fee *and* the price to buy it. I used a fake one from my cable company and only paid $20 a month for it- no $200 - 300 right at first jsut to buy it, plus the $13 a month after that. And when I was done with it, I just turned it back in. Pretty handy.
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smackie luv his tivo...
personally i'm taking the plunge to get the comcast digital video recorder (dvr), which kosmette will continue to call a tivo. kinda like kleenex.
the biggest advantage of a dvr over a vcr is the ability to have several hours of tv at your disposal without having to worry about changing tv. it will be nice for instance to be able to have several episodes of Malcolm in the Middle on hand. Plus it nice to be able to setup it up to tape those BBC America shows that come and go like the wind.
personally, i'm loathed to give comcast more money, but the comcast dvrs have a couple advantages over tivo. instead of two devices its combined into one, you can return it when done using it, plus some come with dual tuners which is important with digital cable.
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Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
I know about that site. I wanted real suggestions about it though, not a bunch of fake testimonials like "I don't know how i lived without it!!"
I wouldn't be so sure those are fake. Everyone I know who owns one practically worships it. They're like a cult - similar to those iPod fanatics.
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Originally posted by punkfarmgirl:
1. If the electricity goes out, you still get your program recorded (assuming it comes back on in time). 2. You can schedule it to record a certain show and it will pick it up no matter when it's on. For example, say I set it to record Scrubs always. It will notice if they switch nights and times and record it for me. And I only have to set it once and it will record it week after week so I don't have to remember every morning what to record and then try to find a blank tape. 3. The newer ones allow you to go online and set it via a webpage. So, if you're at work and hear about something good coming on in an hour, you can record it without running home. (this is assuming you have it plugged into a router or your wireless network at home) 4. It will save your shows for you until you run out of room or want to delete them. And then, if you want, you can record them from the Tivo to a VCR.
none of these things have EVER come up in my lifetime! wierd.
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Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
Originally posted by LabelsDC:
Pepper: I have a crazy idea.. Check out www.tivo.com (http://www.tivo.com) I have a hunch you will find all of your answers there. not sure though :cool:
I know about that site. I wanted real suggestions about it though, not a bunch of fake testimonials like "I don't know how i lived without it!!" That's why i decided to post the question here. [/b]
I have a tivo, and enjoy it. Now that the prices have come down they are much more affordable as well. I have enjoyed mine, but don't pay $13 a month, just pay the lifetime service fee and be done with it.
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watching TV is bad for you... take a class or go to a museum instead.
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we got both a first generation tivo on our downstairs tv and a comcast DVR on our upstairs tv so here are my thoughts if you are interested:
1. Tivo is fantastic, my wife and I both love it. allows us to watch the daily show every night during dinner and watch everything else we tape when we want to watch it, plus its insanely easy to use. we've had one for about 3 years now and i can hardly remember watching tv before we got it. we also did two things to it that made it really nice. one we got a lifetime subscription to it when they were $199. and two I added a 2nd hard drive to it so that we get 120 hours of recording rather than the 20 it originally had. this is why we've never upgraded it. but it works like a champ and we love it.
2. comcast DVR is terrible compared to tv. features suck, software sucks, ff sucks and its hard to record programs. why do we have it you ask. one reason and one reason only, it allows us to record in HD while tivo does not. and recording sopranos, and movies and other stuff in HD is worth $10 a month basically.
so depending on your situation, i'd totally recommend tivo. its a great gizmo and even if you dont watch a lot of tv, you'll never aimless surf channels looking for stuff to watch.
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Originally posted by suede:
2. comcast DVR is terrible compared to tv. features suck, software sucks, ff sucks and its hard to record programs. why do we have it you ask. one reason and one reason only, it allows us to record in HD while tivo does not. and recording sopranos, and movies and other stuff in HD is worth $10 a month basically.
this is good to know... although given comcast reputation of providing different set top boxes in different areas it hard to say which model is going to show up in the concrete manse. if they can actually get me one... if it sucks it goes back lickety spit.
i'm dreaming but i'd still rather get a stable Microsloth or OS X DVR solution
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Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
Originally posted by pepper*sans*salt:
I know about that site. I wanted real suggestions about it though, not a bunch of fake testimonials like "I don't know how i lived without it!!"
I wouldn't be so sure those are fake. Everyone I know who owns one practically worships it. They're like a cult - similar to those iPod fanatics. [/b]
I agree with Chutney...you'll note the folks slagging on it also state outright that they do not like t.v. So, their input may not be all that valuable to you.
My sister might well give her first born up for tivo. She loves t.v., but doesn't have time to watch much. She only watches tivo (or some version thereof). You can prompt it to tape any show you love, and it will always catch it. You can also prompt it to record anything with Nancy Sinatra on it, or Buckethead or Regis Philbin. If it's programmed for Regis, it would have recorded Late Night with David Letterman last night, for instance.
Also, t.v. watchers fall in love with the ability to rewind a show that's actually on, and skip commercials. Don't ask me how, but it records up to a half hour in real time at all times, so you can pretty much 'move around' within the show you're watching...
So, if you watch t.v., it may be great for you. I don't have it, nor do I have premium cable -- just doesn't make sense to me to pay over $80/month for t.v. But that's my issue. I do NOT hate t.v.
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Holy Cow!!!!
This is why I should never go to lunch. Don't believe anyhting you've read here (except Suede). Let me organize my thoughts and I'll be right back.
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Originally posted by Bags:
Also, t.v. watchers fall in love with the ability to rewind a show that's actually on, and skip commercials. Don't ask me how, but it records up to a half hour in real time at all times, so you can pretty much 'move around' within the show you're watching...
Like Janet Jackson's tits for example..
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Originally posted by ggwâ?˘:
Countdown to vansmack......
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First off, Tivo is not a VCR - no tapes, no difficult programming, no crazy settings.
It records to a hard drive which is good for many reasons:
1) Better picture quality
2) Easier and clearer Fast forward and rewinding
3) It's always on, so you have up to a 30 minute buffer of anything you're watching and you can always go back.
A TiVo box is the DVR and costs anywhere from $99 to $300 depending on the hardware, but the TiVo service is the key. Prices range, but $13 a month gets you full service.
Unlike a VCR, you can automatically record shows with one click of a button with a feature called "Season Pass", but you can also auto-record using keywords like "Kubrick" or "Shannon Tweed."
It also gives you schedules up too 2 weeks in advance (when available) so you can plan things out. So you can scroll through schedules and choose programs to record that way.
In series 2 models, they have added an option called the Home Media option, which is now free with the $13 subscription. The home media option allows me to schedule programs via the internet (say I'm sitting at my desk and the Angels play tonight. Smackette says she wants to go have drinks with friends. I say no problem, log on to Tivo.com at work and tell my recorder to record the Angels. It will be there when I get home.) Another great feature is that it plays all of my digital music files that I have on the hard drives of any computer on my network through the Tivo. Good stuff.
Now the other features of TiVo depend on whether you have basci cable, no cable or directv, so if you want to provide me with a little more info I can share some more positives, and let you know of the negatives.
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so it allows you to record tv easily
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Originally posted by pollard:
I am sure somebody who actually has it can expand that definition
Sure thing.
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I have friends and family members that cannot live w/o Tivo. Well, they enjoy it quite a bit. Not sure necessarily they are TV aficienados, just like the easibility of it all. I have a DVR w/ satellite. Satellite can be frustrating (goes out from time to time, has it's own exorcists) but the DVR option is kinda cool. Also the ability to rewind live TV is a cool feature. Funny how it becomes a crutch and habit -- when watching another TV without the rewind feature, I have found I reach for the remote to rewind if I missed something....
Only thing w/ my DVR and satellite -- I can't watch another station while one show is recording...I think this is the same as Tivo.
I'm not a TV freak, but I have my favorites. I'm not around to watch some of the shows live, so it's nice to have a simple set up to record and keep them until I choose to delete.
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Remember back before television, when people actually had to be creative, and have an imagination, and had to engage their children in social activity, instead of having tv's to stick them in front of? Weren't those the good old days?
Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Flava:
I have friends and family members that cannot live w/o Tivo. Well, they enjoy it quite a bit. Not sure necessarily they are TV aficienados, just like the easibility of it all. I have a DVR w/ satellite. Satellite can be frustrating (goes out from time to time, has it's own exorcists) but the DVR option is kinda cool. Also the ability to rewind live TV is a cool feature. Funny how it becomes a crutch and habit -- when watching another TV without the rewind feature, I have found I reach for the remote to rewind if I missed something....
Only thing w/ my DVR and satellite -- I can't watch another station while one show is recording...I think this is the same as Tivo.
I'm not a TV freak, but I have my favorites. I'm not around to watch some of the shows live, so it's nice to have a simple set up to record and keep them until I choose to delete.
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Just because one has Tivo doesn't mean they watch TV all the time. I own a TV and a DVR and I rarely watch TV. Not sure where I mentioned watching TV in lieu of creative activities..And yes, those were the good ol' days.
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Remember back before television, when people actually had to be creative, and have an imagination, and had to engage their children in social activity, instead of having tv's to stick them in front of? Weren't those the good old days?
Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Flava:
I have friends and family members that cannot live w/o Tivo. Well, they enjoy it quite a bit. Not sure necessarily they are TV aficienados, just like the easibility of it all. I have a DVR w/ satellite. Satellite can be frustrating (goes out from time to time, has it's own exorcists) but the DVR option is kinda cool. Also the ability to rewind live TV is a cool feature. Funny how it becomes a crutch and habit -- when watching another TV without the rewind feature, I have found I reach for the remote to rewind if I missed something....
Only thing w/ my DVR and satellite -- I can't watch another station while one show is recording...I think this is the same as Tivo.
I'm not a TV freak, but I have my favorites. I'm not around to watch some of the shows live, so it's nice to have a simple set up to record and keep them until I choose to delete.
[/b]
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Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Flava:
Only thing w/ my DVR and satellite -- I can't watch another station while one show is recording...I think this is the same as Tivo.
TiVo with DirecTV allows you to record one channel and watch another channel at the same time, or record two and watch something you've already recorded.
TiVo on Basic Cable allows you to watch one and record another.
TiVo on digital cable requires you to watch the channel that you are recording, or watch something you've already recorded.
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Remember back before television, when people actually had to be creative, and have an imagination, and had to engage their children in social activity, instead of having tv's to stick them in front of? Weren't those the good old days?
No, and I've met you so I have reasonably good idea of how old you are so I'm certain that you don't either.
TiVo doesn't make me watch more TV. Everybody has limited schedules to do just about anything, TV watching included.
Instead, TiVo allows me to maximize the time I do spend watching TV by allowing me to fast forward commercials and not be subject to the schedules of network and cable TV.
I watch TV on my own time. If anything, I watch less TV because instead of spending, say 9-10 on Sunday nights watching Alias, I start at 9:20 and watch the whole show in 40 minutes instead of subjecting myself to 20 minutes of commercials.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Remember back before television, when people actually had to be creative, and have an imagination, and had to engage their children in social activity, instead of having tv's to stick them in front of? Weren't those the good old days?
TiVo doesn't make me watch more TV. Everybody has limited schedules to do just about anything, TV watching included.
Instead, TiVo allows me to maximize the time I do spend watching TV by allowing me to fast forward commercials and not be subject to the schedules of network and cable TV.
I watch TV on my own time. If anything, I watch less TV because instead of spending, say 9-10 on Sunday nights watching Alias, I start at 9:20 and watch the whole show in 40 minutes instead of subjecting myself to 20 minutes of commercials. [/b]
well said!
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Aaaah, "Alias." Can't wait for the new season to start.... :D
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Originally posted by vansmack:
instead of subjecting myself to 20 minutes of commercials.
thats not being a good little American consumer now, is it?
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Originally posted by Bags:
Aaaah, "Alias." Can't wait for the new season to start.... :D
It starts in January - crazy eh?
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You are correct. Still sometimes I wish I were born in another century. I guess better health care and plumbing are the saving graces of modern life...
Honestly, the only things I ever watch are the occasional O's game, and NASCAR. I coudn't imagine wanting to watch either on tape. And sometimes I join my wife in watching that sill Trading Spouses show.
Thus, this Tivo thing really isn't for me. I'd rather not get anything like Tivo or cable that would encourage tv consumption. Life is better, for me, without it.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Remember back before television, when people actually had to be creative, and have an imagination, and had to engage their children in social activity, instead of having tv's to stick them in front of? Weren't those the good old days?
No, and I've met you so I have reasonably good idea of how old you are so I'm certain that you don't either.
TiVo doesn't make me watch more TV. Everybody has limited schedules to do just about anything, TV watching included.
Instead, TiVo allows me to maximize the time I do spend watching TV by allowing me to fast forward commercials and not be subject to the schedules of network and cable TV.
I watch TV on my own time. If anything, I watch less TV because instead of spending, say 9-10 on Sunday nights watching Alias, I start at 9:20 and watch the whole show in 40 minutes instead of subjecting myself to 20 minutes of commercials. [/b]
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Rhett, you should take up Civil War re-enacting. I don't know why, but I think this would be a good hobby for you.
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Hmmm. I was born in Florida but raised in upstate NY. One Yankee parent and one Confederate parent (Was Florida part of the Confederacy?). Which side would I be on?
Thanks for the suggestion. It actually sounds like it would be fun.
Originally posted by chaz:
Rhett, you should take up Civil War re-enacting. I don't know why, but I think this would be a good hobby for you.
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It doesn't really matter what side you're on as long as you have one of those insane moustaches that all those civil war buffs sport.
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Hmmm. I was born in Florida but raised in upstate NY. One Yankee parent and one Confederate parent (Was Florida part of the Confederacy?). Which side would I be on?
Thanks for the suggestion. It actually sounds like it would be fun.
Originally posted by chaz:
Rhett, you should take up Civil War re-enacting. I don't know why, but I think this would be a good hobby for you.
[/b]
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Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Flava:
Originally posted by Bags:
Aaaah, "Alias." Can't wait for the new season to start.... :D
It starts in January - crazy eh? [/b]
It's an absolute crime....
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Originally posted by sonickteam2:
Originally posted by vansmack:
instead of subjecting myself to 20 minutes of commercials.
thats not being a good little American consumer now, is it? [/b]
Oh, I've been trying to singelhandedly spend this country out this economic downturn.
But really, who needs commercials with this internet thing? I mean, I got a little choked up at the Mia Hamm tribute by Gatorade, but for every one great commercial there's 1000 that aren't for me. I usually know about new products long before they hit the TV anyway.
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Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Flava:
Originally posted by Bags:
Aaaah, "Alias." Can't wait for the new season to start.... :D
It starts in January - crazy eh? [/b]
JANUARY!!??!! Man, that blows. Maybe I'll do something creative on Sunday night instead...
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Hmmm. I was born in Florida but raised in upstate NY. One Yankee parent and one Confederate parent (Was Florida part of the Confederacy?). Which side would I be on?
At this point, doesn't matter if Florida was in the confederacy. Florida's so heavily yankee now that there's no choice...Even the West Coast (or, more properly, the SunCoast) is mostly Midwestern folk.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
mean, I got a little choked up at the Mia Hamm tribute by Gatorade, but for every one great commercial there's 1000 that aren't for me.
So funny...I saw the Mia Hamm gatorade commercial on the Today Show (they surprised her by airing it for her -- she hadn't seen it yet), so I *still* don't need to see commercials! ;)
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Isn't Florida more Cuban-heavy than Yankee heavy these days?
I'm talking about Florida 1941-1972, the years my mom lived there.
Originally posted by Bags:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Hmmm. I was born in Florida but raised in upstate NY. One Yankee parent and one Confederate parent (Was Florida part of the Confederacy?). Which side would I be on?
At this point, doesn't matter if Florida was in the confederacy. Florida's so heavily yankee now that there's no choice...Even the West Coast (or, more properly, the SunCoast) is mostly Midwestern folk. [/b]
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Originally posted by suede:
2. comcast DVR is terrible compared to tv. features suck, software sucks, ff sucks and its hard to record programs. why do we have it you ask. one reason and one reason only, it allows us to record in HD while tivo does not. and recording sopranos, and movies and other stuff in HD is worth $10 a month basically.
Actually, they have a Tivo that records HDTV now. My friends just got it and love it very much. They have a dish, though, so maybe it's only available for that?
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Originally posted by punkfarmgirl:
Actually, they have a Tivo that records HDTV now. My friends just got it and love it very much. They have a dish, though, so maybe it's only available for that?
You are correct. Only DirecTV offers a TiVo that records in HD.
[geekspeak]
The DTV HDTivo receives ATSC over-the-air signals. Cable HD signals are QAM, which neither the DTV HDTiVo nor regualr Tivo can receive.
[/geekspeak]