The Cost Of Media

I was thinking on the way to work today about how much media costs us today. I remember when cable TV was installed in town back in the day. I think the cost was around $20 a month. Everyone thought that was just outrageous!

Now we pay on average anywhere from $60 for basic cable to $150 a month if you want premium channels, HD content and internet service.

Add to that cell phone and smartphone service. That also is anywhere from $50 for basic service to $150 a month if you have 2 or more lines with a data plan.

That's $110 to $300 a month just for TV, internet and wireless phone service!

How did we get to the point where we spend as much for entertainment and communications as we used to spend for a month of groceries when cable was first installed?

bc

I'm Impressed

I haven't heard of this band before I saw them on SNL this weekend.



The girl has some pipes.

You're welcome.

bc

Everything You Need To Know Before You Vote

...is in this one 30 second commercial.



See you at the polls.

bc

The SawsAll Does It All

I started in the upstairs bathroom last weekend. I took the trusty sawsall and just cut out the entire shower. What I found was as bad as I had expected. I have 2x10 floor joists and 3/4" plywood for the floor. On top of that was 1/4" lewon plywood and ceramic tile. The leak(s) from the shower had gotten between the lewon and the 3/4" plywood. It was quite rotten so I just pulled up all of the tile and lewon.

As a side story, we have had problems with palimino bugs in the kitchen. The kitchen is underneath the bathroom. Well, I could never find where the bastards were coming from. These pests need moisture to survive. The kitchen and underneath the house are dry. When I pulled down the shower I exposed a nest of the bugs! That is where they were getting their moisture. So, at least that mystery is solved.

Also, the water pipes that go to the shower come in from the ceiling of the bathroom, down the shower wall and, for some reason, into the floor under the shower. Where the hell were they going? They went to the bathtub on the other side of the room. I cannot fathom why it was plumbed this way because the tub and the sink are on the same wall. But instead of coming off of the sink to the tub, the plumbing was routed under the floor from the shower.

Anyway, the 3/4" plywood where the shower was will have to be replaced but only one piece. So that's pretty good. However we have not decided whether to just replace the shower or do we do a complete change up of the layout of the room. The bathtub is a deep soaker tub with jets and it only gets used two or three times a year. I don't see any reason to keep it. A shower is all we need.

I Don't Want To Do This...

...but it must be done.

The shower in the upstairs bathroom has been leaking. So I'm going to tear it out and see what's what underneath.

I'm afraid.

I've got the feeling that this is going to end up being a complete renovation.

$$$$$$$$!

Oh,yeah.

bc

Had To Share This

I have read that this was done in one take. If it was it is truly amazing.



Also, John Lennon rules!

Jon Stewart's "Postcards From The Pledge"

I had to share this...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Postcards From the Pledge
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

They are not even trying. Really, it just insults my intelligence that they think that I am stupid enough to buy their into their "pledge" to the American people. These are the same people who got us into this mess in the first place. Who didn't lift a finger to help get the country back up on it's feet. Who said "no" to everything for two years, not because of their principles but because it is politically expedient to oppose everything. What did they have to lose? Rush Limbaugh gave them cover on January 20,2009 when he said, "I hope he fails". That was his signal to the loser Republicans that he had their backs if any of them want to follow him.

Behold!

Nothing like a fresh coat of paint to make you fall in love with your house again.

Geez

Just when I thought the American people couldn't get any stupider.

"The number of Americans who say President Obama is a Muslim has nearly doubled since March 2009, according to a new poll from Pew out today. The poll finds that 18% of Americans say the president -- who, it should be said for the record, is a practicing Christian -- is a Muslim. That's up from 11% who said the same thing in March of last year.

At the same time, a new poll from Time magazine shows a widespread distrust of Islam among Americans, and an overwhelming opposition to the Cordoba House project in Manhattan. The Time poll also found that 24% of Americans say Obama is a Muslim.

No group is more convinced of the president's Muslim faith than conservative Republicans. The Pew poll found 34% of them say Obama is a Muslim, which is an increase from 18% in the March 2009 survey. The number is not that much different from Republicans overall -- 31% of all Republicans surveyed by Pew said Obama practices Islam, and 24% of "moderate and liberal" members of the GOP said the same thing."

I take it that Muslim is the new "nigger".

bc

William The Bloody Strikes Again

TBogg goes after Bill Kristol one more time. With feeling. And more cow bell.

Kristol can suck it.

bc

Has It Been A Month?

Today is the first day of August or as we say here in the South, "the dog-days of August", even though we have been in high heat and humidity since I posted the first of last month.

I have been very busy working on "This Damned Old House". Just finished painting the exterior. I am currently sanding the old paint off of the front porch floor so I can stain it. I rented a floor sander that got 98% of it done but the remaining 2% has been a very slow process. I am hoping to get it ready for stain within the next few days.

The house looks great but now all I see when I look at it is the black stains on the roof. I have found that can be cleaned off with a combination of bleach and Tri-Sodium Phosphate. That is next on my agenda.

I'll post a picture when it is all complete.

bc

and it has the WiFis

A Best Buy employee created this video and I believe he got into some trouble over it even though Best Buy was never mentioned.

Be that as it may, the video is funny...and a little scary. There are people out there as dumb as the one that is asking for the new iPhone.

bc

The Green Hornet Trailer

I don't know if it is going to be any good. From the trailer it looks as if it will be successful. At least with the 13 to 18 year old crowd. The Greeen Hornet was one of my favorites from my childhood. I couldn't wait for the TV show to come on each week just so I could see Kato (Bruce Lee) kick someone in the face.

I'm On A Boat!

BP chief executive Tony Hayward, often criticized for being tone-deaf to U.S. concerns about the worst oil spill in American history, took time off Saturday to attend a glitzy yacht race off England’s Isle of Wight.



I guess he got his life back.

bc

Well, The Weekend Is Upon Us...

Now, the real work begins.

By now you have probably seen this video on the news or the internets, but here it is again.



Have a great weekend and try to stay cool. It's going to be a hot one.

bc

I've Got To Get Back To Work To Get Some Rest

I cleaned out the shed for the second time this year. It had gotten to the point that I had to climb over things to get what I needed out of there. Then I mowed the lawn, took a swim and went for a walk. That was Saturday.

Sunday my daughter's Volvo A/C quit. I worked on that all morning. Still haven't figured it out. The A/C is kicking in but the blower isn't coming on. Blower doesn't work on heat either. I'll get it eventually.

We are in the middle of having our house painted so today I took the front porch lights down. My wife painted them and I moved them to the back porch. We replaced those lights with ones my wife bought Saturday.

On inspection of the columns on the front porch I can see a lot of what looks like alligator or reticulating in the finish. So, I have started stripping them by use of a heat gun and scraper. I got one side of two columns done. There are 8 columns in all. This might take a while.

bc

Man, It's Hot Out There!

11 o'clock pm and it's still 80 degrees here. This weekend it will be up to 99 degrees without the heat index. And summer won't be here for 10 more days.

I guess Al Gore was right after all.

bc

Thank God!

Nolan says no to Mr. Freeze too.

bc

RIP - Dennis Hopper

This scene from Easy Rider with Jack Nicholson is one of my favorites.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I present for your enjoyment- The Black Keys