An Apt Metaphor

Two talking heads, one asking the other what they think of the recent "good" news from major banks on their "profitable" 1st quarters.  One says it's good news but lots of "totally legal" accounting loopholes were used to get the numbers "positive."

The other one says, "Kinda reminds me of my 3 year old's exclamation that she swam the whole length of the pool.  She doesn't mention that she was wearing her floaties."

I personally find that an extremely apt metaphor.  :)

Pulling the Plug

No - not THAT plug.  

I pulled the plug on my cable TV service yesterday.  And while I want very much to scream and rant from the rooftops "The cable companies are out of control!" - that would be wrong.  The fact is, boys and girls, it's not them that are out of control but us - the consumers.

I lost control when I thought I had to have the Food Network and movies and Discovery Channel and music channels and that it was okay to pay alot of money to see them.  Like a lamb led to the slaughter, I paid and paid and paid whatever they charged me.  $70  a month - that's $840 a year - for 250 channels and I watch maybe 15 at the most.  

The latest increase on my cable bill with no warning or reason was the straw that broke this camel's back.  I bought a $10 HDTV antenna.  It took longer to open the box than it did to hook it up.  It took a few minutes to re-program my TV.  I have about 15 channels now for free (I deleted from memory about 20 I won't watch) and they look fabulous in HD.  After June 12th, there will be more.  And, surprise, surprise, I'm still alive and functioning.  

Live simply.  Be happy.