We're near halftime of the Orange Bowl, and I've had some things on my mind lately, mainly involving the evolution of entertainment.
I made the decision recently to no longer attend movies in the theater. It's just not the same. People used to act respectfully of others when they went to the movies. Now it's so easy to get a movie at home, people act like they are still at home when they go to the movies. The last straw on my last trip to the movies was when the guy in the row behind me and a few seats over put his feet up on the back of the seats at one point. I've decided to take advantage of being able to order a movie at home on DirecTV and I'm waiting for "The Last Jedi" to become available on DirecTV Cinema. I recently ordered "Victoria and Abdul" and it was tremendous.
I've also gotten more into the streaming revolution recently. My main resolution last year was to watch the entire "Blake's 7" series. For those that don't know, Blake's 7 is a British science fiction series that aired from 1977-1981. Sadly it has not been released on DVD here in region 1. My original plan last Christmas was to buy a multi-region Blu-ray player and purchase a Region 2 DVD set, but upon learning that it was available on YouTube, I changed the plan to getting an internet connected player. Several months ago, I connected a Google Chromecast to my TV and made that part of my Blu-ray player redundant, but the Blu-ray player still comes in useful.
Other than YouTube, I also have streamed some games on Watch ESPN, which happily DirecTV sorted out their rights issues a few years ago and it's available with my DirecTV subscription.
It wasn't until this spring that I made my foray into paid streaming services. My first was WWE Network. I had only previously used a free trial to watch my one appearance on the WWE Network. 1989 Clash of the Champions VIII in the old Carolina Collisium, during the match between Dr. Death Steve Williams and Mike Rotunda, the camera at one point is on the crowd and you can make out a young I think long at the time blond headed young man, who was a big celebrity at the next band practice because of it. After receiving a somewhat large inheritance this spring and getting a few raises over the years I decided I was tired of following the"Pay-per-view" events on Twitter. I have since also become a regular viewer of "205 Llive" and "NXT", but other than the current live or taped wrestling events, I don't really have any interest in past events or any of thier other programming.
My second streaming service was CBS all-access, and as you might have guessed the main reason was for "Star Trek: Discovery". I started, then backed out, then recommitted to (re) watching "Deep Space Nine". I don't recall being a regular viewer when it first aired and also I don't want to pay $5.99/month for just one show. And I do the $5.99 because I don't mind watching commercials if it saves me $4/month.
My lastest service is Britbox. $6.99/month and run by the BBC and iTV. I'm currently enjoying Rowan Attkinson's "Blackadder", of which I had previously only seen clips. Also with UNC-TV recently dropping some of my favorite Brit-coms, it's good to have a back-up. I recently ordered "Red Dwarf XII" (another British science fiction series...this is a comedy) on DVD but I ordered it with a pre-order of the uncompleted due to a stike "Doctor Who: Shada" and I neglected to chose "I want my items faster". So I will most likely stream that.
Well the Orange Bowl is back on and an exciting game so I will wrap things up.
No real resolutions this year. The usual suspects if clean my house, eat right, exercise..
