Cutting the cord finally

I've finally made the move. I'm dumping DirecTV in favor of streaming. Since I don't get at&t internet, I'm paying separately for internet (,and phone and tablet),Live Tv and streaming services. It just makes sense to go to streaming. I've chosen YouTube TV for my live broadcasts. They have all the main channels I watch and it worked well when I tried a free trial and all I will require is to hook my Google Chromecast back up. The only negative was the lack of TBS TNT and Trutv for March madness and that's solved now.

The big drawback was a lack of axs TV for new Japan pro wrestling. Also YouTube TV. Lacks science channel, discovery, tv Land and Logo plus others I never really watch but like it have just in case. Enter. Philo.

Philo has two plans, $16 and $20 a month. It has almost all the channels I enjoy. The $20. Bundle includes Logo, where I watch Golden Girls sometimes and occasionally they now have documentarues, and discovery America, which used to be my big napping channel.

All that's left is Hallmark and el REy network. Hallmark is where I watch Golden Girls, Frasier and cheers and el REy I watch lucha underground and the occasional quantum leap or Knight Rider reruns.

Frasier and cheers are on Amazon Prime, which I have a yearly subscription too. Golden Girls is on Hulu, $7.99/month (I didn't go with Hulu live TV because they don't show WWE raw and SmackDown live). Netflix (basic package $7.99/month...I don't have to have HD or multiple screens). All that is much less than I pay currently for DirecTV. It may take a while to get everything because I need some time to recover financially, but by my tax refund next year I should be all up and running.

Birthday (month) Blog

My birthday is just around the corner on the 22nd but I couldn't wait any longer to post my birthday blog. I have some things on my mind that are too long for a Facebook post.

It's been an up and down year, but I'm surviving. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year, particularly the election but I've done enough political preaching, so I'll spare you....this time.

The biggest changes have come in my increased reliance on streaming. I'm sticking with DirecTV for my main source of entertainment, I called and "threatened" to cancel but got another $30 off/month. I also can't bear to part with picture-in-picture, especially with football season coming up around the same time as a new season of Doctor Who. (I'm excited for our new female Doctor....shame on the haters.)

The big news today is the announcement that Patrick Stewart is returning as Jean-Luc Picard in a new Star Trek series. It will be on CBS all-access, which will make it more cost effective. I'm currently not subscribed to CBS all-access. I ended my subscription after I got Amazon Prime and learned both Britbox and CBS were channels on Amazon Prime. I stuck with Britbox, (I'm currently taking a break) but as the Discovery season had ended and the only other show I had started watching, Deep Space Nine, was available on Amazon Prime, I had no need for it. When Discovery returns I will subscribe again, but I have a dilemma. The Amazon Prime channel only has the $9.99 commercial free version. I was subscribed to the $5.99 version. The Amazon Prime channel, however, is easier to cancel, and my experience has been that I have no problems streaming on Amazon channels, but stand alone apps, like WWE Network for exampl (I recently restarted my subscription) only work well when I have high speed, but are choppy at best and buffer at the worst when I pass my high speed limit. So I think the best option is the Amazon channel even if it is more expensive.

As I mentioned, American football season is coming up and I've really given up trying to anticipate or predict what the Gamecocoks are going to do. I've also expanded my availability on Saturdays, choosing to take off days when there's a game I want to watch, which I did anyway, and rely on my phone for updates and maybe even watch a little on my breaks.

As for the NFL I plan to boycott this year at least in the regular season. I completely disagree with the NFL's hard-line stance on the anthem issue. They are so tonedeaf is shameful.

I'm excited about college basketball this year as my Alma mater begins our membership in the Big South. I'm considering adding a subscription to ESPN+ as I'm sure many games will be on that platform as well as baseball. I'm going to consider switching to monthly as opposed to my original yearly subscription which I started but ended before my free trail ended due to financial difficulties.

Speaking of college baseball, some big news concerning the Gamecocoks today. Our neutral site game with Clemson, which has almost always been here in Greenville, will now alternate each year between Greenville's Fluor Field and Columbia's Spirit Communications Park. This will make the series more fair, and I'm also a fan of the Columbia Fireflies. I'm questioning whether I will go to the game when it's in Greenville, however. It's the first Saturday in March, last year when I went on my own, the wind was gusting by the late innings and it was cold. You also have to buy your tickets though the Gamecocok Club (or IPTAY for Clemson fans). You don't get to pick your seat. I was the last seat in the last section in the next to the last row to the top. Also some USC and Clemson fans started jawing back and forth at one point and it was disturbing. I think I'll settle for USC vs. Furman and hopefully USC Upstate will play there again. USC/ Clemson is also the most expensive game of the year.

So I will soon have made my 48th orbit around the Sun. For those wondering if I'm a Leo or a Virgo the answer is both. August 19th-25th is known as the Cusp of Exposure and I'm right in the middle. I think theres a blog about that in my past posts.

I think that's all I had on my mind. If you read this, I'm sorry it was kinda boring. I find if I post something on Facebook or here when I have things on my mind I sleep better. Good night (or morning or afternoon whenever you're reading this).

"Gay" Party Voting

Owing to a request to be off early resulting in Monday and Tuesday off, I will be able to vote in the runoff on Tuesday. As I am a person of no religious beliefs, Brandon Browns statement that his faith guides him, coupled with a lack of response from his campaign on his stance in LGBT issues has me supporting Doris Lee Turner. It's got me thinking about my November choices.

One of the things that really irritates me is the countless races that are republicans running unopposed. I normally write myself or a friend or family member in, except for clerk if court Paul Wickensimer, who's daughter went to school with one of my sisters and who I've served jury duty two times under his direction and I like him. That isn't really a partisan position, however. I've learned that write-in votes only count if the candidate in question has submitted his intentions in writing to to county election commissioner. I've toyed with the idea of doing just that, but such a gesture would be largely symbolic and who knows what kind if trouble could come from such an endeavor.

I toyed with the idea of voting straight party Democratic in 2016, but on stubbling across a vote trading website I agreed to vote for Gary Johnson if a voter in North Carolina voted for Hillary. I never heard from this guy so I don't know if it worked, but due to the electoral college I stand by my vote as I was hoping the national libertarian party would get the magic 5% to qualify as a major party. In 2018, I think I may follow through and vote straight party Democratic.

I've pretty much given up on the South Carolina Libertarian party. They allow candidates to run as both libertarian and constitution party candidates, and to me the Constitution party is the antithesis if what I thought the libertarian party stood for. Besides there are no libertarian candidates in the upstate. The American party is a cute idea, but I don't see much in the way of capturing my vote.

By voting straight party, I avoid casting votes for unopposed Republicans as well as casting meaningless write-in votes. I believe I can cast a separate vote for Paul Wickensimer, who I support. ( Update:not sure if his office is even up for election this time).

(Further Update: there's a democratic candidate in my state house district! I didn't know until just now!)

Big South here we come!

I haven't posted a blog in quite a while and rather than make a controversial one, I'd like to talk about something I'm very excited about. USC Upstate joining the Big South conference on July 1st.

Don't get me wrong, the Atlantic Sun was a good fit, but no rivalries really exsisted. In the Big South you have teams in South Carolina, Winthrop, Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, but the rivalry I'm most looking forward too and hope develops is UNC-Asheville. It's just a natural rivalry to me. The branch campuses of the Carolinas (no disrespect Clemson fans) main universities in the western part of our states.

It's causing me a dilemma on whether or not to subscribe to the new ESPN+. I'm starting to catch up to the times in terms of streaming, which I addressed in my last blog. I'm wondering, however, if I would watch it enough to justify the quite reasonable $4.99 month. There's also a $49.99 yearly rate.

In terms of college baseball, of which I am a huge fan, I do watch a lot of Gamecock baseball games on ESPN3 (aka SEC Network+), but those games are available with my DirecTV subscription. I'm not sure if I would have the time to also watch my Spartans.

The value my be in terms of basketball. I'm unsure how many Big South games involving USC Upstate will be on ESPN+ vs. ESPN3, but I imagine many of the early non-conference games my be on +.

So I think I've come up with a solution. Since you can cancel ESPN+ at any time, I can start a subscription in November and stick with it perhaps through March and see how the early baseball coverage is, then cancel when I feel the coverage has panned out. 

One additional note: Liberty I think you're making a big mistake rejecting the Big South's offer of associate membership and instead joining the Atlantic Sun. I know you're moving your football program to FBS, but we're leaving the A-Sun because of travel and lack of rivalries. Then again I hate your founder. Good luck to you.

Welcome 2018. Stream on in.

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..

Bowl possibilities

I thought about combining my bowl talk with a prediction of the USC Clemson game, but I'm going to hold off on that.

I'm currently watching Alabama and Mississippi State after Georgia lost to Auburn and wondering how it affects the Gamecocks Bowl possibilities, and I don't think it changes much.

We can rule out a return trip to Birmingham and the Independence Bowl as those two bowls are the bottom of the barrel so to speak.

After the playoffs and New Year's Six bowls make their selection, the Citrus Bowl has the next selection and then the Outback, Texas, Belk, Liberty, Music City and bowl formerly known as the Gator Bowl (I won't call it anything else) form a pool and decide between themselves and the SEC hanchos who goes where.

I think that whoever win the sec Championship between Georgia and either Alabama or Auburn goes to the playoffs and the other two get in the new years six.

If the Gamecocks can win out, beating Wofford and Clemson, I think a 9-3 Gamecock team is very attractive to the Citrus Bowl.

If not the Citrus, we will certainly be in the "pool of six".

I think the Belk Bowl in Charlotte is out because we started the season in Charlotte and it wouldn't be much of a reward for our players to go back, even if the Belk Bowl wants us. Our ties to Houston Texans owner Bob McNair might pull some strings, but I still think the Texas Bowl will chose an SEC West team. Jacksonville, Memphis and Nashville are good destinations, but I like the idea of playing on New Year's Day. So I'm setting my heart on a return to Tampa and the Outback Bowl and I'd like to play Michigan State as I've seen in one projection.

I've already requested and been granted January 1st off as well as December 29th and 30th, so I think I have all my bases covered. My prediction is we play on New year's Day, either in the Citrus or Outback Bowl.

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

I have notbblogged in a long time, and I decided to do a general birthday blog. If I do a political blog, you will fall into one of two categories......I'm either preaching to the choir or my words will fall on deaf ears. So I'll just stick to birthday stuff.

We had the Great eclipse here in the states yesterday. Mostly family plus a few guests in the field between my house and my parents. It was truly awe inspiring. Those who know me know that I am not religious. I consider myself a Christian in terms of "Do until others" and "Love they Neighbor"; the ones the Religious right conveniently forget or think only apply to other devout Christians. I do not, however, believe in a "creator". I believe in the Big bang theory, and evolution. I have, however, recently become more interested in of all things..... Astrology!

I never paid much attention to horoscopes. I was always told that I was a Leo. When I would read descriptions of Leo's, however, some qualities fit but others were kinda off the mark. Later in life, I investigated Virgo, and it was the same story. A while ago I became aquainted with the cusp horoscopes. The period between about August 19th- August 25th is known as the Cusp of Exposure. When I read a description of someone born during this time....it's like I'm reading an autobiography. I have also joined a Facebook group and it's amazing the experiences we share. I am more of a believer in Astrology that I was before.

Speaking of birthdays, I was very jealous of a young man whos mother was picking up his birthday supplies.

He had a pirate cake and a ton of pirate themed balloons and one balloon in the shape of the number 8. I immediately told the customer that I loved pirates and that "8" was my favorite number. It is also, in hindsight, my favorite age. I first became aware that I was attracted to boys when I was 8.

In elementary school at age 8 I had two friends in a sort of "gang". Paul was our leader, Brad was second in command and I was third. Considering I'm a bottom as an adult it makes sense. Paul, Brad and I would meet at the top of these huge monkey bars (I must have really liked these boys because I was and always have been terrified of heights).

Brad was not here on this particular day. Paul was a teller of tall tales and his favorite was to tell us that he was an East German spy. Those of you who are younger probably don't remember when there was an East and West Germany. Anyway Paul told me that he was getting a call......in his underwear. So he climbed down the monkey bars and went over to the corner of the play ground and unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. I was very titillated by this and also wanted to know what else was in his underpants.

Also there was a game show called "Whew!" when I was growing up. No one remembers this show but me. The bonus round was the "Gauntlet of Villians" and my favorite was #8-- Jeremy Swash the pirate.

An obscure note to end on, but that's where the story ends. Happy Birthday to me and my fellow cuspians!