Red Box

Is it just this little corner of heaven, or are these Red Box things sprouting up all over the place?

Yours truly stumbled across one today during a run to ye olde neighborhood grocery store.

Thought I'd give it a try.

Amazingly simple.

Almost TOO simple.

Must be why Blockbuster and Netflix are hurting so much lately . . .

For more info, check out www.redbox.com

Cheers.

I'm going back to Netflix

That's right, ye socks, I'm giving up my blockbuster.com account.

I have enjoyed their service for years, but lately they've been cutting the little things that gave them an edge over the competition.

The plan I *had* until this afternoon, would allow you to return the DVD's you got in the mail to the nearest store for exchange.

This was tremendously convenient, especially since my Blockbuster is within walking distance of my home.

Until just recently, upon aforementioned exchange of DVD's, blockbuster.com would automatically send out the next title(s) in my queue.

Not anymore!

They won't send anything out until you return the movies you check out of the store. This creates a lag time, an unnecessary lag time in my opinion. And, it makes them no better than Netflix.

So, doing the math, it makes sense to save the $3 extra I was paying for the convenience that isn't there anymore, and take my business to the competition.

Ain't the free market economy grand?!

Well, the portions of it that the hope-and-change drivelers haven't gotten a hold of (yet) are still pretty grand, anyway . . .

Blockbuster late fees

Ye socks know what a creature of habit I am. So, this Friday was no different than any other. I stopped by the local Blockbuster on my way home from work to pick up some weekend entertainment.

The kindly clerk behind the counter informed me that my annual Rewards Club membership was about to expire, and asked if I wanted to renew it.

Of course, I did.

Then she asked if I'd heard the new late fee policy.

Of course, I had not.

Well, at least in the location closest to my house, they're brining them back.

That's right, late fees are making a comeback. If they haven't already reappeared at your own local store, get ready! They're coming!

John Adams

Like most Americans, I'm afraid yours truly has never fully appreciated our second president: John Adams.

For me, anyway, he always seemed to pale in comparison to his contemporaries: Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, et al.

He enjoyed some increased popularity several years ago, when David McCullough published a masterful biography.

I admit to buying the tome, but confess I only read the section on the Alien and Sedition Act.

Fortunately, somebody over at HBO must've read the entire thing and realized it would make a good cable mini-series.

But, I missed the original run since I am too cheap to pay Bright House Networks for anything more than their basic cable package (and that only for clear reception that can no longer be found over the public airwaves).

Now, however, the entire series is available on DVD at your local Blockbuster. It being so beastly hot outside, I could think of no better way to spend this Sunday afternoon.

Both Paul Giamatti (John Adams) and Laura Linney (Abigail Adams) deliver amazing performances.

The only drawback was that I can only check-out 2 DVD's at a time, and this is a 3-disc series! So, I feel like I've been left hanging about 2/3 of the way thru the story!!

Standing Still

That's the title of the worst piece of garbage Blockbuster has ever sent me for home viewing.

The premise sounds fairly interesting, but don't let it deceive you.

A group of college friends reunite for a wedding.

So far, so good.

Well, how many twenty-somethings do you know that own their own mansion capable of sleeping a dozen people?

Or, have access to a private jet that can whisk them away to Vegas for the evening?

Or, who would have a wedding and not invite any relatives, just their college clique?

What tripe!

Beyond the unbelievable scenario spun by the out-of-touch script, the acting was horrible.

Particularly offensive were that guy from Dawson's Creek, whose character was perpetually drunk; and Tom Hank's baby-faced son who had to spew an inordinate amount of profanities in his desperate (and ultimately failed) attempt to appear as if he belonged in the same age group as the rest of the cast.

If you have it on your list of movies to see, delete it now. Life is too precious to waste time on piffle like this!

My couch is evil incarnate

That big, soft, warm, comfy sectional must have a butt-magnet in it somewhere. I cannot seem to walk past it today, despite the lengthy weekend to-do list.

On a chilly day like this, there is just nothing better than grabbing one of Mom's old quilts and curling up on the sofa.

I mean, we've got all the political talk shows hashing and re-hashing yesterday's primary and caucus results.

Then, those wicked folks at Blockbuster mailed me two DVD's ("Disturbia" and "Surf's up").

And, to top it all off, we had two really good football games to watch. (Not too thrilled with the results, though. Was hoping for a Packers-Chargers super bowl, but that's not going to happen . . .)

Oh, well, I guess there are worse things to contend with than a comfy couch . . . like, maybe, that to-do list!

Barry is a joke . . . a sad one

And, no, I'm not talking about any local ambulance chasers you socks out there may know. Although, I suppose a case could be made . . .

No, what I'm referring to is this so-called "tropical storm" that blew in last night, the first night of Hurricane Season 2007.

It managed to ruin the Blue Moon Tour of Greenwood last night, which I'd been looking forward to for weeks. Blue moons don't come around that often, you know. The last one was 2-and-a-half years ago! Thanks a lot, Barry!

And, because it was so rainy, windy, and otherwise gross outside today, I couldn't venture beyond the Publix and Blockbuster on the corner without putting myself at the mercy of other idiot drivers. Cabin fever is setting-in. Thanks again, Barry!

Oh, well, at least Super Duper Doppler-man Tom Sorrels is assuring us that blow-hard Barry (no, again, not the trial lawyer) will be getting out of town later tonight. So, maybe we can actually enjoy our Sunday.

Actually, I guess our drought-ravaged lawns can use the rain the storm dumped on us. And, maybe, our water bills will be lower this month?!

I think this is what one would call looking for a silver lining . . .