" I find that even when a program is "educational," even if it's reasonably unbiased, even if you could get it without ads -- TV still encourages a passive mode of learning, where you don't participate, you just take in what's spit out at you, and the program moves on to the next thing without time to for you to consider and think about the content critically.

That's what makes TV or movies so pleasant for relaxing -- no mental input is required. But that's also what makes it so insideous, and it's why I prefer to be in control of what's beamed into my living room. "

" FG, TV has so dumbed down the masses so it is mind-boggling. Congratulations on giving up yours - your kids are no doubt much better off because of that.

I turned mine off for good about two years ago now (about the third time, but this time I doubt I'll ever go back). For all the channels we have, I'm sure you've noticed that especially where news is concerned, it's virtually the same on every channel. I'll take my news over the internet thank you.

I also started collecting movies, when I bought a projector and put together a home theater. Up to over 300 and growing almost weekly. Nothing like watching movies at home on a huge 8' screen. Beats going to the cinema!

"

" No argument, silly rabbit. What you write is yet another good argument for timed traffic lights to reduce the amount of time anyone has to sit idling in a line of vehicles.

I agree about smoking too -- It's a free country and people should be able to smoke all they want so long as they are not exposing others to the by-products of their smoking.

TV: Some years ago, my dad sent me a TV set because he thought the reason we didn't have one was because we couldn't afford one, when really, it was because we didn't want one, and esp. wanted to raise children without television (which we did). He also sent a VCR (this was about 1991 or 92). We never lived anywhere that you could get ANY reception without cable or some big antenna on top of your house, so it worked out fine -- we didn't get cable, we didn't get an antenna and we had no broadcast TV in the house. We could, however, rent old movies (and new ones sometimes too).

I now have a collection of at least 600-800 movies, mostly VHS, though I did finally break down and get a DVD player too.

I agree -- it can be very enjoyable to sit with a glass of wine (or a "white Irishman" or some of the Farmer Guy's excellent homemade hard cider) and just watch some fun movie, though I also enjoy kicking back the same way with a novel.

One really nice thing about raising kids without TV is that they are not trained/conditioned to product recognition. If you go into any store where there are kid products, you will see kids whining and begging and carrying on for certain toys or other products. You will see even very well-behaved children doing the "product recognition" thing -- their eyes are tracking and registering logos and trademarks all around them.

We'd take our kids in to a store, and they looked at the world differently -- everything was new and interesting because they hadn't seen those logos and products on TV hundreds of times. Their eyes would slide right over those toys for which other children were screaming and demanding. And they asked for things like a pogo stick or a chess set instead of the latest brand-name toy. It meant we could have a Christmas full of gifts they wanted for under $50 per kid without even trying.

In our culture, it is not possible to remain oblivous to marketing forever, but they were innocent of it for a long time, for the most formative part of their lives. They are now each very individualist young adults.

In the long run, I have seen confirmation that we made the right choice for our kids. "

" Leave Bob alone you god of heavy metal! "

" I think the guitar player was trying to emulate the "Sad Wings of Destiny" album. One of my favorite albums! "

" What is it with the finger lakes region and pedophilia????? Where is Homer's Men's store????? "

" I demand to know who plated the guitar on the "Homer Men's Store" commercial--he's playing in the WRONG KEY! Is he one of Bob Piorun's students?! "

" Sorry but NO TV viewing for almost 3 decades? WOW!! True there is ALOT of crap on the boob but there is also ALOT of great movies, programs, documentaries, and just plain ol' entertainment to watch - not to mention culture of varying degrees. Being an analyst doing math all the live long day - I relish a glass of vino and the boob for some mindless entertainment after the CPU goes black and the weather isnt the greatest... "

" Bill, it is not the "City" that is telling the fire dept. what is going to be done, it is Czar Palesh and his crony, Hammon. Afterall, wasn't it Palesh, himself, that said that he did not need City Council's approval to close Station 2. HE JUST DID IT!, without consideration to the citizens who reside in their jurisdiction. He,also, made the comment that more dramatic things are going to happen. Well, I certainly hope that the others things on his agenda, don't bother you as much as this bothers the residents of Station 2's jurisdiction. "

" Farmer Girl:
If someone wants to smoke and drive, that's his/her business and doesn't bother me so long as s/he keeps those fumes in the car (I can sense cigarette smoke coming out the window of a car at a stop light 2-3 cars ahead of me if the wind is blowing the right way -- that unhealthy second-hand smoke invades my space no less than the toxins coming from a factory (or factory farm).

If you can sense cigarette smoke 2-3 cars ahead of you the fumes from all those engines must be horrific, I found humor in that as I sat behind a UPS truck and those fumes were choking me to death with the windows up (vents were open). "

" Plus/Minus of living in the boonnies:

Plus : Water from a well is free. Minus: Every well on my stretch of road is polluted with e-coli (so is Farmer Guy's and so was my ex's and they live(d) in totally different areas). I did live one place out here where the water was abundant and clean, but the apt mgr shot one of the tenant's cats (jealous of attention his wife showed the poor friendly animal) and I knew I had to get out of there, great water or not!

Plus/Minus of not having TV: Plus: No cable bill, no worries about it going up or whether it's even available where you live. Minus: What minus? It's been 27 years and I don't miss having it in the house -- and I enjoy going out to see football, which is all I really want to watch on TV. "

" What is it with the 2 Cents person - busting on the Firemen all the time? Not for nothing, but those guys should get paid very well....they risk their lives every single time they go out on a call. Now I understand theres some issues in Auburn with their OT and some other financial things - and thats for the City to figure out, but to come off sounding like they do nothing isnt right. "

" We rec'd our water bill today also and for just two it was $72...124 seems high....maybe need to check around your house, if nothing dripping call and b*tch...but the rates are high because of the deadbeats that d/n pay...I hate that !! But I am still wondering when TW gave notice like they usually do about the rate hike? "

" good for city manager palesh, for closeing engine two fire station. he's looking out for the taxpayers. wonder what else he's going to show steve parker. taxpayer bill "

" Cable is only one thing--What about the new water bill, Mine was 124.00 this time, and there are only 2 of us. I can't imagine what families are paying?----Does city hall think they are GOD, and can do as they please? "

" I asked this b4 but was I the only one that rec'd a rate hike on cable? I just dont remember rec'g any notice that Time Warner was raising the rates AGAIN!!! "

" I miss Judy's columns. They really got the controversy going, and there was never a dull moment in here!! "

" There is nothing more disgusting than cigar smoke -- it makes me physically ill immediately upon smelling the first whiff. No exceptions. I have had to turn tail and leave immediately from the vacinity even in places where people were smoking cigars in the past 24 hours. That's just the nastiest stuff ever. Please, if you smoke a cigar, do it in the privacy of your own home, away from the involuntary audiences of children and pets.

Pipe smoke doesn't bother me and can be nice sometimes, but that doesn't hold true for everyone, I'm sure. I feel the same about MJ, though I don't come across that very often personally.

The point is, if we are just talking about exposure, there are no health risks associated with exposure to a drinker standing right next to you minding his own business otherwise, where there ARE known health risks for breathing in second-hand smoke.

If someone wants to smoke and drive, that's his/her business and doesn't bother me so long as s/he keeps those fumes in the car (I can sense cigarette smoke coming out the window of a car at a stop light 2-3 cars ahead of me if the wind is blowing the right way -- that unhealthy second-hand smoke invades my space no less than the toxins coming from a factory (or factory farm).

I work with a woman who's a smoker. She always makes the simple efforts it takes to be considerate of others and I have never had a problem with her second-hand smoke. If all smokers were as considerate of the air the rest of us breathe, there wouldn't be nearly the antipathy aroused on the subject as it is. "

" FG if you're going to be fair for 1=alcohol than be fair for 2=smoking.
what about a good cigar/pipe in moderation?
especially after todays news of GENETICS in smoking habits. "

" too much to copy & paste..

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/judge-regrets-kicking-out-white-lawyers/20080402100209990002 "

" I remember Quill talking about the need for small trucks to go on non-fire calls. I also remember people complaining about him saying that. "

" All things in moderation, that's the key - not banning alcohol. I love a really good merlot myself, and am extremely fond of Montezuma mead.

dd, what you describe is alcohol abuse ;-) (If anyone spills a drink, Farmer Guy always says -- uh-oh, alcohol abuse!)

Like so many things, Americans aren't good at moderation, which is the key to all kinds of healthy living issues. "

" Maybe the new chief will look at taking a $350,000 pumper or a $800,000 ladder truck on these band-aid calls. Seems to me that Aurelius Fire Department uses Squad Trucks and Chiefs cars going to these calls. Maybe the paid fire fighers can learn from the volunteers. "

" Heck, we live in wine country...whats all the fuss about alcohol anyway - red wine is good for your health!! Proost "

" Plus, farmers gal, when you drink too much and vomit, you ruin a perfectly good six pack. "

" If you drink too much alcohol and drive, you destroy a lot more than just your liver.... "

" Used to be you could vote only once if you had cookies turned on, BUT every time you cleared your cache, you could vote again. I don't do it on purpose, but sometimes I forget, and I have always been able to vote once from home and once from work, since they are entirely different machines, different IPs, different browsers, etc. (You can tell if you are not able to vote because the radio button disappears).

When it comes to online security, where there's a will, there's a way to hack -- unfortunately. "

" "There's all this big to-do about smoking and what harm that does to your body. When are you going to present the repercussions of alcohol?"
I hate posts such as this that use "you" in this way. It's annoying as h__l.

"

" did you notice on the front page POLL you can now ONLY vote ONCE!!!
No one can continue to tease the fireman for voting over and over and over.
"

" Alcohol only destroys your liver-who needs it anyways??
oh--I guess we all need a liver to live! "

" I've never understood why a fire truck shows up to an ambulance call. It is a huge waste of time and money. We could probaly go down to a 10-13 man mininum if that is remedied. "

" it's about time the city started telling the fire dept. whats going to be done. "

" Congratulations to the Southern Cayuga Masterminds team too -- as of yesterday, they are in the "Final Four" with Jordan-Elbridge, Christian Brothers and Fayetteville-Manlius. "

" Someone is race-baiting today. Sorry, not biting. "