Turned off the TV...

warm, peaceful, hypnotizing, nothing better....

Like a fish tank without all the dead fish

Cold days are the best for fire watching.

I threw my TV out more than 20 years ago and haven't missed it yet.

Today will be a particularly fine day to go split some difficult wood (it's probably the coldest day of the year here, good time to split gnarly stuff)- then crank up the flames and warm the toes. Maybe a bit of guitar and a nice drink... or maybe just fire!

jetsam said:

Cold days are the best for fire watching.

I threw my TV out more than 20 years ago and haven't missed it yet.

Today will be a particularly fine day to go split some difficult wood (it's probably the coldest day of the year here, good time to split gnarly stuff)- then crank up the flames and warm the toes. Maybe a bit of guitar and a nice drink... or maybe just fire!

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Likewise, but we kept the actual TV/DVD player but dumped cable and live in a rural area with no reception. Life is so much fuller without it.

valuman said:

I knew folks here would get it. The fact that it was three degrees Fahrenheit at the time made the whole experience that much better. Sometimes my wife and I will put on some music, sit and talk and watch the fire in lieu of TV. It is much more fulfilling, I agree.

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That's awesome - sitting and talking about things is something that people are forgetting to do now at days, seems as though the majority of people just want 24/7 entertainment

jetsam said:

I threw my TV out more than 20 years ago and haven't missed it yet...a bit of guitar and a nice drink... or maybe just fire!

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You missed a couple PBS shows last night; B.B. King on "American Masters" and "David Bowie-Five Years" which had a lot of commentary and riff demos from his various guitar players....you lose! Just ribbin' ya a bit...my sis has no TV either. I don't watch much myself.

While I am totally supportive of people tossing their TVs, it's just not in me. I enjoy watching some sports, the news and the odd TV show. My kids love cartoons on PBS (not other channels with crazy chit cartoons). $20 a month isn't bad for cable. And my TV is a 27 inch CRT. Works great for driving toys cars on the screen, slapping when you're learning how to walk, etc

And when I don't want to watch TV, I shut it off. And go downstairs to sit in front of the stove.



Andrew

We never hear from folks who ditched their TV and hated it, just saying.

Because those who miss it bring it back and don't say

I agree I luck out having a 400 gallon aquarium in the same room with the stove. The fire burning, the sound of water from the tank, the heat, it will put anyone to sleep. Very relaxing.

heavy hammer said:

I agree I luck out having a 400 gallon aquarium in the same room with the stove. The fire burning, the sound of water from the tank, the heat, it will put anyone to sleep. Very relaxing.

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Pic of the tank, please?

Having no TV does mean watching no TV shows for me, but not for everyone. My wife watches TV shows on her computer.

People tend to assume that I'm on some kind of crusade when I say I don't watch TV, but the fact is that I'm not on a mission to persuade anyone else to agree with me.

Find your happy spot and go there! Seek no approval. Take some bourbon and a fuzzy dog with you if you like those things. If your happy spot's in front of the TV, good for you.

Just don't let the fire go out!

Stove aquarium and three foot South American red tail catfish

Swedishchef said:

$20 a month isn't bad for cable.

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WTH, you get state-funded health care and cable?!! Dammit, man! BIL got a new satellite contract; $40 introductory rate for just the basics, then they keep hiking the price after the intro runs out. I'm OTA TV only. I get all the sub-channels on the public stations, which have cool local productions, and the HD isn't compressed like cable and sat. PQ is noticeably better if you have a decent TV. I have a Blu-ray player in the computer but haven't checked out that hook-up to the TV yet. I've got a good location and a good antenna (small and indoors,) so I can hit transmitters that are 60 mi. away. I get four PBS stations (with subs, 11 channels) so some time-shifting is available. I've got a "first-nations" sub that's only available in 16 markets nationwide.

jetsam said:

wife watches TV shows on her computer.

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I can't do that; No DSL or cable internet here on the fringe, although they are available 1 mi. from here; Son of a pup. USB modem internet for me, and I have a 5 GB cap. Good speed, though.

Find your happy spot and go there...Take some bourbon

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Alcohol makes me sleepy but snoozing in a chair is one of my happy spots...

heavy hammer said:

View attachment 174751 View attachment 174752 View attachment 174753
Stove aquarium and three foot South American red tail catfish

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Nice shorts, Heavy Hammer...Guess it must be nice and cozy in there!

We've had a lot of storms here this winter... I love hearing the wind battering and howling outside and feeling warm, watching the flames inside. Sometimes I even find it hard to read, the flames keep drawing my gaze. It's such an ancient thing, isn't it, feeling secure and warm with a winter's worth of logs as insurance outside.

heavy hammer said:

Stove aquarium and three foot South American red tail catfish

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WHAT?? 3 foot fish?

Yea it is warm I work outside for a living so layers in the house doesn't happen. Shorts and a t shirt. It's even better if I can sleep with no blankets. I love it warm and so does my wife so there are no complaints about cutting and getting ready for the cold ever. All she asks is that we never run out of wood.

Hard to believe but the tank is eight feet by 2.5 wide by 2.5 tall. Even better is I got him when he was about 2 inches. Had him for awhile.

Swedishchef said:

Because those who miss it bring it back and don't say

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Yes!