A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

Some hamsters live a charmed life.

Labels: pets, Q1_2005, sharing

As a graceful (and easy) exit to the topic of television, I thought I could 'time capsule' current viewing habits.

Now that DVD's take up a lot more eyeball time, I probably should drop back on our satellite package. I mean, we have spent absolutely zero time viewing the majority of the channels we get. Satellite at its most basic includes time-shifting opportunities. That's handy on those rare nights when good shows are shown simultaneously on different networks. I like being able to record from an earlier time zone.

Programming is at an awkward pre-spring scheduling period; however, I will switch on the PVR and copy the standard timer listing:

Still Standing, Ebert and Roeper, Corner Gas (Canadian), CSI Miami, Las Vegas, CSI: New York, Survivor: Palau, Joey, CSI, Star Trek: Enterprise, the Royal Canadian Air Farce, Six Feet Under, This Hour Has 22 Minutes (Canadian), Kala Kavya (Singhalese Language), Desi Door Darshan (Indian), The Simpsons, and Malcolm in the Middle.

Labels: Q1_2005, television

Recent entries seem to be focusing on television. I would be remiss to avoid bragging about my live-TV debut.

From its earliest days, the closest TV transmission travelled about fifty miles to get to our outside antenna. WMUR-TV, was lovingly referred to as just Channel 9. I guess, in fact, it still is.

Local TV in those days didn't rely so extensively on networked programming. During the 60's, many stations produced their own, occasionally amateurish, programs. These would include a talk show and cooking program. Many had kids' programs too. They were in the same spirit as Krusty the Clown from the Simpsons. Young children were the audience and participants too.

'Uncle Gus' hosted one such program. I was on the Uncle Gus Show as a young kid. Being such a cute little tyke, I got to crank the music box before the beginning of a Popeye, the Sailor! cartoon. It was obviously quite an honor!

Labels: New Hampshire, Q1_2005, television

Yesterday's public declaration of love to my TV, started me thinking about televisions of my past. I don't remember what would've played on the big boy to the left. I was obviously happy with something though. I'm also having a tough time remembering my dad when he was younger than my current age.

Labels: New Hampshire, Q1_2005, television

This is in keeping with the warm and fuzzy thoughts of yesterday's fake holiday. I find I must publicly proclaim feelings towards my true object of desire. Television is wonderful and I enjoy nearly every second of time spent with it. Some days aren't long enough for our moments together and the pleasure it brings. "To my dear and colourful screen I want to profess that," as my 2nd Grade ESL students used to say, "I love you too much!"

Rather strangely, nowadays one doesn't have to catch a broadcast in order to view TV. It all started innocently enough with the availability of boxed sets of The Simpsons on DVD. Then, came special-interest programming and shows offered on specialty channels such as HBO. Now, those shiny discs extend to entire series from the 50's to 90's. From A-Team to the X-Files, they're waiting to be clutched closely to one's chest!

(If Fox makes enough money off the Futurama DVD release, perhaps they'll bring the show back into production.) Check this growing television category at our online, DVD site.

Labels: Q1_2005, television

There are no stupid, pink hearts to be found here. What a silly, contrived day!

Instead of celebrating a holiday created by greeting card companies, here is a realistic picture taken yesterday at 6th and 6th in New Westminster, British Columbia.

Labels: New Westminster (Page 1), Q1_2005

Even if it were raining like cats and dogs, would you pull in here?



In today's blog title, I did not mean I saw people die. Of course, I knew when watching Psycho, that it was a just a fictional character being stabbed in the shower. What I am trying to say is different. Many movie stars from films made around the time of my birth are no longer with us in real life either. For example, Janet Leigh passed away last October.

Wait, there's more and it gets even more bizarre! I am suddenly intreagued by a gal who was born in 1918. Those 41 years before my own birth mean that Rita Hayworth could've easily been my grandmother. Still, in The Lady from Shanghai, she was stunning in blonde, chopped hair. Well, actually it was grey --- like everything else on screen in a 1947 movie. Still it is a bit like meeting a person, the way a movie can capture the voice, gestures, and essence of an actor or actress.

I like old movies not only for the dead people though. Even with all the money in the world I could not buy a plane ticket to a place from a bygone era. In Psycho, I got to see a Phoenix, Arizona forty-five years in the past. The second film mentioned above, had some amazing scenery. Yet Acapulco, Mexico and San Francisco, California haven't looked like that in nearly sixty years!

Labels: movies, Q1_2005, stars