[thenightwriterblog] The Night Writer: I totally don't know what that means — but I got it!

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Posted by The Night Writer:
I totally don't know what that means —  but I got it!
http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1170188742.shtml


   Jessica Simpson didn't have to kick me in the throat to get me to
   think about High Definition (HD) TV because for some time I have been
   longing from afar (for HD, not Jessica). The cost of HDTVs, however,
   made it about as likely for me to find one of these in my rec room as
   it was for me to have Ms. Simpson calling me from the grocery store to
   say she'd looked all over the meat department but couldn't find
   Chicken of the Sea so would it be all right if she just made tuna
   casserole for dinner.
   I am, however, a patient man (that sound you just heard was my wife
   snorting). I know that when it comes to technology you just have to
   bide your time and the price will come down as the "early adopters"
   drive the market toward the new newest, greatest thing. I learned this
   lesson long ago before I was even married when I paid more than $600
   for a VCR with "breakthrough" 4-head technology for the highest
   resolution. Now my forehead is what I slap whenever I see a brand-new
   VCR going for $19.95 at Wal-Mart. Of course, you can fall too far
   behind the technology curve: I used to really want one of those thin,
   pricey RAZR cellphones -- now companies are giving them away like
   Skittles and I wouldn't have one.
   Anyway, the HDTVs finally came down into the range where value and
   opportunity were within hailing distance, and wouldn't you just know
   it happened to be right before the Super Bowl? I was able to find an
   HD-LCD TV with a home theater system for about half what a similar
   set-up cost this time last year (yes, I was looking last year, too --
   I told you I'm patient). At last, a big, sharp picture (to compensate
   for my fuzzy eyesight) and multi-channel surround-sound speakers (to
   compensate for my fuzzy hearing) and a huge screen (never mind) -- if
   I could just work on my fuzzy logic.
   I still had to get the idea past my wife, the Reverend Mother, who
   also has another title: The Finance Minister (I'm the Minister of
   Fritter & Waste). She's also someone who, if it were up to her,
   wouldn't even have a television and would never allow one to take up
   residence in the living room (except when company is coming
   specifically to watch something on TV). Obviously I wasn't going to be
   able to make the case that this was a necessity ("Didn't I just let
   you buy a TV three years ago?") and there wasn't time for an subtle,
   extended, Ralphie-like campaign ("You'll rot your eyes out!"). That
   left me with ... puppy eyes. Or something. I'm not sure just what it
   was that wore her down, and if I did know it would probably have to be
   kept a state secret anyway.
   I raced out immediately and picked up the TV and accessories last
   Saturday and set to work getting everything set up in the living room
   (for the group coming to watch the Super Bowl). I had opted for a 32"
   LCD screen based on cost, the size of the room where the TV will
   normally reside, and the size of our existing entertainment center. I
   got everything hooked up and brought my wife in. "What do you think?"
   I said, beaming with pride. She appeared to be underwhelmed.
   "I thought it would be bigger," she said.
   Oooh, that left a mark. Not only that, but the next afternoon I was
   booted out of the living room right in the middle of watching Tiger
   Woods reel in another tournament so that she and the Mall Diva could
   watch a chick flick with their friends on the new TV and home theater
   (very "estrogenic" as the MD would say). That's okay -- it's the Super
   Bowl this weekend, bay-beee!