Re: [gentoo-amd64] Re: Re: Re: x86_64 optimization patches for glibc.

[Matt Randolph <mattr@erols.com>]

Duncan wrote:

>I had two VCRs hooked up to my TV, such that I could watch previous shows
>while recording the current nite's shows, allowing me to FF over the
>commercials.   That, and I could rent movies and record them to the second
>VCR while playing them from the first.  Interactivity was pretty much
>limited to that FF button -- and hitting back when I overshot a bit.  Now,
>I don't even own a TV (other than a tiny 2.5" TFT version, bought back in
>the day..., that I have around somewhere, don't even know where...), as
>I've grown to despise the lack of control one has over a TV program, and
>the fact that the programmers must cater to their paying customers, the
>advertisers, which in turn are happiest with the zombies easiest
>programmed to buy their warez even when they are twice the cost or more of
>the generic brand and even when they don't need them and can't really
>afford them.  Thus, there's actually a DIS-incentive to program for the
>discerning intellect -- those that actually /like/ to think, and can't be
>so easily programmed to buy expensive stuff they don't need.
>
A little off topic, but I'll be brief:

The ReplayTV brand DVR (or is it PVR these days) would automatically 
skip over the commercials in pre-recorded shows.  I say "would" because 
this feature has been discontinued in the later models.  The last ones 
to have it were the 4000 and 4500 series models.  I rather enjoy being 
able to watch a typical thirty minute show in just over fifteen, knowing 
that I'm sticking it to the advertising nazis at the same time. 

It has happened on more than one occasion that people have been 
discussing some bit of pop-culture that originated in an ubiquitous 
commercial, and that I had no idea what they were talking about.  There 
have been blockbuster movies that came and went without my learning of 
their existence until much later, if at all (I never saw Titanic, for 
instance).

I'm not sure, but I believe one of the Linux based, home-brewed DVRs 
like MythTV has an automatic commercial skip feature too.

You may be missing out on those few shows that are actually well 
written.  On the other hand, it is probably better for your health to 
simply do without TV altogether.

I find it extremely entertaining that you (apparently) have Cox cable 
internet, and yet you have no TV to speak of.  More power to you.

-- 
"Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate" - W. of O.

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