Something we DON'T need. (for sale, neighborhood, luxury)

[JJG]

Can I get a vote for all the K-Feds out there? You know, those people who become famous and don't really deserve it. Those people who haven't done anything but marry into money, capitalize on the whole YouTube craze. Oh, and let's not forget to include those American Idol tryouts. Half of those people know they can't sing....they just go on the show to make and fool out of themselves, hoping to get 15 seconds of fame.

Only in America, huh?

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by JJG

Can I get a vote for all the K-Feds out there? You know, those people who become famous and don't really deserve it. Those people who haven't done anything but marry into money, capitalize on the whole YouTube craze. Oh, and let's not forget to include those American Idol tryouts. Half of those people know they can't sing....they just go on the show to make and fool out of themselves, hoping to get 15 seconds of fame.

Only in America, huh?

I'll give you a vote on that one... if we can add the useless "children of so & so", like Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, etc.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by cil

Gizmo
You are just like my spouse. He likes to veg after a long day, and that white background noise, which infuriates me, soothes him. Me, I prefer music.

I don't think that *all* people who watch the boobtube are disassociated, dependent or numbing their minds. But sometimes I do get this feeling that watching TV does render a form of inertia, physically and mentally.

Yeah, I also see it like a "white noise", and find it oddly soothing... silence scares me, and music just doesn't distract me enough. Obviously it's unhealthy to space out at the TV for hours on end, but a little mind-numbing entertainment doesn't hurt. As a librarian and recent graduate, I've obviously done my share of reading, and it just doesn't relax me in the same way - it's literally like work these days, LOL. But my parents always made us play outside (or do something productive) before watching TV, so I intend to do the same with my kids...

[gizmo980]

P.S. I often exercise (calisthenics, treadmill or yoga, for example) while watching TV, which I figure cancels out the "couch-potato-ness" of it.

[plaidmom]

I'll give you a vote on that one... if we can add the useless "children of so & so", like Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, etc.

Ohhh yeah. The whole "cult of celebrity". Could totally do without that.

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by plaidmom

Wouldn't we be better off without T.V. period?

I'd also like to see fast food, "big box" stores, cigarettes, and "stripper chic" go away while we are at it.

Cars should only be allowed on interstate freeways, not in town and city centers.

And cell phones should instantly and automatically "disconnect" whenever one comes within 20 feet of another live human being.

Darrrrn that felt good! Dedalus, I think you are on to something!

I'm with you 100%. Well, almost. I would not be able to retain my sanity without my cigarettes.

[Dedalus]

I look for an old movie. I love Turner Classic Movies.

My girlfriend, for some reason, likes that Trump show. Why anyone would want to listen to that guy if they weren't getting paid is beyond me.

I have my own idea for a Trump show. I call it DUMP the TRUMP!

Each contestant gets 10 baseballs. The object is to hit a bullseye. If the contestant succeeds, the Donald gets dumped into a tank of liquified cow manure.

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

Daily Driving Schedule Comparisons of My Family and I at Age 30:

Scenario I (Residence in Scranton's Hill Section)

5:45 AM (Arise, Make Bed, Shake off the Cobwebs, etc.)
6:00 AM (Head out for a Rejuvenating Half-Hour Run Along the Shaded Sidewalks of the Hill Section)
6:30 AM (Hop into Shower)
6:40 AM (Dress, Watch Morning News, Have Omelettes with my Partner)
7:00 AM (Wake Children For School)
7:45 AM (Walk Children to School in the Hill Section)
8:00 AM (Walk to my Downtown Office)
12:00 PM (Walk Home for Lunch with my Partner)
12:30 PM (Walk Back to my Office)
3:30 PM (My Partner Walks to the School to Pick Up Our Children)
5:00 PM (I Walk Home from Work)
6:00 PM (After Calling the Sitter, my Partner and I Walk Downtown for Dinner at Molly Brannigan's, Enjoy a NEPA Philharmonic Concert at the Scranton Cultural Center, Window-Shop, Hit up the Mall at Steamtown, Mellow out at the Blues Street Cafe, etc.)
10:00 PM (Walk Home, Dismiss Sitter, and Tuck Children into Bed)

Total Family Driving Time: 0 Minutes

Scenario II (Residence in the suburban Abingtons)

5:25 AM (Arise, Make Bed, Shake off the Cobwebs, etc.)
5:40 AM (Drive 10 Minutes to a Safe Spot to Run Without Traffic)
5:50 AM (Half-Hour Run)
6:20 AM (Drive 10 Minutes Home From Run)
6:30 AM (Hop Into Shower)
6:40 AM (Dress, Watch Morning News, Have Omelettes with my Partner)
6:45 AM (Wake Children For School)
7:30 AM (Drive 10 Minutes to Drop off Children at Abington Heights Middle School)
7:40 AM (Drive 20 Minutes from School to Downtown)
8:00 AM (Park Car at a Garage)
8:05 AM (Arrive at Office after 5-Minute Walk from Garage)
11:45 AM (Walk to Car)
11:50 AM (Drive 20 Minutes from Downtown to Home)
12:10 PM (Arrive Home for Quick Lunch with my Partner)
12:30 PM (Drive 20 Minutes from Home to Downtown)
12:50 PM (Park Car at a Garage)
12:55 PM (Return to my Office after 5-Minute Walk from Garage)
3:20 PM (My Partner Leaves to Drive 10 Minutes to Pick up Children at School)
3:30 PM (My Partner Picks up Children, Drives 10 Minutes Back Home)
3:40 PM (My Partner and Children Arrive Home)
5:00 PM (Depart Work)
5:05 PM (Reach Garage and Drive 20 Minutes Home)
5:25 PM (Arrive Home)
6:00 PM (After Calling a Sitter, My Partner and I Drive 20 Minutes to Downtown)
6:20 PM (Park Car at Garage)
9:40 PM (Drive 20 Minutes from Garage Back Home)
10:00 PM (Arrive Home, Dismiss Sitter, Tuck in Children)

Total Family Driving Time: 170 Minutes


As you can see, between my family and I, we'd be spending approximately three hours behind the wheel per day on this type of a weekday if we lived in some gated community near Clarks Summit as opposed to the 0 minutes behind the wheel if we lived near Center City in the Hill Section. By doing so, we'd be reducing our nation's dependency upon fossil fuels and relaxing ourselves with less time sitting in traffic (the trade-off being more exercise from walking up and down the hill!)

Nice post, Scranton. Lots of people say they prefer living in the burbs and bringing "vehicles" with them everywhere they want to go because it's "convenient". I live and work in the city and do my 6.5 mile commute to work via transit in 30 minutes. Most of my co-workers live in the burbs and many have a 45 minute commute (MSP sprawls!). When they whine about congestion, road rage, gas costs, parking costs, etc., I just smile. When my kids were school age, they walked 1/2 block to school. The kids of my suburban coworkers have to get up earlier and include a long bus ride, or mom/dad must drive them.

PS: You have gated communities in Scranton?? Haven't been there for awhile, but that town never seemed like a gated-kinda place to me. What's it about, crime? prestige?

[YapCity]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

I'll give you a vote on that one... if we can add the useless "children of so & so", like Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, etc.

I have never, and will never understand why Paris Hilton is so popular. She has to be the most overpriveledged idiot I have ever seen in my life. Under a different family tree she'd be struggling to make head cashier at Wal-Mart.

Nicole Ritchie, now there's another spotlight wonder. Her dad was popular like what, 20-25 years ago? It's not like he was Elvis, most of his songs were phenomenally BAD with no redeeming qualities, lol. "Dancin on the ceiling"???? C'mon, lol.

There are plenty of products of nepotism out there. About the only kid I can think of that made good on his own was Nicholas Cage. (Coppola). All these other kids are like freakshows for a bored general public.

-TT

[Dedalus]

I can think of two others; Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Douglas.