Good Morning and welcome to a flu-riddled Tuesday!

There are plenty of treats this time of year. You have cookies (we luck out with plenty of them in our house), cakes, pies and anything else with sugar.
It gives everybody a chance to indulge their sweet tooth.
There is another kind of treat, though, and it comes from, of all places, the television.
After a long day of shoveling and getting pelted by snowballs Sunday, it figured to be a good time to unwind in front of the 'idiot box' before going to bed.
I figured it would be another night of flipping around cable and stumbling upon nothing before just turning it off and going to bed.
Then, the opening music for 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' started (not the scary Jim Carrey version, the original cartoon). Now, it might not be the best holiday show of the season, but it was great Sunday because it was unexpected.
Sometimes, it's the little things that make the world better.

Good Morning gentle readers!

I can clearly remember the first day we got cable TV. I was in high school and it seemed like everybody else had cable TV. They were watching MTV, talking about the new-fangled way of seeing music. As an awkward teenager (yeah, big surprise there) I felt a little out of it.
Finally, after plenty of begging, my parents relented and called the cable company. Soon, on top of the TV, was this crazy looking box where you had to push buttons to get the different channels.
Yeah, it was interesting. We were able to watch all the Phillies games on Prism and get plenty of movies, etc. We also didn't have to play with the rabbit ears on top of the TV to get a station.
Well, through the years (obviously), cable has exploded. Now, you can spend upward of $200 a month to feel 'connected.' While I don't feel the need to have that many channels, cable TV has continued to come through the box.
Now, Comcast has decided everybody needs to 'Go Digital' and are moving channels off the basic cable band.
You can read a fantastic story about it HERE.
That means you have to get a box again, only this one works with a fancy remote control.
So, when it was announced even more channels would be moving digital, it was time to break down and get the box (can't live with three children and no Cartoon Network).
Well, after one weekend, it looks like it might be worth it.
After getting the box hooked up last week, we dove right into the digital world (the 10-year old was beside himself in talking about On Demand). Hey, we were even able to rent a movie without leaving the house.
So, it seems to work out. Even if those rabbit ears looked so stylish in the room.

Good Morning and welcome back to winter!

OK, now that we are having less and less money for things other than bills and foods, it's time to make choices.
Like movies, for instance. For years, everybody went to the movies. You saw anything and everything. It was a cool experience. You got popcorn, some kind of drink and sat in comfy seats for a couple of hours.
Now, though, even though box office numbers appear high, there are less and less of us going to the movies. Now, instead of paying insanely high prices for the movie, popcorn and drink, we head out to Blockbuster or wait for them to come on television.
For the most part, though, are we really missing anything. Sure, movies like the 'Dark Knight' might look a lot better on the big screen, but they don't lose much on a television screen. Plus, you can get all those cool behind-the-scenes things.
Here are the top five movies of the week. I dare you to try to tell me one of them needs to be seen at the theater.
1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
2. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
3. Gran Torino
4. Hotel for Dogs
5. Slumdog Millionaire
Just wait for the video (or cable showing) and you can relax.
Yeah, it's still cool to head to the movies and we all do that once in a while, but with the invention of high-def and DVDs, we don't have to feel so bad about waiting.
Plus, there isn't any need to pay for a babysitter.
Then again, I could be wrong...


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to another day of rain!

Once again, the television news programs got everybody worried about bad weather only to see it turn to rain.
Apparently, one television yahoo even went so far as to say something like if there's ice on your windshield that means there's ice on the roads.
That's just some more fear-mongering. Sure, it's a little less mean-spirited than things Sean Hannity says, but, hey, it's fear at its best.
Watch out. It's winter. There may be ice and snow.
While this weather problem goes back years, there was a pretty big miss just a couple of weeks ago. No television weather person predicted the ice problems Christmas Eve.
I know one person who, having to leave work at 1 a.m., couldn't even get home. She had to sit on Route 30 until 6 a.m. when the roads cleared.
Having to walk the dogs early Christmas Eve was an adventure in itself. The first step was almost the last as the feet gave way. BOOM.
Of course, the dogs thought they were in trouble and started pulling away. Which, if you had to get out that morning, was a no-win situation. The sidewalks and the roads were skating rinks.
Once again, none of those 'experts' predicted it to be that bad. So, until we get that 'BIG WINTER STORM' expect a lot of weather stories.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning everybody who forgot their umbrellas and those who carry them all the time!

Maybe it's because my mind always flows in 17 different directions at the same time or maybe its because I don't watch a whole lot of television any more, but I could win a gold medal in a remote control Olympics.
For instance, I give you Monday night.
After throwing a load of laundry in the washer, I sat down expecting to watch the Phillies-Marlins game. When I clicked on the television, the Packers-Vikings football game was on.
So, I checked the Phillies score, then went back to the football game. Well, that lasted about two minutes before I checked the food channel and watched about five minutes of 'Unwrapped.' Then it was back to the Phillies game for two pitches and to the Monday Night Football game for about three plays. OK, let's check to see what else.
Well, about three minutes of 'Alexander' on AMC was about enough before heading back to the Food Network. Then back to the Phillies, then a rip through all the channels, a check on the football score. Five minutes of CSI-Miami and back to the Phillies, where I managed to sit while Brad Lidge finished off the Marlins.
If you are wondering how anybody could follow all this, well, you can't. The biggest reason for all the switching: There are too many darn commercials. Every couple of minutes there seems to be a break with some annoying people talking about Cheerios or wanting our vote for president.
By the way, what is more annoying: Food commercials or election commercials.
I think we should merge them. Have Barack Obama lauding Trix, while John McCain does a spot for Uncle Sam's. Then we can cut down on the commercials and save the batteries in the remote.
Wait, they've already appeared together in a commercial hawking breakfast:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning, Delaware County!

Was flipping around the TV Channels (more than 57 channels, nothing's on and Larry Mendte's still out of work) before gathering everybody for bed when I came across the Marx Brothers' movie 'Horse Feathers.'
The plot, much like in most Marx Brothers movies, doesn't really matter. It was just a chance for everybody to laugh. If you've seen the movie, you know what I mean. If you haven't, run out and get a copy. It might be one of the funniest movies ever.
Anyway, while watching the movie, it became pretty obvious the boys were not interested. Anybody who has boys aged 9 and 6 know right away when something is not touching their fancy.
They, along with the Princess, wanted to watch something animated. Doesn't matter what, if it's animated it must be a children's show, right?
So, they were squirming, finally, one asked, "Daddy, what's wrong with the TV?"
Nothing, why?
"It's broken."
It's not broken, there's a good movie on.
"No, it's broken. There's no color. We can't watch anything without color, it gives me a headache."
Just watch the movie.

Well, the viewing lasted about five more minutes before it became obvious my attempt at getting them to watch something a little different wasn't going to work. So, it was off to bed.
The next day, there was a conversation in the office about movies. We have come to a time where movies are bigger and badder. The computer generation makes anything possible. Sure, there are smaller movies still being made, but they don't make a lot of money. Instead, junk like 'Transformers' or 'Alien vs. Predator' dull our senses.
We have advanced technologically enough that old films look quaint and 'cause headaches.'
I'll have to keep fighting the fight.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning, Delaware County!

OK, I'll admit it first: I tape television shows and fast-forward through the commercials.
It's not that I don't appreciate the need for advertising. I know buying things makes our country go around, it's just that commercials are annoying.
It's bad enough the shows on television are mostly stupid, but, adding the commercials, can make the headache last even longer.
Over the years, there have been some inspired ads. Ones that made us laugh.
Yet, after the four millionth time it runs in an hour, even those are annoying.
For instance, there is a commercial running right now for a new car equipped with a rear-review camera. A bunch of nudists crash on a road, are offered a ride, and hilarity ensues. Well, actually, it was funny the first couple of times, but it's just annoying after seeing it all the time.
There are some just annoying from the first viewing.
Cheerios, that old breakfast cereal we ate as a youth because our mothers were conned into thinking it was good for us, is the latest to 're-invent' itself.
There's no doubt you've seen these ads where two annoying people talk about the 'benefits' of eating Cheerios. Mostly, to help lower cholesterol. One has a guy doing housework while his wife eats. They have some kind of bet. In my mind, they both win and should leave us alone.
In fact, get all these annoying people off the air.
Here, though, is the way it's supposed to be done:


Or this one:


Or this one:
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Good Morning, Delaware County!

Time, obviously, changes everything.
If you knew then what you know now, you might have done things completely different five years ago. You didn't, so you deal with it and try to change things.
Speaking of change:
After taking in the Star Wars exhibit at the Franklin Institute, the boys really started to get into the whole 'Star Wars' thing.
They wanted the figures. They wanted the games and, of course, they wanted to see the movies.
Having enjoyed the films when they first came out, it was fun to go back and experience it again.
Now, I saw the original films in the theater and maybe one other time on video or TV (can't remember which). It didn't become an obsession or religion like for other people.
When the 'new' chapters came out a few years ago, I didn't have any pressing need to see them. We did watch the third 'new movie' a few months ago on television, but found it overly long and a bit disappointing.
Anyway, the boys wanted to watch, so we saw the original (now called 'A new hope') and, last night, finished watching 'The Empire Strikes Back.'
Many may not remember, but the big scene where Darth Vader announces he is Luke's father was so shocking when it happened that it was talked about like a culture-changing event.
So, when the scene was coming up last night, I watched for reaction.
There was none. They already knew the twist. Of course, it didn't stop the enjoyment of the movie. In fact, it just guaranteed this weekend will be spent watching 'Return of the Jedi.'
This would probably have been more shocking:


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GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

Having worked most of my life after the sun had set, anytime I wanted to watch a television show, I would tape it.
Then, either later that night or the next day, I would watch the show, fast-fowarding through the commercials.
So, I really didn't pay too much attention to them. I don't need a commercial to figure out what I need to waste my money on anyway.
Having started this morning wake-up in January, I've been able to catch the shows during the normal run. Which means, except for when I have the remote in hand and check around, I am forced to watch the commercials.
Well, maybe there are a couple of humourous ones, but most are just plain annoying. Not only would I not buy their product now, but I feel like tracking down the master film and destroying it.
Morning television is the worst. If it's not a political ad, then there is this one for something called 'Honey Clusters.' It is apparently some kind of cereal. They are trying to show it's good for you. Some snot-nosed teenager with a whiny voice makes me hope Honey Clusters go the way of cheap gas.
Anyway, here are some good ones sent along by a favorite reader:


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GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

So, we have Memphis vs. Kansas for the NCAA Tournament title tonight. Like most, the 9:20 start is just too late for me. Why do major events tend to start later and later all the time? I understand the networks want ratings from California, but, with pre-game and a longer-than-usual halftime, it's probably going to push midnight before the game is over.
Just like the World Series and NBA Playoffs, the games are negating a big part of a possible viewing audience: children.
Sure, most of them would probably watch the new adventures of Spongebob or Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, but they aren't given a chance to see these events.
With all the pressure being put on children at school, they need to get to bed earlier and earlier. With games pushing the midnight mark many of those who would enjoy the games the best are no longer able to watch them.
Add to that the overpriced tickets for a 'regular' game and suddenly it's a lot easier to sit in front of the television or play video games.
Then, we wonder why more children aren't out being active.
Just a thought.
Anway, here's a funny photo sent along by reader Raymond Supper from Tampa, Fla.:


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