Streaming movies

As far as I am concerned, Netflix was the greatest thing to happen to people who live in small communities or rural areas, where dvd rentals are slim to none and the big video stores and movie theaters are miles (and several gallons of expensive gasoline) away. I thought the convenience of a movie queue and the speedy delivery of dvds through the mail couldn't be surpassed, but technology again has found a better way.

With Netflix offering unlimited movie watching (at least for now) via computer or tv, I seem to be taking more and more advantage of the opportunity. Several times in recent months I've found myself between dvd deliveries with nothing to watch and watching them instantly has proven a valuable alternative. In fact, the only movies that I now have in my queue are those that are not yet available on the instant menu.

The most exciting thing now is the partnership Netflix has developed with tv manufacturers to have the streaming capabilities built directly into the tv, with no extra attached equipment needed. I love technology; it's making life so much simpler.

Eli Stone Reporting

Newspapers are slowly dying, so many of these cash-strapped businesses are turning to their websites to get the news to the readers long before the presses can crank out the printed version and get delivered by the neighborhood kid. My local newspaper has begun doing the same, but with a twist. The reporters are psychic -they write the story before it even happens.

Here's the latest: I attended a city planning commission meeting Thursday evening. There was lengthy discussion regarding the subject at hand, with one commissioner who seemed suddenly well-versed, highly opinionated and quite vocal on the subject. This was in vast contrast to a previous meeting in which he fumbled with facts and groped for words. It was almost as if he had been given a script. Hmmm... Other public officials and myself were representing an opposing position.

Today I perused the local websites to read the media's report of the meeting. The local paper's website had an article filled with quotes from the vocal commissioner and a City Council member. Then I noticed the posting date and time: 9:27 am on Wednesday - 1 1/2 days prior to the meeting. It appeared to me that there had been a discussion the day before the meeting with quotes carefully scripted to be repeated at the meeting. Since the newspaper had just featured an editorial supporting these two men's positions, had there been collusion among all of them?

When I emailed the editor and pointed out the discrepancy of the time stamp, with the date and time of the meeting, and then questioned the accuracy and reliability of reporting the news before it happened, I got no personal response. However, I did notice that within two hours of my email, the article had been edited and a quote from the meeting by me was added. Perhaps they thought my quote would give their article legitimacy and appear less suspect - to somehow prove the article was originally written after the meeting.

I know better. Perhaps now that they have been caught, the newspaper will return to reporting news properly instead of manipulating it. It is unfortunate that financial desperation drives newspapers to stoop to such levels.

Moon Over Vail & Champaign

By now I think everyone has heard about or seen pictures of the poor guy in Vail, Co. who was flipped out of his ski lift chair (and pants) and suspended upside down, clothed only from the waist up. It had to be humiliating enough without folks taking cell phone pics and videos and transmitting them around the world.

I can think of nothing quite so embarrassing as having one's bottom on full public display through no fault of one's own. I speak from personal experience, although not quite as revealing as his.

For reasons I cannot now remember, I needed to transact some business at the main headquarters of the area newspaper. Locals know that the building is fairly new and modern with a large expanse of glass overlooking a public sidewalk, a busy street, and the downtown business district. Although adorned in business dress, stockings and heels, I had my then 3 year old in tow, as we were killing some time before picking up her older sister.

Small children can get easily bored, especially when the mother's attention is elsewhere, and young daughter was restless. While holding my hand she decided that sliding up and down the wall of the reception desk was mildly entertaining. Somehow during the course of my conversation with the receptionist, daughter moved her vertical sliding around to the back of my legs. Before I realized what was happening, my dress hem had been slid up to my waist-line and was snagged tightly under my belt. I think the draft between my thighs was my first clue that something was amiss.

I looked over my shoulder to find a full presentation of my pantied rear end and a giggling daughter. Every thing else in the scenario was a complete blur, but I am certain there were people behind me and on the sidewalk and in cars driving by. Fortunately my business was finished and with hands faster than a speeding bullet, the hem was removed, the child grabbed, and never had I run so fast in high-heels. The only saving grace for me was that it was over in less than a minute and that this occurred long before there were cell phone cameras. I can just imagine the Internet blog post titles: "Child offers mother's buns to newspaper employees" or "Divorcee displays assets as dating lure" You can probably come up with even better ones.

Central Illinois Extreme Makeover

Tune in this Sunday when a Central Illinois family from Pekin gets an ABC Extreme Home Makeover. The Grys family are deeply involved with the Special Olympics program. Their makeover took place last October.

"...it belongs to me and no one else"

He thought the nice thing to do is share. She thought otherwise.

Off my wall

For lack of creative blog ideas, here are my favorite old comic strips I have kept for years to retain my sense of humor. Old and yellowed now, they still remain apropos today:

And finally, my favorite:

(that is my poor husband sitting there all alone on the sidewalk)

Why celebrities come to Central Illinois

This is becoming a weekly event: first Doug Wilson of Trading Spaces and now actor/writer Sam Shepard. Yeah, we've got some good bars in this area, but we've also got some good cops.