LBYM Culture Shock

[TromboneAl]

One more thing -- don't want to sound judgmental here, but it's so damn amusing.

DW and I rode our bikes to the casino for our free continental breakfast yesterday, and as we're leaving, we pass the husband (from the above-mentioned house) playing the slots. I don't know if he was embarrassed. He said "I just stopped in to play $50. And if this comes up, you didn't see me here."

I know that his wife knows that he gambles, because she's told my wife "My husband goes to the casino, but he always wins."

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl One more thing -- don't want to sound judgmental here, but it's so damn amusing. DW and I rode our bikes to the casino for our free continental breakfast yesterday, and as we're leaving, we pass the husband (from the above-mentioned house) playing the slots. I don't know if he was embarrassed. He said "I just stopped in to play $50. And if this comes up, you didn't see me here." I know that his wife knows that he gambles, because she's told my wife "My husband goes to the casino, but he always wins."

Oh, don't worry, you don't sound a bit judgmental.

Ha

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl ..................... DW and I rode our bikes to the casino for our free continental breakfast yesterday, and as we're leaving, we pass the husband (from the above-mentioned house) playing the slots. I don't know if he was embarrassed. He said "I just stopped in to play $50. And if this comes up, you didn't see me here."....................

Heck, TAl, someone has to pay for that "free" breakfast.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO TV prices are all relative. I remember going TV shopping with my parents in the early 1990's. A 27" color tv was $700 out the door. Today, that would get me a cutting edge 40+" HD tv that is much more energy efficient and more compact, without saying anything about quality of image. Not dirt cheap, but not exactly expensive. ? ...

I remember the first TV we bought in 1980, shortly after we got married. A glorious 25" Sylvania console, which set us back $550. Our new home was empty, and that console qualified as furniture to help fill up the empty room.

My first PC purchased in 1985 was $1750 before tax, and before I spent another $400 to add a 30MB hard drive plus an additional 256MB RAM.

Now, going to the stores, I keep shaking my head at how cheap things are. Yet, I have not taken the plunge to get that a replacement laptop, which at $750 is a technical marvel. Why? Because the one I am still using, an IBM T23 circa 2002, refuses to croak.

I think that's the difference between LBYM'ers, and the normal populace. A LBYM'er buys the lowest-cost items that gets the job done. A non-LBYM'er buys as high as he can afford.

Talking about TV, my mother is still watching an old 27" CRT TV. She has talked about upgrading to an LCD. She kept mentioning that perhaps she would need at least a 48". I tried to point out that with the layout of her comfortable home (1600sqft), she would have to really move the furniture to adapt to the new TV. Perhaps, the sofa will have to be moved into the hall, in order to be away from that TV. And she is not the type who goes to the front rows of movie theaters for that "total immersion" experience.

I do not know that I will prevail, but she definitely thinks a 32" would be too small, having seen the colossal 60" TV that my brother has. I think my mother has succumbed to the philosophy that "the more, the better".

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound I Talking about TV, my mother is still watching an old 27" CRT TV. She has talked about upgrading to an LCD. I do not know that I will prevail, but she definitely thinks a 32" would be too small,

Your Mother (as she always told you) is right.

Old 4:3 CRTs do not compare apples-to-apples to the new Widescreen LCDs. I could google it, but IIRC a 32"LCD is really the minimum you need to replace a 27" CRT. Anything smaller will be *shorter*, and appear smaller, than a 27" CRT.

I recently shopped with my Mom to replace her 32" CRT. We looked at 42" LCD, which would have been about the same hight screen, but moved up to a 47" for a few hundred more. TV is at the far wall of a rectangular room, I think it is a good size for her. Old TV was 16 YO, and got repurposed (with converter box) to the basement.

-ERD50

[NW-Bound]

Her family room is small, such that the TV is about 7 ft from the sofa. Sitting that close to a big TV would give her headache. However, it's her money, and she will buy whatever she wants. I do not feel strongly about it.

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Talking about TV, my mother is still watching an old 27" CRT TV. She has talked about upgrading to an LCD. She kept mentioning that perhaps she would need at least a 48". I tried to point out that with the layout of her comfortable home (1600sqft), she would have to really move the furniture to adapt to the new TV. Perhaps, the sofa will have to be moved into the hall, in order to be away from that TV. And she is not the type who goes to the front rows of movie theaters for that "total immersion" experience.

We have the same situation regarding the tv. Currently using a $250 32" CRT tv and the screen is located 7' from our eyes. Due to the dimensions of the room, the location of stairs, windows, doors, and the fireplace and built in cabinets and bookshelves, the TV is basically where it has to be. 42" HDTV seems about right sized. Maybe 47". Something like 55-60" seems way too big and gives that "front row of movie theatre" feel and the accompanying neck strain. Similar home size at 1800 sf. No 25'x25' greatrooms in this house!

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO We have the same situation regarding the tv. Currently using a $250 32" CRT tv and the screen is located 7' from our eyes. Due to the dimensions of the room, the location of stairs, windows, doors, and the fireplace and built in cabinets and bookshelves, the TV is basically where it has to be. 42" HDTV seems about right sized. Maybe 47". Something like 55-60" seems way too big and gives that "front row of movie theatre" feel and the accompanying neck strain. Similar home size at 1800 sf. No 25'x25' greatrooms in this house!

When I traded in my big Sony 33" CRT TV on my present plasma TV, I figured this out the easy way. I measured the height of my Sony, and found that a 42" flatscreen (wider) TV was the same height. I am happy with it, and I don't sit much further from it than you do. Probably the 47" would be fine as well.

I would have stuck with the CRT TV, if it hadn't broken, though. It had a terrific picture and was so much less expensive - - plus it was already there, which at ~200 pounds was difficult to handle.

[Bimmerbill]

I'm waiting for my 46" Mitusubishi projection TV to croak. No luck yet. It does 1080i but not 1080p. Nice, but big (deep).

Heck if I had the money I'd probably have a big house and several TVs too. What the heck else would you do with all the coin?

[saluki9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmerbill I'm waiting for my 46" Mitusubishi projection TV to croak. No luck yet. It does 1080i but not 1080p. Nice, but big (deep). Heck if I had the money I'd probably have a big house and several TVs too. What the heck else would you do with all the coin?

Cars Bill, lots of cars.

[Sarah in SC]

Yeah, I'd buy cars, too, old ones. And a full-time mechanic to keep them up and running.

[Gardnr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Her family room is small, such that the TV is about 7 ft from the sofa. Sitting that close to a big TV would give her headache. However, it's her money, and she will buy whatever she wants. I do not feel strongly about it.

Yep, that just about describes our situation. 7-12 ft viewing distance. We just replaced a 27" CRT with a 32" LCD. It fits us. We don't want/need the huge TV effect.

[kcowan]

We just bought a 50" plasma for the remodeled living room wall. Although the gross room length in 18 feet, we expect the average viewing distance to be about 13 feet.

[M Paquette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmerbill I'm waiting for my 46" Mitusubishi projection TV to croak. No luck yet. It does 1080i but not 1080p. Nice, but big (deep).

Heh. I'm waiting for my 60" Mitsubishi projection set to croak. It does 640x480.

I'm waiting for one of those sales where they offer to haul off the old set. The pesky thing is the largest set that would fit up the stairs 11 years ago. I figure removal would involve power tools and an open second floor window.

Or I could be frugal, and arrange to be buried in it as my coffin...

[free4now]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO Not turning lights on when company is over is cheap IMHO

I had one of those aha moments when I was entertaining out of town guests over the holidays. I had recently started a system where I only keep the heat turned on in whatever part of the house I'm actually in. This involves keeping certain doors closed, adjusting various controls. As I was explaining to my guests how to adjust the heat, I had the realization "Oh, I could just leave the whole house heated all the time while my guests are here". We all had a little laugh about how obsessive I can be at times.

[OAG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Paquette Heh. I'm waiting for my 60" Mitsubishi projection set to croak. It does 640x480. I'm waiting for one of those sales where they offer to haul off the old set. The pesky thing is the largest set that would fit up the stairs 11 years ago. I figure removal would involve power tools and an open second floor window. Or I could be frugal, and arrange to be buried in it as my coffin...

Don't know if this applies where your are but DD bought some monster 52" thing and as part of the deal she struck was "you have to haul the dead projection model in the BASEMENT out and dispose of it" or she would not purchase the new one. They did and even moved the LCD from upstairs to the basement (the new monster went in the living room).

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Paquette I figure removal would involve power tools and an open second floor window.

Think "sledge hammer."

[Mango1956]

Hey Al,
Had some Dungeness crab for dinner in a vermouth/white wine/garlic/ginger broth. Delish. Are you getting your share of crab these days? Tis the season....
Greetings from Ukiah!
Mango

[TromboneAl]

Yeah, it's great stuff. We often stop by at a boat and pick up a few to cook at home. It's not a good year this year, so the crabs tend to be smaller but they still taste great.

I think they taste better than lobster, but it's a while since I've had that (I used to get free lobster when I worked on a clam boat), so I can't be sure.