Where we live in the U.S.A. (Peru, Illinois) we can receive no TV through the air. To watch TV we must pay for and have cable television. I refuse to pay for the dung that passes for TV in these United States now. I'm not missing a thing except some sports and being able to see our man-made Armageddon as it happens some day.

We do have a TV just to watch videos and DVDs. Some day I may sign up for the relatively new twenty dollar a month deal where you rent DVDs over the Internet.---The films are mailed to you, you watch 'em all you want, and than mail 'em back when you are done. Then you tell 'em what to send next. No time limit or late fees.

Until the cable companies get the idea that what I want from them are ONLY the channels I want, PBS and movie channels, I'll live without a telly. Radio works just great for NPR, the Cubs and the Blackhawks. We let the TV cable go in 1997 and I don't miss it. Especially I don't miss the assinine happy-talk and in-your-face screaming banter that passes for news now.

Art Thieme