Red Skelton

[19&41]

I just came across this interview program from Canadian TV. When I was growing up, the household would always stop in front of the TV when he was on. He always seemed to be having more fun than we who he was entertaining. I had never seen him do an interview, nor cry before. I found it quite interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z2ojfv ... =DiniPetty

[William]

I watched the video and it brought back so many memories. Red was an amazing man with so many talents. As with most stars, their lives are not always their own and thus they have many hardships in their lives. I was always impressed with the say he conducted himself on radio, stage, or, TV. After watching the video I did more internet research on him. It was all fascinating. Thanks for sharing, Rex.

Bill

[19&41]

He was indeed, a renaissance man. He also started the first commercial videotaping service, renting out studio quality systems. CBS eventually bought him out, he had 6 decks and CBS had only 2.

[electra225]

In 1965, the state put up a new bridge over the White River, between Indiana and Illinois. One end of the bridge was in Vincennes, Indiana the other end in bugtussle Illinois. Named the Red Skelton Bridge, after one of Vincenne's native sons. Our band marched across the bridge, and we all got our pictures taken with Red Skelton. He was an amazing man. He could be funny without being vulgar.

[hermitcrab]

I have the DVD collection ... he always was hilarious ... my favorite... Gertrude and heath cliff...

[19&41]

They show his programs on RFD TV Sundays at 1AM eastern. I record them to watch later in the day. He makes a week go much better just as he did back then.

[William]

If anyone has time read the Wikipedia story of Red, it pretty much tells it all. I wish I could get RFD TV. In my cable service it's only offered in the highest level and I'm not paying for that.

Bill

[William]

Elton, how many DVD's are in the collection? Is it all 20 years worth?

Bill

[19&41]

I anyone has time read the Wikipedia story of Red, it pretty much tells it all. I wish I could get RFD TV. In my cable service it's only offered in the highest level and I'm not paying for that.

Bill

On Sling, it's a part of the "heartland" tier of extra channels. It also includes National Geographic and NatGeoWild.

[William]

I don't think I have those channels in my cable service. If I did it would be pushing 300 bucks, not happening. It's a monopoly around here, and I wish some other cable company would come in and give them a run for their money.

Bill

[19&41]

I get mine streaming. Here it's $50 for internet, $36 for Sling and $6 for the heartland. I only get internet from the cable co.

[William]

Here it's 90 bucks for just the internet but if you bundle you get TV, lowest possible channels, for an additional 70. My area being fringe TV reception from the AIR is minimal. I guess I should Google Sling and see what exactly that is. Can you do Heartland all by itself? Or, do you need Sling?

Bill

[electra225]

The kids at work "steal" TV programming from the 'NEt on their phones, then play it on their 75" gaming flat panel via Bluetooth or the USB cable from their phone, if that makes any sense. They use their phone as a sort of converter box. I feel like that is more trouble than I'd go to, but it's free. Well, it's probably more fair to say that it's free after they pay their $400 a month cell phone bill........

Somebody at work told me the other day that there are now 87 OTA channels in the Phoenix market. I am planning to tinker with OTA when I get the shop going. I want to try an agile modulator to see how that works. I need to find an agile modulator worth the money. They are technically obsolete, but they want the BIG money for them on ebay.

[TC Chris]

I don't think I have those channels in my cable service. If I did it would be pushing 300 bucks, not happening. It's a monopoly around here, and I wish some other cable company would come in and give them a run for their money.

In the early days of telephone, many communities had more than one phone system. In ads from the early 20th century you'll often see two sets of phone numbers. But then Ma Bell settled in as the monopoly carrier in most places, while small independent phone companies covered some rural areas as local monopolies. Eventually the states began regulating the monopolies since there was no effective competition. The problem was that it was too expensive to build a competing system--all those poles, wires, and switching systems. So we had a regulated system. It worked pretty well--good quality, reliable service, sturdy equipment. The rates were regulated to a reasonable level. Innovation was suppressed by lack of opportunity. Our rates supported Bell Labs, a big creative force, but there wasn't much incentive for cell service and other new ideas. And remember "long distance," that special form of communication with really high rates?

In any event, building a parallel cable system ain't gonna happen. And from what I understand, the radio spectrum is hotly contested (too many competitors; not enough spectrum) so going wireless on a wide scale seems unlikely. I just wish there were more regulation of cable companies. I have internet-only service and it's pricey. Our city's electric service is building out a fiber optic system locally and it may stretch out from downtown toward my neighborhood, giving a choice. But then I'd have t give up my email address and notify everybody that uses it, since it ends n ".charter.net."

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

We had fiber optics system in Misssouri. It started out reasonable, then the prices started raising, steadily every month, until it was more than satellite was. This happened, of course, after all the satellite TV companies left the market because fiber optics took over. It is alleged that NOBODY has cable anymore but us. You'd think Cox would want business, thus keep their costs low. Nope. They are in to IT services for big business and could care less about cable TV and landline phones. Technical services by all of them suck. These companies need to be broken up like Ma Bell was to promote competetion.

The final straw as far as I'm concerned? RFD TV is now a premium channel here. Horsefeathers!

[19&41]

Here it's 90 bucks for just the internet but if you bundle you get TV, lowest possible channels, for an additional 70. My area being fringe TV reception from the AIR is minimal. I guess I should Google Sling and see what exactly that is. Can you do Heartland all by itself? Or, do you need Sling?

Bill

Heartland is an add on package that is an add on to sling. Go to their website. It takes a little time, but it shows everything they have on offer.

[19&41]

I have to renegotiate for my internet prices each year. Last year it was $60. The previous year It was $80 bundled with OTA on cable.

[TC Chris]

I have to renegotiate for my internet prices each year. Last year it was $60. The previous year It was $80 bundled with OTA on cable.

How do you negotiate with them? I learn the price when the bill arrives. Of course, it only moves in one direction.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Yeah, Rex, how do you renegotiate? I was lucky, about 6 months I had a lot of signal problems and it took for every for the cable company to figure it out. They lowered my bill by 70 bucks for a year. Of course when they reinstate it it will probably be 70 bucks plus 70 bucks to make up for it.

Bill

[19&41]

My bill shows the date that the annual rate for my service expires. I call customer support a month prior and ask about what newannual rate offers they have. they then tell me what they have on offer right then. If it is unacceptable, I wait a week and try again. If it happens a couple of times I let them know I will try another provider. That usually shakes something loose.