James Robinson, Jr.
My guest this week is James J. Robinson. To read his humorous posts that will make you laugh out loud go to the Home Page on this website and click “Visit and Join.” Here is his bio followed by an excerpt from his post on the morning of the Thanksgiving:
James Robinson
James Robinson, Jr. is an award-wining author who has written 6 books in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. His first book, Fighting the Effects of Gravity: A Bittersweet Journey into Middle Life, was an Indie Award winner for nonfiction. His first foray into fiction, Book of Samuel, was a Readers’ Favorite Award Winner. His latest book—Jay Got Married—is a collection of 9 humorous, satirical essays which often speak to ironies and inconsistencies of life. Jay Got Married is not just the title of the book but the lead essay of the same title and an amusing look at love and marriage in the year 2020. Mr. Robinson began to foster his writing career at age 45 when the Effects of Gravity kicked in and his children began to grow up affording him the time to write. It was also then that he began to hone his sardonic wit. Mr. Robinson resides in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife of 43 years. He is the father of three daughters ages 37, 38, and 40 and the proud owner of six grandchildren.
THERE’S NOTHING ON
Way back in the dark ages of 1968, I remember a long-awaited piece of electronic wizardry known as cable tv coming to Pittsburgh. My neighborhood filled with excitement as a representative of the company (Warner Cable) came door-to-door to ask residents what level of cable they wanted. Since we had 4 channels back then, most residents, when asked if the wanted the new product responded with—and I’m paraphrasing— “hell, yeah! I want everything!”
I can’t remember the incidentals, but, back then, everything probably meant a new-fangled box on top of the TV that provided 12 channels. No premium stations; no Showtime, no Cinemax, no Movie Channel. HBO didn’t come along until 1972. But the rabbit ears with the foil on the ends and antenna were gone.
We rejoiced.
But I’m sure you know what I’m getting at. Hey, it’s 2020. I have programming coming out the ying-yang, more stations than I know what to do with. With Verizon Fios, I have over 200 cable channels including: 5 news channels, 6 sports channels, 2 National Geographic, 3 QVC, 2 HSN, 1 Shop HQ, 2 cooking stations, and 5 kid’s channels. Not to mention the 47 premium stations: 12 Starz, 3 Showtime, 2 Movie Channels, 2 Epix (I am not even sure what Epix is but I have it, 13 (count em’) 13 HBO and 10 Cinemax. That’s right, I counted them. For you guys, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.
Then throw Netflix into the party. Yes, Netflix is making a killing in the Covid 19 epidemic.
Oh, and I almost forgot. I run a signal through my PlayStation which I never use for games.
I understand how it goes. TV viewers have different tastes. Despite the variety, some cable watchers have basic cable and stick to a skeleton crew: the 3 major networks, plus Fox, USA, WGN, TNT. TBS, and PBS. Some people have bragged to me, “I just have the essentials. I’m not paying all that money for cable.” Or worse, “I don’t have cable; I read and have a free movie streaming service through the library.
”The library?