#now i need to spend even more money than if i originally bought the ultra deluxe TT

[webs4ribs]

Everyone hated Stanley, including The Line™

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Paygo, false consciousness and the IRS

John Steinbeck diagnosed an important American pathology in 1966 when he called the US a nation of “temporarily embarrassed capitalists” — people who see themselves as the wealthy-in-waiting and therefore fight policies that reduce the power that comes from wealth.

It’s a restatement of Engels’ idea of “false consciousness,” and it’s the result of a deliberate strategy on the part of wealthy people — many of whom believe that they were literally genetically destined to be wealthy — to convince the rest of us that “anyone can succeed.”

Part of the false consciousness program is the money story that goes like this: the US government takes away “taxpayers’ money” from “makers” to fund “programs,” the bulk of which go to the “lazy takers,” who experience the “moral hazard” of subsidized unemployment.

But of course, that’s not how money works. Money originates with the federal government (and its fiscal agents, the banks). In order for the public to have money to pay off its tax liabilities, the government must first spend that money into existence.

The IRS doesn’t take our tax dollars, pile them up, and give them to Congress to spend on programs. When the IRS taxes our money, they annihilate it, removing it from circulation. When Congress spends, new money comes into existence.

The US government can’t run out of money any more than Apple can run out of Itunes gift cards. It can spend too much money — so much that prices go up because too many dollars are chasing too few goods — but it can’t run out of money.

Fed spending is constrained by resources (what’s for sale in dollars) not money (how many dollars there are). If the ratio of dollars to resources gets out of whack, there’s a risk of inflation.

There are many ways to fix this ratio. For example, the government usually issues T-bills (savings bonds) whenever it spends more than it taxes. When you buy a T-bill, you take dollars that might circulate around the economy, chasing goods and labor, and you sequester them.

A T-bill is just a dollar you’re not allowed to spend. In exchange for surrendering the right to spend your dollars for 1, 5, 10 or more years, the government offers you interest, trickling out that money over a long period.

That way the government can buy things today without bidding against your dollars.

But that’s not the only way to fight inflation while spending new money into existence. The other major way is taxation: simply removing money from the economy and annihilating it.

Taxation fights inflation. When the government runs a deficit, that means that it created more money this year via spending than it destroyed via taxes. The “government deficit” is the “public surplus” — the money left in the economy for all of us to spend on stuff.

Likewise, when the government runs a “surplus” that means it taxes more money out of existence than it spends into existence. In a year where the government runs a surplus, it means that the power of the private sector — you and me — to buy stuff has decreased overall.

This is fine if there was too much money to begin with — if inflation was kicking off — but if there’s not enough money in circulation (e.g. if there’s a recession), it just makes things worse…but not for everyone.

When the economy is starved of money, banks go to work creating new money through loans. These loans pay interest (to rich people like bank shareholders and people who securitize and buy debt).

That’s the one-two punch of spending cuts during a downturn:

I. The real economy is starved of the capital it needs to pay workers and make things for workers to buy;

II. The financial economy grows as desperate real-economy firms borrow from banks to keep the lights on.

Despite all their talk of “spending taxpayers’ money,” the wealthy understand how money works. That’s why they were totally indifferent to the running $1t/year deficits created by the Trump tax-cuts (and likewise about the Obama finance bailouts).

Giving money to rich people causes asset-bubbles (driving up the prices of houses), but not inflation (a sustained rise in the price of all goods). That’s because rich people can’t buy enough stuff (fridges, cars, oranges) to drive up prices.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/08/howard-dino/#payfors

After you’ve bought three houses and three SubZero fridges and filled them with the beef of three Kobe cows and three cases of Moet, there’s still a LOT left over (even if you’re Jeff Bezos and buy a superyacht with its own, smaller superyacht).

Those leftovers go to socially useless things, like buying houses to turn into rent-generating slums (Wall Street is fast becoming America’s biggest landlord, and single family homes are sold for cash to investment funds instead of families).

And they go to influence campaigns designed to make regular people defend massive cuts to the IRS and opposition to public spending on infrastructure, education, health, and other necessities.

This isn’t just about Republicans. For years, the Democratic leadership has supported “balanced budgets” (spending so little that no new money is left in the economy after all taxes are paid).

The “paygo” rule (which requires all new spending to be matched with cuts or tax-hikes) is religion for the likes of Pelosi and Schumer. That’s why the Democratic caucus is mired in stupid arguments about “how we will pay for the stimulus.”

As bad as the paygo rule is, though, Republicans have made it worse, by demonizing and starving the IRS. Paygo means that the US government operates under the artificial constraint of only spending if it can make cuts or raise taxes.

Raises taxes is really unpopular, for obvious reasons.

Now, raising taxes on the 1% — who have a lot of excess money that’s fueling political corruption and asset bubbles — is one way around this.

Theoretically, taxing the 1% should have a 99% approval rating.

But canny Republicans have figured out how exorcise temporarily embarrassed capitalists about the “unfairness” of taxing their bosses, in part by just flat-out lying about who new taxes would implicate.

But there’s yet another way to satisfy paygo’s artificial constraint, without changing the a single word in the tax-code: simply fund the IRS so that it can collect the trillions that the ultra-wealthy illegally avoid in tax-payments every year.

But this strategy is also a bust. The GOP campaign to destroy the IRS has been too successful.

It’s a longrunning campaign, but it achieved liftoff in 2013 when the Tea Party baselessly accused the IRS of discriminating against conservative groups seeking nonprofit status.

The work-the-ref strategy paid off, providing political cover for deep cuts to the IRS and putting IRS staffers on notice so they green lit every dark money group that applied for nonprofit status, no matter how obviously corrupt they were.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/fallout-from-allegations-of-tea-party-targeting-hamper-irs-oversight-of-nonprofits/2017/12/17/6403c1c0-c59e-11e7-a441-3a768c8586f1_story.html

After the cuts, the IRS grew easier to discredit. Understaffed and under siege, the agency’s behavior grew erratic, then indefensible. There were runaway automated processes that sent out erroneous property-seizure notices that no one could rescind:

https://theintercept.com/2019/01/14/irs-shutdown-federal-government-shut-down-irs-asset-seizures/

Then there was the aftermath of the Equifax breach, where the IRS first told Americans that it didn’t matter because they’d already been doxed by other bad companies:

https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/355862-irs-significant-number-of-equifax-victims-already-had-info-accessed-by

Then came news that the IRS couldn’t cancel Equifax’s no-bid, $7.5m anti-fraud contract because it didn’t have the resources to do its own fraud prevention (Equifax eventually lost the contract because it served malware from its anti-fraud site).

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/equifax-irs-data-breach-malware-discovered/

The rich waged a successful all-out war on the IRS. Take the Global High Wealth unit. For every hour an auditor from GHW worked, they brought in $4500 in taxes the super-rich had dodged. Even by the topsy-turvy logic of “government as a business,” this was good business.

After a concerted harassment and political influence campaign, the GHW abandoned the super-rich and switched to the merely wealthy, bringing in less money and pissing off a lot more people.

The other shoe dropped in 2019, when the IRS admitted it had switched to preferentially auditing poor people because it was too politically and legally fraught to audit rich people, even the most flagrant cheaters.

https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-sorry-but-its-just-easier-and-cheaper-to-audit-the-poor

That was the first year that America’s 400 highest earners paid a lower tax rate than the average American worker:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/06/opinion/income-tax-rate-wealthy.html

The IRS’s transformation into a facilitator of illegal wealth retention by the super-rich and petty harassment of the rest of Americans made them very easy to hate.

To that, add the concerted corporate campaigns to use the IRS to rip off workers.

For example, for 20 years, Intuit lobbied the IRS not to make tax-filing automatic, painless and free, ensuring that Americans would continue to pay billions to send data to the IRS that it already had:

https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free

Reading the IRS’s internal emails from this battle reveals an agency in retreat, where demoralized and ineffectual government employees simply rolled over for one of the greatest ripoffs in American history:

https://www.propublica.org/article/the-irs-tried-to-hide-emails-that-show-tax-industry-influence-over-free-file-program

Intuit wanted to rip us off with taxes. Microsoft, by contrast, just wanted to break the law. Working with KPMG, the convicted monopolist created a “transfer” scheme of breathtaking illegality, using its tax-savings to bankroll its war on the IRS:

https://www.propublica.org/article/the-irs-decided-to-get-tough-against-microsoft-microsoft-got-tougher

Which brings us to today, where Democrats are held hostage to the “payfor” rule and trying to figure out how to mobilize the trillions Biden has pledged for infrastructure, health, and care.

Republicans — pushing the big lie of “taxpayer money” — are dogwhistling hard. Senator John Thune, responding to Biden’s proposal for $80b for the IRS, says any tax enforcement efforts “must strike an appropriate balance between taxpayer responsibilities and taxpayer rights.”

Meanwhile Senator Chuck Grassley takes the nonsensical position that funding the IRS won’t help it do its job (“simply throwing money at a problem doesn’t necessarily yield a solution”).

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/553704-lawmakers-bicker-over-how-to-go-after-tax-cheats

Then there’s Rep Kevin Brady, warning that a fully funded IRS would “unleash tens of thousands of new IRS agents on families, farms and businesses.”

But the Democrats own the paygo rule, not the Republicans, and their leadership have added their own special touch to make funding the IRS impossible.

https://prospect.org/politics/infrastructure-at-a-crossroads-biden-public-investment/

According to the rules Congress gives to the Congressional Budget Office (which calculates the cost of government programs), the CBO isn’t allowed to factor in the projected additional revenue from funding the IRS, only the cost of doing so (!).

Which means that they must factor in the salaries that IRS Global High Wealth auditors will draw — but they are forbidden from counting the $4500/hour they generate when they puncture the tissue-thin financial lies of the super-rich.

The payfor and “taxpayer money” are lies.

It’s a shuck sold to the rubes, not economics. Because it’s a shuck, it doesn’t have to make any sense — and it doesn’t. We shouldn’t run government like a business, but if we must, let’s at least count revenues as well as costs.

Image: Mike Licht/notionscapital.com https://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/48857033957/

CC BY: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[zujeylozano]

How to pick surveillance cameras

If you're wanting to pick a surveillance camera, the option could be mind-boggling. Below are great tips to assist you. There is lots to think about when it comes to wireless security camera functions, technical specs along with basic technology goes. A big difference from a web cam and a legitimate surveillance camera is certainly one important variation. Web cams in many cases are lumped within the home security camera type simply because most of them provide several safety features, however I would definitely conisder that they can be fairly constrained when your main concern is going to be security. Take the ADT Outdoor Camera as well as Arlo as samples. Both of those allow you to watch a live video feed in ones phone when you've got an web connection, but Arlo ultra isn't going to alert you each time a possible safety and security concern arises (for example when the built-in detectors detect motion, and so on.), whereas the View will give you lots of customizability so you can get notifications each time anything takes place, if that's what you desire. It might seem like a little variation, however if you simply are going the stand alone Do-it-yourself home security camera direction, some of those notifications will be the best way to estimated real-time monitoring (no need to checking out the live stream throughout the day). Build-it-yourself frequently means that, unlike Link Interactive as well as other agencies, there's no qualified professional observing service at the rear of your personal wireless security camera. That implies, for better or even worse, it will be up to you to contact the authorities when you see someone breaking in to your residence. If you can't have the opportunity to acquire a alert each time a security and safety circumstance happens, you may simply miss the one time that the burglar steal that costly bit of rings. I am not saying there's no place for webcams as security and safety supplements, however they are really finest limited to viewing in over a doggy through the day to guarantee your own jumper has not yet transformed into a chew up toy.

Positive aspects of surveillance cameras

Prevent Robbery

This is actually the greatest and the most visible advantage of using ip camera. After they are put, it will be straightforward to find out their specific impact on many people quickly. Regardless if they can be placed quietly, you will definitely start sensing a sense of protection, which is certainly priceless.

Keep track of SCENARIOS And also ACTIVITIES

It is quite effortless to work together with ip camera equipment as they can be placed anywhere assuming that there is a power supply within reach. They are available in pretty much all shapes and forms; many are tiny adequate to remain covered in flowers, pictures, photo frames, etc. Depending upon your preferences you should purchase either hidden cameras or mountable kinds. Don't ever permit anybody and anything suspicious through your sight with security camera systems. Although it is suggested that anyone keep away from obtaining dummy video cameras, I cannot really pressure enough about the worth of correcting true video security cameras for a dependable protection measure. Thieves are generally wise and dummy ip camera give on their own away, and so there is truly silly of having these products.

Find EVIDENCE

Placing ip camera installed in ideal areas is useful when you require to keep track of activities or words of individuals and / or in an event. Modern surveillance cameras aren't only equipped with high quality video features, but audio at the same time. The clear pictures along with faultless audio causes them to be more beneficial than before in capturing a series of incidents. This is very practical when facing a legitimate circumstance, where the eye witness might have forgotten about a particular vital information or possibly may be delivering having an reliable account as to what actually occurred. With a security camera, any legal authorities can easily see any combination of events while they really unfolded.

>How Much Money Will You Spend on your Home Security Camera?

More than ever before, surveillance solutions can be bought in a number of designs and prices to give a perception of security and safety towards a wide range of people. The common price of an alarm system and set up might be $1,335. Due to variants with kinds and quality of video cameras, the installation commonly spans in between $550 and $1500. Hard wired systems cost less with regard to parts but yet far more for assembly, by $140-$200 each webcam, in comparison with their wireless network alternatives. The great news: investing in almost any system will save bills of home insurance. There are two main options to take: wi-fi or cabled together with IP or Closed-circuit television. However, several things bring about the final set up. The majority of models now have multiple surveillance cameras along with either cloud (NVR) or on-site (DVR) storage. At times they will include motions alarms, much better resolution, specialist monitoring, along with night vision abilities. Improved options imply greater sophistication, as well as higher fees. In the long run, your needs and tastes will head to shape the total cost. Over time, wireless security camera prices have got fallen, which make them an easily affordable necessity. A typical home security system installment will definitely cost about $2000. Nonetheless the price tag for qualified installment could vary greatly dependant on product type along with volume of camcorders. Along with hardware prices, each individual security camera will cover anything from $70 to $190 for the purpose of skilled installment. A process created for Build-it-yourself installation can cost you only time, if you've got the resources. Regardless of whether you end up progressing a Do it yourself direction or hiring a master, an original consultation can help you realize your accurate requirements in line with the demands of your residence. A consultation is generally totally free. The scale and design is determined by lots of components.

Hard-wired IP camera

Although the installing costs more than wifi averaging about $155 to $300 per surveillance camera, the elements of cabled devices are usually more affordable. Considering that holes is going to be drilled, electrical wires added, and channel integrated, getting a service provider is normally recommended. After the advance expenditure, the only problem is permanently fixed spots. The benefits might surpass the disadvantages. Wired products can't be hacked from another location, crammed, and possess electric power integrated ? generally using power supply back ups with regard to power failures.

Wireless network Model

Wireless network models are easy to set up, leading them to be the options with regard to Do-it-yourself homemade projects. A DIY install might run you for free with the help of expert work only about $100 for each surveillance camera. They are very simple to transfer along with almost always provide you with remote control entry. Down sides comprise of virtually no special power and must be mounted with your home's wireless network reach to operate appropriately. They frequently have got decreased picture resolution than cabled counterparts and could be hacked remotely. Wifi equipment can also be at the mercy of transmission interference.

[componentplanet]

How Much Does It Matter That PCs Are Faster Than Consoles?

Earlier this week, I argued that the backward-compatibility features Microsoft is launching with the Xbox Series X will put consoles on an equal footing with PCs for the first time ever. My point was not to claim that PC and console gaming would now literally be identical, but that adding accessory and software backward compatibility represented the last major feature gap between the two platforms and that the Xbox Series X represented a convergence between PC and consoles.

Plenty of readers disagreed. This article is the first of several I intend to write on various counter-arguments or views raised by readers. According to some vehement readers, the entire point of PC gaming is to maintain higher frame rates than anything a console is capable of. Speed (and to a lesser extent, higher detail levels) aren’t just a nice perk — they’re the defining characteristic that separates PC and console gaming. 60fps is one common target, but some of the people who responded claimed higher targets, including 144 and even 240fps. Many of the same people who emphasized this argument made other comments indicating they believed I was a console gamer.

For the record, I’m not. I’d estimate upwards of 95 percent of my total lifetime gaming has been done on a PC, and I’ve been a PC gamer since 1987. Obviously people are allowed to value anything they want about a platform, but I want to talk about the idea that PC gaming is explicitly about high frame rates. I think whether you associate PC gaming

specifically with fast gaming depends, at least in part, on when you grew up.

PCs Used to Be the Slowest Gaming Solution Around

When I was young, PC games were slow. While there were 8-bit machines from Atari and Commodore that offered richer graphics and audio options, the generic hardware in the IBM PC and its immediate successors wasn’t well-suited to fast-paced gaming. Graphics on the PC began as a crude series of static images — the first graphical adventure game, Mystery House, was published in 1980 by On-Line Systems, the forerunner of Sierra On-Line. Lists of the best games of the 1980s are dominated by RPGs, simulations, and adventure games.

Games that primarily relied on typed input mostly didn’t rely on fast gameplay to avoid turning them into inadvertent typing speed tests. Early Sierra games like Kings Quest I – III, Space Quest I and II, Police Quest I, and the original Leisure Suit Larry didn’t even pause the game when you started to type.

I went to my friends’ houses to play games like Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and Double Dragon because they were faster and smoother than anything I had access to at home. Platforming on the PC in the late 1980s looked like Captain Comic, shown below. I beat this game. It wasn’t nearly as much fun as Super Mario Bros. and it didn’t play as well. This blog post dives into some of the technical reasons why a $2,000 PC in 1991 couldn’t match a $200 console — because, at the time, it couldn’t.

If you fell in love with PC gaming in this era, it wasn’t because PCs outperformed consoles. It took far longer to load data off a floppy disk or even hard drive than an NES cartridge, and the NES, Genesis, and Super Nintendo had better graphics than the PC at launch. You played Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar instead of Final Fantasy because Ultima IV actually let you talk to each and every NPC, asking them detailed questions about their lives, as opposed to limiting the NPCs to single-response answers. Ultima IV had standard RPG elements like levels and spellcasting, but part of the feeling of progression came from learning which NPCs knew what information and puzzling out various webs of information. Squint a little and it’s an organic quest system without the in-game tracking.

Consoles had nothing to match this kind of capability. In the era before dialog menus, keyboard support made game engines feel as if they supported far richer levels of text interactivity than they actually did. It’s an advantage the PC lost after games moved away from emphasizing text input and towards the use of dialog menus.

In the late 1980s, if you wanted to make a game run meaningfully faster, you copied it to your hard drive. A faster CPU would play animations faster, but games of the day loaded data one screen at a time. Above a certain point, running a game off multiple 5.25-inch floppies and swapping between them hit performance much harder than a slower CPU. You also ran the risk of discovering one of your floppies had gone bad mid-game. If you wanted fast, animated, on-screen gaming, you bought a console. If you wanted deep, thoughtful, slower-paced titles, you played on PC.

Games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom made tremendous waves in the PC market precisely because they were some of the first PC games to offer fast-paced, arcade-like play. But Wolf 3D didn’t show up until 1992, with Doom following in 1993. At the time, I could play Wolfenstein 3D reasonably well on my 386SX-16 with 8MB of RAM, but I had to shrink Doom to postage-stamp size to play it, and the only version of Doom 2 I had access to required a CD-ROM, which my machine didn’t have. I played older games like Civilization on my home PC and titles like Civilization II and Doom 2 on my best friend’s computer, since his parents had bought a 486-DX2. CD-ROM capabilities were huge in the mid-90s and game developers quickly found ways to offer additional features on the CD-ROM versions of their games.

Performance Evolves Slowly

The arrival of 3D cards in the late 1990s revolutionized gaming, but they didn’t immediately unlock super-high frame rates for your average PC gamer. Higher spend has always equaled higher frame rates, but the speed at which the market moved and the higher number of variables to track made it harder and more expensive to get decent performance than it is today. In 1997, if you had money, you bought a Pentium or Pentium II. If you didn’t have money, you bought a K6 or K6-2.

The arrival of Athlon in 1999 kicked off the first high-end war between AMD and Intel, but I’d bought my first system in 1997. As a college student, I was firmly in the “don’t have money” crowd, and these are the kind of frame rates you got from Quake III Arena in 2000 if you had, say, a K6-2 300. All of these graphs are from nearly the same period of time — two articles from Anandtech, written in June and November of 2000. All images below by Anandtech.

Image by Anandtech

Here’s the same test from a K6-3 450:

Image by Anandtech

Finally, the same test at the same resolution, running on an array of higher-end CPUs:

Graph by Anandtech

Only one of those graphs — the last one — looks like the kind of CPU results we see in games today. The K6-3 was so much faster than the K6-2 thanks to the combined impact of an on-die L2 cache and its higher clock speed. What’s unusual is that the large performance gains aren’t confined to the highest-end GPU, but show up even when tested with older cards like the TNT2 Ultra. Even a low-end card like the Voodoo 3 2000 showed much stronger CPU scaling than what we see today. And all of these chips were new by modern standards  — the K6-2 300 was less than 2.5 years old in November 2000. The “old” Voodoo 3 2000 was barely 15 months old.

My initial forays into overclocking were driven by a desire to squeeze more performance out of budget hardware so I could game at something that didn’t look like potato quality running at terrible frame rates. That was scarcely uncommon. In the era when CPU and GPU performance were both leaping ahead, relatively few people could afford to stay on the absolute cutting edge of technology. While Quake 3 showed what looks like modern CPU performance clustering, this wasn’t universal. Compare it with Unreal Tournament, from the same review:

Image by Anandtech

Games like Unreal Tournament still showed strong impacts from CPU and illustrated how quickly the market was moving. The Athlon 500 (KX133) that couldn’t even hit 45fps? It was a few days short of its first birthday. If you had wanted to stay on top of that mythical 60fps target, you might have found yourself replacing $500 – $1,000 worth of components every single year. I’m sure some people did. Most didn’t.

The Limits of FPS as a Metric:

There are three specific reasons I’ve spent so much time on the history above. First, I wanted to illustrate how the evolution of gaming itself has changed which system components need to be upgraded in order to improve performance, and how much the position of PCs versus consoles has changed.

Second, I wanted to emphasize that defining PC gaming strictly in terms of high frame rates is ahistorical relative to how many of us experienced that history. The fastest CPU you could buy the month after Quake came out (June 1996) was a Pentium 200 MMX. The minimum CPU requirement for Quake 3 Arena in 1999 was a Pentium II 233. There was no upgrade path between the two platforms. Most PC gamers didn’t spend thousands of dollars every single year to stay current on hardware. You bought when you could, overclocked where you could, and played what you could with the result.

Third, I wanted to discuss how attempting to define gaming superiority in terms of how frame rate punishes PC players who simply can’t afford to spend as much money as others. By extension, it implies that the only valuable games are games that can push PC hardware. There’s nothing wrong with having enough disposable income to choose a higher-performing platform or with loving games that push the envelope, but you aren’t less of a PC gamer just because you game on a low-end PC. One of the best aspects of the indie boom has been a proliferation of games that don’t require much in the way of hardware. A low-end 2019 laptop may not play much in the way of modern titles, but it’ll play the biggest hits of 1997 – 2007 just fine.

Like a lot of you, I enjoy playing PC games at higher frame rates than consoles typically offer. Like a lot of you, I consider this a major strength. I don’t, however, consider higher frame rates to be an intrinsic advantage of the platform. They’re only an advantage if you have access to them in the first place, and not all PC gamers do. There are a lot of flaws in the Steam Hardware Survey, but according to the best data we have, the GTX 1060, 1050 Ti, and 1050 are the top three GPUs on the market today, with 28.92 percent of the market between them. The people who buy those GPUs are still PC gamers, but they aren’t necessarily enjoying better frame rates than they’d see on an Xbox One X.

I’m happy to acknowledge superior performance as a current perk of building a high-end gaming PC, but you can love PC gaming passionately and be stuck doing it on old equipment. There’s no question that it’ll be possible to build a PC that outperforms the Xbox Series X,

but I don’t consider faster frame rates to be a fundamental characteristic of PC gaming as a category — just a really nice benefit I’m happy to take advantage of when I have the money and the opportunity.

Now Read:

The Next-Generation ‘Xbox Series X’ Is Actually Just Called Xbox

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X Just Ended the PC-Console War

Best Games for Laptops and Low-End PCs in 2020

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/303658-how-important-is-performance-pc-versus-consoles from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2019/12/how-much-does-it-matter-that-pcs-are.html

[goodnightwatch]

AN (IM)PERFECT COLLECTION

An Horological Psychologist’s Magnum Opus, or How a Lowly Graduate Student Amassed a World-Class Collection of Fine Timepieces.

By: Andrew Lawrence Smith

Part 1

You might think it’s easy to collect watches, but I’ll have you know that even if you’re the richest person in the world, you simply cannot know what to buy and when and where and why to buy it until you have put in an insane amount of work. In some ways it really evens the playing field between the rich and the working class because it’s not about money, it’s about achieving a holistic collection that balances and harmonizes everything from wrist-time to occasion. Collecting is as much of an art as the watches themselves. Some people get lucky, sure, but then again some people win the lottery and if you’re reading this, that is not going to happen to you, probably ;).

Hi there. My name is Andrew and I am a 37 year old PhD student and Jungian Depth Psychology Consultant finishing a dissertation in Jungian & Archetypal Studies and Horology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Do they offer the horology part? No. I created that after being unable to separate my depth psychological research from wristwatches. This is what we deem a vocational call. When you spend hours observing the least and the greatest of watches under magnification to understand what “fine” means and when you press each watch against your ear to hear every tick and tone made by the watch, you’re just barely beginning to be on the path. My research discusses how timepieces, the wristwatch in particular, might function as a modern mandala, having a real connection to the unconscious archetypal Self, but that goes way beyond the scope of this essay. To understand some of the terms I use, you might need to dip into Jungian depth psychology, and for the most important definitions, they can be found here: http://www.psychceu.com/jung/sharplexicon.html

Many arrive at a collection that fits them by procuring countless timepieces and then throwing them back into the abyss in order to please their peers (fashion watches and status pieces) and have the experience that refines one’s taste, some of which I’ve done, but the serious collector will lie in wait like a dragon observing from atop a mountain of gold; the gold being serious knowledge, in the vein of attempting to acquire an horological and psychological philosophers’ stone. When all variables align—after months and years of reading and discussing and visiting boutiques and second-hand shops either brick-and-mortar or online—only then will one receive the full satisfaction of the perfect watch for them, the perfect complete set, and the perfect price to once again return to one’s perch fully satisfied with the catch/game of a lifetime. Needless to say I will not be discussing the auction world at all. Auctions are for rich people. Although the rich or super-rich should go through the process that I have gone through, they really don’t have to. Their loss. Then again, they hire guys like me to pick out their watches! This is a story for the ultra-conservative (no politics implied) watch collector. The metaphor of the miserly, yet punctilious dragon, represents the foundation of the composition of an horological psychologist. Horology is cool, psychology is cool, but I contend that it is only when the whole process of being an horologist is twinned with the knowledge and experience of depth psychology that one can truly enter into this deeper world of alchemical achievement, understanding, and appreciation.

Put another way, what I have found from studying wristwatches—as they relate to universal mandala symbols—is that the image of the timepiece, especially the wristwatch (in my own psyche) replaces every single religious symbol with a unified and integral symbol of the height of human consciousness and beyond. I’m more than just your average atheist, I am an horological psychologist who has integrated world mythologies into a knowledge and gnosis of being that connects the alchemically perfect timepiece and the supreme meaning of the individual and collective psyche; Jung’s notion of the archetype of the Self, the whole being of the individual. For more on that, you can hold out for my completed dissertation, and in the meantime read C.G. Jung’s “Memories Dreams Reflections.”

The image above was taken by me and is from C.G. Jung’s “The Red Book: Liber Novus.” It is one of many mandala images that Jung created to symbolize the whole Self archetype. A perfect watch on the wrist does not fall short of the feelings evoked through this depiction of presentiating origin: becoming fully integrated into the purest harmony of consciousness.

Part 2

It was by accident, or rather synchronicity, that on the 28th of June, 2012 I found myself attracted to a cheap, skeletonized mechanical wristwatch that was glaringly out of place amid items I was perusing to fill a few needs for my San Francisco apartment. I had been studying Nikola Tesla in depth and was possessed by the genius of his inventions and notions of free electricity. I thought that using/wearing a watch, which would need no battery replacement, was/is an ecologically responsible and very cool thing to do. At $120, it seemed expensive, but I was overcome by a strange feeling of passion and curiosity in the name of the great Tesla (best human who ever lived) and so I ordered it. Full disclosure, I sweat bullets on the MUNI back then thinking someone would mug me for that watch. Now I ride the bus with a Rolex hanging out like IDGAF x). But I digress.

Upon removing the watch from its box for the first time after it arrived at my door, little did I know that I would from that day forward never go another day without enjoying a mechanical watch on my wrist. Case and point, at this very moment I am wearing my Breguet 5327. Thus commenced hours upon days of winding, listening, and viewing the watch under magnification so that I could figure out how everything worked. It might’ve been a poor excuse for a watch, but I could not stop staring at all of the moving parts, which had me mesmerized as if I was flying through the clockwork at the train station in the film Hugo.

Even in this bottom-of-the-barrel movement that had been manufactured in a place with vastly lower standards than Switzerland, I could see motion and beauty that had/has me transfixed on a level that was/is far greater than any basic aesthetic, technical, or functional appeal. I purchased a few loupes—5x, 10x, and 30x—to get a closer look. Since I still have this watch, I do not have to imagine what it feels like to dive into the minute details of every stationary and moving part. I can gaze upon, and through, the synthetic rubies right now and see a universe of possibility in an instrument that is only meant to tell us where the sun in the sky might be at any given moment so that we will know when to perform certain socially agreed upon human rituals. That said, with each of my watches I often engage in Active Imagination (a Jungian method by which one re-members or discovers knowledge sourced from the collective unconscious) and the imaginal entities that animate in my own mind, inspired by the wristwatch, tell endless, fascinating stories.

Two years after encountering that initiatory watch, owning cheap mechanical watches of various designs and complications (my experience of horology exposure 101), I finally took the plunge and bought my first fine timepiece. Now to be fair, I must mention that I spent a lot of time during those years defending my cheap watches as if owning something that costs more than a few hundred dollars US would never be necessary, like some poor souls still do, but eventually I grew up and made the sacrifices necessary to possess something serious. You need a thick skin in the watch world in order to interface with other Modern Day Watch Enthusiasts who are worth talking to. Surviving your own ignorance to become horologically knowledgeable is a noble and brutal journey through the underworld. And as Jung would have it, emerging from this underworld is simply another stage of individuation; an expansion of consciousness improving the abilities and life of the individual.

My first fine watch was the Omega Speedmaster Professional ref. 3577.50 “from the Moon to Mars” purchased on the 2nd of January in 2014. Obsessed with Elon Musk’s dream to travel to and terraform Mars, as a byproduct of being equally obsessed with Nikola Tesla, this was a watch that not only met all of my horological desires but also instantly possessed a multiverse of meaning for me. I imagined that one day I would take this watch with me on a public transport to the Red Planet. Elon wants to die on Mars, and quite frankly, so do I. To me this watch was so expensive (for me at the time) and so perfect that there would never be a reason to own anything else. Again, little did I know that I would be very wrong about that. Enter the “Coke.”

The Rolex GMT-Master II 16710 Coke began to burrow into my mind as I continued to scour the internet for the best deals on fine watches of all kinds. Every single day I was on eBay, Chrono24, watchestobuy, watchuwant, Crown & Caliber, Jomashop, The RealReal… You name it, if the site was selling fine watches, I was keeping tabs. Apologies to anyone I missed. By this time I was reading magazines, blogs, and watching all sorts of videos that were giving me a fairly exhaustive exposure to what was out there and who was buying/selling certain kinds of timepieces in certain categorical brackets. My aim was/is to understand watches on a deep psychological level as they affect the experiences of others and of course my own Self. Not just to be a numbers guy who can flash the timepiecs but say almost nothing meaningful about them. I must confess that it is important to know that, in regards to my personality type (INFP), I operate heavily by listening to my own intuition, and I could not shake this watch; just as I could not shake the Mars. There was more than just the analysis and process of elimination, it was something like a powerfully religious magnetism. The Coke was coming to me in my dreams. I have the dream journal to prove it! However, that’s in my dissertation. On a number of occasions I placed offers on a Coke, but came up with nothing because either a) the seller was shady, or b) I just couldn’t get the price or set where I wanted it. Dealing with watch sellers can be tricky, unlike being face to face with your local AD, so it’s important to be patient and cautious; to not be so excited about that exact watch you’re hunting that you get taken for a ride.

Then finally the day came when I saw a great deal for a clearly authentic Coke (gotta have that paperwork) in amazing condition and I made an offer that stuck. Again, I thought I was going to be done forever. That this was the collection of a lifetime. I had unique Speedmaster that almost no one else had and I had a Coke, which is a highly respected and desired timepiece across the globe. I chose the GMT because I could use it to track 3 time zones more efficiently than on any other timepiece, including world timers, and this came in very handy with all of the traveling and international communicating that I do. Not to mention, the whole design of the watch and color scheme is unusually attractive and versatile (still my favorite Rolex, aside from material objections), but I had not ever seen one in the metal. On a flight home from Cyprus I ran into a guy who was wearing one. I asked him if I could see it and of course he obliged. I have pictures to prove it (see below). I was wearing my Moon to Mars and just knew that the Coke would complete the circle for me. The one thing that I did not really take into account until my own Coke arrived was the size, which didn't register on that agonizing flight back to the US from Cyprus, where I had attended an amazing conference on Time and the Psyche. The conference was a magical experience, but I do not recommend that anyone fly a cumulative 44 hours just to have 5 days on the ground, no matter where you are going.

I ordered my 16710 from 1989 at a great price in pristine condition with papers and when it came, I was bewildered. It seemed so small! Was it actually fake? Did I get bamboozled? Impossible. All of this time I had been looking at huge blown up pictures of the watch and assumed it had the same presence as a Submariner, but there it was, 100% authentic and smaller than I expected. I wanted that Submariner-style crown, big and chunky, but after a while the size of the 16710 crown began to make sense and the tasteful nature of this specific piece became clearer from one day to the next.

I spent so much time examining this Coke, to make sure that it I hadn’t made a mistake, that synchronistically every aspect of its charm became powerfully apparent and intoxicating beyond belief. I had been wearing obnoxiously large watches with Chinese tourbillons that dwarfed even my Speedmaster and now finally the curse was lifting. I saw the light. Praise the gods! Certain watches worked for certain wrist sizes and certain moments in life. Wearing a watch that is too big for you is simply childish and lacking in discipline and taste, just like believing that there is a god that is literally real. This Rolex functioned as training wheels for wearing watches that actually fit properly and looked correct for my physical build and personality type. I remember thinking that the bracelet was too narrow and that the case of the watch only covered the surface area of my wrist, which made it feel like there wasn’t enough watch there, but in reality it was a match made in mythological, alchemical heaven. To this day I still think that the textural design and character of that vintage Oyster bracelet is better than the new 904L iteration and that the 116710 is right on the line of just barely being not too big. Unless you’re deliberately trying to be a clown, a dinner plate on the wrist is no bueno.

In all of my idealism, I thought that the Coke and the Mars were going to be my life companions, but alas we never really do finish growing and developing. Especially when we finally meet that special someone! Enter the Kwan.

Part 3

It was my great fortune to synchronistically meet (a story for another time), date, and ultimately marry my wife, the magnificent Jane Kwan, who for better or for worse has supported me through this transformational journey that is watch collecting. She was kind enough to be fascinated at first, and is now at least tolerant, but when I began to show her how you could actually store value or even potentially make a little money with the acquisition and sale of certain timepieces, she started to pay attention. Chinese people, like those of my Jewish heritage, love a reliable investment opportunity. I made it my goal to abandon hunting “good deals” on a wide range of watches and began hunting the exact watches that I would personally want to own and wear (not just stick in a vault), but only if the price was extraordinary or unusually fair. The Internet has made this relatively easy, if you’re willing to put in the time, and so I scoured the entire visible market for what I felt would be the perfect watch. Long story short, I discovered and then began to obsess over and follow/hunt the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5153G-001. Believe me when I tell you that I have written many pages about why this watch is, to me, the perfect dress watch, if not the perfect watch all around, aside from not being as durable as a Rolex, but again I digress. To be honest, this watch was my holy grail (a subject that I have expounded upon in other places as possibly the single most abused horology term aside from “in-house”) and I thought that I would never get to see it in my lifetime.

One day I found the Calatrava for sale online at a price that was unbelievable. My wife is almost painfully patient, and so we watched the piece sit on the website for nearly a month, while I nearly fell apart with anxiety waiting for her to make a choice. In the end, her instincts were right because the price continued to go down. But I really could not comprehend why no one was buying it. When we made the phone call to see about a best offer, we were able to take the price down even lower and so acquired the watch well below value thanks to my wife’s belief and investment in me, your humble watch hunter. Blasting into the side of this mountain precipitated a landslide to follow.

Not long after that my wife wanted something that she could wear every day. I had been hunting the Rolex Datejust 116234 with black dial, because it is my favorite iteration of the DJ and was able to find that watch well below value also. I thought it might be a bit large for her, but when it arrived it was a perfect fit at 36mm. While the watch is very cool, and occasionally I’ll sneak it away from her to wear it for a little while, it doesn’t make the cut for a perfect collection for me. I needed my watch collection to devour the catalogue of essential horological functions and representations.

However, I was jealous of the almost white-gold looking oyster bracelet and thus I faced a dilemma. The call to adventure was back! I realized that I could own both my Mars and Coke or I could sell them and own the singular Rolex GMT-Master II 116710 BLNR as basically an even trade (at the time), a watch that I still think is slightly less appealing aesthetically than the Coke as it at that time pertained to my personality, but possesses the ultimate in materials ever released from Rolex. I needed some time to think about this. Rolex’s alchemy game had become massively stronger than where it was in 1989. A few weeks later, in Honolulu, I was flipping through one of the tour books and when I turned it over to look at the back, there it was: the BLNR. Synchronicity, as usual, was determined to prevail. Now, I know that this watch is heavily advertised, possibly more than Tag or Hublot if that’s possible, but at that moment I felt like I was looking at a picture of a long-lost friend. The time had come to pull the trigger. I had spent several lovely days swimming in the ocean with my Coke, and now it was time to let it go.

The beach I frequented during my stay in Honolulu. Anyone who has been there knows where it is ;).

A shot of my Coke in Honolulu on the way to get some Spam Musubi!

The rosary bracelt pictured here was acquired in Cyprus, gifted to me by the great Angeliki Yiassemides (author of “Time & Timelessness”), not long before I managed to acquire my Coke. The meaning is strong in this image…

The book in the hotel room demanding that I trade up.

Horology boutiques... Always calling me…

Impossible to find one with black dial in a boutique, I spent some time admiring this beauty in white before that time came when my wife made a dream become reality.

With a heavy heart, I managed to part with my first fine watch and my first Rolex, selling them for fair market prices. Finding the BLNR for a steal is basically impossible, especially if you’re looking to buy within a relatively tight timeframe (aiming to acquire the watch mere months before moving to Copenhagen), so I found the best deal I could with a complete set and as planned basically traded about the same amount of money for those two watches to buy the one BLNR. This was good enough for me and my wife because it is still holding around the same value I invested and I basically had the experience of buying a brand new Rolex with a complete set minus stepping foot inside of an Authorized Dealer, an experience that is not at all important to a watch hunter like me; at least not at this time of life, but maybe later when I have established myself and I can afford that level of treat.

I honestly thought that I wouldn’t be as happy with the BLNR, as with the Coke, because black and red is so much more “me” along with other reasons and qualities (yadda yadda yadda, as Jane is fond of saying), but when it came I was filled with excitement. I opened the box and there it was: my long-lost friend whom I had been missing for the gods know how long. Most call it the Batman, I knew immediately that this was to be my R2D2. It doesn't matter that so many others own it or that the adverts were drilling into my brain. Consolidating to this watch was possibly the best horological decision I’ve ever made because although there was still a lingering color objection, I suddenly had a monstrously better watch to wear every day that met every single other checkpoint I felt one could demand from a daily-wear: 1. 904L steel, which really does feel like wearing white gold, but not quite as heavy a. Something that can take the hits and scratches and will withstand polishing dramatically better 2. White gold hands and indices, which contrast perfectly against the black dial 3. Blindingly bright blue lume, which my wife prefers to her green lume and makes it easy to tell the time under any circumstances aside from maybe actual blindness 4. The blued Breguet overcoil hairspring in the tried and true 3186 movement, something I don't even need to see to appreciate 5. The 5mm comfort link, which is a huge design leap forward compared to the oversized and floppy comfort extension on the original Oyster bracelet 6. GMT aligned clicks, which didn’t really ever seem to line up perfectly with the 16710 7. And most important of all, the very first two-color Cerachrom bezel, completing, to me, the most wearable, useful, and legible timepiece ever made 8. When you consider that this watch not only embodies everything you’d want and nothing you don’t, it’s easy to excuse the blue and simply hope for the red to come through someday 9. Finally, in review, this watch contains the best of every Rolex white metal: 904L steel, white gold, and platinum. As such, it is an alchemical masterpiece; and it has that chunky Submariner-style Triplock crown! Now I like both crowns for different reasons.

People have been calling it the Batman, and I get that. I’m a huge Batman fan and wouldn’t try to change the moniker even if I could, but for me it is the R2D2 riding along with me as I pilot this time machine we call a human body. My consciousness is the Luke inside of this Incom T-65 X-wing Starfighter and my 116710 R2D2 is the choice navigator, always down to take a beating for the rebellion ;).

So now I had a BLNR and a Calatrava shared with my wife (plus her 116234 to enjoy when she isn’t wearing it), completing two out of four watches of a complete set that I call “a holy quaternity.” What more could a man ever hope for? Would I really ever need to break a sweat over more than these two watches to complete the ultimate collection? I even had access to my favorite Datejust when my wife wasn’t wearing it, even though it does not fit the bill for my personal living symbol of wholeness of Self. My little wrist R2D2 and our white gold Darth Vader seemed like a complete set all by themselves. And yet, there was more to come, and rightly so!

My wife and I moved to Copenhagen so that she could attend DTU to earn her MA in Architecture. Being the unreasonably lucky guy that I am, I got to tag along and spend my days exploring one of the coolest (and happiest) cities in the world whilst writing my dissertation on psychology and horology. Several months in, after spending day after day chatting with awesome folks on MDWE, a gentleman put a Speedmaster “Legendary Moon Watch” ref. 311.30.42.30.01.005 complete set in basically new condition up for sale. A discussion about how this boilerplate design was so perfect it’s boring was going around and so at first I wasn’t too keen on the watch. I remembered my Mars and thought that the original Moon Watch was too plain and too common. However, the more I looked at it the more I realized what it had to offer. So many guys were/are going in for that vintage chronograph with the running seconds and 30 minute register without the hour register, which is a great and classic and traditional watch concept/discipline, but I need the hours! Even if it challenges aesthetics and purity. Honestly, purity has never really been my thing ;). Authenticity is a whole other kettle of fish! So then what I realized was, this was not going to be a watch that I spent time looking at during the day. This was a Good Night Watch that needed/needs to be useful in the dark. What better watch for darkness and time writing/recording/chrono-scoping than a boilerplate Speedmaster?!

The price was fair and I could certainly get most if not all of my money back if I needed to sell it, so I figured, why not experience the moon watch as a complete package in all of its boring glory. Sure, it’s no Moon to Mars and the literature won’t come in Japanese with a dedication to one of the world’s greatest artists, Leiji Matsumoto, but it would still be qualified by NASA for space missions and there were lots of other very cool accessories that would be fun to explore. Not to mention the history, which I must say ought to be valued well above just one spectacular artist. I pulled the trigger and the watch and its enormous packaging were at my Danish door within a few days. Upon opening the display box, a feeling came over me that I did not expect. The watch was/is so much nicer than the Moon to Mars, so much more sober and less cartoonish (not really an insult, actually accurate), and it instantly felt like it belonged on my wrist and that it would blend in like some kind of chameleon-like symbiotic creature. Almost instantly I finally knew what this watch was for.

While the Speedmaster had been and is still being used for outer space missions, I would be and am using this watch for INNER space missions. I sized the bracelet, which was a joy because it came/comes with screw end-caps rather than the basic link pins, placed the watch on my wrist and then started the chronograph right before going to sleep. When I woke up in the middle of the night to journal my dreams, I knew almost exactly how long I had been asleep, which really helped me to prioritize my time so that I wouldn’t wake up so much that I wouldn’t be able to return to slumberland. After finishing my journaling, I started the chronograph again, went back to sleep, and when I woke up I could see that I had gotten the eight-ish hours I needed to be rested enough for the day. I’m sure some of you go through the process of sleeping for eight hours without even thinking about it, but my dream life is so active that it is easy for me to lose track of how long I’ve been asleep, so this watch became an instantly useful tool that I can’t live without, just like the BLNR. And because it’s manually wound, I don’t have to stress out the winding train of an automatic chronograph; plus I have the pleasure of winding a watch every morning as the third thing I do after photographing the dial and resetting the chronograph. What a sweet ritual for a watch enthusiast!

My collection was complete. Right? I had my R2D2, which would go with me everywhere during the day, and I had my Good NIght Watch, which would track my sleep intervals and follow me into my dreams. And when it came time to celebrate something special, the Darth Vader (Calatrava) would take its place on my wrist under a cuff. Who could ask for anything more? There was only one slight problem. A large part of my journey after receiving that first mechanical wristwatch was exploring RGM in depth, which led me to Breguet. While I wasn’t sold on the idea of spending big money for a tourbillon since the science shows that it essentially has no real effect on accuracy, there was an element to watchmaking that I had fallen in love with before I even considered owning a fine watch of my own: guilloché.

RGM makes a killer tourbillon (reminiscent of a Speake Marin/Hamilton hybrid), let’s not mince words, only paralleled by the likes of Breguet, Patek Philippe, and Greubel Forsey (honorable mentions, Louis Moinet and Jaeger-LeCoultre - that one’s for Tim Mosso), and does some outstanding guilloché work with their own rose machine/lathe in Lancaster, PA. However, if you’re going to really tighten the restraints on a collection that is meant to be perfect (a true holy quaternity), there’s really no other choice than to go with the godfather of the practice: Breguet; arguably the most important historical figure/alchemist in watchmaking, and the inventor of many components that even the so-called “holy trinity” (lame designation, because Christianity is for people who don’t want to read more books—funny/not funny) still benefit from today. Hence I controversially argue that Breguet completes the holy quaternity and in many ways is still on top of PP, VC, and AP as the senex manufacturer (Harlan MDWE, bless his heart, will of course agree–love you, mean it). By this time I had visited so many boutiques, Tourbillon SF being one of my favorites, that I was saturated with the knowledge of what Breguet and other top-end (not just high-end) watch companies had to offer. Out from behind the stormy clouds of tourbillons and Jacquet Droz and Blancpain and A. Lange & Sohne and De Bethune and Ulysse Nardin came a piece that on any other day I would’ve ignored.

The Calatrava that was/is already in our possession does in fact have a guilloché black sunburst dial, but I wanted something that had/has/emanates the vibrant, timeless energy of 18th century watchmaking tradition, radiating from its finely crafted alchemical masterpiece of a dial and case. I had the opportunity to experience the skeletonized Breguet perpetual calendar tourbillon, but there was something missing even with that watch. Again, size and money are meaningless and relative. It was when I finally had a chance to take a close look at the 5327 that I saw that in any class for any money, this watch had/has it all. It has one of the most extraordinary complications ever invented, the perpetual calendar. It has moon phase, which is hugely important in psychology as a principle of divine consciousness. It has power reserve, which is arguably unnecessary on an automatic watch, but with the layout of the power reserve, moon phase, and date register at six o’clock, the 5327 pays perfect homage to the notorious automatic (perpétuelle) quarter-repeating watch with dumb (à toc) repeater from the late 18th century. This was/is the Breguet to own! Sitting in an office piled with books, including volumes about Breguet and the lovely publication that was created for The Legion of Honor in San Francisco, when they had their Breguet exhibition and lectures, I found myself having a full experience of awakening to the truth of yet another wristwatch. Except this time it was THE ONE. The only... This time, without a doubt, it was THE watch to end all watches, for me. I had done the work. I had read the books, scoured the Internet, been to the boutiques, met or at least studied the people, and in the end the Breguet Perpetual Calendar Classique 5327 presented itself as the answer I was looking for from both the multiverses of horology and psychology: all of the craftsmanship, all of the technology, all of the meaning, and all of the enjoyment from wearing one could ever ask for. Period, paragraph, life mission accomplished. Except, I didn't have the money x). That solution, which came later, was the real blessing.

Before I get into that, on a more somber note, I would like to mention that compared to Breguet’s latest QP, the ref. 5447, Breguet made an unfortunate design decision that is not in keeping with the more traditional layout. Maybe it’s great for marketing, but it does two things: departs from the classique tradition in a way that is unbearably modern, and treads dangerously toward cheapening the name of A.L. Breguet. Swapping power reserve for retrograde month was a particularly unfortunate decision, almost as undesirable as the choice to switch the angle of the moon phase to a less interesting and, I would contend, invasive vertical position. While that dial might be slightly more efficient in terms of the flow of reference and legibility, it is far from an upgrade and has lost that original 18th century charm. I’d wager that Breguet himself might agree. As such, this specific reference, the 5327, continues to wear the crown (pun intended) as what I feel is the greatest Breguet QP wristwatch ever made. That being said, I have dubbed the watch my Holy Grail, together with the Speedmaster, the GMT, and the Calatrava, this completes my personal Holy Quaternity. However, there is always a “fifth element,” intentionally playing on a reference to the film of the same name from 1997. That fifth element (the eternal energy of love and passion) to me is the transcendent holy grail, which is a watch that is so extraordinary and so perfect for the individual that it doesn’t even exist yet. The super rich uber-collectors will know what I’m talking about: a subscription piece that perhaps one’s preferred watchmaker doesn’t even know how to make. For me, in all seriousness, this would be the currently imaginary and absurd Greubel Forsey Quantième Perpétuel Chronograph Grande Sonnerie in a 41mm platinum case. Although, I’d take a GF chronograph, as long as it’s hand-wound. Could it ever possibly get any better than that? I seriously doubt it. At least for an individual like myself.

And so recently I found this perfect Breguet at a ridiculously low price. I mean a price that normally only dealers get from other dealers. This watch needed to be procured. My wife was not about to invest another substantial sum into a wristwatch since she felt that she had already diversified in that direction far enough with the Patek. And so she suggested that I ask my father if he would be interested in making the investment. After lengthy explanations over email and handling some obvious objections that a non-horology scholar might have, he generously agreed to help me make the investment to both aid in my research and hold value that only presents itself once in a lifetime. Due to this generosity and collective cooperation, it is my privilege and responsibility to care for this Breguet as the final piece to my horological individuation puzzle. The mandalas to complete the supreme mandala of the current manifestation of my own archetypal Self have been assembled like Voltron. And now that the collection is complete, my mission is to take exhaustive photographs, engage in active imagination (alchemical hermeneutics) with each piece and the whole collection for my research, and to cook it all down in the vas alembic of consciousness to create my very own horological opus.

Here’s an example of what enters my imagination when I engage in reverie (Active Imagination or Alchemical Hermeneutics) around one of the watches (often including its literature), offering a lingering (reverie) around or daydreaming into the Breguet dial: The guilloché pattern for the power reserve looks like the waves of the sea or the ocean. I am reminded of the image of the solar barge in Liber Novus p. 55. Aptly placed, it is above the other complications, next to the moon phase, which is obscured by a hand carved cloud pattern: the essence of the imagination. So the heavens and the waters, forged in fire and carved into earth or metal. The pattern in the date register is that of a waterfall or descending cliffs, reaching down into the underworld. All of these being supported by the primary dial hand carved rose lathe or rose machined pyramids (clou de paris). The pyramids or sacred geometry of transcendent consciousness. Within the big mandala that is the watch dial are 5 smaller mandalas: the moon phase, which embodies our human-centric lunar story and mythology; the leap year, which makes it possible for me to see the accurate date for the rest of my life without adjusting the timepiece; the month, a centered indicator of the positions of the gods; the day, a de-centered indicator of the positions of other gods; and finally, the date, a concept invented by people who want to control time and other people, to no avail one hopes. Might be best to simply let go of that craving for control, let people be peaceful unto themselves and allow time to flow with the Force of Nature. A dream within a dream... The watch does have Breguet’s signature coin edge or fluted sides, so the watch is to be treated as a sort of super sacred coin. This coinage or coin edge appears to be symbolic of the archetypal pillar: the pillars that held Samson, the pillars of Rome, and the pillars of current modern civilization. However, even after this current human experiment is dust and rubble, the pillars of time will stand as strong as they always have and it will never have mattered that humans were a part of it. A testament from the Antikythera mechanism.

It is possible that I may actually have to sell the Breguet after I am finished with my research sometime next year, unless by some miracle I make enough money to completely own the whole thing by myself, but that is not important because all that matters is that for a time in my life I had, in my possession, a perfect collection. The Holy Quaternity! “For a few minutes, they were mine. That is enough.” https://youtu.be/c9O1VVeMzhc Charade (8/10) Movie CLIP - The Most Valuable Stamp (1963) HD.

It doesn’t matter how it got there and it doesn’t matter if I don’t get to keep it. What matters is that, since we can’t take any of this with us to the grave anyway, I have the priceless gift of the experience. This was a group effort. My sacrifices and investment were/are largely those of time, obsessive research, and unearthing opportunities, which in reality is just as valuable as the money others allowed me to use to assemble this project. From the depths of passion, love, and family, I have been made individuated and whole, for now. Through psychology and horology I have healed myself in ways most people cannot imagine and have had the great fortune to inspire others. Countering the cruel trick of the perpetual calendar complication (never being able to live long enough to see it need an adjustment), I am filled with gratitude for what I have had the privilege to do with the time I have been given. Through bringing all of these elements together, I have found true happiness and may for a time be with this imperfect, perfect collection to remind myself of the cost involved in striving to create something truly special: a genuine opus, if not magnum opus. No one can do it alone. We require relationships to individuate, as Jung said, and at the ripe age of 37, I know that my watch collection and my Self are at last in harmony.

Conclusion

Watch collecting is not just some silly thing men do with their extra money, nor is it about amassing a monstrous volume of different examples for the sake of becoming your own museum. Watch collecting is as much an art as is watchmaking itself or the creation of any sculpture or painting. It requires focus, dedication, precision of craft, and most of all it requires a determination to produce the best possible result from the knowledge that has been gained and the resources—people or otherwise—that have been procured.

I am continuing to work on my dissertation on psychology and horology while figuring out where I want to focus my career from here on out. It seems like Tesla, Inc. is the most logical choice, so we’ll see if they or a watch boutique will have me. As far as this collection goes, what I know is that I will always have my R2D2 because it is the one watch that I can’t live without that can go anywhere: land, sea, air, and space. Depending on what the future holds for me career-wise, I might have to live without the Speedmaster and just use a beater chrono until I rebuild my value strength, since it takes quite a bit more to hold a collection like this all on one’s own. The Calatrava will be here because it is my wife’s investment and my privilege to enjoy as part of our partnership. However, it is worth bearing in mind that none of these things are permanent and that any amount of time being in ownership of the completed holy quaternity set is ultimately more than enough of an accomplishment no matter how long you keep it together. It takes a lot of work to learn about all of these manufacturers and iterations and value propositions. It’s even harder to get clear which ones matter to you on a profound level to the point that you would choose four and exclude all others; especially when considering that owning these watches is a choice that was made at the exclusion of any other products, such as cars, houses, hoarding currency, and any other type of man-made creation. And then to have them all just sort of casually ticking away on your desk is a luxury that very few people will ever know/experience. For that I cannot thank the people who believed/believe in me enough. I am lucky, I am grateful, I have my wife and family to thank for everything, in addition to other friends and enthusiasts who were willing to engage my passion, and I hope that what I have learned and my story will be something that is paying my fortune forward: giving back to the collective community of folks who simply wish to be their best selves; to be good citizens, as Plato might’ve imagined it.

In review and in final conclusion, this is an imperfect watch collection that to me is perfect, in my estimation from the research I’ve done and the experiences that I have had:

It is my personal gnosis, based on my research in depth psychology and horology, that there are two kinds of quaternities (not trinities, because a trinity is really just an incomplete system, lacking the feminine principle, among other things) in the horological universe: 1. The top four watchmakers in the Swiss watchmaking industry a. Breguet b. Patek Philippe c. Vacheron Constantin d. Audemars Piguet 2. The top four timepieces in an individual collection a. The Good Night Watch i. A chronograph worn to bed to time sleep intervals ii. An instrument that centers one’s being between sleeping and waking b. The R2D2 i. The most essential and sturdy of all of the timepieces ii. A trusty companion for all of life’s terrains c. The Darth Vader i. The finest example of elegant simplicity with a touch of violence ii. A watch that possesses a seemingly invisible and powerful Force d. The Holy Grail i. The watch you will wear on your deathbed that will outlast you ii. The QP is a cruel trick because it offers a feature that you will never live to enjoy: not having to adjust the watch for over 150 years. iii. A watch that satisfies one from ever wanting to buy anything better, for now ;).

Quick note: I’ve mythologized part of this collection with Star Wars metaphors because that is the best story I grew up with: the futuristic mythological vision of Joseph Campbell only barely understood by George Lucas (as is evident in his prequel trilogy), based on his seminal “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” One could easily substitute other similar archetypes for the designations that I have commandeered. Whatever gets you there. It’s all imaginal, but inarguably objective in terms of the archetypes.

As for the selected manufacturers, my opinion here is highly controversial. Breguet should be at the top, Swatch or no Swatch, because Breguet is the Grandfather of all of these other innovators. A Breguet watch lacks nothing in quality and discovery that these other companies are engaged in and in fact, in addition to the legacy/pedigree/history of invention, Breguet is still making timepieces that exceed the expectations of any connoisseur. Every little detail is given the utmost care and contemplation. This does not, of course, take into account watchmaking in other regions. Germany, A. Lange & Sohne in particular, is making watches that appear to be exceeding even the Swiss standards of excellence. This also does not take into account even conceivably more exciting independent watchmakers and inventors like Greubel Forsey, Roger W. Smith, nor even the late George Daniels.

Final thoughts, for now:

There’s a point at which, once you’ve hunted your favorite watch for it’s best price, you stop thinking about what the watch is worth and you begin to think more in terms of what the watch is. For example, I could stand outside in shorts and a t-shirt sipping a beer while admiring a watch that retailed once for $65-70k, but what I’m really thinking about is, 1. how does it fit my wrist? 2. how long will it last? 3. when will it need service? 4. how legible is this dial really? 5. do I like the weight and the fit of the band (strap or bracelet)? 6. could this have been designed better in terms of how it handles a diverse set of lighting situations? 7. was this really the right choice for the lug length? Cheers, Marc Goldberg ;). 8. could the moon phase have been tooled to be more accurate. 9. why isn’t the power reserve exact? 10. Are there any flaws in the guilloché? I’m looking at you, FPJ! 11. Why did they design the clasp like this as opposed to the Patek clasp method? 12. And sure, this dial is amazing with all of the guilloche patterns, but I can’t really see them without magnification because a) I’m getting old and my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and b) the beauty and contrast is only apparent under certain lighting, which makes the dial look washed out at all other times; not nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the Patek, which always looks good even when its sunburst guilloché pattern disappears into the black. 13. However, the most important question of all is four-fold: a. what did/does this watch and the work mean to the watchmaker? b. what did/does this watch mean to the manufacturer? c. what did/does this watch mean to the boutique collective? d. and what does this watch mean to the consumer in every sense: aesthetically, spiritually, historically, and depth psychologically?  

What’s next?

There are many watches that I still find attractive and many watches to come from the various great houses that might cause me to fall in love with one watch more than another, but to be honest I seriously doubt it. I mean, the only watch I want more than my BLNR in its category is a Coke version. The only watch I want more than my Speedmaster in its category is another Speedmaster of far rarer origin and pedigree, a vintage example maybe or who knows. As far as the Patek and Breguet are concerned, there are no better iterations of those watches and there never will be. Finally, for the ultimate grail watch, I believe that it has to be something so amazing that it doesn’t even exist yet. It has to be a dream or a fantasy that one chases and pines over until one’s heart is so broken that one cannot even leave the house without wishing it was either already on the wrist or to finally acquire the watch. As mentioned before, for me, that would be a Greubel Forsey QP chrono with moon phase and grand sonnerie; or yeah, I’ll simply take a GF chronograph, because that is what would replace the super boring yet perfect Speedmaster. Yes, the only thing that will replace the Speedmaster for me is the currently non-existent, fantasy hand-wound Greubel Forsey Chronograph. Sadly, as far as I know, it’s just not going to happen and that hurts me deeply. I want, after I’ve amassed an impossible amount of wealth near the end of my life, well beyond having had the opportunity to help others, to fund what I believe to be the greatest wristwatch ever made and while I may not be the man to do it, it is the fact that I want this for the whole of humanity and my Self that I put this energy out into the world and wish it will happen to someone someday. What you buy is a vote. When you make a purchase, it casts a ballot. I vote for fine horology all day every day. Everything else is an accessory to horology and life, even psychology and fancy electric cars, in spite of my obsession with Tesla’s inventions and values.

The argument could be made that this is not a perfect watch collection because not all complications are represented. For example, I do not have a minute repeater, much less a grande sonnerie. To that I say, I’m not dead yet. At this time of life I can still see (you know, literally, with my physical eyes) and there is this amazing thing, lume, you’ve heard of it, that makes it possible for me to tell the time in the blackest of darkness, so sure, I would love to own a chiming watch, but they’re not only way out of reach, but I don’t have any real use for them in the same way that there is value and use for the watches that I have selected (see what is of value and of use in Liber Novus). Will I ever own a QP chrono minute repeater grande sonnerie, with all of the bells and whistles like power reserve, moon phase, and sunrise sunset and equation of time someday? I certainly hope so!

P.S. Synchronistically, after finishing this essay, I went downstairs and found this puzzle to solve for my horological and mildly intellectual enjoyment :).

Okay, I swear this is it:

Some might ask, “so then what are your values, exactly, spending all of that time, and yours and other people's’ money, on wristwatches?” Don’t you have a job, a house, kids, a car, money, etc.? The answer is this: 1. I’m courting the job that I want to do until my heart stops: Tesla, a watch boutique, or something like that. 2. Having a house is not important to me, but maybe someday we’ll have one. Until then, my time and value will always be dedicated to horology in some way/shape/form. 3. Kids are just more people. People die. Watches are forever. 4. Cars are for suckers, unless you own a Tesla or a really sweet mechanical car, as is essentially the same case with watches. I ride a bike, and not a nice one, a cheap one, because I’d rather spend the money on timepieces.   5. I’d rather have the watch of my dreams than any amount of money. Money is just an imaginary number. The right watch is an instant and immortal best friend. a. To further make this case, look at the gentlemen at auction who are spending more more money with reckless abandon to own the perfect watch for them. Money is essentially meaningless outside of holding value to acquire goods and services. A watch is a deeply psychological and spiritual enterprise for those who really get it, and so it makes sense that one would spend it all to acquire the ultimate alchemical composition that bridges one’s “I” with the Self archetype—via an horological mandala—through the chain of watchmaker, to manufacturer, to dealer, to owner; or as Patek Philippe would have it, caretaker.

Thank you for reading.

The super sacred Holy Quaternity in all of its gorgeous horolgical glory!

[hatsunemikuvevo]

SWITCH THOUGHTS PLS

Haha wow this wound up being pretty long. If anyone who reads all this shit finds something they disagree with by all means, tell me. My opinions aren’t facts, I like hearing other viewpoints.

Well, the launch line up sucks complete ass, but that’s to be expected. I mean when the fuck was the last time something had a GOOD launch lineup? The Dreamcast?  I’ll go over what I think of all the games so far, firstly:

What

the FUCK

is 1, 2, Switch?

Nintendo actually gets everyone’s attention. Positive buzz, for once. And THIS is what they show? And it’s not even a goddamn INCLUDED GAME? It’s not even a GAME! Who the fuck is this for? Even if you look at if from a “I’m a hot young millennial who doesn’t enjoy video games, AKA Nintendo’s current target demographic” perspective, why the FUCK would you spend 350 united states dollarydoos to buy a Switch and this game when you can probably just download all the shit “games” on your phone for free?? What kind of goddamn “selling point” is “you don’t even need to look at the screen :DDD” why WOULD I BUY THAT WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY IT, IT SCREAMS “FREE TECH DEMO WITH THE GAME ALA WII SPORTS” WHY

I keep hearing that Ultra Street Fighter 2 is 40 bucks which is way too much fucking money for Street Fighter 2 with two palette swap characters with a few new moves but hey it’ll almost certainly be better than SFV so there’s that

Fire Emblem Warriors is going to be a goddamn Awakening/Fates fest, including some people from Marth’s game, Roy, Ike, and like, Sigurd or something so they can pretend they give a shit about people who’ve stuck with the franchise. They got fucking weird with some of the Hyrule Warriors picks (I don’t think a single fucking person saw bug girl coming) so maybe I’ll be wrong. Please let me be wrong. Fire Emblem really lends itself to be a musou title please don’t fuck it up PLEASE

Super Mario Odyssey looks good and I’m legitimately excited for it, New Donk City looks fucking WEIRD, seeing “real” humans but I feel like they were going for that? Sandbox Mario games are a safe bet on being great, I ain’t worried. Also Bowser looks fucking great. I like this Bowser.

Splatoon 2 looks like more of what Splatoon was, which is a great thing. The Splat Dualie looks really fun to use even though I’m probably just gonna stick with the roller like the scrub that I am. More customization is great but I might just stick with the twintails, hairwise. I WANNA KNOW WHAT’S UP WITH PUNISHED MARIE THOUGH WHERE IS CALLIE WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE NINTENDO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY SQUID WIFE IF YOU HURT HER I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD I-

Shin Megami Tensei: We Showed a Giant, Uncensored Green Cock on a Nintendo Livestream: I don’t like getting hype over games with no gameplay shown, so I’m trying to keep my expecations in check for this mystery SMT game. ANYONE REMEMBER THE LAST TIME NINTENDO TEASED A MYSTERY SMT GAME :DDDDDD REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT :DDDDDDD HAHAHAHAHAHAHA (this new SMT will probably be fine though, I’m totally hype even if I don’t wanna be)

who gives a motherfuck about unmodded skyrim in the year 2017, it’s cool bethesda is supporting nintendo consoles though i guess

Mario Kart 8: Haha You Actually Bought a Wii U Edition has King Boo and that’s literally all I needed but they even added Inklings and a whole fucking Splatoon track so I want it even more now. ALSO IT HAS BATTLE MODE NOW WHICH IS GOOD. (Dry Bones is also cool)

Breath of the Wild: EYEBROWS/10, FISH/10. GERUDO/10, WAIFUS/10, also the game looks like it’s going to be good or something BUT GOING BACK TO ZELDA’S EYEBROWS I REALLY LIKE THEM also it looks like Link is fighting someone from the sheikah tribe at one point the FUCK is up with that WAIFUS ARE GREAT BUT I’M ALSO A LORE SLUT GIVE ME THE DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETS

Super Bomberman R: Konami makes video games? What? Excuse me? Are they finally letting the Bomberman devs out of the Punishment Chamber? Apparently Konami and Nintendo worked together to make it happen. HEY IF YOU GUYS ARE WORKING TOGETHER PUT HIM IN THAT SMASH PORT THAT RUMORED TO HAPPEN BOMBERMAN IS A GOOD BOY HE DESERVES IT

Puyo Puyo Tetris: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH CHRIST YES YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS GIVE IT TO ME NOW SEGA HOLY FUCK I ALREADY PREORDERED IT ENGLISH PUYO PUYO TETRIS

ARMS: Looks like fun, honestly. It seems well thought out, aside from it’s shit logo. Seems like a day one buy to me. Especially since motion controls are optional.

Snipperclips: Looks cute. I doubt it’s a full price game. I’ll pick it up for sure if it’s not, it looks like something Grandmiku might enjoy!

Xenoblade 2: Hello, God? It’s me, Miku. Please tell me that Xenoblade 2 having a PEGI rating and not an ESRB rating means NoE is handling the localization and not the Treehouse, I’d like the game to you know, actually resemble the original a bit and not be full of EPIC OUTDATED MEEMS XDD

OTHER SWITCH THOUGHTS:

Paid online can suck a dick but I’m used to it now I guess. Loaning you a NES/SNES rom a month is a motherfucking joke though, that’s just insulting. Come the fuck on, MICROSOFT gives games out, you can give out a a twenty+ year old game for free each month you greedy assholes

Hurry the fuck up and announce Pokemon Stars so people actually buy a Switch

Whats the Senran Kagura guy gonna do with the new rumble feature in the Joy Cons

No Region Locking THANK FUCKING GOD, now if I want some obscure titty game on the Switch it might get an Asian English localization or some shit

Where’s Smash Switch

WHERE’S THE LAST THREE SMASH AMIIBO IT’S NOT REALLY SWITCH RELATED BUT STILL REEEEEEEE

[samuelfields]

How to Cut The Cable Cord

I’ve never had a cable subscription. Once I left my parents house, I jumped straight into streaming.

You could call me a hipster streamer, doing it long before cutting the cable cord was cool. Cutting cable isn’t a fad anymore, it’s turned into a tsunami that’s changing the entire entertainment industry.

If you’re considering making the jump, I’ll walk you through the entire process.

Not only will you save a bunch of money, you get complete control and access to better TV.

What’s the Meaning of Cutting the Cord?

When people refer to “cutting the cord,” they’re referring to ditching cable television subscriptions in favor of internet-based streaming services.

As a result of cord-cutting, a secondary group, cord-nevers, has emerged. It consists of viewers who have grown up watching programming on streaming services and are less likely to ever subscribe to cable television.

While cutting costs is an excellent reason for ditching cable television, opting for streaming services also provides more flexibility. Choosing which streaming services work for your family allows you to pay for what you’ll actually use.

The most common reasons for cutting the cord:

Save money on monthly TV bills

Pay only for the TV that you want

Watch shows on your schedule

Access to shows that you can’t get with normal cable

Essentials for Cutting the Cord

If you’re set on ditching cable for good, there are a few things you’ll want to look at to make your transition to the cable-free entertainment lifestyle a bit easier.

HDTV Antenna (optional): To maximize your savings, consider investing in an HDTV antenna. You can pick up one for as little as $20 or as much as $150, depending on your needs. Once you have the antenna, you’ll be able to access your local television network channels for free. Only do this if you care about local channels. I don’t watch local channels myself so I’ve never gotten one.

A streaming player or device: A lot of devices let you add streaming services to them. Like a Playstation. And many smart televisions can stream services on their own. I prefer to get a dedicated streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV. The interface is better, there’s fewer ads from built-in TV services, and the remote is better.

Decent internet speed: Make sure your internet speed is hardy enough to handle streaming the quality of content you want. For standard streaming, 3Mbps should work fine. If you want 4k content, look for a speed of at least 25Mbps. You’ll want higher speeds if you plan to stream from multiple devices at one time.

Streaming services: There are a lot of streaming services available. In fact, many networks are even releasing their own streaming services. We’ll discuss a few of the streaming services below.

The Best Streaming Devices

Here are our top picks for streaming devices:

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube offers a hands-free streaming option. You can stream your favorite shows from the compact 4K compatible device. The device is about 3-inches tall, so it’s discreet and will fit in most spaces.  The Amazon Fire TV Cube includes a remote if you prefer to operate your TV without talking to Alexa. The Amazon Fire Cube retails for $119.99.

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is a wireless streaming device. Roku is one of the most well-known streaming devices, for a reason. The friendly interface makes navigating between your favorite streaming apps easy. The remote is simple to use, and it includes a headphone jack so you watch your favorite movie when you don’t want to disturb anyone else. This updated version of the Roku includes a voice remote and provides access to free TV, news, sports, and music. In addition to the free shows offered on Roku, you can access Hulu, Netflix, and other paid subscriptions. Roku Ultra is available for Insert price here

Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast connects to your smart TV via USB port. It’s one of the most affordable options at $35. Chromecast lets you connect to services like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. You can even use Chromecast to put your computer screen onto the television set. If you’re dead set on HD and 4K, you’ll want to opt for the Chromecast Ultra which is $70.

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV a small box that streams videos to your television. The box connects via HDMI. The system retails for about $150 and includes a one-year subscription to AppleTV+ (the subscription service). There are two versions, the Apple TV HD and the APple TV 4K. We prefer the 4K for the better quality, it’s only an extra $30. You can use the box to access other streaming services as well. You don’t need an iPhone to use Apple TV, but you do need an iTunes account to log into your device.

Your Smart TV

Since a major reason for cutting the cable is to save money, you might not be keen on spending extra cash on a streaming device. If you already have a smart TV (or a gaming device like the Playstation) you can use that to stream content. Keep in mind that some streaming services may be unavailable on certain devices due to contractual agreements. Most will offer access to the most popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. This is a great way to save some money.

Customizing to Meet Your Needs

One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord is that you can customize your entertainment needs. Most streaming services offer monthly or annual subscriptions. If you need to pause for a few months to save a little extra cash, you can restart whenever you want.

There are dozens of streaming options, which means you can pick and choose which ones work best for your family.

You can also customize your hardware setup. You don’t need a streaming device. You don’t even need a TV. If you have a computer, tablet, or phone, you can save more money by using to watch everything. I didn’t get a TV for over 5 years when living on my own, I just watched everything off my laptop. In hindsight, I could have bought a TV a lot sooner. But I did save a lot of money during that period.

The option to do as little or as much as you want, while controlling your costs, is the biggest perk of cutting the cord. Mix and match your streaming device with your streaming services for a customized entertainment package that works best for you.

The Best Streaming Apps

Gone are the days when your only streaming option was Netflix and YouTube. Now, there are dozens of streaming apps that include everything from original content to network-specific shows. These are our favorites.

For Classic TV Shows: Hulu

If you’re a fan of watching television shows as close to their air-time as possible, Hulu is your best bet. They offer four levels of subscriptions. The basic subscription is $5.99 per month and the Premium streaming service is $11.99. The cheapest option has more advertisements, whereas the premium service has very little to no ads during your shows.

If you love popular TV shows and want to keep them after cutting the cable cord, definitely get Hulu. It has tons of shows like The Bachelor, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shark Tank, and Family Guy. There’s also a few Hulu-exclusive series like The Handmaid’s Tale.

For Families: Disney+

In 2019, Disney launched its own streaming service. At $7.99 per month, it’s one of the most affordable options available.

It has an extensive library of Disney movies and television shows including the Star Wars films, most of the Marvel films, and many programs from networks owned by Disney. Disney+ also boasts a few of their own shows, like the Mandalorian. If I had kids, I’d definitely get a subscription.

For Sports Lovers: ESPN+

Sports lovers rejoice. If you’re hesitant to cut the cord because you don’t want to miss the big game, you can get ESPN without a cable subscription. You’ll be able to stream MLB, NHL, UFC, and tons of college games live. Unfortunately, there aren’t any NFL or NBA games yet. I hope this changes in the future.

Even better, it comes as part of a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ at $12.99/month. By getting that bundle, you can almost replace an entire cable subscription. That’s an incredible deal.

For Original Shows: Netflix

Netflix is the original streaming service and still a great option. The volume of original content is absurd. They release more interesting stuff than I can possibly watch. There’s also a decent amount of non-Netflix films and TV shows. Believe it or not, you can also still subscribe to their DVD service too. The most expensive streaming plan is $8.99. The premium plan, which includes 4k streaming is $15.99 per month. DVD plans are priced separately.

Best for Bundled Services: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime offers a lot of the same movies you’ll find on Netflix, as well as some television shows you won’t find elsewhere. There are a number of great Amazon Prime shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, and Good Omens.

While it doesn’t have as much depth as other services, the TV subscription is part of a much larger Amazon Prime bundle. It includes free 2-day shipping, movie streaming, Prime music, and access to the Amazon Prime Reading catalog. Amazon Prime is $12.99 per month or $119 per year. With the number of shopping trips I can avoid by using the fast, free shipping, Amazon Prime easily pays for itself. And I get some great TV shows with it too.

How to Cut The Cable Cord is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Finance https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-cut-the-cable-cord/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[andrewdburton]

How to Cut The Cable Cord

I’ve never had a cable subscription. Once I left my parents house, I jumped straight into streaming.

You could call me a hipster streamer, doing it long before cutting the cable cord was cool. Cutting cable isn’t a fad anymore, it’s turned into a tsunami that’s changing the entire entertainment industry.

If you’re considering making the jump, I’ll walk you through the entire process.

Not only will you save a bunch of money, you get complete control and access to better TV.

What’s the Meaning of Cutting the Cord?

When people refer to “cutting the cord,” they’re referring to ditching cable television subscriptions in favor of internet-based streaming services.

As a result of cord-cutting, a secondary group, cord-nevers, has emerged. It consists of viewers who have grown up watching programming on streaming services and are less likely to ever subscribe to cable television.

While cutting costs is an excellent reason for ditching cable television, opting for streaming services also provides more flexibility. Choosing which streaming services work for your family allows you to pay for what you’ll actually use.

The most common reasons for cutting the cord:

Save money on monthly TV bills

Pay only for the TV that you want

Watch shows on your schedule

Access to shows that you can’t get with normal cable

Essentials for Cutting the Cord

If you’re set on ditching cable for good, there are a few things you’ll want to look at to make your transition to the cable-free entertainment lifestyle a bit easier.

HDTV Antenna (optional): To maximize your savings, consider investing in an HDTV antenna. You can pick up one for as little as $20 or as much as $150, depending on your needs. Once you have the antenna, you’ll be able to access your local television network channels for free. Only do this if you care about local channels. I don’t watch local channels myself so I’ve never gotten one.

A streaming player or device: A lot of devices let you add streaming services to them. Like a Playstation. And many smart televisions can stream services on their own. I prefer to get a dedicated streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV. The interface is better, there’s fewer ads from built-in TV services, and the remote is better.

Decent internet speed: Make sure your internet speed is hardy enough to handle streaming the quality of content you want. For standard streaming, 3Mbps should work fine. If you want 4k content, look for a speed of at least 25Mbps. You’ll want higher speeds if you plan to stream from multiple devices at one time.

Streaming services: There are a lot of streaming services available. In fact, many networks are even releasing their own streaming services. We’ll discuss a few of the streaming services below.

The Best Streaming Devices

Here are our top picks for streaming devices:

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube offers a hands-free streaming option. You can stream your favorite shows from the compact 4K compatible device. The device is about 3-inches tall, so it’s discreet and will fit in most spaces.  The Amazon Fire TV Cube includes a remote if you prefer to operate your TV without talking to Alexa. The Amazon Fire Cube retails for $119.99.

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is a wireless streaming device. Roku is one of the most well-known streaming devices, for a reason. The friendly interface makes navigating between your favorite streaming apps easy. The remote is simple to use, and it includes a headphone jack so you watch your favorite movie when you don’t want to disturb anyone else. This updated version of the Roku includes a voice remote and provides access to free TV, news, sports, and music. In addition to the free shows offered on Roku, you can access Hulu, Netflix, and other paid subscriptions. Roku Ultra is available for Insert price here

Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast connects to your smart TV via USB port. It’s one of the most affordable options at $35. Chromecast lets you connect to services like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. You can even use Chromecast to put your computer screen onto the television set. If you’re dead set on HD and 4K, you’ll want to opt for the Chromecast Ultra which is $70.

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV a small box that streams videos to your television. The box connects via HDMI. The system retails for about $150 and includes a one-year subscription to AppleTV+ (the subscription service). There are two versions, the Apple TV HD and the APple TV 4K. We prefer the 4K for the better quality, it’s only an extra $30. You can use the box to access other streaming services as well. You don’t need an iPhone to use Apple TV, but you do need an iTunes account to log into your device.

Your Smart TV

Since a major reason for cutting the cable is to save money, you might not be keen on spending extra cash on a streaming device. If you already have a smart TV (or a gaming device like the Playstation) you can use that to stream content. Keep in mind that some streaming services may be unavailable on certain devices due to contractual agreements. Most will offer access to the most popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. This is a great way to save some money.

Customizing to Meet Your Needs

One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord is that you can customize your entertainment needs. Most streaming services offer monthly or annual subscriptions. If you need to pause for a few months to save a little extra cash, you can restart whenever you want.

There are dozens of streaming options, which means you can pick and choose which ones work best for your family.

You can also customize your hardware setup. You don’t need a streaming device. You don’t even need a TV. If you have a computer, tablet, or phone, you can save more money by using to watch everything. I didn’t get a TV for over 5 years when living on my own, I just watched everything off my laptop. In hindsight, I could have bought a TV a lot sooner. But I did save a lot of money during that period.

The option to do as little or as much as you want, while controlling your costs, is the biggest perk of cutting the cord. Mix and match your streaming device with your streaming services for a customized entertainment package that works best for you.

The Best Streaming Apps

Gone are the days when your only streaming option was Netflix and YouTube. Now, there are dozens of streaming apps that include everything from original content to network-specific shows. These are our favorites.

For Classic TV Shows: Hulu

If you’re a fan of watching television shows as close to their air-time as possible, Hulu is your best bet. They offer four levels of subscriptions. The basic subscription is $5.99 per month and the Premium streaming service is $11.99. The cheapest option has more advertisements, whereas the premium service has very little to no ads during your shows.

If you love popular TV shows and want to keep them after cutting the cable cord, definitely get Hulu. It has tons of shows like The Bachelor, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shark Tank, and Family Guy. There’s also a few Hulu-exclusive series like The Handmaid’s Tale.

For Families: Disney+

In 2019, Disney launched its own streaming service. At $7.99 per month, it’s one of the most affordable options available.

It has an extensive library of Disney movies and television shows including the Star Wars films, most of the Marvel films, and many programs from networks owned by Disney. Disney+ also boasts a few of their own shows, like the Mandalorian. If I had kids, I’d definitely get a subscription.

For Sports Lovers: ESPN+

Sports lovers rejoice. If you’re hesitant to cut the cord because you don’t want to miss the big game, you can get ESPN without a cable subscription. You’ll be able to stream MLB, NHL, UFC, and tons of college games live. Unfortunately, there aren’t any NFL or NBA games yet. I hope this changes in the future.

Even better, it comes as part of a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ at $12.99/month. By getting that bundle, you can almost replace an entire cable subscription. That’s an incredible deal.

For Original Shows: Netflix

Netflix is the original streaming service and still a great option. The volume of original content is absurd. They release more interesting stuff than I can possibly watch. There’s also a decent amount of non-Netflix films and TV shows. Believe it or not, you can also still subscribe to their DVD service too. The most expensive streaming plan is $8.99. The premium plan, which includes 4k streaming is $15.99 per month. DVD plans are priced separately.

Best for Bundled Services: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime offers a lot of the same movies you’ll find on Netflix, as well as some television shows you won’t find elsewhere. There are a number of great Amazon Prime shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, and Good Omens.

While it doesn’t have as much depth as other services, the TV subscription is part of a much larger Amazon Prime bundle. It includes free 2-day shipping, movie streaming, Prime music, and access to the Amazon Prime Reading catalog. Amazon Prime is $12.99 per month or $119 per year. With the number of shopping trips I can avoid by using the fast, free shipping, Amazon Prime easily pays for itself. And I get some great TV shows with it too.

How to Cut The Cable Cord is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Finance https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-cut-the-cable-cord/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[paulckrueger]

How to Cut The Cable Cord

I’ve never had a cable subscription. Once I left my parents house, I jumped straight into streaming.

You could call me a hipster streamer, doing it long before cutting the cable cord was cool. Cutting cable isn’t a fad anymore, it’s turned into a tsunami that’s changing the entire entertainment industry.

If you’re considering making the jump, I’ll walk you through the entire process.

Not only will you save a bunch of money, you get complete control and access to better TV.

What’s the Meaning of Cutting the Cord?

When people refer to “cutting the cord,” they’re referring to ditching cable television subscriptions in favor of internet-based streaming services.

As a result of cord-cutting, a secondary group, cord-nevers, has emerged. It consists of viewers who have grown up watching programming on streaming services and are less likely to ever subscribe to cable television.

While cutting costs is an excellent reason for ditching cable television, opting for streaming services also provides more flexibility. Choosing which streaming services work for your family allows you to pay for what you’ll actually use.

The most common reasons for cutting the cord:

Save money on monthly TV bills

Pay only for the TV that you want

Watch shows on your schedule

Access to shows that you can’t get with normal cable

Essentials for Cutting the Cord

If you’re set on ditching cable for good, there are a few things you’ll want to look at to make your transition to the cable-free entertainment lifestyle a bit easier.

HDTV Antenna (optional): To maximize your savings, consider investing in an HDTV antenna. You can pick up one for as little as $20 or as much as $150, depending on your needs. Once you have the antenna, you’ll be able to access your local television network channels for free. Only do this if you care about local channels. I don’t watch local channels myself so I’ve never gotten one.

A streaming player or device: A lot of devices let you add streaming services to them. Like a Playstation. And many smart televisions can stream services on their own. I prefer to get a dedicated streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV. The interface is better, there’s fewer ads from built-in TV services, and the remote is better.

Decent internet speed: Make sure your internet speed is hardy enough to handle streaming the quality of content you want. For standard streaming, 3Mbps should work fine. If you want 4k content, look for a speed of at least 25Mbps. You’ll want higher speeds if you plan to stream from multiple devices at one time.

Streaming services: There are a lot of streaming services available. In fact, many networks are even releasing their own streaming services. We’ll discuss a few of the streaming services below.

The Best Streaming Devices

Here are our top picks for streaming devices:

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube offers a hands-free streaming option. You can stream your favorite shows from the compact 4K compatible device. The device is about 3-inches tall, so it’s discreet and will fit in most spaces.  The Amazon Fire TV Cube includes a remote if you prefer to operate your TV without talking to Alexa. The Amazon Fire Cube retails for $119.99.

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is a wireless streaming device. Roku is one of the most well-known streaming devices, for a reason. The friendly interface makes navigating between your favorite streaming apps easy. The remote is simple to use, and it includes a headphone jack so you watch your favorite movie when you don’t want to disturb anyone else. This updated version of the Roku includes a voice remote and provides access to free TV, news, sports, and music. In addition to the free shows offered on Roku, you can access Hulu, Netflix, and other paid subscriptions. Roku Ultra is available for Insert price here

Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast connects to your smart TV via USB port. It’s one of the most affordable options at $35. Chromecast lets you connect to services like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. You can even use Chromecast to put your computer screen onto the television set. If you’re dead set on HD and 4K, you’ll want to opt for the Chromecast Ultra which is $70.

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV a small box that streams videos to your television. The box connects via HDMI. The system retails for about $150 and includes a one-year subscription to AppleTV+ (the subscription service). There are two versions, the Apple TV HD and the APple TV 4K. We prefer the 4K for the better quality, it’s only an extra $30. You can use the box to access other streaming services as well. You don’t need an iPhone to use Apple TV, but you do need an iTunes account to log into your device.

Your Smart TV

Since a major reason for cutting the cable is to save money, you might not be keen on spending extra cash on a streaming device. If you already have a smart TV (or a gaming device like the Playstation) you can use that to stream content. Keep in mind that some streaming services may be unavailable on certain devices due to contractual agreements. Most will offer access to the most popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. This is a great way to save some money.

Customizing to Meet Your Needs

One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord is that you can customize your entertainment needs. Most streaming services offer monthly or annual subscriptions. If you need to pause for a few months to save a little extra cash, you can restart whenever you want.

There are dozens of streaming options, which means you can pick and choose which ones work best for your family.

You can also customize your hardware setup. You don’t need a streaming device. You don’t even need a TV. If you have a computer, tablet, or phone, you can save more money by using to watch everything. I didn’t get a TV for over 5 years when living on my own, I just watched everything off my laptop. In hindsight, I could have bought a TV a lot sooner. But I did save a lot of money during that period.

The option to do as little or as much as you want, while controlling your costs, is the biggest perk of cutting the cord. Mix and match your streaming device with your streaming services for a customized entertainment package that works best for you.

The Best Streaming Apps

Gone are the days when your only streaming option was Netflix and YouTube. Now, there are dozens of streaming apps that include everything from original content to network-specific shows. These are our favorites.

For Classic TV Shows: Hulu

If you’re a fan of watching television shows as close to their air-time as possible, Hulu is your best bet. They offer four levels of subscriptions. The basic subscription is $5.99 per month and the Premium streaming service is $11.99. The cheapest option has more advertisements, whereas the premium service has very little to no ads during your shows.

If you love popular TV shows and want to keep them after cutting the cable cord, definitely get Hulu. It has tons of shows like The Bachelor, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shark Tank, and Family Guy. There’s also a few Hulu-exclusive series like The Handmaid’s Tale.

For Families: Disney+

In 2019, Disney launched its own streaming service. At $7.99 per month, it’s one of the most affordable options available.

It has an extensive library of Disney movies and television shows including the Star Wars films, most of the Marvel films, and many programs from networks owned by Disney. Disney+ also boasts a few of their own shows, like the Mandalorian. If I had kids, I’d definitely get a subscription.

For Sports Lovers: ESPN+

Sports lovers rejoice. If you’re hesitant to cut the cord because you don’t want to miss the big game, you can get ESPN without a cable subscription. You’ll be able to stream MLB, NHL, UFC, and tons of college games live. Unfortunately, there aren’t any NFL or NBA games yet. I hope this changes in the future.

Even better, it comes as part of a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ at $12.99/month. By getting that bundle, you can almost replace an entire cable subscription. That’s an incredible deal.

For Original Shows: Netflix

Netflix is the original streaming service and still a great option. The volume of original content is absurd. They release more interesting stuff than I can possibly watch. There’s also a decent amount of non-Netflix films and TV shows. Believe it or not, you can also still subscribe to their DVD service too. The most expensive streaming plan is $8.99. The premium plan, which includes 4k streaming is $15.99 per month. DVD plans are priced separately.

Best for Bundled Services: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime offers a lot of the same movies you’ll find on Netflix, as well as some television shows you won’t find elsewhere. There are a number of great Amazon Prime shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, and Good Omens.

While it doesn’t have as much depth as other services, the TV subscription is part of a much larger Amazon Prime bundle. It includes free 2-day shipping, movie streaming, Prime music, and access to the Amazon Prime Reading catalog. Amazon Prime is $12.99 per month or $119 per year. With the number of shopping trips I can avoid by using the fast, free shipping, Amazon Prime easily pays for itself. And I get some great TV shows with it too.

How to Cut The Cable Cord is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Surety Bond Brokers? Business https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-cut-the-cable-cord/

[kennethherrerablog]

How to Cut The Cable Cord

I’ve never had a cable subscription. Once I left my parents house, I jumped straight into streaming.

You could call me a hipster streamer, doing it long before cutting the cable cord was cool. Cutting cable isn’t a fad anymore, it’s turned into a tsunami that’s changing the entire entertainment industry.

If you’re considering making the jump, I’ll walk you through the entire process.

Not only will you save a bunch of money, you get complete control and access to better TV.

What’s the Meaning of Cutting the Cord?

When people refer to “cutting the cord,” they’re referring to ditching cable television subscriptions in favor of internet-based streaming services.

As a result of cord-cutting, a secondary group, cord-nevers, has emerged. It consists of viewers who have grown up watching programming on streaming services and are less likely to ever subscribe to cable television.

While cutting costs is an excellent reason for ditching cable television, opting for streaming services also provides more flexibility. Choosing which streaming services work for your family allows you to pay for what you’ll actually use.

The most common reasons for cutting the cord:

Save money on monthly TV bills

Pay only for the TV that you want

Watch shows on your schedule

Access to shows that you can’t get with normal cable

Essentials for Cutting the Cord

If you’re set on ditching cable for good, there are a few things you’ll want to look at to make your transition to the cable-free entertainment lifestyle a bit easier.

HDTV Antenna (optional): To maximize your savings, consider investing in an HDTV antenna. You can pick up one for as little as $20 or as much as $150, depending on your needs. Once you have the antenna, you’ll be able to access your local television network channels for free. Only do this if you care about local channels. I don’t watch local channels myself so I’ve never gotten one.

A streaming player or device: A lot of devices let you add streaming services to them. Like a Playstation. And many smart televisions can stream services on their own. I prefer to get a dedicated streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV. The interface is better, there’s fewer ads from built-in TV services, and the remote is better.

Decent internet speed: Make sure your internet speed is hardy enough to handle streaming the quality of content you want. For standard streaming, 3Mbps should work fine. If you want 4k content, look for a speed of at least 25Mbps. You’ll want higher speeds if you plan to stream from multiple devices at one time.

Streaming services: There are a lot of streaming services available. In fact, many networks are even releasing their own streaming services. We’ll discuss a few of the streaming services below.

The Best Streaming Devices

Here are our top picks for streaming devices:

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube offers a hands-free streaming option. You can stream your favorite shows from the compact 4K compatible device. The device is about 3-inches tall, so it’s discreet and will fit in most spaces.  The Amazon Fire TV Cube includes a remote if you prefer to operate your TV without talking to Alexa. The Amazon Fire Cube retails for $119.99.

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is a wireless streaming device. Roku is one of the most well-known streaming devices, for a reason. The friendly interface makes navigating between your favorite streaming apps easy. The remote is simple to use, and it includes a headphone jack so you watch your favorite movie when you don’t want to disturb anyone else. This updated version of the Roku includes a voice remote and provides access to free TV, news, sports, and music. In addition to the free shows offered on Roku, you can access Hulu, Netflix, and other paid subscriptions. Roku Ultra is available for Insert price here

Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast connects to your smart TV via USB port. It’s one of the most affordable options at $35. Chromecast lets you connect to services like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. You can even use Chromecast to put your computer screen onto the television set. If you’re dead set on HD and 4K, you’ll want to opt for the Chromecast Ultra which is $70.

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV a small box that streams videos to your television. The box connects via HDMI. The system retails for about $150 and includes a one-year subscription to AppleTV+ (the subscription service). There are two versions, the Apple TV HD and the APple TV 4K. We prefer the 4K for the better quality, it’s only an extra $30. You can use the box to access other streaming services as well. You don’t need an iPhone to use Apple TV, but you do need an iTunes account to log into your device.

Your Smart TV

Since a major reason for cutting the cable is to save money, you might not be keen on spending extra cash on a streaming device. If you already have a smart TV (or a gaming device like the Playstation) you can use that to stream content. Keep in mind that some streaming services may be unavailable on certain devices due to contractual agreements. Most will offer access to the most popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. This is a great way to save some money.

Customizing to Meet Your Needs

One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord is that you can customize your entertainment needs. Most streaming services offer monthly or annual subscriptions. If you need to pause for a few months to save a little extra cash, you can restart whenever you want.

There are dozens of streaming options, which means you can pick and choose which ones work best for your family.

You can also customize your hardware setup. You don’t need a streaming device. You don’t even need a TV. If you have a computer, tablet, or phone, you can save more money by using to watch everything. I didn’t get a TV for over 5 years when living on my own, I just watched everything off my laptop. In hindsight, I could have bought a TV a lot sooner. But I did save a lot of money during that period.

The option to do as little or as much as you want, while controlling your costs, is the biggest perk of cutting the cord. Mix and match your streaming device with your streaming services for a customized entertainment package that works best for you.

The Best Streaming Apps

Gone are the days when your only streaming option was Netflix and YouTube. Now, there are dozens of streaming apps that include everything from original content to network-specific shows. These are our favorites.

For Classic TV Shows: Hulu

If you’re a fan of watching television shows as close to their air-time as possible, Hulu is your best bet. They offer four levels of subscriptions. The basic subscription is $5.99 per month and the Premium streaming service is $11.99. The cheapest option has more advertisements, whereas the premium service has very little to no ads during your shows.

If you love popular TV shows and want to keep them after cutting the cable cord, definitely get Hulu. It has tons of shows like The Bachelor, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shark Tank, and Family Guy. There’s also a few Hulu-exclusive series like The Handmaid’s Tale.

For Families: Disney+

In 2019, Disney launched its own streaming service. At $7.99 per month, it’s one of the most affordable options available.

It has an extensive library of Disney movies and television shows including the Star Wars films, most of the Marvel films, and many programs from networks owned by Disney. Disney+ also boasts a few of their own shows, like the Mandalorian. If I had kids, I’d definitely get a subscription.

For Sports Lovers: ESPN+

Sports lovers rejoice. If you’re hesitant to cut the cord because you don’t want to miss the big game, you can get ESPN without a cable subscription. You’ll be able to stream MLB, NHL, UFC, and tons of college games live. Unfortunately, there aren’t any NFL or NBA games yet. I hope this changes in the future.

Even better, it comes as part of a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ at $12.99/month. By getting that bundle, you can almost replace an entire cable subscription. That’s an incredible deal.

For Original Shows: Netflix

Netflix is the original streaming service and still a great option. The volume of original content is absurd. They release more interesting stuff than I can possibly watch. There’s also a decent amount of non-Netflix films and TV shows. Believe it or not, you can also still subscribe to their DVD service too. The most expensive streaming plan is $8.99. The premium plan, which includes 4k streaming is $15.99 per month. DVD plans are priced separately.

Best for Bundled Services: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime offers a lot of the same movies you’ll find on Netflix, as well as some television shows you won’t find elsewhere. There are a number of great Amazon Prime shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, and Good Omens.

While it doesn’t have as much depth as other services, the TV subscription is part of a much larger Amazon Prime bundle. It includes free 2-day shipping, movie streaming, Prime music, and access to the Amazon Prime Reading catalog. Amazon Prime is $12.99 per month or $119 per year. With the number of shopping trips I can avoid by using the fast, free shipping, Amazon Prime easily pays for itself. And I get some great TV shows with it too.

How to Cut The Cable Cord is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

How to Cut The Cable Cord published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

[mcjoelcain]

How to Cut The Cable Cord

I’ve never had a cable subscription. Once I left my parents house, I jumped straight into streaming.

You could call me a hipster streamer, doing it long before cutting the cable cord was cool. Cutting cable isn’t a fad anymore, it’s turned into a tsunami that’s changing the entire entertainment industry.

If you’re considering making the jump, I’ll walk you through the entire process.

Not only will you save a bunch of money, you get complete control and access to better TV.

What’s the Meaning of Cutting the Cord?

When people refer to “cutting the cord,” they’re referring to ditching cable television subscriptions in favor of internet-based streaming services.

As a result of cord-cutting, a secondary group, cord-nevers, has emerged. It consists of viewers who have grown up watching programming on streaming services and are less likely to ever subscribe to cable television.

While cutting costs is an excellent reason for ditching cable television, opting for streaming services also provides more flexibility. Choosing which streaming services work for your family allows you to pay for what you’ll actually use.

The most common reasons for cutting the cord:

Save money on monthly TV bills

Pay only for the TV that you want

Watch shows on your schedule

Access to shows that you can’t get with normal cable

Essentials for Cutting the Cord

If you’re set on ditching cable for good, there are a few things you’ll want to look at to make your transition to the cable-free entertainment lifestyle a bit easier.

HDTV Antenna (optional): To maximize your savings, consider investing in an HDTV antenna. You can pick up one for as little as $20 or as much as $150, depending on your needs. Once you have the antenna, you’ll be able to access your local television network channels for free. Only do this if you care about local channels. I don’t watch local channels myself so I’ve never gotten one.

A streaming player or device: A lot of devices let you add streaming services to them. Like a Playstation. And many smart televisions can stream services on their own. I prefer to get a dedicated streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV. The interface is better, there’s fewer ads from built-in TV services, and the remote is better.

Decent internet speed: Make sure your internet speed is hardy enough to handle streaming the quality of content you want. For standard streaming, 3Mbps should work fine. If you want 4k content, look for a speed of at least 25Mbps. You’ll want higher speeds if you plan to stream from multiple devices at one time.

Streaming services: There are a lot of streaming services available. In fact, many networks are even releasing their own streaming services. We’ll discuss a few of the streaming services below.

The Best Streaming Devices

Here are our top picks for streaming devices:

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube offers a hands-free streaming option. You can stream your favorite shows from the compact 4K compatible device. The device is about 3-inches tall, so it’s discreet and will fit in most spaces.  The Amazon Fire TV Cube includes a remote if you prefer to operate your TV without talking to Alexa. The Amazon Fire Cube retails for $119.99.

Roku Ultra

The Roku Ultra is a wireless streaming device. Roku is one of the most well-known streaming devices, for a reason. The friendly interface makes navigating between your favorite streaming apps easy. The remote is simple to use, and it includes a headphone jack so you watch your favorite movie when you don’t want to disturb anyone else. This updated version of the Roku includes a voice remote and provides access to free TV, news, sports, and music. In addition to the free shows offered on Roku, you can access Hulu, Netflix, and other paid subscriptions. Roku Ultra is available for Insert price here

Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast connects to your smart TV via USB port. It’s one of the most affordable options at $35. Chromecast lets you connect to services like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. You can even use Chromecast to put your computer screen onto the television set. If you’re dead set on HD and 4K, you’ll want to opt for the Chromecast Ultra which is $70.

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV a small box that streams videos to your television. The box connects via HDMI. The system retails for about $150 and includes a one-year subscription to AppleTV+ (the subscription service). There are two versions, the Apple TV HD and the APple TV 4K. We prefer the 4K for the better quality, it’s only an extra $30. You can use the box to access other streaming services as well. You don’t need an iPhone to use Apple TV, but you do need an iTunes account to log into your device.

Your Smart TV

Since a major reason for cutting the cable is to save money, you might not be keen on spending extra cash on a streaming device. If you already have a smart TV (or a gaming device like the Playstation) you can use that to stream content. Keep in mind that some streaming services may be unavailable on certain devices due to contractual agreements. Most will offer access to the most popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. This is a great way to save some money.

Customizing to Meet Your Needs

One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord is that you can customize your entertainment needs. Most streaming services offer monthly or annual subscriptions. If you need to pause for a few months to save a little extra cash, you can restart whenever you want.

There are dozens of streaming options, which means you can pick and choose which ones work best for your family.

You can also customize your hardware setup. You don’t need a streaming device. You don’t even need a TV. If you have a computer, tablet, or phone, you can save more money by using to watch everything. I didn’t get a TV for over 5 years when living on my own, I just watched everything off my laptop. In hindsight, I could have bought a TV a lot sooner. But I did save a lot of money during that period.

The option to do as little or as much as you want, while controlling your costs, is the biggest perk of cutting the cord. Mix and match your streaming device with your streaming services for a customized entertainment package that works best for you.

The Best Streaming Apps

Gone are the days when your only streaming option was Netflix and YouTube. Now, there are dozens of streaming apps that include everything from original content to network-specific shows. These are our favorites.

For Classic TV Shows: Hulu

If you’re a fan of watching television shows as close to their air-time as possible, Hulu is your best bet. They offer four levels of subscriptions. The basic subscription is $5.99 per month and the Premium streaming service is $11.99. The cheapest option has more advertisements, whereas the premium service has very little to no ads during your shows.

If you love popular TV shows and want to keep them after cutting the cable cord, definitely get Hulu. It has tons of shows like The Bachelor, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shark Tank, and Family Guy. There’s also a few Hulu-exclusive series like The Handmaid’s Tale.

For Families: Disney+

In 2019, Disney launched its own streaming service. At $7.99 per month, it’s one of the most affordable options available.

It has an extensive library of Disney movies and television shows including the Star Wars films, most of the Marvel films, and many programs from networks owned by Disney. Disney+ also boasts a few of their own shows, like the Mandalorian. If I had kids, I’d definitely get a subscription.

For Sports Lovers: ESPN+

Sports lovers rejoice. If you’re hesitant to cut the cord because you don’t want to miss the big game, you can get ESPN without a cable subscription. You’ll be able to stream MLB, NHL, UFC, and tons of college games live. Unfortunately, there aren’t any NFL or NBA games yet. I hope this changes in the future.

Even better, it comes as part of a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ at $12.99/month. By getting that bundle, you can almost replace an entire cable subscription. That’s an incredible deal.

For Original Shows: Netflix

Netflix is the original streaming service and still a great option. The volume of original content is absurd. They release more interesting stuff than I can possibly watch. There’s also a decent amount of non-Netflix films and TV shows. Believe it or not, you can also still subscribe to their DVD service too. The most expensive streaming plan is $8.99. The premium plan, which includes 4k streaming is $15.99 per month. DVD plans are priced separately.

Best for Bundled Services: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime offers a lot of the same movies you’ll find on Netflix, as well as some television shows you won’t find elsewhere. There are a number of great Amazon Prime shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, and Good Omens.

While it doesn’t have as much depth as other services, the TV subscription is part of a much larger Amazon Prime bundle. It includes free 2-day shipping, movie streaming, Prime music, and access to the Amazon Prime Reading catalog. Amazon Prime is $12.99 per month or $119 per year. With the number of shopping trips I can avoid by using the fast, free shipping, Amazon Prime easily pays for itself. And I get some great TV shows with it too.

How to Cut The Cable Cord is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Money https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-cut-the-cable-cord/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[rodrigohyde]

Watch Snob’s Tip for Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse

How to Avoid Buyers Remorse With Watches

Eight Days a Week

I am in a fix and here to ask for help. I have four watches - AP Jules 25955, GP Richeville, Jaeger Grande Reserve 240.8.14 [eight days], and a vintage Omega 30T2. I love looking at the time on my JLC and was originally thinking of having it engraved, but recently met a friend and saw him wear the Reverso Ultra thin.

I have girly sized wrists and thought that the Tribute Ultra Thin model would fit me so much better. Also, the Tribute Reverso without any seconds hand was breathtaking. The only reason I bought the Grand Reserve was because I wanted to complete a collection on power reserve.

I am wondering if I should just sell this JLC and acquire one of the tribute models. But then, the current ain't really bad, and I enjoy it also, especially because it has an eight day power reserve which I love to wind. I am just so confused. Any suggestion?

RELATED: Watch Snob Last Week: Independent Watchmakers

This is a common problem among watch enthusiasts — there is a classic model that you admire, but you’re also drawn to a particular version of that watch that lacks some of the singleness of purpose of the simpler model. In this case, having seen I believe all of the watches that you mention, I would get rid of the Grand Reserve.

An eight day power reserve is an admirable thing in the abstract and we all like things that push the limits of performance in some way, but the fact is that making an eight day watch out of a Reverso simply runs counter to the spirit of the design. It is inherently a slim, rather elegant watch with boatloads of charm, and inherent to that charm is its simplicity; the Reverso is virtually never improved by greater complexity.

There are some exceptions — a Reverso Duo is a logical extension of the original design concept and very useful to boot, and the Reverso Gyrotourbillon goes so far in violating the spirit of the original that it sort of comes out the other side as a fascinating and desirable watch. But with Reversos, the general rule is the simple the better.

Before Buyer’s Remorse

I am fairly new to the world of horology. I do own a few mechanical watches in the low price segment and they do serve me well in terms of time keeping. But they don’t serve me well when it comes to pride. I do spend a lot of time doing my research and as my next birthday is coming up soon, I decided to make the next step. My choice fell on Grand Seiko. In order to follow the advice to never buy a watch just from seeing pictures, I decided to go to the nearest dealer. To my disappointment I learned that the choice didn’t make a good appearance on my wrist (I tried a few different versions).

After a little conversation about my preferences, I was suggested to try on a few Parmigianis. I wasn’t very fond of the aforementioned brand to date. To my big surprise I very much liked the PF Qualite Fleurier in Rose Gold. I never considered a watch in a gold case before. I tried a few other watches as well (like a Speedmaster, a Reverso and a Drive de Cartier), but I couldn’t get my eyes off the Parmigiani. Unfortunately the price tag of that watch is about 10-15 times more than my current watches and three-to-four times the GS I initially came for.

I am afraid if I make that purchase, that I could suffer from buyer’s remorse, for a reason I can’t foresee now. What is your suggestion? Save up for it, if it seems the right choice or take smaller steps (money wise) and gain more experience in the higher price segments?

You should always get the best watch that you can afford. That is the simplest and first rule that anyone interested in watches should follow. Of course, that need not mean necessarily buying the most expensive watch you can find — there are “best” watches at prices ranging from almost nothing to a king’s ransom, and both G-Shock on the one end, and Greubel-Forsey or Lange & Sohne on the other, are all “best” in their own way.

RELATED: The Best Rolex Watches for Men

The Parmigiani (Toric, I assume you’re looking at the Toric) Qualite Fleurier is a very fine wristwatch, certainly. The problem for you now is that you are looking at watches in a very, very different price range and with a very different sort of quality than what you have had in the past, and you do not know what you have fallen in love with yet. Grand Seiko make very fine watches, but in the Parmigiani you have a handmade and hand finished Swiss watch that can stand on its own merits next to anything that Patek, Vacheron, or Audemars make and at that price, for that level of watchmaking, there are many other choices as well.

It’s as well that you like to do research because you have a great deal to do (not to worry, it’s enjoyable research) because you are not just choosing the Parmigiani over Grand Seiko. You will be choosing it over other watches in its price and quality range as well. Get to know the competition; don’t choose until you have.

The Gold Standard?

As a recent graduate, I’m a long way away from affording any sort of Rolex, but should that day come I would very much like to obtain a GMT-Master II. In my ambivalence as to what sort of model appeals most to me, I’ve noticed that Rolex have introduced more flashy watches with brighter colors recently. As the GMT has caught my eye, I wanted to hear your opinion on the Everose gold version for instance. Is there a place in any future collection for a flashy take on a traditional timepiece? Or is it best to steer clear and stay classy. Cheers.

I’m not entirely sure what you mean by “recently,” as Rolex has been doing gold versions of its professional models for almost as long as the professional models have existed (broadly speaking). Before spending any money on watches that you think are “new” I’d strongly advise you to become better acquainted with the history of the professional models in general and the GMT in particular.

I happen to like the GMT Master II in Everose gold, and as a matter of fact I think professional models in Everose are in general quite attractive, if rather obvious about what they are, which is of course solid gold luxury watches whose primary function is to advertise the affluence of the owner. I say this not as a negative judgement; the steel professional models from Rolex have largely come to perform the same function and at least with Rolex, whether steel or gold you are at least getting a very well made watch.

The professional models in Everose can be a bit much in some instances, even by solid gold watch standards (the Yacht Master II and Sky-Dweller are both so bulky that in gold they should be avoided by anyone who has not had a very successful career in either professional sports or the music industry) but the more classic sports models in gold, or in Rolesor (gold and steel) have history on their side, as well as being relatively more tasteful than the bigger watches.

Of course, when you’re talking about any gold Rolex, “tasteful” is a relative term.

Send the Watch Snob your questions at editorial@askmen.com or ask a question on Instagram with the #watchsnob hashtag.

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Best Watches Under $250 Best Watches Under $300 Best Watches Under $150 from AskMen Style https://www.askmen.com/style/watch_snob/watch-snob-on-making-hard-choices.html

[mrbambaalam]

My PC Rebuild Story

It was October of 2012. After consulting my friends, I bought all the parts that would be required to build a personal computer. Soon thereafter these components arrived and with guidance from my amigos I was able to assemble them into a working PC. That computer lasted until the fall of 2017 when it stopped posting and abruptly died. To this day I don’t know exactly how it malfunctioned. What I do know is that both the GPU and power supply were functional so most likely it was one of the more crucial components, either the CPU or the motherboard that failed. That build cost me $850 and included a case, DVD burner, and Windows 7. I was quite happy with my old PC. For most of its life it functioned well enough and the fact that I was able to stretch $850 over five years was quite the achievement.

In October of 2018, after graduating from Air Force technical school and going home on leave, I decided that I would use some of my saved money to rebuild my computer. I had a month of vacation time to work with and plenty of money to spare so it seemed like the perfect time to research and plan my next PC build. This time I wanted to build a PC that was more than functional. I wanted a more premium experience from a computer that would allow me to game or do productivity tasks seamlessly. I wanted a machine which would not flinch from having multiple Chrome tabs open. I wanted a system that could play games at 1440p without having to sacrifice graphical quality. Yet I did not want to break the bank, I would build a computer that would be high-end but would not disregard price-to-performance. Over the course of that October, I researched and bought all the components I would need.

Because I was able to salvage the case, power supply unit, DVD burner, HDD, and CPU cooler from my previous build all I needed to get was a new CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, and SSD. At the time the best mainstream CPU for gaming was the Intel i7 8700K which was selling for prices of $370 or more. I thought long about buying this CPU but ultimately, I opted for AMD’s equivalent of the processor: the less expensive, higher core count Ryzen 7 2700X. I found a combo deal for the 2700X and a compatible motherboard (an ASUS Prime X470-Pro) at the Boston Microcenter so I snagged both for a discounted price of $425. For a video card I would have preferred something along the lines of a GTX 1080 Ti but price-to-performance considerations made me settle for a Zotac Mini 1070 Ti which I bought used for a cool $300. This GPU would slightly bottleneck my system but my thinking was that I could always upgrade it in the future when better, more affordable video cards became available. Buying RAM was a bit tricky at the time because the PC market was in the final stages of the RAM shortage of 2018. I was able to get 16 GB of DDR4 3200 SDRAM for $135 which was the best deal I could find at the time. To complement my 1 TB hard disk drive, I picked up a Samsung 970 Evo 500 GB M.2 NVMe SSD which had recently fallen in price from $148 to $117.

I bought all these parts while I was on leave but I held off building my PC until I arrived at my next duty station. My thought process was that transporting a fully assembled PC as luggage onboard a plane would risk damaging its internal components and therefore it would be prudent to simply ship the components in their original packaging and assemble them later. In order to transport my mid tower chassis and all the components that would eventually go into it I had to buy an extra-large luggage case costing $130. Once fully loaded with PC parts, clothes, and shoes it weighed roughly 80 pounds (good thing it was on wheels). I was flying on military orders at the time so the excessive weight of my luggage was a non-issue.

Assembling my computer was not the smoothest experience. I had some trouble with my old CPU cooler as it was not compatible with my newer motherboard. Even with an AM4 upgrade kit, the cooler did not fit to the motherboard properly. I had to buy some washers from a local hardware store to resolve the problem. The first time I clicked the power button on my PC it failed to load the bios. After messing with the connections on my motherboard I finally got it to post and from there installing Windows unto my SSD was a layup.

In the end I spent roughly $1000 on my PC upgrade: $425 for the CPU and Motherboard, $300 for the GPU, $135 for RAM, $120 for an SSD, and $30 for miscellaneous items. Compared with my first build I spent $180 more for the CPU and motherboard, $175 more for the video card, and $95 more for RAM. Overall, I have come to be very satisfied with my build. It crushes productivity tasks; the eight-core processor makes quick work of Microsoft Office applications, Google Chrome windows, and media streaming programs even if when they are run concurrently. It handles gaming on a 1440p panel with relative ease with only the most intensive games (e.g. Witcher 3) requiring lower than ultra-settings. The only obvious improvement I could make to my system would be to upgrade the GPU. I plan to do this in the future but for now the class of video card I would like to buy is priced far beyond what I am willing to spend. I think this system will serve me very well for years to come and I am absolutely pleased with it.  

[swipestream]

Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four: a Cinema Legend for the Ages!

Here’s the story of a little movie that could, a really-real urban legend made by a legitimate cinematic legend, a movie never released in movie theaters, a movie whose reels were supposedly burned to ash by the Hollywood producer who bought the rights to it, a movie that somehow leaked to the public and (like the Star Wars Holiday Special) found a second life on bootleg DVD’s and lately, on YouTube. This is the story of Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four.

Roger Corman is an insanely prolific (and successful) low budget Hollywood mogul, specializing in horror, SF, and exploitation flicks. He has producer credits on 415 different movies on IMDB, including Death Race 2000, the original Piranha, and Battle Beyond the Stars.

Corman was famed for making ultra-low budget movies at a rapid pace. Corman’s studio wrote fast, filmed fast, edited fast, and released the movies where and as they could. With such low budgets, it didn’t take many cult successes to keep the studio in the black, and Corman made some of the most beloved cult classics ever. People like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, and James Cameron all came up through Corman’s cinematic boot camp. If you could make it in the break-neck world of Corman productions, you could make it anywhere.

Long about September, 1992, Constantine Films, the then-owners of the rights to Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four, contacted Corman, offering to co-produce a film. The budget was $1.5 million ($2.7 million today), half of which they would front, half of which Corman would. (This was an unprecedented budget for a Corman flick.) One caveat: they’d have to start filming by the end of the year.

The script went through four drafts, the actors were cast, sets dressed, costumes assembled (largely provided by the actors themselves, as there was essentially no costume budget), and the cameras began rolling, barely in time. True to form, the film stock itself was left-overs: unused ends of film previously shot for other movies. Those costumes not provided by the actors were often left-overs (one security guard wears a Nazi SS uniform, stripped of all insignia, presumably a remnant from a previous Corman flick), and the sets were left over from previous Corman films. (And recycled in the movie itself: flipped around and repainted, and used in a different scene as a different location).

The filming was speedy. There was no table read, no rehearsals, no director’s notes, no time to re-shoot many of the scenes. They had a timetable, and didn’t have the money to vary from it a bit.

The actors, directors, composers, and so forth poured all their heart into the film. Yes, it was a tiny-budget movie, but the key to moving up in Hollywood was to do a tiny-budget film, do it well, and then your next job would be on a bigger film. (See “Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, and James Cameron” for how that works.)

The actors poured their hearts into the roles. Kat Green, the actress playing Ben Grimm’s blind sculptor girlfriend, spent time at a school for the blind and took sculpting lessons to ensure her performance was authentic. The cast hit the scenes, played their roles with sincerity and dedication, and worked hard to make the movie work. As did everyone else involved.

Just as the film was mostly shot, production came to a sudden end. With a couple of key scenes yet to be lensed, the cast and crew found themselves without instructions, and without a budget. Editing quietly continued on the sly—one editor kept the FF reels close, and after finishing edits on one Corman flick, he’d slip the reels on, and piece the movie together. The director snuck around and finally got the last couple of scenes filmed, one of them being illegally shot on Hollywood Boulevard at night, as they couldn’t afford permits to shoot. The composers paid $6000-$8000 of their own money to hire a 48-piece orchestra to play the score and a music studio to record the soundtrack at.

After all that, the film was finally complete. Technically. In truth, it was more like a rough cut. Some of the actor’s dialogue needed to be re-recorded (or “looped”), so you could hear what Doom was saying in every scene, some audio effects were missing, and many special effects needed to be redone (especially those made by the original FX supervisor, who lied his way into his position by claiming he’d done the Independence Day effects, but who couldn’t actually do the job). With a smidge more money, the movie could have been polished and ready for release.

A couple of months passed with no word from anyone about the movie’s status. It was in cinematic limbo. Then word came down: they would release the movie. Corman cut a trailer, and the actors began promoting the movie at comics stores, comic conventions (including Comic-Con), and fan magazines (on their own dime, Ben Grimm’s actor spending $12,000 to fly people around the country to promote it). Fan response was tremendous. A 500-theater release was planned, and the movie was scheduled for its premiere at the Mall of America.

Then it vanished. The director went to check on the movie, and all the prints were just gone. Turns out, Avi Arad (a Marvel Comics executive) wanted the rights to the Fantastic Four back, and paid Constantine and Corman $1 million each to sell him their movie and the rights. (And, as it later came out, that was Constantine’s only reason for ever making the movie, holding Marvel up for some extra dough, though nobody on the cast and crew knew that at the time.)

And that was it. The movie was never released.

Officially. A copy of the film somehow leaked, and was passed around via the comic convention bootleg circuit. People bought copies for $10-$15 on blue-back DVD’s (no way telling how many), and the cast and crew eventually stumbled upon them—many had never seen the finished movie themselves. And then it hit the Internet.

I watched the movie this week, for the first time ever. (I also watched Doomed!, the fascinating documentary about the flick.) And the movie… doesn’t suck.

Look, let me qualify that. It’s cheaply made, and you can tell. The effects are mostly pretty bad. And it was made in 1994. Compare it to the gloss and finish of Avengers: Infinity War or even The Justice League, and it comes off badly.

But look beyond that.

The movie is absolutely, utterly sincere. The characters have genuine affection for each other, their goals and motivations are genuine and understandable, and each line is delivered with real human emotion. The sincerity makes it affecting despite the flaws.

The people in charge of superhero comics today “don’t human very well”, but the writers of the Fantastic Four did. They knew how to write human characters, instead of robotic ideology-recitation androids, and the actors knew how to deliver those lines like humans would. The plot makes sense (in a comic-book kind of way), Dr. Doom is egotistical and hammy, the guy gets to save his girl, and the very pretty women are even feminine. This movie does many things right, that so much of modern entertainment does wrong.

As Hollywood’s technical prowess (in special effects and other areas) approaches perfection, the special effects themselves are becoming meaningless. Everything is spectacular, the audience is used to it, so you can’t use FX to substitute for a great story anymore. The power of the movie star has faded (they are no longer the audience draws they once were), and as it was in the early days of the cinema, movies now sink or swim on the merits of their story. Hollywood has gotten so good at everything else, it’s ironic that the only thing that matters anymore is the one thing they’ve gotten so bad at: telling a good story.

Well, Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four is actually a good story. For all the movie’s flaws, and in spite of all the obstacles the cast and crew faced, the movie is worth watching. Maybe even more than once.

It’s better than all the other Fantastic Four movies, so what have you got to lose?

– –

Corman’s Fantastic Four is available on YouTube.

Doomed! (also well worth watching) is available on Sundance Channel streaming or on Amazon Prime video.

Jasyn Jones, better known as Daddy Warpig, is a host on the Geek Gab podcast, a regular on the Superversive SF livestreams, and blogs at Daddy Warpig’s House of Geekery. Check him out on Twitter.

Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four: a Cinema Legend for the Ages! published first on https://medium.com/@ReloadedPCGames

[dorothydelgadillo]

The Best Cyber Monday Deals to Spruce Up Your Home Office

As a person who works from my home office, I’ll openly admit that some of remote work’s benefits speak to my more casual side—I’m a homebody at heart, and things like being able to spend large parts of the day in my pajamas and not having to physically commute anywhere are pluses of remote work that still seem too good to be true.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is holiday shopping. For someone who treasures being under the radar in the comfort of my own home, the thought of bright lights, big boxes, and even bigger crowds is pretty much against everything I stand for. Fortunately for me—and for my fellow introverts—the physical retail tradition of Black Friday has met its virtual match with Cyber Monday. So now, instead of braving the in-person madness last Friday, I can spend today staked out in front of my computer, looking for deals on the gifts I need to order to finish my holiday haul.

If you also work from home and you find yourself throwing down the online retail gauntlet today, why not take a few moments to click on some items for yourself? As remote workers, our home offices can always using some sprucing up, and Cyber Monday is a great time to upgrade your office game, at drastically discounted prices.

And if you’re reading this and thinking that you want to make a career change into a job you can do from home, don’t forget that Skillcrush is offering our own Cyber Monday deal on the Break Into Tech Blueprint. Our three-phase program allows you to build a foundation with web design and development fundamentals, customize your own learning path with a career counselor, and teaches you how to apply your new skills in the real working world. Save $150 off the one-time payment option for the Break Into Tech Blueprint by entering the code CYBERBIT150 (expires at midnight EST), and put yourself into position to start making your money back within 90 days.

To get you started on your online haul, here’s a list of some confirmed deals on home office items happening this Cyber Monday. Supplies may vary, and be sure to keep your eyes open for other sales, as new lightning deals can strike at any time, and we’ll also be adding to this throughout the day with new deals as they crop up!

Desktop Computers and Monitors

In 2017—despite the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other portable devices—the brain of a home office is still the venerable desktop computer. As much as I take advantage of my devices that let me work all over the house (or outside of it), there’s nothing like sitting in front of a full-size monitor coupled with the reassuring horsepower of a desktop machine when I have a big project ahead of me. If you’ve been subsisting on a laptop-only setup, or if your trusty desktop rig is getting a bit long in the tooth, it might be time to cash in on Cyber Monday deals and score a new workstation.

Brand new HPZ240 Workstations are available through Ebay for $669.99—at a 52 percent savings off the list price of $1,399

New Acer Aspire AT3 desktop computers from Newegg for $699.99—$300 of their $999.99 list price

Manufacturer refurbished, warrantied Dell Inspiron 3668 desktops for $569.99—28 percent off their $569.99 list price

Of course, desktops need a monitor to go with them, so check out these deals and say goodbye to squinting at small screens without breaking the bank:

Dell Ultrasharp 30” monitor from Ebay for $839.99—down from the $1,299.99 list price

Dell 23” Widescreen LED Monitor for $142.28—that’s 40 percent off the original price of $239.99

Laptops

If your own home office array is missing a laptop—or if it’s time to get a new one—Cyber Monday offers a bevy of choices.

Dell refurbished and warrantied Precision 15 laptop computer available for $1,449.99—a 19 percent markdown from $1,799

Brand new Zenbook 3 Deluxe Full HD notebooks for $1499.99—a $200 savings from their list price of $1,699

New 13” Apple MacBook Pro laptops with a one-year Apple warranty for $1299—a 22 percent discount from $1,399

Professionally refurbished, 90-day warrantied 11.6” MacBook Air laptops for $549.95—50 percent off the $1,099 list price

Smartphones

In less than a decade since the first iPhone dropped, smartphones have become the app-fueled heart of our work and social lives. While I spend more actual time working on my laptop or desktop, my smartphone is always by my side, allowing me to patch in to work issues and emails whenever they arise. But—if you’re like me and you’re not the kind of person who’s going to wait in line for the release of a new phone model—you might have neglected upgrading your trusty digital sidekick for some time. Since Cyber Monday means no lines AND big savings, there’s no time like now to move on up in the mobile world.

If iPhones are your thing, try:

Brand new, unlocked (not tied to a specific service provider) iPhone 8 Plus smartphones for $908—a $41 savings from $949

Manufacturer refurbished, unlocked iPhone 7’s for $399.99—$250 off the list price of $649.99

If you’re looking to go cell contract-free—WalMart has Straight Talk iPhone 6 prepaid phones for $129, a $270 markdown from $399.

And if you’d rather go Droid, check out:

Refurbished Samsung G925 Galaxy S6 64GB Verizon Wireless smartphones for $217.95, a 72 percent savings from their $800 list price

Samsung G920 Galaxy S6 32GB Verizon Wireless smartphones—a staggering 83 percent off of their original $800 price at $134.99

Tablets

There was a time when I didn’t “get” tablets. I had a desktop/laptop tandem to handle my sitdown computing needs, and I had a smartphone when I was on the go. Tablets seemed like a clunky in-between—neither computer nor smartphone—that didn’t fit into my home office world. Then my wife bought an iPad and I saw the light. Tablets do, in fact, bridge that gap between sitting down at a desk with a computer and typing with your thumbs on the bus while using a phone. With my wife’s iPad, I’m able to break for lunch, head to the pizza place down the street, and a have a beer and a slice while continuing to work, but without lugging a laptop or squinting at a smartphone.

Brand new, unlocked LG G Pad X 8-inch tablets for $129.99—a 48 percent markdown from $249,99

Refurbished, Verizon LG G Pad X models for $64.99

Brand new 10.5”, 256GB iPad Pros listed at $699.99 (down from $799)

Refurbished 9.7”, 32GB iPad Pros for $334.99,

Refurbished 9.7”, 16GB iPad 4’s for as low as $164.95—67 percent off the list price of $499.99

Home Office Audio

While the front-and-center workhorses of a home office—desktops, laptops, smartphones, and other peripherals you actively engage with—can take up a lot of your retail attention, your audio setup is an equally important part of remote work. If you’re listening to music or podcasts while working, or jumping into video meetings throughout the day, the quality of your audio environment plays a crucial part in your work life. Fortunately, deals abound this Cyber Monday season to amp up the fidelity and flexibility of your audio surroundings.

Bluetooth Speakers

Bluetooth speakers are a mainstay in my own home office setup—with sound quality that beats tinny, internal smartphone speakers.

Bose is offering factory-renewed Soundlink Mini Series I Bluetooth Speakers for $99.95 through Ebay—50 percent off their retail price of $199.95. (Bose factory renewed products come with the same warranty as new products, are sealed in Bose factory packaging, and are thoroughly inspected to meet strict performance standards.)

Limited amounts of refurbished Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 Bluetooth Speakers are also available from Ebay for $69.99—53 percent off their list price of $149.99.

If you’re looking to add a little visual flash to your portable audio—Amazon Prime is selling the UrPower Hi-Fi Wireless Speaker (with seven pulsating visual LED display modes that accompany your audio) for $19.99, down from its original price of $54.99.

Multimedia Speaker Systems

Still, as great—and essential—as portable audio is, speakers can’t replace the enveloping field of a dedicated audio system in your home office. The internal or default speakers that came with your desktop or laptop computer might make noise, but if you haven’t upgraded to external speakers, you’ll shed a tear when you hear the detail and nuances you’ve been missing out on.

WalMart is offering the Logitech Z313 Multimedia Speaker System for $24.99—$25 off its original price. The Logitech Z313 system consists of two speakers and a subwoofer (adding more dimension to your home office sound), is small enough to fit into any office configuration, and can connect to any device (desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) through its 3.5mm (headphone) jack.

Best Buy slashed the price of the LG 2.1 Channel Soundbar System from $279.99 to $119.99 (a $160 savings). The LG 2.1 is a stereo soundbar unit with a wireless subwoofer, bringing home theater stereo sound to your home office. The LG 2.1 can be connected to your devices via HDMI ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, and wirelessly.

Headphones

When you want—or need—to be the only person listening to your home office audio (or you want to block out external noise), Cyber Monday is bringing discounts to the in and over-ear audio sphere as well:

Brand new Bose Soundtrue Ultra in-ear headphones are available through Ebay for $79—a 39 percent markdown from $129

Manufacturer refurbished Sony WH-1000XM2/B Wireless Hi-Fi over-ear headphones are on Ebay for $299.99—a $150 savings from the original price of $449.99

Over at Amazon, Sennheiser HD1 over-ear headphones for iOS (Apple devices) can be scooped up for $249.95—$100 off of their original price of $349.95.

Printers and Scanners

We’re living in a digital world, and print is dead—except for those inevitable times when you need a hard copy of a form, a document, or a mailing label and you realize you don’t have a working printer anymore, because print is dead. Instead of slamming your head against your desk every time this happens—and then immediately forgetting to add a new printer to your shopping list— pull the trigger on this surprisingly necessary piece of office equipment.

Canon PIXMA MX922 All-in-One Inkjet Printers/Scanners with built-in WiFi capability are going for $99.99 at Ebay—50 percent off their everyday price of $199.99

Canon ImageClass Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer/Scanner/Copiers have been marked down 49 percent from their list price of $399.

from Web Developers World https://skillcrush.com/2017/11/27/best-cyber-monday-deals-home-office/

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Trains, Planes and Automobiles: your travel options during

New Post has been published on https://universeinform.com/2017/03/30/trains-planes-and-automobiles-your-travel-options-during/

Trains, Planes and Automobiles: your travel options during

Wintry weather Hurricane Stella is barrelling down at the Northeast, and maximum fundamental transit structures in the course of the vicinity are being floored to a halt.

The airways that perform out of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and Logan Airport in Boston are canceling arrivals and departures left and proper.

Amtrak also introduced changed schedules for teaching routes jogging between Washington and Boston, and people with reservations for teach journey are being advocated to reveal situations and take a look at their educate’s repute earlier than heading leaving domestic.

Amtrak introduced there may be no Acela Explicit carrier among New york Town and Boston, and there might be modified service among NY City and Washington.

also, the Northeast Regional service between Boston and Washington and other routes will function on a modified schedule with a few trains “truncated or canceled.”

The Growth and Development of the Automobile Industry – A Deeper Insight

The word “Automobile” has its origins in Greek and Latin and it has ended up an essential a part of each guy’s existence. It has grown to be so integral that on a median, someone spends a minimum 3 hours in his vehicle each day. The car changed into once thought of as a luxurious and simplest a pick out few could indulge in. Now, the times have changed and motors have come to be a means of transportation catering to the sizable majority.

The transformation from luxury to inevitability

Cars, in widespread, check with the humble car and the estimates advocate that there may be a vehicle for every eleven humans on this planet amounting as much as 590 million passenger motors. There are numerous variations of automobiles that cater to each cross phase of the population. There are variants that could set you back by means of multiple million dollars and different models that price you some thousand bucks.

The technological advances within the Vehicle quarter have been incredible inside the ultimate a hundred years. The century’s finest invention or development need to truly belong to the automobile industry. One of the earliest pioneers of the automobile enterprise become Ransom Olds from the Oldsmobile manufacturing unit. within the early 1900’s, he brought the Production Line idea, therefore churning out automobiles each little while. This concept became significantly revolutionized and applied by way of Henry Ford, who extended Automobile enterprise to the next level. Ford speedy grew within the first half of 20th century and slowly however regularly spread globally.automobile insurance quotes online

Growing alongside time

With the advancement of age, the automobile industry step by step grew in continental Europe and England. Japan introduced fine projects that further improved the enterprise. Toyota from Japan were the pioneers of Total first-rate Control and six Sigma, that have been the guiding standards of the car industry for the ultimate 50 years. Nowadays, Toyota is the world’s largest Vehicle organization consistent with current market estimates.

The global growth of the 1980’s was in large part due to the car revolution. Ford, standard Vehicles and Chrysler, the big 3 automobile giants of America, had a massive say on u. S . A .’s financial system. They determined the health of the financial system and the recent worldwide financial recession has affected them badly. This has made them approach the authorities for loans and advantages, which have been fulfilled by way of the authorities after setting appropriate clauses.

Creation of technology and innovations

The car has transcended from being a medium of transportation to a medium of amusement after the appearance of notable fast motors competing in opposition to every other. NASCAR and F1 races are huge crowd pullers each yr. People have made fortunes and drivers of those machines have made their call in records. The reality that Vehicle racing entails massive fees has made the racing enterprise reel in these uncertain financial instances. The sport has visible tragedies with the loss of life in sometimes. This has made room for strict safety regulations, which might be now mandatory for all the auto indicates.

The negative part

Even though man has made a massive soar ahead with vehicles, there may be a disadvantage to this technological surprise. The emissions from these machines have raised serious environmental concerns with requires greater beef vehicles. Car businesses have invested extremely in research and improvement of beef automobiles. Except for this unmarried downside, there is slightest of doubts to say that cars were the locate of the previous century.

What Travel Agents Should Keep in Mind When Choosing a DMC Partner

A DMC (Vacation spot Control Business enterprise) presents full-size nearby Vacation spot information and work because of the extension of your travel organization. Going by means of their process responsibilities, any DMC is accountable for presenting logistic services of their Destination starting from the meet and greet options, transfers, lodge accommodation, themed activities, convention venues, more than one eating alternatives etc. They want to be trusted at both creative and professional degrees.bing travel predictor

Automobile transport

At the quiet of the day, nobody, however, the DMCs can offer the nice preferential costs for travel change offerings. A professional DMC will update itself on the ultra-modern training, requirements, and practices within the DMC industry. Keeping and bringing excellence and ethical enterprise practices are what is critical to surviving on this aggressive tourism section. Other than the intangible qualifications, the subsequent quotients are necessary to choose before rating someone as a dependable DMC.

Relevant Revel in

It is important that your DMC have to be efficient in managing itinerary creation which serves as the key issue of staying organized and making it attractive to the primary-time tourists. Display your DMC whether they have got bought comparable excursions and activities you’re seeking out. Additionally,

Consciousness at the marketing and provider strengths to recognize the way to strategize the tour plans. It would not be any manner wise to associate with a DMC who isn’t always positive of the call for from their patron base. For a DMC, industry knowledge is vital for planning activities, tour, and meetings.

Economic Balance

Remote places commercial enterprise needs to be finished with a great deal care and caution. Every so often the condescending attitude of the international shoppers can be cleared via discussions like whether they have any records of running with comparable excursion operators or what are their Economic sources and credit worthiness.

Stable Partnerships

Sturdy, lengthy-standing partnerships with clients and retail tour marketers will make the holiday Enjoy smoother for the vacationers. This is all of the more essential for the Overseas partners to ensure cease-to-end, day tour service.

Contacts

One of the primary responsibilities for a Destination Control Business enterprise is to execute the tourism plans and for this, they want to be well related to meet the expectations of your clients and get you repeat enterprise. It’s, therefore, essential to recognize how many and what varieties of neighborhood provider vendors they’re linked to, whether It’s motels, floor transportation groups, interest vendors or maybe authorities bodies.

Ok resources

A Destination Management Organization is anticipated to deal with the whole factor of the social calendar of the patron. To get the maximum from your DMC, make sure to test what that particular DMC specializes in the expected range of services.

Check whether they are Vacation spot marketer

Nearby know-how and knowledge are the main promoting points of any DMC. However, what makes one DMC better than the other is how they installation their neighborhood knowledge on tourism strategies. A very good DMC should be capable of creating demand for his or her Destination which would be wrapped in innovative sports.

Teenagers Should Be Allowed to Work During School Holidays – What Is Your Opinion?

These days, it isn’t always outlandish to see many teens are operating element-time as promoters or income girls at some point of the faculty holidays. Dad and mom are inclined to allow their children to work component-time so that their kids will spend their faculty holidays nicely without losing any time on surfing the internet and playing laptop games. However

A few Mother and father do no longer allow their children to work component-time because they have the fallacy of thinking that their youngsters aren’t mature enough to work. In my opinion, I partly agree that teens need to be allowed to work at some point of the school holidays because of the motives that young adults can earn their very own pocket money, study adequate understanding from working and the teens’ teachers overall performance might be affected.

Faculty vacations are defined as a length for the students to relaxation and keep away from their school routines. While operating is referred to as physical or intellectual sports executed to fulfill the tasks and is rewarded in financial phrases.

One of the points I’m able to highlight is pocket money may be earned via young adults via running in the course of the college vacations. As an example, those who work as promoters in the shopping malls can earn RM5 an hour as their more profits. As a result, their Dad and mom’ burden can be decreased as teens do not want to invite for pocket money from their Mother and father for everyday prices.

Teenagers may even keep the cash they earn from running to shop for reference books and stationery that they need. Consequently, Dad and mom do not want to fear on the school charges as their youngsters are able to fork out on their own. young adults also can afford to buy matters that they long for inclusive of telephones, laptops, and shoes. In brief, young adults have to be allowed to paintings in the course of the college holidays because of the more profits they are able to get.how to use during