#but i still have HD access to all the dorms so

[tales-from-your-ra]

Update: three of my RAs can get in now!

[clowanda-blog]

Dear White People

For my TV show choice I decided to analyze Dear White People which was created by Justin Simien. It is a Netflix original show that premiered in 2017 and has had several more seasons since. It did stir up a lot of controversy because it makes a lot of statements regarding the current political and social climates. The show specifically follows a group of black students who attend an ivy league school. It is full of representation and calls out many difficulties that the young black students face and have previously faced in their lives. Below is the trailer for the first season of the show (Dear White People, 2014).

Dear White People uses comedy alongside the drama to bring light to a subject that can become very dark and daunting. It is easy to feel hopeless when racism is still very present and powerful in our everyday lives. That is why so many people became upset when the series premiered. A lot of white people felt criticized and even attacked. They felt as though the show generalized all white people as being awful and oblivious to racism. The show is brave in making such strong statements, so the reactions of people being angry about feeling “called out” is not surprising.

The creator uses TV as a platform to point out injustices and call out people for not seeing or understanding their privileges as white people. While following several marginalized students it allows the viewer to connect and learn from their stories and experiences. Dear White People helps outsiders to see and feel the every day struggles as well as systemic oppression that black people must deal with just because of their skin color. It also uses intersectionality because each character deals with other struggles outside of race issues. For example, other characters deal with poverty and coming to terms with their sexuality. Each person has a very different story and the show highlights the differences various identities create. This video, by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, explains this often misunderstood term while providing important historical and cultural context.

Dear White People creates an opening for a very important conversation. With racial tension at an all time high, younger generations are beginning to speak out and speak up. Using their platforms to try to share their experiences and work towards change. This is one of the first shows to really generate a conversation on the systemic racism that people of color face even in an ivy league college. The system has continuously worked against them and their race and ethnic groups created many more barriers they had to cross in order to be successful. The characters had to work hard to get in their places and yet they still experience racism on their campus and from people of high importance at the university. They are often told to speak quieter when they begin to call out others behavior. The university cares more about their image than of the livelihood of their students of color, going so far as to try to get rid of the blacks only dorm on campus and force them to assimilate among their other peers. People have turned a blind eye and tried to erase color. Mellody Hobson addresses the issues around the concept of being color blind in her Ted Talk (2014).

All of these issues are a reality and many people thanked the creator for putting this on the screens of millions of Netflix subscribers. These stories are so important in creating change in the real world. People can gain a different perspective that they may have never been exposed to. It uses an entertaining show to spread real awareness and education on what it is currently like to be a young black person in the United States. More and more young black Americans are using art to express their content with aspects of their lives. Another example is Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino and the release of his song titled, This Is America. I embedded this song in the playlist on my blog along with many others that speak to racial issues that people of color highlight with their lyrics.

Citations

#APeoplesJourney: African American Women and the Struggle for Equality. (2017, August 29). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/X5H80Nhmn20.

Dear White People Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Comedy HD. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMgWMzbM2Pk.

Glover, D. (2017). Childish Gambino. [online] Universal Music Publishing Group. Available at: http://www.umusicpub.com/us/Artists/C/Childish-Gambino.aspx [Accessed 16 Jul. 2017].

[princess--af]

EXO - Daddy!au

MINSEOK/XIUMIN: ‘Bend over Daddy’s knee, you need to be punished.’

Minseok was not happy.

He had given me that look just before we left the apartment to go have dinner with his work friends. The one that said he was not happy other people were getting to see me in the tight white dress I had just bought myself, apparently being much too tight and short for a casual dinner with friends.

And to make matters worse, we ended up at a traditional Thai restaurant, seated on cushions on the floor, making the dress ride up impossibly high on my thighs. Enough so that he had to drape his jacket across the lap to prevent wandering eyes (or hands) that were not his own.

The ride back home was silent, Minseok tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, not looking or speaking to me the entire way home, content on listening to the late night music they played on the radio.

The walk up to the door of the apartment was even more silent, Minseok stepping aside to let me in first, walking past me taking my shoes off in the doorway, headed straight for the bedroom. I followed him.

“Minnie, I’m sorry, I didn’t-” i started, sealing my lips shut when he held up  a hand.

“Bend over Daddy’s knee, you need to be punished.” Smoothing out his slacks, he waited for me to hesitantly climb onto his lap, jumping when his hands lifted the hem of my dress, rubbing gently along my pantie-clad bottom. “Do you know why you’re being punished?”

Whimpering softly, I tensed when he lifted one of his hands, only to relax when I saw he was tugging a cushion towards him, pushing it under my chest for support.

“Because I wore something inappropriate in front of… Daddy’s friends… And I embarrassed him.” Biting my lip, I buried my face in the blanket, gasping at the sharp pain that came from the first smack, wiggling in his lap a little to alleviate the pain.  

“Don’t move, little one,” Minseok’s free hand pressed down on my lower back, keeping me still against him. “Just 9 more, then I’ll let you go. Do you think you can handle just 9 more little smacks?

JUNMYEON/SUHO: ‘Let Daddy spoil you.’

Junmyeon had been waiting outside the University gates, ignoring the appreciative looks he was getting from the other students, only perking up when he saw me skipping towards him, reaching up on my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his already puckered lips.

“How was class?” Wrapping an arm around my waist, Jun led me away from the University, hand sneaking into the back pocket of my jeans, squeezing playfully.

I shrugged, tucking myself close to his side. “I got a HD on my Social Psychology exam, but that was as interesting as it got today.”

Jun grinned down at me, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “I’m proud of you, baby. We should celebrate then? I know you studied hard for that one.”

Humming softly, I leant my head on his shoulder, sighing when I saw where he was steering us.

“Junmyeon, I hardly think a little High Distinction warrants a Rodeo shopping trip.”

Junmyeon ignored my comment, walking us across the road, the crowds gradually thinning out from the usual University students, now only showcasing rich house wives and businessmen, spending their lunch break in the high end fashion street.

“I don’t need anything, Junny.” Digging my heels into the ground, I stopped us from walking any further, Junmyeon pouting down at me, both his arms wrapping around my waist. “Don’t try to pull aegyo on me! That’s not fair!”

“Please baby, I just want to treat you! We should celebrate even the small victories,” ducking down to tuck his face into my neck, he pressed soft kisses along my jaw, smirking against my neck when he felt me shiver in his hold. “Please… Let Daddy spoil you..”

Blushing, I glanced around, making sure no one heard him, pushing him away from my neck, grabbing his hand instead.

“Fine, then I want a new handbag and matching shoes for your friends party next week…”

Jun raised a brow, smiling down at me. “Is that all?”

Humming softly, a little smile came to my face. “Maybe some new lingerie? But I want to surprise you with it… So no peeking!”

YIXING/LAY: ‘Did you wear that just for Daddy?’

Stretching out along the length of Yixing’s plush couch, I let out a soft moan, the joints in my back popping satisfyingly. I had been hunched over the coffee table for the better part of the afternoon, flicking back and forth between textbooks and my notebook, attempting to finish the perfect essay a week before it was due. Usually everything would be left until a few days before, but Yixing had promised to take a week off work to spend time with me, and the temptation of a week of sex and good food and cuddling on the couch without any pesky work interruptions was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

“Well this is a lovely sight to come home too…”

Grinning, I rolled onto my front, arching my back and stretching out like a cat, giving Yixing a good view of my backside as he dropped his work things near the front door. I listened to the soft shuffling of his socks against the timber flooring, blinking innocently at him when he crouched next to me, one of his hands running appreciatively down my bare thigh.

“Have you finished your work?” Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to my forehead, lightly stroking the back of my thigh.

“Almost. Just a few more paragraphs, then can you edit it for me?” Lifting myself onto my knees, Yixing sat beside me, leaning his side against the arm rest, allowing me to rest my head on a pillow on his lap.

“Of course. You can be quite the diligent student when you have the right incentive,” he teased, carding one of his hands through my hair, scratching lightly at the base of my neck, the other hand resuming to stroke my thigh. Humming softly in agreement, I nuzzled my face into his stomach, practically purring when his hand disappeared under the oversized hoodie I had thrown on. “This certainly isn’t your typical lazy day outfit… Did you wear this just for Daddy?”

Fingering lightly at the lace bodysuit I had put on this morning, Yixing’s hand at the base of my neck tightened slightly; not enough to physically keep me lying down, but firmly letting me know I wasn’t allowed to move until he told me to.

“I think you’re allowed a reward for working hard today,” Yixing hummed, running the tip of his index finger gently over my heat, a little smirk gracing his lips when I tried to subtly spread my legs to allow him better access. “Lie down properly for me, princess. Daddy wants to devour that pretty pussy of yours.”

BAEKHYUN: ‘Only Daddy is allowed to touch you here.’

“You understand why I don’t like you hanging out with him, right?” Baekhyun gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, but his hand on my thigh still stayed the same; warm, comforting, rubbing soothingly.

Sinking into the plush leather seats a little more, I nodded, distracting myself from the conversation by fiddling with the cuff links on his shirt.

“And you know what he tried to do was wrong?” Slowing the car down at the red light, he glanced over at me, tutting quietly when he saw my eyes well up. “I’m not upset with you, babygirl, so please don’t think that. I just don’t like the idea of anyone trying to hurt my precious baby.”

“I know,” I pouted, blinking quickly to keep away the tears. “Can we cuddle when we get home? I don’t really want to talk about it anymore.”

Raising a brow, he simply nodded, squeezing my thigh gently as he continued the trek home, humming softly along to the music playing on the radio, knowing his singing always helped me calm down.

Pulling into the driveway, he parked just outside the dorms doors, hurrying out of the driver's seat and around to my side, helping me up out of the low car, locking it behind him as he helped me hobble my way across the gravel driveway in my heels, shivering until he closed the front door behind us, trapping us in the heated walkway.

“Never wearing these shoes again,” I huffed, bracing myself against the wall and lifting one foot up, frozen fingers trying to undo the buckles on the offending shoes.

“One more thing baby girl,” Baekhyun hummed softly, stopping me from my mission of trying to undo the buckle on my heels, his body pressing me against one of the walls, his slim frame towering over me. I shivered at the feeling of his hand gliding up my bare thigh, the feeling a much more pleasant and welcomed one, compared to earlier. Running lightly over the scrap of lace that covered my behind, before changing direction to cup the front of me, fingers deftly removed the offending material so one finger could sink into my wet heat, a loud gasp leaving my mouth. “Only Daddy is allowed to touch you here, okay baby girl?”

Nodding numbly, I attempted to grind down onto his hand, which was pulled away from my core, his finger tapping against my mouth impatiently. “Daddy has to mark his baby girl up, so no one will ever try to touch her again..”

JONGDAE/CHEN: ‘Daddy’s so proud of you, beautiful.’

Bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet, hands clenched tightly in the pockets of my coat, I tried to avoid making eye contact with the cashier before I actually had to, knowing it would cause an even bigger anxiety flare up than what I was already experiencing.

Jongdae had insisted on meeting for lunch at his favourite cafe off campus, and had texted through his order, as he was late getting out of his class and didn’t want to make me wait any longer. Which meant I had to order for the both of us, in an unfamiliar cafe, that was thankfully not too full. What’s the worst that could happen.

“Hi, what can I get for you?” The chirpy cashier smiled sweetly at me, tilting her head like a confused puppy when she saw the wide eyed look I was giving her.

“Uh, the wagyu beef burger with an iced coffee, and…” I paused, glaring up at the menu along the wall. “The fritters… With a… Strawberry milkshake?”

“Is that a question, or is that a definite on the milkshake?” She teased playfully, fingers already tapping along the screen to put the order through.

“Ah yes, please, I want the milkshake,” Blushing, I handed over my card, staring down at my freshly manicured nails. Jongdae’s mentality was if I had pretty nails, it would stop me from anxiously picking at them and causing myself harm.

“Alright, go sit and your food should be out shortly,” Smiling sweetly once more, she handed the card and a number back to me. Breathing out a sigh of relief, I bowed my head at her in thanks, scurrying off to the back corner of the cafe where I had set down my things before ordering, only to see someone sitting opposite the chair containing my backpack.

“How long have you been here?” Dropping my purse into my backpack, I raised a brow at my boyfriend sat across from me, his cheeky kitten smile ever present on his face.

“Long enough to see you did well at ordering our food,” he shrugged, reaching across the table to take a hold of my hand, lacing our fingers together and squeezing gently. “Daddy’s so proud of you, beautiful.”

Shaking in my seat lightly with giddiness, I couldn’t stop the smile that broke out on my face, hiding it behind my sweater paw, squeezing his hand back.

“Now tell me about your day. Surely something amazing must’ve happened for you to be this brave.”

CHANYEOL: ‘Daddy bought you some new clothes today. Why don’t you try them on?’

Sighing softly as I toed off my sneakers at the front door, I listened for any excessive noise that would indicate if Chanyeol had invited his friends over after finishing work. The only sound that greeted me was the gentle murmuring of the TV.

“Baby, is that you?” I heard Chanyeol call from the back of the apartment, indicating he had probably only just beaten me home. Shuffling down the hall, pushing open the partially closed door to our bedroom, I leant against the door frame, watching my boyfriend wander around with just a towel slung over his hips, back still wet from the shower. “How was work?”

“Tiring.” Pushing myself away from the door, I started to strip out of my own clothes, wrinkling my nose at the smell of paint that had probably permanently seeped into my work clothes. “Apparently 7 year olds don’t enjoy being told to do their math work, and think painting the teacher is much more fun.”

Chanyeol paused his search for his favourite comfy sweats, turning his head to pout at me. “You should’ve texted me, and I would’ve waited to shower with you…” Dropping the towel, he stepped into a pair of boxers, pulling the sweats on, sitting on the edge of the bed and gesturing me forward. Holding both my hands in his, he tugged me onto his lap, large hands gently holding my bare waist to keep me secure. “How about I run you a bath. I’ll wash your hair for you, get you all nice and clean. Daddy bought you some new clothes today, so why don’t you try them on and give me a little fashion show after your bath, hmm?”

Hooking my chin over his shoulder, my eyes scanned over the bags lined up neatly against the wall, Gucci, Agent Provocateur and Chanel bags glittering prettily in the late afternoon sun.

Wiggling happily in his lap, I pressed a kiss to his jaw, letting out a content sigh when his hands slowly started stroking up and down my back, unclipping my bra to have complete free access. “You’re the best.”

“My girl only deserves the best,” Chanyeol hummed, littering kisses across one of my shoulders, hands pressing me firmly against him. “Come on, we need to get you in the bath before any of this continues…”

I pulled back, pouting, beginning the slow roll of my hips across his slow hardening cock. “But Daddy… I need to show you how grateful I am for all of the gifts and the pampering…”

KYUNGSOO/D.O: ‘You better behave tonight, babygirl.’

Kyungsoo hated frat parties. I knew this. His house knew this. But no one ever listened to his objections when he tried to weasel his way out of yet another party his house was throwing.

“There’s no reason to be throwing one,” he would try to say, scowling at his house brothers in an effort to scare them away from even thinking of having another party. But they never listened, simply cooing at their small and scary brother, and proceeding to plan another chaotic party.

“I’m not going,” Kyungsoo had showed up at my dorm room 2 hours before the party, clad in black skinny jeans, a black tee and his favourite charcoal jacket thrown over the top. Typical party wear. Black so he could blend into the shadows and not be forced into any of the stupid drinking games his brothers loved so much. “Why are you wearing that?”

“... Nini invited me…” Zipping up the fly of my black skinny jeans, I turned back to my mirror, adjusting my outfit slightly. “We don’t have to stay the whole time. But you knew what you signed up for when you pledged, and you knew you would be made to go when you accepted Treasurer.. We can leave half way through and go to that pizza place you like?” Kyungsoo stayed silent, glaring at my back. “Do you want me to change my top?”

He looked away, a light blush crossing his cheeks. “No, it’s fine. I can’t believe they invited you even when I told them no. It’s basically blackmailing me..” Rolling my eyes, I slipped into my favourite black boots, throwing on a dark bomber jacket to keep my shoulders warm on the walk over. “We’re matching.”

“Of course, I can’t let my grumpy bum Daddy be all dark and brooding by himself,” I teased, sliding my hands along his abdomen and linking them together at the base of his back, nuzzling my face into his neck. He tsked softly, one hand slipping into my back pocket, the other cupping the back of my neck, squeezing lightly until I lifted my face to look at him. Raising a brow slightly, his eyes flicked down to my lips, a little smirk appearing when he saw me raise myself onto tiptoe.

“You better behave tonight, babygirl,” Kyungsoo hummed, barely brushing his lips over mine, instead moving down to suck gently at the sensitive skin under my jaw. “No flirting with my brothers, only 2 drinks, and when I say we’re leaving, I don’t want any arguments from you. Is that clear?”

Fisting the bottom of his shirt between my hands, I nodded, whining low in my throat until he planted a gentle kiss on my lips. “I promise I’ll be good.”

JONGIN/KAI: ‘My precious babygirl. I love you.’

Breathing deeply through my nose, I fisted the blanket Jongin had thrown over me; the soft pink one he had brought back from his recent trip to Japan with little corgis printed along the bottom.

“Are you with me, baby?” Squeezing my eyes shut, I burrowed my nose into the blanket, whimpering when I could smell Jongin’s cologne in the fabric. He always draped it over himself when he was working from home and got cold.

“Daddy,” I whined softly, blinking quickly when he pulled the blanket back from my face, the lights in our bedroom dimmed so they didn’t irritate my eyes.

“Sit up for me, baby.” Tucking his hands under my arms, he lifted me sideways onto his lap, one arm wrapped securely around my waist to prevent me from toppling over, the other holding a bottle of water up for me. “Drink some for me, please.” Huffing, I dropped my head onto his shoulder, hands wrapping loosely around his hand that was holding the water, sipping slowly from the straw. “You did so well for me, baby. Daddy is very very proud of you. You took your punishment like a good girl.”

Pushing his hand away, I snuggled my face into the crook of his neck, pressing a wet kiss to his heated skin to let him know I was still listening.

“Do you want to have a shower with Daddy?” I tapped twice on his chest; yes.

“Does your bottom hurt a bit?” Two tentative taps. “Alright, I’ll rub some cream on it after the shower. Can you speak to Daddy? I need to know you’re ok, and you’re not angry with me for punishing you.”

Whining,I pulled back from my warm spot, pouting up at him. “Could never be angry with you…”

Jongin smiled almost bashfully down at me, plush lips pressing against my forehead in a silent thank you. “You know I love you, right?” I nodded, letting him move my body around so I was comfortably straddling his lap, my hands resting comfortably on his warm chest. “My precious babygirl… I love you… So damn much.”

Wiggling happily on his lap, I surged forward to peck his lips, hands trailing up to rest on his shoulders for leverage. “I love you too, Daddy… Even if you beat my ass black and blue…”

Scoffing softly, he wrapped his arms around my waist, throwing me onto my back and crawling over my giggling body. “It’s only a light purple right now, but I can change that if you keep being cheeky!”

SEHUN: ‘You look so pretty sucking Daddy’s cock.’

Shifting slightly, I attempted to make myself more comfortable, hands splayed on top of Sehun’s thighs for support, leaning heavily on them instead of on my knees, hoping to relieve some of the pain. Sehun had put a pillow down there before we had started, but there was only so much it could do against the hardwood timber flooring of his apartment.

“You’re doing so well, baby,” Sehun hummed softly, slender fingers tangling into my hair, scratching lightly at the base of my neck. “Daddy’s so proud of you…”

Humming softly around his cock, I sunk down a little more, determined to show Sehun I could be good and I was deserving of his praise.

Sehun let out a shaky breath, the only indicator, apart from the slightly tightened grip on my hair, that he was affected by what I was doing. He was always so composed. “Fuck… Are you trying to make me cum?”

Blinking up at him innocently, I hollowed my cheeks, my tongue trailing along the underside of his cock, flicking at the head, eyes crinkled up in glee when he threw his head back, letting out a loud groan.

“Shit, when did you get so good at this?” Glaring down at me, he cupped the back of my neck, my only warning that he was about to fuck my mouth. “Open your mouth, baby. If you’re not going to play nice, than neither am I.”

Gripping his thighs tighter, I took a deep breathe through my nose, screwing my eyes shut at the first tentative thrust; testing the waters to see if I was okay. Shuffling closer to Sehun on my knees, I glanced up at him, relaxing my throat and nodding at him the best I could with a mouth stuffed full.

His hips start to roll upwards smoothly, one of his hands still gripping the back of my neck to keep me from pulling away, the other smoothing down my cheek, his thumb running along the sides of my stretched lips.

“You look so pretty sucking Daddy’s cock,” Sehun hummed, smirking when he saw me rub my thighs together, whimpering and trying to sink down further to hide the blush on my cheeks. “You were just made for this, baby.” Squeezing the back of my neck, he guided me off, chuckling when I pouted up at him, my hands sliding further up his thighs, thumbs rubbing lightly at the base of his cock. “Do you want to keep going?”

Biting my lip, I nodded, lifting myself up slightly to peck his lips. “Yes please, Daddy.”

[biofunmy]

What you need to know about buying a new TV

CLOSE

The Super Bowl is a time when lots of people buy TVs. (Photo: Reviewed.com)

The run-up to Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about football. For many of us, the days leading up to Kansas City Chiefs versus San Francisco 49ers (and those freshly minted commercials) is about finally buying that brand-new television you’ve been putting off. 

Along with Black Friday and the holidays, the Super Bowl is one of the most popular times for doing just that, and all things being equal you will likely get both a very good TV at a very good price. 

TV prices are generally low year-round, in fact, and beyond the big game, you’ll appreciate being able to binge on all the new streaming content coming your way.

As you shop around, you’ll see discounts from some obscure brands, but bargains can also be found among the manufacturers you’re most familiar with.

Either way, the basics of TV buying largely boil down to factors that have always been critical: budget, picture quality, and screen size, as well as lesser considerations, such as their built-in apps or whether you can control the TV with your voice.

Some of you will also want to pay attention to the aesthetics: TVs with narrow borders or bezels, or that do a good job of hiding cables and that lay flat against the wall. 

Let’s start with what is probably the most common question:

How big a screen do I need?

The answer ties directly to the dimensions of the room you’ll be putting the TV in and its purpose. Will the TV be anchoring your home theater, or is it a spare headed for a bedroom or dorm room? 

What kind of space constraints do you have in that room? That is, must the TV fit into an entertainment center or other pieces of furniture, or do you have an entire wall at your disposal?

Assuming money and space are no object, go as big as you can, 55 inches as a minimum, though you’ll end up thanking us if you choose 65 inches or higher.

For a rough idea, Samsung recommends investing in a screen size that is half of your viewing distance (in inches). In other words, a 60-inch TV if you sit about 10 feet from the screen.

If you do have to fit a TV into a tight cabinet, remember that in measuring dimensions you’ll need an inch or two on both sides of the TV to comfortably access HDMI ports and other connectors.

You can hunt for deals online at all the usual places. Best Buy, for instance, is advertising a 65-inch Hisense smart 4K UHD TV with HDR for about $400, or $100 off its regular price. A 65-inch TCL Roku TV 4K UHD HDR TV is going for about $450 at Target. If you need to go cheaper, you can find a 50-inch Samsung 4K TV on Amazon for $295.

TV for Super Bowl: Is 4K the way to go?

You bet. 4K TVs, sometimes expressed as 4K Ultra High Definition or Ultra HD, are by now mainstream, especially TVs with screen sizes of 50-inches or above. 4K has four times (3840 x 2160) the resolution or picture sharpness of full high definition (1080p) or Full HD TVs. 

That higher resolution makes it possible, for example, to sit closer to a 4K TV than an HDTV. If you plan to play 4K games or watch 4K videos on Netflix, Amazon, Apple, or via your TV provider, or on a 4K Blu-ray, that might be a consideration.

Ring doorbell and privacy: Amazon’s Ring security shares your personal data with Facebook and Google, report says

The truth is, HD screens still look perfectly fine to most consumers, and the sharpness and clarity that you’ll notice on a larger 4K TV are far less visible on smaller screen TVs meaning you can save money if you don’t need a ginormous TV. But HDTVs have all but disappeared among larger size TVs.

Can I watch the Super Bowl in 4K?

“It’s not a myth. The added detail in the 4K picture can’t really be appreciated on a small screen,” says “The TV Answer Man!” Phillip Swann, who publishes the website The TV Answer Man! .

Moreover, even now there’s not a whole lot of 4K content to watch from the broadcast networks, though you do have a few more choices coming at you from streaming services. And Fox Sports will be broadcasting the Super Bowl for the first time in 4K UHD, though you’ll need a compatible Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming TV or device to experience it.

4K is certainly the way to go at least for those larger screens, and it can’t hurt even on a smaller display, especially since you’re no longer breaking the bank to own one. And you can count on 4K content continuing to increase.

But should I get 8K?

LG, Samsung, Sony and other TV makers were showing off handsome 8K models at the recent CES trade show in Las Vegas, but you can safely avoid this next-generation format for now, which promises four times the number of pixels of 4K. If you think there isn’t an abundance of 4K fare to watch, 8K is comparatively non-existent, save for a few thousand videos on YouTube and Vimeo. 

And while a few 8K models are currently out on the market – Samsung has even dropped the price on a 65-inch Class Q900 8K Smart TV to around $3,000 – most of you shouldn’t even entertain buying an 8K TV for at least another year of two, if then.

“I don’t think 8K is in the `good deals’ territory at this point,” says Myra Moore, president of Digital Tech Consulting in Dallas. “Many 4K UHD sets are a really good value and offer most of the latest features (including HDR) that people can really appreciate. For football and any other fast action, having a set with the fastest-available refresh rate is one box you want to check off.”

During CES, even Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida admitted that “for average users, if you have, say, a 50-inch or 65-inch TV, it’s quite difficult to find the difference between 4K and 8K.”

Am I really getting a bargain?

That’s difficult to say, since the quality of the TV you’re buying and the price you pay can vary so much and depends on all the aforementioned features. As a rule of thumb, the old cliché about getting what you pay for applies. Pay attention to what customers and reviewers have to say. 

Swann advises folks buying a TV larger than 40 inches to stick to the “tried-and-true TV manufacturers (that) have devoted years developing a reputation for reliability and quality and, consequently, are more likely to invest the extra time and money to ensure that the set is top-shelf.” But he adds that a lesser-known brand can manufacture a very good TV as well, and many do. 

Email: ebaig@usatoday.com; Follow @edbaig on Twitter

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/01/30/watching-super-bowl-tv-deals/4611906002/

Sahred From Source link Technology

from WordPress http://bit.ly/37IOaBW via IFTTT

[soukacatv]

For better or worse, the democratization of recording equipment has put home recording, production, and distribution within the reach of anyone with a computer. But how did we get here?

“What microphone should I buy?” “What monitors are best?” As something of a “gear head,” these are the kids of questions I hear all the time—as if there was a simple, perfectly packaged answer I could pull out of my back pocket.

For better or worse, the democratization of recording equipment has put home recording, production, and distribution within the reach of anyone with a computer. A vibrant gear market has sprung up to pry hard-fought bitcoins from home recordists, selling them promises of recreating that quintessential vintage sound in their basement. But how did we get here?

HDMI Encoder Modulator,16in1 Digital Headend,HD RF Modulator at Soukacatv.com

Analog is the way of the natural world: infinite detail, infinite resolution. Tape is one medium that represents analog audio information; vinyl records are another example. When something is converted from analog to digital, that infinite detail is distilled into a finite number of values, so when you digitize analog sounds, you naturally lose some information. The idea is that the detail lost is so minor you wouldn’t be able to notice the difference, but of course, some nerd is bound to claim that you absolutely can. Audiophiles can range from boring—”Vinyl sounds better than CDs, and MP3s sound terrible!”—to puzzling—”These power chords sound more transparent.” Whatever, dudes.

24 In 1 Analog Fixed Channel Modulator Headend

Single Channel Modulator For Hotel Cable System

Anyway, digital audio is a cornerstone of the broader computer revolution that has been going on since the 1950s. This whole home recording thing got really serious (assuming you don’t think 4-track was serious) when computers and analog-to-digital conversion got good enough and cheap enough to be useful to the layman. Little did you know that the Garageband application included with the Macbook your daddy bought you before he dropped you off at your college dorm is built on a rig lightyears more more advanced than the multi-tracking tape setup Les Paul pioneered in the 1950s. Tape used to be what you recorded audio to, but tape is dead now. Digital is just too convenient and inexpensive. Maintaining and calibrating a tape machine is no longer necessary. So all hail the digital revolution; we lost a bit, but we—the masses—gained a lot.

16 IN 1 Digital Modulator Headend System

Dual HD Input Modulator With ISDB-T And DVB-T Modulation

People get hung up on tubes a lot. Tubes are often associated with good sound, but what the hell even are they?

Tubes were our first means of amplifying and modulating signals. Vacuum tubes consist of a super hot metal plate that sends electrons whizzing off of it towards a receiver plate. Decades ago, lab rats in white coats and horn-rimmed glasses (not ironic) figured out that they could put a screen in between those plates and control how many of those boiled electrons got to the receiver. The tube amp sound that people flip over is due to two things: the first is the geeks in the lab coats—they were professionals who did good design for other professionals in the music production and broadcast world. Secondly, most of us—depending on how old we are—find tube sound comforting because many of the records we grew up listening to were recorded using tubes. While you were bopping along in your car seat in the back of your mom’s Pontiac Sunbird listening to Linda Ronstadt as a child, your mental circuitry was getting wired to tubes.

Then there’s solid state, which gets a bad rap. Solid state uses the same principle as tubes: a transmitter, a receiver, and a modulator, but what makes it different is that it employs doped semiconductors. Usually, silicon is the base material and then some other element like Boron is added to give a certain area a different electrical property. It is actually pretty interesting to sit through a Solid State Physics class, not because it’s so cool to say, “I’m a science nerd” these days, but because this shit has changed the world.

Anyway, what’s everyone’s problem with solid state? It’s mostly bad design and early technological limitations. Solid state gear was cheap to manufacture, and as a result, it became what was (and still is) in the hands of the masses. Most early solid state gear that flooded the market was designed to be consumer-grade (lower quality) and used chips that weren’t designed for audio. The resulting sound was harsh. Add that to the fact that our brains were hardwired for the tube sound and solid state was doomed to be second rate. It’s unfortunate because, with the right design and the right parts, you can get great audio from solid state.

These days, tubes and solid state stand side-by-side. As with the move from analog to digital, the trend is towards more power in the hands of more people at lower cost, which might also mean slightly lower quality.

Gear Collectors vs. Musicians

Gear fetishization is a problem. Many “musicians” are really gear collectors posing as musicians to legitimize their over-consumption of bullshit. Buying shit feels good. I’ve fallen victim to this myself, and notice peers who do the same. Some of the worst of these displays are vintage gear hoarders, who acquire the right gear to recreate some old Rolling Stones sound or some Beatles record. How is this a worthwhile use of time and bitcoins? These great records of the past have been done to magnificent effect by truly excellent musicians, and there’s no chance that these gear collectors are going to come home from their 9-to-5 job and make Sticky Fingers Part 2 in their free time. This beautiful dream moves product and protects the investment price of the real gear collectors, who sell their wares to (mostly baby boomer) salarymen nursing their rock and roll dreams. You’re either a gear collector or a musician; I suggest you pick one and get on with it.

We’re heading into a brave new world where more and more people have the means to create and distribute music. This is a wonderful development and reminds me of the infinite monkey theorem: maybe if you give infinite musicians with infinite Garagebands an infinite amount of time, they’ll eventually record something cool. Or maybe they’ll put out another chillwave bedroom pop project. Only time will tell.

Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com main products are modulators both in analog and digital ones, amplifier and combiner. We are the very first one in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world.For more, please access to https://www.soukacatv.com

Source: noisey.vice

From Analog to Digital: A (Very, Very Simplified) History of Audio | Soukacatv.com For better or worse, the democratization of recording equipment has put home recording, production, and distribution within the reach of anyone with a computer.

[andylocksmithtipsntricks]

Find the Best Self-Monitored Security System

Easiest to Use

Abode Iota

Read Review

Easy setup

Live video streaming

Easy setup

Live video streaming

Check Price on Amazon

Read Review

Covers the Most Area

Ring Alarm

Read Review

Better for bigger spaces

Compatible with Ring doorbells

Better for bigger spaces

Compatible with Ring doorbells

Check Price on Ring

Read Review

Cheapest Option

Canary View

Read Review

Under $100

Compatible with Amazon Alexa

Under $100

Compatible with Amazon Alexa

Check Price on Amazon

Read Review

Self-monitored home security gives you the power to control your home security system��and your budget. Self-monitored home security is right for you if these statements sound familiar.

I don’t want to pay a monthly fee for home security.

I don’t want to be stuck in a contract.

I don’t need 24/7 professional monitoring.

I like DIY projects.

I’m willing to check in on my security system regularly.

I’m ready to call for help if something happens.

Thanks to mobile apps, live video feeds, and two-way communication, it’s easier than ever to have effective DIY home security without professional monitoring. If you’re looking for the right self-monitored security system for your home, check out our top recommendations.

And because you’ll be on your own, we’ve also put together the pros and cons of self-monitoring and answered common questions to help you make the best choice to protect your home and family.

Here Are the Best Self-Monitored Home Security Systems

Abode Iota: Easiest to Use

Ring Alarm: Covers the Most Area

Canary View: Cheapest Option

Compare: Self-Monitored Home Security Systems

Price Motion Detection Security Camera Live Video Feed Optional Professional Monitoring Fee Learn More

Abode Iota Ring Alarm Canary View $229 $199 $99 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Add-on ✓ Free Free with a Ring video doorbell or camera Free Starts at $10/mo. Starts at $10/mo. Not available Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Ring Check Price on Amazon

{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Table", "about": "" }

Data effective 6/13/2019. Offers and availability subject to change.

Our Top Picks for Self-Monitored Home Security

Abode Iota: Easiest to Use

Check Price on Amazon

What’s in the Box

Iota all-in-one device (camera, motion sensor, siren)

Mini door/window sensor (1)

Key fob (1)

If you have a smaller space that you want to protect, we think Abode Iota is a great match. The Iota all-in-one device includes an HD security camera that provides a wide-angle view of any room. And the video image is clear and crisp—even in night vision.

For an apartment, dorm, or living situation with roommates, Iota provides home security that’s easy to set up and manage. Our tester found the setup so simple that it was ready to go before they even realized they’d done everything.

Iota is also a good option for parents who want to keep an eye on baby during naptime or monitor the first time you leave a babysitter in charge.

We like how streamlined the all-in-one device is and the addition of a door and window sensor. That way you get the protection of the camera and siren, but you can also monitor another part of the house, like the front door. This mini sensor is also perfect to add extra protection to things like the medicine or liquor cabinet.

The main drawback to the Iota is its limited coverage. You can monitor only what’s happening in the room where the Iota is located. If you have multiple floors or want to watch the living room and the kitchen, you’ll need to get more than one device, and that will up your out-of-pocket costs.

Read our full Abode review.

Pros

Easy setup

Live video streaming

Ability to add more sensors

Smart home compatibility

Cons

No phone support available

More expensive price tag

Ring Alarm: Covers the Most Area

Check Price on Ring

What’s in the Box

Ring base station

Keypad

Contact sensor (1)

Motion detector (1)

Range extender (1)

Ring Alarm is closer to a traditional home security system than any other self-monitored system that we recommend. Its multiple components are designed to cover more than one room, which makes it a better fit for a larger apartment or home.

You get an entry sensor and a motion detector with the Ring Alarm five-piece starter kit, so straight out of the box you have more options to cover your home. And the included range extender means you don’t need to set up your security system right next to your Wi-Fi router.

Even though Ring is known for its video doorbells, the Ring Alarm system doesn’t come with a security camera. If you want the extra protection of a security camera, you have to buy one separately—and that significantly increases how much you’re spending. Ring video doorbells start around $100 and go up to $499 depending on how many features you want. And Ring security cameras range from about $150 to $230.

The good news is that you can integrate the Ring Alarm system with Ring cameras and doorbells in the Ring app. If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, you can put together a pretty sophisticated self-monitored security system with Ring. And if you add a video doorbell, you’ll have protection both inside your home and outdoors—that’s a rarity for self-monitored security.

Read our full Ring security system review.

Preventing Breaches

Several Ring users have reported breaches in their accounts that allowed a stranger to use the two-way communication to intimidate them. Ring said in a statement to SafeWise that the breaches can be avoided with best security practices for internet-connected devices: use strong, unique passwords, reset passwords regularly, add authorized users instead of sharing credentials, and use two-factor authentication.

We still recommend Ring products but encourage users to take these precautions.

Pros

Less expensive

Better suited to larger homes

Compatible with other Ring products

Customizable through Ring's mobile app

Cons

No camera included

Canary View: Cheapest Option

Check Price on Amazon

What’s in the Box

Canary View 1080p HD security camera

Power adapter

Canary was one of the first all-in-one home security options for people who don’t want a full-blown, professionally monitored security system. We like the Canary View for its no-frills simplicity. It’s a perfect security solution for a college dorm or a roommate setup.

If you want the simplest self-monitored security system on the market, this is it. There’s only one unit to set up, and the built-in Wi-Fi antenna makes setup a two-step process. All you have to do is turn it on and connect to your home Wi-Fi network.

The Canary View hits a lot of the same marks as the Abode Iota, but it’s even more restrictive in the space it can monitor. There aren’t any window or door sensors, which means the only equipment securing your home or room is the camera.

For all its simplicity, there are still a lot of features packed into this all-in-one security device. You can use two-way communication to chat with the kids after school or check in with the babysitter. But the best security feature is one-touch emergency access. The Canary app is designed to connect you with emergency services like your local police department with one touch.

Read our full Canary security system review.

Pros

Easy to set up

Equipped with one-touch connection to emergency services

Compatible with Amazon Alexa

Full of features like two-way talk and facial recognition

Cons

No siren

No additional sensors

The Pros and Cons of Self-Monitored Home Security

One of the biggest benefits of self-monitored home security is control: from sensors to sales, you’re in control of your security system. But the biggest downfall of self-monitored home security is flying solo in a stressful situation.

If you’re debating whether or not self-monitored home security is the right choice for your home and family, here’s a closer look at what you’re in for.

  Pros of Self-Monitored Home Security

No Monthly Fees

Monitoring your system yourself means you’re not paying someone else to do it. You don’t have to worry about paying any monthly monitoring fees to your security company.

No Middleman

If a professionally monitored system sounds an alarm, it sends an alert to the monitoring center. The monitoring center calls you to find out if you need help or if you can resolve the alarm on your own. But with a self-monitored system, you cut out the middleman. Your sensors alert you to alarms directly, and you’re able to handle them without the added hassle of dealing with someone from the alarm company call center.

No False Alarm Penalties

If a monitoring center dispatches police or fire crews to your house and it’s a false alarm, you could get hit with a fine. With a self-monitored system, first responders will show up at your home only if you call them, so there’s a lower risk of false alarms.

Easy Portability

With a self-monitored system, there’s no need to call the alarm company to switch your billing address or change contact information. Because many self-monitored systems are self-installed, they’re also easy to uninstall and take with you to your new home.

Flexible Configuration

As your circumstances change, you may decide your current security system isn’t working for you. With self-monitored home security, it’s simple to upgrade your system or even change alarm systems altogether.

Cons of Self-Monitored Home Security

No Backup

If you’re the only one monitoring your home and you’re not available—you lose cellular service or you’re asleep—you and your home may be at risk. But a professionally monitored system calls for help even when you can’t.

Limited Connection

As much as we love our smartphones, they’re not always reliable. There are still “dead zones,” software crashes, and battery failures, any of which could cut your connection to your security system. Certain places also limit your access to your cellphone—like airplanes and courthouses—leaving your home vulnerable.

No False Alarm Assistance

With a professionally monitored system, an unresolved alarm results in a phone call from someone who can help you figure out what’s wrong and fix it right away. If your self-monitored system has a false alarm, you may not know how to fix it. If you call a product helpline for assistance, you could be on hold while your system continues to go off.

No Quality Control

Many professionally monitored systems come with professional installation by technicians who ensure that devices are installed correctly so that your home is fully protected. If you accidentally install your self-monitored DIY system incorrectly—like putting a motion sensor upside down so it’s monitoring your living room ceiling rather than your living room—you run the risk of leaving your home unprotected.

No Fail-Safe Option

Most professionally monitored systems come equipped with a special fail-safe code. It enables you to turn off the alarm’s siren but still send a distress signal to the monitoring service for help. This is called a duress signal and it’s there in case an armed intruder forces you to disarm your security system. The duress signal lets you call for help safely without tipping off the intruder. Self-monitored systems don’t have this feature.

Added Stress

If you’ve ever been in an emergency situation, you know how much it helps to have someone with a level head calling the shots. With a professionally monitored system, once your alarm goes off, you’ll get a phone call from someone who’s been trained to help you in case of an emergency. With a self-monitored system, you’re on your own.

Self-Monitored Security System FAQs

What are the best self-monitored home security devices?

We recommend starting with security cameras. If an alarm goes off at your house and you’re not there, the only way for you to see what’s happening is with video surveillance. Footage from indoor and outdoor security cameras will help you know whether there’s an actual intruder or whether your teenager just forgot the code to disarm the security system.

  How can I avoid false alarms?

Be sure to test your system regularly and change batteries in devices when needed. Keep any camera lenses clean and free of debris, especially outdoor cameras. Check for loose door and window sensors, and clean motion sensors regularly. It’s also a good idea to run through the system with each member of the household, so everyone knows how to use it properly.

  Can I self-monitor individual security devices without having an entire home security system?

Yes. Many companies offer multiple products that connect to a single smartphone app, so you can purchase devices individually and add them to the mobile app as you go. A video doorbell is a good example. It’s not attached to an alarm system, but it has motion-activated video recording and it sends you an alert when someone rings your doorbell. Many doorbell cameras also let you talk to the person at your door, which is a good way to scare off a possible intruder. We recommend testing the waters with a smart doorbell or smart lock if you’re not sure whether self-monitoring is right for you.

  Can you monitor your own security system without a smartphone?

Some systems do offer internet monitoring through a PC or Mac, but most companies are phasing it out in favor of smartphone monitoring apps.

  Can I have friends or family members help me with monitoring?

Yes, and we recommend it. Choose one or more trusted friends, family members, or neighbors to receive security alerts for your system so you’re not the only one handling any potential alarms. You can also use the Ring Neighbors app (you don’t need the Ring Alarm system to use it) to keep an eye on what’s happening in your neighborhood. This app works like a modern neighborhood watch with real-time alerts from neighbors and local police.

  Do self-monitored home security system companies offer equipment financing?

Not often. One reason professionally monitored security systems use contracts is to spread out the cost of your security system equipment. Companies will bundle your equipment payments with your monthly monitoring fee to give you a standard monthly payment. With a self-monitored system, it’s more likely you’ll have to pay for your equipment up front.

The Bottom Line: Is Self-Monitored Home Security Right for You?

Self-monitoring is a good idea if you’re on a budget and you still want to make sure your home is protected. It’s a security option that makes more sense for smaller homes and apartments, but it can work for a larger home if you’re vigilant. If you want foolproof hands-off home security and you can handle the monthly fees, then professional monitoring may be a better bet.

To learn more about the best home security systems available on the market and to see our top picks, check out the Best Home Security Systems and Best Home Security Systems for Renters.

The post Find the Best Self-Monitored Security System appeared first on SafeWise.

Article source here: Find the Best Self-Monitored Security System

[joellewyser-pratte]

Are Netflix original series more culturally relevant than HBO's (2017)?

Marc Bodnick

If culturally means (in part) “what are young people watching” then —increasingly yes, I think so.

Netflix skews very young — 81% of people in the US ages 18–35 have a Netflix subscription. So I’m guessing that Netflix’s original programming are watched by more young people than most HBO shows.

I could find one article online covering this issue (Netflix vs. HBO in cultural relevance). Here it is, a 2013 post from the LA Review of Books — old, but still really good:

The New Canon

WHEN I WAS AN UNDERGRAD, my professor would talk about stars and directors by showing us actual slides of them, all loaded up into the Don Draper “Carousel.” Clips were on actual film, with actual projectionists, or an assortment of badly edited VHS tapes. When a professor recommended a film, I’d go to the video store and rent it for 99 cents, the standard fee for classic movies. I never missed a screening, because it would be nearly impossible to find many of the films on my own, let alone someone with a VHS that wasn’t the common room at the end of my dorm floor. It was the good old analog days, when film and media studies was still nascent, the internet only barely past dial-up, and internet media culture as we know it limited to a healthy growth of BBS, listservs, and AOL chat rooms. It was also less than 15 years ago.

My four years in college coincided with dramatic changes in digital technology, specifically the rise of the (cheap) DVD and the personal computer DVD player. Before, cinephilia meant access to art house theaters or a VHS/television combination in addition to whatever computer you had. . . . by the time I graduated, most computers came standard with a DVD player and ethernet, if not wireless, connectivity. That Fall, I signed up for Netflix. I envied those with TiVo. Two years later, the growing size of hard drives and bandwidths facilitated the piracy culture that had theretofore mostly been limited to music. Then YouTube. Then streaming Netflix. Then Hulu. Then AppleTV. Then HBOGO. Or something like that.

Today, we live in a television culture characterized by cord-cutters and time-shifters. Sure, many, many people still appointment view or surf channels old school style. I know this. I also know people watch the local news. Yet as a 30-something member of the middle class, I catch myself thinking that my consumption habits — I subscribe to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Full Cable; I still appointment view several shows — are somewhat typical.

I’m so wrong, but not in the way I might have expected. My students taught me that. They watch Netflix, and they watch it hard. They watch it at the end of the night to wind down from studying, they watch it when they come home tipsy, they binge it on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Most use their family’s subscription; others filch passwords from friends. It’s so widely used that when I told my Mad Menclass that their only text for the class was a streaming subscription, only one student had to acquire one. (I realize we’re talking about students at a liberal arts college, but I encountered the same levels of access at state universities. As for other populations, I really don’t know, because Netflix won’t tell me (or anyone) who’s using it.

Some students use Hulu, but never Hulu Plus — when it comes to network shows and keeping current, they just don’t care. For some super buzzy shows, like Game of Thrones and Girls, they pirate or find illegal streams. But as far as I can tell, the general sentiment goes something like this: if it’s not on Netflix, why bother?

It’s a sentiment dictated by economics (a season of a TV show on iTunes = at least 48 beers) and time. Let’s say you want to watch a season of Pretty Little Liars. You have three options:

1) BitTorrent it and risk receiving a very stern cease-and-desist letter from either the school or your cable provider. Unless you can find a torrent of the entire season, you’ll have to wait for each episode to download. What do you do when it’s 1:30 am and you want a new episode now?

2) Find sketchy, poor quality online streams that may or may not infect your computer with a porn virus (plus you have to find individual stable streams for 22 episodes)

or

3) Watch it on Netflix in beautiful, legal HD, with each episode leading seamlessly into the next. You can watch it on your phone, your tablet, your computer (or your television, if it’s equipped); even if you move from device to device, it picks up right where you stopped.

It’s everything an overstressed yet media-hungry millennial could desire. And it’s not just millennials: I know more and more adults and parents who’ve cut the cable cord and acquired similar practices, mostly because they have no idea how to pirate and they only really want to watch about a dozen hours of (non-sports) television a month (who are these people, and what do they do after 8 pm every day?)

Through this reliance on Netflix, I’ve seen a new television pantheon begin to take form: there’s what’s streaming on Netflix, and then there’s everything else.

When I ask a student what they’re watching, the answers are varied: Friday Night Lights, Scandal, It’s Always Sunny, The League, Breaking Bad, Luther, Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Arrested Development, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, Weeds, Freaks & Geeks, The L Word, Twin Peaks, Archer, Louie, Portlandia. What all these shows have in common, however, is that they’re all available, in full, on Netflix.

Things that they haven’t watched? The Wire. Deadwood. Veronica Mars, Rome, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos. Even Sex in the City.

It’s not that they don’t want to watch these shows — it’s that with so much out there, including so much so-called “quality” programs, such as Twin Peaks and Freaks & Geeks, to catch up on, why watch something that’s not on Netflix? Why work that hard when there’s something this easy — and arguably just as good or important — right in front of you?

The split between Netflix and non-Netflix shows also dictates which shows can/still function as points of collective meaning. Talk to a group of 30-somethings today, and you can reference Tony Soprano and his various life decisions all day — in no small part because the viewing of The Sopranos was facilitated by DVD culture. Today, my students know the name and little else. I can’t make “cocksucker” Deadwood jokes (maybe I shouldn’t anyway?); I can’t use Veronica Mars as an example of neo-noir; I can’t reference the effectiveness of montage at finishing a series (Six Feet Under). These shows, arguably some of the most influential of the last decade, can’t be teaching tools unless I screen seasons of them for my students myself.

The networks have long depended on a concept that scholar Raymond Williams dubbed “flow” — the seamless shift from show to commercial to show that creates a televisual flow so natural it’s painful to get out. Netflix does this as well, creating what one of my students has called “inertia problems.” One episode ends, and the countdown to the next begins in the corner. One season ends, and the next one pops before you. One series ends, and it’s ready with fairly accurate suggestions as to the type of programming you’d like to try next. The more you consume Netflix, the more you’ll consume Netflix.

And it’s not like they’re going to run out of content. As the Hollywood studios have tried to play hardball with what films they will and won’t lease, Netflix has turned its focus to television. And it’s not just quality and quasi-quality television: they’re flush with children’s, reality, and British television, with more seasons — and shows — added every month.

So maybe the HBO shows of the golden age fade into the distance, referenced but mostly unwatched, the 2000s equivalent of Hill Street Blues or The Mary Tyler Moore Show. So what? As I wrote last week, I have little interest in fetishing “quality” television, especially as a means of reifying gendered, classist divides between “our” television and that television.

And HBO loves that division — they’re the ones, after all, who pioneered the slogan “It’s not TV, it’s HBO.” They’ve also stubbornly resisted any technology that makes its shows broadly available. You can’t get them on iTunes for months; you can’t use HBOGO unless you’re a service subscriber, and you generally can’t subscribe to HBO without also paying for extended cable — at least a hundred dollar cable bill. I get why they only want rich people watching their shows. I get how exclusivity, in and of itself, is one of the ways that HBO ascribes quality to its programming.

But you know what separates the “good” from the “significant”? Exposure. Not just initial exposure, like the hoopla surrounding the relatively unpopular Girls, but endured attention and familiarity. Viewers of broad ages and classes and tastes watching. Syndication used to do some of this work for us: that’s how I consumed M*A*S*H, My Three Sons, The Brady Bunch, I Love Lucy, classic Saturday Night Live, original Star Trek, and even MacGyver. It was MTV reruns, for example, and not ABC, that made My So-Called Life a cultural touchstone: the two words “Jordan Catalano” stand in for a host of dude-related agonies and ecstasies. Granted, you could watch Sex and the City on TBS, and The Wire on BET. But those were Frankenstein edits of the originals — and what little extended cable this generation does watch, it’s generally new content.

Netflix, and other forms of cheap streaming, thus takes up the role formerly occupied by second-run syndication. Only unlike the reruns of M*A*S*H I’d watch every night at 7:00 pm, these reruns are there whenever I want them and without commercials. With the rise of streaming services, we’ve avoided the term “rerun” and its connotations of the hot, bored days of summer. But apart from its foray into original programming, that’s what Netflix is: a distribution service of reruns. And as with second-run syndication, what’s available is what gets watched; what gets watched becomes part of the conversation. It’s not a question of quality, in other words, it’s one of availability.

HBO has always prided itself on being the cool kid in high school. It’s fine having only a few friends, so long as those friends are rich and influential. But no one can stay in high school forever: eventually your world changes, whether you want it to or not. And you know what happens when the cool kid goes to college? He gets lost in the crowd. There’s no one to remind everyone that he’s so cool or exclusive, of what the last decade of his life meant, or why he should be respected and feared today. Even if he throws a really excellent party, he’s still one of many doing the same.

For coolness and distinction to endure, it needs an indelible sense of legacy. HBO’s not in danger of losing that any time in the near future — at least so long as most of the people writing about television are those of us reared on the DVDs of its golden age. But think of the next generation of critics, whose tastes are guided, and will continue to be guided, by streaming availability. For them, Louie and Scandalwill always be more important than Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Newsroom.

This summer, HBO finally gave credence to rumblings that they’d offer HBGO as a stand-alone subscription service. It may happen next year; it may happen in five. But each year they wait, each year that hundreds of thousands of viewers choose what’s at their fingertips over what’s not, their legacy fades. Perhaps that’s for the best? I mean, let it be said: I’m super okay with more people watching Friday Night Lights than Hung. But some, if not all, of those shows deserve better.

Ignore Al Swearengen at your peril,

See Questions On Quora

[insanity-studios-ink]