A short trip down technology lane

In 1989, my husband decided to videotape his fellow Rotarians making predictions for the next 10 years. He used our rather large video VHS camera. Ten years later, he showed this time piece, everyone had a good laugh (the best prediction had been the price of a Chevy pick-up) and he taped again.

The technology had changed. We had a new camera. Instead of a VHS tape, he used a VHS-C. In order to view our many VHS-Cs we had to buy an adapter which was the size of a VHS tape. The most accurate prediction of the 1999 tape was the price of a first-class postage stamp at 42 cents, only off by 2 cents.

We hid these treasures so well it took a day or two to find them when it was once again time to dust them off. However, the adapter had corroded for some inexplicable reason, so we had to find a new one. This was not particularly easy, but $30 later, was accomplished.

But, once again, technology has marched on, and we have a new video camera, acquired with the advent of the first grandchild. We don't need adapters for the little DV-video tape, just plug it into the DVD recorder we bought to convert all existing tapes over to the new(er) technology.

That is how I spent a portion of my yesterday afternoon, converting all three onto one DVD tape. Then we separated them into two spaces, DVD at the house, all video tapes elsewhere, and we're ready for 2020 as long as we can find a machine which will play DVDs.

Providing, we escape the 2012 Mayan meltdown. Personally, I think they ran out of stone.

Paring down a DVD

I rent a lot of older movies, those that are a buck for 5 days. That way, I can watch in 30 minute increments while I'm on the treadmill. As such, I get to see trends.

Not so good movies tend to have as their previews other not so good movies. They nest together. The converse isn't necessarily true, that good movies preview other good movies. Doesn't happen.

Older movies won't have subtitles or English for the hearing impaired. Having such is a big plus when there's not only noise from outdoors but the treadmill and I've already cranked up the TV volume to near high. If the movie is from England, I always want the subtitles on or I'll miss half the movie fighting my way through the accent.

Watching the movie trailers can be fun after you've seen the movie--and you can learn a lot about (un)truth in advertising.

Then sometimes you need to stop or go back or change rooms when there's just a little bit left to watch or--and this does happen--the film is so good I want to finish it right then. So the chapter index or scene selection comes into play. There, you have to guess by the still photo where you were so you can pick right up on the action.

This morning, watching an HBO video from 1988, I found the most pared down choices possible: play and chapter index. Within the chapter index were only the titles, no stills from which to choose. I had to guess (and I guessed correctly) what the editor would have called the scene I'd just left.

Talk about a DVD at its minimum! This was it.

Previews

The fast-forward button on the DVD remote is your very good friend. We all know that. The front of videos are crammed with previews of other movies the same production company has made and to watch them is to be force-fed the same movie trailers you most likely had to sit through at the theatre. Therefore, either fast-forward on through the VCR tape (yes, I still watch them and no, you're not surprised) or find 'menu.'

I watch movies while I do my daily treadmill two miles. At about 30 minutes per session, I can get through most movies in 3-4 days. To that end, I've been buying old videos for a buck at used book stores, then donating them to the library to be resold for same. But we've a new video store in town, which allows five days rentals for a dollar or less (except for new releases), so I'm changing my game plan, and in more ways than one.

I've started watching the previews. If I like movie A well enough to rent it, perhaps I'll like B or C or D enough also. So far, I've either found or been reminded of three movies. This may work after all, shortening my time in the store and widening--but just a bit--my horizons.

And, if all else fails, there's still the fast-forward button.