Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

I’ve been a member of Netflix since January 2003, and I adore the service. For the same 3-a-time plan, I’m paying less now than I did at the beginning. That’s thanks to the challengers that have always popped up to try and sink this upstart.

But Netflix has beaten them all. It’s pushed back Amazon. It’s shamed Wal-Mart. Now, it’s trumping Blockbuster. And through it all, I’ve gotten faster turn-around times, more selection, lower prices, and increased value. I like that the streaming Watch Instantly feature is not an additional cost but already included in my monthly price.

I’ve gotten used to hearing about how one retailing giant or another is going to enter the mail rental business and that Netflix is going to be in trouble. For the first time in a long time, there’s silence on this front. And now, I’m just waiting for the press release that will announce a price increase. When will they feel secure enough in their market share to raise what I’m paying?

Surely it will come because they are starting to cut back on the features. I don’t use this—apparently only 1 to 2 percent of subscribers do, but for them, I’m sure the ability to set Profiles, essentially different queues within one subscriber account, is a very valuable one. Starting in September, this feature will no longer be available.

So I’m looking for another company to enter the fray. I don’t want them to win. I just want them to pressure Netflix enough so I can continue to benefit.

Tags: Uncategorized by Ms.
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I’ve been a bit discombobulated lately. In the midst of this crummy economy, I’ve gone and quit my job. Oh, it needed to be done. The nature of the work and I just didn’t get along anymore. Still, it is a fine company with outstanding people, and I have a year-old mortgage to maintain.

Thankfully, I was scared sufficiently at twenty-five into taking care of my money. I’ve saved and invested so I can just walk away if I wanted and/or needed to. But the reserve won’t last forever, and I will need to figure out what to do next.

At no time in my life have I been without a plan for the next step. This time, I’m purposely flying without a net. It’s right for me to take a break from the relentless progression of life. I didn’t backpack through Europe or join the Peace Corps. I’ve moved from education to education, job to job.

Now I’m very curious how my experiment is going to turn out. Will I regain my love of reading for fun? Will I be bored out of my mind and realize that I’m not cut out to be one of the idle rich? I’m very curious.

I’m also very apprehensive.

Tags: Life by Ms.
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I finished season one of Torchwood this past weekend. I’m a big fan of the latest Doctor Who and wanted to try out this series from the same creative team. Plus, I really enjoyed John Barrowman’s Captain Jack character on Doctor Who.

I knew a little bit about Torchwood going in. I knew it was a team concept and that the tone and storylines were going to be more violent and more sexually explicit than those of Doctor Who.

On these two points, Torchwood did not disappoint. I wasn’t totally taken with the show though. At episode four, “Small Worlds,” I did turn from tolerating it to enjoying the episodes, but I don’t yearn to watch more, like I do with Doctor Who.

On this, I commiserate with Captain Jack. I, too, am just waiting for the wolf, wolf of the Tardis. [Is it just me? or has everyone already figured out that "wolf" gets you closest to imitating the sound of the Tardis?] Come on, season four DVD release date. Where are you?

But before “Small Worlds,” I didn’t think I would keep watching. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, Captain Jack included. In “Cyberwoman,” I disliked, and perhaps hated, them all. I had little hope and little sympathy for them as a team. The episodes didn’t seem to have a purpose and a drive.

Throughout season one, we got more character pieces that led me to know the characters better but not necessarily like them more. The individual episodes’ stories, however, got better. I think the episodes themselves became very fine short stories that engaged me, sometimes quite emotionally.

But at the end of season one, I still don’t care that much about the characters. There are flashes of the roguish charm I associate with Captain Jack, and perhaps the intent is to portray his ill-fit at the head of this team, but he’s not all that interesting. Not even with his mysterious backstory.

Still, I will continue on to season two. Netflix makes it so easy, and I have heard that the show finds its footing. And the vingnettes that are the episodes already supercede the character shortfall in this early season. As a characters-drive-the-series believer, I’m softening my stance. Yes, I think the stories themselves are that good.

Tags: TV by Ms.
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