I am noticing something in the Netflix offerings. A few programs they are creating are offering personal growth up as a desirable (albeit mysterious and confusing) outcome. This element was missing in the offerings celebrating dysfunction, violence, intrique, etc. etc. etc. Just months ago we couldn’t find a single new offering from Netflix that we hadn’t already watched, that we enjoyed. And suddenly there are several new one season series that we have enjoyed. So far we have watched Russian Doll, which is black and funny, interesting and intelligent, and going in the right direction from our perspective. Presently we are watching Cuckoo, which is silly, and horrifying in some ways, and yet moves towards people being true to themselves and kind and tolerant of others while doing so, at least so far, we have only watched a few episodes.
Around the time Princess Diana died (1997), I noticed a lot of contempt-for-the-disadvantaged, greed romanticization, and mean-spirited-selfishness used as the unspoken underbelly in many of the ads on TV, and the premise of many programs at that time and since. It was disturbing at the time, to observe the culture going in that direction, and it has degenerated into some of the current leaders in different political arenas in North America. We haven’t hit rock bottom, but only because things can always get worse, there is no bottom.
I certainly hope that what I am detecting on Netflix harbours of a kinder, more tolerant social climate to come. One can always hope.
We are expecting a winter storm, it sounds as if it will be miserable, and I am glad I no longer have a long drive to work over the treacherous roads in the north. Life is full of small blessings. We are well into February now, and winter will soon be loosening its grip. We are warm and comfortable here at Mist Cottage.
One thing about forced air heating (and heating with wood) is that the air becomes very dry, and static electricity is a problem. So far this winter, I have had no nosebleeds, for the first time in decades. I cold still have a nosebleed, the winter is not over yet, but I’ve made it this far into the heating season without issue, and how wonderful it is. The cauterization in my nasal passage seems to have worked wonders. The static electricity means that my fine hair is completely out of control. My hair will NOT be tied back, pinned back, or held fast under a cap! It is always finding its way into my eyes, tickling my nose, catching on my glasses, and it is very annoying. So far I’ve found nothing to subdue it.
We enjoyed a turkey dinner on Sunday last, Attila prepared the entire meal. A ten pound turkey usually does us five or six dinners for the first week, a pot full of turkey soup for Attila’s snacks, and five or six packages of diced turkey meat in the freezer, for future Instant Pot casserole type meals. Turkey dinners work well for us.
This morning I am sitting in the sun, while it continues to shine, and baking muffins for Attila’s lunches. A happy day.
Worldly
Weather
WINTER STORM WATCH
-7°C
Date: 10:00 AM EST Monday 11 February 2019
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 103.1 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: -7.4°C
Dew point: -14.4°C
Humidity: 58%
Wind: NE 19 km/h
Wind Chill: -14
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“‘Taint’t worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.”
Sarah Orne Jewett
1849 – 1909
There you are! I was just about to get away from the computer — been here too long this morning already — when I saw your notice in the inbox and had to come see what you’re up to. Glad to see all’s well chez vous! -Kate
Kate, I’ve been busy chatting with Attila and just generally being OK, but not writing. My fingers got itchy so here I am. Like you, I am spending less time at the keyboard.
We’ll have to check out Russian Doll. I definitely would like some more positive programs. We really like Grace and Frankie on Netflix but they only have 3 seasons and we went through them quickly. Same with Heartland, which is going on Season 12 but we’ve seen all the current ones.
We’ve also watched some of the superhero programs on Netflix but many of them are too dark and/or gory for me. It sounds like we’re looking for something similar in programming, characters that are trying to improve themselves and places where all is not lost.
“characters that are trying to improve themselves and places where all is not lost”
Yes, Teri, that sounds just like the kinds of programs we would enjoy too! We watched allof Grace and Frankie too, and all of the Star Trek series on offer. Luckily we still have a few series purchased as DVDs, so when we feel we can’t find anything worthwhile on Netflix we start in on one of those.
Homeland on Netflix has been interesting too, though it can be tense at times. It’s about a female CIA agent who is bipolar. She’s a fantastic agent but sometimes she lets her emotions get the best of here. But in general the people at the agency are good, loyal people that are just trying to keep the country safe. (That does include killing people sometimes, though.)
It’s great that there are signs of a kinder, gentler attitude in movie offerings. We’ve chosen not to have Netflix for the moment, although we tried it a couple of years ago. I felt that I had seen everything I wanted to see in theaters and on television, but perhaps it’s time we tried Netflix again! Glad you are having a wonderful day!
Thanks Diane! Netflix still has a lot of what I consider objectionable programs, but I was encouraged by some of the recent offerings. We don’t have TV, haven’t for, well gosh I think it has been almost 15 years, maybe not quite that long, so Netflix is the only paid for entertainment we invest in. We do frequently watch some wonderful things on YouTube, some of the old movies are fun, we recently watched State Fair, a Rogers and Hammerstein film, simple but fun to watch. There are other streaming services as well, we tried Acorn which has some good British programming, but it didn’t take long to watch everything that interested us.