| Editorial December 2001
Home-Theater Holidays
It’s an American tradition to go to the movies on
Thanksgiving weekend. In fact, it has become a day where it seems most of the country is
either doing that or watching football games, or both in the case of my family. Between
those two past times and eating a large meal (and snacking a lot!) on Thanksgiving
day, it’s a time folks spend with their family and friends, take time away from work,
and generally look back at the past year and give thanks. I look forward to it as much as
any time of the year. It is the beginning of a joyous season that I have many fond
memories of spanning all of my childhood and adult years. Regardless of my age, the
feeling is always the same.
Oops, I almost left out one other somewhat important
activity that people participate in: Christmas shopping! The sales start around here at 6
a.m., and the lines have formed by then, you best be sure. Eager women, their
sometimes-grouchy husbands, and hyperactive children (if they’re allowed to come) all
brave the November weather to get to the stores for the latest Tickle Me Elmo. If you have
multiple women in your home and they’ve organized, the males in the family may get
left behind. (We all know there’s strength in numbers.) Not me, though; I’m
right in the fray, but not because I crave crowds and shopping malls. Sure I need to be
there to give my two cents on what to get the in-laws this year, but the real reason is a
bit more secretive, but important, nonetheless. Think of it as a mission.
While the wife is looking in Kirkland's, Bed Bath &
Beyond, or Target, I’ve slipped away to the music and DVD section, or maybe even
across the street to Best Buy. Most home-theater guys know that you simply have to have
some new movies to watch during Thanksgiving weekend, and since you’re buying lots of
stuff anyway, you might as well buy some entertainment for the family. Sure you may slip a
few CDs, multichannel SACDs, and a DVD-A in there too, but so what. ‘Tis the season!
And the fun has just begun….
The chain of events is as follows: Get home about 4 p.m. on
Friday and put on some music to warm up the system. Around 5 p.m. it’s time to run a
few tones through the subwoofer just to make sure all is calibrated properly (you know
things can slip out of alignment; it’s a technical fact). Make some snacks and
some hot chocolate, let the dog in, and then settle back in front of the TV around 6 p.m.
for a short nap. Start getting ready around 7 p.m. with a quick trip to the bathroom and
your best explanation to your brother-in-law on how Dolby Digital differs from DTS. The
movies start around 7:30 with a pot of coffee brewing. Around 9:30, during intermission,
you eat a few hot cookies, and then it’s back to the latest action flick. What a day.
You’re exhausted, and for good reason. Time to turn in; 10 a.m. will come before you
know it.
A similar scenario plays out Christmas night and the day
after. Man what a great time! Then it’s time to start looking ahead. The New Year is
coming soon, and you’re relaxed and ready for it. It’s a time for product
introductions at the soon-to-take-place CES and time to plan for the next upgrade so
you’ll be ready come time for the next holiday season. I just love traditions. Have a
happy home-theater holiday from all of us at Home Theater & Sound!
...Jeff Fritz
editor@hometheatersound.com |
