Since college, I've had the habit of "time-shifting" my television viewing. Even before the development of TiVo, I had a VCR while I worked nights in school. Then, I got a second VCR. After all, I wouldn't see any prime-time TV at all when I worked nights.

Using the VCRs, I found that the time-shifting had other benefits beyond catching the evening's TV news or a favorite show. Not only did I see shows I wanted to see, but I also was freed from the tyranny of the television schedule, and could shave about fifteen minutes from every hour of shows!

I certainly knew when TiVo came out that the dual-tuner and recording capabilities, matched with the "chasing replay" feature, were for me, but I wasn't too thrilled with the darned price ($12.50/month software subscription fee). Or I could have paid $200-300 in addition to the cost of the device for a lifetime subscription fee, valid only for the life of the device! DirecTV finally solved that with a $5/month TiVo subscription and now I'm hooked.

Problem is, I got so used to time-shifting that I no longer feel the need to keep close to the TV viewing date. I continue to never miss a favorite show, but I end up weeks behind on shows. Right now, I'm about three weeks behind, and the November sweeps month has a lot to watch. I'll only fall further behind. I have to move programs from the TiVo to videotape to save room on the TiVo hard drive. Maybe I really should work on that hack and expand the TiVo hard drive capacity.

Or, I could watch less TV?

CDs listened to today:

• Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra: Blu Blu Blu
• Ted Leo & The Pharmacists: Shake The Sheets
• Alban Berg: Concerto for Violin
• Nick Cave: Nocturama