Verizon FIOS New Menus

We notice the Verizon has changed the VOD menu to almost ALL pictures. (As of April 2013 VOD is "Video on Demand)) There is almost NO TEXT at all. This appears to be favoring those with "little" hand-held TV viewing devices. You know what we mean. WE are suggesting the Verizon have the simple "Text" movie names available again (IE: Put them back). You have lost thousands and thousands and thousands of viewers that use an actual TV to view, well, TV programs. These "pictured" icons take a long time to load and are very hard to see the title of the show. Guess what? We can actually "read" words. We do not need to have "long-loading" little pictures of the movie poster just to see what movies or shows are available. These little pictures are VERY distracting and it is now VERY HARD to read the movie titles. You have to scan through many, many little pic's. Also, many of the movie and show titles do not HAVE a pictures so you have placed a rude "Blank" placeholder picture in its place. This even more difficult to navigate. The whole new FIOS menu system is junk. We hate it. Yes, "hate" it. These little pictures were already available when a person clicked on a title from the original list of movies or shows. You did NOT NEED to replace the simple, easy to read" text titles with little crappy pictures. Got it? So in closing we say:
1 - Put the TEXT Based movies/shows lists back or have both the TEXT and the little picture lists available for VOD. Just make it an "option" to use pics or text. Is that so hard?
2 - Since you probably won't do suggestion #1, then Decrease the load-time because you now have all these little pictures for each and every show, movie and program listed in the VOD menu. It takes forever to load and we have a new TV so it is NOT our TV it is the fact that pictures take longer to load than text. It is SO HARD to read the titles now.
3 - In the Future...Before you change these things (or upgrade to something only a few people want.) please check how many 1000's and 1,000's and 1,000's and 1,000's of other viewers will be affected. Or should we say how many can you afford to LOSE because you changed things to attract just a few new people?

Remember most of the people you have lost with these changes will not take the time to write, call or tell you that the hate the recent changes. They will just leave and or just STOP watching or using the item you have messed up.
So that is our idea. Get the TEXT-list back...until then we won't be watching very many VOD items since we can't wade through the poorly  "CHANGED" menu system.

Thanks

P.S.
OH, this also applies to the major general T.V. Menu system menu changes you all changed over a year ago. It is still VERY hard to read from ANY distance to the TV. You can not change the fonts or their size. The fonts are too small. And, no, it is not the TV it is the non-flexible menu system. We HAVE a new TV. Remember,...many viewers do not have the "hi-tech" gadgets you use to change these things for just a few other viewers. Oh and don't say "we have many viewers that want these changes...we researched them before we did this" We doubt it. And if you did the research was very poorly conducted and weighted heavy on the side of the changes you were going to make no matter what the viewers want.

We (the viewers) take great offense to this trend now a days that businesses are using that tries to "retrain" their customers to buy what they want to sell. Or use what they have left over that doesn't work. This is not marketing it is insulting. Especially to the "Baby-Boomers" (Tens of millions of them) thay know what you are trying to do and won't fall for it. Remember, we are the "LARGEST" group of humans in the history of the earth. We have most of the discretionary money and we don't like whats happening. We invented the most recent "establishment" rebellion techniques. Please don't offend us or we WILL take our business elsewhere.

Thanks again

Jay Leno VS NBC

   OK, we just have to rant about the Jay Leno vs. NBC stories that have been all over the Internet this past week or so. Here is an opinion we think everyone should consider.

    We have watched the "Tonight Show" for years and years. We saw Jack Paar; we loved Steve Allen and Adored Johnny Carson (And there was Dick Cavett too) so it is not like we just got off the train yesterday. We have actual viewer experience. We watched Johnny the most of course and were said to see him go. Johnny is the mold for the shows success. Like Jay he had class and did take shots at the network and the executives many times. No problems, right?

   You know it was OK for Johnny Carson to joke about NBC for years and it was OK for Jay Leno to joke about NBC for years ...until recently. Now the "thin-skinned fools" don't like the truth anymore. Too close to home? But we guess now NBC is no joke? Or is it? What is NBC?...last? nope...well maybe. What are they? What do they or could they stand for?  Let's see. NBC = Not Better Content or NBC = No Body Cares or ... well you get it; create your own. Oh...wait...don't be creative that would anger the juvenile executives. It was OK to joke a little while ago but now it’s not? Hey let's change everything and go after those 18-49 demos again.

   They apparently they don't know (or choose to ignore) that "Millions & millions & millions"" of over 18-49 year old viewers will leave with him (Jay that is). Can they afford a change like that? And let's see...hummm...Oh yeah those consumers, the ones over 49 years old and older, actually have the money that the advertisers are seeking (they have for years). Now that "Baby Boomers" (the largest group of people in human history) are free to stay up late a watch someone who can relate to them and spend money (which they have saved for years) on the ads related to the show we should dump them. Let's just forget about that. And for get them too.

   We want to update the show and move it to New York where the market is depressed and depressing. OK, we have seen Jimmy Fallon and feel he is talented. He is great with musical impressions and his "Thank You Notes" are clever sometimes. But he is NOT the draw for the people that watch the "Tonight Show" nor was Conan. And yes, we understand that you want to "Change" the audience to the 18-49 group. This is a foolish and poorly thought out decision. Even if it did work it would take "years & years" of LOSSES to get these viewers. Have you even considered the life patterns for this demo group? How they shop. Where they shop? If they even have any disposable income? Can you really afford these LOSSES? After all this is about money NOT entertainment. Remember you really don't care about those viewers that actually have money to spend. If we didn't know better we would blame "that NYC mayor" for this thing too. Oh, hey, remember no cups on the show larger than 16oz. Note: Kudos’ to the judge that saw through that stupid nanny ordinance. We digressed, sorry.

    Well...we feel NBC will sink further down the tubes with this one...We figure it will be strike three for them. First strike, move Jay to 10pm and change the format, then 2nd strike move Conan in to Jay's old spot (gotta get those 18-49 yr old peeps) ...nope, that didn't work. Those two ideas failed badly...that didn't work (and cost them about 40 Million extra to boot)...3rd strike, let's move Jimmy to Jay's "Tonight Show" spot and chase away those "old" people with the money. We don't care if they go over to that "other" Jimmy or to David on CBS.  Has anyone seen the pitiful viewing numbers since the recent move of Jimmy "the other" compared to Jay? They (Jimmy "the other") are really bad. David Letterman's numbers are closer to Jay than Jimmy "the other". Look at the tracking polls and you will see that the people are NOT watching Jimmy "the other" since the move to an earlier time slot. Meanwhile David just keeps plugging along. Yes poor numbers next to Jay but better that ANYONE else. So go ahead NBC disregard all of the signs that you are making another big mistake. Do this and suffer the wrath of those viewers with the disposable income.

   This new NBC idea is not to smart....it is just another tail chaser. Well…it is NBC so it is par for the course. Off course, in the rough, in the lake, in the sand trap and yep a really boogie monster.

Movie Remakes and other Trash

This just a short rant because we could write a whole book on this subject; and we didn't want to get too long winded.
. We have read several articles today about movies that "may" go into production. We find these remakes unacceptable. We know that Hollywood can't write any new material anymore because when we see the current offerings there are only a precious few with ANY content. Most of the stories have been done and redone so poorly that they are "UN-watchable". Yes we know a few good ones get through like...The Help, Hunger Games, and Argo but NOT very many. Hollywood and the industry is very stale.
Here is what we found today. They want to remake "Escape from New York and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.". And Tom Cruise is being considered for the Uncle movie....Oh NO just how many movies can he trash? The last detective movie he did (we will not say the name to give it publicity it does not deserve) has ruined the whole series for anyone who has ever followed it or may want to investigate and read it. Completely the wrong casting. The same is true for several of his other castings. Anyway, we have digressed.
So, not only are they going to screw-up Escape from New York they will be trashing the Man from U.N.C.L.E. as well. This is completely UN-acceptable. We need to get on some kind of campaign to STOP the VERY POOR remakes of classic cult films and TV shows. They trashed "Footloose", "The Karate Kid", then "The day the earth stood still", then they trashed "Red Dawn". Is "Gone with the Wind" next?
Yes we know Footloose was done with good dancers but that is NOT the point ... that was NOT the story it was the vehicle (dancing) the story was about the characters. The same for the Karate Kid. We like Jackie Chan and Jaden did a fair job for a first real movie. But it was passed off as "The Karate Kid" and is was NOT! That movie has already been done. Give it a new creative name at least. Ge-sh what jerks these new Hollywood type producers and director are.
 We REFUSE to support these poor re-dos. Please pass it on. And educate the younger movie going public about the original movies. Let them know that they will always be BETTER than these trashy remakes. That is why they are classics. Stop disrespecting them with these remakes.

Crusing Tips

Those that have actually been on a cruise know...it is NOT cruising that is a problem now-a-days it is the cruise lines. We have been on many many cruises and they are GREAT! But the one we have noticed has the most problems and has the poorest service is Carnival Cruise Lines. Yes, that very same one with the recent break-downs "again and again". We have been on two cruises with Carnival and the first was pretty poor. The second was worse. So we said "We'll not use them ever again".  And we have not. We are better for it. The other cruise lines we used are very good. They actually have service employees that answer questions AND they provide actual service. Wow what a concept. We recommend that if you are thinking about a cruise that you take a short one like a three day cruise around your coastal area. As an example in Europe a quick three day around the British Isles or the Med. If you are in the Americas a short Alaska cruise is a great way to see if you like cruising. There are many cruise lines that service these areas but use something like "Cruises.com" or AAA travel to read what actual cruisers say about the cruise you will take it is "EYE Opening" and you may change your mind after reading some of the comments. Remember these people are NOT PAID to comment. They are just regular travelers like you and I. They have actual been on the cruise. They will tell it like is really "IS". So check the comments out before you book. As far as the recent Carnival Cruises with the many ships that have had problems we feel that the compensation the passengers are given when these problems happen are a disgrace and an insult to the people that were affected. A $100 coupon for the massive problems on the latest breakdown is a joke. Yes, we know that they really don't have to do anything. And hey, that is what they are really doing. NOTHING! They are obviously not maintaining the ships. AND, when the capt. runs away like the incident in the Italian sinking...well...you have a real indication of how this cruise line operates. So, as a final note...we say please go on a cruise. Cruises are great !!! Don't pick a cruise line that nickle and dimes you with after booking costs for drinks and secret fees. Book one that really includes everything. BTW ALL cruises used to be that way it is only recently that this has changed to a policy that shows they are just out to get more money from you NOT provide a nice vacation. Research them first...don't pick one that favors kids if you want any peace and quiet. If you want a family type cruise pick Disney lines. They are just for families. It's one we would never book since we are retired and don't like the rude noise. We prefer a simple quiet vacation without the chaos. That's about it for our rant today. Go ahead...Cruise...But really check it out first. Thanks

Had to deal with the health insurance company for the last three weeks. It is pretty bad when you have to explain to them what their own policy says. They tried to change the rules without ANY notice. The policy clearly states that an item is covered and they tried to start charging me for it on Jan. 1st of this year. Wrong! After man, many round-robin musical chairs it may be settled? We shall see.
Hey, if you are having issues with yours let us know. And how you solved them (if you were able to solve them). Let's see how many worked out. Maybe I will have a poll question. That's it for now. Thanks for "reading".

The Test

The is a test. A senior test. Thanks

The town guard