It is certainly a plus to be able to contact our American connections with free emails, facebook messages, blog posts(!), and Skype calls. This also means, for better or for worse, that we have access to all the American sports and entertainment we can handle. We are probably less well assimilated to the culture here for it, but at least we get out of paying TV tax by simply not owning a television set.
Our TV fixes are satisfied by Netflix, our inexpensive American entertainment artery. With the magic of...some additional software... we are able to
We did find an upside to logging in as the European residents we are this year. Breaking Bad, one of the biggest shows in the Western World right now, aired its final season this fall. In America, one could only (legally) watch it with a cable subscription. The Netflix release had to wait for the US DVD release. Other countries, however, can't get the American cable channels, so Netflix worked out a deal to play the Breaking Bad episodes for international customers the day after they aired on American cable TV. "Turn off that...additional software... and let's see some BB action!"
Meth Cookies? Crank-Covered-Crackers? |
At least we can enjoy the sweet cookies... and all the American TV we can stomach. Our Irish friends have convinced us to get into one of the big drama shows here called Love/Hate on RTE, so we can dip our toes into truly Irish-produced television entertainment. We're already sold on sports television here, so we will have something new to watch until Hurling and Gaelic Football seasons start up again next year.
Nope, just blue sugar. Glad we found that food coloring! |
Non-US Netflix is inferior; some of my Finnish coworkers even use your 'additional software' to get US Netflix. We've also found www.ustvnow.com -- it transmits broadcast TV from Pennsylvania for free (and cable for a fee) in live time. Not always convenient, but sometimes we can catch a show or two on the weekends. It also has some free DVR hours.
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