The Art Of Television Sound Mixing

I was going through a period where movie theaters were running their films without getting a sharp focus on their projectors, when I discovered my eyes had changed and I needed glasses. Now I am experiencing trouble hearing dialogue on lots of TV shows. So before I start complaining this time I wonder if anyone else has had the following problem: On Stargate Atlantis, whenever the action heats up, so does the music and special sound effects. The actors are saying their lines but I'm not hearing them very well. So I turn up the volume and the music and sound effects gets louder too! What ever happened to the idea of making talking the most important, and the music and background diminished? This isn't the only show doing this. I think Farscape has pulled this nonsense too in order to make their strange point. I can't remember what other shows have done this but its happening way too often.
Sometimes in dramatic feature films, actors mumble some key line near the end and your not sure what you heard until you rent it and stop for clarification.

Hazardous Packing Material

Those little white peanuts packed in boxes are environmentally harmful. Once they get out of the box they will blow anywhere a molecule of moving air can be found. Styrofoam won't biodegrade like a banana peel so we don't need this stuff blowing around. Working in retail for 6 years I learned the only way to deal with these things is to tape the box shut after you remove its contents and throw it away. The 21st Century way to pack boxes is to use plastic bubble wrap or other sensible materials.