Chapter 14: The ROKU Box (The first in a series of slightly ireverent posts in which we discover tools to help all of us watercolorists--whether you do architectural renderings or more traditional subjects--stay a little more sane during all those hours in the studio.)

OK, you're a dedicated watercolor artist, you've got your favorite triad, your favorite brushes and paper--all good. But now, you've reached the seventh consecutive hour of NPR today and you need a break. You have Netflix Instant, but you don't want to spill water on your laptop keyboard. Solution? The Roku box. It's the little black box about the size of an old video tape that you've heard about but haven't tried yet, and it's gonna change your world. Roku works with your Netflix Instant queue, but it plugs right into your TV and streams your Netflix Instant selections directly from your wireless bridge or modem to your TV (as another video input similar to a DVD player connection). You turn on your Roku box, select Netflix Instant, and scroll through your awesome selections until one hits the mood (I'm on my fourth consecutive 30 Rock Season 3 episode as we speak.)

http://www.roku.com/

OK, so not every time is right for Roku, but if you're on deadline and you can spare just enough mental bandwidth to pay partial attention to, oh, I don't know: R. Crumb? or Mystery Science Theater 3000? Or My Architect? Or Room With A View? Or any of the other pure awesomeness that is your Netflix Instant queue, then I heartily suggest you make the Roku box part of your palette. Next week: green tea.