TV

My New Media Center

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I broke down and picked up a new Mac Mini last weekend. I have been tempted to build myself a full fledged Media Center computer again but haven’t wanted to make the investment. I also wasn’t sure if I would be able to setup the computer with my LCD TV to work right. In the past I have had issues with HDMI adapters and any computer fitting to the screen on my 40″ LCD. Even with Mac OS 10.6 set to 1080i (yes there is even an option for that now) the picture didn’t fit the entire screen.

With those questions I still went out and picked up a Mini. In the end I needed to connect my Drobo’s to an actual computer vs using them as network attached storage. The editing I was doing was taking too long over the network (802.11n to my desktop). The new Mini is plugged into the Drobo’s and my TV directly via VGA. The picture is good, but not HD. I still think the issue is with my TV and not any computer since this is about the 5th or 6th computer I have tried plugged into the TV with the same issue. Using VGA the picture works so I am keeping it setup like that. I am able to access the computer using VNC when I want to work on it, or I have a wireless mouse and keyboard plugged into it as well.

Even though the Mini is plugged into the TV i am serving up its content via iTunes so I can stream it to my Apple TV. At least the ATV works with HD so that is why I am doing that. The plus side of having the Mini plugged into the TV and not just use it headless as a server is that I can watch Hulu streaming full screen on my TV now. I can use the remote on my Mac and it is just like using a DVR. I found that very useful since I gave up on hacking the ATV with Boxee long ago.

Other plus to this new configuration is that I can watch DVD’s on the Mini. I don’t have a DVD player and using the Xbox 360 for DVD’s is ok but it is loud. I love the Droo’s, but the speed still isn’t what i expect, but it is better than when I was accessing them over the wireless LAN so I am so far very happy with this configuration.

My new media center setup

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Is There Anything New That Is Good on TV?

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I was having lunch with a friend and work and we started talking about new good things on TV. He couldn’t think of anything new this season that was any good. That got me thinking, is there? Good is extremely objective I know but I am thinking from my perspective. The answer so far is not really. I am Tivo’ing a bunch of new stuff, and several older shows that are still good, but most of what I am recording is actually not that great.

I think this season the only two shows that I say I actually like are Modern Family, and Stargate Universe. You have to like Ed Oneal as the grumpy grand dad on a well written show. For Stargate Universe I have always been a Stargate fan even when it wasn’t that good. This new version is a bitt gritty and interesting so far. I know the whole lost in space theme will bother me sooner or later, but for now I am enjoying it.

As for everything else that is new, I am still recording a few shows, but when they show up on my Tivo I won’t watch them unless there is nothing else out there. WIth seasons like this I am glad for the precious few returning shows that are funny and or interesting.

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Dodging Rain

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I worked from home today. The day could have gone either way. I could have had a few meetings (that was what my schedule said) so I could get some backlogged work done, or things would come up throughout the day that would distract me from what I was aiming to do. The latter happened as I expected but hoped wouldn’t. I didn’t even realize what time it was when I called it a day and aimed to meet up with friends.

I headed into the city to meet up with some friends at Blaggards. Turned out no one showed up. Stanley texted me saying he was taking off sine no one else showed up. I was in the subway so I didn’t see it until I got there. Everyone was last minute cancelations, except Luke who I hadn’t heard from. Since I was already in the area I went to Macy’s and did some shopping. From there I headed over to the Apple Store on 5th ave.

As I got out of the subway by the Apple Store I started raining. It looked like a major thunder storm was coming in. I ran to the store just in time. I bought a iPod Nano 8GB (silver if you are curious) and an arm band to use it when exercising. Yes, I bought a new nano so I could actually try to do that exercise thing people keep talking about. It is kind of redundant to have since I have an iPhone and a 160gb iPod but each device has its own uses. The 160gb pod is currently being used as a portable hard drive and like the phone is to big for use when working out.

Before buying the pod, I browsed around to kill time while it rained. By the time I got out of the store it was raining a bit but not as bad as it was. The sky was really dark for just after 6 on a Summer afternoon. I got home and it was still only raining a bit but it looked like it was going to pour again anytime. I got really lucky getting home without an umbrella. At one point in my trek home I could have bought one (those guys selling umbrella’s know exactly where to position themselves) but I rolled the dice and made it home only slightly damp.

I ordered in and just watched some shows I had on my Tivo. I wasn’t in the mood to head back out.

The Day For Cleaning

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Depending on how you looked at it today was either a day of relaxing at home or a day of cleaning. On one hand I lounged around today, and didn’t go out, slept late and watched most off the remaining good crap on my Tivo. I also did some senseless updating of my iTunes library. Now most of the music I listen too now has album art!

On the flip side I spent the other part of the day doing two loads of laundry. Cleaning out part of my closet, and tidying up the apartment. So in some ways the day was actually very productive, and in others a total veg fest. To me that makes it the perfect Sunday!

Friday TV

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Since I was being lazy Friday night, I watched a bunch of TV. I went through my Tivo and watched a bunch of stuff I missed since I had plans most of the week. After watching most of the good stuff (still a ton of crap on there) I watched some semi live TV. I say semi live since I don’t start watching anything until it has been on for at least 15 minutes so I can safely fast forward through the commercials. Gotta love Tivo!

I ended up watching the first episode of Dollhouse. It was pretty good, but lets see if Fox cancels it like they did the last Joss Whedon show. For now it is programed into my Tivo.

I also watched the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica. It was really good this week. I though John Hodgman as the brain surgeon was great. I loved his little bit of comedy in his scenes. I am not sure if he was supposed to be funny but he was. The regular doc is always funny so he fit right in.

Another Long Monday

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Today started off on a negitive. Well lets face it, all Monday’s do, but this one started off with getting a call from work at 6:30. That is never good. It then was hectic for most of the morning and early afternoon. By then all of the excitment from the weekend was squared away. Then it was time to focus on other outstanding issues. I was thankful when it was after hours, even though I can’t recall where 3-5PM went!

I had to take something for a brewing Migraine. Thankfully the drugs worked, but I am not happy that I had to take something. I am trying to limit the meds, but major head ache makes you take stuff.

Other than that the evening was ok. I cooked up some crab cakes for dinner. Checked my mail and tried to clean off some shows built up on my Tivo.

Battlestar Galactica

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I just finished watching the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica. All I can say is wow, some deep stuff. I know it is a Science Fiction show but it is also probably one of the best drama’s on TV. I can’t wait to see how everything plays out before the series ends. Some stuff that happened tonight I kinda guessed at. The hinted at Ellen being a cylon since we first meet her, but all the backstory that looks like it comes with that revelation was unexpected.

I am not going to recap the show. I am just glad the wait for new episodes was worth it. Lets see how the last 9 go!

The Daily Show

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Tonight I went to a taping of the Daily Show With John Stewart. Jayson, Scott, Nick, and I braved the freezing cold and rain for about 3 hours to see the taping. John Stewart is really funny and I love the Daily Show so I jumped at the chance to go when Jayson said he got tickets. It was allot of waiting for about 45 minutes of watching, but I wouldn’t have missed it.

In order to make it there in time to stand in line I had to do a few conference calls from Jayson’s office in the afternoon. That was a bit cramped but I was able to get all the work I needed done and still make the taping so things worked out.

Reset Sunday

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I took today as a day to relax and slowly get back into the groove for work. I tried to stop myself but I logged into work and and checked my mail. I didn’t respond to all of it (too many to do in the short amount of time I wanted to allocate to it today) but got out a bunch of responses. I also worked on some paperwork that had been piling up.

Besides some work I also got to clean up my apartment a bit. That also meant laundry. Everything is done now. It is nice to have an uncluttered apartment with no chores to do. Well if you don’t count cleaning up my desk a bit but I am going to procrastinate on that one for a while longer.

Other than that I stayed in. Relaxed, and watched some DVD’s. I was watching season 2 of Arrested Development. That was a great show!

Supercharging My TivoHD

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When I moved into my new apartment last August I got digital cable but I opted to not get a cable box. Instead I got a TivoHD and two CableCARD’s. The TivoHD and CableCARD combo has been fantastic. I got two CableCARD’s to use in the Tivo. I figured it could handle two, and two cards was still cheaper than renting one cable box. The issue was when the cable guy came to setup the cards I didn’t have the Tivo so he configured on in my TV and it worked great, but after the initial test the second one didn’t seem to work. I tried several tests with one and two configurations of the cards in my Tivo and always got no luck with one of the cards (always the same card). I wasn’t in a rush to call in the issue since I would have to either pay to have a service visit or go into their office to swap the card.

I finally broke down and wanted to fix the issue with the second card so I can record two shows at once with the Tivo. After over a year of procrastinating I finally called to figure out what was wrong with the second CableCARD. The rep I spoke to didn’t really have much of a clue so I wasn’t confident she would figure out the issue, but I got lucky. She sent some sort of signal boost to my TV and then after two hours both cards were working normally. I was very happy. Now I can record two shows in HD at once! Mmmm HD. I don’t even know how often I will need this function but it was a problem that I finally wanted to have resolved!

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