some of this. some of that. and there. you. are.

With my Tivo, I’ve always been able to stream music and photos from my computer to the TV. Now with the help of a Macintosh program called VisualHub, I can stream movies and video from my Mac to our Tivo-connected televisions. VisualHub unlocks a hidden feature of Tivo’s desktop manager which adds an additional tab to include not only music and photos but video also.

With my wireless-N configuration, I can start watching the video immediately after selecting it and the quality is pretty good. So now I don’t have to buy an Apple TV or Slingbox and can save the money for some other gadget that comes along.

It won’t be very long when we’ll be able to dump Comcast and rely totally on the Internet to provide our entertainment. The huge amount of money we spend each month for their service is outrageous. They do offer some good programming options but costs are not worth the hefty monthly price tag.

Here are some alternatives I’ve been using:

• Joost - from the makers of Skype, it has 400+ channels of music, TV and movies. I’ve been using it for about a year now and the programming choices get better each week. The best part is its all free.
• Hulu - now in beta, this is a very cool site that also has tons of programming with HD options coming soon. The streaming content comes up quickly and the picture quality is excellent. Since it’s ad-based the site is free.
• Tivo’s Unbox - you can download and watch movies right through your Tivo box. It’s a service from Amazon. I haven’t tried this one in a while but its like Comcast’s onDemand option.
• Torrent sites - no the legal ones. They are everywhere and give you free options to download media to your computer.
• Netflix - a per month subscription allows you to sign-out multiple movies at a time via the mail. I stopped using this a while back but if I ever ditch Comcast, this will be a good way to keep up with movies out on DVD.

Now I just need to find a better, and cheaper alternative to Comcast’s high-speed internet. AT&T’s U-verse DSL may be a good option.

Excalibur

Originally uploaded by frontsideback

My photo of a nightclub in Chicago is being considered for inclusion in an online tourist site called Schmap. I’m flattered.

from 2002…

So on Saturday afternoon we go to see David Copperfield at the Fox theater. We bought our tickets the night before on Ticketmaster.com and by luck got second row seats.

While we were waiting for the show to begin, a stagehand approached and asked if Pam and I were married. He said that David uses a married couple in his act and wanted to have us join him on stage. Yee ha!

The show began and we were called up for the first illusion. It involved a large steel plate and we were there to test its authenticity. David had us both knock, tap and even kick the plate to make sure it was real. He made a couple of married couple jokes and had us stand on each side of a large metal box.

He laid down in the box and our steel plate was placed on top of it. Next a large sheet was placed over the entire box.

Before too long, we saw the sheet rising up in the air! He was passing his hands and feet through the steel plate and making sheet rise up. Amazing.

We were standing right next to this box the entire time and still couldn’t figure out how he did it. Of course we were pretty nervous being in front of such a large crowd but the illusion looked very real to both of us. He finished the act to the sound of a roaring crowd.

“Everyone give them a big hand” said David and we were shuffled off the stage and back to our seats. During the rest of the show he glanced at us a couple of times. We were his new helpers, we thought.

After the show, we hopped over to the MGM Grand casino to check it out. We’ve never been to the one downtown. We had a decent meal at the buffet and quickly gambled away the $10 in quarters we got while playing the slots.

It was a fun night and one we will remember for a long time.

While I’m fiddling with the design of the site, here’s an entry from the archives:

So I take Pam’s PT Crusier in on Wednesday for an oil change and to have them check the brakes, they’re squeaking. I arrive right on time, check the car in and wait for the shuttle to work. 45 minutes later, I’m on my way.

Later, I get a call just before its time to catch the return shuttle “Mr. Feeeldstin, you car isn’t quite ready, we didn’t have a part, but it’s on the way.” I get on the 4 o’clock shuttle (it arrives 30 mins late), and go to the dealership and wait, and wait. Finally the tech tells me the part came but its the wrong one. “We’ll get a car for you, the rental car place will send one over momentarily.” I wait again. 30 minutes later they decide to take me to the car rental office. Once there I check in at the desk and then I…wait. Sheeeit! 40 minutes later I’m finally on the road with a smelly, dirty piece of crap car. But I didn’t care, I wanted to get home.

Today I call the dealer asking about my car and I’m told its still not ready. The correct part didn’t arrive but the truck is coming and it should be there. So I’m stuck driving the crapmobile home again. On the way, in a huge traffic jam, the car starts making this extremely loud screeching noise. It was loud enough to have everyone around me look over to see what the hell what happening. It did it again and again all the way home. I don’t know what the sound was, I don’t really care. I’ll leave the cursed car on the side of the road if it breaks down and have Pam come get me.

I’m a mess. First thing tomorrow, I’m calling my therapist to see if they can squeeze me in for an additional session this week.

So I’m walking into the restroom at work and some guy from another area follows me in carrying several magazines. He slips into a stall and I go about my business. About 10 minutes later, I’m getting some coffee and this same guy strolls out of the restroom and places the magazines back into the bin where he got them.

What I don’t understand is why he needs to come to our floor to use our resources but what really pissed me off was he was putting contaminated magazines BACK into the bin where someone else will pick them up.

The next time I see this loser, I plan on letting him know about it.

iPhone Owners Manual

Table of Contents
I. Turning on the iPhone
II. Making a call using the iPhone
III. Using the iPhone to send email
IV. Accessing the internet with your iPhone
V. Using the iPhone camera
VI. Listen to music with your iPhone
VII. Using the iPhone to humiliate the bad driver who cuts you off on the road
VIII. Using your iPhone to make a margarita
IX. Using your iPhone to wash your car
X. Using your iPhone to design a Boeing Dreamliner
XI. Using your iPhone to help Harry Potter defeat Valdemort
XII. Using your iPhone to reverse global warming and the ozone layer damage
XIII. Replacing the battery in your iPhone
XIV. Appendix

The company is being sold very soon to Cerberus. You would think people would make a point of learning how to pronouce the name of their new owners. But again today I ate lunch with someone pronouncing “see bare us” or “kerr be rus.” It’s “sir ber us” you morons. And while you’re at it, learn to pronounce Daimler. It’s not “Dame ler”, it’s “Dime ler.” Sheesh.

Everyone knows a person who thinks they know everything. For every story you have, these people come up with a better one. When you are in a conversation, it’s as though they are just waiting for their turn talk. They are not at all interested in what you have to say. They’re inconsiderate slobs who I avoid whenever I can.

So it’s fun at work when our Story Topper sits down with us at lunch. Usually we all get up and leave but once in a while it’s fun to play around with him. We’ll make up outrageous (and fake) stories to see what he comes up with. Everyone at the table knows the gag except the clueless moron who just talks endlessly about nothing. And while he’s blathering on, he continues to eat and spit food all over the table. Like I said, a total slob.

On that note, I have a habit of blanking out if the person talking to me is boring. They’ll be rattling on and I go to a better place in my head. So next time you see me with a polite but empty look, STOP TALKING because you’re boring me.

Coming soon: “The Adventures of Ryan - The Intern.”

Since I’m getting back into the swing of things with my blog, I thought I would review my past comments regarding my rules of etiquette.

In the elevator:

• When the elevator arrives, QUICKLY move inside. Don’t piddle around while I’m trying to be a gentleman by letting you go first. Several times people have taken their time and we miss the car.
• After you enter, make your floor selection and the MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. Other people need to access the panel so don’t stand in front of it.
• If the elevator is full, wait for the next one.
• Never, never, never take the elevator only one (or two) floors. If there is an escalator available, USE IT.

In line wherever:

• Keep your distance and don’t breath down my neck.
• If you’re in front of me, pay attention and maintain proper spacing to the person in front of you.
• When you get to the front, QUICKLY do what you have to do and get the hell out of my way. Don’t wait to decide what you are going to order until you get up to the counter. Use the time waiting in line to figure out what you are going to do.

Driving:

• Don’t tailgate.
• Use your turn signals.
• Don’t tailgate.
• Use your turn signals.
• Get out of my way.