Category Archives: thoughts

musings and ideas

Satisfaction is watching television on my own terms using my TiVo.

2008.03.11 – 8:17 pm PDT

NewTeeVee asked a question today. “Does TiVo have A Chance?” I responded with a comment on their blog, and here is more pertinent information.

Please forgive my incessant run on sentences. In continuing with my series about , my cable company. Today I received in the mail a pertaining to my use of the technology on the Cox Digital Cable Network.

Here is an image of the extortion letter from Cox, trying to get me to get rid of the CableCARD technology they developed, in order to access to their networks for use in Consumer Electronics Goods like the, commercial skipping and Televisions with built in DVR functionality, that are far superior even with their basic functionality, to the crap technology cable companies call Set Top Boxes and Advanced Digital Receivers.

Their attempt to offer me a “great deal” or helping me out is quite lame and I hope it does not sway TiVo users into submission.

As I am not a viewer of much of the ethic programming being moved to the Switched Digital Video service it does not bother me, but I am sure it bothers those who do watch this valuable programming which is in their own language.

I do take issue with the fact that they are again making channels I already am able to watch, like G4TechTV, with my current technology unavailable to me. Their continuing efforts to extort money out of me in the form of forced renting their inferior technology, which is never for sale, and isn’t inexpensive to the consumer like the $1.99/month CableCARD, makes me sick.

So if I want the even some of the same functionality as my TiVo HD, I need to shell out $12.99 or more a month, for their piece of shit DVR receiver, not counting the supposed discount they are trying to offer as compensation for the lost access to channels and services I know I’m already not able to receive thanks to the hours of time spent on the phone with the Customer Service people and constant beating in of messages repeated to you while waiting on hold.

Need I even mention the countless ads you are subjected to for their triple play services, of telephone, cable tv, and high speed internet, that they place on every non over the air broadcast channel. If they allowed you to easily and quickly skip their “subliminal” advertising then you would win. At what point does seeing something so often just become embedded in your mind like a catchy song. Is this right? I don’t think so.

Below is the letter reproduced textually in it’s entirety for search engine goodness.

Dear Rob Friedman:

Effective April 8th, 2008, Cox will implement a new technology(Switched Digital Video) that will allow us to maximize our network capacity. As with other services we offer, such as On Demand, and the Cox Interactive Program Guide, this new technology requires a device capable of two-way communication. Currently two-way communication is only availible with a digital set top receiver. Switched Digital Video is not compatible with one-way digital cable ready devices that require a CableCARD.

Due to the limitations of the one-way DCR device that you own, a Cox digital set top receiver will be required in order to view the following channels after April 8, 2008.

  • Pay-Per-View Channels - including movie, events, sports packages, and preview channels.
  • Paquete Latino Tier
  • Foreign Language Channels: TV-5, ART, RAI, ZEE TV, The Filipino Channel, TV Japan, TV Asia and CTI Zhong Tian.
  • The following digital cable channels: CCTV-9, California Channel, CMT Pure Country, C-SPAN2, C-SPAN3, Fine Living, Fit TV, Fox Reality, Fuel, FUSE, Game Show Network, G4TechTV, HRTV, Jewelry TV, Leased Access (Ch. 109), ShopNBC, TVG and WeatherScan Local.

Additionally, new channels added to the Cox Digital Cable and HD channel lineup may not be availible to customers with a one-way DCR device. Cox can offer you continued access to these networks with a digital or advanced receiver. These receivers enable access to the above channels, and any new channels, the Cox Interactive Program Guide and OnDEMAND on Channel 1.

If you are interested in a digital or HD receiver from Cox, we will offer you one for the same price as a CableCARD for the first year ($1.99 a month). Please call us at 1-888-202-2314 if you would like to take advantage of this offer or make any changes to your account.

Sincerely,

Colleen Langer

Vice President, Marketing and Sales

I made an investment in my television watching habits and chose to save money when I purchased a TiVo HD and 3 year subscription just a few months ago. Now I do have a bit of a hard time trying to comprehend how the needed subscription to television guide information, which is public information available via the internet, news papers, and television itself, has to cost so much, hell it’s free to DirecTiVo users. For all the reasons imaginable it is important to develop and support free, as in beer, solutions for everyone in an age where information can be conveyed in the blink of an eye. The mere ability to reproduce something without any loss of quality tells me that it’s time to change the way a lot of companies do business.

Could you imagine if Hollywood would actually allow a company to develop software and DVR hardware with automatic commercial skipping enabled by default?  It is technically possible with all the junk in the television streams.  But already it’s bad enough they forced TiVo to “hide” 30 second skip by making users enter a code via their remote first.

Select - Play - Select - 3 - 0 - Select

I’m sure the company would make wheel barrels of cash, only to be sued by and legally stolen by the TV, movie, and other related industry conglomerates.

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oooh scary monster; resume

2008.03.06 – 4:53 pm PST

I’ve been slowly updating my monster.com resume the past couple weeks. Boy has monster.com been around for a long time. It’s scary to see all the skills I used to have and utilize, and now where am I? I guess it has been several years since I last blew the dust off it, and have been able to add a few things too. Hell, I’ve even updated some of the verbiage accomplishments to be more appropriate, as my resume included names of now defunct bits of software.

I wish I had some help in getting back to work. This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about it, that’s for sure.  I am just afraid, and not as confident as I’d like. I’m not sure if I can handle the responsibility of a Full time job, but I’d like to give it a try somehow. It’s not healthy sitting at home alone all day waiting for life to advance. I am supposed to be entitled to some job rehabilitation benefits, but those expired years ago, and unfortunately it has taken many of what should have been the best years of my life just to get to where I am today. Ok, well my left arm is really bugging me now and I’m feeling more depressed.

By px | Also posted in private, workers comp | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

un denied able.

2008.02.09 – 9:09 pm PST

My day started out alright, then I got today’s mail. Since then I’ve been in a bad mood, like usual after having received yet another authorization denial letter from the company. Only mailed yesterday, it’s quite amazing how prompt they are to issue a denial, and then see them take their sweet time for accepted authorizations and delay anything else.

I knew beforehand they would deny me relief, but it always stings a little when you know for sure and can read the actual writing on the wall. I just gotta keep on fighting the system for my benefits.

It sure would have helped to have had this information yesterday, when I had a scheduled appointment with my considering I emailed SCIF about the issue only two days prior. Now I gotta try communicating with him to see what is the next step before my next scheduled appointment which is in late March. I sense more forced down time and frayed nerves ahead.

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my ballot has been cast.

2008.02.05 – 4:23 pm PST

I voted today. I originally registered to vote absentee by mail, but changed my mind because I didn’t want to buy a stamp. Besides, my voting place wasn’t that far from where I live, it was at a senior living facility around the corner. I think in some ways voting should be a social experience if your able to participate. Once I got there, it was a real pain to find available parking. When you arrive at the polls, there is always someone there to help you with the voting process. There was also an error with my registration, one of the numbers if my street address was different in two sets of records. Once that was rectified, the polling workers gave me the choice of using a paper ballot, or computer which had a paper trail. I chose the computer method. It was kind of lame, I wish it were a touch screen instead of some kind of scroll wheel. After fumbling around with the scroll wheel trying to cast a write in vote, the rest was relatively easy to complete. I got my “I Voted” sticker, put it on my shirt, and went on my way.

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blah blah blah

2008.01.08 – 8:50 pm PST

It’s been several days since I last posted. Nothing post worthy has come up, but I felt like doing an update because today went pretty good.

I took the 73 Toll Road this morning for an appointment in Newport Beach with my . It’s been several months since my last visit with him, so I got him up to speed on where my progress was currently and had him fill out his portion of the Handicap Parking placard application. I asked his advice on a reimbursement issue I was foreseeing and about getting psychiatric help since I’m now living in state again. I thanked him dearly for all his help on my case. It’s almost been a year since his taking over my care and considerable progress has been made over that time.

On my way back to Laguna Hills, I again took the 73 Toll Road, and on the way back I realized I forgot to ask for a receipt on my way to Newport Beach, oh well $4.25 lost forever never to be reimbursed. I wonder if they will ever change the 73 into a freeway. It really seems like a waste of gas to take the 5, 405, 55, 73 just to get to the Fashion Island area from where I now live.

Anyways, traffic wasn’t bad coming home only took about 20 minutes. Once I got home I debated the finer points of whether or not to mail in the disabled placard form or to just go to the . I decided to go, and I took with me for a car trip. It only took about an hour once there. I spent the first forty minutes waiting in my car because the person behind the directory assistance desk said that was about how long my wait would be. So I waited with the dog for a while, going inside every once in a while to check on the progress of the queue. When it got close to my number I stayed inside and waited patiently. The person who helped me even remembered me from when I got my license renewed just over a month ago. Crazy eh? Suffice to say I’m glad I took the time and went, because they gave me the placard today. Last time when I mailed in the form, it took almost a month to process.

So as the adventure continues, on my way back I decided to go shopping at the Trader Joe’s by my house. In the parking lot happened to be the cute cashier I mentioned several posts back. She was on cart duty. She impressively maneuvered and pushed around about 15 carts through the parking lot. I commented on her powerful strength, unfortunately I didn’t catch her reply. But I did notice a smile. Ten seconds after the smile I realized I forgot to bring bags to use so I could get a raffle ticket. Next time I go I need to remember to recycle the collection of bags I have amassed. Shopping didn’t take long I focused on just getting the essentials, some quick dinner stuff and got out of there.

I got home, took the dog inside, unpacked the car, and re parked it in my spot. Came back inside, put away the groceries and munched on some grapes. I took the dog for a quick potty walk, then brought him back inside, put his backpack on, and then we went to the mail box. The new mail box they are building is almost finished. Soon there will be less walking involved with retrieving the mail. I kinda want a treadmill. Went through the mail, and had more time to kill before my 4:30 appointment. I was a couple minutes late getting there, On my way I went into the wrong shopping plaza. Luckily I had their number in my phone and got some direction to their office. Once I found the place, I filled out the obligatory paper work and waited for my therapist, Matt. To make a long story short the evaluation went OK, he gave me three neck exercises to do once a day, and I have an appointment again this Friday at noon.

Now that day is over, I can only hope that tomorrow the issue will be resolved with my .

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1st post of the year

2008.01.04 – 3:11 pm PST

I haven’t felt like posting anything relevant, or irrelevant as nothing of interest has happened to me. So I’m just going to ramble or rant about whatever comes to mind and shove everything into one post.

It’s been a few days since beginning this New Year. The New Year’s Eve’s bash at Egon’s was sweet. It’s always great to chill with good peepz. Thank you for hosting!

Not a lot has changed with my Workers Compensation bullshit. It took one full month, but my physical therapy is now authorized as of yesterday, I just need to find a place to begin treatment. I can only hope that won’t take as long and is within close proximity to my home.

My sister and 3.5yr old nephew were visiting me for the past couple weeks, and they left yesterday too. I’ll miss my sister and the lil guy. Right now he tips the scales at 35 lbs. The next time I see him he’ll be a lot bigger I’m sure.

After my family left I sped off to eat lunch with Ic3b3rg at . It gets busy there for lunch so we got there early at 11:20. I had the Pho. It was good. I will eat there again, frequently I’m sure.

I got some Sear’s gift cards from my dad for xmas, so I purchased myself a HD last week. It requires a to work with the digital system and to get the HD channels over cable, so for the last week I’ve been enjoying basic cable with my TiVo. For some reason Cox has to send somebody out to “install” the card into my TiVo. I say “install” because, all the guy did was shove the card into a slot on the front. Not too difficult. Oh ya, he did read some numbers off the TV to a person over the phone . They wanted to charge me money for this. Good thing when I called I got them to not charge me a dime. Otherwise I would have been more pissed off last night when HBO HD wasn’t working, and every other HD channel was pausing after tuning in. So after spending more time in phone hell last night after calling to get info on what to do with the now useless cable box, which I had to either… oi I can’t rant/type fast enough to say how much bullshit cox is. charging for every damn thing, picking up a cable box $20 because they don’t do this by default when changing service, installing a cable card $44, x 2 money grubbing assholes. So anyways, I have an appointment Saturday for someone to come out and see what’s up with my cable card. I’ve had my HDTV for almost 5 years and this is only the 2nd time I’ve seen an HD signal on it. I’m kind of excited to get caught up in that respect. So I stayed up late last night, and caught Conan O’Brian who’s been back on the air for 2 days now without writers. He has a strike beard, and it was pretty well defined in HD.

Well that is all for now…

By px | Also posted in personal, workers comp | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Terrific Tuesday, take 4 3/4

2007.12.11 – 9:35 pm PST

This is now the 6th time I’ve attempted writing this post over the last 2 hours not including breaks. I was fighting some bad behavior, a funky Wordpress plugin which had become outdated and needed to be updated.

I had the first post-op visit with my this afternoon. After waiting in the waiting room, and then a briefly some x-rays of my neck were taken, then more waiting. The surgeon, Dr Jon White, came in and took the tape off the wound, and said it looked great, and proceeded to show me the x-rays on his laptop. Very neat. He discussed the hardware that now occupies my neck, and said that I will begin physical therapy soon. I hope soon is the operative word here. Ahh progress is still progress, which is nice. I ask him if I could drive and how much I should move my neck, and was then on my way back home.

A week without shaving left me with a full beard. Shaving with a new thing on my neck was a task to get used to. The wound just feels funny to me, so I avoided it while shaving in the shower with out a fog free mirror.

Outside of my neck feeling a bit stiff, and the low back I’m feeling great.

PS.  I got the new Futurama Movie today in my Netflix if anyone is interested in seeing it on my big screen.

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rambling on the internets

2007.11.16 – 8:24 pm PST

First I would just like to thank my new unknown for the most gracious use of the internet via an open access point. I <3 open wifi. From where I’m at, there are 5 visible SSID’s, 3 of which are secured, and two open. I don’t like that there are five within range especially because once I set my network up the airwaves will be even more crowded. Out of the eleven 2.4 Ghz channels in the U.S. designated for 802.11 b/g you can really only use 4 of them without overlapping the signals and cause interference. Anyway back to my rambling…

So here I am in my new home laying on a sleeping bag in my living room. It’s been a busy ~48 hours for me. My dad and I left Sierra Vista around midnight Friday morning and made alright time considering the slower than normal speed at which we were traveling. I’d much rather drive safely with a moving van full of my shit than drive like a maniac, and have broken things. Every time I move I realize just how materialistic I am. I have way too much shit. Most of which I’m pretty sure I don’t need or have a real use for.

After arriving to my new home and a bit of running around like a headless chicken I am somewhat settled in. There is much more left to do, but I am extremely worn out and the moving van doesn’t have to be back till Monday. Tomorrow I should have the help of a couple friends to get more unloaded.

After surveying the apartment I’ve come to the conclusion that my big beautiful 65″ Sony HDTV will likely not make it in the front door due to a 90 degree turn it would have to make through the entry. I fear my bed may have the same fate, although we should be able to get my California King bed in through the patio. I don’t know, but these places were not designed for people with big things. The one couch I brought with me may not work either. Luckily the apartment complex has one garage available on the other side of the complex, so what won’t make it in the front door will live in there until I can sell it. *sigh* I really wish I knew whether or not the television would fit before yesterday, as I would have left the TV with my father. I spent way to much on that TV to sell it after only maybe 4 years of use. As long as something works I see no point in getting rid of it because it’s old. I’ve had a 32″ Sony TV since 1994, and a Mag 15″ monitor since before that, both work just fine, but they are definitely too heavy and bulky for me to move alone. Before getting hurt, I could easily lift and move the 170lbs 32″ Sony TV by myself.

So back to the headless chicken… While my dad and I were unloading we left the dog in the apartment, unfortunately we left the glass slider open, and forgot about it when we left to go eat. Needless to say, decided to go explore the complex on his own. Fortunately he had his collar on, and was found near the apartment by some nice dirt bike people. So just as we finished eating at Fuddruckers, I got a call from a nice person saying she found Negative. At that point I got more frantic. We darted back, and the nice people who held on to him kept saying how nice he was, and how he wanted to get into their truck. For those who don’t know Negative loves to jump up into vehicles, onto chairs, and anything not ground level.

Note to self: I need to change the timezone for my laptop to PST from MST. I keep looking at the clock, and think to myself damn it’s late. When it’s really an hour earlier.

So I guess the Cox cable guy didn’t come today or yesterday to hook up my basic cable and internet. I don’t have a TV to test the ONE cable jack in my place. It’s pretty ridiculous that this apartment only has ONE cable outlet. For the moment I am glad that I have stuff to watch on my laptop. This should keep me entertained for a couple days I hope. If I run out of stuff to watch, I can always post another boring blog entry, or download some torrents. I already miss the TiVo. I didn’t even get to finish watching everything it recorded for me this week. I really wanted to see Nip/Tuck, and Southpark. I only managed to see the first 30min of Nip/Tuck because my dad’s favorite college football team was on last night.

I really think I over exerted myself today between the 12 hour drive and getting only a 2 hour nap in the car left me giddy. I hope I don’t have to sit that long again. I could really use some pain relief. Time to watch a movie. Had I actually had the foresight to see that I would want to take a nice hot shower right now I would have remembered where I packed the towels.

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hurry up and wait

2007.11.09 – 4:56 pm PST

Yesterday I got the letter from my stating that is a .  I sent the letter and other requested pictures of my dog to the leasing office yesterday.  Now I need to wait for the General or leasing manager to get in on Monday before things are more or less finalized.

*sigh*

This sucks.  Last weekend when I got home, I was noticeably happier than I’ve been in a long time.  As the week has progressed my mood has dropped back down and stabilized.

I was really hoping to spend the weekend not worrying about where I’ll be in a weeks time.  This is slightly lazy of me, but I’d rather not start packing up my life just yet.   Maybe someday I’ll attempt to calculate just how much of my life I have spent waiting around for things to happen.  At this junction I would roughly estimate about 4 of the last 6.5 years.  I’ve definitely lost momentum and sense of direction in my life.  I honestly hope getting back to California, along with the availability of health care and upcoming surgery will provide emotional stability to the constant state of depression I have been trapped in.

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the catch and release plan.

2007.11.04 – 5:32 pm PST

Current Mood:Confused emoticon Confused

So here is the catch to back to . I need to find a in order to be fiscally OK with paying the rent related expenses. Consider this, a 1 bedroom in the same community would have costed me roughly $1300-1500/month versus the $1665/month for a two bedroom and splitting rent with someone else. I need to figure out a good amount to split including utilities/cable, and even decide if I want to take the master bedroom. Nice dilemma right? I also need more information which I do not yet have, but I should be able to guesstimate.

These are a few things I need to work on over the next 12 days. A plan of attack if you will. I am going to update this list as needed even though I should be using my for this task. Maybe I’ll just use it to write up the gist on the blog and then move it over to the wiki tomorrow. The items on my list are somewhat in order and include my general thoughts about each.

  1. Decide if I want the master bedroom in my unit.
  2. Go read similar roommate requests from craigslist and other sites to get a good idea of what information to convey.
  3. Write up a general posting; Basically a press release including some of the benefits of the apartment and other information which I need to determine.
    1. Email jay.brim at jpi.com about which unit style did I rent. So I can get the sqft.
    2. First Floor unit.
    3. top/bottom style clothes washer/dryer in unit
    4. Kitchen appliances; Refrigerator, toaster, microwave, electric stove, and oven.
    5. Pets OK! Dogs and Cats. Pet Deposit/Rent info. (Definitely will need to check on the compatibility with .)
    6. Proximity to shops and stores; Trader Joe’s, Laguna Hills Mall, Marshall’s
    7. Google Map link to location. Along with search links to grocery, shopping, gas, services.
    8. 65″ HDTV,cable tv, High-speed cable internet, WiFi
    9. No Phone; I’ll need a fax line, maybe Vonage?
    10. Figure out Security Deposits, $600, extra Gate remote $50.
    11. $35 Application fee
    12. Scan in the floor plan of my unit. This will be a nice touch.
  4. Copy the above roommate request and repost ahem, spam to;
    1. craigslist (which seems only fitting as the place I found was via craigslist)
    2. myspace, facebook, livejournal. To get the word out amongst my friends.
  5. Call the local U-haul place, and possibly moving company.
  6. Change of Address via USPS for my mail and periodicals.
  7. Change my address with all my accounts, banking, credit cards, mobile phone, online accounts, etc.
  8. Call Utilities etc, and have them switch on stuff.
  9. Cashiers Check or Money Order for Total Move in cost of $1832.00.
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The way home.

2007.09.27 – 4:00 am PDT

Here I am again on the road. Still my dad is driving home. Only 1.5 hours to go. We’re almost to Tuscon. I can tell from the construction on the highway right before it opens up into 3 lanes.

Why does the auto complete want to end almost ever word with a “typing ing”?
ion Completioning typinging almosingredient hmm.
That killed a few minutes. We’re now in Tuscon. Passing exit 248, almost to where the major construction is at. My dad just hit some debris on the road. It scared the crap outta him. ;)

I actually kinda like using this thing to blog while on the road. should try out Maemowordpy, and Canola on his Nokia 800 when he gets his. He got it.(I wonder if he’ll take up my suggestion on the software?)

BTW.. if I haven’t said it all before, I’ll say it again… Someone needs to get a bluetooth headset/headphones working with these internet tablets, then it could be a podcasting blogstation too. Very neat indeeding. Hehe. I bet the sound quality would be quite remarkable with even a crappy headset. I wonder how how long it will be before it happens, it’s only a matter of time as I’m pretty sure it’s already been thought up.

Killing time still… Exit 268 now. Not a lot of traffic. It’s nice. Ok enough random stuff, time to save. Iwish the default save filename for Maemowordpy was better than “File”. If it merely had a date and time and smarter save and re-open process it would be so much more functional for everyday folk. Ok done for real this time… Savinging

We got home about 1/2hour ago. Total trip tine, 36 hours and change. 22 driving. 12 in the hotel. 2 at the doctor’s office. The doctor appointment went pretty good by the way.

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