Jeremy Ray

Here is an ABC13 piece on Jeremy Ray, a soldier from Jersey Village who died in Iraq. Jeremy and I grew up in the same youth group and boy scout troop, and both graduated from JV High School in 2000. He was at A&M the same time I was, but I never saw him most likely due to his dedication to the Corp. Thank you Jeremy for your sacrifice, you are missed.

• Blog Entry
• JV Alumni Thread (Login Required)
• (AP) Houston soldier killed by suicide bomber
• Soldier killed in Iraq remembered (w/Video)
• Sad homecoming for Houstonian killed in Iraq
• Funeral Plans Set for Fallen Soldier

Logitech = Service

The number "6" on my keyboard quit this week, so I called Logitech to see what could be done. The keyboard is 10 months old, and is covered by their 5-year "Limited Warranty". Here's what happened:

1) Told the service guy my problem
2) He verified by asking if both "6" keys were broken or just the one
3) He asked for the Serial Number and my address
4) He ships me a new keyboard.

Took less than 5 minutes. I am now a Logitech customer for life...

Moving it all to Fidelity FINISHED

I've decided my day-to-day money (checking, money-markets/CDs, short-term savings accounts) is spread out too wide to effectively manage (4 separate accounts to be exact) so over the holiday I am going to be moving it all into a Fidelity mySmart Cash Account.

The goal here is to be able to control everything from Fidelity.com, avoid any and all banking fees, avoid all ATM fees (arrggghh!!!), and allow my cash accounts to earn a healthly 3%+ instead of the .000001% my checking account currently earns. I'll be updating this post as I make the change, and you can follow along using the direct link on the right hand menu.....

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Step 1 is complete - I just finished the online application in under 5 minutes. They needed the usual info, nothing serious, and it looks like I am n ow awaiting a confirmation email once the account has been created. They didn't give me an ETA.

On the same note, here's a blog entry from someone else who did the same exact thing. There are some pretty interesting comments about other options (including Schwabb). LINK

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Got the debit cards in the mail, still waiting for the checks. I adjusted my Direct Deposit - looks Fidelity outsourced this account to a bank in Warsaw, Missouri so that we can be FDIC insured.

I also setup BillPay, which was just as easy as Bank of America.

The only issue I am facing is depositing checks - with Fidelity I have to fill out deposit slips and MAIL the checks into the bank. I may just keep my BOA savings account then transfer the funds electronically to Fidelity each month to make things easier.
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OK, everything is up and running - checks, debit cards, BillPay, really the same features as BOA, but I can access my money everywhere without penalties or fees. I kept my a local BOA checking account for when I need to deposit checks (fairly rare), and then just run a quick EFT every month to Fidelity.

Someone asked about customer service - my direct deposit to Fidelity had an error in the account number, and Fidelity tracked it down and credited my account in under an hour....not bad.

Hemi Exhaust, Air Filters, and MPG

Well, I was skeptical of the claims of "better fuel efficiency" that were advertised by both K&N (air filters) and Flowmaster (exhaust) for my truck, so I installed each and kept tabs with my on-board MPG display. Here's what I found:

Flowmaster 50 Series dual exit system ($225) - Previous: 14.1 mpg, After: 14.9 mpg

K&N Oil-based Air Filter ($20) - Previous: 14.9 mpg After: 15.4 mpg

Doing the math, and based on my driving habits, the investment in both an exhaust system and a free-flowing filter will take 20 months to break even, and then begin to save me $12.50 each month thereafter. That's about a 10% savings each month, plus I get a mean exhaust sound, so I'm a happy man.

Notes: MPGs are City/Highway mix over a 4 week period each during standard commute times, Truck is a 5.7L Hemi Dodge Ram 1500 Fullsize, air-filter was added after the exhaust system.

Scared to join the Mac crowd...

I am definitely scared to take the full plunge into the Apple world - my desktop is still a PC, and here's why:

I treat my computers like cars - when something breaks, I crack it open and replace the part. With a PC, parts are incredibly cheap and adhere to standard size specifications, so buying is easy. Changing parts on an iMac or Mac Mini is like repairing a Ferrari - expensive parts that are custom fit, and not shared across the product spectrum (I am leaving the PowerMac/MacPro out of this, since they are $2k desktops meant for graphic/video/music professionals). This all goes back to the original "IBM compatible" standardization of the PC, and is one reason why Apple (although gaining some of the PC market currently) will struggle to overcome the PC stranglehold on computers.

In the end, the more Macs that are sold, the more support for parts, and the cheaper the part prices. I'm slowly warming up...

Downtown is dangerous...

The following happened today as Damian and I walked to lunch on Walker Street, downtown Houston:

1) A huge compressed Nitrogen bottle (about 6ft tall) vented on a group of fellow Shellers, causing screams of panic and mild high-stepping to get away. Compressed Nitrogen is super cold (scientifically speaking), so I half expected one of the people to be frozen Terminator 2 style, and fall to the ground in a million pieces, only to melt due to the flames of the nearby steel mill (substitute street vendor here) and regenerate. Didn't happen.

2) Stepped over a discarded crack pipe, then made the obligatory "you drop your crack pipe?" joke to Damian...always good for a laugh

3) And watched as a homeless man stepped in front of a moving bus, bus hits the horn, and homeless man flicks bus off.. I just assumed he was homeless by his clothes, although he was dressed very similar to me circa sophomore year in college.

You're not watching HDTV...

You may have a new HDTV, but are you really watching HDTV? Most people I know aren't. Here's how to get HD programming:

1. HDTV box from your Cable or Satellite Provider - get a new HDTV box, your old one is jealous of the new TV and is trying to kill it with a standard 480i signal...
   
2. Local channels in HD using an antenna and your TV's tuner - $20 (Amazon.com, Wal-Mart)
3. Upconverting DVD player - $50-$75 (Amazon.com, Wal-Mart) and will make your DVDs look AWESOME on your new TV. This is a must have.
   
4. HD-DVD/Blu-Ray DVD Players - avoid these until a dual format player goes sub-$200
   

Alpine KCA-420i works with the iPhone and iPhone 3G

This is blatant attempt to grab some web hits...

Confirmed: the Alpine KCA-420i works with the first gen iPhone. Update - it does work with the iPhone 3G, but it does not charge it.

Tested my in-car Alpine iPod connection with iPhone, and it works perfectly. Upon connecting, the iPhone asks if you want to turn Airplane Mode on (your choice here, although I have not had any speaker interference). All iPhone features remain active, except the iPod feature which now displays "Accessory Connected". Using the Alpine head unit you can search using normal commands through Artists, Playlists, Podcasts, etc.

Here's the cool part - if someone calls you, the music pauses and you hear the ringtone through the car speakers. Hit your BlueTooth to answer, or simply hit "answer" on the phone and tap the speaker-phone feature and talk away. When the call ends the iPod resumes.

It also charges the first gen iPhone, but it does not charge the iPhone 3G.

My Setup - Alpine CDA-9833, Alpine KCA-420i, Alpine MRD-M301, Alpine KCE-510M, Alpine Alpine SWE-1042 (x2)

New Astros Jersey Time!

Wow, I feel bad for anyone who has invested in an Astros shirt/jersey/shersey with any player's name on the back. Clemens and Pettitte are in the thick of Mr. Mitchell's report (as is Miguel Tejada - cancel your pre-order of that jersey!), we just traded away 7+ players (including some popular ones like Luke Scott and Chris Burke), and Biggio and Bags are gone. This is quite possibly a conspiracy born from the jersey making industry. First they created the shersey, now this....

When the Tejada trade came over the wire, and ESPN dropped this story, I began to think... my first thoughts - why do we want a former MVP whose numbers have declined steadily since tougher steroid testing was put in place, and who was linked to Palmeiro? Now all the big names in steroids are all 1 degree removed from H-Town.

Sans Triple Strum

I may be mistaken, but I think the new Shane & Shane album (their site has a slick intro, but it crawled on my DSL) does not feature a single triple-strum on the guitar. This was Shane Barnard's bread and butter since circa 1998(?), but the new album has a more calm feel...sans triple-strum...here's an example....from the YouTube...

Quick review of the Shane & Shane album - excellent, especially Burn Us Up...it's the new Prodigal Me...

There is some sweet unintentional comedy in this video, but wait for him to start -he can triple-strum pretty well....just watch the first minute...

Texas - Save some money on electric bills

If you have your own electric bill here in Texas, then you can probably switch companies for a lower rate (this may not work for co-ops and apartments/condos). Our average bill dropped $75 per month during May thru August by doing the following...

Visit PowertoChoose.org which is an independent forum where the latest power company rates are listed. Just pick a company, do a quick Google search to make sure they are reputable, and sign-up on the web.

Here's the 411 (yes, I just dropped the "411") - power companies in Texas put electricity onto "the grid", forming a pool of energy. You then have the choice on whose power you buy. For us in Houston, Reliant is the MOST expensive, but using the site above you can easily pick TXU, Amigo, Spark, Stream, etc for a lower rate.

Before you sign any 1 year contracts, consider going month-to-month (slightly higher rates) with one of the companies listed on the site. I was surprised that when I mentioned this to my coworkers (in the energy business) most knew they could switch, but not how to compare prices.

Time to sit - Joe Perry is playing...

I had an interesting idea as a I passed the merch table at a concert over the weekend. Localized iTunes stores - if you are attending a concert and really want the tracks that were just played, simply access the iTunes store on your iPhone and buy the songs - but here's the twist - create localized iTunes pages that can only be accessed on Wifi at the venue. These localized sites would provide live tracks performed that same night. So as you leave the stadium/arena, or as you sit in the crowd while Steven Tyler lets Joe Perry play his new-yet-awful song, you can download exclusive live content from the concert (which often features new/unreleased tracks).

Think back to John Mayer's "Any Given Thursday" live album - you can hear the audience of swooning girls scream out the lyrics to every song except the new songs from the unreleased Clarity album. What if you gave all those screaming fans a chance to buy those new unreleased tracks right then on iTunes - wouldn't the concert "high" translate into crazy sales? The mobile Wifi iTunes store makes this happen.

Business 101

Saw a Nova special on the Concorde Jet, and there was one quote in the program that I found really intriguing. Apparently they began to put the Concorde project in the black by raising prices sharply in the late 70's...but it was the way they did it that was interesting...

"We realized passengers of the Concorde rarely knew how much they were paying for their tickets. Then we surveyed them, and found that most believed they were paying more than the actual ticket price. So we just raised our prices to what they thought they had already been paying."

Man, so you just need to find something people are buying without really knowing what the cost is, and then jack up the price. Business 101.

NFL Postgame Shows

Since we lack cable/sat (I know, I know), for Sundays I catch up on football by Tivo'ing "Football Night in America" on NBC. So my question is this - of the broadcast networks, who has the best postgame: NBC, CBS, or Fox?

I like NBC for a couple of reasons:
1) Keith Olbermann's awkward moments - we know you started in sports, but political commentary has warped your mind. You are now as painful during a game summary as you are during Countdown. He spits out jokes about each play, only they are two plays late, and we are already looking at another highlight. Keep up with us Keith! Gives us the play-by-play, then the color commentary IF there is time.

2) All games (save the late game) have ended, so you get all the highlights. AND they have tons of time (over an hour) so they show a lot of highlights for each game.

3) Because FNA comes on BEFORE the late game, there are no issues recording it. Other post-games bleed over time slots because they follow a live game and Tivo (God bless it) has trouble.

4) It is both a pre-game and post game show, all wrapped in one. They talk about Sunday's action, the late game, MNF, and Thursday's upcoming NFL network game.

5) AND you have some recent, real-deal players in Tiki and The Bus who give some good commentary. Bob Costas is solid, Olbermann we already covered, and then Cris Collinsworth mails in his performance to round out the cast.

Unstoppable...

Have you seen the Citizen watch commercials that star Eli Manning? They start with "Eli Manning is unstoppable.." and it goes downhill from there. Not so sure Eli is the best representative for any product right now. So you're saying that my Citizen watch will perform like Eli - it works great during college, but then it decides to stop ticking on Sundays, or then it teases me with a solid week of keeping time only to break off my wrist in a horrific 4 interception performance. Wait, my metaphors are getting mixed up. Check the Citizen Watch site (and click on Eli)..they quote his numbers from 2005 as justification for their "unstoppable" claim.

I will give Citizen credit on one thing - they selected pseudo famous people from other random sports to fill out their roster - people from hockey, cricket, skiing, golf - people who are much less visible here in the states. "Unstoppable" is a touch mark to reach. Right now Federer, Brady, and Woods might be on that list, but every once in a while they also are stopped.

"I am Beowulf!"

I saw Beowulf in IMAX 3D on Friday - wow, was that fun. Blood spraying, limbs being torn and tossed at you, pretty gory overall. After the 10th or so horrific death I was really surprised this was only rated PG-13, so beware if you are not a fan of gratuitous violence. The 3D part made the movie, and I can't wait until we get 3D movies at home...

Waco kayakers are drunk

Interesting story that deserved its own post - On our recent trip to Waco to visit Herm and Scotty S, we took a hike in Cameron Park (which is supposedly one of the best mountain biking courses in Texas). The park runs along the Brazos river, and makes use of the bluff leading down to the river with lots of steep trails and creek beds. Upon making it up the cliff that sets against the Brazon river, we looked down to see a kayaker in the water, overturned and clinging to his vessel. And I quote the following:

Kayaker - "Anyone out there? Hello? Hello?"
Me from 100 feet above on the cliff - "You need help?"
Kayaker - "Yes, help me"
Herm - "Just paddle to the shore, its like 30 feet!"
Kayaker - "Help, help, I ...I spilled my whiskey"

I dialed 911, and we then began a debate on whether he deserved a 911 call or saving due to his inebriated state, as we continued to wait on hold. I finally get through to the fire department, who says they're on their way.

Part 2 (yes there are multiple parts)
The Kayaker proceeds to float down the Brazos past a Waco City function held across the river from our position. As the Mayor is being introduced, our kayaker keeps calling for help until a crowd of onlookers begins to gather. Finally, three brave souls decide to go in the water fully clothed and help our new kayaker friend. BUT as they near the kayaker, he waves them off, suddenly realizing that being plucked from the water will surely mean an arrest. Well, the sirens can now be heard from a distance and our kayaker begins to fade into the distance, a tiny spec on the river as it bent toward Waco. That's when I took this picture....see if you can spot him...

Sometimes technology is too much...

Time for a good old fashion rant - I tried to log-in to my credit union today using their web-system for the first time in a couple months, but I needed my "member ID" in order to log-in. It's not my email address, or a userID that I created, or my account number, but some random number generated for me so I can access my account. So I call their support line and after about 10mins on hold I get a nice person from Boston MA on the phone and I explain my problem - can't remember my member ID number, can you help. The answer - not over the phone. How about over email - nope again. Not secure she says - can't give out ID numbers using the phone or email. So, what does she suggest? I have to fax her my account number, social security number, and signature on a sheet of paper to a long-distance number. ..

(pause for effect)

Really?!? You have a fancy web system that is supposed to reduce interaction times and overhead, but the only way to get a reminder on your log-in info is by a fax with enough personal data to gorge even the fattest of scammers? Unreal...I almost asked if she was a prince from a foreign land who needed my help securing his family's untold fortune. Still waiting for my return on that investment....

Christmas Pic 2007

Well, here's the new Christmas pic that we're sending out to our families this year. You should go ahead and print one and put it on your fridge....

Well done Ford...

Finally got in a new Mustang last night (GT 5spd) - and I so far have high marks for Ford. Two weeks ago I sat in a '67 fastback, and sitting in this '05 GT was like that '67 only on steroids. The retro gauge cluster was a highlight, as was the legroom and set-back dash. On top of this, the driver's seat puts you in a more upright posture compared to the recent Camaros and GTOs, and puts the shifter in your hand at just the right angle.

And quickly comparing horsepower ratings - the 2003 Camaro Z28 (final year) had an MSRP of ~27K with 305HP. The new Mustangs GTs start at around $24K for 300HP. Not too bad Ford, not too bad. In more recent years the Mustang GT got a bad rep as a 4.6L waste of money that could not match the value of GM F-body V8's, but the tables have turned. We'll see what the new Camaro and Challenger have to say next year....

iPhones, and rumors of iPhones

The hot topic as of late is "what will be next for the iPhone?" which really means "should I buy one now or wait?". Well, here's the low-down on what's expected for sometime during late 2008 for those who wait:

-3G support is imminent - the chips are smaller and cheaper now, so this is near certain. 3G is the latest cell phone data transfer technology, and it gives your cell phone data speed that is often faster than the DSL you have at home. Only problem is that coverage is only available in larger markets, but it's growing everyday.

- Storage will double to 16GB - I haven't seen this predicted yet, but this is classic Apple. It only makes sense that the iPhone will double in storage to 16GB in the next release. Again, chips are cheaper and Apple already has a 16GB chip waiting in the wings (actually its waiting in the iPod Touch)

-Big question mark: GPS - the chip prices for GPS have really come down so this is possible, but I don't see Apple showing us all their cards at once. First 3G for 2008, then GPS for 2009. Here's a great article on the future of GPS, and to the contrary it that says that an iPhone with GPS is "widely expected".

Spend $50 on a DVD player?

Yes - I said it. Spend $50 on a new DVD player. No, it is not 1996, and no you shouldn't go back to the cell phone that is built into a carrying case.

For $50 or so you can revive your DVD collection and buy an Upconverting DVD player for your HDTV. It plays normal DVDs at near HD quality - in fact, it's so close to HD that it fools the most discerning eyes. Even this guy agrees as he writes an article on a cheap $250 HD-DVD player.

Here are some tips:

1) Make sure it has an HDMI connection (should be standard)
2) Make sure it outputs 720P and 1080i resolutions (1080P is also out there, costs a bit more...)
3) Don't spend over $50, there are plenty of deals out there (go with a Panasonic, Samsung, LG, or Sony model)

IBM comes off a bit snarky...

I hate to say it, but I really enjoy the IBM ad campaign that has been showing the past few years. You know, the 30 second spots with the blue letterboxes and snarky commentary about corporate IT integration platforms, innovation vs. implementation, or the guys in the server room who are being attacked by the old servers, only to be saved by the cool-and-informed tech guy who installs IBM blades. This last one mysteriously has the feel of a Mac vs. PC commercial - I'm not sure which ad campaign came first, but you be the judge:



I should probably put a disclaimer on these type of posts...

*Disclaimer - this post is saturated with corporate technology lingo and is boring even to me*

Some Turkey Day Deals...

Well, no purchases for me over Thanksgiving, but here's a run down of some great deals I saw:

Halo 3 Legendary Edition - $60@Amazon (Retail $129) - this set has the Halo Helmet, so if you're looking to really alienate your guests, just put this baby on the mantle. Can't wait to see people's reactions - "what is that thing? what is wrong with you? we shouldn't be friends anymore.". Anyway, but it does have extra DVDs, including a mashup of all of scenes from Halo 1 and 2 that plays like a movie....

Band of Brothers (DVD, WideScreen) - $26@BestBuy (Retail $79) - an awesome mini-series by HBO, Patin got me hooked on this in college where we watched the episodes back-to-back, leading to insomnia and an addiction to Totinos pizzas.

Phillips 1080P 42" LCD TV + 1080P upconvert DVD player - $760@Phillips Outlet - this was an interesting buy, for less than the price of most other TVs of this size (regardless of resolution) you could get both the TV and DVD player. The Technophiles picked this set apart with their reviews, but my guess is that the average person would be happy with this purchase. It's still available online as I write this...

A better Black Friday...

If you read my blog, then you know I love Amazon.com, and I am on a quest to make sure everyone knows that they sell much more than books - they sell practically EVERYTHING with no tax and free shipping. Good times.

With that being said, Amazon has a great idea for Black Friday...instead of waking up at 6am this Friday to brave the craziness at the local stores, simply go vote on what deal you would like on Amazon.com (like a Wii for $80), and Amazon will hold a raffle for winners. Much easier, and a much better way to do the after-Thanksgiving sale. Enjoy that Turkey sandwich for breakfast, and then visit Amazon.com...

Note - you must vote before Wednesday this week, and must have Amazon account.

Amazon Customers Vote

Last year there was no "raffle" feature, and everyone had access to the deals, which promptly caused Amazon to crash over, and over, and over again. This is much smarter, and less stressful.

I'll give the blog a shot if I see any local deals too good to pass up, and let you know if I snag any of the Amazon deals.

Old cars, New blood.

As the baby boomers begin to retire and start bidding up 60's era muscle cars into the millions of dollars, would it be wise to now invest in a 70s era muscle car in anticipation of the next wave of retirees?

As a general rule, people always want the cars that they grew-up around - my great uncle had a Model T, my grandfather collected cars from the 30s and 40s (including a 40s Chevrolet hearse), boomers want the muscle cars from their youth (60s), and I want a 94-96 Chevy Impala (if the words "LT1" and "bench-seats" don't mean anything to you, then neither will the Impala)

So is it fair to assume that the generation born in the 70s is going to want muscle cars from the 70s? Maybe this is some stock I need to purchase...

Burger King - I wouldn't eat there by choice...

BUT Burger King did put out some Xbox games where the King (see pic) is the main character. My brother gave me the full set of BK games (4 in total), and they are great party games for big groups - especially the bumper cars of death game. Add in the creepy/funny single expression King character, and you have an A+ time.

Japanese food is dangerous...

Just wanted an excuse to post this picture from dinner last week....

How to buy a car - Part 1: Used Cars

This is just my opinion, there are always exceptions to the rule, but I wanted to put my thoughts down on paper.......

Part 1 - USED CARS:

First - always look to buy a used car (from an individual) before buying new. This is the proven method for saving thousands of dollars. I am a big fan of AutoTrader.com, as it requires someone to be vested in selling their car ($50+ listing fee), unlike Craigslist where people can post without the real intention of selling. Check listings with a wide radius - checking prices from individuals across the nation gives you a good picture of what you should pay, and will help you negotiate.

Avoid CarMax - they charge a straight mark-up over the retail price of their cars. Avoid Used Car Dealers (i.e. Jim's Auto Discounters, or the used car lot at the local Chevy dealer) - questionable vehicle histories + markups = bad deals. If you choose either of these routes, you might as well buy a new car (there's some fun math here, but it's boring). Dealers selling used cars are trying to make a profit, individual sellers are trying to cut their losses.

Whatever route you take, check the car's retail value at Edmunds.com before making the purchase. If you are nervous about the seller, get a CarFax report with the car's history.

Be careful with the "engine only has 15K miles, car has 180K" statements - a new engine in an old car still equals an old car. Exceptions here are classic cars, like dropping an LS7 crate into a Nova.

Check for any serious recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) on that model/year, and make sure the car is up-to-date. This could also be an indication of future problems...

That being said, there are times that a new car makes sense:

1) You need to finance the purchase - most credit unions have higher rates and stricter qualifications regarding financing a used car, so a new car might have the same end-cost given a lower finance rate.

2) A significant body style or feature change has just occurred, and no used models are available.

3) You take immaculate care of your vehicles and the mere thought of someone letting the car go over 3K without an oil change gives you a sick feeling in your stomach.

Buying new cars is where things get fun - I'll elaborate in Part 2....

iPhone Redux

Now that I've had the iPhone for over a month, here's my review:

Pros -
Touch screen gets the job done, keyboard is easy to use and novices can master it quickly
Google Maps + traffic feature has saved me tons of time
Seamless picture to email functionality
Calls are great, speaker phone is great
Web surfing is incredible - surfing with the touchscreen is a whole new world
Data plan is cheap ($20/month)
Text messages are stored like IM's - you can see your text history like an IM conversation
Email client for POP3 (gmail, yahoo mail) is slick, works really well
Viewing pics and videos is amazing - sharing pictures on the spot has become my new hobby...
Contact list is very cool - best integration I have ever seen.

Cons that are permanent -
Camera could be better (flash, zoom)
EDGE data speed can crawl sometimes- forget about streaming videos outside of WiFi, but EDGE is bearable for low-content web surfing
Battery life is short (2 days for me), but that is to be expected with such a large screen.
Fixed 4GB/8GB memory - I only use 3 GB, so this is not an issue for me, but would be for Susan...

Cons that could be fixed with a firmware update:
No Bluetooth stereo music support- can't send music over Bluetooth connection to car radio
No multi-media messaging (pictures, video, music)
No support (or security) for corporate email
No Office Apps (word processor, spread sheet, powerpoint reader, etc.)

Overall - if the firmware updates (above) are made, the iPhone instantly becomes a laptop replacement. But even without, it is worth every penny.

Is The Office losing steam?

You can boil The Office down to 4 core elements:

1. Hating Michael 90% of the time, but 10% of the time seeing his softer side
2. Jim playing pranks on Dwight
3. Off the wall quotes from others via the confessional segments
   
4. Struggling relationship between Jim and Pam

With the exception of #1 (which was done brilliantly this week at the end of the Survivor Man episode), all of the above elements have suffered this season. Jim has matured with fewer pranks (i.e. visiting Dwight's beet farm without incident), confessional segments are stale, and Jim and Pam have no issues.

There needs to be a burst of compelling plot lines and pranks, as my Season 3 buzz is wearing off and Season 4 has yet to deliver.

Amazon Unbox vs. Netflix

I've been a long-time Netflix subscriber (3 years), but recently put my account on hold to try Amazon Unbox. The "Unbox", whose name remains an enigma (vocab word of the day, thank you junior-year English class) allows you to rent or purchase movies online and store them on your computer or have them sent directly to your Tivo (I use the Tivo method).

Unbox pros - many movie rentals are only 99 cents, and since I usually only have time for 1 movie each week, this beats Netflix's subscription price. Plus delivery time is nearly instant, since you can now stream the movies. You also keep rentals for 30 days, but once you start watching you have just 24 hours before the rental expires. I wonder how this would work if I rented a season of 24 - would I be able to finish? are ad breaks included? does Jack still never use the bathroom? would this cause a tear in the space-time continuum?

Unbox cons - no queues like Netflix yet, and so far the movies I have downloaded were all in Cinema-scope format (ultra-wide), but setup for standard def televisions (4:3), so you get a thin picture stretched across the screen.

Verdict - I'm sticking with UnBox in hopes that they will someday soon delivery movies in HD, and since they save me money each month, I'll put up with the stretched picture...

I spoke too soon...

Looks like I spoke too soon about the Fall TV season - I may have found a new show, that will probably be canceled pretty soon.....Cavemen.

The whole anachronistic plot, cutting sarcasm, and subtle caveman racism has me looking forward to this show each week. Here is a scathing review from the LA Times...maybe I don't have a sense of humor after all.

Caveman 1: "I'm feeling the need, the need for speed. Ok, let's go."

Caveman 2: "Hold on, I'm reeling from your ultra-current reference..."

How to buy cheap on eBay...

Here's the trick: find buy-it-now items that have just been listed for a low price. Tons of people sell on eBay, but few rarely know what their item is worth, and will often list their item for much less than the market value.

Step 1 - Go to eBay.com
Step 2 - Setup a search for the item with the following filters: buy-it-now, between +/-20% of your target price, sort by "newly listed".
Step 3 - Bookmark this search, and check it every so often

Here's an example of this search set up for an iPhone - but watch out for fakes (see picture)!

Before you buy anything...

Before heading to a brick-and-mortar store to purchase a new this-or-that, do the following so that you've got the 411 on how much you should pay (or buy it online to start with...)

1) Check the web-retail value at Amazon.com - I buy almost exclusively from Amazon. Fair prices, no tax (huge bonus for us in Texas), and free shipping on orders over $25. They have everything that a Wal-Mart would have, including toilet paper.

2) Search Fatwallet.com for any recent posts regarding a price cut or hot deal. That $50 blender may have been $20 last week, and will probably return back to that lower price in a week's time.

Confirmed: Arrested Development remains the funniest show ever...

Well, I hate to say it, but no other show (not even The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, or dare I say Seinfeld) has come close to causing the fits of laughter I have when I watch Arrested Development. Even after watching all 3 seasons for going on the 5th time, I still find no comparison. Buy the first season ($20) and you'll never look back.

Missing the Camaro...

I saw a 1996 Camaro SS with T-Tops for sale the other day, and I immediately called the number to ask about a price. One owner, 66k miles, 6speed manual, leather, AND it sold for $5500!!! Already gone, too bad.

Granted $5500 isn't a great deal for a 12 year old car, but a quick search of AutoTrader and eBay revealed that it was worth about $8500 on the open market.

Upon hearing the story, a co-worker suggested a great alternative. Although the new GTO is really a Holden from Australia, and they look like a Pontiac Grad Am from 1997, you can get a used one for about $17K. That's a 400HP Corvette LS1 variant for $17K. Seems like a logical step in my horsepower progression:

1986 Olds Cutlass: 305-V8 with 7 horsepower (actually listed at 125HP or something, but I got beat off the line by a Ram Charger in a 0-60mph battle that took 13 seconds - thanks Lane!)

1998 Chevy Camaro Z28: 5.7L-V8 with 305 horsepower

2003 Dodge Ram - 5.7L V8 Hemi with 350 horsepower

2005 Pontiac GTO - 6.0L-V8 with 400 horsepower?????

I am Dwight Shrute...

Or at least I play him in real life. Here's a pic of Susan and I on Halloween. I am Dwight, she is Angela.

Randy, Tom, and the PTI guys...

So I just finished my PTI Podcasts from last week, and discovered that yet AGAIN, the PTI guys picked against the Patriots this year, this time in the Pats vs Colts game. So, the Pats have convincingly decimated opponents all year, Tom Brady has weapons, good looks, and several fatherless children, and Randy Moss has turned into Marvin Harrison's calmer brother Jeffrey, yet they STILL pick against the Pats.

Here's my take - the PTI guys are reading the lines from Vegas, then rolling with bogus picks in order to push the lines. This is the only thing that makes sense in this crazy, mixed up, Gisele Bundchen world.

Wait, I have a better joke....

If Country Music were a river, it would be out of its banks and threatening several local towns while wearing a fur coat, top hat, and flying V guitar, and history would remember this disaster as Big & Rich.

Live from the CMAs...

Country Music minus country minus music

This may go without saying, but I think Big & Rich are the modern day Kid n Play circa House Party 2.

Live from the CMAs...I'll be here all night.

A cry for (IT) help

I wore a sweater to work today. I was questioned by several people regarding my commitment to business professional attire. I claimed I was in IT, and the same rules do not apply. This is how it all starts...first the clothes, then Dilbert comics in your office, then you post a rant on why Linux is the best OS.

Please help me.

HDTV Buying Guide...

Updates for 2008

Buying an HDTV? Here are 2 quick tips from me:

1) Flat Panel (LCD/Plasma) vs Rear Projection (LCoS, DLP, 3LCD)

Rear Projection
If you have a big room, no sharp viewing angles, and want a TV 50" or more - go with DLP. New DLP sets are cheap compared to flat-panel sets, and make sure you get a DLP set powered by LED (will outlast you), not a lamp (will last 2-3yrs, $300 to replace).

LCD/Plasma
If you have a smaller room, sharp viewing angles, bright light from outside, or limited space, go with a flat-panel HDTV (LCD/Plasma). Here's the breakdown:

• If this is your primary TV, go with an LCD from Sony or Samsung
  
• If this is an alternate TV for the bedroom/kitchen/office, go with an LCD from Vizio.
• BUT, go for a Plasma from Panasonic if you are an HDTV nut - the risks here are well worth the reward - great colors, fair price, superior picture.
  
• (There are a slew of technical/cost reasons for the above, but I kept it simple.)
  

2) 1080p vs 720p Resolutions

If you're buying anytime soon, save money and stick with 720p resolution for now - here's why...

Really, that's what I want

My Amazon.com wish list....complete with a set of pans. You can really judge a person based on their wish list, it's like a materialistic window into their soul.

How boring am I that I put a shredder on my wishlist? I bet you're glad we haven't spoken since high school...

I got in a fight with 1080p...

You don't need a 1080p HDTV just yet. Here's why:

1. To the average person, 1080p and 720p look the exact same.
2. New 1080p HDTVs cost 30% more than 720p models
3. Only Blu-Ray and HD-DVD actually use true 1080p - don't waste your money here, wait for a standard.
4. No satellite/cable/tv Broadcasts are in 1080p

So go with 720p this holiday season or wait until fall 2008 when 1080p prices drop even further. If you find that the 1080p price is close to the 720p price, well then you've found yourself a deal.

Example - CompUSA had the HP 50" Plasma 720p HDTV for $899 last week. Current price of the same model in 1080p - $1800. Point, set, match.

Confession: I buy $10 video games...

Yes, I buy $10 clearance games for my Xbox 360...talk about hamstringing. I am about 12 years behind everyone else - I just bought Super Mario 3 last week. That Fred Savage is a frickin' baller, do they make the NES Glove for Xbox?

Quick recommendations for some cheap fun:

For the men - Black, $10 from Target - I compare this to a Tom Clancy game without Tom Clancy. Forgiving with shots, no crawling on the floor, and you can take some hits.

For the ladies - Hexic HD, $4 from the Xbox Marketplace - Susan is addicted to this game. We even took a picture of when she created a "Black Pearl" (see pic below), because it took longer to create than a real pearl.

Why I'm afraid of laptops...

And no, it's not the clamshell design that lends itself to anthropomorphic nightmares of laptops talking/threatening your life. It's because once something goes wrong with a laptop, you might as well throw it away. Taking a laptop apart is like trying to fix a watch - there is no chance you'll get it back together quite right. Plus the parts/labor to fix these things are usually as expensive as a new laptop...I'm smelling conspiracy here...

AFV is still funny...

While we're on the subject of tv programming....

You know what show has held up incredibly well, both in reruns and with current episodes? Americas Funniest Home Videos. It's kinda like the best of the accident/injury videos that get posted on YouTube, plus some planned pranks, plus animals dressed like people, plus a host that makes you wince between every segment!

Here's how you tweak the format and rake in even more cash - I would recommend no host, and more animals dressed like people. Call me crazy, but this has potential...

Tom Sellek is still alive...

I thought that at this point in the new TV season I would have some new favorite TV shows, but alas, my favorites remain the oldies, so to speak:

1) 30 Rock (Season 2)
2) Friday Night Lights (Season 2)
3) The Office (Season 4)
4) Magnum PI reruns on Channel 55 (Season 1985?)...thank you Tivo for this last one, and confirming once again that a Ferrari must be worn with an accompanying mustache. I saw ole Tom Sellek is now on Las Vegas, but I wouldn't go near that show with a 10-foot pole, afraid I might catch something by just watching it...

Am I missing something? Please let me know if there is a show that's new to 2007 that I should be watching.....