Category Archives: Photos

Bye-bye Cable Television

Most of what I watch is Hulu, CNN Video, NYTimes video, ComedyCentral.com, LogoOnline and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show.  So, inspired by a friend who has Netflix (like I used to ) and Hulu “premium” (I only use Hulu for many fewer dollars per month than what Comcast and other cable companies charge for television, I discontinued my cable tv service and I’m saving $100/month. I literally watch all of my shows on one pc or another (usually a laptop I bring around the house with me, even when I’m cooking and doing other chores).  I watch everything online anyway and now I have a spare monitor my daughter can use on her laptop to use as an extra television, although she’s a little upset that we no longer have television in the living room.  I’ve found playing dvd’s on laptops is far more reliable than the cheap dvd players I’ve bought in stores anyway, so there was no point in letting my flat screen TV languish.  Therefore, it is main PC monitor now!  As per this picture, it dominates my desk.  I don’t have it all worked out yet, as I still need to fix the resolution with drivers.  However, the manufacture web site “Element Electronics” doesn’t seem to have Windows 7 drivers for their television, probably because they didn’t expect a geek like me to use it as a main monitor on a daily basis.

Oakland Pride

How often do you get to see the likes of Chaka Khan and Martha Wash for $5!?  I’m so glad we went.  My daughter and I took BART to 19th Street in Oakland.  She overheard some guys say “follow the bear”.  I met a few friends there and ran into a bunch of people I knew.  I’m glad I didn’t bring my dog, because the music too loud for me.  I can only imagine how hard it would have been for him.

Adventure Weekend in Big Bear Lake, CA

After surviving some headaches the first day and some more altitude sickness, or bad food which caused my last night to be pretty bed and sink-focused, I must say that all in all I had a wonderful time at the pool with old and new friends in a new environment in a part of California I’ve never been to before, even though it reminded me in several ways of Lake Tahoe.

I’m also glad my car made it, despite some brake “burning” on the way down the mountain and a noise which my brother now believes was the wheel bearing. My friend Ed and I traveled about 900 miles round trip taking the scenic route up and down California in my Buick.

Here are the pictures from my camera and from others who attended: