Mission (Sort of) Accomplished: We Have Home Theater

The old stereo was from the last century. The old TV was from 2004, and had seen much better days. So, in a shopping spree that started on a drunken whim, I embarked on a nearly two-week transition from the old to the new. It has not been without hiccups, and is not completely solved. But it looks like this:

The TV is a Mitsubishi WD-60738, a DLP system, if that means anything to you.  At 60", it's pretty big, though it replaces a 55" model that was complete with cabinet-on-wheels. The new set actually takes up less space. And the picture is so much clearer, it's like stepping up from our old 26" was back in 2004. Part of the goal of this transition was to get everything connected with HDMI cables. If you don't know, HDMI allows you to connect one device to another with one thin cable, rather than multiple cords with multiple inputs. In theory, with the HDTV, stereo receiver, cable box and Blu-ray player, only three connecting cables are necessary.

Since Ultimate Electronics was going out of business, and our old stereo was so old, I bought a Sony Home Theater System (HT-SS370), which includes the receiver, five speakers and a sub-woofer. And the important part: HDMI inputs. The Blu-ray player we got for Christmas also has HDMI, and happens to also be a Sony that matches the new stereo. Cool, right?  Yes and no.

My first problem is the multiple remotes. I have four. Each has an ability to control more than one device, but none does everything. So, I've got to learn the best combination. My second problem is just to make sure everything is set up optimally, which I'll learn probably this weekend. My third problem is that I haven't figured out which way to daisy-chain the devices together that will allow everything to play through the stereo, while still operating logically. And last--and this is the big one--I have to figure out if my new stereo is broken, or if there's something set wrong.

See, the HT-SS370 turns itself off at random moments. And since the Blu-ray runs through it, when it does this, it turns off the picture. *WINK!* blue screen! With no warning.  It turns right back on, but why's it doing that? To make matters worse, since I bought it at a going out of business sale, I can't take it back!  Sure, Sony will have to honor their warranty, but what a pain in the butt.

So anyway, that's why I haven't posted much in the last several days. I've been quite busy with this stuff!  I'll try to get back into the swing as I settle these issue. Meanwhile, if anyone out there has any advice, I'd love to hear it!

Shirley Sherrod Sues Andrew Breitbart

Image from source, TPM Muckraker

Good for her. He drug her name through the mud for no good reason, and though she was ultimately proven to have done nothing wrong, there are those on the right who STILL insist she's a racist and worse. Clean him out, Shirley!

[Excerpt]

Breitbart Changes Tune On Why He Released Sherrod Video

When TPM asked Andrew Breitbart last July if the release of an edited video of Shirley Sherrod was timed to impact a Senate vote on restitution for black farmers, he said no. Now that she's suing him for defamation, he's making that restitution the issue. . .

Read more at: TPM Muckraker

GOP Cuts in Nuclear Nonproliferation Funding?

Image from source, ThinkProgress

They can't be serious. I'm not speaking figuratively here. They. Can't. Be. Serious. You can't seriously claim to want to cut spending, and then make those cuts in important areas like nuclear nonproliferation, while refusing to make cuts in other areas.

[Excerpt]

House Republicans Cut Funding That Protects Us From Nuclear Terrorism



On Friday, House Republicans put forth a “continuing resolution” (CR) to fund the government past March 4th that was filled with spending cuts. While this came as no surprise, one focus of the cuts is causing some heads to turn. . .
 
Read more at: Think Progress

Why is GOP Refusing Sensible Cuts, and Cutting Important Things?

This is a really good question. When the Pentagon says, hey! We don't want this expensive stuff over here! Why on earth would any politician fight to keep spending millions and billions? If John Boner Boehner and Eric Cantor are fighting for useless stuff because it keeps jobs in their own districts, why not spend money on something useful?  And then, they turn around and want to slash funding for important things like food safety and nuclear nonproliferation? REALLY?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

SNL: Bill O'Reilly's Interview with President Obama

When I saw that Russell Brand (who?) and Chris Brown (who? that guy who beat up that chick?) were the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend, I thought the episode would suck. It wasn't half bad, at least as SNL goes. And don't kid yourself, even in it's highest highs, SNL has always been uneven.  The "cold open" this week was a riff on Bill O'Reilly's Super Bowl sunday interview with President Obama. It was pretty funny, and spot-on in its criticsims. But Jason Sudekis hasn't got his O'Reilly impersonation very accurate. I can't think of many who really could, though I'll bet Darrell Hammond would have come closer. Still, it's a dig at FOX "News," and a funny one, so it is blogworthy.

Blast from the Past: Lunchtime!

My New Year's resolutions were to a) quit smoking, b) rejoin a low-carb diet that is always on-again, off again, and c) get back to the gym. I tried to do a) & b) at the same time, with c) to follow sometime this month. Well, I'm still adhering to a), but so far that's it. I fell off the diet train gradually through January, and jumped off with both feet (and both hands!) the last couple of weeks. Result? Well, I breathe better, but I got fat. FAST. It's amazing how fat. So, it's back on the diet first thing tomorrow.

So, for this week's Blast from the Past, I thought I'd highlight lunch ads from the 60s, 70s and 80s. These are all foods that are on my diet, at least in limited quantities.  So, enjoy, while I have my last carbohydrate for a while.



1. Oscar Mayer Weiner - Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner. . .wait, why would anyone wish that?
2. Armor Hot Dogs - What kind of kid eats Armor hot dogs? Well there are more fat kids these days, but I think they've moved on!
3. Oscar Mayer Bologna - Cute kid. Wonder if he still names his food?
4. Kraft Cheese Singles - Are they still allowed to call these things cheese?
5. Peter Pan Peanut Butter - Clearly an extension of Laugh-in, but this thing would neverplay today.
6. Skippy Peanut Butter - Mouseketeer Annette Funicello was one of the many product spokespeople of the day. She pitched Skippy for years.

All right! Now, on to the diet. Wish me luck on the diet. Happy Monday, everyone!

What's With the General Electric Commercials?

I know that General Electric has been doing ads for many decades. They may even have been making non-specific "feel good" ads for the brand. I guess I never paid much attention before. But have you noticed how often a GE commercial is played lately?  Like this one with the dancing elephant:



Or this one with a line dance:



The elephant is cute, the songs are catchy. And for some reason, the people in the bio suits line dancing is adorable. But what is for sale here? Am I supposed to buy GE stock? Random GE products? Maybe I'm just supposed to have warm and fuzzy feelings for a multinational corporate conglomerate?

UPDATE: to add "The Electric Cattle"

Ron Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll for 2012 Presidential Election

Image from source, AOL News

Didn't this happen last time? And didn't the Republican Establishment do everything they could to ignore Ron Paul? For as lock-steppy as Republicans can be sometimes, they can also be incredibly fractured. There's a big group of Paulites (Paulines?), a chunk of Sarah Palin loyalists (fetishists?), Mitt Romney followers (Mormons?) and a bunch of much smaller factions. Tim Pawlenty is trying to change his milquetoasty rep into that of a hard line conservative (and wasn't entirely successful). The election is 20 months away, and I'm sure it will be in full swing soon enough--and feel never ending--but doesn't it seem like the GOP is staggering out of the gate?  In any event, the CPAC news will have no effect on the outcome.

[Excerpt]

Ron Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll; Mitt Romney Comes in Second



For the second successive year, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas won the presidential straw poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, capturing 30 percent of the vote. . .
 
Read more at: AOL News

Overtime with Bill Maher, February 11, 2011

Cornell West, Matthew Perry, Norah O'Donnell and Bill Maher.

Ep. 202: February 11, 2011 - Overtime

Why Can't I Blow My Nose?

Image from Anatomy-
Resources.com

A little while ago, I posted a piece on my life-long ability to sneeze with nearly 100% frequency when going out into the sun. It's called a photic sneeze, and the post attracted quite a few readers and reader comments.  This got me to thinking.  I mean, I was able to find out about the photic sneeze on Wikipedia. But I have another seemingly from birth abnormality, and I can't seem to find out anything about it. Maybe a reader might know about this.

I can't blow my nose. Well, not like a normal person, anyway. If I'm in a steamy shower, I can blow my nose fairly normally. But if I'm not in the shower, anything beyond the gentlest outward pressure "pops" my ears. When I was a child, this would cause much consternation from my mother, who just thought I didn't like to or didn't know how to blow my nose. She'd be rootin' around in my nose with a Q-Tip, trying to unclog my unblown nose. Then she'd hold a tissue to my face, and tell me to blow. . .BLOW! She'd get angry. One time, to please her, I blew, really hard. . .and blew out my eardrums. Literally. Blood and everything.


Luckily, I healed up, and my hearing seems to be unaffected as an adult. But I still can't blow my nose. And a modified version of mom's Q-Tip procedure is necessary (that, or a good honkin' in the shower). On top of this indignity, I'm rather klutzy, something I've always guessed had something to do with my messed up ears, and sense of balance. Also, in times of changing pressure (such as on an airplane), the pressure can at times become almost unbearable. And the negative affect on my hearing while flying seems to be more pronounced and longer-lasting than it does for other people.


So, let's add this up. I am a photic sneezer. I can't blow my nose. I was born with a lazy eye, so despite corrective surgery, I don't have normal stereoscopic vision (can't see 3D movies or stills). And, oh yeah, I'm gay. That's a boatload of atypical inborn traits, wouldn't you say? It's a good thing I've got a friend doing some ancestry research on my family. I'm beginning to suspect that Mom and Dad were related!

FOX "News" Alert: Sarah Palin Has Issued a Tweet on Egypt!

No, sadly, I'm not kidding.

Ultimate Electronics Goes Out of Business

Image from source, OregonLive

We're really going to be down to like two or three of every kind of retailer, aren't we? If you want hardware, it's Lowe's or Home Depot. Books? Borders or Barnes & Noble. Big club store? Sam's Club or Costco. I know that these can be regional, but it seems most categories boil down to a "big two," and sometimes even just one major retailer. Electronics (or specialty electronics, like just computers) used to be a little more diversified. And you can still walk into a Wal-mart or Kmart if you don't mind a Somy or a Yamaham instead of the real thing. But I'll bet wherever you live in the US of A, you've got just a couple of chains devoted to electronics.

We now have one less. In what has become a very familiar scenario, Ultimate Electronics is in the process of being liquidated. It's where a liquidation company comes in, slaps signs up all over that says "up to 30% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE!" And yes, the "up to" is supposed to be that small, because they don't want you to notice it. As the days or weeks go by, and the store inventory dwindles, the signs change to 40%, 50% and so on until everything is gone. Over the last several years, this has happened at Computer City, Comp USA and Circuit City, and I'm certain many others. It's always very exciting for a shopper, making you weigh today's deal against what it might be in a few days if you just wait (and they don't sell it while you're dithering). Of course, there are no returns, so you'd better be sure!

It's kind of like an estate sale though, with a layer of bitter under the sweet.  At an estate sale, you're picking through the remnants of a person's entire life.  They're selling things that the person had for most of their lives for a couple of bucks, and you're trying to talk them down. It always makes me a little sad. In the case of a liquidation, usually nobody has died. But you're being waited on by people who have been abruptly laid off. Except they've got to keep working, selling not only a progressively sadder collection of things, but also the shelves, the displays, the office furniture. . . See? Sad. I commiserated with the handsome young man who sold me a stereo at Ultimate Electronics today. He'd been told only in the last day or so, and here he is losing his job, but still nice as could be, carrying the stereo to my car. I told him I was sorry, even felt like giving him a tip. I got a great deal on the stereo (which will compliment and complete my other recent purchases nicely). But I felt sad at the same time.

And think of the poor guy, Mark Wattles, who started the company. He also lost Hollywood Video not long ago. Sad for him too.
[Excerpt]

Ultimate Electronics begins liquidating



As a bankruptcy court in Delaware officially approved Ultimate Electronics' request to clear out and shut down Friday, customers were streaming into the nearly 3-month-old Tigard store scouting out its going-out-of-business sale. . .
 
Read more at: OregonLive

Behind the Scenes at FOX "News"

Nothing in this story surprises me in the least. And any conservative reading this would look at the source, Media Matters for America, and dismiss it. Don't be so quick, Mr. Righty-pants! David Brock, the dude that started MMA? He's the guy who who wrote The Real Anita Hill. You believed him then, didn't you?  No, seriously. Does anybody really believe that FOX "News" is "fair and balanced?" Really?

[Excerpt]

FOX NEWS INSIDER: “Stuff Is Just Made Up”



Asked what most viewers and observers of Fox News would be surprised to learn about the controversial cable channel, a former insider from the world of Rupert Murdoch was quick with a response: “I don’t think people would believe it’s as concocted as it is; that stuff is just made up. . .”
 
Read more at: MediaMatters

The Politics of Fear

There are times when fear is a motivator. There are times when fear is justified, and where reacting to it can save your life. But fear is a very unpleasant state, and not all fears are rational, justified or necessary.

One of my favorite political commentators/pundits is Randi Rhodes, a liberal talker. She's got a loud New York accent, and is quick to either laughter or irritability. If you are a conservative, you probably react to her name--if you know of her at all--with derision and scorn. But you've probably never listened to her, outside of an out-of-context clip on the internet. Randi is a somewhat out sized personality, and is not for every taste (even if you're a liberal/progressive). But she is somewhat unique in this area: she tells you not to trust her. Seriously. She says that she knows the company she keeps on AM talk radio, and that you should trust none of it. Question everything, and do your homework.

That's quite a bit different from someone like Rush Limbaugh, who tells you that you need listen to no one else, he'll do the work for you. Right? And one of the big points Randi has been making of late is that her political opposition on radio and tv are exploiting fear. This is not new of course, but it is perhaps more prevalent right now. She said--and I agree--that if your favorite politician, tv personality or radio host spends the bulk of their time trying to make you afraid of something. . .there's probably something wrong.

Think about it for a second. Picture Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Bill O'Reilly, Michele Bachmann. About what percentage of the time to they spend trying to scare you about something?  Think about what you're watching and listening to, and analyze it with a little objectivity, please. That's all I'm asking. Don't buy everything you hear lock, stock and barrel (to use a favorite right-wing gun metaphor). Consider that just maybe there is an agenda behind all the fear.

Here's an example of blatant fear mongering from the most recent election cycle. Do you see through it?

Dick Cheney Called "War Criminal" at CPAC

What's stranger, that Dick Cheney was cheered with USA! USA! USA!; that Cheney doesn't have a heartbeat; that he looks like he's melting, that he looks more like the Batman villain "The Penguin" than ever; that he was called a "war criminal" at CPAC of all places, or that hat he doesn't seem to mind?



UPDATED:  to add a clip from Del Shores' Sordid Lives of the fabulous Olivia Newton-John as Bitsy Mae singing "You Sure Look Like a Dick to Me." Go to 1:10 for the best part.

FOX "News" is Mad: The A-Hole Team

Image from DC Comics (Click to embiggen)

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for finding this. And a little help from anyone who can tell me who the second guy is? Is it Steve Douchey Doocey?

Source: DC Comics/Mad Magazine

What I've Been Doing All Evening

I already wrote about my impulsive purchase of last week. Yesterday, I finally decided on the platform for my hugemungous new Mitsubishi HDTV. After weighing my options, and finding most furniture either very expensive, too wobbly or both. But I did find one, at Big Lots of all places (with a 20% off coupon too!). The style is sort of "early apartment," but it's rather minimalist, and will be dwarfed by the big teevee machine, so sturdiness was really most of what I was going for.

I started assembly at about 7:30. I moved everything to the edges of the living room, and unboxed all the pieces on the rug. There were lots of pieces. . .

I even used the instructions! 

 Things were coming along just fine. I had the (old) TV on for company, and by this time it was around 8:30.

Things started to move rather quickly. About this time, the instructions told me I'd need somebody to help me. Hah! Ouch! I knelt on the claw of the hammer. . .

 About now, I decided to eat some chicken, and watch whatever that new show after Community is. Married Friends? Maybe it was The Umpteenth Show Tried in This Time Slot? I dunno. But I was done eating so, back to work. This took about another half hour. . .

 I'm really coming along now! Let's flip this puppy over, and see what she looks like.

 

Okay, so it's dusty, and has all the A, B, C stickers on it, but I'm almost done! At this point, I took the hinges and doors into the TV room to watch 30 Rock.  Back in a flash, slapped those suckers on, a little Pledge, and voila!

Ain't she a beaut? Okay, that's a stretch, but it should do the trick. And hey, it's an AmeriWood! Seriously. Back to blogging soon. But I'll be dreaming of the imminent arrival of. . .

I suppose I should mention that I had a few parts left over. . .

Guess Who's Coming to CPAC?

Image from source, MetroWeekly

I love the headline to this piece. I don't love the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), though I do love writing about the insantity that comes out of there.  I don't love GOProud, the gay conservative group that is causing a ruckus at CPAC.  But I love the fact that they're causing a ruckus!

The members of GOProud sometimes will say that the "vast majority" of conservatives aren't anti-gay, that it's just a vocal minority who are homophobic.  I would contend that it is a bit larger than they imply, and that they aren't just vocal, they set the agenda, and sometimes are actually in office. GOProud represents a collection of people with arch-conservative views (or at least what conservatism has morphed into), who are also gay. Where the Log Cabin Republicans are gay conservatives, GOProuds are conservative gays. The size of the text there is on purpose. GOProud would comprimise on gay rights issues long before they'd consider (hell, they might not even consider) comprimising their conservative "ideals." 

Try as I might, I can't understand those ideals. When I watch Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity, listen to Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin, read something by Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin, or hear something by Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin, I don't disagree with them because they're might be anti-gay, or even because they're conservative. I think they're extremists.  I think they're bonkers and/or charlatans. But GOProud is solidly in line with all of the above. Anyway, enough ranting by me. The article excerpted below is an excellent introduction to what GOProud is about. See what you think.

[Excerpt]

Guess Who's Coming to CPAC?



GOProud has taken the conservative and LGBT movements by storm by being brash, loud and uncompromisingly conservative -- and just as uncompromisingly gay. . .
 
I disagree with that last part, but the article is good. Read more at: MetroWeekly

Victoria Jacson the Tea Party's Al Franken?

Image from source

Please. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) has taken a lot of crap from conservatives, most undeserved or uninformed. My personal belief is that Franken's open rivalry with Bill O'Reilly is at the root of conservative hatred for the Senator, even if they don't realize that genesis. It just started the ball rolling. But whatever you think of Franken, a comparison of him to Victoria Jackson is just ludicrous. They were both on Saturday Night Live. It ends there.  Franken graduated with honors from Harvard. Jackson went to the school of Glenn Beck. 'Nuff said.

[Excerpt]

‘SNL’ Alum Victoria Jackson, The Tea Party’s Answer to Al Franken



This weekend’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) provides right wing leaders like Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty an opportunity to flex their ideological muscle ahead of potential 2012 presidential campaigns, but the event’s not all lectures and politicking. There’s also entertainment, including a performance from ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum Victoria Jackson, who may very well be the Tea Party‘s answer to Sen. Al Franken. . .
 
Read more at: DeathAndTaxesMag.com

GOP Sex Scandal: Rep. Christopher Lee (R-NY) Goes Topless!

Image of Rep. Sexypants from source, AOL News

There are bigger fish than this low-on-the-totem-pole House Republican. But he baited and set the hook himself, and threw himself into the boat. I know little about him, other than if you were looking for a date on the internet, you could do worse (I'm just saying). The surprising thing here is that Lee resigned only hours after first denying (someone hacked my computer!) the event. I suppose he was having a hard time figuring out a story to go with his half-naked self portrait. Or maybe there was more to be discovered, and he just didn't want to go down that road.

Immediately, some conservatives started sputtering that of course he resigned, he's a Republican! Why, a Democrat wouldn't just stay in office, he'd be championed for it!  Well, before you guys get all high-horsey here, don't forget:

- Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), my Nevada Senator, currently fundraising for re-election.
- Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), caught soliciting hookers, received applause in the House chamber!
- Sen. Larry Craig (R-WY), served out his term after his wide stance was discovered in a restroom.

And many, many others. This is an activity performed by men of all political persuasions. The difference is, the right side of the aisle regularly claims a moral superiority, and wants to legislate other people's behavior.

[Excerpt]

New York Rep. Chris Lee Resigns Over Craigslist Dating Ad and Sexy Photo



What started last month with an anonymous woman's Craigslist dating search for men who don't "look like toads" ended Wednesday with the resignation of two-term Rep. Christopher Lee, R-N.Y., a married father who passed himself off as a divorced lobbyist when he sent her a topless muscle photo of himself. . .
 
Read more at: AOL News