Weekly Off Topic Thread 37

[Optimus Prime]

YaY I beat you all again!

[Koolkid1935]

If I wasn't watching a movie, I could have started it this time

It is cold here!  Our media room gets warm and stays warm and I had all of the windows open up down here in the basement (media room doesn't have any windows).  It is 58 degrees outside, and probably about the same in my room right now.

I am going to bed, just thought I would check in before I did.

BTW, happy [belated] birthday RC!

Message Edited by Koolkid1935 on 07-18-2008 02:42 AM

[Pip_2]

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

I hate days like these ones. Hubby can't go out and walk like he wants to because the air is so heavy, it gets hard to breathe! Dewpoints right now are in the mid 60's so maybe he can sneak in a quick walk before it gets worse.

KK, you're breaking my heart!

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

That would be freezing for Houston...remember?

I'm behind as I couldn't get in last night...Happy Birthday, RC!

Living room TV that's been disconnected from UV since April...won't go past 1 gear and ends in RXoD!   That's what I've been playing with all morning...

[Uturnaroun]

KK, 58 degrees??? Wow. I wonder why it is so cold in July? Do you know how high is Powell's elevation?

Spd, tried a DR?

[hpmsrm]

Holy cow, KK!!!  58 degrees?  I'm sitting here (having just come in from lawn mowing) looking at my outdoor thermometer and it says 92.1 degrees with relative humidity of 57%.  Showers expected here in NW Missouri so perhaps we'll get some relief.

Whew!!!!   Phil

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Yeah, about 15 times...progress bar won't move at 1 gear; gonna have to call and get them to do the bootstrap thingy.    Resets and pulling the plug don't work either.  Must be acting like an illegal as it's been unhooked for so long?

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Uturnaroun wrote:

Spd, tried a DR?

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[Uturnaroun]

Yeah, just call and they'll take care of it. Maybe it just needs a re-authorization.

Message Edited by Uturnaroun on 07-18-2008 04:56 PM

[Koolkid1935]

Just opened my windows up again, it is 76 outside right now and very breezy (11MPH sustained winds) with 40% humidity.

Once we get our weather station ordered and up, it will look something like this:

Message Edited by Koolkid1935 on 07-18-2008 05:21 PM

[Uturnaroun]

You've bought a weather station? Just out of curiosity, what kind? I've been looking at some for a while now but I'm not sure which ones are actually worth the price.

[Koolkid1935]

We haven't bought it yet - that is somebody elses here in town.  I am looking at the cabled Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus.  I found it at one store for $659.

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

We talked about that before, and don't think it would pass deed restrictions, or couldn't find a clear and high enough place.  Not to mention my wireless-sucking shrubs and trees might kill it!

We went to see The Dark Night (Batman) and it was really good!  More true to the comics like Tim Burton's originals.  Heath Legder was more like The Joker than Jack Nicholson's character.  7P show was sold out, so bought tickets for the next one and waited in the car with A/C.  Long movie, and when we came out at almost 11P, cops were everywhere indoors and they were making people wait in long lines and they had to show tickets.

[Koolkid1935]

Which theater did you go to spd?

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Rave...price of gas, LOL!  For once the DLP was working good and not blurry, or maybe last time I went I didn't have corrective eyewear!!  But all those cops around was kinda scary.  I don't know if it's always like that on weekends (not many old people like me), or if it was the attraction of the Batman movie.  Will go back to going in the day for the matinee price.

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

I posted on UU, but will be revising...T2 said this happens if the box isn't connected, it just goes searching for a signal it can't find and fries itself.  They told me the bootstrap thingy is no longer done to fix the RXoD.

Anyhoo, it drives me nuts when something isn't working, and the fix doesn't sound logical.

So, looked at the cables again and took the one directly from the wall to the box, did another DR, and the box started loading!!  It was at the blue ATT splash when I left, so bet it's up now.  it IS up and running, yay, I'm a home T2 tech.   j/k

There is a splitter from the wall with a piece under the carpet to the office TV (shares STB), and 2 other pieces for the VCR/DVD.

I'm going to cancel the appt.--got lots of biz to take care of today.

Now seriously, why didn't they ask about the cables?  And why didn't I think to check that last piece (I had tried the other 3).

Device is now back in my MDC list.

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Uturnaroun wrote:
Yeah, just call and they'll take care of it. Maybe it just needs a re-authorization.

Message Edited by Uturnaroun on 07-18-2008 04:56 PM

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[randyl]

Living room TV that's been disconnected from UV since April...won't go past 1 gear and ends in RXoD! why the wait ??

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

Thank you all for the b'day sentiments.

No the tv didn't show up yet but its coming.

My wife is home and doing a lot better, thank you for asking.  

My wife, my youngest daughter and I spent a quiet evening at home.  I couldn't ask for anything better than that.

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Because I'm lazy and have another TV that I watch mostly.  Been working on updating the living room a bit.  I just couldn't deal with reconnecting all the wires...and still have the dilema of HOW I'm going to hook up my old turntable (I trashed the 4 speakers).  I'm depressed, I guess.   And I ain't adding any more Rxs.

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randyl wrote:
Living room TV that's been disconnected from UV since April...won't go past 1 gear and ends in RXoD! why the wait ??

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[randyl]

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Message Edited by randyl on 07-21-2008 06:21 PM

[randyl]

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Yup, yup...topped off the tank last night at $3.84 (price will rise if the evacs come through here); re-stocked our water, batteries, canned food, pet food...darn, wish we had that whole-house generator!

[Uturnaroun]

$3.84? Send me some gas. It's in the $4.30s here.

[Optimus Prime]

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Uturnaroun wrote:
$3.84? Send me some gas. It's in the $4.30s here.

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Ditto!

[Koolkid1935]

Not quite $4.30 here, but $4.27 is close enough I suppose...

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

We have some gas at $3.84 but most is around the $4 mark.

[callmeox ACE - Professor]

$3.75 in downtown Cleveland this evening on my way home.

Here it is (Tuesday night) and we're not even on page 4 yet for the WOTT.  You folks are slacking! 

[showtime48 ACE - Master]

Actual letter from an Iowa resident and sent to his senator)
>
> The Honorable Tom Harkin
> 731 Hart Senate Office Building
> Phone (202) 224 3254
> Washington DC , 20510
>
> Dear Senator Harkin,
>
> As a native Iowan and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue
Service,
> I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the
Department
> of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for
becoming an
> illegal alien and they referred me to you.
>
> My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to

> illegal alien stems from the bill which was recently passed by the
Senate
> and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions
is
> accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for
five
> years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine
and
> income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when
I
> see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone
> figures it out.
>
> Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay
taxes
> every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of
> taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can
> apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent
result
> for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.
>
> Additionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using the local
emergency
> room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying
> premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save
almost
> $10,000 a year.
>
> Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter
would
> receive preferential treatment relative to her law school
applications, as
> well as 'in-state' tuition rates for many colleges throughout the
United
> States for my son.
>
> Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the
burden of
> renewing my driver's license and making those burdensome car insurance

> premiums. This is very important to me given that I still have college
age
> children driving my car.
>
> If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become
illegal
> (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would
be
> most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance.
>
> Your Loyal Constituent ,
> Donald xxxxxxxxx
> Burlington , IA
>
> Get your Forms (NOW)!! Call your Internal Revenue Service
1-800-289-1040.
>

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

I think we all should get our first few years of employment tax free.  I used to work in a small city called Hamtramck here in Mich. and the population is mostly polish and chaldean.  When chaldeans first came to the U.S. they got to work 5 years without paying income tax.  If we can offer that to people who move here from other countries they can surely do it for us.  My wife had a co-worker that she and her husband renounced there American citizenship.  I don't know how much they lost but they no longer have to pay income taxes.  I don't know if not paying taxes is worth me giving up my citizenship but it seems like not being a citizen of this country definitely has it's benefits.

[spd2demun ACE - Expert]

Lowest I saw yesterday in Houston was $3.79, Coastal at a quickie mart; just said today's special, but might have been cash only or something.

I think pensions should be tax-free!

We had a really creepy orange sky this morning, due to Dolly...

The boy is supposed to have wisdow teeth cut out, but has now come down with hives or something.  Another kitty is sick...just when I was going to remove my *bad luck* siggy addition...never ends I guess.

[RCSMG ACE - Expert]

Lowest I saw was $3.83 on the news this morning.

OUCH!!  My condolences to your son on the wisdome teeth.  Any idea what caused the hives? 

If I wouldn't get in deep trouble with my wife and daughter I would offer my cat as company for yours.  Maybe a new face would speed up the healing process.

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spd2demun wrote:

Lowest I saw yesterday in Houston was $3.79, Coastal at a quickie mart; just said today's special, but might have been cash only or something.

I think pensions should be tax-free!

We had a really creepy orange sky this morning, due to Dolly...

The boy is supposed to have wisdow teeth cut out, but has now come down with hives or something.  Another kitty is sick...just when I was going to remove my *bad luck* siggy addition...never ends I guess.

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