How Did We Survive Before Cable TV and Always-On Internet?

At approximately 2:00 pm yesterday, our internet and cable TV went dead. Tina called Technical Support at Cogeco and there was a message about system wide issues in Essex and Chatham counties. Okay, she thought.

By 7:00 pm, still no joy. Tina called up tech support again. The message was gone so she was put through to internet tech support. They ran her through the usual gamut of questions. At one point I got involved. The tech person tried to reset the connection but nothing. So we scheduled an appointment for Friday morning.

Tina was none to happy at having no internet or TV until Friday morning. So she called cable TV support. She got a much better response and a service called was arranged for today.

The service person came by just before lunch and found that our connection at the street cable box had been disconnected. Seems the person who installed a new connection the other day decided that it would be a good thing to disconnect a paying customer's connection. The Cogeco service rep couldn't believe that the street box only serviced four houses.

He came in to the house to make sure everything was working. He commented on the monitor and router that we have - something about one of the best monitors and a good router. Can't complain with a seal of approval from a person who is in the know.

Posted by Adam

Brantford Via London . . . and Best Buy

It was time to take Bev back home. Fortunately, Gerry was able to meet us in London. We let the hostage, er, Bev go and said our goodbyes.

We had dinner at Swiss Chalet. It wasn't too bad, but the waitress, who appeared to be new and overwhelmed, forgot part of Tina's meal.

Next we headed over Best Buy where I bought my mom a flat panel LCD TV for her bedroom. They had them in stock and I was in and out in about 10 minutes.

The drive to Brantford was uneventful.

While my mom played with the boys, I decided to setup the new TV. I really wanted to see what this thing was capable of.

It was well packaged in the box and was very easy to set up. I went through the setup menu and in no time had the channels automatically programmed. I drove out to Canadian Tire to pick a component cable for the combo DVD/VCR player. The DVD picture was sharp. The analog TV signal was acceptable.

The next day, I realized that only the DVD player uses the component output, so Tina and I went Wal-Mart and bought some stereo and video cables to hook up the VCR side. We stopped by the chip wagon to get some french fries and drove around Brantford. We stopped in at Lowes and Future Shop before going back to my mom's.

I hooked up the additional cables and revised the 'watching' instructions for my mom. She was in awe of the TV. She couldn't believe how big the picture was.

Jeremy and Corbin played with their Babcia all weekend.

It was a very relaxing weekend. Not a single fight or complaint.

Posted by Adam

Battlestar Galactica - "Faith"

Is there any doubt that Felix Gaeta is the final Cylon?

Remember what the 'old' hybrid said in Battlestar Galactica: Razor?

And the fifth, though still in the shadow yet clawing for the light, hungry for redemption, that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering.

If there is any character that has been more in the shadow, it is Gaeta? Hungry for redemption? People still mistrust Gaeta for his role in the Cylon-back government on New Caprica. And terrible suffering? Well, getting shot in the leg by Anders and possible losing your leg, sounds like suffering to me.

Okay. It's just a theory, but I'm betting on Gaeta.

Posted by Adam

Must See TV

Finally, the Thursday night comedies on NBC were back. Earl, 30 Rock, The Office and Scrubs were back and I was bursting at the seams.

Earl and 30 Rock were okay. I do like Alec Baldwin's character - he is the perfect actor for that character.

The Office was funny and uncomfortable at the same time. A dinner party and Jan and Michael's? I loved Michael's bed and plasma TV. I love Dwight's line about his 'date' - "purely carnal" - was over the top and pure Dwight.

I loved the beginning of Scrubs, especially the part when JD and Turk have the interns line up in a real life Space Invaders game. Too much - I was busting my gut from that one.

Posted by Adam

Battlestar Galactica - Season 4 Episode 1

Tina and I watched the first episode of Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica. We made sure that Jeremy was in bed and that Corbin was doing something that would keep him occupied for the hour.

Looks like this fourth and final season is going to be a fun ride. Hey, look, those four are Cylons. I wonder how they feel? Well, Tigh does not seem to happy about it and the dream sequence where he blows away Commander Adama, kind set the tone for the inner battles the four new cylons will have to struggle with every day.

Starbuck is back and almost no one trusts here - save for Lee and Anders. Of course Anders will show some interest in here, he is a fracking Cylon. Wait, it seems the four Cylons are all paired with people that have some influence and power. Are they to destroy . . . or to protect?

And what about that hybrid back on the Cylon base ship in a previous episode that said this happened before and it will happen again? What was meant by that? Didn't they also say something about not following the person who says they know the way to earth? What is the damn connection between the Cylons and Humans?

I want answers. I look forward to getting them all season long - even if it takes a year or more.

Posted by Adam