The DVR
I love this DVR. I have setup it to record the shows I like, I don’t even have to tell it the stations, it will find them and the time, and will record them automatically. I now have a bunch of shows to watch right now.
No more comments in the Video sections, comments on the blog still are here
I have disabled the comments in my video section, do to spammers. I got spam flooded there, so I have made it so that only registered users can post there (not like any one really will register to post there) and the registration requires the typing in of a number that is show in a jpg image, I hope stops the scum, they all posted as anonymous so I hope it does stop the scum from posting porn spam in my blog.
and when I say i had to delete alot I mean about 30 of them over night. The sad thing is now between my website comments sections and my email I spend about 10% of my day deleteing spam, that is just not right, the spammers have made the internet less usefull, and making it more of a waste of time, I hope the US goverment takes harder actions against these scum bags. I has been said that the internet will die in about 2 to 5 years because of spam and spyware.
DVRs
I called Comcast today because I was wondering how much it would cost me if I wanted a DVR from them, I had looked at the TiVo to see how much it was, and how much I would have to save up for it and the monthly cost. Well I was under the impression that I needed digital cable to get the DVR. When I asked about the price of basic digital cable I found out it is pretty much ala cart, and she asked me what I wanted, and I said all I really want was to rent a DVR she said I did not need digital cable for it, and that it cost about $5 a month to rent the DVR and $9.99 ($10) for the connection to their servers. That takes the price to about $14.99 ($15) a month for it. When I researched the TiVo I found that it cost about $150 upfront and $12 a month for the service that is needed. I know I will be spending $3 more a month for the device, but if I look at the cost of the TiVo that I will not be spending upfront and take it over and it will take 50 months for me to spend the cost of the TiVo in the rental fee, or just over 4 years. This will also let me not worry about when things are on, I can just ignore when they are on set up the system to record them, and watch them at a time when I can not bike or don’t have other obligations.
Computer to VX-5
I went to use my cable to connect my VX-5 to my computer, I wanted to do some programming of the memory channels, and found that cable had been severed so either I can program the whole radio by hand or I can spend the money and get a new cable, I am leaning to the second option. I will probably put it off till later, since it is not that important, I am talking much later.
This weekend
This weekend is going to be great, first I have to say over the last 2 weeks I have not had a chance to go biking after work, to many commitments, and obligations, and that is going to continue until Friday, but come Saturday, I am only biking until Monday (except for Sunday morning I will be at church) I am going to try to bike to South Park, and Bridgeville this weekend both trips should be between 1 and a half to 2 hours each way, so it is going to be fun. I am so looking forward to the 3 day weekend, I just hope the weather holds up so I can do my biking.
Sent off a letter to the editor
Well I just sent off a letter to the editor of the Post Gazette, about critical mass, I wrote because I think critical mass is a bad idea, and hurts cyclists in the long run.
Here is the letter I sent off to the editor
I would like to write about an “event” that will be happening on
Thursday of this week. It is call critical mass (they do it the last
Thursday of each month). I am writing to first make mention of it, and
to also state that not all cyclists are in support this “event” (I am
opposed to it). What is it you might ask, well it is a group of people,
that in a protest (thought they will claim it is not a protest) will
gather in large numbers and bike around the city (they start in Oakland
near the library) taking up all the lanes on the road, and blasting
though red lights, in an attempt to be annoying to people in cars, they
do this during rush hour to annoy as many people as possible, starting
at 5:30, you can see more info that they proclaimed at their site
http://www.pghcriticalmass.org/. I also want to state that there are
many cyclists that do not support this, and are against such actions as
we feel that they are not productive, and lowers the option that most
people that will be held up in the artificial traffic jam have of all
cyclists, and can set up a situation where people could very likely get
hurt. Lastly I would like to ask cyclists not to participate in this
“event” as it does not help the public’s image of cyclists, and there
are better ways of raising awareness about cyclists’ rights on the
roads.
Well there is the letter, I probably will generate some hateful responses to it from some in the biking community, but I don’t care, I rather not have them do it, since I feel it negatively affects me when I bike around, and I bike most places since I don’t have a car. I got in a debate about it over at a biking forum, there were all kind of opinions expressed there, but the majority of the people there are going to have a warped view of it since they feel breaking the law is ok for them but not for car, I say it is not ok for any one to break the law on a bike or in a car.
Dinner Party
I had some friends over for dinner; I had 7 people over for dinner. They started to get here around 7pm, and the last of them left at around 11pm, I will have to say that the dinner party was a great success, I love having people over to my place. There were some very good and interesting conversations going on during the night. I try to get more of these in the future, it is so much fun.
Happy Trinity Sunday
Today is Trinity Sunday in the church. Being that it is Trinity Sunday our church says the whole of the Athanasian Creed. This is one of the longest creeds that I know of in the church. It does take some time to say, but it does a good job at spelling out the Trinity. And this creed was written in response to a group called the Arians, who denied the Trinity. It is a very good creed to take a look at.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood; Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
What a day
I started out at 10am to go to the Venture Outdoors festival, on my way there I find there is also a French and Indian war thing going on at the point. I stop and take a look around, it is not very large but it was nice to see, I found out that they do this every year at the point. It got me thinking about the “Penn’s colony” that goes on in north park every year in the fall. I am probably going to try to go to it. After I did that festival I continued on my way to the Venture Outdoors festival. I was pretty good, they had a good number of biking stales, and a few other things. I left the Venture Outdoors festival at 2pm, and on my way home (the last 5 minutes) I got hit with some rain.
Baby fish
Well today when I got home and looked at my Betta, I saw other animals in the tank I did not expect, and I am not talking about more snails, I saw what looked like fry. I know for sure that they could not have come from the Betta, since I don’t own any female Bettas. My only guess is when I moved all the plants from the 20 gallon tank to the 10 gallon tank I moved some eggs with them. I am guessing that they were in the java moss. I have identified 6 of them, and caught them and put them in a holding hospital tank. I have also taken some plants out of the tank and put it in with the fry so they have a place to hid and sleep. I went to the main tank and looked to see if I could find any fry in there, I did not but the sad part is that when I was looking I found that I had lost one of my Red Eyed Tetras during the day when I was at work :'(. In one day I find new life in my tanks, and find the loss of a life in a tank too.
Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith (no spoilers here)
I just got back from the last of the star wars movies, “Revenge of the Sith”; I went with 2 of my friends. And I was very pleasantly surprised; I had very low expectations for the movie. The first 2 were not that great, but I went to see the 3rd because well it is a star wars movie and you have to go see it if you are a geek. I thought it was pretty good, but still the problem of Dramatic Irony* existed pretty badly, taking some of the suspense out of the movie. But all in all the movie is worth seeing, I still think “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” is a better movie, but not all movies can get ratings of “several million out of ten for style”
*There are 3 types of irony Dramatic Irony is the irony where in a story a the audience (reader) has a deeper perception of the future of the story line. When people talk about “Irony’ they usually talk about comic irony or if funny juxtaposition of ideas, like the psychics that can not win at the lottery (I love this one, if the TV psychics were real why are they not all billionaires, if they can predict the future, they could make a lot on the lotto sport betting etc). There is a third type, but the name of it escapes me right now, and I don’t remember what it is about. Also if a Mr. Fazio every sees this page – See I was paying attention in my senior year at high school in your English lit class.
Funny Ham Joke
I have a friend (WA3FKG) that reposted a joke he saw on another web site of a local Pittsburgh ham club, It is about the weather forcast in Dayton this year for the Ham fest. I have never been to the Ham fest, I would like to go some year, but just not this year.
The Betta in the new tank (comming along nicely)
My Betta (Strustrup) seams to be adapting to his new home now; he is starting to swim around the whole tank now. He seams to be still exploring his new home. The fish in the other tank is starting to get use to the new setup of the plants since I did a major redecoration of that tank when I took out all of the plants I did for the new 10 gallon tank. I also took all of the larger rocks out of the larger community tank, and put them in the Betta tank. I also made a home made sponge filter for the Betta tank, I want to keep the water current as low as possible in the Betta tank because from my reading Bettas are
Fandango is down
I was wondering if I get tickets to a movie tomorrow night, and I have had the following problem with Fandango, most of the time it just times out. And the few times that it does not I get a server error, I find this fun, then when you want to check them at the different movie theaters, they do something incredibly stupid, they redacted you to fandango. I just tried to get a screen shot, but fandango is not coming in, I find it very funny.
4 Days until the Largest Outdoor Festival in the Region!
I got this notice in my INBOX today about the about the Outdoor Festival from Venture Outdoors. If the Weather is good on Saterday I will be headed there in the morrning, on my bike.
5 Days until the Largest Outdoor Festival in the Region!
Venture Outdoors Festival Free!
Saturday, May 21, 2005
10:00 AM 5:00 PM (Rain or Shine)
Pittsburghs North Shore Riverfront Park near Heinz Field
Free parking for Venture Outdoors will be available at Gold Lot #1 (you must enter the lot before 3:00 PM)
Everyone (from beginners to experts, kids to seniors) is invited to come out and try a new activity, learn about a wide array of clubs and organizations, buy some of the latest gear and discover all the great outdoor amenities we have in the region.
Quick Facts about all the things going on:
100 Exhibitors Bring your questions and some spending money
Climbing Wall 24 feet of rock climbing fun
Fishing Try your luck with over 20 species of fish in the area
In-line skating Start with the basics or learn some new tricks
Bike Rides Take a guide pedal around town or along the trails (bring your bike and join the fun)
Kayaking See how it easy it is to learn
Canoeing A perfect way to explore the rivers
Dragon Boating 20 paddlers, 1 drum, tons of fun
Frisbee Golf Play a couple of holes
Mountain High Sales – Outdoor technical gear, apparel, and footwear at 30%-80% off Retail pricing. Marmot, Keen Footwear, Vasque Footwear and Atlas snowshoes. Also clothing, boots, tents, sleeping bags, camping, stoves, snowshoes, accessories and much, much, more!
Pittsburgh Voyager – River tours 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Adventure Sports Magazine Pick up a free copy at their booth
Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group- Demo of Search and Rescue dogs 1:00 PM
American Adventure Race Participants will be passing through all day help cheer them on!
Bike Pittsburgh Smoothie samples from their Bike Blender
Brier Hill Farm One word Llamas
DCNR – Rubber stamping activity for the kids plus free Hike for Health Guides
Construction Junction – Salvage art
GASP – Test drive a hybrid car and hear the motor purr
Boy Scouts Greater Pittsburgh Council Visit the Scout Funmobile
Keystone Concessions – Electric-assisted mountain bikes
Mesa Creative Arts Center – Reiki and mini tuning fork healings, plus a small medicine wheel
Massage therapy Experience this technique from 2 different providers
Conscious Healing – Energy psychic readings
The Woodmobile Learn about PAs great forests
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts – Hand made paper and other crafts
Yoga Tent Yoga sessions throughout the day with different instructors
Unicycle and Juggling Come test you hand eye coordination
Drumming Circle 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM along the river (bring your own drums if you like)
Nature Walk 11:00 AM Patterns in Nature
Food- Sree’s, Mung Dynasty, Joes Hot Dogs, Rita’s Ice and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and New Hope Coffee
Girl Scouts 11:00 and 12:00 Songs and Games
ROCS! Award Come find out who is this years winner!
On top of all the activities and events be sure to get your entry in to win more than 30 different cool prizes! With all this cool stuff happening you want to get there early and enjoy the full day. Dont forget to bring the sun block and dress in your adventure clothes!
This festival is the perfect way to kick-start your summer!
Issues Etc
Recent Posts
- The Switch 2 “game key cards&… by Michael O'Connor
I think Nintendo is make a mistake with the “game key cards” the new digital only game cards that Nintendo is doing. With the situation where more 3rd parties are doing those instead of a real game card. I will not buy a game that not fully on the disc or on the cart, which[…]
- The Switch 2 by Michael O'Connor
Well looking at the new switch 2 that is to come out soon, I originally was excited and was thinking of pre-ordering it. But after the news of both the system, and the games, my doubt started to set in. Then I looked at the launch line up, and found none that I wanted. And[…]
- This is a banger of a year for JRPG… by Michael O'Connor
So far this year we have gotten some great JRPGs Persona 3 ReloadedShin Megami Tensei V: VengeanceLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth And there are still more coming, coming on the 5th of July the one I am most hyped for The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak and latter this year we are getting Metaphor:[…]
- weight loss continues, but end is n… by Michael O'Connor
Today I weighed myself and came in at 130 pounds. When I started I set a goal of 125 pounds. So only 5 more pounds to go. I am a long way from where I started, I started at 300 pounds on March 31, 2022, it been about 15 months since I started this diet.[…]
- A summer snack by Michael O'Connor
With summer coming buy, and me still on my diet, I came up with a snack, I have always enjoyed popsicals, so what I am doing now, is I am taking those water enhancers that say they have 0 calories and use that as the flavor for my popsicals, and I have some popsical makers.[…]
- My apartment setup. by Michael O'Connor
For my friends I did a video to show my friends how I have my apartment setup, because I did some changes to the living room and the bedroom. Here is the video
- An updated picture of before and Af… by Michael O'Connor
Posting a new updated before and after picture. First one was taken in 2021, the second picture Just this last weekend.
- Today is the 1 year anniversery of … by Michael O'Connor
March 31, 2022 was the day I hit 300 pounds and decided to loss weight, today I weigh in at 135 pounds. To date I have lost 165 pounds. My goal still remains 125 pounds, so I only have 10 more pounds to go. I feel so much better, later on I will post a[…]
- Meal prep for the week by Michael O'Connor
Today I did some meal preping for this week. Cooking both in slow cookers. First dish, is a ham and veggie soup contianing Ham Potatos Celery Spinish Carrots Onions Veggie Stock With the amount of stuff and what I put in it, the whole slow cooker has about 1200 cals in it, this should make[…]
- Weight loss continues by Michael O'Connor
Today I did my daily steping on the scale this morning, it read 140 now. So since I started my diet last March, I have lost a total of 160 pounds, and only 15 more pounds to go, till I can start working on keeping the weight off. But I been feeling a lot better[…]
Welcome , today is Tuesday, July 1, 2025