I've been kicking this around for years but finally decided to pull the trigger. I disconnected all the cable boxes and turned them in. No more paying for cable TV and all those channels I never watch. Although it took just a few minutes (and a 10 minute drive to turn in the equipment), coming to that end was a slow process.
It started with the purchase of a Samsung Smart TV about a year ago. It has built in wireless and is capable of reading any FAT based formatted drive via a USB 3.0 port. We have a SATA external hard drive enclosure that connects via USB that will except any SATA drive. Just drop the drive in and the TV reads it...it even recognizes the file structure. The TV has built in CODECS and we haven't found a format it won't play yet. The CODECS (and the rest of the software on the TV for that matter) can also be updated via internet. We started watching shows over the internet more than via cable. Apps to access Netflix, Hulu Plus, and even YouTube are built into the TV, no other devices (like a game console) are needed. Even my cable company had content that can be streamed over the internet right from their website...TV series from ABC, A&E, FOX, FX, the History Channel, NBC, SyFy, TBS, TNT, and more. Watching "Top Shot All Stars" while I'm typing this. Why am I paying for cable?
I also started doing research on TV over the air (OTA). I learned a lot from a site called TV Fool, which also can tell you what stations you can pick up over the air. You can type in your address and it will give you the stations you can pick up (and the signal strength, which will give you an idea on what kind of antenna you'll need). Unfortunately in my area I can only pick up the big 4...ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX plus a couple PBS and local broadcasts. In case you didn't know, all OTA broadcasts by the Big 4 are in HD...so it's actually better quality than what you get over basic (non-HD) cable stations. Also, there's no such thing as a HD antenna...they are all UHF/VHF antennas. If your TV came with one of those round antennas and/or "rabbit ears" (rare these days), those will work fine as long as there's a strong enough signal. It's the TV that translates the signal to HD, the broadcasts are still UHF/VHF...just like the old days, if you're old enough to remember TV before cable.
The only thing that really stopped me from "cutting the chord" was my love of sports. If I cut the chord there would be no more ESPN. I wouldn't be able to watch any live games on anything other than the Big 4. Monday Night Football is on ESPN!!! I started to do some math (you knew I was desperate then).
NFL Sunday ticket is available via the PS3, but that is $299 for the season (they actually dropped it from last years price of $339). Kinda pricey. The other option for NFL games is Game Pass ($39.99, $29.99 to follow one team), but it's not live (although you can get live radio broadcasts). The replays of the game is available as soon is the game are over. MLB.TV is just $64.99. The best I can tell is NBA League pass is $179, but I'm scared of trying it due to a review on Deadspin. Still, compare that to $1000+ a year that I'm paying for cable and I can get all three and a subscription to Hulu Plus and Netflicks and still come out over $400 ahead.
Then I saw this...Amazon exclusive offer for Madden 25 Anniversary Edition with NFL Sunday Ticket. Still researching this because the wording makes it unclear on whether you can get the stream through the PS3/XBOX without Direct TV if DTV is available in your area. I've searched the net and even DTV is vague and says that Amazon and EA Sports is in control of the deal. This would be an obvious no brainer if you're a DTV subscriber and want Sunday Ticket. I guessing you're going to see a lot of unopened Madden 25 Anniversary Edition games for sale on EBay. Sunday Ticket is $59.99 a month for the 5 months of the season...easy math, $299.95 vs. $100 for the Madden Anniversary Edition.
I'll keep posting as I learn more...
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The Dissapointment that is the Los Angeles Angels
For all the money the Angels have spent over the last 2 seasons the product on the field has been disappointing to say the lease. They actually got better after signing Albert Pohjols going from 86-76 in 2011 to 89-73 in 2012...but they also got Kendrys Morales back from injury and signed Zake Grienke before the end of the season. They also had some guy named Mike Trout have one of the best Rookie seasons ever. Still neither record was good enough to win the Western Division. So far this season they're 46-52 and likely to miss the playoffs for the 4th straight season. They haven't made the playoffs since 2009 when they went 97-65 and lost in the ALCS 2-4 to the Yankees.
Back in 2009 the Angels were a fun to watch, overachieving team with a deep bench. They were smart with their money picking up free agents without going to far into the hole (in terms of dollars and length of contracts). This allowed them to put together a pretty good starting rotation. 1 through 4 of John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders. The relief pitching was deep and solid with Brian Fuentes getting 48 saves that year. Up until recently the Angels had a reputation for having one of the more solid bullpens in the league.
Fast forward to 2013. They're not as much fun to watch, underachieving and no bench to speak of. The Angels were once know for gambling on hit-n-runs and going 1st to 3rd more than any team in the AL (and maybe even in the league). They don't hit-n-run as much...in fact they don't run that much at all. They had 4 players with double figure stolen base totals in 2012...this season, only Mike Trout (22) has more than 7. Big dollars have been paid out to Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. Even if this had worked out and Pujols and Hamilton were producing as expected, this handcuffed the team in resigning players. Productive players like C Mike Napoli, OF Torii Hunter, and 1B Kendrys Morales are gone. The depth is also weak with J.B Shuck (yea, I wouldn't expect anyone to recognize the name) starting in LF. The starting pitching is down to two quality starters in Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. Starters Ervin Santana, Dan Haren, and Zack Greinke all gone from 2012. Wilson was the better off season acquisition two years ago because they got him for a bargain. The bullpen is also suspect. Ernesto Fieri has 24 saves, but he's a "hold your breath until the last out" type of reliever. He's walked 23 batters and given up 30 hits in 42.2 innings. Yea, 1-2-3 innings aren't that common. Getting to Frieri is also an adventure, with Scott Downs the only reliable middle reliever.
Let's play a little "what if", as in what if they didn't sign Puhjols and Hamilton.
1B would be manned by Mark Trumbo or Kendrys Morales. Morales led the Angels with 34 HRs and 108 RBI in 2009. He broke his leg in 2010 and didn't come back until 2012 when he hit 22 HRs and 73 RBI in limited duty. Trumbo hit 32 HRs and had 95 RBI in 2012. Playing in only his 3rd full season the kid has potential. Trumbo ended up playing 1B this season anyway since Pujols's leg injuries has limited his time at 1B. Puljol's has 17 HRs/59 RBI so far this season. Morales has 15 HRs/57 RBI in Seattle. Yea, Morales has less, but isn't being paid nearly as much and doesn't have the bats surrounding him that Pujols does.
Looking in the outfield last season you would have saw Peter Bourjos, Trout, and Hunter. With Hamilton getting the big contract, Hunter went to Detroit where he's hitting .308, only 8 HRs, and 46 RBI with 58 runs scored. I've also seen him on Sportscenter still making great defensive plays in the OF. Hamilton is hitting just .223 with 14 HRs and 41 RBI. I was actually amazed that Hamilton had 48 runs scored since he has a terrible .279 on base percentage.
Would the Angels have been worse off resigning Morales and Hunter instead of going after Pujols and Hamilton? I would argue that they would have been better. Especially considering they would have had much more cash to spend on the rest of the team. Possibly resigning Greinke and/or keeping Santana. How would that pitching staff look...1-4 being Weaver, Wilson, Greinke, and Santana? Maybe just keep Santana and adding depth and shoring up the bullpen.
The team isn't likely to get better any time soon with so much money tied to Pujols and Hamilton for the foreseeable future. What happens when Trout's contract is up? What about Weaver? Or Wilson? Or even Trumbo? With no hope for improving the rest of the team, especially if those guys get paid what they deserve, would you blame them for going elsewhere? I wouldn't.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Focus ST Update
Three+ months since I bought the ST and I still love driving it. I was just busting some corners on the way home today and the car still brings a smile to my face.
Have I mentioned I love hatches...especially the category that's know as "hot hatches?" These are the Swiss Army Knives of cars. They may not do any one thing great, but they do everything well. Just recently I went over to the local hardware store and brought back 20 pavers...with the Focus. I should have taken a picture, but here's what the back looks like with the seats folded down.
Can you haul stuff in it like a truck or minivan? Of course not, but I can haul more stuff than the average vehicle. Awesome handling car (go read any Focus ST review out there), but you won't be outrunning a Lotus Elise on a road course. It's quick (0-60 in just over 6 seconds), but you're not going to be winning any drag races against V-8 Mustangs. Good gas mileage, but this isn't a hybrid.
Swiss Army Knife.
Ford has something called "Intelligent Access" that is standard in most of their new vehicles. What it means is that you can lock/unlock the doors without taking your keys out of your pocket. See the little black pad on the door handle in the picture? Touch the pad and the doors lock/unlock.
I thought it was silly and unnecessary when I first bought the car. Now that I've had it for awhile I can't tell you how many times I've had my hands full and wanted to unlock or lock the car. Didn't have to put stuff down, just had to touch the pad with the back of my hand or forearm. I don't think it's silly anymore.
In case you're wondering, the key fob has to be close for it to work. I stood about 4-5 feet away from the car and had someone try to open the door and couldn't. I have to be standing right next to the car.
Have I mentioned I love hatches...especially the category that's know as "hot hatches?" These are the Swiss Army Knives of cars. They may not do any one thing great, but they do everything well. Just recently I went over to the local hardware store and brought back 20 pavers...with the Focus. I should have taken a picture, but here's what the back looks like with the seats folded down.
Swiss Army Knife.
Ford has something called "Intelligent Access" that is standard in most of their new vehicles. What it means is that you can lock/unlock the doors without taking your keys out of your pocket. See the little black pad on the door handle in the picture? Touch the pad and the doors lock/unlock.
I thought it was silly and unnecessary when I first bought the car. Now that I've had it for awhile I can't tell you how many times I've had my hands full and wanted to unlock or lock the car. Didn't have to put stuff down, just had to touch the pad with the back of my hand or forearm. I don't think it's silly anymore.
In case you're wondering, the key fob has to be close for it to work. I stood about 4-5 feet away from the car and had someone try to open the door and couldn't. I have to be standing right next to the car.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Video Game Music....LIVE!
I'm old...let's just say the odds are that I'm older than you and leave it at that. Thing is I was raised in the video game generation and played a lot of them in my young adult life and still occasionally do. I also love music, so when I first got invited to go to a"Video Game Live" concert I hastily said yes. As the date got closer I had a chance to think about it and I wondered if it was going to be full of "kids" and I would be totally out of place. I almost backed out, but was talked into going...I still was a little hesitant since the group I was going with was all much younger than me.
I shouldn't have worried. I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of the crowd. Yea, there was the "kids," but there was also couples of every age group, even a few I would peg as senior citizens. Anyway, this link is to a youtube video of a Video Games Live concert. The Classic Arcade Medley was the same piece they opened the show with that I went to see tonight. Great stuff and brought back quite a few memories...stuff my son and I played when he was little. While the youtube vid had several performances I saw tonight, I saw several others that aren't in the video. At one point in the concert, the host mentioned they had about 120 pieces, but play only about 19-20 during a given performance.
I highly recommend going to see it even if you don't play video games...the performances are amazing and the music incredible. Also a great way to introduce your kids to the symphony.
You may have seen videos by a girl with the handle of "Flute Link" on youtube. Her real name is Laura Intravia and she performed during the show I saw. She's an amazingly talented girl. She sang a Russian opera that was composed for Tetris (insane high notes), rocked out on the flute to a Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross montage, and also played an "electric" flute to Donkey Kong Country, which she said was her favorite video game. Most of the videos of her I've seen on youtube she is dressed like Link from Zelda, but at the concert tonight she wasn't (you can see her in the Chrono Cross number in the link to the youtube vid).
The orchestra and choir were actually local talent, but the Conductor was James Horner, who, along with video games, has been involved in several movies, most recently the new "Amazing Spiderman." As in every Video Game Live performance, it was hosted by Tommy Tallarico, who along with making a living as a video game music composer is a talented guitar player in his own right. He played electric guitar along with the orchestra on several pieces and displays a lot of energy and passion, which is a big plus in a live performance. The Street Fighter montage he did was excellent. One of the highlights of the night was Tallarico playing a guitar duet with the winner of the Guitar Hero contest they had before the concert...Tallarico playing his electric guitar while the contest winner played the video game.
The surprise of the night was when they brought on stage a guy that is semi-famous on youtube. Seems he kept showing up at their concerts and telling them that his dream was to play with them. Well I got to see Viking Jesus play live with the orchestra when they played the music from Star Fox 64. They also brought him back for a duet with Tallarico performing the music from Final Fantasy VII. VJ is the second youtube star I've seen in person...the first was Toronto Batman when I visited Canada last year. We where just walking around downtown Toronto and there he was standing on the sidewalk.
So if you get a chance to see a Video Game Live performance, do it...you won't regret it.
www.videogameslive.com
I shouldn't have worried. I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of the crowd. Yea, there was the "kids," but there was also couples of every age group, even a few I would peg as senior citizens. Anyway, this link is to a youtube video of a Video Games Live concert. The Classic Arcade Medley was the same piece they opened the show with that I went to see tonight. Great stuff and brought back quite a few memories...stuff my son and I played when he was little. While the youtube vid had several performances I saw tonight, I saw several others that aren't in the video. At one point in the concert, the host mentioned they had about 120 pieces, but play only about 19-20 during a given performance.
I highly recommend going to see it even if you don't play video games...the performances are amazing and the music incredible. Also a great way to introduce your kids to the symphony.
You may have seen videos by a girl with the handle of "Flute Link" on youtube. Her real name is Laura Intravia and she performed during the show I saw. She's an amazingly talented girl. She sang a Russian opera that was composed for Tetris (insane high notes), rocked out on the flute to a Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross montage, and also played an "electric" flute to Donkey Kong Country, which she said was her favorite video game. Most of the videos of her I've seen on youtube she is dressed like Link from Zelda, but at the concert tonight she wasn't (you can see her in the Chrono Cross number in the link to the youtube vid).
The orchestra and choir were actually local talent, but the Conductor was James Horner, who, along with video games, has been involved in several movies, most recently the new "Amazing Spiderman." As in every Video Game Live performance, it was hosted by Tommy Tallarico, who along with making a living as a video game music composer is a talented guitar player in his own right. He played electric guitar along with the orchestra on several pieces and displays a lot of energy and passion, which is a big plus in a live performance. The Street Fighter montage he did was excellent. One of the highlights of the night was Tallarico playing a guitar duet with the winner of the Guitar Hero contest they had before the concert...Tallarico playing his electric guitar while the contest winner played the video game.
The surprise of the night was when they brought on stage a guy that is semi-famous on youtube. Seems he kept showing up at their concerts and telling them that his dream was to play with them. Well I got to see Viking Jesus play live with the orchestra when they played the music from Star Fox 64. They also brought him back for a duet with Tallarico performing the music from Final Fantasy VII. VJ is the second youtube star I've seen in person...the first was Toronto Batman when I visited Canada last year. We where just walking around downtown Toronto and there he was standing on the sidewalk.
So if you get a chance to see a Video Game Live performance, do it...you won't regret it.
www.videogameslive.com
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Heat Repeat As Champs, Take Spurs 95-88 In Game 7
I took a day to write this...that is the luxury of doing this for a hobby as opposed to sportswriters who do it for a living. If you read my pre-Finals post I thought the Heat would win the series, in fact I didn't give the Spurs much of a chance...but the way this series went down the Spurs could have easily won it, and that hurts me as a fan, can't image how the players feel.
I thought it would take some extra ordinary things to happen for the Spurs to win it all and they got it. Game 1, NBA Finals tying record for least turnovers with just four. Game 3, NBA record 16 three pointers. Game 5, a 60% shooting night.
Meanwhile, for the Heat, LeBron James was tentative to take jumpers. Dwayne Wade was slowed by injuries. Chris Bosh wasn't doing much.
Then Game 6 back in Miami. The Spurs got the one more performance it would take to upset the heat when Tim Duncan went for 30 points and 12 rebounds (5 offensive). They just couldn't close the deal. Suddenly, Bosh was making defensive plays and James finally found his jumper. The Heat also got some help from Mario Chambers with 20 points (4-5 three pointers). It all went perfect for the Heat. Popovich even making coaching mistakes in the waning moments of regulation. Funny that this was the best free throw shooting team of the Pop-Duncan era and that was one of the things that let them down in the end.
I don't know what the sports media is saying about Game 7...I've avoided sports related shows/websites since Thursday night...but if they are saying the Spurs were broken by the Game 6 loss, I would say they're wrong. In Game 7, the Heat found themselves again. James was hitting the jumpers the Spurs were daring for him to shoot all series long (32 PTS, 12-23, 12 REB, 4 AST). Wade played a "Wade-like" game (23 PTS, 11-21, 10 REB), the best all-around game he's played in the series. Shane Battier decided to re-live last years Finals and hit 6-8 threes. I have to wonder if Battier is the only player in NBA history to only attempt 3-point shots over the course of entire series. The Heats defense took Tony Parker out of his game and the pick-n-roll motion offense the Spurs run, was done. The Spurs even stopped trying to run it in the 4th quarter. A co-worker mentioned that he saw something that said Parker was still feeling the effects of the pulled hamstring, but I haven't seen anything written about that.
Despite all that the Spurs had a chance in Game 7. I have to give the Spurs credit for their heart. With their normal offense rendered useless, not getting much from Parker, Danny Green suddenly coming back down to earth, and James/Wade doing their thing (add Game 6 if you like), the Spurs could have just packed it in. For the 2nd straight game the Heat out shot the Spurs from the 3-point line (12-32 vs 6-19). No one shot well (.378 as a team), but they somehow found ways to stay in it. Duncan (who many sportscasters thought would be spent) found the will to get 24 points and 12 rebounds. Although at times I thought Manu Ginobili tried to do to much, he came back with an 18 PT (6-12), 5 assist game. Kawhi Leonard (who many sportscasters said was too inexperienced to overcome Game 6) posted a 19 PT, 16 REB performance.
In the end, the Heat was the better team and the Spurs couldn't make the plays down the stretch. With 1:26 left and the score 90-88 Heat, Leonard had a pretty good look at making a three that would have given the Spurs the lead (he had just hit a 3-PTer in the previous possession), but couldn't put it down. With 49 seconds left and the same score, Duncan had a gimme at the rim and couldn't put it in the hole...on top of that he had a good shot at tipping in the rebound, but that didn't fall either. I felt his frustration when he slapped the floor on the following defensive possession. I know he still has to be thinking "how did I miss those two shots?"
After that, fittingly, James sunk a 20 foot jumper to seal the Heats 2nd straight Championship.
Yea, I thought the Heat was the better team going in and that they would win the Finals...but one rebound, one free throw, or one shot and the Spurs could have pulled off the upset. Bill Simmons summed it up after the Game 6 loss, "I don't know if there ever was a team that close to winning a Championship and didn't."
I thought it would take some extra ordinary things to happen for the Spurs to win it all and they got it. Game 1, NBA Finals tying record for least turnovers with just four. Game 3, NBA record 16 three pointers. Game 5, a 60% shooting night.
Meanwhile, for the Heat, LeBron James was tentative to take jumpers. Dwayne Wade was slowed by injuries. Chris Bosh wasn't doing much.
Then Game 6 back in Miami. The Spurs got the one more performance it would take to upset the heat when Tim Duncan went for 30 points and 12 rebounds (5 offensive). They just couldn't close the deal. Suddenly, Bosh was making defensive plays and James finally found his jumper. The Heat also got some help from Mario Chambers with 20 points (4-5 three pointers). It all went perfect for the Heat. Popovich even making coaching mistakes in the waning moments of regulation. Funny that this was the best free throw shooting team of the Pop-Duncan era and that was one of the things that let them down in the end.
I don't know what the sports media is saying about Game 7...I've avoided sports related shows/websites since Thursday night...but if they are saying the Spurs were broken by the Game 6 loss, I would say they're wrong. In Game 7, the Heat found themselves again. James was hitting the jumpers the Spurs were daring for him to shoot all series long (32 PTS, 12-23, 12 REB, 4 AST). Wade played a "Wade-like" game (23 PTS, 11-21, 10 REB), the best all-around game he's played in the series. Shane Battier decided to re-live last years Finals and hit 6-8 threes. I have to wonder if Battier is the only player in NBA history to only attempt 3-point shots over the course of entire series. The Heats defense took Tony Parker out of his game and the pick-n-roll motion offense the Spurs run, was done. The Spurs even stopped trying to run it in the 4th quarter. A co-worker mentioned that he saw something that said Parker was still feeling the effects of the pulled hamstring, but I haven't seen anything written about that.
Despite all that the Spurs had a chance in Game 7. I have to give the Spurs credit for their heart. With their normal offense rendered useless, not getting much from Parker, Danny Green suddenly coming back down to earth, and James/Wade doing their thing (add Game 6 if you like), the Spurs could have just packed it in. For the 2nd straight game the Heat out shot the Spurs from the 3-point line (12-32 vs 6-19). No one shot well (.378 as a team), but they somehow found ways to stay in it. Duncan (who many sportscasters thought would be spent) found the will to get 24 points and 12 rebounds. Although at times I thought Manu Ginobili tried to do to much, he came back with an 18 PT (6-12), 5 assist game. Kawhi Leonard (who many sportscasters said was too inexperienced to overcome Game 6) posted a 19 PT, 16 REB performance.
In the end, the Heat was the better team and the Spurs couldn't make the plays down the stretch. With 1:26 left and the score 90-88 Heat, Leonard had a pretty good look at making a three that would have given the Spurs the lead (he had just hit a 3-PTer in the previous possession), but couldn't put it down. With 49 seconds left and the same score, Duncan had a gimme at the rim and couldn't put it in the hole...on top of that he had a good shot at tipping in the rebound, but that didn't fall either. I felt his frustration when he slapped the floor on the following defensive possession. I know he still has to be thinking "how did I miss those two shots?"
After that, fittingly, James sunk a 20 foot jumper to seal the Heats 2nd straight Championship.
Yea, I thought the Heat was the better team going in and that they would win the Finals...but one rebound, one free throw, or one shot and the Spurs could have pulled off the upset. Bill Simmons summed it up after the Game 6 loss, "I don't know if there ever was a team that close to winning a Championship and didn't."
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