PBS has a series called America at a Crossroads, hosted by Robert MacNeil. [Link] One of the shows is Frontline’s Gangs of Iraq, which I’ve watched online and recommend highly.
Tonight, one of the local PBS stations re-ran Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime, a collection of stories told by soldiers who have been fighting in Iraq. A variety of storytelling techniques are used in the show, including one that is best described as a video comic book. Not quite a comic book, and not quite a cartoon, this packs a lot of punch, don’t you think? Here it is. The drawings were done by an artist named Christopher Koelle. [Link]
Before my database blow-out I had a couple of posts, now lost, about getting FiOS TV installed. I’d mentioned that Verizon screwed up two install dates, which didn’t please me, but my initial impressions of the service were positive.
Now that I’ve had it for a few weeks, I am plenty pleased with Verizon FiOS TV. A columnist at Network World magazine (which I drive past every day on my way home from work), Paul McNamara, has some complaints with his service [Link], but so far my experience has been 100% positive. Over on the DVR Chatter site there’s a lengthy positive review of FiOS TV. I agree with his comment about the standard definition picture quality. It’s perfect! [Link] Totally clean and noise-free, with dead-on accurate color.
I’ve put some screen shots below. Click the thumbnails to see them in full 640×480 size. To avoid making them look soft I didn’t de-interlace them, so keep in mind that the jaggies aren’t seen when watching TV, except when freezing the image using the DVR.
Comcast gave me a real sell job, albeit a soft one, to keep me as a customer. I had their analog service without premium packages, and no set top box. Reception was horrible on all of the local channels. Often they wouldn’t tune in at all. Yes, I had called for service, but they could never improve it and I gave up. Those same stations on the analog band that FiOS provides in addition to the digital channels come in perfectly. There’s just no way I’ll go back to Comcast.
When I canceled service with Comcast I asked for a final total to close out the account. They gave me the amount and I sent it in. A few days later I received this note, along with a business card. Obviously, I must represent a trend. I could practically smell Comcast’s fear! Then today I got a bill for two months’ service! Grrr. I called Comcast and they acknowledged that payment had been received, but the rep said I still owed two dollars and change! Sorry, I told her, but I was given a total and I’d paid it. She agreed and said she would cancel the charge.
