Archive for December, 2007

Pratt Porch Project - P.S.

I’ll get back to posting something of interest once I’ve returned to work and have shaken off the holiday brain fog. But first, here are a couple of pictures of the remodeled porch as it looks now, after painting and the addition of some furniture. We’re still looking for a coffee table and side table.

Click to EnlargeClick to Enlarge

If you click to look at the full-size picture with the TV, you’ll see it has an old-fashioned rabbit ear antenna. On February 17, 2009, analog broadcast television in the United States will cease. Long before then I plan to have a FiOS set top box installed. Or I could run a coaxial cable to the porch myself and use the analog signal provided over FiOS to watch the same local stations the antenna receives. I suppose it’s possible Verizon will shut off the analog service, although they’re under no requirement to do that.

P.S. According to this item, cable TV companies will keep their analog signals for local stations until 2012.

2 comments December 31st, 2007

The Video Of Music

The video projector is addicting, and I’m watching too much TV! Last night it was the NE Patriots game — and I’m not even a football fan. Tonight, ABC is showing The Sound of Music in HD. I added a back light to give a sense of how it looks. Not huge by projection standards, but just right for the room, which isn’t as dark as the camera makes it seem after adjusting the exposure for the bright screen.

The Sound of Music on HDTV

Angela CartwrightHey, look who it is! Angela Cartwright, whose name came up in this past post. When I was a kid, besides the huge crush on Angela that I’ve already admitted having from when she was on Lost In Space with Bill Mumy, I thought it was funny that her name was the same as the fictional Cartwrights on Bonanza.

Angela Cartwright

3 comments December 30th, 2007

Sinnott’s Brush Strokes With Greatness

Brush Strokes With GreatnessAuthor Tim Lasiuta has posted a comment reminding me to mention his great book Brush Strokes With Greatness, The Life And Art of Joe Sinnott. Glad to do it, Tim! Love the book. I couldn’t find a good scan of the cover online, so I did one myself. Click to enlarge. I gave a copy to my best buddy Dennis Rogers for his birthday. Dennis rated special mention on the Joe Sinnott Web site, as seen at this link. Joe autographed my copy last month at The National in New York, aka: the Big Apple Con.

Joe Sinnott, Brush Strokes With Greatness

Anybody who has dipped a #2 sable brush into a bottle of india ink and tried with all their heart to draw a controlled and clean line with it, as I have, can really appreciate just how masterful Joe Sinnott is at his craft. What’s amazing is that at age 81 he’s a good as ever!

Add comment December 29th, 2007

A Dream Defeated in HD?

Yikes! At the moment, the home team NE Patriots have fallen way behind the NY Giants, 28-16. Not good. The Pats are supposed to remain undefeated! But at least the game looks terrific in projected HDTV. Eric’s hand shows the size of the picture.

Pats in HDTV

P.S. Whew! They did it. Tom Brady may be a jerk for not marrying the mother of his child, but he’s sure good at his job.

Add comment December 29th, 2007

Happiness Is… Peanuts Books for Christmas

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere a couple of times, reading Peanuts books on Christmas Day is a favorite childhood memory. It’s a tradition that is back again, thanks to the Fantagraphics Complete Peanuts series! This year’s boxed set covers the years 1963-1966, when Sparky’s creation went from being a popular comic strip to being a pop culture phenomenon.

Complete Peanuts Box Set

5 comments December 29th, 2007

Previous Posts


Recent Comments

  • Joan Stringer: Someone should do a study of people who have used computers from 1996 to the present, the time when...
  • Joan Stringer: Amen Sister Jeanie Beanie! This buyout would likely turn out to be like others-a windfall for the CEOs...
  • jeaniebeanie: How frustrating! We will be patiently waiting until you get that rhymes with “other” -...
  • Julian Higgins: Somewhere there is a warehouse with a bunch of Allison parts - m,dranges - tweeters. There are lots...
  • jeaniebeanie: I caught the part when the CEOs were at the hearing and were asked, “How many of you flew in here...
  • Mark A. Worden: Hi Doug! It was wonderful to finally be able to hear these for the very first time–I never had...
  • jeaniebeanie: I meant “Mein Gott!” I call him Barry, because it’s what he was actually called well...
  • Dave: Hey Doug, get well soon man.
  • Joan Stringer: My favorite cartoons have always been of Bugs Bunny. I like the fact there are adult references to...
  • Joan Stringer: Hi Doug! I hope you are feeling better this evening! If not, then I think I would do as Jean said and...

Blogs

Categories

Calendar

December 2007
S M T W T F S
« Nov   Jan »
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  

Archives

Feeds