HD in the House

As requested, here are some photos of the new HDTV...






The plan is to get a new media stand soon, but for the time being we're just using this little side table so we could get the clunky old tv cabinet out of the room.

It's interesting to note a couple things I was unaware of with regards to HD programming.

1. Although a channel is HD, e.g. ESPN-HD or NBC-HD, I would say only about 10-15% of the programs are actually in high-definition. This is okay because almost all primetime shows are broadcast in HD. It's just that your local news, daytime television and such are just standard 480i. That's something the cable companies fail to mention.
   
2. Although there are 2 main HD formats - 720p and 1080i - almost every HD station is broadcast in 1080i. ESPN-HD is the lone exception, broadcasting in 720p. And from initial inspections 720p is far superior.
   

As for programming, SportsCenter is absolutely stunning. It is by far the highest quality HD program I have seen since I have had the tv. I know this will sound cliche, but it is honestly as if Dan Patrick was sitting 8 feet away from me in my family room. PBS-HD and Discovery HD have had some beautiful programs as well. Discovery is running a special on the African savannah called 'Equator'. I think Stephanie summed it up best when she said, and I quote, "This show alone is worth the price of the new tv." Rock...

HDTV Pictures?

Ian,

Where are the pictures you promised? Some of us need to live our HD lives vicariously through you!

HDTV Underway

One of the conditions of me sacrificing my thumbs, knuckles, and back over the past year as I finished our basement was that I get to buy an HDTV upon completion. Well, the basement is finished. You know what that means? That's right, baby, a new HDTV!

I did a lot of research before buying and a lot of questions needed to be answered:

1. Plasma, LCD, or DLP?
   I decided that Plasma was too pricey and the DLP was just too big since you can't get DLP less than 42-inches. LCD offered the best combination of sizes and cost.
   
2. Size?
   Given that most HDTVs are widescreen, a 26-inch model is much smaller than a 26-inch CRT. 32-inches seemed like a good compromise between picture size and overall cabinet size.
   
3. Connectivity options?
   HDMI was a must, as were multiple component video inputs. I wasn't too concerned with CableCard since it's still only single-stream and I must have my on-screen guide.
   

After a lot of soul searching I settled upon the Dell W3201C (I know, I'm normally a Sony junkie, but their HDTVs are just too expensive). It's a 32-inch LCD with a ton of connectivity options (HDMI x2, component x2, composite), detachable speakers, and it looks great to boot. I still had two problems though - 1) Since it was a Dell, I had nowhere to view the actual picture quality and 2) It was a bit more expensive than I was hoping to spend.

Well, the first problem was solved as we travelled out west to visit Bridget over the New Year holiday. During our layover in Dallas there was a Dell electronics stand directly across from our gate. They had the 3201 on display and not only did the picture look great, but the TV itself was the best looking television I had seen. Stephanie agreed that the picture quality was outstanding and the external aesthetics were impressive and we were one step closer...

The next hurdle worked itself out the other day as Dell put together the perfect storm of purchase incentives - $200 off the 3201, no interest for 18 months, and free shipping. That, combined with an additional $100 discount Stephanie receives through Discovery, and we were in business. So last night the TV was ordered and should arrive with time to spare for Super Bowl XL. So say hello to my soon-to-be new HDTV...



Once the TV arrives I'm planning on getting an HDTV DVR through my cable provider. I'll post another entry and some photos once everything is setup and working.

So if anyone wants to visit DC this summer, I hear ABC and ESPN are broadcasting every single World Cup game in HD. Just saying...

Reds shake-up

For all of you who didn't hear because the Reds are a "small-market" team, Dan O'Brien was fired yesterday by the new Reds owner, Bob Castellini. Castellini had this to say about O'Brien:
"He tried very, very hard." Unfortunately, Castellini is a Yoda-protoge and doesn't believe in trying. He want's results.

To this end, Castellini brought in an outside advisor to review the pitching staff in Cincinnati. Jim Beattie is going to llok over the pitching program and find a way to fix it. "What I want him to focus on while he's here is to take a look at our entire pitching program, from soup to nuts, and see what our plan is and let me know," Castellini said. "Because I haven't been able to fully understand what our plan is." Apparently that's why O'Brien was dismissed.

In two seasons under O'Brien the Reds have gone 149-175. They narrowly avoided the cellar in a division with such stand-outs as the Pirates, Brewers, and Cubs. A change is necessary. Castellini wants the new GM to "establish a culture of winning" for his team and says that a lot of changes are going to occur and soon.

Personally, I think the Reds are starting to look up. Half the guys on the team should be in triple-A at best, the other half have no incentive to play hard. I don't think much will happen with the Reds this year - there's just too much change in the wind and I think a lot of players will end up somewhere else. But starting in 2007, we could see some real baseball back in Cincinnati! Who-dey! er... I mean, GO REDS!

USC: The Dynasty That Wasn't

As the cardboard heads in the Guinness commercial like to say, "Brilliant!". Sometimes I wish I was more creative and could think of cool ways to enrage my enemies like this, but my feeble brain inevitably strays to thoughts of koala bears piloting rocketships and what would happen if I loaded a watermelon with fireworks... hmmm... gotta go.

Chuck Norris Revisited

Sorry, I just couldn't leave this one alone. After my previous call for Chuck Norris to be the patron action hero of our blog, I have uncovered new evidence that he is indeed a man's man. Check out this portrait. It will go on posters for the brand new Chuck Norris World Combat League!!! It starts soon at the Mohegan Sun casino. You know, the one that hosts all the women's billiards tourneys!

The Reds Will Be Back

I just listened to Robert Castellini, the new owner of the Cincinnati Reds give his first press conference. I think in 2-3 years I may have hope come springtime.

Sam Young, Golden Domer

Yesterday Sam Young, a 6-foot-8, 302lb, high school senior, who also happens to be the highest ranked OL recruit in the nation, chose Notre Dame over USC. Guys this size don't grow on trees and, with a depleted O-line, it's a boon for Notre Dame's recruiting class. That Notre Dame beat out USC in the process is just icing on the cake. Young was quoted as saying that academics played a large part in his decision to choose Notre Dame, but he's not kidding anyone. If ND had finished the season at 6-6, Young would be a Trojan.

Just look at that kid - if he wasn't born to were the Blue & Gold, I don't know who was. Oh, and by the way, I totally had another post planned in case Young chose USC that said 6-8, 302lb linemen do grow on trees and more often than not, they never reach their potential. But I'm glad I didn't have to go with that one.

Huzzah for 24!

I have to admit, I didn't get into the television show 24 until there were about 6 episodes left last season. Now, I'm a junky. Kiefer and his zany undercover antics are a necessary shot in the vein on Monday nights.

When it comes to television dramas, I watch precious few - Law & Order (mainly because the 'duh-duh' noise makes Steph fall asleep), Prison Break (on hiatus until March), Lost, and now 24. Of those 4, Lost and 24 are a cut above. And of those 2, 24 is head and shoulders better. Here's why - the writers for 24 have got some balls. SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! Within 10 minutes of the latest season of 24, 3 of the series' major characters had been killed off (good thing president David Palmer has that Allstate gig to fall back on). In the second episode terrorists were shooting hostages in the head like they were turkeys. What other show has the guts to try that, much less pull it off. I've watched entire episodes of Lost where the only action is everyone trying to decide who's turn it is to stare at a blank computer screen. I'm intrigued by Lost, but they can only dangle the carrot so long before I punch them in the sack and demand some answers.

24 doesn't keep me waiting, every episode is chock-full o' action. And good action too - not the kind that makes me hurl obscenities at the television and storm off in a rage because the characters are so stupid. I can only hope that 24 can keep up this frenetic pace now that I'm onboard, because it makes Monday nights that much less miserable.

Hunter the Punter

Not only is he a great punter, he is a great musician as well.