Bhagwan @ Large

Enter the land of Sadness

Tivo has died.

Not cable, not cable service or the tuner card tivo uses to speak to them, but Tivo itself. Less than 24 hours after I removed the lesser of two boxes from the network, the greater of them went kaput. Receives a signal, but refuses to recognize it. Still talks to the internet, still talks to all my computers, just not the cable company.

This makes me sad. Very sad.

Three hours of life support between me, the cable guy, the cable guy’s tech girl, and then eventually the Tivo guy can not restore the hearing and sight of my 27 month old box, 15 months out of warranty.

A replacement is available to me for the “bargain” price of $149, through tivo. this will come to me some ten days after I ship my wounded soldier back to them. Alternately, I can consent to have a $300 hold placed on my credit card, have a new box shipped out immediately, then have all but $149 refunded to me upon receipt.

I paid $200 for the box in 2008. There is a math exercise here for those what know me. It goes something like this. Current value of a box that will record, but not receive channels is almost $0. I say almost, because it costs $13 out the door for the service I’m not receiving, and we derive benefit from the functions that still operate (amazon.com and netflix access). Negative dollars plus perceived value is greater than 0. A quick replacement is $149, but Comcast had one at my house, for free, and hooked up inside 3 minutes.

Free is better than $149, but not better enough.

I’m currently scouring the intarwebs for any price less than 150, or greater than with better options. mind you, it could most likely be repaired, but any research down those lines must also come up sorter than $149.

I have 90 days to make up my mind. Damnit.

UPDATE: Have just this minute discovered that despite my strenuous objections, and contrary to their (Tivo’s) stated promises, I have already been charged for a replacement Tivo unit. apparently I no longer have an opinion on the subject that is not SUCK.

Current Plan end date = 09/20/2010. 7 X $13 (+7x $4 for the cable card from Comcast) = $119. 7 x $5 (the cost of the Comcast unit which will leave my house at any time) is $35. Added together they do not equal the money I’ve just been charged to do nothing.

Rage…building…

20 something progress

Look, I don’t care if you think it’s funny. I’m continuing with the theme, and that’s that.

It’s my idiom.

Anoher 2500 words today, split evenly between netbook and iPod. Yesterday’s switch in focus put this story back on the fast track, and the challenge today was in not writing, rather than finding the time or inspiration to do so.

Like every time I do this, the pep talks from NaNo are completely on target. There’s always a period of “this sucks,” followed by “i hate this” sprinkled with “what the hell was I thinking.”

All behind me now in November’s awkward teen phase. I made a conscious decision tonight to stop writing, choosing to watch television and recharge the creative batteries in the middle of a scene, only pushing long enough to complete a sentence.

I’m itching to write the next words. This bodes well.

In other news, Linz and I went to see “The Blind Side” tonight, and it was exactly as advertised. Tears-a-brimming, “based on a true story” goodness. Only this time, it was as current as yesterday’s headlines. Based on Michael Lewis’ (Moneyball, Liar’s Poker) book of the same name, it hit hard and often at all the teary spots.

So, I liked it. Go watch it, especially if you’re not alone. Like Bull Durham before it, this chick flick has enough sports and manly bits to interest all comers.

Pretty much all I’ve got to say about that. Sandra Bullock as Cougar Milf Hottie was completely deliverable, and against all odds Tim McGraw kept up with every chewed scene. Also, there was some kid playing a high schooler.

I should learn his name.

P.S. It’s Quinton Aaron, and he’s going to win a lot of awards for this performance.

P.P.S. QA, just kidding about the above. You were awesome, dude. Please don’t slam me to the turf.

P.P.P.S. Michael Oher, You sir have millions of new fans, and even if I was not partial to the Ravens, I’d be watching you for the rest of the season. Your cinema avatar is well worth watching, and your life should inspire anyone who ever had a dream to…well…dream.

P.P.P.P.S. This here merlot was tasty. Was being the active verb.

P.P.P.P.P.S Los Gatos are running, jumping, mewing and being altogether feline. Were there hidden spy cameras to record all their hilarious furry antics, I’m sure there would be LOLing. As there are not (to my knowledge), just smile, nod, and comment LOL.

So there.