Dumping Cable TV

Sep 03 2010


We have dumped the Cable TV feed. Just got tired of all the games the cable provider was playing and the cost. We still get internet through cable but no Cable TV.

At first it was a tough. You know Cable TV withdraws.  Not being able to watch all the shows you get hooked on. Plus with the Tivo you were always able to keep a nice stock of shows to watch at your convenience.

Well after some digging on the internet and services like Netflix Watch Now we were able to make it through the first few months. Watching the LOST series filled up a lot of TV viewing time.  The six seasons of  LOST added up to  over 100 episodes.  Most of LOST was streamed over the Netflix service.

We are stilll streaming a lot of content form Netflix. There a lot of great show to watch Like Dr Who,  MI-5,  Dexter and more. We have also been exploring several of the cable networks wed sites , like USA network, SyFy and History. These networks release full episodes any where form 1 to 7 days after it airs on Cable. The problem here is they only keep the 4 most recent episodes and you can not easily record then for time shift viewing.

Another great web site for content is Hulu. There is a lot of content, some of it old, mostly episodes of previosu seasons or just the most recent 4  episodes.  But if you look around you will find some gems. Just the other night I found a DIY sires called Cool Tools. There are not an current episodes but there are three full seasons of shows.

Hulu is also starting up a paid service for $9.99 per month called Hulu Plus. I would be happy to pay the money if they gave me better access to current cable shows. After looking through the info on the Plus service it did not seem to offer much for the money. But is it early and the service is not in full release yet.

So we have survived the first 90 days of NO Cable TV.  Give it a try it is easer then you thing, plus you save a boat load of CASH.

No responses yet

We are doing SOLAR

Sep 02 2010


After all the research:

And waiting for years we are finally making the plunge to installer solar.  We kept waiting for the economy to get better but it seems that could take for ever. The monthly cash flow will not change that much. Instead of making a monthly payment to Southern California Edison, for electricity, we will be paying off the photovoltaic solar panel system. And we will be getting FREE electrical power in 7 years.  Plus the state and federal rebates almost cut the price in half.

We have done all the research, reading on the internet, subscribing to magazines like Home Power, home showes, and even going to Solar seminars. We have talked to several contractors, gotten all the bids.

All the contractors licenses were checked  on the California Contractor State License Board website at: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/.  We checked to see what kind of  license that had, whether they had just a C10 (electrical) or a C46 (solar electric),  how long there were in business,  and was their bond and insurance current. We also checked some Solar directories, on the internet, were customers can comment on the contractors work.

After selecting a local Solar contractor, which was important to us. We started checking the job references. We talked to to several home owners and visited several installs to check the quality of the products and workmanship.  we asked wach referance the same four questions;

1.   Would recommend this  solar company to a friend or family member?

2.  Did this Solar company perform the work in a  timely manner?

3.   Did this company perform the work in a professional  Manner?

4.  Would you use this Solar company again?

All the reference came back extremal positive, all the site visits were installed in a professionally, timely manner! So we singed a contract are are ready to start installing are 7kw system. Check back as I will be posting updates of the install. The entire install will take only four days. It will take me several weeks just to post the progress of the project.

No responses yet

Obama Bows to Foreign Leaders but Snubs LA Commuters

Aug 19 2010


US citizens have died or have been  put into prison for refusing to BOW to foreign leaders. But Mister Obama bows to foregin leaders all the time. He has bowed to the Japan’s emperor. He has bowed to the Saudi king. (notice the lower case letter for emperor and king, no bowing here)

Why does Obama feel the need to bow to a leader that we defeated in World war II. Obama actions reflect, on the United States, as a sign of weakness. Obama should be standing proud and the Japanese should be bowing in respect to all the america lives we  lost in WWII.

But when is comes to the American public Obama has no respect. The latest example is the grid lock he caused during his visit to Los Angeled on August 16th. Mind you the visit to Los Angeles was NOT a state mater. It was a fund raiser for the Democratic National Party.

Obama clogged up LAX Airport and the his Secrict Service closed several major streets in West Los Angeles, causing up to a five hour delay for some people.  Is Obama so important that he has the right to virtually stop Los Angeles traffic for such a long time. I have been caught up in Presidential road closures before.  As I remember I was delayed for maybe 30 to 40 minutes. I was a little late to work, but nothing like wat Obama did in Los Angeles.

There were reports of a mother who was picking up her children from school. A trip that should have only taken a few minutes. It took her over four. Stuck with her children in the car with out moving. She was less than a block from her house. LAPD would not let he back into her house.  When the children need to go th the bathroom they had no where too go.

Or the stories  about the people that could not leave there driveways for hours on end. What about the Doctors that could not get to the hospital for there surgery’s, or care givers who could not get to their patients, Lawyers that could not get to court.  Or any body else who could just not get to work.

In my opinion, the president should not cause that much disruption for a non-state event. Even if it was a state event the Secret Service should limit the disruption to a City like Los Angeles. Obama should have landed Air Force One at military base. That way he would not be tying up a civilian air port. Then he should have take a helicopter to a landing area  close to the destination, a park, an intersection any open space.  If there is no landing area close to the location then change the location.

This was a fund raising party,  not all that important. It was Not state business. It was not National security. The world was not coming to an end.  So mister Obama next time please stay home, in the White House, where you can be safe and secure. Besides the Democrat National committee raised a Million dollars, BUT what did the traffic  control and security cost the citizens of Los Angeles.  I bet you it was over a Million.

 

 

No responses yet

Older posts »