Keefer Madness

Time Warner Does Not Offer All HD Channels to Cable Card Customers (6 in Total… So Far)

// October 23rd, 2007 // No Comments » // HDTV Bits, Local (Raleigh Durham)

So we recently switch from DirecTV over to Time Warner cable and went the cable card route, utilizing a single multicard in our new HD TiVo to record all our favorite shows. I was disappointed two, no three times recently by Time Warner’s lack of support for cable cards. Firstly, it took three separate installation appointments to get my cable cards working with the HD TiVo. The subcontractors aren’t trained for installation, and our local Time Warner Cable franchise has like two employees that know anywhere near the inner workings of cable cards and their setup and functionality.

Then, our newest bill from Time Warner announced that three new high definition channels were being added to the lineup. A few days after their addition, I realized they had not shown up in our lineup. Guess why? They weren’t available to cable card subscribers. Then, last week we received a note saying three high definition channels were going away for cable card subscribers. So anyway, below is the note I just emailed to Time Warner. I will follow it up with actual letters as well to the local franchise, and probably to someone higher up.

To Whom it May Concern:

I recently received your communique regarding cable card customers losing three of their high definition channels (ESPN2HD, MHD and UniversalHD). Not only are we losing the ability to tune into these three channels with our high definition package, we also did not receive the recent additions of TBSHD, Golf/VS HD and A&EHD.

I have only recently become a cable card customer, but am already appalled and disappointed that Time Warner Cable treats cable card customers as second-rate customers. It took a total of three installation visits for the cards to get installed, and now we are losing a minimum of six channels.

The cable card standard was created to make an equal footing for customer and cable-related manufacturers to utilize a variety of hardware, but Time Warner is edging toward anti-competitive practices with their discriminatory channel lineup offered to cable card customers. It seems cable card users are punished because Time Warner knows with the current state of the technology, cable card customers will not be using the over-priced features such as pay-per-view and on-demand programming.

Actions such as these make me question why I ever left satellite. They at least offered every channel to every customer.

Sincerely,
Ryan W. Keefer

Easley: Cut Water Use by Half

// October 23rd, 2007 // No Comments » // Local (Raleigh Durham), News

This drought is rough. Now, Easley is wanting people to look indoors for solutions on ways to cut back. The lack of precipitation is obviously the big culprit, and we need to look into shorter showers and few toilet flushes, but I have said it before, and I will say it again. How about when they start talking about thinking further into the future, we scale back new construction too? Granted, we are living in a one-year old house, but I’m just saying infrastructure needs to be rolled into the cost of new construction – residential, commercial and industrial. Part of the reason the lack of rain is such a strain is that our natural resources aren’t sufficient for the rate of growth.

The lack of a water “savings account” draws parallels to why so many Americans are in debt (myself included). We spend too much, and don’t sock enough away for the tough times. Maybe the next time a big plot of farm land is being considered for sale to a developer, local or state government should intercede and demand some land be put aside for a reservoir and land conservation.

Easley: Cut Water Use by Half

Top 5 Favorite Fake Commercials

// October 22nd, 2007 // No Comments » // Funny Stuff

hehe These are great. I remember seeing all of these being passed around the Internet. The Mastercard one is hilarious (and priceless!):

Top 5 Favorite Fake Commercials

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

// October 22nd, 2007 // No Comments » // Personal Crap

Happy 28th birthday, baby! Hope you’re having a good day.

Van Halen's "Jump" in Greensboro

// October 22nd, 2007 // No Comments » // Music

So there’s been a whole dialogue revolving around the Van Halen Jump clip I posted about. The conversation isn’t here, but man, there have been all kinds of theories. My guess is that it is the most simplest solution: the guitar was out of tune. Interesting to read through it all as a Van Halen fan though.

jump (in pitch)!

Who’s Right (Slap Fight)

53 Ultimate Tips For Better Photoshopping

// October 20th, 2007 // No Comments » // Design

Good list of tips for us Photoshop users. Amanda says it’s worthy of printing out, which we’ll both probably end up doing at work:

53 Ultimate Tips For Better Photoshopping

Rock Band Exclusive – Rock Around the World

// October 19th, 2007 // No Comments » // Gaming

Man, it really sounds like Rock Band is going to step it up majorly over its Guitar Hero II roots. Granted, I plan on having both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band (Please, Amanda!), but it sounds like they’re really making Rock Band a deeper game. Can’t wait for this game’s release.

Rock Band Exclusive – Rock Around the World

Yah! Presents!

// October 19th, 2007 // No Comments » // Personal Crap

So as most of you know, I hate surprises (I mean, I love surprises but I am so bad about waiting for gifts and the suspense…uh, kills…) and this coming Monday is my birthday. Well, my loving husband so generously bought me two awesome gifts. I just couldn’t bear to wait, so I opened them last night (3 days shy of my birthday). It’s important to note: I think secretly Ryan wanted me to open it early, as he had already fired the computer up and was “playing” with it that day at work.

 I’ve been in desperate need of a new laptop computer as mine is close to 9 years old and frankly, it wasn’t working properly. So Ryan bought me a DELL laptop. It’s perfect (and not 9 yrs. old)!

 He also so skillfully created a 2008 Calendar via Apple with pics of us –our trips–and Bongo. It was really nice and a wonderful ’07 birthday!

 Now…if only my presents for him arrive before the 29th! Eck! *cross fingers*

Guests with Xbox 360

// October 19th, 2007 // No Comments » // Gaming

I’ve seen plenty of people while playing Gears of War on Xbox Live that have their gamertag (username) and then a second player in the game has that same name with a (1) behind the name. We always thought it was a guest playing on the same console. This confirms it is, and how to do it. I’m posting the link as much for myself, as for anyone else out there reading this.

Guests with Xbox 360

Also, I found how to bring your profile to a friend’s house, but I’m wondering if it has to be their memory card, or if I can use a standard USB memory stick. Maybe I’ll play around with that this weekend.

Late UNC Mascot's Gifts Keep on Giving

// October 19th, 2007 // No Comments » // UNC-CH

I saw the bit on Jason Ray on ESPN while I was working out yesterday. It had me a bit choked up there in the elliptical. It’s such a sad story, but amazing that his organ donations ended up helping 80 people. I’m about to renew my license and think I’ll be putting the organ donor bit on there.

Late UNC Mascot’s Gifts Keep on Giving