Yesterday I began the work of creating a media center pc for my parents. My parents use over-the-air broadcast antenna and do not subscribe to Netflix. They wanted something that would be pretty simple to use and something that could expand a bit as they needed.
The main use my parents wanted was to store movies, music, and pictures for quick access and display. They already use a MacBook computer on a regular basis and the form factor of the Mac Mini was exactly what they were looking for.
Component List
- Mac Mini ($699.00)
- HDMI Cable 6 ft. ($19.95)
- Apple Wireless Keyboard ($69.00)
- Bluetooth Wireless Mouse ($49.99)
- 1 TB External Hard Drive ($129.95)
Originally when discussing with my parents they wanted to get the Mac Mini upgraded to the 500 GB hard drive. They would then hold off on an external hard drive until more space was needed. The Apple Retail Stores do not carry the upgraded Mac Mini though, so we went with the 320 GB hard drive. The external hard drive was only $30 more than the upgrade, but it was double the size and we still had the internal hard drive too.
While hooking up the system to their home entertainment center we found out that the Mac Mini does not recognize their Bose system as an eligible sound device through HDMI. When we plugged it into their Sony Bravia TV though it did allow that. The TV sends all sound out to the receiver anyway.
Once on and updated I started setting up the media center aspects. They will be using iTunes to purchase, rent, and manage their movie catalog. They also have Hulu Desktop installed for easier media center browsing of Hulu’s offerings. Handbrake was installed so they could make personal use copies of their DVDs for playback without having to find the disc or change discs.
I have also set up remote access to the Mac Mini so that I can access and work on the Mac Mini from pretty much any computer in the house. Remote access from their MacBook will also be another way for my parents to control the media center pc.
Posted in Technology, Television.
Tagged with handbrake, hulu, itunes, mac, media center.
By Glen
– July 29, 2010
Allyson wore her first pair of shoes in almost three months after the doctor’s visit yesterday.
The doctor was still happy with the progress of the healing and recovery. He upgraded Allyson from wearing the walking boot to being able to wear an ankle brace with a normal shoe. She is not done with the boot yet, she can go back to the boot for when she feels the need for more support.
The doctor also showed us the x-rays from yesterday and compared them to the x-rays from a few months ago. We could clearly see the metal plate holding her bone together and the screws holding the metal plate to the two different bones. The doctor warned Allyson that as she startes flexing her ankle more that the screws may break where they are exposed between the two bones. This is normal, but that we should keep an eye on them if that happens to see if they start backing themselves out. This is a really small chance of both the screws snapping and then backing out, but if it does she has to go through one more small surgery to remove the screws.
We also received a letter from my medical insurance asking questions about the circumstances of the accident. It basically sounds like my medical insurance company may try to sue my parents homeowners insurance company for payment.
All this is on top of the hospital not getting the unemployment benefit paperwork done on time and correctly, so Allyson’s unemployment benefits are not currently being paid. We have filed a motion to have the decision reviewed and overturned. If the ruling stands we will have to pay back the benefits received already, if it is overturned we will receive all of the benefits not paid to date.
Allyson has been looking for a job and did find one recently. Starting near the end of August she will be working with a family that lives nearby. Both parents are educators as well.
Posted in Allyson, Broken Leg.
Tagged with boot, brace, insurance, physical therapy, recovery, screws.
By Glen
– July 29, 2010
We had another doctor appointment today for Allyson’s recovery. Everything is healing great and looking great according to her doctor. As of today Allyson can start putting weight on her right leg. We also have a referral for physical therapy to start rebuilding the strength in her leg.
The next doctor appointment is about five weeks away.
The fun through all of this is still dealing with the insane rules of our medical insurance. Once again because of who Allyson has as a primary care physician we have been told that the closest physical therapy center is not eligible for us, even though our insurance does cover that facility. Allyson’s primary care physician is not affiliated with that medical group though so we cannot use them. Health insurance companies have made receiving and affording treatment harder and harder.
Posted in Allyson, Broken Leg.
Tagged with doctor, insurance, physical therapy, recovery.
By Glen
– June 23, 2010
The school district I work for has jumped head first into making a big change the the children and families we serve. We have joined the New Tech Network initiative to push a project based learning that has a heavy focus on using technology.
The technology, while very computer focused, is not limited to computers. Computers just play a central role in each project. The projects may include video, audio, presentations, animation, and so much more. Cameras, micrphones, and mice will be the new tools that students will be using quite a bit.
This will hopefully help students use what they know already in technology to learn what they don’t know in their class subjects. They could be making videos for a Spanish/Social Studies class on the Spanish Inquisition where they make a documentary or a re-enactment. They could use presentations in biology/math where they show the dissection and what math is involved with the body in discussion.
If embraced and effectively established this could be very beneficial for the students. The future of business and industry is technology. Technology is even moving into areas where it traditionally has not been. The custodial services for our district will be using a trouble report ticketing and tracking system for maintenance and cleaning issues.
Posted in Education, Technology.
Tagged with New Tech Network.
By Glen
– June 21, 2010
Recently the big news of the NCAA Men’s Basketball and NBA has been around the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their owner, Dan Gilbert, recently relieved the team’s general manager of his duties. The head coach, Mike Brown, was also fired. During the shake-up in the organization their key player, Lebron James, entered into free agency and may not return.
Gilbert promoted Chris Grant, the assistant general manager, to take the general manager’s post. Around the same time rumors started swirling that the team had been in contact with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo about becoming the next Cavaliers head coach. Gilbert is an alumni of MSU, as am I.
Tom Izzo has the chance to be one of the best college basketball coaches of all time if he stays at MSU. Since 1995 the Spartans have been to six Final Fours, and won the National Championship once in that time. The Spartans have also made thirteen NCAA Tournament appearances and two NIT appearances in that time. With the current pace of active coaches Tom Izzo is already in the top three for performance in the NCAA Tournament.
There is also a difference in the way the team dynamic is created in the two levels. In college it is all about the coach and his reputation. If a coach has a winning reputation it becomes easier to recruit good players. In the NBA the team is about the one or two key players, like Lebron James. The NBA is less about the coach and more about what the star of the team is able to do. The coach has to deal with the star player and whatever ego that may entail.
Izzo has had key players over the years, but it has been a team focus even when those players were on the court. It has always been Izzo’s work ethic and strategy that has made those players the stars that they were in college. Many of those players have gone on to the NBA and been good, but none of them have really stood out above as names like Michael Jordan or Shaquille O’Neil.
There is also the record of coaches who have attempted to make the jump from NCAA coaching to the NBA. There has not been much success in NCAA coaches making it in the NBA. Izzo is unproven in the NBA and only a jump to the NBA would show his capabilities, but he already has success at MSU, as well as the setup for future success.
I do not think that the decision to leave MSU is a financial one for coach Izzo. I believe that the decision Izzo is battling with is if this is the right team and the right time for him to jump to the NBA and be successful in the short amount of time that NBA coaches are allotted. As an MSU alumni I do not want to see Coach Izzo leave, but if he does I wish him all the best. I think the best decision overall though is to stay with MSU and his proven track record.
Posted in Basketball, NBA, NCAA, Sports.
Tagged with basketball, Cavaliers, MSU.
By Glen
– June 13, 2010
To those who were expecting more updates here I apologize. I only add news when there is new information to pass along. In this case we visited the doctor earlier today for a check-up on Allyson’s progress.
The splint wearing days are now behind us. They also removed the stitches from the surgery. While they were removing the stitches I went and started the paperwork for the removable walking boot. Even though it is a walking boot Allyson is still not supposed to put any weight on her right leg for the next three weeks. The boot is for the rigidity while the healing continues, but also allows her to wash her leg and do some stretching exercises with her ankle.
The doctor liked how the healing and progress that is happening. Everything is still lined up correctly and the incisions were looking good. The range of motion, while difficult currently, is also good.
The next update on Allyson’s condition will be a few weeks, after the next visit with the doctor.
Posted in Allyson, Broken Leg.
Tagged with boot, doctor, recovery, splint.
By Glen
– June 2, 2010
Since Allyson came home 10 days ago or so she has been working with a physical therapist and a nurse who both visit her at home to keep check on her health and make sure she is not loosing too much muscle while recovering from her broken ankle.
Yesterday was the first post-op appointment with the surgeon. They took off the splint off to look at the incisions and swelling. He was pleased with the progress of the healing, but opted to leave the stitches in for another two weeks. He also liked the x-rays taken yesterday, the foot has stayed in line so far!
Allyson is still not allowed to put any weight on, or use her right foot in any way yet. In two weeks when we go back to have the stitches taken out he told us that he will most likely put her in a special boot to allow her to start flexing her ankle a bit and doing some physical therapy with her ankle, but still no direct pressure.
Overall it looks like about four more weeks before she starts testing the weight bearing of her left ankle. The timeline is looking good so far.
Posted in Allyson, Broken Leg.
Tagged with doctor, hospital, physical therapy, recovery.
By Glen
– May 20, 2010
Electronic Arts, also known as EA, has announced that in the future some of their titles may require an activation to play online. This activation would come free with the purchase of a new copy of the game. Those who buy the game second-hand, used, or rent the game would be required to pay $10 to play the online components of the game.
This tactic is to try to entice consumers to purchase the games new and save themselves the hassle of having to activate online. The people affected by this most is those who shop at stores who deal in used/pre-owned games, like Gamestop. In the end it is the consumer who will feel this the most though, not Gamestop.
Currently Gamestop uses the following strategy for used/pre-owned game sales. A game comes out new at $60 US. Many customers will buy the game at the new price, play it, finish it and trade it in. The trade-in credit on a newer hot game, within the first month, ranges anywhere from $20 to $35 depending on the deals at the time and if the customer has the Gamestop Edge card. That trade credit will most likely be used to preorder or buy another new game. These customers rarely buy used/pre-owned games.
That game that traded in for $20-$35 will then be priced as used/pre-owned for somewhere between $45 to $55, usually about 10% less than the new price. A customer who buys used games may also have the Gamestop Edge Card, saving another 10%. That means that a sale to a customer with an Edge Card may be right around $40 for a game that was just traded in for possibly $35. Gamestop just made $5 to pay their employees to process the transaction, process the trade, and then make the sale, as well as the facility costs.
EA’s new policy for online fees for pre-owned game customers will most likely reduce the amount of credit Gamestop grants for those titles as well as reduce the price that Gamestop sells the used/pre-owned game sells for. In the end customers will still be paying about 10%-20% less for a used/pre-owned game compared to the new price, including the fee for the online multiplayer components.
Gamestop will still make their money on used/pre-owned game sales. EA will have their online activation fee to recoup some of the money lost from used/pre-owned sales. The customer is the one that will be hurt in this process. Those people that trade games in towards new games will not have as much credit to spend on the newer games, which will slightly affect the sales of new games.
The tactic EA has employed here will only be more hassle for the consumer and not so much Gamestop. If EA is trying to break down Gamestop’s business model for used/pre-owned sales it will have an affect on the sales of new games to some degree. To those who think Gamestop is a fad and will fade away because of game publishers making similar moves; Gamestop/EB Games was around before used/pre-owned game sales and will adapt to sell what is needed to make a profit.
Posted in Video Games.
Tagged with EA, Gamestop, used games.
By Glen
– May 14, 2010
Sorry for the delay in adding a new update. Sunday and Monday were both really busy.
Sunday I went to visit Allyson in the morning, then went to see the Replay of the 1999 Trenton vs. Catholic Central hockey game. It was amazing and felt like I was back in high school. Kudos to both teams for a great game and time, but Trenton did win 4-2! I wish Allyson could have been there.
From the game I went back to the hospital and we watched the game on TV. It was tape delayed to 9 PM that night. She enjoyed watching it, but it would have been better if she had been at the game.
On Monday we worked all day to prepare things for Allyson to go home. We worked with the physical therapy people, the nurses, and the doctors to be cleared for discharge. We ended up getting home around 7 or so in the evening and the daily updates will probably be more of an update as there is information to post.
Posted in Allyson, Broken Leg.
Tagged with hockey, hospital, physical therapy.
By Glen
– May 11, 2010
Today had some good progress. Social services dropped off the walker that Allyson will use instead of crutches. Physical therapy also came and evaluated her ability to move herself independently.
There also appeared to be a breakthrough on the pain. She did not need to ask for pain medication as much. The doctor also came to let us know that she will most likely be discharged on Monday.
To where Allyson will be discharged is up in the air. She may be discharged to go “home” or to a rehab facility until she is more comfortable moving around with.her walker.
Posted in Allyson, Broken Leg.
Tagged with discharge, physical therapy, walker.
By Glen
– May 8, 2010
