Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Tslisher]

Zero dollars OP, I'm a scientist by training. Gambling is a tax on the mathematically challenged. Unless you are like a friend of mine that can count cards in his head. He's made several 100k off gambling casinos by counting cards in blackjack. Me, I'm just here enjoying the sun and sand with my family. Awesome place though, I'd expect we'd be back someday.

And yes, Nassau, Paradise Island. We might explore some more areas while here.

[entropy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/upshot/mapping-migration-in-the-united-states-since-1900.html?WT.mc_id=2015-Q1-KEYWEE-AUD_DEV-0101-0331&WT.mc_ev=click&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1420088400&bicmet=1451624400&ad-keywords=FEBAUDDEV&kwp_0=9515&kwp_4=71308&kwp_1=123465&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1

Interesting interactive map on Migration in the US and comparing 1900, 1950 and 2012..

[Dr. Strangelove]

Big10 Endowment Funds (2014)

#8 Northwestern ($9.78 B)
#9 Michigan ($9.73 B)
#24 Ohio State ($3.55 B)
#27 Penn State ($3.45 B)
#29 Minnesota ($3.16 B)
#33 Purdue ($2.44)
#34 Wisconsin ($2.33 B)
#36 Illinois ($2.28 B)
#39 Michigan State ($2.15 B)
#44 Indiana ($1.99 B)
#58 Nebraska ($1.55 B)
#71 Iowa ($1.25 B)
#95 Maryland ($956 M)
#100 Rutgers ($919 M)

http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2014_Endowment_Market_Values_Revised.pdf

[Mike]

We are well-endowed.

[Optimus Prime]

Affectionately known as tripod.

[Mike]

WingsFan (from Red Wings thread):

"If you have DirecTV (like I do I) I have the choice programming with 2 DVR's (living room/bedroom) which is around $100 a month. Then I have Netflix for my movies and television shows (mostly watch on my tablet).

NBC Sports is not on that package. Detroit Fox Sports only covers the first two rounds of the Red Wings, so if they go past that I have to upgrade my package for only one F'ing channel. Still, depending on who's still playing I usually do it anyway the last few years to watch the finals."

I cut the cord after New Years and couldn't be happier. I got a digital antenna for over the air local channels that picks up NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, PBS in 1080 ($40). Then I got a Roku at Best Buy for $65 which streams in 1080p without a hitch. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner as I'm saving about $80/month over what I used to pay. The ONLY hole in my lineup is FSD. I have HBOGO, Watch ESPN, and BTN2GO (laptop only, no app for Roku yet). I also subscribe to Netflix and Hulu Plus for a total of $17/month and got locked into the best internet Charter offers (60mbs) for $40/month for a year.

The cable companies and their packaged programming can go fuck themselves in their stupid goddamn asses. It basically comes down to whether or not I want to watch a couple Red Wings games a week for $80/month and the answer is a resounding NO.

[Jeff Buchanan]

In the process .......

Got a Mohu Sky 60 antenna (small, low profile but powerful if mounted correctly), stuck it on the roof. Ran the coax cable from the antenna to the distribution amp on the side of the house, disconnected the Comcast CATV line and plugged in the OTA Antenna, leaving the Comcast internet line in place.

Serves 4 TVs perfectly. Just trying out a Roku on one with trial services for Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant videos, Sling TV and Netflix. The most interesting offering is Sling TV. It is a Dish Network subsidiary. It is streaming live TV on a limited number of channels including all the ESPN offerings. I tired it because Ann has to have HGTV and DIY network.

It's the first offering of its kind and sort of allows you to pick what you want but it is less than perfect in that regard. It's also the most expensive streaming service at $20/mo. It's also the only service that has the rights from the content owners to stream live. Since I hate ESPN and won't watch it, I'm not going to keep this after the trial. It is neat though and is the wave of the future that the cable companies are doing everything they can to stop. Ann is satisfied with watching old episodes of the multitude of home improvement and decorating shows that can be had on the other services.

After getting used to the OTA signals (I got 86 of them including 16 FM radio stations) with more shows than I could ever hope to watch, including all the networks in uncompressed 1080p, a stunning picture that is noticeably brighter and sharper than anything Comcast delivers (because it is compressed to limit bandwidth costs), I'll turn in all my ridiculously expensive HD set top boxes, end my $150+ Comcast TV Bill and enjoy what is essentially free TV with access guaranteed by the FCC ( for now).

Like Mike says, can't believe I waited this long.

[WingsFan]

I'm locked into DirecTV till October with a contract so no changes till then. This definitely seems the way to go (plus save money) I was just wondering if you can get CBC ?

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'm locked into DirecTV till October with a contract so no changes till then. This definitely seems the way to go (plus save money) I was just wondering if you can get CBC ?

How close are you to Windsor?

[Hannibal]

Doing away with your cable or satellite is still a big problem if you are a sports fan or if you enjoy a wide variety of channels.

[lineygoblue]

I'm locked into Dish until late July, and I can't wait to go back to Charter Cable.

They talked about how much money I could save, but the dollar amount has turned out to be almost identical, after their 6 month promotions expired. The internet service thru my local phone company, packaged with Dish, is horrible. Its slow, and the email crashes and loses my email all the time. I've had to stop using that email account because its so unreliable.

[WingsFan]

How close are you to Windsor?

Not far, about 45 miles NW. As a kid in metro Detroit I watched Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Not far, about 45 miles NW. As a kid in metro Detroit I watched Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night.

I did too. I seem to remember that in Birmingham, we received an antenna signal from Windsor for CBC. Our TV antenna was pretty big and on the roof and it rotated for azimuth alignment with a TV signal (and in the 60s, that's all there was).

A Range of 45 miles between your antenna and the broadcast antenna is completely doable. You probably will have to roof mount an antenna for that range though.

Hanni, a couple of thoughts on limited channels. First, the local OTA signals are going to broadcast all the major Networks. So, for example, if you want to watch ND football, it's going to be on NBC.

If you are referring to the wide range of channels that broadcast specific rev and non-rev sports that are part of a sports PAC from any of the main cable companies, that is tough to replicate but I believe it is changing with the pressure on the cable companies to keep pricing competitive.

The mindless attitude of the big cable companies that we are too big to fail or be pushed around by the little guys could be to their disadvantage as companies like Sling TV (a Dish subsidiary) start taping into the rich market of people fed up with $200/month cable TV fees and never ending annual price increases. This for hundreds of channels that suck and you would never pay for if you had the opportunity to do that.

Sling TV for example carries the SEC network live as part of their deal with Disney/ESPN. I suspect the BTN will stream at some point to TV via a streaming service like this.

You can watch just about anything these days on your PC or tablet, including the BTN. The drawback is, you have to have an active cable subscription to access it. That position is also being eroded by competiton although it is a fierce battle with the big cable companies and network broadcasters winning important battles in the courts (Aero TV).

You can connect a PC/lap top and some tablets to a TV and the advent of smart TVs allows wireless data transmission from many devices to a TV. So, there are ways.

I have yet to try to log on to the BTN on my tablet with just an internet subscription with Comcast. I plan on keeping that service when I drop CATV completely. I should be able to do it as all it takes to get access is my Comcast log in.

I don't think it will be long before Comcast figures out how to discriminate what services you are paying for and if you only have internet service you won't be able to stream TV.

Bottom line, streaming TV is a leading edge capability that is just beginning to take shape. Net neutrality (a terrible descriptor, BTW) was a win for the people as the cable companies were trying to restrict access to data streaming by limiting what download speed and bandwidth you can have before you need to pay more. The content battle is huge and will continue to plague small guys from trying to stream live TV. Seems like the courts initial decisions on copyright and trademark protection favors them and not us. We'll see.

[Mike]

I would think a rooftop antenna would pick up CBC from metro Detroit. I got a Mohu Leaf that hangs on the wall with two thumb tacks behind my TV. It only has about a 35 mile range but that's all I need to pick up all my networks (and I like the 30 second installation).

Jeff, I have Charter and my logins worked for a couple months and then one by one they were slowly zapped. I'd get an error message that I need to upgrade my service to have access. I've "been told" that you can use a friend's login for their cable/satellite service on your Smart TV/Roku and the system doesn't know the difference. "Allegedly". This may or may not be how I receive HBO, ESPN, and BTN.

[lineygoblue]

Mike -

Are you back in San Diego?