Comcast CableCARD, Finally Success

A few days ago, I mentioned how Comcast wasn't able to install my CableCARDs the first time around. Two days and several hours with the Comcast guy later, I finally have working CableCARDs.

I was expecting Comcast to come back out on Tuesday to fix the problem, but ended up getting a call saying that they were having problems with all CableCARDs and not just mine. But, what was even weirder that shortly after my blog post, a Comcast rep posted a comment asking to help. That's just too Big Brother stalker-like.

Anyways, Comcast showed up on Wednesday and spent the better part of two hours trying to get it all working. First, I found out that the beginning of the serial numbers on the CableCARDs matched their digital boxes and that's why it wasn't working initially. Next came the configuration of the cards. This is what took forever. The cards have to be paired to my device (TiVo) and in order to do that, the billing department needs to know a few numbers on the cards. Ok, great. Do it.

To make a long story short, all of the channels didn't show up on one card but they did on the other. Once we get that working, they forgot to setup my HBO. This takes a while, too. I'm leaving a lot out because it was so mind numbingly boring. You'd think they'd be able to know what the deal was, but in reality the Comcast guy said they don't have much experience with CableCARDs. I guess it didn't help that the Comcast guy hated the cards to begin with.

Comcast CableCARD, First Try

I am trying to get CableCARDs installed in my TiVo and Comcast has failed at the first attempt. A CableCARD allows me to receive digital cable without using a cable box. Frankly, I don't have room for another piece of equipment and using the TiVo with CableCARDs lets me free up that space otherwise occupied by a Comcast box.

Now, all I know about installing these CableCARDs is that the Comcast guy plugs them into my TiVo, reads some numbers over the phone to headquarters to activate the cards, and we're good to go. However, even this simple act proves too much.

They are coming back tomorrow to try again. Round 2. If I wasn't off work all week, I'd be pissed off. Let's see what happens tomorrow....

BSG Webisodes

Battlestar Galactica has just released a third series of webisodes to tide over hungry fans, like me, till the last season launches. Your humble servant has embedded the video for your convenience.



Basically, what this proves is that BSG packs more interesting things into three minutes than most shows do in thirty. Man, I can't wait till the new season!

I hate you, ABC

Apparently, you have decided that one of the most original shows on your network no longer deserves to be picked up for a full season. Why would you cancel this show?

Once again, the works of Bryan Fuller are under appreciated by the execs of Hollywood. Does no one remember Dead Like Me? I think that Pushing Daises was viewed in the same way: a dark comedy with a sweet and sincere chewy center.

So long, Pushing Daises....

Now, ABC, we have to talk: the only thing keeping me around on your crappy station is LOST. So help me, God, if you screw with me on this, I will burn your Dancing with the Stars studio down.

Be Nice to the Cashier

So, I had to stop by the grocery store on the way home to get one or two things. As I was waiting in line to check out, there was a guy ahead of me giving the cashier a hard time over how to use the credit card swipe machine. He said "I'm going to ask you one more time, what do I do now?" The jerk was friends with the manager cause he was all buddy-buddy to him and as he walked away, after successfully handling the complex time machine, told the manager you have to "keep their heads on straight."

What I wanted to say to this asshole was to give the KID a break. He gets shit from customers all the time and doesn't need some guy giving him shit because he can't work a machine that's functioned the same for years. If you want to be a dick, go home to your wife.

I used to be a grocery store cashier in high school and was always getting treated the same way, so I know what it's like. All I'm trying to say is be nice to the cashier if they are nice to you.

Combined days

Recently, I made some changes to my workout routine. For the past two weeks, I have combined the days that I workout and run intervals. This allows me to have a couple more "off" days, which I like. In fact, this is the way that the TT workouts are structured. Do your supersets and after a small rest move immediately into your intervals. On your "off" days, try to get some exercise in. I try to use this time to do a dedicated abs routine that takes me no more than 10-15 minutes. I haven't been as consistent as I want to be with that, but I'll do what I can.

Also, I have now set a new personal best on my bench press: 210 lbs. It's hard to gauge how accurate that is because I'm using the machine at my apartment's gym. But, I am lifting the entire rack of plates, so that's something right?

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 26

This week was a good week for fat loss. I went from 176.2 last week to 173.4 this week. Strangely enough, my waist size pretty much stayed the same, so it must have come off in other places. That's fine with me, really. I have been pushing myself with the weight machine and I can already tell it's improving other areas. The one area I really want to lose in though, is my lower belly or waist. I can't seem to get that going just yet.

In other news, I'll be headed to the beach this weekend and won't be back till after the 4th of July. It'll be a good test to see how well I can eat while on vacation and what kind of workouts I can get in. There's not a gym where I'm going, so I'll be doing bodyweight exercises. Should be fun!

Weight: 173.4
Waist: 34.25"