Archive for the ‘Anna’ Category

Welcome to the future. Sell your TV now.

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

P1030724

For a while now, we’ve been using our iMac as a television, video chat box, movie screen and bittorrent server. (If you are hooked on a Canadian sitcom, bittorent is your best solution). Netflix streaming is especially good, and even the Vancouver Olympics worked reasonably well.

(As an aside, I hope it’s ok to be jealous of Anna. She’s growing up with free video chats with grandparents, and iPhones. Add flying cars, and the Jetsons will be old news to this generation.)

Last night I was reading the Ars Technica iPad review; another device I plan to get when I can convince Chris. Smack dab on page ten was news of iPad/iPhone software that, for $5, lets you view live or recorded TV on your handheld!

Damn!

What’s more, the hardware required (Elgato eyeTV One) is under a hundred bucks!

You also need an HDTV antenna, under $40, and the iPhone software. Voila, free-ish TV!

I had a gift certificate for $100 for Amazon, so this’ll be a present for Chris the PBS addict. ;)

Caveats:

  • Free channels are limited, and I don’t know if the tuner will work with cable or satellite.
  • I suspect that we’ll watch most of the shows on the iMac; the iPhone screen is too small to really enjoy it.
  • This may induce you to purchase an iPad as a better viewing device. This is My Evil Plan ™.
  • Video files burn serious disk space. Might need a cheap USB drive to store them.
  • Unlike bittorrent, these recordings have the advertisements, sigh. Worth a google to see if I can find a solution for that.

On the plus side, one more reason to not bother buying a television.

PS I had some images to spice up this post, but WordPress is being problematic at the moment, will revise and add them later once I solve the problem.

PPS Sorted. Missing php libraries.

Anna versus the Suunto

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

As with the G-shock, nothing tests an outdoor watch like The Anna Test. Her teeth didn’t leave marks, so it passed!

Anna starts daycare Monday

Friday, May 16th, 2008

photo.jpg

Today we visit to do paperwork. Quite bittersweet really.

Ages ago, in a tango hall far, far away

Friday, April 18th, 2008

Ze tango!

You can’t tell from this angle, but Chris was quite pregnant when this was taken. Remnants of the tango lessons we took before Argentina but never really got to use. Still fun, though.

Anna in the park

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

photo.jpg

Grass, we love it.

The foot, the baby and the cat

Friday, April 4th, 2008

DSCF2257.jpg

I liked how this one added up.

Easter dress and family portrait

Monday, March 24th, 2008

(click for full size)

DSCF2204.jpg

DSCF2197.jpg

Chris already posted one of these, but I wanted to post both with links to full-sized images as they came out well. Still not sure what color Anna’s eyes will end up, but they look rather like her mom’s in the first one.

Monster page of new-baby-recommendations

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008


I wrote this up for an expectant friend, but it might be useful for others, Pauls Page of New Parent Suggestions. Enjoy. Or at least be amused. It’s a long list of items, ideas, recommendations and hints that was too long to ‘blog. Diapers and pads, yes, but also LED lights and dive watches. Some attempted humor, some cussing, dozens of pictures and even more links. Note that all the stuff on the page represents the results of obsessive geek research, so figure that everything we recommend is our best choice.

Oh yeah, the picture is of my nephew, always liked that one.

Life today in our house

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

P1010417.jpg

Math, algorithmics, architecture… and lots of kids’ books. Interesting times.

Anna loves her stroller

Monday, March 17th, 2008

IMG_0013.jpg

Especially the part of the design that means she can hold herself in an almost-standing position. Works great.