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- Sun, 18:11: me, too!!! https://t.co/eks8u1hOgF
- Sun, 18:37: Photo https://t.co/qDfZHhqdwu http://t.co/aqPm5sankn
- Sun, 19:07: Thank you, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News for the Pride Parade stream today. Very cool of you. https://t.co/ADmLofMDQA
- Sun, 22:09: It looks to me (from just watching the live feed from Kiro7) that there are far more Mormans than Boeing employees… https://t.co/lE0Bw4UoZs
- Sun, 22:21: The Angels just have to be kicking themselves... #mariners
- Sun, 22:22: CRAP https://t.co/8GZcpsuSyF
- Sun, 22:30: Oh Seattle Public Library you are always always too cool for school. I love this! https://t.co/nptKGLqaZR http://t.co/he0eph31Ft
- Sun, 22:52: exactly #mariners https://t.co/zdXIRO6jc8
- Sun, 23:51: This is a very cool list. https://t.co/lO9q2yWgLK http://t.co/25y3n0QnRh
- Mon, 00:01: This is actually, hilariously true. https://t.co/eAwMaa0JgE http://t.co/1ncg34frw9
Jun. 29th, 2015
Monday, Monday
Jun. 29th, 2015 09:15 amThe neighbor noise issue really got to me. I hate the idea of fucking with my neighbor (exacerbated by how much it would piss me off if the tables were turned - since they have been turned and it was annoying). Plus it provides a non-trivial technical puzzle to solve. The back of my TV has about 98,973 different kinds of ports. I use 1 usb, 3 HDMI's and a bundle of RCA's for the DVD player I never use.
My knowledge and comfort level of all these inputs and outputs is minimal. Really. Especially when it comes to audio. And is further flummoxed by digital vs. analog. I totally get that I can hear my phone until I plug the headphone hole up and then I need to use the headphone. There's no headphone jack on the TV plus, ideally, I need the TV volume to work in addition to the TV ears (so I don't have to plug and unplug to switch between). I spent most of last night studying the manuals and scouring the internets for clues.
I got some of it figured out before I went to bed but then spent a very restless night chewing on the problem. I kept waking up and thinking of new issues and remembering old solutions. I remembered some wireless TV speakers I had once. I don't have them any more but I remember their being easy to set up. So that led to a viable Plan B. If the TV ears don't work, this one might be my next try.
One of the very many perks of being retired is that you can have a shit night's sleep and it's doesn't matter. I can sleep today or go to bed early tonight if I get too tired and sleepy. It's a luxury that really is amazing.
And, speaking of amazing, outside the pool this morning, parked in the now blocked to all traffic for roadwork lane - which is really a major PIA since it blocks entrance to the pool, was a fucking BOAT!
I am constantly buying things at Trader Joes that just don't cut it. Like the stale bagels I bought yesterday. I don't keep receipts and tell myself that the $3.50 or whatever isn't worth the effort even though Trader Joes is purported to have a very liberal return policy. I think I might just give it a try with these bagels. They aren't green and furry but they have not been eatable for several weeks. At least they are a Trader Joes brand so it's not like I am trying to pass off Safeway bagels. I'll maybe return them tomorrow.
There is really nothing big on the agenda today. The TV Ears probably won't be here until late this afternoon. I could put yesterday's laundry away...
My knowledge and comfort level of all these inputs and outputs is minimal. Really. Especially when it comes to audio. And is further flummoxed by digital vs. analog. I totally get that I can hear my phone until I plug the headphone hole up and then I need to use the headphone. There's no headphone jack on the TV plus, ideally, I need the TV volume to work in addition to the TV ears (so I don't have to plug and unplug to switch between). I spent most of last night studying the manuals and scouring the internets for clues.
I got some of it figured out before I went to bed but then spent a very restless night chewing on the problem. I kept waking up and thinking of new issues and remembering old solutions. I remembered some wireless TV speakers I had once. I don't have them any more but I remember their being easy to set up. So that led to a viable Plan B. If the TV ears don't work, this one might be my next try.
One of the very many perks of being retired is that you can have a shit night's sleep and it's doesn't matter. I can sleep today or go to bed early tonight if I get too tired and sleepy. It's a luxury that really is amazing.
And, speaking of amazing, outside the pool this morning, parked in the now blocked to all traffic for roadwork lane - which is really a major PIA since it blocks entrance to the pool, was a fucking BOAT!
I am constantly buying things at Trader Joes that just don't cut it. Like the stale bagels I bought yesterday. I don't keep receipts and tell myself that the $3.50 or whatever isn't worth the effort even though Trader Joes is purported to have a very liberal return policy. I think I might just give it a try with these bagels. They aren't green and furry but they have not been eatable for several weeks. At least they are a Trader Joes brand so it's not like I am trying to pass off Safeway bagels. I'll maybe return them tomorrow.
There is really nothing big on the agenda today. The TV Ears probably won't be here until late this afternoon. I could put yesterday's laundry away...
It's the obvious, stupid
Jun. 29th, 2015 12:00 pmEvery time I figure out something that turns out to be a DOH! I remember all the other times that the answer to a truly puzzling puzzle has turned out to be obvious. And there are lots and lots.
Samsung has nothing in it's giant array of ports on the back of my TV that is labeled 'headphones'. Nor does a search through it's giant user operations manual on the term 'headphones' or 'earbuds'turn up a single damn thing.
This morning, I completely dismantled the soundbar and took it down to the free shelf. (yeah I toyed with trying to sell it but the idea of wrapping up that fat, heavy, way too long thing for shipping said no.) And then I got my earbuds and started sticking that prong into holes. And then I realized the error of my ways.
I tried this last night and couldn't find a hole that worked ... because I had the sound turned up! It worked, I just couldn't hear it. DOH!
So now I have some more options, the simplest of which is headphones with a really long cord! Not elegant but totally doable for the 2 more months of air conditioning. Assuming, as I obviously am, that the TV Ears are going to be a bust.
And, finally, now I can quit obsessing over this whole thing.
Samsung has nothing in it's giant array of ports on the back of my TV that is labeled 'headphones'. Nor does a search through it's giant user operations manual on the term 'headphones' or 'earbuds'turn up a single damn thing.
This morning, I completely dismantled the soundbar and took it down to the free shelf. (yeah I toyed with trying to sell it but the idea of wrapping up that fat, heavy, way too long thing for shipping said no.) And then I got my earbuds and started sticking that prong into holes. And then I realized the error of my ways.
I tried this last night and couldn't find a hole that worked ... because I had the sound turned up! It worked, I just couldn't hear it. DOH!
So now I have some more options, the simplest of which is headphones with a really long cord! Not elegant but totally doable for the 2 more months of air conditioning. Assuming, as I obviously am, that the TV Ears are going to be a bust.
And, finally, now I can quit obsessing over this whole thing.
Win win for bro - lose big for moi
Jun. 29th, 2015 01:13 pmMy brother is always looking for a creative outlet of some kind. He's tried pottery and found a good studio but it's really too far away to work regularly. But, he's always looking for something he can dig his creative brain into.
He is exceedingly close to his niece - by marriage. Amy worked for him for years and they are really two peas in a pod. Didn't hurt that Amy's blood family and the family of her partner are now very welcoming of their lesbian coupling. So she has always turned to him for support, too. She and Jackie have been talking about marriage for a while now. But, they live in Texas.
Now they have set a date. September. And Bill has a project. He's going to get a copy of the Supreme Court decision and bind it into a proper book with a cover of the White House rainbow lights and mount it in a shadowbox for them. I love that.
I do not love the stock market today. I lost $12,000. Which is a serious chunk o' my change. Fuck Greece.
He is exceedingly close to his niece - by marriage. Amy worked for him for years and they are really two peas in a pod. Didn't hurt that Amy's blood family and the family of her partner are now very welcoming of their lesbian coupling. So she has always turned to him for support, too. She and Jackie have been talking about marriage for a while now. But, they live in Texas.
Now they have set a date. September. And Bill has a project. He's going to get a copy of the Supreme Court decision and bind it into a proper book with a cover of the White House rainbow lights and mount it in a shadowbox for them. I love that.
I do not love the stock market today. I lost $12,000. Which is a serious chunk o' my change. Fuck Greece.
And the ear is here
Jun. 29th, 2015 04:15 pmSo after all my research and testing and thinking and stewing, the damn thing only appears to work when plugged into my TiVo. Whatever.
Pros:
It comes semi charged so at least you can try it out. The booklet says it has 10 mins worth of charge in it. So play fast and then don't for at least an hour.
It does work. The TV is on mute and I'm hearing the sound just fine and dandy. Every single frickin' word which is amazingly coolio.
Cons:
The headpiece should not weigh so much. Because it weighs so much, the ear bits have to made to dig into your head. I think it is not going to be comfortable to wear very long. Maybe past the first commercial. Lots of reviews citing broken head pieces so I'm guessing there ain't no give in them, thar ears.
You have to have direct line of sight from the ears to their home station. I mean direct. Not off an inch vertically or horizontally or all you get is static. Dead straight on. You can't even move the bow to the back so that it rests on your neck... line of sight.
It comes with flimsy foam ear pieces and no replacements. I have a house full of rubber earbuds so I'm sure I can find better ones without even leaving this room but still.
Edit: The posts are too small for any other earbuds so you are stuck with their gross foam ones and buying more is $10 + shipping. This is not looking good.
I had already figured out how that a better way might be a bluetooth transmitter with a regular bluetooth headset. And, they arrive tomorrow. We're going to have a little bake off. If I had to guess right now, based on headset comfort alone, I think the TV Ears are going back to Amazon.
Pros:
It comes semi charged so at least you can try it out. The booklet says it has 10 mins worth of charge in it. So play fast and then don't for at least an hour.
It does work. The TV is on mute and I'm hearing the sound just fine and dandy. Every single frickin' word which is amazingly coolio.
Cons:
The headpiece should not weigh so much. Because it weighs so much, the ear bits have to made to dig into your head. I think it is not going to be comfortable to wear very long. Maybe past the first commercial. Lots of reviews citing broken head pieces so I'm guessing there ain't no give in them, thar ears.
You have to have direct line of sight from the ears to their home station. I mean direct. Not off an inch vertically or horizontally or all you get is static. Dead straight on. You can't even move the bow to the back so that it rests on your neck... line of sight.
It comes with flimsy foam ear pieces and no replacements. I have a house full of rubber earbuds so I'm sure I can find better ones without even leaving this room but still.
Edit: The posts are too small for any other earbuds so you are stuck with their gross foam ones and buying more is $10 + shipping. This is not looking good.
I had already figured out how that a better way might be a bluetooth transmitter with a regular bluetooth headset. And, they arrive tomorrow. We're going to have a little bake off. If I had to guess right now, based on headset comfort alone, I think the TV Ears are going back to Amazon.
It's a look... just not a good one
Jun. 29th, 2015 08:25 pmSo as much fun as it is to hear every word (and it is fun! I turned off my Closed Captioning!!), these damn ears were going to meet in my brain in another 10 minutes. So... I made a temporary fix.
If this wins the TV sound bakeoff, I'll be buying different tips than these stupid foam things. Amazon's got options.
But, also the thing is kind of wonking out my neck muscles. Between it's weight and having to make sure it stays in line of sight.
I'm holding out hope for the bluetooth solution.
I am sure enjoying hearing the words, though, I will tell you!
If this wins the TV sound bakeoff, I'll be buying different tips than these stupid foam things. Amazon's got options.
But, also the thing is kind of wonking out my neck muscles. Between it's weight and having to make sure it stays in line of sight.
I'm holding out hope for the bluetooth solution.
I am sure enjoying hearing the words, though, I will tell you!