As in toast.

Deceased.

See www.twitter.com/ianknox for anything personal I might otherwise put up here.

I bought a Popcorn Hour A-110 media streaming device to go with my new TV and I thought I’d write up my initial impressions of the unit. I wish it was all roses but sadly it’s not.

Here’s my wish list for a set top box and how well it worked with the PCH:

• Video playback from an internal HD for many video formats
  Check!
  The PCH played back nearly everything I threw at it (although I haven’t installed a HD yet I was able to use a USB stick). The one glaring exception to this is it flat out doesn’t do Adobe’s FLV format. The decoder chip (A Sigma SMP8635) doesn’t support FLV natively and the processor in the PCH isn’t nearly powerful enough to decode the FLV on it’s own. It’s possible that there will be a firmware upgrade for the Sigma chip that will allow this, but highly unlikely.

• Streaming support over the interwebs
  Semi-check!
  The PCH has support for a number of streaming media providers (You Tube, Veoh*, Apple Movie Trailers, and a bunch more) but it does not support the two most important ones for me, namely Hulu and Netflix. I had originally thought that these were supported but it turns out the Playon software you can buy that will allow this requires that it runs on your desktop as a streaming server. The whole idea behind this project was to eliminate the need for my desktop to handle my media so this was a disappointment. There is hope however that Netflix may be supported in future firmware releases given that the hardware is capable (the the ROKU Netflix streaming box uses the same decoder chip). As of right now there is no remedy for those that want to watch Hulu other than an outright HTPC.

• Serve as a HD PVR/DVR
  Fail!
  I knew going in that there was no support for this. While there is basic functionality for watching TV with a HDHomerun tuner there’s no time-shifting, recording, or scheduling in place yet. There is a distinct possibility that this will be available at some point since the TIVX series of media streamer boxes do PVR and use the same Sigma chip; I’m fairly sure this is somewhat low on the PCH list of priorities though.

• Not piss me off
  Fail!
  I had immediate issues with the unit that made the process frustrating.
  • The Network Browser was unable to access my SMB shares on my windows desktop. I spent a good 1/2 an hour trying different things but ultimately gave in and installed myiHome, PCH’s super-basic UPNP server. I’m sure I could get it to work with some more screwing around but this falls in the this-should-just-work category.
  • It’s menus are not very pretty and not very intuitive. Luckily for the PCH you can completely customize them… but again more time spent screwing around (and in this case writing code) to get a decent result.
  • They provide really poor documentation and support. The PCH operates on software created by Syabas called Networked Media Tank (NMT) The NMT web page is primarily a forum that’s very hard to search and contains a huge amount of incorrect or incomplete information. On top of that it’s very hard to search. There is also a wiki but it is very weak on content.
  • The remote control provides a serious problem that is most likely the deal breaker for me. It has a conflict with my TV. Whenever you press the left navigation arrow my TV switches input to the OTA antenna and return key increases the volume on the set. I do have an off-brand TV so this is probably not going to be an issue for most folks, but this is more or less unacceptable for me since I can’t operate with the set switching sources all the time.

So most likely I’ll be returning/craigs-listing this unit**. I could live with nearly all of it’s shortcomings for the simple fact that it does what it’s supposed to –play media– really darn well, but the problem with the remote control is simply too much to deal with. I’m not sure about the next step, perhaps a Tivx box.

Vee-shall-see.

Bleh, so darn close!

* Veoh support is very spotty and (of course) it doesn’t work with data from affiliate sites like Hulu.
** after further research looks like craigslist– the ebayer I bought it from doesn’t take returns.

I think it will.

I do.

It’s been crazy hard work but a whole lot of fun; only in a Quest show could I play three different presidents, Johnny Cash, and a rain cloud. Yeah that’s not a joke, I play a rain cloud.

Read the reviews (Trib, Reader, Time Out Chicago), come see the show!

Oh and if you are coming. PLEASE make reservations! We’ve sold out every single show so far and we already have some pretty full houses for the last two weeks.

Frame: 210
Wheels: 150
Crank/BB: 100
Pedals: 40
Saddle: 30
Tires: 40
Brakes: 30
Helmet (also stolen): 50
–
$650 in total

And given that I got a lot of those parts and pieces on sale or used my pocketbook isn’t looking forward to trying to replace it. I think finally getting renters insurance is on the top of the to-do list next week.

I guess the upside is I get to go through the joy of finding and building a replacement (not sarcasm by the way, it really is fun to build bicycles!) but it’s not something I have the time or heart for right now.

Bye bye baby, daddy misses you.

Brand: Concord
Model: Classic
Color: Black w red letters and chrome accents
Cranks: Sugino RD
Pedals: Crankbrothers Eggbeater
Tires: Continental gatorskin rear and Vittoria front
Wheels: Formula hubs and Mavic CXP 22 rims
Saddle: Fizik Vitesse*
Brakes: Dia Compe
Fenders: Planet Bike (Black)
Bar end plugs: Wine corks
Printed letters on top tube read “1 Speed”

A grossly understated summary of what I’ve been up to follows in the form of lists:

I’ve been in some shows

• Feydeau-Si-Deau
• Durango
• People’s History of the United States

I’ve seen some awesome concerts

• The Dresden Dolls
• Billy Branch
• One of the Girls

I’ve seen some terrific theatre

• As Told by the Vivian Girls
• Our Town
• Columbinus

I’ve read some fantastic books

• Gould’s Book of Fish
• Little Big
• Fun Home
• Eats, Shoots & Leaves
• The Neon Bible

I’m soon going to be missing some friends

• Danielle (moving to Montana)
• Glen (moving… somewhere)

I signed up for my third Chicago Marathon

• Here’s hoping the weather is better than last time
• I had to register through a charity because I was slack and didn’t get signed up in time… again

I’m turning 30 in a few weeks

• I’m trying not to feel too old
• It’s not working particularly well

I realize that the 4 or 5 suckers readers of this blog may have no idea how Equity works or even what it is.  Well it’s a bit too complicated to explain fully but in a nutshell Equity (or AEA) is the stage actors union in the US and there are a lot of benefits to joining.  By working with certain eligible theatre companies for a total of fifty weeks I can earn the right to apply for membership in the AEA; this process is called the Equity Membership Candidate Program (or EMC).  Just starting the EMC program gives me a few benefits on it’s own; mainly I’ll be seen before non-Equity members at any Equity audition.

I’m certainly not ready to join up yet but starting to fulfill those fifty weeks feels like a step in the right direction–and I might add, it’s a bit scary; progress always is.

In other news there’s a Lunar eclipse tonight and it’s beautiful.  Maybe it’s a herald of new things; maybe–as most ancient cultures thought–it’s a sign of impending doom.

Only time will tell.

(photo Luc Viatour)

So here it goes.  December 1st to now, by the numbers.

I spent the early part of December auditioning and taking classes at Act One. The auditions led to some good callbacks but nothing came through until right before Christmas when I was cast in The Paringtons, a workshop put on by the Raven Theatre in early February. I had hoped to get cast as Frank the quirky, rapid fire artist who finds good and beauty in everything he sees; despite a good audition and subsequent callback, I ended up getting cast as two peripheral characters instead.  It was the third leading role I had been called back to in a row.  This is good, and I suppose it means I’m growing as an actor, but there is often a little voice inside my head that says “Really? Well alright then if you’re sure.”  Confidence is quick to loose and slow to build in the business of acting; it’s been nice to be on the building side recently.

A couple of weeks later I flew down to North Carolina to visit the family for the holidays. It was a rough holiday season. My grandmother who is now ninety three (or is it ninety four?) was pretty sick and my dad spent most of the holidays taking care of her.  We did our best to remain cheerful and festive but having a very ill loved one casts a cloud over everything going on.  Every hour I was there I kept wondering how she was doing, and just as importantly, how the rest of my family was doing.  Strangely I found I was more worried about them than I was about her.  It seems unfair to worry more about those that aren’t in danger of dying than those that are; I guess dying after a full life of ninety three years seems less tragic than loosing your mother.

The trip had one silver lining; I got to hang out with my brother for a few days. I hadn’t seen him in nearly two years, which is far too long between brothers.  He seems to be doing well, in fact he seems happier than I’ve seen him in years. I also saw my friend Donnie while I was in NC. For Donnie, life doesn’t seem to change much, but he too seems happy. Some people are made for that life I guess.

The trade off to seeing my brother over the holidays (I had to be there early to catch him before he returned to Phoenix) was that I ended up spending the 25th in Chicago alone.  I expected Christmas by myself it to be really weird but it wasn’t. The entire holiday spirit seemed to have already passed by; it was just another snowy winter day in Chicago.

New Years Eve happened with the usual excess followed by a brain bruising headache and oaths of becoming a teetotaler. The party I attended was a bit of a disappointment crowd wise, but we had a good time. The highlight of my evening was a great snowball fight consisting of ten really drunk people dressed to the nines pelting each other up and down the three flights of stairs in the back of the building.

In mid January I found out I had been cast as an understudy in a show at the Silk Road Theatre Project called Durango. I’ve never had an understudy gig where I wasn’t also part of the show so this will be something new for me.  I’m really looking forward to working with people who actually do theatre for a living; maybe some day I’ll do it too.

Also in mid January I started rehearsals for The Paringtons. I have to say that it was the strangest show experiences I’ve had in a while. I was only in three scenes and, because we had a very short rehearsal schedule, I only attended four rehearsals before opening night. It felt very surreal and unconnected to be involved so little in the production.  Ultimately, I felt that the show worked out pretty well though. The script was very solid and by the last two performances (of our three show run) we were starting to do it justice.  I really hope that the Raven considers picking it up as a full production next year.

The final night of our show was Super Tuesday, and boy was it super.  I could write a hundred page blog post about this year’s presidential race, but for now suffice it to say that I’m:
A: Pleased as punch to have such strong Democratic candidates
B: Extremely entertained and even a bit inspired by the entire process
C: Supporting Obama

Since The Paringtons closed I’ve been in the gym almost every night trying to get into better shape for Durango.  One of the four characters I’m understudying is a super hero and if there is even the remotest possibility that I’ll be on stage in Spandex I want to be ready for it.  The current regimen is five miles on the treadmill every day and then weight lifting (flys, curls, crunches and whatever else I can endure) every other day.

It feels good to get back into the gym but I’ve noticed that it doesn’t always feel good.   Every time I really throw myself into my workouts like this I start to crave gym time, especially the running.  By about 15-20 hours from my last workout I feel jittery and  irritable; it feels like nicotine withdrawal.  I know from experience that pretty soon it’s going to start effecting my sleeping patterns and make me feel… just not like myself.  I’m not sure if there’s anything that can be done about this but wait until my endorphin levels sort themselves out.

And finally, I’ve decided that I need to get away from “media” for a while.  Movies, TV, and music are all great but I’ve been over doing it a bit recently.  So as an experiment I’m not watching any TV or Movies or engaging in internet time wasting for a week.  Instead I’m going to spend my free time reading, writing, and going to the gym.  The first draft of this post–which was a complete jumble of stream of consciousness BS I might add–took almost exactly an hour.  On any other night that hour would be taken up by The A Daily Show and maybe an episode of M*A*S*H.

Yep this was time better spent.

If you’d like to see the books I have on my bookshelf just check out my LibraryThing public listing.  Of course I just signed up a few hours ago so it’s just got what I could remember I have off of the top of my head, I’ll be busting out the CueCat soon!.

I also embedded a little searching widget in the sidebar of my blog so you can search my library from here.  At some point when I have time for projects I’d like to build a simple loaning application that would allow me to track who I’ve loaned my books to so I can get them back– I imagine it would be fairly straightforward coding wise.

P.S.  If the person who I lent His Dark Materials to is reading this, please bring it back when you’re done.

I always seem to forget how much I like the flavor and texture of cooked carrots, especially when combined with tomatoes.

It’s certainly not professional quality stuff, but given it was a last minute plan I was rather pleased with the outcome.

Click the link for the recipe.

Ian’s home alone Christmas lasagna

• 1 lb low fat cottage cheese
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup fresh Italian herbs (I used oregano and basil)
• 10 lasagna noodles
• 1 1/2 cups frozen spinach (fresh would be fine too)
• 4-5 large carrots
• 3/4 cup low fat mozzarella cheese (grated)
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• Garlic powder
• 3 cups pureed tomatoes

Cook noodles according to the box instructions. While noodles are cooking:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

Combine eggs, cottage cheese, 2/3 of the parmesan cheese, herbs, and salt in a mixing bowl. Use stick blender and blend until herbs are well chopped and consistency is somewhere between a paste and a soup.

Thaw spinach in microwave and add pureed tomatoes and garlic powder to taste.

Cut off the tops and tips, and slice the carrots into 1/4 inch thick slices along the length of the carrot (Note: this is a rather tricky cut if you don’t have a proper mandolin slicer. PLEASE watch your fingers!).

Once noodles are done boil your carrots for about 10 mins so they get a little softened up (you can use the same pot of water as the noodles, this saves water and time).

Lightly oil the bottom of your pan and add a layer of noodles, follow this by 1/3 of the cottage cheese mixture. Then 1/2 of your carrot slices in a single layer running 90 degrees to your noodles followed by 1/2 of your spinach mixture.

Repeat this layering using up the last of the carrots and spinach, after that add a final layer of noodles followed by the last of the cottage cheese.

Cover in tinfoil and cook for 40 mins at 375. Remove from oven and sprinkle the top with mozzarella and remaining parmesan. Cook uncovered for another 15 mins or until top is lightly golden brown.

Cool for 15 mins and serve.

Thanks rob, you are the man!

KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) — Hundreds of protesters brandishing swords and sticks gathered outside Khartoum’s presidential palace Friday to vent their anger against a British teacher jailed for allowing children to name a teddy bear “Mohammed.”

You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

You’d think the people of Sudan would have more important things to worry about than a fucking teddy bear– You know like maybe trying to stop the Darfuri genocide that’s claimed at least 200,000 lives and displaced some 2.5 million more.

I’m not sure if I want to go cry or kick someone’s ass. Actually, I think either response would be appropriate.

Theatre work:

• I split with the Tantalus Theatre Group. I think their work is awesome and very important, but it just wasn’t where I wanted my acting career to go right now.
• I’ve been taking acting classes in the Meisner program at Act One Studios. It’s been great, it feels really awesome to get back into a classroom and be able to work without the pressures of eventually turning what you’re doing into a production.
• I’ve been doing a lot more auditions– sadly it’s a slow time of year for that but still, I’m getting out there.

Personal stuff:

• I finished my second Chicago Marathon. The weather was so hot (90+ degrees, fucking global warming) that they actually canceled the marathon 1/2 way through so I was forced to walk the last 8-10 miles. I’m not sure I’m interested in doing a third one after that experience, but we’ll see.
• I completed by new bike project which involved a lot of work but it’s finally finished. A Fukaya Japanese track bike with nearly full Suntour Superbe Pro components. It’s freaking sweet, pity it’s too nice to ride in the crappy weather we’ve been having lately, but hey that’s why I have three bikes.
• I’m single again. It always sucks when a relationship ends and I miss her a lot some days, but I think ultimately it’s for the best. *sigh*
• I opened an IRA account for retirement. Christ I feel like such an adult.
• I’ll be back in NC visiting the family Dec 19-23. This means I’ll actually be hanging out by my self on X-mas day, which will feel weird I’m sure, but it was the only way I could see my brother whom I haven’t set eyes on in two years.

Geek stuff:

• I moved this blog to my home computer when I left Tantalus (I had been piggy-backing with their hosting account). Some time soon I’ll go buy my own cheap-o hosting but for now I’ll have to live with it as is. The bastards at RCN block port 80 so this is being served on 81, hence the odd looking URL above– But hey at least it works.
• I’m really in love with the EEEPC from ASUS. If I had a spare 400 bucks floating around I’d be all over it. Who knows, maybe for my birthday. Maybe by then the 8g model with a 7 inch screen and the same size case will be out.
• I just ordered a new phone. My trusty old Sony Ericsson T637 is dying the rapid death of battery failure so I decided to go with a Blackberry Pearl (in red) with an unlimited data plan. I will be on teh internets AT ALL TIMES! (yes I’m a geek, deal with it)
• I’ve pretty much completely phased out Windows on my desktop computers in favor of Ubuntu. It’s still not perfect, but as linux on the desktop goes, it’s the best I’ve used so far.

Well that’s all the news that leaps to mind right away– I’ll update this post later if I realize that I forgot something.

Some time soon I plan to move to my own hosting account elsewhere, but for now this will have to do the trick.