Apple pre show

Sitting here at an apple confrence. Waiting for it to start.

Sitting in traffic

It is going slow enough that I can type this.

Wasting away at work

With the rebirth of this blog, I seem to have spent most of my day working on. Tweaking the design, updating our feeds and the like. I have also been looking for tools to help make this better. One of the original things that people liked about our blog was the podcasts. Well, we have let that slip away, and since Justin and I are no longer in the same place, it seemed as though it would be a very occasional thing when we bring it back. But then we got to thinking. I said to Justin, "I wonder how we could record audio from an iChat conference." and he says "People use Audio Hijack to record different programs."

Well, I quickly went to the web, found this program and downloaded it. I did a test here at work and seems to work great. This means that it's danger time. I have the software, we have the computers, and now when we are both back in the comfort of our own apartments, we will be able to create a podcast just like we did back in the day. That means it's time to stay tuned because we will be broadcasting again very soon.

Note: We were on iTunes at one point. We are still listed there but it doesn't seem to work yet. I am trying to get that back to functional. Until then, you will have to listen to our podcast through the blog.

New Look

Since we have breathed life back into this blog, we have decided to give it a make over. We felt that the old look was, well, old. So we have looked a couple of different layouts and have chosen this one. I hope that everyone likes it.

Jamaica Nice

Still getting used to this cam. This is Jamaica's subway station

Give me Wireless Internet Phone Calls

Even though most of my TV watching these days is on DVR and I am lucky enough to not be bombarded by commercials. However, I do watch one or two, and there is one that has me excited. Currently, T-Mobile is starting to offer T-Mobile hot spot calling. This will give you the ability to use your wireless internet for making phone calls which means you won’t be using your plan minutes. I think this a great idea. Now, I don’t have T-Mobile. I have AT&T, and so does Justin. Here is the thing, When one company starts doing things, others will eventually follow suit or do something to compete with this service. The fact of the matter is that the technology is out there. Since i have the iPhone, I know that it is nothing more than a software update away from being able to make phone calls using my wireless internet.

Phone calls at home is just the beginning. I have wireless at work that I would be able to use, and there are dozens of companies that are wireless hot spots. Malls, Coffee Shops, Cafes, Airports, and soon, some towns in this country will be hot spots. This is a phone revolution that is going to happen, and I hope that it does. Being limited by minutes is not fun, especially when your on a family talk plan.

Listen up AT&T, take a lesson from T-Mobile, and please, add this awesome service. You have the best phone out there, now it's time to start getting the best service.

Verizon?

One other note-- while I'm happy with my iPhone, I will miss Verizon.

Some don't care for this huge company, but they have served me well for nearly 10 years. And unlike some companies that whine like a needy ex when you call to cancel, they were polite and courteous and understanding. So kudos big V, I'll be back someday.

Train blogging

So, this is Justin--I thought i would give this a shot. I'm on my morning commute, bored silly and caffeinating. It's a rainy day in the BK.

One thing Keith and I now share is that we are both business owners. I'll talk more about my venture when I'm up on the old www. (paranoid about cyber-squatters)

Anyway, here's the view from my seat on the J train. Note the ornamental stained glass

AOL Hell on a Lenovo T61

Old photo

So I am really just excited about blogging from my phone and wanted to
do it again. Here is a three old pic of justin I took with an actual
35 mm camera back when we lived in Naugatuck. I think he was making
pulled pork.

Testing mobile blogging

Right now I am on my iPhone and am testing blogging from my phone.
Below I have included a picture of my new office door.

Where have we been?

I have know idea. It's true that we really haven't been here in a while. AAVR has become the child we forgot about. We have become busy with life and that needs to change. People need to stay connected, and this blog / radio show / what ever it is, needs to be here. Right now, Justin and I are talking via iChat on how to create content and keep this dream alive. So stay tunned and tell your friends.

I broke my car

Good-bye Ma Bell

Not so long ago, Ma Bell was forced to split, giving us SBC, Bell South and others. Now Ma Bell is almost back together. And on the verge of the companies coming back, I am saying good-bye. For the past year and a half I have been a customer of what was SBC and is now AT&T, with phone, DSL and TV (via DishNetwork). The reason I'm leaving... DishNetwork.

Let me share with everyone out there. When you see the disclaimer on the bottom of the Satellite TV commercials saying that you might lose signal during storms is something to consider. There is no question, you do lose signal. You also don't get your own local channels. I live in CT, and I am getting local channels out of NY. What is up with that?

When it comes to HD, DishNetwork wants to charge you and extra $20 a month for the service and make you buy the receiver. I have decided to change to my local cable network which only charges an extra $8 a month for HD. To me, this is a huge difference. I also know, that I will have signal during bad weather and other solar events.

I have also decided to go to cable Internet and switch my phone service to Vonage. I have heard nothing but good things from everyone that I know that has used it.

So please, if you are thinking about using Satellite TV, DON'T. Get cable!

More new years fun

Here is a rare recorded video performance of Blaq Coq



To see all the videos from the night, visit Bekah's YouTube Page.

Welcome 2007

It's a new year and I need a new kitchen window. What I have learned from this is that you should put things in front of windows to block people from using them as things to balance on when they have had too much to drink. On the upside, I get a new window :)

It was a small party compared to our last one, but this one had a very special guest. Ladies and Gents, former president of the U.S., George Herbert Walker Bush!

















You can find more photos of the president along with party goers here.

New Year's Eve 2006

Tomorrow Starts a New Year

Ok, it has been a while since we have posted anything on this blog. Justin went to school, I went back to working at Sacred Heart, and well, I guess we all got busy. But with a new year comes the resolve to pick things up, dust them off, and try them again. And that is what I am going to do here. With the start of a new year, I want to try and bring back blogging not just on this blog, but on others as well.

Tonight, I will be celebrating the New Year with close friends like Justin, Brian and of course Joy, along with others. It should be a great time, and next year should be awesome.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Settling In

I have to say, I am quite pleased with the situation here. I didnt love the idea of dorm living- but I love my neighborhood here. Brooklyn Heights is incredible. Can you beat this view?

Anyhow, everyone here has been really nice and welcoming, but I will say, I'm missing my friends and family in CT. Hopefully I get lots of visitors soon!

Seas of Change

Yesterday was bitter sweet as I said good-bye to Justin. Right now he is moving into his dorm room in the Bronx 3 days before his 26th birthday. Meanwhile, I am covered in dust as I move crap from one room to another to make way for Brian to make his grand entrance into this appartment. He has already dropped off some furniture that is still in the box yet has the ability to make three grown men struggle as we lift it through the front door. Maybe next time I will wear something on my feet.

I had an offer to go camping this weekend, but since there is so much that I need to get done here, I don't think that camping was the best thing for me to be doing. Now I am taking a break as I wait for Brian to return, the problem is I don't know when that will be.

Change is in the air

Well, today the change lingers in the air. In a few short days, Justin head back to school. It also means that he is moving out. After just 2 short years, our run as room mates is coming to an end. I am of course happy for him, but I will miss him greatly. Well, since he is moving out, I need someone to move in, and who better to replace Justin than his best friend Brian. Next week he will be moving in and at the same time he will be starting a new job, how wacky is that.

There is no change for me aside from the room mate thing... Wait, yes there is. I just got the official word about 30 minutes ago about my new job. That's right, after just under 6 months at Subway®, I am returning back to Sacred Heart. This time it will be as a Notebook Technician. Subway® doesn't even know about this yet. Well, tomorrow I will be handing in my resignation, and then they will know, muahahaha.

Also on the back to school front, Joy wenthroughoutht her grad schooorientationon today. Three more years of school for her before she can pay all of my bills.

Without change, we don't evolve, and what fun would that be?