Home Theatre

HDTV: Westinghouse LVM-42W2, 42" - Purchased during Labor Day sale in 2006
Receiver: Technics SA-DX940 - Purchased from a pawnshop in Reno in 2001
Phonograph: Pro-Ject Audio Systems Debut III - Christmas gift in 2007
HD-DVR: Scientific Atlanta 8300HD - Cable provider Astound
Xbox: Modded with XBMC, 120 GB - Purchased used and modded by friend in 2004
Xbox 360: 20 GB - Purchased for Gears of War in 2007
Wii: Most played game by far is Bowling - Purchased at midnight launch in 2006
TV Top: Phillips 27PT6441/37, 27"- Birthday gift in 2005
TV Bottom: RCA G27373CP, 27" - Purchased from estate sale in 2004
R/L Speakers: Canton CT-220 - Birthday gift in 2001
Center Speaker: Yamaha - Birthday gift in 2006
Rear Speakers: Sony SS-SR350 - Purchased in 2006
Subwoofer: Klipsch - Purchased at Costco in 2006
PC: Windows XP Media Center, Home built, Parts purchased from Fry's in 2007
Remote Control: Logitech Harmony Xbox 360 Remote, Purchased from Amazon in 2008
TV Stand: Purchased at Good Guys going out of business clearance sale in 2006

System Schematic

(Click to embiggen.)

But it doesn't matter, because it's just a ride

The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.

Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: 'Is this real? Or is this just a ride?' And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and they say 'Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid - ever - because... this is just a ride.' And we kill those people.

'Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride! Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry; look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.'

It's just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that - ever notice that? - and we let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because... it's just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy bigger guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one.

Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, into a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defense each year and, instead, spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would do many times over - not one human being excluded - and we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever. In peace. -Bill Hicks

An Album from Each Year of My Life

Pick a favorite album realease for each year you’ve been alive. You can pick a record based on what you like now, or what you would have picked that year.
I tried to base my selctions on what I have listened to the most. I found the '90's to be easy picks. The '80's took some searching. The aughts seem a bit mediocre, except for Man Man of course.

1980 - Bob Marley and The Wailers: Uprising
1981 - The Rolling Stones: Tattoo You
1982 - Michael Jackson: Thriller
1983 - U2: War
1984 - Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A.
1985 - John Fogerty: Centerfield
1986 - Paul Simon: Graceland
1987 - U2: The Joshua Tree
1988 - Jane’s Addiction: Nothing’s Shocking
1989 - Neil Young: Freedom
1990 - The Black Crowes: Shake Your Money Maker
1991 - Guns N' Roses: Use Your Illusion II
1992 - Sublime: 40 Oz. to Freedom
1993 - Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle
1994 - Tom Petty: Wildflowers
1995 - Blind Melon: Soup
1996 - Tool: Ænima
1997 - Radiohead: OK Computer
1998 - Jay-Z: Vol. 2 . . . Hard Knock Life
1999 - Eminem: The Slim Shady LP
2000 - OutKast: Stankonia
2001 - The Coup: Party Music
2002 - Norah Jones: Come Away With Me
2003 - Mars Volta: De-Loused in the Comatorium
2004 - The Killers: Hot Fuss
2005 - System of a Down: Mezmerize
2006 - Man Man: Six Demon Bag
2007 - Lily Allen: Alright, Still
2008 - ??? So far I've listened to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III twice, making it the album released this year that I have listened to most.

(This list is subject to change as my memories of year past slowly return to me.)