Not counting iOS devices, I have around seven conventional computers I use daily around the house for this and that. Two are media-oriented, three are utility machines, one’s a spare, and maybe I actually only have six machines I use daily.

I have at least ten retired or non-functional machines, going back to a Power Computing Mac clone circa 1992. I may have an older PPC tower as well, but nothing prior to the PPC event horizon, although I do have a no-HD pre-486 laptop.

Not too long ago, sometime around 2002, I jettisoned some pre-PPC Macs and monochrome silver-and-blue LCD display 8086 laptop built by Zenith, apparently from the Senate or the Congress or something. I have no idea how it came to me.

Including nonconventional computers in the house (iOS, dedicated media, and programmable networking) the total potential IP count for roughly current devices adds six iOS devices, two media devices (yes,in addition to the other media units) and eight networking devices.

I’m pretty sure this is overkill.

The Mini in the basement is faltering under the latest prerelease version of XBMC, and it looks like I’m gonna have to pull the unit in favor of an equally decrepit MacBook (wait, it is so old it might actually be a PowerBook) with a more powerful GPU and more RAM.

However, doing so crosses the C-note boundary, and I will be looking into other options for configurable playback devices. The jailbroken Apple TV 2, running XBMC, is a clear contender.

I am pleased to report I was able to access live EyeTV streams via Beenje’s XBMC add on, EyeTV Parser. The add-on only features live streams under the Eden prerelease, though.

By god, I think I am beginning to grok this vast space of useless knowledge. For fuxache, it should not require an experienced computer person to tax the sum of their networking and hardware knowledge to accomplish this stuff, which amounts to watching TV.

Boeing Clippers and Matthews Beach Park.

Matthews Beach is at 97th and the shore on Lake Washington. There is another seaplane base at the north end of the lake as well, which is used by Kenmore Air (hence the name).

UPDATE: an aerial shot of the base, with Clipper docked.

Forty minutes of writing, blown away by an errant touch somewhere on the surface of the iPad.

Goddammit, I have mislaid my glasses and am now wearing backups. This may be a new record. I have had the black bifocals for less than six months.

The Roman emperor Valerian was apparently kept in chains and, according to scuttlebutt, used as a stepping stool by is Sassanid captor. After dying (“from shame,” later sources say) his skin was apparently taxidermied for continued celebratory display. Scholars dispute much of the narrative.

Still, who wouldn’t want to trot out your local emperor or oligarch for abuse?

The junkyard home theater is complete.

The last two pieces were a different USB DAC (which supports optical out on the Mac) and a hail-mary shot at resurrecting (see what I did there? This entry was nearly titled “It is Finished”) an old DVD player I had on the shelf, retired after it stopped working a few years ago.

The G4 Mini simply cannot support hi-def audio and HD video from disc, but does ok with XMBC taking streams and tossing them out. Sadly, XMBC, although the root from which Boxee sprang, is straight-up terrible in terms of UI, and the version I am using is prone to crashes.

Still, the objective here was to set up a surround-sound, Internet-connected and streaming-capable big-screen home theater for as little as possible.

It has been difficult to figure out the costs, but over the past month I have spent about 200 dollars, possibly 250. I had significant items in hand, however, specifically:

The projector (dumpstered in 1999 or so)
The amp (an entry-level Sony, made around 2002: no hdmi)
The computer (a first generation G4 Mac Mini, no optical out, underpowered in every way)
Cables
Experience (see below)

Setting up a home theater requires knowledge of multiple, and multiplying, connection protocols. I find it murderously enraging to keep on top of it, so mostly I don’t. Having experience with this particular area of greedy nonsense helped. I’m certain acquiring the knowledge abraded away an appreciable portion of my “don’t be an impatient and abusive asshole” coating.

Dammit, lost a long blog post. I can keep this link, a reflection on Wim Wnders’ Pina.
Vivian and I saw the film last Friday in company with and courtesy of Spencer.

Director Wenders spoke after the film, charmingly, and it was quite wonderful to hear him discuss the film itself and his process in crafting it.
Deconcrete is pretty neat, by the way.

The blogger has a special focus on cartography and every single mappy thing he posts is fascinating, such as this look at a geography of Franco’s coup.

Or this image-heavy post on how built environments change and inherit form themselves over time.

Ugh, not if they actually look like that.

I still think a cellphone/PDA that is an actual functioning replica 19th century pocket watch is the way to go for non HUD information delivery. Apparently most of the rest of the market for this stuff is populated by the tasteless and the young.

I started running on the treadmill the day we got it. The first week, I put in a bit over six miles.

The second week, I logged nearly 12 miles.

Then, at the beginning of the third week, my left ankle began to hurt and feel stiff, like a knuckle that needs popping. I kept running but reduced my speed and distance, ending the week with 9 miles, but with three of my longest runs.

This weekend, on Sunday, I tried to run but my ankle hurt too much; I ended up walking about 4 miles instead in about 45 minutes. When I got off the treadmill, my ankle felt different. The popping, crackling stiffness was gone, but not the pain.

New, however, was a visible swelling and a mild sense of heat.

Dr. Google demonstrated to me that it is likely that I have given myself tendonitis, and instructed me to see an actual doctor.

So today I did that. The verdict? Stop running until the tendonitis heals.

The doc also told me that perhaps my target daily run of 2 miles in 20 minutes was somewhat aggressive and ambitious for someone with a lifelong distaste for physical activity. I’m sure he’s right.