JohnA lifeBlog

So, I sent an e-mail to the address shown in Microsoft’s new commercials… sean@windows.com. I asked a question, and received this in response.

Hello! I’m a PC – and I can’t answer your email right now. I’d like to say that I’m out climbing Mt. Rainier or biking across Europe with the Swedish Beach Volleyball Team, but in fact I’m probably just chained to a desk somewhere in the depths of Redmond pounding out product specifications.

Now that I have been in a commercial, Microsoft has given me access to super-secret “BillyG” level of executive resources. That’s right – I have my own email auto-responder!

This, as you have probably surmised, is my pre-prepared auto-response (All natural, no filler. No animals were harmed in the making of this response. Except for a ferret.) I really would like to have answered you myself, but if I did, (a) I’d probably get no work done, and (b) then I’d get fired, and (c) then I’d have no chance of doing any more of those really awesome commercials.

So let me try to prognosticate a few of your questions and answer a few of them.

Why did they put you on TV?
I think it’s my devastating good-looks and animal magnetism. No, really – there’s a ferret stuck to my leg right now.

But really – you aren’t even an actor!
No I’m not. But I play one on TV. I really am a Microsoft Program Manager. I work on IPv6, and other things that you haven’t heard of.

How did you get selected?
I auditioned along with a couple of hundred others. I guess I looked very Engineery. And the ferret probably helped.

Are you interested in more acting?
Oh no, I think that Engineering is MUCH more fun.

What’s with Windows Vista?
You’ve been watching those commercials again, haven’t you? Windows Vista rocks. Listen to real users, not actors.

-The Real PC, Sean Siler

Um, so the fact is that the bullshit-o-meter is off the charts. Microsoft & their ad agency obviously had no plans in place to deal with the fact that people might actually send an e-mail to a HUGE FU**ING E-MAIL ADDRESS they show in their ads.

Since when has this administration cared about privacy?

What does Sarah Palin have to hide in her Yahoo e-mails?

The same political faction which today is prancing around in full-throated fits of melodramatic hysteria and Victim mode (their absolute favorite state of being) over the sanctity of Sarah Palin’s privacy are the same ones who scoffed with indifference as it was revealed during the Bush era that the FBI systematically abused its Patriot Act powers to gather and store private information on thousands of innocent Americans; that Homeland Security officials illegally infiltrated and monitored peaceful, law-abiding left-wing groups devoted to peace activism, civil liberties and other political agendas disliked by the state; and that the telephone calls of journalists and lawyers have been illegally and repeatedly monitored.

221 years ago, the Constitution of the United States Of America was ratified. And 21 years ago, I was an elementary school student who participated in a nationwide recitation of the Preamble.

Interestingly enough, I still remember it to this day (the preamble, that is. The event was kind of forgettable)

Anyhoo, now is a good time to refresh your civics class teachings and remember what this whole thing is all about.

So, as most of you know, I spend INSANE amounts of money building my perfect home theater. At this point, I’d say I’m at the $18,000 mark without including my media library.

Obviously, I get asked lots of questions. About equipment, about technology, etc. So I think the only fair thing is to open up the questioning. I’ll write a later blog about my equipment, but for now, the question that EVERYONE seems to ask is…

What is the ultimate demo scene to show off a home theater?

The answer is bittersweet for me, actually. Back in my LaserDisc heyday, I would have said the opening scene from Terminator 2: Judgement Day. But sadly, those days are gone.

Today, if you have a Blu-Ray player, then the best scene, hands-down, is the title sequence of Casino Royale. It is PERFECT. I mean, flawless in every way. When my older brother was here to visit (he’s a video professional who has mastered numerous DVDs), we watched this scene. His comment was that it was impossible to get that quality out of the bitrate allowed by Blu-Ray.

I am trying to find a way to upload it to the internets™, but even at 1080p, the internets won’t do it justice.

After getting my home theater back up to speed, I decided to watch Cars on Blu-Ray. I officially take back what I said about this TV being too big. It’s perfect… for 1080p Blu-Ray / HD-DVD… it may still be too big for normal broadcast HD programming.

Pic of Cars on the new TV

Oh, and for you picture snobs out there, this is only after my first round of calibration. I’ll post some better pics once I’m done calibrating the display.

Closeup of Cars

Ok, so my new TV arrived today. And I can’t believe I am about to say this, but it really is TOO large. I feel as though my citizenship may be challenged by that statement, but you be the judge (please ignore the blue Letterman™… that is the result of a crappy camera):

Ugh, The New TV

Am I compensating for something? Only time will tell…

EDIT: Yes, I know the real reason the picture is blue. I just didn’t want to bore people with that topic.

Tonight, I received word from California that my my friend Chris’ father passed away from complications of his 4th stroke earlier this evening.

Please keep Chris, who is only 25 years old, his wife Ryann, and their son Landon in your prayers.