mi caserio

N900 media

micaserio — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:16:21 +0000

With the screen cracked on my n900, I have some time to re-encode some videos for it. Gotta save them pennies for a new unit.

Encoding video for tablet

Fios scam or typo?

micaserio — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:18:19 +0000

So while fast forwarding through the commercials while watching tv earlier today something flashes by that catches my attention so I pause, rewind and advance screen by screen. I notice that the fine print doesn’t add up to the offer. They are offering what ants to the same as cables triple play for 79.99 for the first 6 months. (for those with blank stares thats 3 services tv, phone and internet) The fine print under this states that a one year agreement is 99.99 but oddly says for months 7-24.Where are months 13-24 coming from? Really can’t someone proof read these things? Or is it something else. Either way screen cap below.

Analog and Digital

micaserio — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:41:33 +0000

There are days when someone will comment how they never expected me to like or do something because they always considered me a modern techie. Perfect example is shaving. I use an old straight razor that I sharpen and strop regularly. There is something about the old way of doing certain things that I like. I also have a thing for pocket watches. Neither of these things are the point of this post however. What I am gong to talk about is cameras. Specifically about 2 cameras I own. Both Canon. I have only owned 2 brands of cameras my whole life. Canon and Pentax. No reason and not a conscious reason why I always bought from those brands. Its just the way it is. As I said I own 2 cameras both Canon. The first is my current camera and is what I carry around (mounted to a monpod) when I carry a camera a Rebel XTI. Nothing special but meets most of my needs. The second camera is also the second slr that I owned (the first being a Pentax K1000) a Canon AE-1. One of my neighbors gave me the camera complete with a 50mm prime and a JC Penny branded 80-200mm lens with a 2x focal converter. The JC Penny bit threw me for a loop. As I was playing with the camera, cycling the film advance, releasing the shutter and seeing the film number advance I could help but think back to how I used to take pictures. Man back in the day I can recall giving thought about taking a shot because I was low on film. I can vividly recall waiting for the film to come back from the lab. I never used 1hr developing because it was cheaper to just wait. I can recall waiting nervously to see how they came out, did I have it in frame? Was it in focus (sometimes I would lift my glasses for some reason or other and the focus would be off), did I set the exposure correctly… While there are many things I won’t miss from those days there are some I remember fondly. Here are some quick and cheesey comparison shots I took with an iPhone for no reason other than I wanted to. Wow they came out bad… Oh well…

Relaxing

micaserio — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:21:23 +0000

With everything that’s going on lately I was getting quite stressed out. Didn’t notice it myself but others did and brought it to my attention. There is nothing like a little fishing to help recharge the old batteries. This guy got a pardon. All day we caught and released. Not all are so lucky though. This guy apart from being my first of the day was also the average size of the trip. Huge ass catfish not counting.

Research shows…

micaserio — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:13:51 +0000

Its odd. I was talking with a friend the other day, he was talking about a t-shirt he saw a toddler wearing that read “the condom broke”. For my part i thought it was funny, others however did not. I will not address my feelings toward the nosy ass biddies that interjected into our conversation, I will however address some of their comments. The one lady on hearing the slogan on the shirt makes a comment along the lines of “how dreadful”. The other one agrees and adds that studies have shown that such items sexualizes children and affects them latter in life. My first reaction was WTF? Why would you comment on a conversation that has nothing to do with you directly to the people that are having the covo in the first place? I mean shit, if your eavesdropping and want to have your own conversation based on what you heard then great, but don’t interject your unsolicited comments into our conversation. That being said I have to begin to question some of this research. First off just what research are they talking about? In regards to this type of research I have to question how their conclusions would change in an environment where people didn’t make any kind of issue over these things. See I think that most of the so called effect that many of these things are causing have to do with the fact that the kids are being hit from all sides with different reactions and attitudes. If people didn’t make any kind of issue about things one way or another and just ignored that type of thing, would there be any kind of impression made? Now I realize that this isn’t likely to happen but how would things change if it were? I think much of this behavioral nonsense would cease should that be the case. I think that in large part the reactions and opinions of people in regards to whatever is being studied is what actually affects and influences the kids. Product of the environment indeed. Not all kids in the same type on environment turn out the same because they react according to how they see others react. Since not everyone is exposed to the same exact reactions their outlook tends to reflect those same reactions… Then again maybe I’m talking out my ass.

Leatherman Service

micaserio — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:54:41 +0000

Like many people I own a leatherman multi-tool. My particular tool is the leatherman wave which is discontinued but still easily available through various sources. Well I had broken the main knife blade on it and with some trepidation mailed it back to leatherman as they have a 25 year warranty on their multi-tools. I just got it back after just under 3 weeks. Wow these people are awesome. Not only do they make an incredible tool, they also provide awesome service. Along with my tool sent a description of the problem and my contact info. My tool came back in like new condition. Not only did they replace the blade, but they also sharpened the other blades and replaced all of the worn driver bits. They polished it, which removed 95% of all the scratches it had. Like I said, it returned in like new conditions. By far the best customer service I have ever gotten. Mad props to Leatherman. I am a customer for life.

Cops

micaserio — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:17:34 +0000

So what is it with cops that make them think that the law they are employed to uphold doesn’t apply to them. For the last 7-8 months I have taken to watching the police in my town and the surrounding towns. On average cops pretty much do whatever they want. Illegal u-turns when there is no call, no seat belts, talking on the phone. Hell, I had counted on one day no less than 4 officers driving with no seat belt on talking on the cellphone while eating an ice cream bar! Sadly those aren’t the only infractions I’ve seen committed. Extremely prevalent are officers parking illegally in very inconvenient places while they go have lunch. Leaning on business owners for discounts and free items seems to be popular. My favorite is when they stop in the middle of the street and talk to their buddy that is parked on the side of the same street, there-by stopping traffic. God forbid that someone trapped behind them has the audacity to honk the horn, for those that do and don’t know any better it is an instant ticket. I say those that don’t know better because having been in that situation I refused to be ticketed because he was parked in the middle of the street. YMMV however so be aware that you may have to go to court and have evidence to not get a ticket. Being that I have several hundred pics of most of the officers in my town doing things they shouldn’t kind of gives my complaining some weight, but still… Don’t let them get away with it. More to follow. I am currently considering posting new pictures taken of our boys in blue. Oink oink motherfucker

Happy July 4th

micaserio — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:12:01 +0000

When I was a child, I had 3 days a year I used to look forward to. My birthday, Halloween and the 4th of July. Even as I got older it didn’t change. The night before those days I would barely be able to sleep from the anticipation. As time went on and I served this country in not one but two branches of the military in a combat mos (Army and Marines) I found new appreciation for the 4th. Sadly however that is no longer the case. I am beginning to fear that the 4th of July at some point will become one of those forced fake holidays. I say that because I can no longer celebrate the most important aspect of the 4th… Freedom. This country under the guise of protecting us is taking those freedoms that myself and many before me and many right now have fought and are fighting for. Our government is now beginning to dictate how we live our lives. Telling us where we can smoke, what kind of oil we can use to fry our food.. Let me stop right there. Sadly the list is too large to make. All supposedly for our good. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need some government agency to tell me what to do and where. I don’t need you to create more agencies to watch over every aspect of my life. I am a grown ass man and can do that for myself thank you very much. How about instead of worrying about me smoking in a bar (a bar for fucks sake) you go fix our health care system. How about you figure out a way to help the unemployed or the homeless. Your not fooling me. These laws your passing haven’t distracted me from the real problems that face society. Remember how this country was formed and why. I will cut this post short as I am disgusted with having to even write this. The land of the free. Yeah right.

In loving memory

micaserio — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:38:54 +0000

At 1358 edt on the 4th of June 2009, my mother Ana Lydia Pacheco died as a result of liver failure. She had contracted hepatitis-c from a blood transfusion while undergoing a hysterectomy. Its odd. This woman beat cancer. Shit she was up and about a week after her surgery. Another week later you would have never guessed that she had surgery. We didn’t know she had gotten hep-c at the time.
Fast forward to several months ago. She goes to the hospital with what she believes are kidney pains. Shes had stones before. This is when we find out about the hep-c. She is put on some regiment of weekly shots, but that is discontinued when she begins retaining water. Her doctor submits her to the transplant list several times from which she is removed. She’s removed because we cant show a bank account with a balance of at least 30k. An account that the hospital wants power of attorney to. They would not accept the money in cash. We had secured a loan from people that would not deposit those sums. Before we could create a front for the cash, she went into liver failure and passed.
There won’t be a funeral. Mom always said she didn’t want one. She abhored the idea of people seeing her in a box and crying. She also didn’t like the idea of the fakes and hatedrs making their snide comments. So we will honor her wishes by having an extremely small ceremony and having her creamated. This is to be attended by a select few that have always been there. For all others there will be a party where we will celebrate her life instead of morning her loss. Those are her wishes and we will honor them.
If you knew her, then remember her as she lived. A woman that always had a kind word for a friend, but also an implacable enemy. Remember her as the free spirit that she was. But most of all remember her. Shed not a tear for her passing but instead hoist up a beer in her name when you party, she would’ve done the same for you.
Te quiero vieja. Te llevo en mi corazon siempre.

Unemployment Insurance

micaserio — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:14:02 +0000

I really think that unemployment insurance needs to be renamed. Seriously. I have been working since I was 14 years old. I will be 40 in a few months. I have only collected benefits twice in that time. (The first time was only one check and once even though I ‘qualified’ for benefits I received none because my employer was a catholic school and wasnt required to pay into the fund) The one time I did receive full benefits I asked my employer to fire me to ensure I would receive my benefit.
The way I overtand it, UI is for people out of work. You pay for it and so does your employer, yet you have no guarantee of ever seeing a single penny. If you quit no matter why (with the exception from what I have been able to tell of sexual harrassment) you get nothing. You get fired and you might or might not get anything. There are so many rules you can never be sure. Lets say the company you work for goes out of business, but you’ve only been there a month. You get nothing. Doesnt matter that you have never collected before that.
Look my medical insurance doesnt deny my claim because I fucked that whore bare back and got the clap. My car insurance doesnt deny my claim because I was eating shit and not paying attention when I rear ended that school bus full of parapalegic kids. (Both just examples btw) Yet unemployment will deny your claim for anything they can. Plus you have no choice you have to pay them. They are worse than the mob.
What truely puzzles me is how illegal immigrants are able to collect but I can’t.