NotSoDeepSouth

59 posts
NotSoDeepSouth resides in the jewel encrusted buckle of the Bible Belt, which is Dallas, Texas. He's often wrong but seldom uncertain about anything. Find him at twitter, gmail and google+

Hauppauge Stands Behind Its HDPVR Recorder

When I forked over the $205 to Amazon for the Hauppauge HDPVR high definition television to PC recorder, I thought two things: “I hope it’s worth it” and “How the hell do you pronounce Hauppauge?” I found out the answer to both questions this week when my recorder died after 22 months of otherwise perfect operation.

Before Crasstalk came along, I spent most of my free time working on MythTV. I don’t care for the DVR service that the cable providers are offering. The monthly fees are a part of it, but that the menus on those provider DVR units are also full of ads is unacceptable. There are already ads during the content, product placement ads in the actual shows, they even shove ads in with my monthly billing statement. MythTV is partially an act of defiance on my part. I want at least some control over the content stream coming into my home. Continue reading

My Experience with “Reparative Therapy”

Caution: Contents May Irritate Skin

Michelle Bachmann decided she wants to be President of the United States of America. Supporting her in this run at the White House is her loving husband Marcus. Marcus, a PhD in clinical psychology, operates a clinic where allegedly homosexuals can become heterosexuals, a fact Marcus has denied. Some wonder what Marcus Bachmann’s investment in the myth that people can change their sexuality is. As for myself, I really tried to deny that I’m attracted to men. It didn’t work out for me. This is my story. Continue reading

Happy Systems Administrator Day

It’s often a thankless job and I can tell you that honestly since I am an Systems Administrator myself. I often tell people that “If all goes well people never know I was even here.” This is very true. The thing is that most complex systems have a way of breaking down. Call it job security, or call it poor planning, or blame the shitty architecture decisions but the reality is that most computer systems will always require gentle care and feeding. Enter the world of the Systems Administrator. Continue reading

All the Summer Television that is Fit for Watching

So the deal with Scheherazade was (basically) that she needed to keep the King entertained with new and better stories to protect her own life. For some time now though, Scheherazade has been phoning it in as “Reality TV” has been allowed to creep into our chambers and bore us merely pacify us with annoying people making cakes, crazy people making cupcakes, fat bastards collecting used crap, dirty people catching crabs, flaky women speed dating a bunch of douches and the like. At least Project Runway actually required the contestants to be able to accomplish something you can judge see from home. (unlike all those Top Chef programs where they make food, some asshat tastes it and tells you it’s wrong and you’re just left feeling hungry and alone) The good news is that as of this July, Scheherazade is again bringing the goods since if she doesn’t I will cut her. Continue reading

Is Obesity Not An Inalienable Right?

licked clean

I’m sitting here in my cubicle eating the last of my homemade Pimento Mac n’ Cheese when the RSS feed shows me a headline America Sees Its Obesity Rates and Raises Them. I clicked the link and shoved a few more gulps of gooey goodness down my gullet. “This ought to be rich”, I say aloud to no one but my empty Tupperware. Why do I have this sinking feeling that my state scored high on this list? Why do I keep telling myself I’ll go ride my bike after work today? (just like I said yesterday) Why is this even news? I have so many questions. Do I run the risk of coming off like Rosanne Rosannadanna when I ask: “What’s the Big Problem With Fat People?” Continue reading

Things We Already Know about the iPhone 5

September is coming soon. Not soon enough as it’s also the month of my birthday. Yes, I’m a lovely Libra. That’s why I’m so balanced. Actually no, that’s the meditation I do in the mornings. Another thing September is likely to bring us is a new iPhone 5 and the rumors and speculation about that are already flying. Calm down though: There are a few Things We Already Know: © Continue reading

Futurama is More Realistic than Star Trek

One Small Step

Back in 1999, when we were all partying like that’s what year it was, a scrappy little cartoon came out from artist Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons. Groening followed his smashing success of The Simpsons, a commentary on The Nuclear Family, by presenting us with his stylized version of the future. This future included talking toasters, walking soda machines, Horrible Gelatinous Blob, evil giant brains and even a few mad scientists. In this future Groening pokes fun at the basic, sometimes constant, frustrations of living on (and around) Earth while also making fun of it. This cartoon is called Futurama and it is wonderful. Continue reading

Growing up with ADHD

I have struggled to find the courage to sit down and expel this story from where it lay, lodged deep down under some or other memories that I’m more comfortable with. I have told myself that this story would be difficult to write simply because of how not terrible the experience was as a whole. I believe the truth is that I’m uncertain of how this story will sound when it’s in print. What light may shed on these relics from my past. I sit here now determined to excavate that which I have long sought to inter.

I documented recently that I am a High School dropout, a fact I’ve been rather proud of lately. I especially enjoy flaunting this when someone bewails the matter of their student loans. I actually have a commenter from the other site to thank for this change in my outlook. Previously I carried my status as an embarrassment to myself, my family, and my country. All of which I blame on The Education System, and I’ll tell you why. Continue reading

This Just In – Amy Winehouse Still A Mess

This weekend Amy Winehouse arrived an hour late for her set in Belgrade, and no, she wasn’t using that time to prepare for her set. That is of course unless you consider whatever substances it’s pretty clear she was on at the time as preparation. Winehouse wandered on and off the stage, dropped her microphone (and not the cool way),  and was finally booed off the stage. We have a clip from her attempted performance of “Just Friends.” You be the judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuNK6tgVo2M
Continue reading

Cat Takes Page from Dog Book – Saves Owner’s Life

The Reading Eagle reports that former nurse Claire Nelson was not feeling well one day last week when her normally quiet kitty, Rusty, became agitated and verbal. Nelson thought little of her discomfort and moved to lie down, but Rusty persisted and got his message through to her that all was not well. Nelson says she figured Rusty must know something she didn’t and so she called her doctor. While waiting for the bus, her pain worsened and she was forced to dial 9-1-1.

Now, a week later, the doctors tell her she suffered a heart attack while at home and has since undergone surgery to install two coronary stents.  Nelson rescued Rusty in 2009 from The Humane Society, and this year Rusty returned the favor. Continue reading