What it comes down to is I missed a few cable only programs that I might have enjoyed watching, but those will be on podcasts or Itunes at some time in the future.

I did have to adjust to watching Rachael Maddow and Keith Olbermann on podcasts the day following the broadcast.  Which was only a few hours later than laying in bed half asleep at 1:30 in the morning maybe seeing the reruns.  So I do get to watch the podcasts when I am awake.

Although I started with a powerful computer I upgraded with Windows 7 and a few new cables for HD and Dolby.  The video and audio cards did not need changing out since I built my computer with the good ones a while ago.  The output from online video and audio can be as good as over-the-air.

Yesterday I built a simple media computer to take the load off of my laptop computer for my bedroom viewing. The motherboards available today are excellent for audio and video without having to purchase separate items.  So I could make an very nice media computer using just a motherboard, processor, memory, DVD drive and hard drive.  Sweet!

This experiment was super nice when I wrote the cable payment too.

State Rep. Steve King asked the state to reimburse him for mileage, gas and a meal at a pancake house last year, even though records suggest his campaign account already was footing the bill for those expenses.

Aside from Rep. King’s issues on this matter, the amount paid to our state legislators is way too low.  Even with the small amount reimbursed for travel, many legislators are paying out of their own pocket to represent the citizens of Colorado.  Paying for office supplies and aides out of their own checking account is common place.

To represent the people of Colorado requires more than dedication, it requires a good sized bank account. Combine low pay, a continuous stream of restrictions and you get a state with few people able to afford to run for office and represent us.

Rep. King should be able to explain what happened in this instance.  However, we as a state should pay better for our representatives to represent us.

It is time we get rid of that phony Reagan era chant “government is the problem”.  Government is not the problem, we have government to keep us a civilized society.  We have problems, large and small, that require a representative government to handle. But, there are dedicated groups, far right and far left, who want to not only restrict government service but to destroy our representative form of government.

 They are vocal and have great sound bites. But they are not the representatives of Colorado.  We as citizens must stop their activities and protect our freedom from those willing to take it away or keep us from the opportunity to vote for who we want.

  Right now with terribly low pay and chocking restrictions Colorado has instituted it stops many people from serving us.  We need to start the change process now to increase pay of those who serve us so when the state economy is healthy we can pay those in the General Assembly and state level offices a wage and support system comparable a great state.

During the last 30 years my TV’s have received their electrons from the cable companies; except for those occasions when the cable was cut or the system was down.  When the cable was not operating I dug out the rabbit ears and foil and hooked them up to try and get a signal from the TV towers.  During those times I realized a signal from the TV towers was better than what I saw from the cable.

Many people I know do not watch television and they do quite well catching the news a day or two later from other sources, such as from the Internet.  However, there are a few people I do not know personally, but I’ve read about, who like their television but have no cable television connection.  I do like television for many reasons.

A few months ago after reading the experiences of a brave person who has changed from cable television to over the air television I decided I’d need to explore that path too.  During my research became apparent that hardware wise my computer system was set to go, I had always upgraded or replaced hardware with technically advanced parts (OBTW, I build my own computers).  My a/v receiver was ready to go and my TV was set too.  I had recently bought a new DVD player because it had Netflix, You Tube and Pandora software built-in.  I bought a very good outdoor antenna, which is essential if you plan on going over the air too.

What I needed to do was upgrade my OS. I was running XP on a system that had hardware 10 years advanced from that.  So it was Windows 7 that I installed. Oh Boy what a treat that upgrade was.  I discovered a major problem with MS software that should sometime be fixed.  For now, if you are going to do the Windows 7 upgrade be forewarned that only drive C will be backed up, and the backup and restore might not work the way you want. Now that Windows 7 is in and running I am able to use the full horsepower of my computer. 

The hardest part of going “over the air” is finding how to get the shows and whatever so you can watch them on your TV.  Digging around to find podcasts is important.  About the only reason I have cable television is to watch Maddow and Olbermann along with Myth Busters and Dirty Jobs.  The antenna brings in the local channels, a lot more channels than I expected too!  The podcasts bring in critical TV (see above).  I am keeping my internet so I have access to Netflix, Hulu, Fantastic, ESPN360 and a lot of other internet TV productions. 

The main part to be using the computer as the media center is it requires a very good video card; one that outputs HD.  There are a couple of connectors that you will learn about to get the signal from the back of the card to the back of the TV or a/v receiver, but it is  the HD output that is critical.  Audio is important too, so having a modern S/PDIF output is necessary.  The hardest part of hooking up all the cables is going to Micro Center several times each day to buy more.

Once everything was up and connected the next step that drives me up walls is making the share or switch from the computer monitor and speakers to the TV and a/v receiver.  I still have to figure out which symbols to click and change and which input to the TV and a/v receiver to do.  But, it is worth it.  Once the whole system is up and running it is fun to watch TV again.

If you are thinking about changing the path your TV gets electrons from you will need to do a little internet research.  Try searching with words like “computer media center”.

The only thing left is disconnecting the cable modems and driving over to Comcast and saying
“I am returning these, please cancel my cable television”.   It is a big step, and I think I am more nervous doing this than running for office!

My vinyl record collection grew more than I realized, so many old and new albums to search for and to listen to.  While I worked on my campaign I liked to have music in the background – all types of music.  A couple albums a month sure adds up.

  Looking over the acetate and vinyl albums, tapes, CD’s, MP3’s, and other forms the music is recorded on surprised me at what a tremendous range of music I like. But the significance of the wide range is more than a listening treat, it is necessary to appreciate the wide range of human experience formed in to sounds that I enjoy.  Our music is the wonderful culmination of putting thought and feeling from brain to someone else’s brain.

From 1910’s and 20’s American Jazz, through the decades all the way to this October, 2009 Post-Modern Rock, I have music I enjoy sitting back and listening to while reading. The modern computer age and internet has changed music in many ways but most significantly for me is allowing rare recordings to be saved from oblivion and shared with the world.  Great songs on wax, foil and 78’s (and other speeds) from the early days of recording most of which many of us would never hear are now available. 

I want to thank so many people for helping and supporting me during my 2009 campaign.  Tom and Tracey. Stacey and Peggy. Andrew and Mike.  Morgan and Mike. Mike and John and John. Rachael and Lisa. Decker and Mike.  DALF and IBEW. APA. And, so many more who would overfill the rest of this diary.

And, for those wondering Nah I didn’t get scared out – I’m still in politics.

I used to tune in the Weather Channel to watch the weather forecasts.  I used to find it very informative to have a nice person talk about the weather and the weather forecasts.  My travel planning was easy, watch the Weather Channel for 20 minutes a couple of days before leaving and pack accordingly.  I knew I could watch channel 45 and there would be the weather.

At some point during the last few months, while I was on the campaign trail, the Weather Channel went away and was replaced by a channel that has happy talk during the news, just like every local and national newscast; it shows movies just like the Turner movie channel; there are sports reports just like ESPN, there are interviews, there are things that appear to be infomercials.  But, there are no more national weather forecasts as far as I can tell.  There is everything from every other broadcast and cable channel, but there is no more weather on the Weather Channel.

At 4am I want to see the current weather around our great nation and our world and the forecasts.  I did find the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service which is very good at the weather and forecasts – albeit without a nice person interpreting on air.  But, I do get the weather and forecasts.

Pam Bennett 

My answer is:

Representative Morgan Carol Colorado Senate District 29, Representative Mark Ferrandino Colorado House District 2,

Joel Judd Candidate for Colorado Senate District 34, Mark Thrun Candidate for Colorado House District 5,

Jennifer Coken Candidate for Colorado House District 4, Faith Winter Westminster City Council, Michael Brewer, Tim Sweeney,

Jeff Thormodsgaard, Brad Uecker, Sara Kuntzler, Daniel Gonzales, Amy Runyon, Cathy Hazouri, Franklin Jackson PhD., Terry Snyder, Kate Bowman

LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH KICKOFF EVENT

Fundraiser Supporting Pam Bennett

OCT. 1^ST

5:30-7:30P.M.

From Stonewall to Pam Bennett

America’s 40 year struggle for LBGTQ Rights

WITH SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

ANDREW ROMANOFF

At the home of Jeff Thormodsgaard and Brad Uecker

3240 York St.

Denver, CO 80205

Oct 1^st 5:30-7:30P.M.

Pam Bennett is running to be elected the first ever out transgender candidate in the state of Colorado. Pro-labor, a veteran, and a true progressive — in 2007 she proved she is a viable candidate when she almost won with very few resources. We should support LGBTQ candidates at every level of public office. It’s finally time for Colorado to have its first out transgender elected official.

CLICK HERE TO INVEST IN HISTORY AND HELP PAM

Or send checks to

Pam Bennett for City Council

P.O. Box 471391

Aurora, CO 80047-1391

$25 LGBTQ ACTIVIST

$50 MAKE HISTORY WITH PAM

$100 HOPE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED

$250 I REMEMBER STONEWALL

Please RSVP To:

Andrew Short

andrewjshort@sbcglobal.net

303.803.8621 phone