LED Projector for less than $200?!

High Definition Projectors are a very good way to get 70-inch-plus-sized video imaging at home, but the price of initial purchasing and bulb replacement can accumulate to many thousands of dollars. Generally the average cost of a standard HD projector with mid-range resolution is about $1600.00, with bulb replacements running about $130 each. More than anything the "constant" need to replace the bulbs themselves has been the biggest deterrent for this television alternative (each bulb has roughly 2000 hours of life, compared to the average plasma TV life rated at about 60,000 hours). But what if it was possible--with a little work and some home repair skills--to make an LED projector yourself?

Besides the incredible long lifetime of LEDs eliminating the need for lamp replacement (the average LED is rated at 70,000 hours at maximum efficiency), other advantages of LED projectors include instant-on operation and improved color tones. Ordinary LED technology doesn't produce the intensity and output required to provide the same illumination as arc lams. PhlatLight LEDs changed all that (designed and manufactured by US based Luminus Devices).

With a little ingenuity, we can all get our very own projectors. Find the link here!

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Multimedia-LED-Projector/

Bones: TV Drama meets Indiana Jones

Since my apathy today is unusually strong, I'm going to talk about one of my newest favorite television shows: Bones. A good summary of the plot would be best described as a forensic science drama, with each episode focusing on different FBI case files concerning the mystery behind murder victims on behalf of FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth and the forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan. The action and drama of the series itself is good, but not groundbreaking on its own; the two starrring characters played by Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz have an amazing chemistry and charisma with each other on screen that brings emotion and real life relevance to the everyman's intellectual and emotional battle. More than anything this back-and-forth between them is what has made the story and show great, (the fact that they're both attractive actors nonwithstanding).

The series has been running since late 2005 and is currently in the middle of its fifth season, with a scheduled 6th season contract recently renewed for next year. Honestly I love the fact that the show is going to be around for another year at least, seeing as how the supporting cast has helped to add a lot of depth to the storyline especially in the past two seasons. Though I am a bit worried that they lost a crucial comedic relief source in the socially inept but brilliant Zach Addy played by Eric Millegan. After the third season his character was largely removed from the show as a constantly reoccurring role, with small cameo appearances in various episodes throughout the fourth and fifth seasons. The writers and directors haven't replaced his character with any substantially-accommodating new character, and as such it feels like a aspect of the show has been lost.

I will say that anyone who gets a thrill out of discovering unique and interesting facts and connections with areas of the world's politics, economy, culture, and jokes (while secretly being a hopeless romantic with a touch of optimism) will love this show. If you can't classify yourself as such don't worry in the slightest however; Bones will make you fit that mold in due time.

Too far?

Currently only out in Japan, Konami just released their newest game "Love Plus" for the Nintendo DS that is classified as a dating simulation game, letting the user "court" several different virtual girls and in the end (hopefully) one of which will start to fall for you.

Then in real time, the gamer has to take his fake girlfriend out on dates and even start "planning" the couple's future together. Depending on how good you are at the game, she might ask for a kiss (which requires touching her on the lips with the stylus) or even ask you to whisper compliments and praise to her via the DS microphone).

Love Plus apparently has generated a lot of talk in Japan, both good and bad, as some wives are getting angry that their husbands are 'cheating' on them by spending too much time with their virtual significant others. Of course it's just a pixelated 2-D girl on a screen, but apparently that's enough to cause tension to mount among spouses. What the heck does this mean for society's future? Crazy talk, that.

The Chirstmas Gift Inventory

So I was wondering what I should blog about on this eve of the new year, and I thought what better thing to rant on than my holiday loot gained from various family and friends? I'm a terrible person to buy for (so I'm told, and I believe them), and thus most of the gifts I receive are usually complete hit-or-miss things, but this year was surprisingly good.

I got a brand-new Lands End terrycloth bathrobe, which was a lovely gift from my mother to replace the old one I'd been given about six years ago which has gotten ragged and noticeably short on me compared to my high school sophomore days. I also received a lovely "reading blanket" that's extra-soft and goes great with my new hangout area in the basement. From my aunt and uncle I got a wonderful pair of black deerskin gloves with down lining inside that are incredibly warm and snazzy, as well as my favorite gift of all: an antique cast-iron clock reproduction that fits my personality so well I can't begin to describe how touched I was when I tore off that wrapping paper!

A few misses (though good efforts) were a netbook case for my new Samsung N510 that was a bit too small and a Do-it-yourself manual that I believe my relatives purchased in bulk to save money. Don't get me wrong, once I get the right size netbook case that one will be a hit, but since every other male over 16 in my family received one of those manuals, I'm thinking "personal touch" wasn't in their thoughts when they gave it to me.

All in all, a good year I think. Good enough to count for my final gift set of the first decade of the new millennium at least.

Blu Ray Vs. DVD: is it time to switch?

With the emergence of the Blu Ray disk, which is currently being pushed heavily by Disney and Sony alike, many people are heading towards an inevitable idealistic decision of whether or not to switch from DVD-based video technology to the latest tech that allegedly has better sound and video quality. But is it worth it to switch, and for what reasons?

In my case, I still have DVD's and likely will not switch to Blu Ray technology, but it's not simply because I'm a poor college student who can't afford to purchase both a new video player system as well as replace my movie collection (though price is a small factor, no doubt).

But let's face the facts here: the TV in my room is an ancient 32" Zenith that has no HD capability to speak of, and the largest TV in my house is an off-brand 37" TV that's not quite as old, but only has S-Video ports and nothing else. Blu ray is a little pointless. No point in upgrading to better video playing technology until I have better video display technology to match it.

But again (for everyone else that's not me, why bother) DVD technology was the drastic improvement from VHS tapes, going up in quality and performance for both sound and video. But then that was during the age where television was still king, and the fledgling internet media market was virtually nonexistent. It was easy to see what appeal a media library transformation to DVD would have on the average consumer when the center of his or her world-connectivity was a massive, landlocked glowing machine. Today however with the internet and the surge in portable computers and cell phones all with the power to bring high-definition movies and television series at the click of a finger, television just isn't as crucially-important to society as it once was. Convenience coupled with digital video makes the computer web browser more important than a home entertainment system, and that in turn has diminished the interest in home-based media such as Blu Ray technology. At best the TV is used as a background noise-producer, or to act as a substitute for another presence in the room; the computer is the new baby of the family, and thus the new favorite.

And in all honesty, if you don't have a TV at least 42" or larger it wouldn't even be worth it to go through the physical and financial strain of upgrading. A Consumer Reports Study found that most people sit at least 6' away from the TV when watching, and comparing that distance ratio to that of 32" or 22" screen size demonstrates no real obvious difference in clarity and quality. Even with new HDTV's of either the Plasma, LED or LCD variety, the 720p and 1080p sets or their equivilants would make no difference to a Blu Ray player or DVD of an average-sized TV (42" or smaller). It's just not big enough to make the details matter, so why bother paying all that extra money?

Stick with what works, in my opinion. Wait for the virtual holograms beamed directly into your brain. I'm sure there'll be an app for that soon enough.

Some more Pictures

Hey guys, here's some more pics of me checking out second life. Yep, I'm here on the raft, chillin'.

Some SL Screenshots

So I was in SL again today looking around at a lot of different places for the first time, and here's what I had there.