So I'd rather not pay for another DirecTV box, for the installation and another $60 a year just to be able to watch TV for a half an hour or so a day in my bedroom. Someone told me an HD slingbox is a good alternative. What are the pros / cons? What are you guys using for your TV setups? We've talked about this in some other threads, but you tech junkies know a lot more about getting stuff for cheap / free by using current hardware than I do :lol:

Here's what I have:
1) well-equipped laptop with HDMI outs
2) plasma monitor (no tuner) for my bedroom
3) HD DVR box downstairs

I want to be able to watch TV upstairs of course, and I'm assuming that I wont be able to watch two different channels on two different TVs on the same DVR box. I would like to be able to at least CONTROL the channels and DVR from upstairs in my bedroom if at all possible. I'll eventually add a blu-ray player and such upstairs but for now I want to be able to watch my Star Trek before I go to bed haha. Halp me!

Evan Wrote:perfect timing
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and you love you some Dells

Well, probably a by product of my intermittent ADD or just the desire to always be "fooling" with stuff, but the other day I got this inner burrrnniinnggg (not the kind you can get rid of with a prescription) to start up some kind of project. I was thinking about it and I have a few requirements, but for the most part I'm open to any suggestions that you guys have. I'd really just like to get something going that can occupy my free time other than drinking and video games, but that wont break the bank.

What I was thinking about regarding rules:

1. Relatively inexpensive. I use relatively lightly, because if something was really fun and wasn't a total money sink I wouldn't be opposed to $500+ budgets for enjoyment. Let me make this clear though, I do NOT want to buy up old bikes or cars and work on them. My goal is to get my car paid off before its term is up and pick up a used C6Z in 3ish years as a new project car, at that point I'll be completely committed to a new project unless my mind has changed again by then. Until then though, I want to focus on paying off what I got and not picking up a hobby that's going to drain me financially.

In fact, that goes even to something that could potentially earn me money, like stock trading. I have a portfolio of blue-chip stocks that just sit and earn dividends, and traditionally in the past I've been against "day-trading" but it's something I could be convinced to try if it's actually fun to do. That's just an example.

2. I like to be able to change things, modify things to make them better, faster, etc. just like a lot of you guys. The first thought that came into my head was nitro cars or RC helicopters or something, but I'm not convinced I could see myself being out in a parking lot with a remote control driving those things around. You get the idea though!

3. I am a nerd at heart, I like Star Trek and other nerdy things. I used to paint Warhammer figures and stuff like that when I was a kid. So dont hold back on the nerdy suggestions.

4. I'm also artistic and enjoy painting, drawing... stuff like that.

One of my resolutions this year was to get back in the gym and drink a LOT less than I do now, but that's my primary motivator is to keep myself occupied with gym / church / community service stuff as much as I can in my free time. I think a new hobby would help me do that. So I know those are pretty broad criteria, but I wanted to leave it that way because I know a lot of you guys have some pretty diverse interests! What do you think, TIA :thumbup:

I'm at a crossroads of sorts with my car.

When I first got it the plan was to just drive it the way it was/currently is. That was fine until this past fall when I started to become a little bored with it. I had done all the cosmetic mods I wanted along with some suspension and exhaust work, but the power that I fell in love with when I first bought it started to become a little mundane and boring. So this leads me back to the crossroads I mentioned earlier. I have a couple choices and wanted MM's unbiased input. If I put this thread up on SVTP I know the answer I'd get over there...that's why I didn't. So anyway my options are:

#1 - Wait another year or two to save up the funds to buy a twin screw blower (Kenne-Bell or Whipple) along with the supporting fuel system and go for broke (600-650 rwhp). Upside to this choice is the large increase in power but also the propensity for stuff to break. At this boost level (18-20 pounds) race fuel or a fuel additive is pretty much required. Total cost is roughly 6-7K.

#2 - Get the factory Eaton blower ported and pick up a few necessary fuel upgrades this fall (490-510 rwhp). This choice is considerably less expensive than #1, but makes less power too. I'm only gaining around 50 hp with this choice but the cooler discharge temperatures of the ported blower will actually lead to increased engine longevity. The car would be tuned to run pump 93 so no special fuel would be needed. Total cost is roughly 1.5-2K.

#3 - I should STFU and be happy with where I'm at.

Sorry, the little things in life excite me....like the temperature rising above freezing...

















I despise winter. :evil:

I've never owned a laptop, always just used the one I got from work. I'll be losing that job next week, so I obviously have to hand it back to them. I have a workhorse of a desktop, which I use for video and image editing, but I also see the value in having a laptop. I would like to replace the one I'm losing, but I don't have a shit ton of money to spend (think <$500). I also consider myself a fairly avid traveler and I like to have something I can take with me for internet research and photo offload purposes. I'd like it to be light enough that I don't might carrying in a (backpacking) backpack, but I also don't want my primary screen to be a tiny little 8".

It's probably asking too much for one machine to be both every day use and a great traveler, but I'd really prefer it. Is anyone using the Eee as an every day light use machine or have people found something bigger is necessary? Is the limiting factor the specs or the size of the keyboard and screen? I wouldn't mind running Win7 x64 on it, recommendations for that?

Or what about something like this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/UL30A-X5-Light-13-3-Inch-Black-Laptop/dp/B002P3KMVC/">http://www.amazon.com/UL30A-X5-Light-13-3-Inch-Black-Laptop/dp/B002P3KMVC/</a><!-- m -->

Anybody know anything these? Are they decent cars? Turbo?

Exterior is a 4 dr sedan. 5 Speed manual Trans... Its an '02, white. Looks like a nice car.

Ok gang, thinking about getting back into the gaming world after a few years off, I'm on the fence about which to get ( have a wii), blu ray and free internet are plus for the ps3 and the price and game library are pluses for xbox. Input please!!

I know no one MM actually does motorsports anymore but I figured id post anyway as I am dying as there hasnt been an event since November. So here it is, I will 99% be there so suck it up and have some fun! 6-8 runs each for $40 bucks, how can you go wrong?

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A Ford. :mrgreen: