berry's mailbag:
Submitted on: February 6, 2009 12:32:29 PM EST by
Richard
RE: Vizio VW26L
I read your comment re: your Vizio which I have just purchased.
I wanted to hook up my headphones, but still have audio through the TV speakers. Seems it is not possible. I'm wondering if
you made any progress. This possibly could be accomplished by sending the TV audio to my VCR and/or CD players. Any thoughts????
Hi Richard,
After I saw your comment, I
retested both my headphones and an audio cable patched from the TV's headphone out, to the Aux input of my Cambridge Soundworks
Radio. Both worked great, and both caused the TV to mute.
I'm using the headphone out 3.5mm mini-stereo jack on the
left side of the TV that's located between the modular service port and the composite/RCA inputs.
There's another 3.5mm
mini-stereo jack on the back of the set that's an audio input for the VGA (computer) connection. Be sure you're plugged into
the right one.
If you are, then there may be something wrong with the set. Where your set is newer than mine, you might
want to check out the audio settings on the on-screen menu. There's a chance they may have added a "pass-through" setting,
like there is on my laptop, that needs to be disabled.
Please let me know how you make out.
Submitted on: December 30, 2008 04:45:03 AM EST by Anonymous
RE: The Digital Cutover
The real casualties of this "electronics industry stimulus package" are
the "tv sound" radios--and the people who own them. For the poorest of the poor, the partially sighted, those living in overcrowded
conditions, those who can listen but not look at work, this dirty trick severs their only lifeline to mainstream American
culture--primetime tv.
You can hear the contempt and callousness as bureaucrats dismiss their needs as "insignicant".
Shame!
a bare bones "tv sound only" receiver should be distributed to every "tv sound" and handheld tv owner, and the manufacturers,
importers and distributors of tv sets should pay for it! They reaped a windfall bonanza as a result of the changeover.
You are correct, there aren't any DTV band radios as yet,
and the old ones are about to stop functioning.
The NTIA did not consider people with limited vision in their requirements
for digital converter boxes either, as there's no provision for speech out for the menu system.
There's also very few
battery operated DTV's, and what's out there isn't very affordable. This will impact people who depend on battery operated
portables for information during storms or disaster.
The manufacturers are callous to our needs, and continue to focus
on gigundo sets that very few can afford, totally ignoring what they consider a much less profitable product.
Submitted on: November 8, 2008 12:13:33 AM EST by
Anonymous
RE: Disappearing cover art in iTunes
BRILLIANT!
This explains why I'm losing my album art (iTunes
8.0.1.11).
I'm turning off automatic downloads of Album Art right now! :-)
Glad to help. It's a really frustrating problem.
Submitted on: August
12, 2008 10:03:32 AM EST by Frank
RE: Lost
Hello! Did you already read the news from Doc Jensen over at
ew.com? The title for the first episode of season 5 of Lost is... Do you want to know it?? "Because you left" Wondering what
that means... Humm... It could mean a lot of things! What about another contest like you did last year between seasons? I
need other mugs and baseball caps!! :) Frank
Hello Frank! I hadn't seen it yet, thank you for the tip!
I just read it and realized how much I miss the show...
"Because You Left" sounds like the perfect follow up
to last season's final scene. Perhaps we'll find out that Locke was right, and when the Oceanic 6 left the island,
it somehow influenced the destiny of those who were left behind. It could have even affected things on a larger
scale, like the fate of the island, or the planet itself.
Then again, maybe their gonna fake left and go
right, as they often do.
I've been too busy for a contest this summer,
but we've still got a long way to go til next season, perhaps I'll do one in the fall. I need time to come up with something
to challenge you!
Submitted on: May
30, 2008 12:24:34 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost
Awesome. Mystic. Magically mysterious. Moving.
Well said, Frank. Well said.
Submitted on: May 28, 2008 2:03:23 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost
Hello berry, So are you ready for tomorrow night's big finale?
I can'T wait to see it but at the same time, so sad that after the finale, we're gonna have to wait until 2009... that's too
long! At least, here in Montreal, we can watch it in french... tomorrow, at 8 pm, it's the french version of The Economist
(3rd episode of season 4). Did you see some of the sneak peeks on DarkUfo site? Sawyer is on the chopper!! A confrontation
between Jack and Locke in the greenhouse, .... It's going to be so gooooood. Talk to you friday! Or not... maybe the cliffhanger
of the season finale will kill me! Ha ha ha! Bye bye! Frank
Bonjour Frank, I can't wait to see the finale also. Looks like it will be great! That's excellent
news that you'll be able to see the episodes in French. Tres bien!
Talk to you Friday.
Submitted on: April 21, 2008 12:27:57 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost
Hi berry! Excited about the return of Lost this week??? I,m
so desperated to see what's happen next! Yeah for the extra hour! Do you watch hockey? What about the return of the Boston
Bruins against our Montreal Canadiens? Your guys play well but it's gonna be over for them tonight in Montreal! Bye bye!
Hey Frank, how about those Bruins!
Should be a fun game tonight. They're doing way better than I thought they would against a really great Montreal team. Bonne
chance!And yes, I can hardly wait for Thursday's return of Lost also.
Submitted on: March 17, 2008 3:18:05 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost
Hi berry, I just read your last review of Lost's last episode
and, maybe I'm wrong, but I think that Desmond didn't know Michael. They never saw each other on the island. Desmond left
soon in the beginning of season 2, while Micheal was on the water with Sawyer and later with the Tailies. When Micheal came
back, Desmond was still gone. At the end of season 2, when Desmond came back, I don't remember if he got time to talk with
Michael cause he was leading Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley to the Others. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something too. I
like your thoughts about the show so far, still reading them friday. My favorite episode so far, The Constant, but last week
Ji Yeon was great too! Frank
Bonjour Frank, Good to
hear from you. The Constant has been my favorite episode so far also, and yes, you are correct. Desmond never
met Michael before their encounter on the freighter. Good catch!
Submitted on: February 20, 2008 8:30:02 PM EST by
Jeff Jensen
Re: Bracelets
Check out my column tomorrow--I solve the mystery definitively.
I look forward to it. Keep up the good work!
Submitted on: February 8, 2008 5:04:33 PM EST by
Melema
RE: Who's in the casket
I think it is someone yet to be reveled. If it was one of the
oceanic six then seems to me there would have been a draw of public interest because they were all so "famous". There would
have been someone that would have come to the funeral because of the fame aspect. It just puzzles me that Jack would
take it so hard. if it someone he was neither friend or family. but still some link to him and the island. It causes
him to break down and want to return to the island.
It might be one of the 4 people that arrived on the island,
but then again I kinda think that visit to Hurly by the man in the mental hospital gives a hint that the four might not have
made it off the island. I think he was referring to his people asking if they were still alive.
I agree, very good thoughts.
If it was one of the 6 you would think
that at least the press and a few gawkers would have shown up. As to the
4, I have been thinking that whoever was closest to the chopper when it leaves is
who gets off the island. Maybe the Losties steal the chopper from the freighter four and they get left behind (or
killed). Sayid seemed to know how to operate it.
Submitted on: November 29, 2007 3:57:04 PM EST by Peter Crawford
RE: Chumby
Chumby is cool. Or will be cool.
Or maybe is already cool
for the beta testers.
Anyway, looking forward to the official release. This could be a wicked fantasy sports box.
Hi Peter,
I'm impressed with the device. We're all so dependant on the web for information today that I see a huge
growth potential in devices that can serve hassle free info to the household. Nice job!
Submitted on: November 19, 2007 4:43:24 PM EST by Frank
RE: Writer's strike
Hi berry, I just want to know if
you have some news about the writers' strike in Hollywood. Here in Canada, maybe it's not as big as in
the U.S. So how it goes? Do you think something will happen for the best for the writers? Do you know if it's suppose to last
very long? What about the future of Lost? I heard that Lost will be one of the few show that won't be touch by this strike,
is it true? Thanks for the news! Frank
Bonjour Frank! Good to hear from you. Did you wear
your Red Sox hat during the World Series? If so, you brought them great luck!
I have some links for you about Lost and how it will be
affected by the writer's strike. I've seen differing reports about how many episodes they have already made. It seems to be
somewhere between 7 and 14, so if the strike doesn't go on too long we may not miss any. If it does, I'm pretty sure we'll
see at least half a season.
Check these articles out:
Submitted
on: November 17, 2007 5:39:33 PM EST by Joe and Phil
RE: Holidays
Happy Holidays to you
and the wife. Joe and Phil.
Thanks, you guys are the best!
Submitted on: October 4, 2007 2:13:35 PM EST by Steve D
RE: HD TV's
Thanks for the info on HD. I'm in the market and this helps.
You're welcome! Perfect timing for the football season and the baseball playoffs.
Let us know what you get.
Submitted on: July 29, 2007 7:03:11 AM EST by Dan
RE: Red Sox
Good seeing you at the game. - Dan
Good seeing you also, Dan. Great game,
great night. It doesn't get any better than that!
Submitted
on: June 25, 2007 8:41:26 AM EST by Julie
RE: Lost trivia contest
They wire an empty bottle over a bud and then the pear grows in the bottle.
Julie is correct and
wins a Lost mug! The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle
is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.
Submitted
on: June 18, 2007 12:24:18 AM EST by Frank
RE: Lost trivia contest
Answer : Living is easy with eyes closed. Frank
You're right. It's a lyric from "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles. You
win a Lost Dr. Candle mug.
Submitted on: June 11, 2007 8:09:21 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost trivia contest
Hello, it's me again! Hope it's not too late! The answer is $83K, or eighty three
thousands dollars. Thanks! Frank
He shoots.., he scores! Frank from Quebec has gotten a hat trick!
Nice job Frank, you've won a another Lost coffee mug.
Submitted on: June 4, 2007 9:41:30 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost trivia contest
The Boston Red Sox, in fact the Boston Americans at that time, played at the Huntington Avenue
Grounds.
Frank's got it again.This
time he wins a Red Sox hat.
The Boston Red Sox were
originally known as the Boston Americans and entered the American league in 1901. They played their games at the Huntington
Avenue Grounds, now a part of Northeastern University's campus. In 1907, owner John I. Taylor renamed them the Boston
Red Sox and on April 12th, 1912 moved them to the newly built Fenway Park.
The Americans were 1
of 2 teams in Boston. The other team was the Boston Nationals, who went on to become the Boston Braves. In
1953 the Braves left Boston for Milwaukee, then moved to Atlanta in 1966.
Submitted on: May 28, 2007
12:29:31 PM EST by Frank
RE: Lost trivia contest
- Artist : Oasis - Song : Wonderwall - Title Album :(What's
the story) morning glory?
You are correct. The song
appeared in both Flashes Before Your Eyes and Greatest Hits. In Flashes, Desmond
encounters Charlie playing this song on the sidewalk during his post hatch magical mystery tour. In Greatest Hits, its part
of Charlie’s own flashback which starts with him doing his street musician thing. Congratulations Frank, you win a Drive Shaft coffee mug.
Submitted on: May 26, 2007 1:12:39 PM EST by Beth
RE: Lost
I love your thoughts about the Lost/The Stand connection. Doesn't
Charlie remind you of Larry from the stand? Rock Star just made it big before the big tragedy. Becomes a hero and dies while
trying to save his people. Just a thought.
Thanks Beth. You're right, the Charlie/Larry connection is dead on. I see quite a few parallels.
Nadine, keeper of many secrets, Leo (Joe) the orphaned telepathic boy, Kojack
the golden retriever. The two stories also follow the same pattern. When the characters in the Stand have faith in the
dreams and act accordingly, they are provided for. When they question things or get sidetracked by creature comforts, bad
things happen. In the end, they all had to be willing to sacrifice themselves for the common good. Sounds a lot
like what's been happening with the castaways.
Submitted on: May 22, 2007 6:54:20 AM EST by harry
Nice site!
Nice comment!
