Remember my monitor problems? When I tried to connect my new 25.5" monitor to my computer, it wouldn't boot up or even post. I was able to use the monitor with a VGA cable, but the picture was pretty sucky. Anyhoo, I think I finally got the digital connection working!!!1! Here's how I did it:

With the computer all booted up and running in Windows, I connected the digital cable to monitor and computer. Windows and/or the graphics card recognized this as a second monitor and ran a short setup routine! I flipped the monitor over to its digital setting (it has a button), and voila! there were the grassy plains of Windows.

Next, I noticed that the graphics card allows you to switch which is the primary monitor and which is the secondary, so I flipped them and made the digital connection the primary. Then, I disabled multiple displays, making the digital connection the only monitor. Finally, while holding my breath, I disconnected the VGA plug (digital display still worked!), and rebooted (it booted!). Then, I breathed.

It took a lot longer than my description lets on, as I was poking around trying to figure out what to do next. This involved a lot of mouse dragging from one screen to the other, flipping the monitor's A/D switch back and forth. But now a have some sharp huge-ass screen real estate to work with. Yay!

My HD cable box arrived this morning sans the promised HDMI cable. (They did send me a full complement of component video & analong audio cables.) BOO CABLEVISION.

TW made me go and buy a HDMI cable, too.

Oh, and Discovery is running a Planet Earth marathon tomorrow.

The guy I spoke with on the phone said that I could get an HDMI cable if I asked for one, so I did. But apparently he didn't know what he was talking about.

Planet Earth's good for testing levels!

anyone have any experience with Graboid (as opposed to torrenting)?

It had to happen I guess. The color wheel on our TV was having problems and creating an irritating buzz. Housemate decided to fix it himself to avoid the $800 or so repair job. Result? We now have a brand-new, shiny, even more ridiculous, 52" LCD TV. I would so love to be in a place where, when I break my TV, I can just go out and spend $2000 on a new one.

Does any one have advice on wireless headsets for the pc?

Today I ruined my second headset and I've had it. I'm willing to spend some money on this considering how often I use my headset and how frustrated I am by constantly rolling over the cords and yanking out the cords.

I had no such luck this weekend - DH and I went to 4 electronics stores (2 Targets, Circuit City and PC Richards) and nobody had anything decent in stock. The guy at Target apologetically said "We have the Magnavox!" Um, thanks, but...no.

So next stop is to call J&R and see what they have in stock. If that doesn't pan out, I call my guy at B&H and see if he can extend our corporate rate to me as a personal favor.

Askye, does your computer have Bluetooth? I've used my old BT ear thingie to Skype talk.

I was going to say I don't think it does, but I searched for bluetooth and it seems it does.

So I could just use a BT ear thing to talk via skype?