AT&T + Starbucks = WHEE!

Starbucks: Forget T-Mobile, get (free) WiFi with AT&T (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080211-starbucks-forget-t-mobile-get-free-wifi-with-att.html)

Switching over from Time Warner Cable to AT&T U-VERSE has proven to be a good move. Not only did AT&T’s tech support swing by my apartment within a few hours to repair my service the other day, but now free wifi at Starbucks??? Because somehow I can justify paying $5 for coffee but hate paying for wireless internet.

Good riddance, Time Warner Cable!

I just switched over to AT&T’s U-VERSE service this week. Took two weeks for an installer to come out and another two hours for him to get everything setup, but now my home theater is complete (for now.) With over 30 HD channels streaming in, I can finally make use of my new fancy TV. I’ve enjoyed several on demand shows and lots of movies from the movie channels have kept me company. There’s the occasional digital glitch or two, but so far, excusable problems. This is a young service with promises of being better.

Just in time too, I just read this article - Time Warner: Download Too Much and You Might Pay $30 a Movie - which basically says TWC is trying out extra charges to those who use extra bandwidth. With HD content and more music and movie streaming, they are onto something. Milking the cash cow, that’s what. I think it may be too early to try this tactic, but whatever! Tomorrow I return my hardware to TWC and finally bid adieu.

In other TV news:

I’ve been keeping up with The Biggest Loser for the first time. It’s actually pretty inspiring. Instead of taking a nap, I went and worked out after watching this the other day! I am incredibly intimidated by trainer Jillian Michaels and think I would hide if I saw her in real life.

I didn’t understand Gene Simmons’ move on The Celebrity Apprentice. I’ve never seen Donald try and help someone so much. I think Simmons may be “too smart for his britches.” Hard to believe he rocked it with KISS, he’s so serious.

I am very glad Friday Night Lights still has new episodes and has not been canned.

Finally, my mom called me right after American Idol Wednesday night. I was behind fifteen minutes because I was watching it on my DVR (to avoid commercials!) so I didn’t know what she was laughing about. And then I saw. The “Asian man dressed like Elvis” my mom described was actually a “Filipino man dressed like a Simon worshiping angel.” It was very strange. (And admittedly, catchy!) But I did chuckle when Paula Abdul started breaking out the dance moves. Oh Dallas, you disappoint me sometimes.

I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing the songs, the music that you like.

We’re brothers ’till the end of time
Together or not, you’re always in my heart
Your hurt, your feelings in you will worry no more.

All-nighter recap.

I have successfully transitioned from normal people hours to strange night shift hours. I’m not sure if I should consider it a success, considering there’s no specific reason why I switched my sleeping schedule around. I slept all day Sunday, then decided to really start my day by going to church at 7pm.

Flat Matt brought it and spoke on unfulfillment, the seemingly unattainable goals and expectations we have out of life. He explained the three ways to respond to “life’s disappointments”: blaming other people, things, or events, blaming self, and giving up. We dug into Romans 5:12-17, tracing death, sin, and the cause of this “need for perfection, wholeness” back to Adam and the fall. Although we each have individualized sins, our major sin was inherited and imparted to us in the womb. But, we have been gifted righteousness and grace through Jesus Christ. The resolution to the sermon didn’t make sense in my head, but I have a feeling that’s a summation of my spiritual conflicts as of late.

I spent my “afternoon” eating Panda Express and watching Ugly Betty. I picked up disc one yesterday and had to rent disc two tonight. I had never watched the show before, but having Blockbuster Online, I tend to rent random things such as this. This show has a lot of heart. It’s refreshing to have the heroine be a physically unattractive girl with awkward traits, but with such honesty and integrity. It’s goofy, but worth watching.

I spent the rest of the night attempting to write, redesigning the blog, and notably, checking out the Q&A session from Mars Hill’s first part to their newest series, Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions.

I listened to half of the sermon the other day which was interesting, but if you want the on-the-fly, honest, graphic questions and answers, watch as Pastor Mark Driscoll answers questions texted to him after their last service. This is a church that is unashamed to talk about the “dirty things,” which “dirty” or not, should not be ignored. It’s not for kiddos or the faint of heart, so if you’re neither, check out the Q&A session here.

AT&T is coming to setup their U-Verse stuff between 8am and 10am today (which is in twenty minutes!) I am quite stoked to get rid of Time Warner, especially after the one month I had no service. Maybe I should take a nap before they get here.