contours provocations - 2005-1123

contours provocations
journal - 2005-1123 - wed 2200

Media Unit; DSL; "Two by Two"; Tags; Elvish Ring

Yesterday, I finished putting together the media unit. I'm really glad now that I went back and made the exchange. The base, shelves and top are "simulated oak." But a good-looking "simulated oak." There's a single drawer at the bottom, but I'm not sure how I'll use it. The sides are akin to wrought iron. The back is open save for a back panel about 8 inches wide that's in the center.

Most of the construction went well, except for the installation of the shelves which I thought would be easy. The shelves are held in place by brackets that fit into the wrought iron sides. I thought maybe that would be sufficient, but I quickly discovered that a bump would knock the shelves loose. So I followed the directions and attempted to insert a screw through the brackets into the shelves. I tried a number of methods without success and finally turned the unit on its side and balanced the shelves against the brackets, then screwed them into place.

I realized earlier that the wall behind the media unit had only one electrical outlet. And the sockets were capable of holding only two-prong plugs. So this afternoon, I switched out the two-prong plugs for three-prong plugs which allows me to use two compact power strips with six plugs each.

After I did that, I moved the unit into place and connected the speaker wires to the receiver. Next I connected the CD player to the receiver. And everything appears to work.

When the old unit was in place at my previous house, there were so many wires and cables and power cords that it never seemed to work right. Add it an old tv with only a single connection, and it was lucky that anything worked. So this time, I'm setting up one set of components at a time and testing it out.

When I first had the phone re-connected here, I attempted to transfer my DSL connection, but was told DSL service was not available in this area - too far from the central exchange. But a couple of weeks ago, I got a letter saying DSL would soon be available. When I signed up on line, I was told it would be mid-December before service would be operational. At that point, I figured it would be quicker to use cable. But then last Friday, there was a message on the answering machine saying that service would be ready November 21. And today, I received the installation kit in the mail. (I already had the DLS modem and cabling from last year.)

I inserted the installation disc, followed the directions carefully and within about 30 minutes I had DSL service. The instrucions were very clear cut and simple to follow. There's even an audio component that reads what on the screen; and it can be in English or Spanish.

My next task is to install a wirless system. I've been dragging cords across the floor, and I have to watch mother every time she steps over one. Since yshe uses a walker, it is just too easy for a foot or a leg of the walker to catch something.

Also this afternoon, I went by BestBuy and bought Netgears 108 Mbps router and adapter. I hope to be able to work on that tomorrow or Friday.

One more change I've decided to make is to upgrade my Internet protection software from Norton to ZoneAlarm. "PC Magazine" continues to give superior marks to ZoneAlarm over Norton.

The November 21 copy of "The New Yorker" has a splendid cover called "Two by Two." It shows the animals waiting for Noah's Ark as New York commuters waiting on a rain-swept pier. There's a female ostrich wearing pearls. A male ape with a crumpled-looking hat and soggy briefcase reading a newspaper. The ape's partner wears a fur coat with orange trim, holds a polka dot umbrella, and casts her eyes skyward with a combination of resignation and irritation. Two turtles with baseball caps. Two procupines huddled under one umbrella - he wears glases, and she has a blue scarf over an orange coat and carries a gray purse. Two shrew-like creatures are bundled into jackets and caps. One of the spotted snakes wears what may be a watch cap, and the other sports a headscarf. Two small bugs under a hemisphere-shaped umbrella carefully eye the snakes.

A license tag from the other day - "WOLFCRY." Intriguing.

Another tag - "FREEFAL." Clever.

Several times the last couple of weeks as I've been out just after twilight, I've noticed the evening star Venus in the southwest sky. It hovers very bright and very still like some magic stone from an elvish ring.

PAX!