Back in October of 2011 I wrote a post about how ridiculous ISP bandwidth caps are. Now that I've actually hit past my cap (I get 3 warnings), I have to bitch more.

First of all, cable companies are only doing this to gouge the customer. They realize that we are not all stupid enough to pay $40 for basic cable on top of our internet service, especially considering the fact that you can get a streaming service for around $10/month for each service. I pay around $21 a month for a subscription to Hulu Plus and Netflix streaming services. This eats away at my 250 GB cap.

Another ridiculous tidbit? They give you 250 GB of bandwidth (both uploads and downloads) if you have a 10-20 mbps connection. OVER 20 mbps and they will give you 350 GB per month. In my area (my ISP's hometown), they offer up to a ridiculous 107 mbps for around $125 for stand alone service (I currently pay $89/month for my 20 mbps which reaches over 40 mbps). They charge $10 for each 50 GB you go over. So I thought, maybe I'll see if they have a 30, 40, or 50 mbps downlink plan. Well they do have a 50 mbps plan, but it's not in my area somehow. I thought it'd be better to pay a little more to get the faster speed and the extra 100 GBs of bandwidth, but no, I would have to pay over $40 more (if you include taxes) a month for the only plan that offers 350 GB of bandwidth, the 107 mbps. I would actually consider this, but they cap the upload speed to a paltry 2 mbps. Yes, you read that right, 2 mbps!!!! I feel for all the HD videographers and photographers out there.

The kicker? The thing that pisses me off the most? I just read an article about uncompressed HD broadcasts. You know, when you turn on ESPN in HD or any other channel in 720p or 1080p, the cable company has to send an uncompressed HD signal to your television. 720p bandwidth is approximately 990 mbps (or around 120 MB/s) while 1080p bandwidth is around 825 MB/s!!! So every 5 seconds of 1080p viewing you are "downloading" or "streaming" about 4 GBs. So in one minute we're talking about  49,500 MB, or almost 50 GB. In ONE HOUR.

Yet these companies are saying they need to limit bandwidth to improve the user experience... you can run out of your 250 GB cap in less than 5.5 hours. But thankfully television bandwidth isn't counted against your internet data bandwidth cap.

My point is, it is no more of a burden to an ISP to stream "unlimited" to their customers since it really doesn't stress out their network.

Can anyone correct me or enlighten me on this subject in the comments if I have anything wrong? Thanks in advance!

Kimber Ultra Stainless Raptor II

My daily carry, a Kimber Ultra Stainless Raptor II. I will add more pics later. Current grips are the green VZ grips - I believe they are the Aliens series.

Colt LE6940 AR-15

This is my gun. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Except there aren't really TOO many like this one, but I'm sure there are a couple of twins, or close to it at least.

Here it is stock:

Swapped out my stock grip for an MFT grip and foregrip:

Swapped out more parts, Magpul ACS buttstock, Magpul MIAD grip, GPS-02 gripod, Nikon m-223 (3-12x42) scope and mount:

Still need to get my Magpul ASAP mount and sling installed, but that castle nut is proving to be staked on VERY well.

Kimber Eclipse Target II .45 ACP 1911

After installing a new mainspring housing on my Kimber Eclipse Target II, I figured I would post some photos of the gun on here. The grips were also recently swapped out with my knife as well, so y'all can see what the grips I had on it before look like too. Click on photos for larger photo:

Setlist.fm

Why is it that I have only been looking at this website recently? I remember coming across it awhile back, but now I figured why not catalog all of the shows I've been to on one post?

Dave Matthews Band:
7/16/2003 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX
8/20/2004 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX
9/05/2005 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX

Guster:
9/10/2004 - Meridian, Houston, TX
2/04/2011 - The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
8/20/2011 - Patriot's Point, Charleston, SC

Modest Mouse:
02/20/2005 - Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX
11/10/2005 - Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX

Weezer/Foo Fighters:
9/13/2005 - Cynthia Mitchell Woodlands Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX

The Killers:
2/04/2009 - Nokia Theater, Grand Prairie, TX

Coldplay:
11/19/2008 - American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

ISP Bandwidth Caps are Ridiculous

Currently, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) throughout the country are slowly going from unlimited bandwidth to a bandwidth cap. AT&T's DSL service is already capped at 150 GB while their U-Verse subscribers (think TV) has a cap of 250 GB. This cap includes both uploads and downloads. Comcast has had a 250 GB cap since 2008. Cox has a 250 GB cap. Time Warner has yet to relinquish unlimited bandwidth at the time of this writing, but they have "reserved the right to do so." It's a trend that will continue and not die. I understand mobile providers doing this in order to optimize their networks (then again who knows how much they are exaggerating or not exaggerating when it comes to network strain in relation to bandwidth hogs), but it doesn't make much sense when an ISP utilizes caps when the bandwidth does not cost them as much to supply (i.e. revenues from internet connections greatly DWARFS income spent on maintaining a good broadband network).

SuddenLink is my local ISP/cable provider. They offer excellent speeds at decent prices (the prices aren't the best compared to what other regions have, but it certainly is not the worst). They apparently have test markets in certain parts of the state to determine the feasibility and backlash, if any, of switching from unlimited to a limited cap. I first became suspicious of this when I received a letter talking about my internet usage. I thought it was interesting since I have an unlimited data plan with them.  Quickly I realized it was just a matter of time before SuddenLink does what other providers have been, capping their bandwidth.  I use up anywhere from 300 to over 400 GB of bandwidth per month. Some months I use just over 200 GB. SuddenLink plans on charging $10 for every 50 GB in overage use. Here is a chart since the end of March showing my bandwidth usage, as you can see I would be really screwed for about 3 months out of that time period (click to enlarge):

What takes up all my bandwidth? Streaming. Yes, streaming. Mostly Netflix and some Hulu, see, I don't have cable because I don't believe I should have to pay $40 for a service I rarely use. Netflix and Hulu combined are less than $20 before taxes for streaming content only. On demand to play whenever you want. Want to record that TV show? That'll be an extra $15 DVR charge and/or $10 for HD content per month. Need more than one DVR for another room? That's another monthly charge. Want basic cable without any DVRs? $40 please. That's way overpriced and the cable companies know it. Companies such as Netflix and Hulu are able to make deals with the same cable networks and bring it to you at a much lower pricing and almost the same amount of content.

ISPs that provide TV programming services realize this. So instead of making cable more competitively priced they decide to impose caps to limit what you watch. And if you're a gamer? Good luck, now all of those online multiplayer sessions are going to eat away at your data. Photographer? Amateur video maker? Have fun paying for the overages because you had to upload those 18 megapixel RAW files and 1080p HD video content. This is totally going to screw people over who have hobbies that revolve around ANYTHING that has to do with being online.

When I first got rid of cable and upped my internet speed I was a bit nervous I'd go through TV withdrawal. It turned out to be one of the best financial (and personal) decisions I've made. No longer do I sit around and waste more time because I'm watching something simply because it's on and everything else is uninspiring or uninteresting. At least when I waste time sitting on my butt watching Netflix or Hulu it's on MY time and I decide when, and what, I watch, with little to no commercials.

Does this piss you off? Does it make you mad? If the cable companies offered something like a $20 fee for unlimited as long as you get a basic cable subscription, I couldn't argue with that as much, so long as the OPTION for unlimited still exists. It's less of an issue to not have unlimited data on a phone than it is for a home's ISP that might be used by several individuals (think college housing). Oh, and forget about constantly streaming Pandora or Spotify too. Sure, they don't take up that much bandwidth, but everyday, a few hours a day, and possibly by a few different individuals... well, you see where this is going.

MLB.com is very... fair

So the other day I wanted to get MLB.tv since I don't have cable in order to watch the rest of the baseball season and the playoffs. So I go to mlb.com and my stupid ass signs up for the MLB.tv package for phone only. Only problem is, the Droid 3 is not supported for video streaming! So I emailed the nice folks at mlb.com and asked them if I could get a refund and instead I would order the full package for $25 online and presto, they refund my credit card. I asked if Droid 3 support would eventually come but I guess not since they just refunded me without even asking or inquiring anything else.

This definitely makes me not worried to do business directly with mlb.com. Just wanted to give some props where they are due! Thanks mlb.com!

HP Touchpad 32 GB wi-fi Review

HP Touchpad

Hello there, Touchpad. When you were first announced I was excited. When I finally held you in my hands, I became disappointed. But since then I have at least gained back some admiration for the tablet.

As always, here are a list of specs:

Qualcomm 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor

1 GB RAM

32 GB on-board storage

Beats audio

9.7" screen with 768x1024 resolution

1.3 MP front facing camera

Here's a quick rundown of what I like and dislike after using it sparingly for the last 4 days.

Likes: Rendering Webpages, Notifications, ability to close apps, 50 GB FREE Box storage!!!

Dislikes: App selection (obviously), seems laggy at times (but not always), would prefer more than one button Fingerprint MAGNET both front and back, kinda bulky and slippery - I almost dropped it twice the first day I had it.

I felt so stupid thinking you could not close apps in webOS. My girlfriend (who cares not for gadgets like I do) was able to figure out to flick your finger upwards in order to close out a window/tile/app, which is nice to know you can close windows/programs to improve performance with more available RAM.

Update:

So now that it's been more than two weekends since I've had it, I still use the Xoom more. Text entry into browsers is smoother on the Touchpad but overall I like the Xoom more still. webOS is a beautiful OS but will probably not see anymore changes due to the lack of support since HP decided to kill off webOS and possibly spin off their entire PC manufacturing division (which is a total idiot move).

Not a bad device to have as a bathroom reader though...

Guster 8/20/2011 setlist Patriots Point, Charleston, SC

1. Barrel of a Gun
2. Architects and Engineers
3. The Captain
4. What You Call Love
5. Demons
6. Center of Attention
7. On the Ocean
8. Manifest Destiny
9. This is How it Feels to Have a Broken Heart
10. Come Downstairs and Say Hello
11. Do You Love Me
12. Airport Song
13. Satellite
14. This Could All Be Yours
15. Ramona
16. Hang On
17. Amsterdam
18. Happier
19. South of the Border Jam (w/Andrew McMahon)
20. Careful (w/Andrew McMahon)
21. Young Folks (w/Andrew McMahon)

Encore information courtesy of setlist.fm.
Photos I took can be found here.

The North Face Summit Series Plasma Thermal Jacket review

I was in Atlanta, GA last weekend for a Guster concert. I had a little time to kill, so a friend and I decided to go by TNF store. I was expecting to have to find an REI but to my surprise there was an actual TNF location in north Atlanta.

I wasn't going to spend this much money on a new jacket, but after I tried it on, I knew I was going to buy it. Luckily I paid $223 before tax instead of $300 since it was on sale! It literally feels like I have sleeping bags for each of my arms. It's so light and breathes so well. I haven't taken this jacket off in the last 3 hours and I'm sitting at work without sweating (it's usually cold in the office).

They are sold out online but I would HIGHLY recommend this jacket to anyone who is looking for a new awesome, light, VERY WARM, breathable jacket.

This hood fits perfectly, no need to tighten any drawstrings, it actually sits on the head well. The zipper is a little tricky at first, but I think it might be the newness of it. Some people complained about it online but I think they are whining a bit too much, I'm not having that much trouble with it - it just requires a little bit of attention to get it to shut.

Jacket weight is 900 grams (around 2 lbs for non-metric folk) with 100 of those grams being PrimaLoft One artificial insulation. This jacket is extremely lightweight and worn. It also has pit-zips to release heat from your body when you're getting hot inside of the jacket or when worn indoors.

I actually want winter to last longer so I can have an excuse to wear this jacket more!

The North Face - Men's Plasma Thermal Jacket