Programming a Comcast DVR

Here are some things you can do with your Comcast DVR box that few people know about.

First, all of these techniques are done with your DVR OFF and your TV ON. This is extremely important.

Take your remote and point it at the box. Locate, on the lower right, the small button that says "HD/Zoom". Hold this button down until a blue screen shows up on your TV. the screen will give you instruction concerning the buttons the in the upper central part of your remote. There are three buttons labeled A, B and C. The A button is in a yellow triangle, the B button is in a blue square and the C button is in a red circle. Follow the instructions on the screen to set up or reprogram your DVR. It also might be useful to have your TV manual with you when you do the set up so you can make the TV's specs. This same menu system can be found by holding down the "Guide" button down simultaneously with the "Info" button on the front of the DVR (again with the box off).

Another way to program your DVR (again with DVR off and TV on) is to hold down the "guide button". A screen will be displayed that has a black background and highlighted information. If you press the down directional button (down button is one of four surrounding the OK button) you can then go to the various changeable areas and make alterations. This is a much more technical set of instructions, but these can make a bigger difference. As an example, we lost power a couple of days ago. When we got it back, the TV image seemed fuzzy. i hit the zoom button to see the setting and noticed that the settings were at 480 i when our TV is 1080i. Following the above instructions, I was able to reset the DVR to recognize our TV!

Tour de France Ends

What an exciting race this year! During the last few stages of the race there were several switch ups. The first Australian ever to win, Cadel Evans, was the final winner with the yellow jersey. Mark Cavendish was the winner of the green jersey. We have had so much fun watching this race over the last several weeks!

Tour de France Weather

France had a severe drought so the rain is thrilling the French. However, the cyclists in Tour de France are tired of it. This year, there has been more rain than sun. Also many more accidents (several due to back wheels locking on turns - one rider ended up in bushes) than typical.

We watch it and then watch it again. Love the shots of France and adore the announcers!

New Game

Here is a link to a new game: http://lifesspacestation.com

Check it out!

What Romans and Beethoven Had In Common

In the previous post, the analysis of Beethoven's hair (553 strands!) was discussed. Well, he had much in common with the Romans. We now know that the Romans used lead to make eating utensils. Glazes on pottery also contained lead; their plumbing was almost entirely lead based. They also enjoyed a sweetener made from boiling grape juice in lead-lined vessels producing a sweet liquid called "sugar of lead". Could this have led to the demise of their culture?

Beethoven's Problems

Recent analysis of Beethoven's hair explained why his life was fraught with illness, including deafness - he suffered from lead poisoning. Researchers think he got the lead poisoning from his frequent visits to spas. In fact, Beethoven had 100 times the normal levels of lead in his system!

Tour de France

Watching the Tour de France is a wonderful travel log. The cameras are mounted on motorcycles so the close ups of the riders can be discerning. But the aerial shots are incredible. Yesterday included a shell of a gray stone cadtle. Absolutely beautiful!

Summer Sports

This family is not the typical sports watching American family. We watch Superbowl, typically while we do other things, pretty much every year but that is it for the usual spectator sports. Instead, every summer we watch Wimbledon and then Tour de France! And we adore watching Tour de France. We love the aerial shots of French countryside while the cyclists zoom by. Great stuff!