Personal

Okay, so here’s what’s up for grabs. I’ll keep this current for, oh, two weeks or so to see what I can get rid of this way, then hit the pawn shops with whatever’s left over.

Only a few conditions: buyers need to be in the Seattle area and able to come by my apartment in downtown Seattle to pick up the goods. This is only because I don’t have my own transportation to deliver anything, nor do I have the original packaging to ship equipment anywhere.

I’d ask that any interested parties respond by leaving a comment on this post, so that I can keep everything on a “first-come, first-serve” basis, rather than e-mailing me directly. Just making things as easy and as fair as possible for everyone. :)

NOTE: This post isn’t finished yet, I’m still adding things on as I get them finalized. :) Okay, everything’s up.

Update: Wow, that was fast. Assuming that none of the people that contacted me fell through, everything listed here has been spoken for. Should that change, I’ll update, of course…but at the moment, it looks like this much is wrapped up. Now to get started listing the DVDs…

• Sony Wega KV-27FS17 27″ Television — $300 (originally purchased for $650, currently priced on the ‘net at around $450) SOLD.
  • 27″ FD Trinitron Picture Tube
  • 3-Line Digital Comb Filter
  • 16:9 Enhanced Mode (V-Compression)
  • Velocity Modulation™ Scanning (Off/Low/High) Control
  • 2 Tuner Picture in Picture
  • Dynamic Focus™ Circuitry
  • Dynamic Picture™ Processor
  • Magnetic Quadra Pole
  • Vertical Aperture Compensation
  • Auto White Balance
  • Auto Pedestal Clamp
  • Color Temperature Adjustment (Cool/Neutral/Warm)
  • MTS Decoder with DBX Noise Reduction
  • Enhanced Stereo Sound (7.5 Watts x 2 = 15 Watts)*
  • Matrix Surround? Sound
  • Small Footprint Design with Bottom Cabinet Speakers
  • Express Tuning? System (181 Channel Auto Preset Tuner)
  • Auto Mute (TV Tuner)
  • Auto SAP (Secondary Audio Program)
  • S-Video Detection
  • Auto Channel Programming
  • Easy Set Up Guide
  • Advanced On-Screen Menu with Program Palette™ Presets
  • Freeze Memo
  • Favorite Preview (7 Channels)
  • Speed Surf™ Channel Selection
  • Channel Fix
  • Basic Menu
  • Multi Language Display (English/Spanish/French)
  • V-Chip Parental Control
  • Channel Label (40 Channels)
  • Clock/Timer (2 Event)
  • Extended Data Service (XDS)
  • Sleep Timer (15/30/45/60/90 min.)
  • Control Deck Top Control Panel
  • CaptionVision (CC)
  • Jump Channel
  • Video Label
  • Energy Star Compliant
  • 2-Rear Audio/Inputs; S-Video (1)
  • Front Audio/Video Input
  • Variable/FixedAudio Output
  • 2-RF Inputs
  • Component Video Input (Y/PB /PR)
  • Remote: RM-Y181 New Silver Universal Remote Commander Luminous Remote Control (TV/VCR/Cable Box/Digital Satellite System/DVD)
  • Audio/Video Cabinet SU-27FD4 42 lbs (19kg) 27 3/4″ x 19″ x 21″ (704 x 482 x 535mm)
  • 99 lbs (45kg)
  • W/H/D 27 5/8″ x 25″ x 20 1/8″ (700 x 635 x 512mm)
• Technics SA-AX6 receiver and SH-AC500D surround processor — $200 (originally purchased for around $500) CLAIMED.
  • The receiver handles all the standard stereo receiver bits, including AM/FM radio, lots of inputs (CD, Tape, VCR 1 2 and 3, TV/DSS, Phono, DVD), S-Video in- and outputs. Has six 100W outputs, can be set up to run two sets of main speakers (A and B) or run a single set bi-wired.
  • The surround processor adds the ability to handle both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround sound processing.
  • As the processor is essentially useless without the receiver, I’d prefer to sell these as a set rather than individually.
• JVC XV-S65 DVD player — $50 (bought for around $150, currently sells for around $100) CLAIMED.
  • Compatible with DVD Video, CD CD-R/RW and Video CD
  • High-bit/high-sampling (10-bit/27MHz video D/A converter)
  • Component Video, Composite Video, and S-Video terminals
  • 1-bit P.E.M. D.D. Converter with 96kHz/24-bit audio resolution
  • Progressive Scan Output, “Digital Direct” that can produce the video output at twice the conventional speed to allow the direct conversion of DVD”s 24fps into progressive 60fps for display on your TV, thereby avoiding the quality disadvantages of I/P conversion.
  • Glow Multi-brand remote control
  • Coaxial digital outputs for PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS
  • Optical digital outputs for PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS
  • Separate construction throughout: Power supply, Digital circuitry, Analog Video and Analog Audio circuits are physically separated
  • Resume (bookmark) function
  • “Digest” function for visual access to desired title/chapter
  • 3D-Phonic for virtual surround sound
  • Dynamic range (2 channel) 106 dB
  • VCR-matching slim design.
  • Video output
  • DVD Component Video output
  • S-Video Output
  • Weight: 5lbs 13oz (2.6kg)
  • Width: 17-1/4″ (435mm)
  • Height: 2-3/4″ (68mm)
  • Depth:10-5/8″ (267.5mm)
• JVC XL-FZ258BK 5-disc CD changer — $50 (originally bought for around $150, currently sells for around $100) SOLD.
  • 5-Disc Carousel CD Changer: Change any 4 discs while one more is being played
  • 1-bit P.E.M. D.D. Converter
  • 8-times oversampling digital filter
  • Program play of up to 32 ‘steps’ (tracks and discs) from 5 discs
  • 20 – track program chart
  • 5 DISC keys on the front panel
  • 10 – key pad for direct track access
  • Play Modes: Continous, Program, Smart Random
  • 4-way repeat:: all tracks, single track, programmed tracks, and random play
  • Auto and Manual Search
  • Remote with DISC keys and numeric keys
  • Resume function
  • Power consumption: 10 watts
  • Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz
  • Power requirements: AC 120 V , 60 Hz
  • Frequency response: 2 Hz to 20,000 Hz (±1 dB)
  • Dynamic range: More than 98.0 dB (at 1 kHz)
  • Signal to noise ratio: More than 107.0 dB
  • Total harmonic distortion: Less than 0.0022% (at 1 kHz)
  • Channel separation: More than 94.0 dB (at 1 kHz)
  • Wow and flutter: Less than measurable limit
  • Output level: 2.0 Vrms (at full scale)
  • Connections
    • 2 Enhanced COMPU LINK Control System jacks
    • Optical Digital Output
    • Headphone Output with volume control
  • Dimensions: 17.2″ W x 5.1″ H x 15.3″ D
  • Weight: 11 lbs.
• Klipsch KG 4 home stereo speakers — $400 (originally sold for upwards of $1500) CLAIMED.
  • These aren’t new speakers, but they are really, really good. I got very lucky when I got ahold of them (from a military gent being shipped out of Anchorage who couldn’t ship them with him), and have gotten a lot of good use out of them over the years.
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 38Hz-20kHz±3dB
  • SENSITIVITY: 94dB @ 1watt/1meter
  • POWER HANDLING: 100 watts maximum continuous (500 watts peak)
  • NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 6 ohms
  • ENCLOSURE TYPE: Bass reflex via passive radiator
  • DRIVE COMPONENTS: Two-way system using one 1″ (2.54cm) phenolic dome compression driver tweeter with a 90°x40° Exponential horn, two 8″ (20.32cm) front-firing, poly ICG cone woofers and one 12″ (30.48cm) rear-firing, fiber-composite cone passive radiator
  • TWEETER: K-74-K 1″ (2.54cm) Phenolic dome compression driver
  • HIGH FREQUENCY HORN: 90°x40° Exponential Horn
  • HF CROSSOVER: 1800Hz
  • WOOFER: Two K-8-K 8″ (20.32cm) Poly ICG cone active / KD-12 12″ (30.48cm) Fiber-composite cone passive
  • DIMENSIONS: 24.25″ (61.6cm) x 15.75″ (40cm) x 10.75″ (27.3cm)
  • WEIGHT: 40 lbs. (18.2kg)
  • ENCLOSURE MATERIAL: Medium density fiberboard construction (MDF)
• Pioneer CMX-5000 Dual CD DJ-style player — $300 (originally purchased for around $1200) SOLD.
  • I’ve had this up for sale for a while, but for some reason I’ve gotten more requests from people in Europe than anywhere else. Odd, but whatever. :) For full details on this piece of equipment, please jump over to my original “For Sale” post….

Consider this advance notice for anyone in the Seattle area that reads this site: within the next week, I’m probably going to be putting up a lot of goodies for sale. I just need to do a little bit of research to figure out good asking prices before I put up a firm list.

Basically, I’ve finally reached a point where I’m sick to death of my continuing financial struggles, and getting myself away from constantly stressing over money has finally taken precedence over my collection of “boy toys”.

Items likely to be up for grabs include:

• 27\” Sony Wega television
• JVC 5-disc CD changer
• Technics stereo receiver
• Technics digital surround processor (best if sold with the receiver, adds Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround processing)
• JVC progressive-scan DVD player
• Two Klipsch speakers (very high-end home stereo speakers)
• Somewhere in the general vicinity of 200 DVDs, including complete collections of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
• Pioneer CMX-5000 dual-CD player (yes, it’s still here…)

Prices, pictures, and more detailed listings will go up as soon as possible as the week progresses and I get everything figured out.

Right now, though, I’m off with Prairie to see The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Seattle Center‘s Shakespeare in the Park.

Rock on — according to Dad, Kevin and Emily will be moving to Oregon in a bit, so that Emily can attend Oregon State University in Corvalis. My bro will be in fairly easy visiting distance again!

iTunes: “And It Stoned Me” by Morrison, Van from the album Moondance (1969, 4:34).

I really, really really hate the fact that electronic banking transactions can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to post to a bank account.

A few days ago, I withdrew a little money from my bank account, and saw that I had just a bit over \$130 left. A little low, but nothing I couldn’t get by on, and I get paid on Friday.

I just checked my account — and I’m quite thoroughly fuckered. A few transactions from early last week that I thought had gone through already just got posted, along with the direct withdrawl I’d set up to pay my taxes. Unfortunately, the bigger charges went through first (of course), so in addition to dipping under my balance, I also just got hit with a ton of overdraft fees — and my account now has a balance of negative \$363.83.

On the bright side, I get paid Friday. It should be a good paycheck, too — I’ll have my full 40 hours for both weeks, plus eleven hours of overtime, plus I just got a 21 cent raise that will kick in on this check. So, come Friday morning when the direct deposit kicks in, I should be back in the black (though it may only be by a few hundred dollars by that point).

On the down side…well, most obviously, I hate that I goofed up my finances (especially this badly) again. I also have to make it through ’til Friday morning with no cash (tight, but doable, as I’ve got a credit card that isn’t quite maxed out). The biggest bummer, though, is that I’ve been planning on getting my new camera with this paycheck — and that’s obviously not going to happen now.

Important note to Dad, Kirsten, and Phil: My ‘net bill is due this week. Obviously, I’m not going to be able to pay it before Friday morning, so at this point, there is a strong possibility that my ‘net connection may go down temporarily sometime in the next couple days. Should that happen, djwudi.com, [geek*muffin], Among Other Things and The Hanscom Family Weblog will go down. The service interruption shouldn’t be for more than a day, two at the very most, depending on how soon Speakeasy decides to give me the smackdown for running late on their bill. You have my sincere apologies — every time I think I’m getting back on top of things, something else comes along and proves me wrong.

Overall, things are getting better, and I’m not nearly as stressed about money matters as I have been in the past. Even with this, I know it’s just for a couple days, and the upcoming paycheck will resolve the situation. I’ll just have another couple weeks of tightening my belt to get through. Damn if it isn’t frustrating, though.

iTunes: “Feels Like Heaven” by Fiction Factory from the album Pop and Wave Vol. 2 (1983, 3:29).

I just broke my store.

I generally come in the back door when I get here. Today, after unlocking the door to get in, when I pulled my key out of the lock the entire tumbler came with it.

So now my key has the tumbler still attached to it, and the back door can’t be unlocked from the outside.

What will be really entertaining is when my manager gets back from lunch, parks in back…and can’t get in the store.

Whee!

Happy Easter, folks.

You may just have to bear with me here. I’m at work today (boo — filling in for a co-worker who made plans for the day when we thought we’d be closed for Easter), stuck in a store with no customers and no work, looking out through the windows at the sun.

Bored.

And whining.

Then, to top it all off, I’ve just spent some time browsing LiveJournals and going through the various “Friends” pages and skimming through what I find. Man oh man, is that a different world than my usual reads. Of course, having immersed myself in LJ entries for the past hour or so, my brain is somewhat stuck in “LJ” mode, and now I get to subject all of you to a long, rambling, disjointed post about absolutely nothing of import whatsoever. ;)

(LJ users, please don’t take offense at that. Yes, I’m teasing. No, it’s not entirely serious. There’s plenty of content on LJ pages — but the stereotype of “LJ = angst-ridden teenybopper” is just so much fun to play with…!)

(Besides, I used to be an angst-ridden teenybopper, and I shudder to think of what I might have written at that stage of my life if weblogs, LiveJournals, or the like had been around at that time. Ick.)

Memo to me, just in case I get suckered into working here next Easter Sunday: bring a bag luch. Virtually nothing is open in Georgetown on Easter Sunday, and I had an hour long lunch break to kill. Ended up grabbing an overpriced sandwich from Starbucks and wandering around in the sun for a while. Turns out that while the main drags in Georgetown offer little to the eye other than light industrial, warehouses, and run-down buildings, if you go just a street or two over, there are some really cute neighborhoods around here, and some houses that — were I in the housing market, which I’m nowhere near — I could easily be tempted by. I’m thinking that once I have a camera again, I may want to grab a sunny weekend like this one and come down to wander around and explore the area more than I have so far.

Question for any Seattlites that might be reading this that know the town better than I do — is Georgetown really that bad? It seems like every time I mention that I work in the Georgetown area, people cringe. Okay, so it’s run down, and I see the occasional drunk wandering around, but that’s hardly something unheard of in other areas of the city. What causes the instant “oh, I’m sorry” reaction? Is there a sky-high crime rate here that I have somehow managed to miss in the past four-plus months of wandering around after dark each night on my way home? Is my victimless state just pure luck, destined to go the way of the dodo at some point, leaving me crumpled in a gutter somewhere after some local hoodlum makes off with the \$7 and a free pass to the Vogue’s fetish night that they’re likely to find in my wallet? I don’t even have a hat n’ boots for them to steal….

Inquiring minds want to know.

This store’s Muzak system only has two channels: 50’s and 60’s, and 70’s-80’s-90’s. It’s been on the 70’s-80’s-90’s channel nearly continuously since the store opened (and by opened, I mean opening day, not unlocking the doors this morning), but today I figured out how to change the channel to the one other choice I have (I’m so smart…S-M-R-T…). I have to admit, the selection isn’t nearly as bad as it could be, though the mere fact that it’s not the same stuff I’ve been listening to for the past four months is good enough in itself that the actual music could be nearly anything and I’d be thrilled.

I’ve been finding myself less and less motivated to post about the stuff I run across each day on the ‘net. Let’s face it — I get my links from all the same usual suspects as nearly every weblogger on the ‘net (BoingBoing, MetaFilter, Slashdot, Daily Kos, Eschaton, etc.), and I just don’t have the time to randomly troll the ‘net at large in hopes of finding something that hasn’t been linked to by everyone else yet, so the chances of finding anything original is slim to none. On top of that, the majority of what I post can pretty much be summed up thusly:

Good: Gay marriage, equal rights, tolerance, Macintosh, wacky humor, music, movies. Bad: bigotry, racism, homophobia, Windows, George Bush et. al., the war.

And there you have it: the Readers Digest Condensed Cliffs Notes version of my weblog. Fascinating, isn’t it?

It’s probably a bad sign when I start to bore myself.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that I’m likely to stop anytime soon, boring or not. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing — or just indifferent — but somehow, I just don’t see myself closing up shop and walking away. I’m just not sure that I’m really contributing that much, and if that’s the case, where do I want to go from here?

I’m not open enough with the world in general to suddenly go overly personal. While I don’t mind occcasionally mentioning bits and pieces of my life on here, I’m not the type to post every last little detail of my life — what I had for lunch, little daily annoyances, relationship ups and downs, orgasmic expertise, or the like — while I’ll admit that there are times that it’s a little tempting to give that a shot, I’m just not that comfortable being that open. If that means that what ramblings I do put up are a little more boring, a little less titillating, a little less exhibitionistic than other sites out there…well, sorry. Barring a sudden major personality transplant, that much is fairly unlikely to change much, if at all.

At the same time, though, having said that…sometimes it’s definitely tempting.

Just don’t hold your breath.

Hrm. Anyway. I think I’ve just about run out of steam for the moment. Just over two hours left to go, then it’s homeward bound, see if I can slam my laundry through the washroom if it hasn’t been taken over by other tenants already, and then off to the Vogue for tonight’s Fetish Night.

The excitement never stops, I tell you…