honuswagner21

All games have been in HD (other than WMLW) here on Directv. The audio was choppy the other night for a little bit but that was fixed. Picture quality has been great

Went for dinner and drinks last night at the new Milwaukee spot. Here is my review: Basically, they took the space that was one Fratello's painted the whole place white and changed the sign out front. Food was average and a bit pricey. Sat down at the bar right at 6p (Brewers vs. Pirates scheduled for 6:05p start), asked the bartender if he could turn the game on (TV was on ESPN) and he asked which game I was referring to. Probably should have walked out the door at that point. On the plus side, most everyone in the bar area was into the game at least initially once we got the bartender to change the channel. As long as I am talking about the bartenders, they really didn't seem interested in speaking with my friend or I much, probably because we weren't wearing suits. Being a Wednesday night the place really seems to be going for that after work crowd. Definitely not a sports bar and I would say that they are going for a little more upscale feel. With that in mind, if I am looking for a place to really watch the game at a bar, I'd look elsewhere. I haven't decided if I will be stopping back in the near future.

It seems like the map is becoming more and more in favor of Wisconsin getting less snow. Good things. Seems weird that the big snow is down in Oklahoma now

According to my Directv guide, it is scheduled to be shown. However, I fully expect it to be blacked out in Wisconsin, at least on Directv. I remember a spring game last year that was blacked out on Directv but was shown on MLB network in Milwaukee. It was not an FSWis game either.

This blows. I fully expect a 100 mile shift to the east so the MKE area gets nailed. Luckily, March snow tends to melt pretty quickly

It sounds like the broadcast is online after all. If isn't on the listing on Mass's link but is available on the left side scoreboard on the mlb.com homepage. Just click on the little speaker thingy and up comes the window. I am listening to Bob and Cory online right now this link may work

I knew that there would be a perfectly logical explanation for all this. I guess that I don't remember this much continuous fog in years past during March. I am hoping that it doesn't persist for too much longer. FYI - I apologize for resurrecting the Winter weather thread. When the snow stops being the cause of many of our weather issues I will move over to the Spring & Summer thread

Since it isn't officially Spring yet I will post this question here. While I enjoy the snow melting when will all the fog go away?

Never smoked a cigarette Never worn a cast Never have been downhill skiing Never have slept in a Communist country Never have closed Wolski's

Not sure how much it has been mentioned here but from what I have read all along Conan has done really well with the 18-49 demographic, often beating Letterman. Sure Leno brought in more overall viewership but a fair chunk of that was an older crowd that the advertisers aren't interested in. I believe that if Conan were to turn up at 11:30/10:30p CT on Fox after affiliates had a chance to run local news, Seinfeld, etc. that he would continue to pull in the young viewers. I don't quite get where the discussion of him going on at 11/10p came from. Letterman would probably pull in the most overall with Conan and Leno splitting the rest...Conan getting the younger viewers and Jay getting the retiree crowd. It may sound bizarre but I agree with those who are equating this mess to Conan's Hugh Grant moment. This has done wonders for his future, as long as he can stay in the spotlight some over his break. Too bad that he has to lose his dream job because of it.

I hear you on all of the HGTV shows that are recorded. Same deal as in my house. Even with the larger hard drive with Directv I still burn through a significant chunk of my space (mainly the wife's recordings). The HD channels that I am waiting on would be PBS-HD, BBC America-HD, Travel-HD, AMC-HD, would like to see VS-HD back, ESPNU-HD, not to pay extra for Palladia-HD. While not in HD I would like Time Warner sports too. And lastly, I would like D* not to black out ESPN when they are broadcasting a Brewer game in HD when FS-Wisconsin is not, like TWC does. Otherwise, the two are pretty comparable. There are probably some other HD channels that I am missing but might watch only a few times a year. I will admit that I do greatly enjoy having the NFL network. Also, I liked having 2 MLB-HD feeds for games over the summer. That was a nice touch. As I have mentioned earlier, I believe that 4 of my top 5 HD desires will be taken care of when the new satellite goes up. Who knows what to expect with PBS-HD. As for the activation fee, I wanted to add an HD DVR to the bedroom but was told that it would be $199 activation. I also paid that when I initially signed up so maybe I am the poor sucker who didn't push hard enough at the beginning. From checking around on dbstalk it seems like that is the standard and even threatening to cancel your service doesn't usually get the fee waived. I just don't want to go through the hassle of threats and walk away empty-handed. I have no interest in an SD-DVR.

As long as there is sun for some point during the day, the snow and ice will melt off. Doesn't matter if it is -15 degrees. As for the cable for satellite debate, I think there is a lot of bad information about there concerning both sides. I switched from Time Warner to Directv 2 years ago because D* offered way more HD channels. Now, TWC has caught up and pretty much surpassed D* in their offerings. Supposedly that will change soon after Directv launches their next satellite on Dec 28th. However, despite the commercials, cable is NOT the home of free HD. Last I checked you still needed to pay for the HD box and also for the HD package if you wanted all the HD channels. Directv has a select group of I believe 6 HD channels that you have the option to pay for. The vast majority are included with your package. On the flipside, I do believe that cable's point of losing satellite signal during bad weather is somewhat valid, especially on the HD channels. During the summer, I lost my signal for maybe 5 minutes a couple of times during torrential storms but it came right back up. The heavy wet snow does indeed stick to the dish and you will probably have to deal with it eventually. As mentioned above, the DVR pricing is a lot better with satellite, on a monthly basis. Where they get you is the activation fee when you get a new box. It still blows my mind that they charge $199 if you want to add a new HD box. Add to that the fact that you are then locked into a 2 year contract, not unlike a cell phone company. That, and you need a box to get their signal vs. just plugging in the coaxial in the back of your TV with cable. On the other hand, I have not once had to replace a box with Directv while with Time Warner it seemed like I was in the store every couple of months getting new equipment. There are over a thousand more arguments I could list here but for me, the equipment and monthly pricing with Directv works. Their customer service is a lot better too. I still have TWC for Roadrunner (which I am happy with) as satellite really doesn't have any Internet options. But, as it stands for me, it is pretty even between the two. Should there be any problems with Directv's upcoming satellite launch I will be forced to switch back to TWC because they have really stepped up their HD offerings over the past few months.

Go to Lowes, Home Depot, or Menards. Find a roof rake. Mine has three extensions and easily is 25 feet and I do use it to get snow of my dish. You don't need to attach the rake portion but could, instead, duct tape a small broom on the end. You should be golden in getting the snow off. Some people say spray with a super soaker or hose but I don't know where you'd get a super soaker in December and being an apartment dweller you probably don't have a hose.

$2k is a bit much for what you need to spend on a snowblower short of having an extensive driveway in the country somewhere. I believe mine was about $550 2 years ago. I could have ponied up another $50 to get the electric starter but I have no problem pulling the cord. Even still, the $550 was a little more than I wanted to spend but I wanted a highly rated machine and I haven't been disappointed. I haven't looked at the 2-stage models as my driveway is only one car wide so I can get through in 6 passes or so with the single stage

I have a Honda single stage with 4 stroke engine. Bought it 2 years ago and the thing has bailed me out of so many tight spots. I was concerned getting the single stage because my neighborhood in Wauwatosa the houses are quite close together so I thought that I needed some power to shoot the snow to either end of my relatively long driveway and minimize what I had to dump next to my neighbor's house. But no problems. The Honda is great. I recommend the 4 stroke engine because I don't like the mixing of oil and gas. The Honda did an excellent job in the 18 inch storm we had last winter and also held up well in the slushy snow from this week.

Saw Tosca at the Marcus Center last night. I saw everything from jeans to tuxedos. As for Rent, jeans and a sport coat are probably OK. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable sitting in the Marcus Center wearing anything less than khaki's but that is me. I am a 30 year old male for reference. I am going to see Rent at the Marcus Center on Wednesday night so if you could post a review of the show I'd be very interested in reading it.

Nice writeup at onmilwaukee.com. I am going to try and check out the show. I liked your mention of Heathrow as they are one of my favorite local acts.

Since I have seen a couple of radio guys mentioned(I do realize that this is a TV thread) I am going to throw Larry McCarren's name out there. He does provide some decent game analysis but during big plays he is in Ron Santo territory. I never realized all the disdain for Joe Buck. I have always thought that he is pretty good but I guess that I do get the lack of excitement on his end. But worst TV team is any one that includes Tony Siragusa. Now, if anyone wants to start a "best of" thread I have a couple ideas for that one

Looks like the Yankees have the highest total viewers with the Red Sox having the highest overall rating. I am surprised to see the Brewers in line with some larger markets while at the same time with attendance on pace to break records. When the Crew is in MKE the total percentage of the local population either watching the game on TV or in person must be off the charts.

Ok, TWC not only is showing the game on FSN it also isn't blacking out the MLB Network broadcast...The first time this happens during the regular season this Directv customer becomes a TWC customer.

Yes, I also very much appreciate your commentary OWBC. Can I commission you to assist with the weather forecast for my upcoming July nuptials? It will be an outdoor ceremony so I am hoping not to have to make a post in the Wisconsin Winter Weather thread at that time.

Would've thought that we were done with this thread for the year but the latest reports are for more snow this weekend in Southeast Wisconsin. According noaa.gov the MKE area is in store for 3-6 inches? I can't always understand the Forecast Discussion section but I saw some references in there for a possible 8 inches in MKE and possibly 15 inches in the Madison area. Is anyone else hearing this? At least snow at this time of year won't stick around long.

I have nothing to back me up on this but my impression as to why the 400 level was always full of drunken debauchery on opening day is because this is where the bars got their group tickets. As everyone knows, this year there are no huge bar groups so maybe that will help? I have sat in just about every section in Miller Park on various opening days and unless you are in the Family Section or sitting near the Doorman, most areas are pretty similar concerning rowdiness. I wouldn't expect the bleachers to be any worse than the majority of the stadium.

I am a Directv subscriber and did not experience any problems with watching the Brewers during the 2008 season (and I watched well into the 100's in terms of numbers of games watched at home). The games on FSN Wisconsin are designated on channel 669 and doesn't jump around. I think that the channel may change on Dish. They also didn't miss any High Def broadcasts last season if that interests you. I also signed up for the Sports Pack in March to get the spring training broadcasts from across MLB. Can't speak for totally for Dish but I have been pretty pleased with Directv.

I've got a BBA from UWM and an MBA from Marquette. I found the MBA program at Marquette to be pretty good and they do a nice job of catering to part-time students who also work. I think that UWM is the same way. The only real difference for me was that I wanted to see a different perspective when I finished with UWM but still wanted to stay local and that is why I went with Marquette. I did work for 3 years between undergrad and grad school which I think was extremely beneficial. I think that having an MBA is a good thing but employers also want experience too. Plus, working for a few years provides a good perspective to draw on with the MBA program. Just my two cents. But to answer your original question I can speak for Marquette and give them a thumbs up but I think UWM does a decent job as well.