wii | Croncast - From Cool to Cul De Sac

How to Add Wii Friend Code redux

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:19:22 -0600

About a year ago I created this video and posted in on YouTube to demonstrate how to add a Wii friend code. Since then it has had 12,000+ views and a comments thread that has about 250 friend codes. So if you want to find some new friends fast it's not a bad place to get some codes.

Tags: Wii find code how to friend codes

ready to play wii - via twitter

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:22:48 -0600

i haven't played the wii in months but "the man" fired up bowling. it is a father's duty to lose.

Tags: wii bowling old man

Bored at the airport

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 10:13:22 -0500

Nerd date: 10:01 am Sept. 16, 2007

Glad to have a flight out today and even more happy that of is a non-stop to SFO.

Gate seats are hard. I have designed airport of future in my mind. Includes: arcade for adults (wii), gate seats with footrest and slight recline, free secure wi-fi, security line for newbs, kid play areas and bigger seats on planes (not airport specific but damn would be nice.

Tags: airport comfort bigger airplane seats gate seats wii secure wi-fi

I uploaded a zillion (285) pics this week

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:03:14 -0500

Earlier this week I added a ton of photos to our flickr account.

Sets include:

Acquiring Slowsky
Trading the Scion xB
Riverwalk Halloween 2006
Navy Pier Easter 2007
Wii Tournament
holiday set for betsy

Our flickr page, Our flickr feed

Tags: croncast flickr croncast photos betsy smith kris smith

We'll be short a Naper nerd

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:05:44 -0500

I'm not going to get all sappy . . . Rick, Robin and the kids are moving on.

That Wii boxing champion trophy should get you some nerd cred at the new office!

Tags: Naperville nerds Rick Klau Robin Klau Wii trophy Wii boxing champ

Let's get ready to rumble

Fri, 04 May 2007 11:17:00 -0500

Fellow Naperville nerd buddy Rick has set the stage for a nerd night out like no other. I'm pretty excited about this one since it will involve punching . . . De La Hoya vs. Mayweather tomorrow night.

When do nerds ever resolve to hit one another? It's almost as rare as a albino rhino. "Huh huh, I'll use my Google juice against you. Or I'll unleash some proxy based email storm upon you. Heh he, heh he."

Maybe we can do some Wii boxing and Rick will give me a chance at the title? Hmmmm . . .

Tags: De La Hoya Mayweather set the stage title fight Wii boxing

Reuters shares my sweat with world

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:39:29 -0600

The Reuters article came out yesterday morning about Wii parties.

It was cool not because Mike and I were quoted but that my sweaty 32 year old body got a nod. All deduced by reporter Nichola Groom from Flickr photos and an enthused nerd happy to talk about his Wii.

"At the end of the night, Smith, 32, was sweaty, exhausted, and completely sold on buying a Wii for himself. "

If had known that the article would have started with my name I would have changed it to something cool like Dirk Challenger.

Here's the invite if you'd like to check it out.

Tags: Nintendo Wii party Nichola Groom Reuters Kris Smith Mike Marusin sweaty 32

Betsy and her husband Kris Feb 02, 2007

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 07:27:59 -0600

Croncast - 2007-02-02.mp3

Show: #334
Length: 34:16
Size: 23.5mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris February 02, 2007

Nick T rating of 4

Nick T rating system:
Scale: 1 = Safe for everyone
Scale: 2 = Some parental guidance
Scale: 3 = Maybe this is for 12+
Scale: 4 = Not legal? Probably not for you - Adult themes (like HBO series)
Scale: 5 = Only safe for Betsy's dad

The jokey who left the 300th comment on the Wii Friend Code post
1 (900) Wii-Code
Getting them on the line to chat about their code
Anybody here? Anybody here? Anybody here?
I'm here . . . Now refresh
Betsy shook me down for old equipment to sell on eBay
She sold my brown Zune to some sorry soul
Yeah, I thought it sucked
Next to the Netgear SPH101 Skype phone it was the worst
iTunes is so far ahead of where Microsoft wants to be
The store is a science . . . MS doesn't have a chance starting so far behind
Urge? Yeah, urge to puke . . . urge to bodily
She also sold my DBX compressor/limiter/gate thing
Sold to the Columbus Arts Council
Betsy, "I have a new business idea."
Rows of monitors like head stones staring at you
Maybe they need parts
If I can sell it, it doesn't matter if it was free to me
"Free to Me" to be Betsy's autobiography title
Haven't you said about 100 times that you are going to do that
Land of Nod trip for the purse business
Is this a purse business anymore?
It's back to any hustle that you can get?
Yes, you're right Bears
Manipulating the Land of Nod staff with crying babies
The best day is to go the first day of the month for mark downs
Why it is no longer a purse business
What people expect in our basement . . . it is underwhelming
The Wii article ran in Reuters and then got picked up in many places
Betsy reads the article
"If you have ever picked you nose or punched someone . . . "
I am so embarrassed
What a 32 year old tool
Bernadette says, "Have you thought of horses?"
We know how that would go
Needle in the balls and bullet in the head
Betsy says they still cap them
Dramatic ending needed for champions
Maybe back in 1930 they shot them
FFA, the sheep and the shotgun . . . tell it Betsy
The big dollar sheep showing check
You were chasing the wrong poontang in high school, Kris
Those beefy farm chicks had mad cash

Tags: brown Zune FFA sheep Netgear SPH101 Columbus Arts Council Free to Me

Betsy and her husband Kris Jan 31, 2007

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:29:56 -0600

Croncast - 2007-01-31.mp3

Show: #333
Length: 21:08
Size: 14.5mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris January 31, 2007

Well, there's not much to say.

This counts as a show but one that Betsy and me would both rather forget. We recorded 7 shows last night each worse than the last. We've never had a night like this when recording since we began the show.

It was like a bad hair day . . . 2 hours of work and not much to show for it except a coiffed do someplace just East of Donald Trump.

Tags: Nick T rating system Wii torunament wii party naperville Mike Marusin Rick Klau

Betsy and her husband Kris Jan 22, 2007

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:13:49 -0600

Croncast - 2007-01-22.mp3

Show: #330
Length: 33:22
Size: 22.9mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris January 22, 2007

Today's show is brought to you by Henry Busby
Kris thought he would be cool and Betsy shoots him down immediately
Yes, it wasn't that cool
Leaving comments at Croncast, please do
Wii comments on the Wii friend code post
"I love my Wii," Betsy
You're trying to steal my thunder
I'm gonna pick up this dusty Wii and go pro
Betsy plays tennis for 2 hours and makes it
Something fabulous should happen when you make it pro right?
Betsy makes tennis pro
Tiny little start!
Shave 10 pounds off my Wii
Betsy's Mii is too lifelike
Kris did a great job making her Wii
I didn't do anything to it that would make it out of the ordinary
No clue as to what you're husband would change about you
"It looks just like me"
Wii tournament is next weekend
Betsy is going to auction off all my old electronic equipment on eBay
The Zune . . . I have to have it for a corporate client
Nobody is going to use it, but the lucky winner of my auction will
You are the worst with money Mr. B
Brown is not cool
I can't believe you bought a brown one
Can you imagine wearing this brown brick on your hip at the club working out?
It's a step away from the normal colors
Has design sensibilities
The broken iMac
Betsy starts the swearing fit
Nick T is real . . . his mom left us a message, right on!
Slowsky's spirit is back and haunting Betsy's new car
Betsy can't hold it together with car guys
The dealer says they can't get up in for a week . . . right
The haunting continues
Is that normal to happen with a car that has 3700 miles on it?
Did you spill something in it, mam?
Betsy escalates with the car guy immediately
Kris steps in to slow it down
So Volvo of Lisle supposedly fixed the car
If you want us to wash your car it will take another 20 minutes
The sign said it would be clean when I got it back
And the dealer wouldn't give me a loaner car
Betsy goes out with a friend Saturday night
Tries to start the car that she picked up 7 hours before
The car won't come out of park again
It is now abandoned at her friends condo complex
THE CAR IS BRAND NEW!
Her friend tells her it is a lemon
Volvo roadside assistance will be called Monday morning
Do you know the effort it is going to take?
You're telling me that I need to start the Slowsky saga all over again
Hoping that this is a symptom of a greater problem
Well, Zues peed on someone again . . . she was pregnant
She's going to fall and give birth in a puddle of dog urine
And Betsy bolted

Tags: Henry Busby Volvo of Lisle Volvo V70 Volvo Lemon Brown Zune

How to add a Wii friend code

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:44:44 -0600

After all the chatter on the Wii friend code post I created two screencasts:

1) How to find your Wii friend code. (download format: mp4 size: 4mb) YouTube

2) How to add a Wii friend code. (download format: mp4 size: 12.8mb) You Tube

Tags: How to find your Wii friend code wii screencast Wii friend code wii on youtube Croncast

Wii Sports Pack, unofficial but cool

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:43:31 -0600

WiiNewz.com has a review of the 'Wii Sports Pack' from a Hong Kong manufacturer called Brando. Pretty cool.

No boxing gloves yet but I am sure that day will be soon.

Tags: Brando Wii Newz Wii Sports Pack Hong Kong manufacturer wii boxing gloves

Real French Maids tracking web buzz

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:04:21 -0600

Google translate sends us a visitor (see what we look like in French), awesome. Was it wii friend code, john elway dodge, beck, dr. oz?

Nope. I believe it was a real French Maid (I am only guessing, but I think it is a socialist French Maid union of some type) tracking internet buzz about 'French Maids'. It is possible that they have hired a new web savvy maid that doubles as a secret agent consultant to ensure that her fellow sisters around the globe are being treated well.

So, Tim, you better look out. Soon your maids are going to organize and might just want benefits beyond tight polyester outfits and internet fame. Good luck my friend.

Tags: French Maid TV FrenchMaidTV Tim Street French Maid Union secret agent

Betsy and her husband Kris Jan 12, 2007

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 05:54:34 -0600

Croncast - 2007-01-12.mp3

Show: #326
Length: 34:30
Size: 23.7mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris January 12, 2007

Today's show is brought to you by Ben Witt.
Also brought to you Black Box wine . . . just cause Betsy finds so delicious
Melissa is back with us again for a special show
She is going to sign up to be the Brockway Girl (I would link this up but the links are broken to their own promotion)
Melissa works at the group home that we collected and you donated dough to
She came on to thank everyone and get Betsy's hook up help
"Geek husbands are the best," Betsy
I'm not like them. Do you want to come over and play Wii with me?
I smiled and nodded but I really wasn't interested in it
You want me to what?
If you enjoy single life you will enjoy being married to a geek
Their direct deposit goes into your account
Nerds are loyal and won't disappear with your neighbor
Give'em lots of cereal
Mc Donald's gift card and no allowance
Getting your nerd 'sun like' light from special bulbs
Can we throw your photo on the site?
Hotter to every nerd . . . pic in front of mic
Not that I have been home thinking about it
Betsy has a master plan for Melissa
A beer girl to?
In Germany Kris could apply to be a beer girl and win
She should win because her last name is Brockway

"I don't know why you don't have a harem," Betsy
Melissa doesn't understand search engine results
She reads some of our search engine hits for the last 4 days

Girls gone wild, spice channel, nipples, girls gone wild on airplane, Hot pic french maid, full body corset, animal husband, Dr. Oz gain an inch,Goodwill store commercials, drink drano, canker, RSS girls gone wild, cuffs, sexy fifties, issues with john elway dodge, betsy porn, "vasectomy didn't work"

So that is how the world finds us
Getting a vasectomy in Tijuana
I don't where a t-shirt that says I have hang-ups
Even if he sees his friends from online he wouldn't know who they are
Look at Kris, that is the geek defense
You'll understand someday
I came on the show to thank everybody for everything that they gave to us
We had the best Christmas at the Lisle group home
The best one that we have had with them ever
Thank you to your listeners!
Today is Kris's last khaki pant day, it is over
Kris, you have to shower everyday . . . you'll get stars on your page
Wii tournament January 27th

Tags: Ben Witt Brockway Girl Brockway Chophouse geek husbands Wii tournament

Betsy and her husband Kris Jan 08, 2007

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 07:33:02 -0600

Croncast - 2007-01-08.mp3

Show: #324
Length: 30:02
Size: 20.6mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris January 08, 2007

Today's show is brought to you by Robert Sullivan.
The big news is that the show is now Betsy only!
So today we are going to talk about plushies
1/2 on why you shouldn't buy plushie smurf's
Buy the PVC ones they are good
OK Kris is still here
Betsy says that I make is all drama
Tell the people what the news is!
BMX'n baldie that is close
This is the third new job . . . did I give it away?
I got a new gig!!!!
Podcasting and coding full time from home in my basement
I answered one of those signs by the road . . . not really
Mommy will need some alone time
I'm here. That was my commute up the stairs
Kris, you have to reign in your workaholic ways
I have had the two jobs for long
It was time to slow down and focus my career
One job dedicated to distance education and one for myself podcasting
I say, "stoked" 50 times during this bit
Stay at home working out of the basement, you're already dead pale
You haven't been on the Wii in a week
This has been going on for a while
The ball has been rolling but it had to fall into place just right
Business transactions that had to work
Do you have a title? Nope
The cards are on the way
If I wanna be with the man I can be a VP of something
Man, it goes on and on
We flew out and looked at houses
That's hilarious, Kris . . . didn't you listen to our vacation shows?
Boulder is a world apart from Denver
Celebrating Betsy's birthday two days early
Her mom and her sister celebrated . . . I sat there with no gift
Who are your customers for the purses?
Not me . . . ladies like me are Stone Mountain bitches
Her mom wants to go on a QVC tour for vacation
The matching outfit from the hanger trip
Friday night . . . oh Betsy . . . invited to a gallery, dressed for bingo
Asking for your husband's help to dress
Granny grey wool pants, purple sweater with yarn hanging from it
Betsy looking very 1991
The dopey brown shoes capped it off
"I'm ready bear," baby the bingo outfit isn't going to cut it
What do you have that is black?
So Betsy wore her mom's clothes
Left to her own devices she would be in trouble
"Why did you like it so much Bears"
"Uh, you brushed your hair."
Dress up nothing, not even a match about her velure suit

Tags: velure suit Stone Mountain pants QVC tour PVC Smurf Robert Sullivan

Betsy and her husband Kris Dec 25, 2006

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 07:02:52 -0600

Croncast - 2006-12-25.mp3

Show: #318
Length: 30:56
Size: 21.2 mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris December 25, 2006

Today's show is brought to you by The Zeliffs
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Yup, a Christmas day show for those who celebrate and those who don't
We celebrate on Christmas Eve
How come the phone is ringing?
Why are neighbors stopping by?
Oh yeah
The beaten turkey a few years ago
Returned the meat to the store
He wasn't part of the status quo
He wants to be free-range
Beat him in front of the other turkeys make sure they see it
The group home kids are opening their stuff right now
Thanks to you guys who donated for the cause
Not wanting to get official
We just wanted to collect the money
Now we have some ChildServ corporate listeners
Back to Christmas . . . wasn't my dinner spectacular
Tackling the gifts that have been waiting
Pulling Christmas names
They would brawl . . . they could do it on the Wii
I go first, no you go first . . . my dad would trip on the way down the stairs
Now there are all these people and kids
Kris why are you being such an asshole
Have you ever had to take an intermission with gift opening?
We'll have to rethink it
Opening gifts all at the same time
I'm gonna get cake . . . who wants cake?
Could have gotten the kids two things
Digital picture prints for Betsy
When you're a mom you can't go through all the digital photos to print
Pictures of everyone
Worst hair choices for the past few years
Betsy sees the short hair picture and says lemme do it again
Dangly earings, denim jacket and Indigo Girls in the back ground
Patches of Mr. B hair all over the place
Betsy had blocked it out of her memory
What a bad decision
It's not even a pretty color it is dirt brown
Hair today gone tomorrow gift certificate
The investment in head shaving
Red for a couple days . . . it's hat season
Us bald guys we get chilly
Why would I want my eyebrows done
The in between part
Self-image change
It's a Van Dyke not a Goatee . . . it can't be
The sizes need to be set for the daddies who are shopping at the last minute
What about earings?
No I asked for a ring with nothing sticking up
No, no, no I just need a ring
The fact that it doesn't fit is not cool
Unique like my baby
Return it and go to Costco
Hey Mr. B . . . thanks for your gift . . . I'd like to return it . . . Let's go to Costco
Yeah, yeah, no, no you can't do that
Just get sized
Maybe that hurt my feelings a bit
Dry cleaning chemicals are really Febreeze
I loved your present Mr. B
Gotta give it up so I'm not into it out of love
I tore it up on my ribs
I rolled over in the middle of the night and I whimpered
If you wanna be a boxer grow some balls
I'm knocking you out
Pictures straight from the Wii
Adding all of your Wii Friend Codes
Like a build a bear
What are the Pagans doing?
Better yet what are the Universalist Unitarians?
Dancing around the saturnalia tree

Tags: Wii Friend Code free-rang turkey digital prints saturnalia tree dangly earings

AVerTV Cardbus E501 working with Media Center

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:21:08 -0600

All that I wanted was to capture our Mii characters in video and not have to take a picture of the TV screen. That is it. Simple. Just get a video feed into my computer and take a screen shot. Thanks to Microsoft Media Center this is impossible.

Why, you ask? It turns out that Media Center won't accept a feed from a device that isn't spitting out it's source from a controller box of some type or antennae. Like the ones used for cable, satellite or a direct from the sky. Forget your auxiliary input for a gaming console.

After a couple of hours and a null progress report I picked up the keys and went over to Tiger Direct and picked up an AVerTV Cardbus E501 for my laptop . . . initially I was thinking PCI card but something that was portable would be cooler.

This is what I get for trying to be cool.

Two hours after arriving home with the card and following the installation directions to the letter, uninstalling the drivers (just like the directions say), rebooting, downloading new drivers, installing new drivers, rebooting, installing capture software, rebooting, opening software for this error "The TV capture device drivers are installed incorrectly" . . . WTF, again? See, my laptop is also running XP Media Center Edition.

You get the idea. From the pic above I am sure that you can see that I got the card working but here's what it took:

1) Searching for AVerTV Cardbus and finding out that it won't work with Media Center and their is a special card for this, not mine
2) Doing the uninstall, reboot, reinstall thing a couple more times
3) I try the last thing that might work, install the drivers for the AVerTV Cardbus MCE
4) It worked

So if you bought the AVerTV Cardbus and need to get it working on your MCE laptop maybe you'll find this post and just download install E502 set of drivers from the start and skip the included CD.

Tags: AVerTV Cardbus AVerTV Cardbus MCE AVerMedia Cardbus E501 media Center pcmcia tv tuner Aver Media