DVD question answered

Was the PAL/NTSC thing. Encoded the same disc in NTSC format and it worked great. I have to say I'm impressed at how good these little .wmv & .avi movies look full screen on a TV. No worse that a show taped off of TV.
Of course I've now figured out I'm going to need around 35+ DVDs just to burn all my Top Gear episodes. Nevermind the MST3k, etc.

Timing

...it is what humor is all about.

  There has been this large dual-axle flatbed trailer parked across from our house on and off for the last couple weeks. The owner doesn't move it during the half the week you're supposed to park on the alternate side. It is wide enough to seriously hamper cars trying to pass, and makes getting out of our driveway a pain.

  Today a pair of police cars were parked in front of our place (opposite the trailer) as the two officers called for a tow truck and filled out the paperwork to have it towed for illegal parking. While the officers were waiting, a UPS truck tried to pass between the cruisers and trailer. And clipped the trailer.

  The cops helped guide the driver clear of the trailer, then told him to just keep going.

  I was quite amused. I have a feeling the owner of the trailer is going to have a hard time getting it back without some pretty hefty fines.