No, Michael Portillo wasn't arrested for downloading kiddie porn. I think John Major made the comment that the Conservatives didn't invent sex in regard to scandals, which I just wanted to say even though it isn't really relevant to this post. Michael Portillo is an upstanding chap: maybe a touch boring, but upstanding.
This refers to my being a bit of an anoraky train enthusiast (not to the extent of train spotting) and wanting a copy of the complete Great British Railway Journeys presented by Michael Portillo. I had downloaded the series from iPlayer, but found out two episodes were unwatchable after it had expired. One, Todmorden to York, had been available in a signed version, but I find signing distracting. Anyway, 14 of the 20 were downloaded in hi-def and it's so interesting to know that the ticket he buys in the opening sequence is from Exeter St. David's to Exeter Central. Also, you get to see all the grafitti on the viaduct in the same opening sequence when you see it in hi-def!
Seriously, I felt that I wanted the whole series complete and in hi-def and it was no longer available through the "official channels", iplayer and just plain off buying it (Likewise The Truth About Christmas Carols is also history meaning that I have to suffer with a low def version--unless the Beeb rebroadcasts it next year). What does one do in such a circumstance?
One goes to the internet and hopes to find a download, which is possible for some popular programmes (e.g., Torchwood, Doctor Who, Being Human, Hotter than my Daughter, and so on). Less so for the arcane (e.g., The Truth About Christmas Carols and Great British Railway Journeys). Actually, Great British Railway Journeys was available on a torrent site, which is where my story takes me.
It seems that P2P technology is an up and coming area in the Child Pornography world. Pornography (and child pornography) has always been available on the internet. Clever distributors have used P2P as a method for sharing this stuff. Quite possibly, very clever ones could hide their wares under titles such as Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys or some other innocuous title.
US v. Borowy details how the kiddie porn images are red flagged. It also mentions how Borowy used LimeWire (a P2P sharing programme) to download this stuff. Furthermore, the fact that one is using P2P to open up your computer to share files means that you are giving up a privacy right. Not that you aren't waving a red flag to law enforcement by downloading this stuff anyway. I'd like to think that one could claim innocence if you truly thought you were downloading Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys and found yourself watching something revolting instead.
Common wisdom is that you immediately delete the files with some sort of secure wiping software the moment you realise that you are not watching Michael Portillo and the shock wears off. I am not sure how long a period of grace exists for the shock to wear off, but hope that it doesn't linger more than a couple of hours, or the time it takes for the heat to secure a search warrant. I do like to say that common wisdom isn't always good legal advice, but it won't hurt if you are a truly innocent train enthusiast with a love of Bradshaw's Railway Time Tables and their applicability to modern Britain..
My point is that most of my clients use P2P file sharing in a more menacing way than just downloading songs in the mistaken belief that they won't get nabbed. The reality is that these images are red flags to law enforcement. Law enforcement's software is such that nabbing kiddie porn enthusiasts is akin to catching fish in a well stocked barrel. They have their hands full with people downloading vast quantitites of images. You aren't really anonymous when you do P2P. For example, bit torrent has the possiblity of obtaining the IP addresses of all current, and possibly previous, participants in a swarm from the torrent's tracker.
Unlike music file sharing, law enforcement is down on the kiddie porn crowd like flies on shit. So, BEWARE!
Showing posts with label BBC iplayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC iplayer. Show all posts
02 March 2010
26 February 2010
BBC Top Tweet!
It came to my attention that the BBC (yes, THE British Broadcasting Corporation) is one of the top tweets. One source said it was number one and the other at 6th and 8th position. Perhaps source one combined the second sources tweets to give the Beeb number one status. Either way, I had to verify this weird factoid as a lifelong Beeb fan.
Nevermind that the Beeb itself says that Twitter tweets are 40% 'babble'. I also become a true Luddite when it comes to things such as Twitter. I am a quasi-Luddite when it comes to modern technology, grudgingly accepting some things (e.g., computers, blogs, and e-mail). Otherwise going whole hog about things such as the internet, MP3 players, and PVRs (I include iPlayer in that category). Anything which gives me access to "Culture" wherever I may be is more than acceptable to me. The BBC's motto is "Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation" which strikes a chord in me.
Anyway, part of the reason for all the Tweets is that the BBC has announced budget cutbacks. It has proposed closing two radio stations (The closing of Radio 6 causing a fair amount of tweets), half its website, and cut spending heavily on imported American programmes (not much of a loss in my opinion) in an overhaul of services to be announced next month.
Personally, I think the Beeb should introduce external licence fees for all those people who use proxy server to access iPlayer from outside the UK. Sure, there's a get out clause about people who watch delayed programmes which is hinted at in this blurb:
Anyway, The people using iPlayer as more than just a "catch up service", but as their primary source for receiving the Beeb should be able to access the service directly. Of course, that gets in to all those DRM aspects that I personally detest: in particular, region coded DVDs (or other region blocked material). There are so many ways to get around these things that most Blu-Ray discs AREN'T region coded. So, region coding with me is a topic that truly raises my hackles, but it is also very easy to circumvent. Information should be without borders: especially music and other artistic performances.
So, if the good people at the Beeb would listen to me, maybe they may consider making iPlayer a pay service without borders and time limits. How many Americans are going to want to watch Rab C. Nesbitt? Better yet, how many can understand what he's saying? It's idiotic to make Rab C. Nesbitt DVDs (or other shows with "limited appeal") region coded to the UK or Antipodes (DVD regions 2 and 4). And BBC America is a joke (along with being part of the Discovery Network). If the Beeb won't look to other sources of income, they should stop bitching about licence fees.
Or being broke.
Personally, I'd pay to be able to download from iPlayer if they would cut the DRM crap. Otherwise, get-iplayer does the trick quite nicely for me: especially since get_iplayer gets rid of the DRM!
Nevermind that the Beeb itself says that Twitter tweets are 40% 'babble'. I also become a true Luddite when it comes to things such as Twitter. I am a quasi-Luddite when it comes to modern technology, grudgingly accepting some things (e.g., computers, blogs, and e-mail). Otherwise going whole hog about things such as the internet, MP3 players, and PVRs (I include iPlayer in that category). Anything which gives me access to "Culture" wherever I may be is more than acceptable to me. The BBC's motto is "Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation" which strikes a chord in me.
Anyway, part of the reason for all the Tweets is that the BBC has announced budget cutbacks. It has proposed closing two radio stations (The closing of Radio 6 causing a fair amount of tweets), half its website, and cut spending heavily on imported American programmes (not much of a loss in my opinion) in an overhaul of services to be announced next month.
Personally, I think the Beeb should introduce external licence fees for all those people who use proxy server to access iPlayer from outside the UK. Sure, there's a get out clause about people who watch delayed programmes which is hinted at in this blurb:
If you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV you must, by law, be covered by a TV Licence, no matter what device you're using.Go a little further on the licencing fees website and you see:
However, you don’t need to be covered by a licence if you’re only using ‘on-demand’ services to watch programmes after they have been shown on TV. So, you need a licence to watch any channel live online, but you wouldn’t need one to use BBC iPlayer to catch up on an episode of a programme you missed, for example.Although, I did have a detector van person knock on my door and ask if I had a Television 20 years ago. I told him that I didn't, but I did have a computer. That was before access to the internet was widespread. Britain didn't have much in the ways of dial-up BBSs either at that time. Soooo...
Anyway, The people using iPlayer as more than just a "catch up service", but as their primary source for receiving the Beeb should be able to access the service directly. Of course, that gets in to all those DRM aspects that I personally detest: in particular, region coded DVDs (or other region blocked material). There are so many ways to get around these things that most Blu-Ray discs AREN'T region coded. So, region coding with me is a topic that truly raises my hackles, but it is also very easy to circumvent. Information should be without borders: especially music and other artistic performances.
So, if the good people at the Beeb would listen to me, maybe they may consider making iPlayer a pay service without borders and time limits. How many Americans are going to want to watch Rab C. Nesbitt? Better yet, how many can understand what he's saying? It's idiotic to make Rab C. Nesbitt DVDs (or other shows with "limited appeal") region coded to the UK or Antipodes (DVD regions 2 and 4). And BBC America is a joke (along with being part of the Discovery Network). If the Beeb won't look to other sources of income, they should stop bitching about licence fees.
Or being broke.
Personally, I'd pay to be able to download from iPlayer if they would cut the DRM crap. Otherwise, get-iplayer does the trick quite nicely for me: especially since get_iplayer gets rid of the DRM!
06 February 2010
Avoiding the Superbowl!
Mudflap Bubbas was curious about my comment:
Ah, the joys of the new technology! In particular, the Joy of BBC iPlayer and the internet.
Find something such as Radio Nederland or some other world service (I can't comment on al-Jazerra, but they may be a good source of entertainment) and stay away form US media. Also, DVDs that don't feature the Superbowl. Although, my bliss was destroyed in 1986 when I was in Bonaire and the BBC World Service announced the Superbowl Score.
You can be safe by avoiding any mass media outlet and be your own source of entertainment for the weekend. But here are some suggestions for American Souls who don't want to watch the Superbowl:
al-Jazerra--It's the 31st Anniversay of the Islamic takeover in Iran, perhaps you will be treated to them burning football players in effigy
BBC iPlayer
ITV has a similar service to iPlayer where you can watch Secret Diary of a Call Girl and similar trash!
Channel 4 has 4oD: Channel 4 is a weird hybrid of the Beeb and ITV which means it can have gems such as Time Team along with crap such as Desperate Housewives.
Someone once said there were around 176 Time Team episodes out there, which means you could have a marathon watching them all on 4oD. Although, you may have dreams about Baldric having a cunning plan to dig up your back garden (Tony Robinson, aka Baldric from Black Adder, is the Time Team presenter).
It seems that PBS also has a Time Team.
I have literally traveled to the ends of the world to avoid the superbowl only to hear the results broadcast on foreign shortwave. I think I have managed to find a way to avoid it this year.She asked: How did you manage to get away from all the Super Bowl stuff? I am really curious. Find a secluded cave that you need to share with some of us?
Ah, the joys of the new technology! In particular, the Joy of BBC iPlayer and the internet.
Find something such as Radio Nederland or some other world service (I can't comment on al-Jazerra, but they may be a good source of entertainment) and stay away form US media. Also, DVDs that don't feature the Superbowl. Although, my bliss was destroyed in 1986 when I was in Bonaire and the BBC World Service announced the Superbowl Score.
You can be safe by avoiding any mass media outlet and be your own source of entertainment for the weekend. But here are some suggestions for American Souls who don't want to watch the Superbowl:
al-Jazerra--It's the 31st Anniversay of the Islamic takeover in Iran, perhaps you will be treated to them burning football players in effigy
BBC iPlayer
ITV has a similar service to iPlayer where you can watch Secret Diary of a Call Girl and similar trash!
Channel 4 has 4oD: Channel 4 is a weird hybrid of the Beeb and ITV which means it can have gems such as Time Team along with crap such as Desperate Housewives.
Someone once said there were around 176 Time Team episodes out there, which means you could have a marathon watching them all on 4oD. Although, you may have dreams about Baldric having a cunning plan to dig up your back garden (Tony Robinson, aka Baldric from Black Adder, is the Time Team presenter).
It seems that PBS also has a Time Team.
02 February 2010
Raiding the BBC Archives: DRM, iPlayer, and other things
Anyone familiar with UK TV knows that the powers that be were terrible about archiving shows. It was common UK television practice up until the late 1970s to destroy videotapes because of agreements with actors' and musicians' unions that limited the number of repeats. Fortunately, the policy of wiping recordings ceased in 1978. When Peter Cook learned the series Not Only... But Also was to be destroyed, he offered to buy the tapes from the BBC but was refused because of copyright issues. He then suggested that he purchase new tapes, so that the BBC would have no need to erase the originals, but inexplicably this was also turned down. We are fortunate that some series managed to survive this dark period of ignorance. I believe that some programmes, such as Doctor Who and the Goon Show managed to survive because the tapes were shipped to other countries that were more enlightened regarding archiving (e.g., Canada and Australia).
This wasn't just a UK problem since Lathe of Heaven had various issues regarding its rebroadcast, this was despite it being the most requested PBS programme of all time. Even the remake had to have the Beatles "A Little help from My Friends" redone to enable the show's rerelease. WNET has not said how much it cost to re-release Lathe of Heaven, stating simply that it "wasn't cheap," and that hopefully royalties would help recoup the expense.
Anyway, This comes from one issue I have with iPlayer: they don't archive the shows for very long. The 7 day limit is annoying: especially when they rebroadcast the show. Also, the rebroadcast of Hamlet was in standard def rather than hi-def. The good folks at the Beeb have said that they are making the quality of standard programmes better, which they are. But, hi-def is indeed much clearer, which is important when you are watching the programme on a 1080p 37" LCD-TV! Also, some of the later archived versions of iPlayer vids are signed.
Being signed is acceptable if you are deaf, but it's a bit like watching someone playing charades for those who do not sign. This is especially true since the interpreters tend to emote whilst signing. It could be worse, the described programmes for the blind are a bit annoying as well. The Goons used to point out the advantage of the radio for using your imagination. As they would say "try doing that on Television" after some bizarre description of their activities.
You can find Goon Show Scripts here:
http://www.thegoonshow.net/scripts_alpha.asp
If you are too cheap to buy the books.
The next annoyance is DRM, which isn't limited to iPlayer. Neither is it really relevant since there are ways to get around that nonsense. It seems to me that these people could make more money by allowing people to subscribe to the iPlayer service and download away. Better yet, get rid of the geographic restrictions on this material anyway since that can be circumvented as well.
It's a bit like the cartoon where the person is saying "Not many people pirate CDs of Buxtehude" (although I did hear that Tallis's Spem in Alium was pirated as Spam in Allium, or Spam in Garlic in translation--not sure if that was a joke or not after this reference). How many people are going to pirate Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys? Anyway, it seems that regional encoding has gone the way of the Dodo with blu-ray since people who want to watch programmes such as Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys will do so.
Never underestimate a determined Anorak!
This wasn't just a UK problem since Lathe of Heaven had various issues regarding its rebroadcast, this was despite it being the most requested PBS programme of all time. Even the remake had to have the Beatles "A Little help from My Friends" redone to enable the show's rerelease. WNET has not said how much it cost to re-release Lathe of Heaven, stating simply that it "wasn't cheap," and that hopefully royalties would help recoup the expense.
Anyway, This comes from one issue I have with iPlayer: they don't archive the shows for very long. The 7 day limit is annoying: especially when they rebroadcast the show. Also, the rebroadcast of Hamlet was in standard def rather than hi-def. The good folks at the Beeb have said that they are making the quality of standard programmes better, which they are. But, hi-def is indeed much clearer, which is important when you are watching the programme on a 1080p 37" LCD-TV! Also, some of the later archived versions of iPlayer vids are signed.
Being signed is acceptable if you are deaf, but it's a bit like watching someone playing charades for those who do not sign. This is especially true since the interpreters tend to emote whilst signing. It could be worse, the described programmes for the blind are a bit annoying as well. The Goons used to point out the advantage of the radio for using your imagination. As they would say "try doing that on Television" after some bizarre description of their activities.
You can find Goon Show Scripts here:
http://www.thegoonshow.net/scripts_alpha.asp
If you are too cheap to buy the books.
The next annoyance is DRM, which isn't limited to iPlayer. Neither is it really relevant since there are ways to get around that nonsense. It seems to me that these people could make more money by allowing people to subscribe to the iPlayer service and download away. Better yet, get rid of the geographic restrictions on this material anyway since that can be circumvented as well.
It's a bit like the cartoon where the person is saying "Not many people pirate CDs of Buxtehude" (although I did hear that Tallis's Spem in Alium was pirated as Spam in Allium, or Spam in Garlic in translation--not sure if that was a joke or not after this reference). How many people are going to pirate Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys? Anyway, it seems that regional encoding has gone the way of the Dodo with blu-ray since people who want to watch programmes such as Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys will do so.
Never underestimate a determined Anorak!
31 January 2010
The New Toy
I am having great fun with the Cinema Tube, although most of my viewing has been material which is on some form of drive: in particular iPlayer downloads. Get-iPlayer is a whole lot better than the actual BBC iPlayer for the fact that the downloads don't have the annoying DRM. IPlayer's DRM makes no sense, but neither does DRM in general. The particulars of iPlayer DRM being that the downloads must be played within a week if you begin to view the programme. Otherwise, the thing can sit for months so it seems. I have Rick Stein's Christmas Odyssey waiting to be played on the official iPlayer from late December 09!
Although, up and coming goodies are David Tennant's Hamlet is being repeated. I'll download that in hi-def(another complaint about the official iPlayer). There is also a programme, The Virtual Revolution, which is coming up as well that sounds interesting.
Back to iPlayer DRM, the official player blocks the end users ability to do things with DRM, yet get-iPlayer can download the programmes without the DRM. Even better, it can do so in hi-def! The hi-def versions usually play much better than their other versions. In some manner, get-iPlayer does a sound taxi trick to remove the DRM. Nice!
Although, I did record an episode of Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys (Todmorden to York) which was unplayable. Somehow, when the show came to the City walls bit there was this message that the sound had a difference in speed. Not sure what that means. The Beeb's archives mean that this show is only available in a signed version (as opposed to the hi-def versions availble a little while back).
Not sure if the original version can be fixed, but I am going to give it a try.
In future, I will download the flash versions with get-iplayer since they usually come out better.
Well, so much for reviewing the media server software. I'll save that for a future post.
Although, up and coming goodies are David Tennant's Hamlet is being repeated. I'll download that in hi-def(another complaint about the official iPlayer). There is also a programme, The Virtual Revolution, which is coming up as well that sounds interesting.
Back to iPlayer DRM, the official player blocks the end users ability to do things with DRM, yet get-iPlayer can download the programmes without the DRM. Even better, it can do so in hi-def! The hi-def versions usually play much better than their other versions. In some manner, get-iPlayer does a sound taxi trick to remove the DRM. Nice!
Although, I did record an episode of Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys (Todmorden to York) which was unplayable. Somehow, when the show came to the City walls bit there was this message that the sound had a difference in speed. Not sure what that means. The Beeb's archives mean that this show is only available in a signed version (as opposed to the hi-def versions availble a little while back).
Not sure if the original version can be fixed, but I am going to give it a try.
In future, I will download the flash versions with get-iplayer since they usually come out better.
Well, so much for reviewing the media server software. I'll save that for a future post.
29 January 2010
Comments
Since some people I respect, the man with the muckrake and microdot, said they wanted to comment, I am now accepting comments.
That doesn't mean you will see your comments out there. I will enjoy censoring, or even just deleting comments without even bothering reading them from certain people.
The only reason I am doing this is so that I can hear from other iPlayer and media player users!
Now to find the ultimate media server software!
Ha!
That doesn't mean you will see your comments out there. I will enjoy censoring, or even just deleting comments without even bothering reading them from certain people.
The only reason I am doing this is so that I can hear from other iPlayer and media player users!
Now to find the ultimate media server software!
Ha!
General thoughts
It's bizarre that the US has a right to own firearms, but not one to health care. Even more bizarre since the US claims to have this "pro-life" belief.
My Brite-view Cine-tube is on the way! I should be watching it tonight. Yipee!
I learned the command to get hi-def materials from iPlayer using get-iPlayer (get_iplayer --get xxx --mode flashhd --force, with XXX being the programme number). The difference in quality is astounding. And it doesn't have the actual iPlayer DRM: even better!
Comments, I would like to take them, but some people need to learn how to play correctly and share. I think this problem is due to the lack of nannies in the US. The US is seriously lagging behind in the Nanny gap.
The inequality thing is one of a few of topics that has really piqued my curiousity.
The others are control of the media and the lack of railroads, especially high speed ones, in the US.
This neat page of Samuel Johnson Quotes: http://www.samueljohnson.com/index.html
With these neat Quotes on Freedom
Vegetarian sausage and bacon. It is sort of a stretch that I eat turkey sausage and bacon these days, but I still want some animal protein in my diet. I'm not ready to go totally vegetarian.
So, other than being annoyed that the big electronics firms haven't weighed in on the media player thing, I am ready for the weekend. It would be nice if the big electronics firms came up with one of these things that allowed you access to ALL the material on the internet rather than the crappy little programmes out there, such as Playon and TVersity. Milliesoft's tuner free MCE seems to be the best programme out there except it only works in Vista and Windows 7--neither of which I will touch. Next OS I move to will be Ubuntu.
There is a world of material out there so, it doesn't need to be "57 channels and nothing's on".
Now, Who's a clever boy? I have to brag here. Now, see how you match up at the Pew Research Centre's Political Quiz
The ultimate insult, Tony "The Weasel' Blair went in front of the Iraq Inquiry crew this AM. Amusingly enough, he denied that there was a "covert" deal with George Bush--Does that mean the deal was "overt"? I keep thinking of what Kenneth Clarke, MP said that was recorded in the House of Commons Hansard Debates for 26 Feb 2003 (pt 14):
George Monbiot is offering a bounty for "Tony the Weasel's" arrest
Again, it's interesting that similar movements regarding an Iraq inquiry and arrest of Bush and his cronies hasn't taken hold in the more serious segments of US Society.
My Brite-view Cine-tube is on the way! I should be watching it tonight. Yipee!
I learned the command to get hi-def materials from iPlayer using get-iPlayer (get_iplayer --get xxx --mode flashhd --force, with XXX being the programme number). The difference in quality is astounding. And it doesn't have the actual iPlayer DRM: even better!
Comments, I would like to take them, but some people need to learn how to play correctly and share. I think this problem is due to the lack of nannies in the US. The US is seriously lagging behind in the Nanny gap.
The inequality thing is one of a few of topics that has really piqued my curiousity.
The others are control of the media and the lack of railroads, especially high speed ones, in the US.
This neat page of Samuel Johnson Quotes: http://www.samueljohnson.com/index.html
With these neat Quotes on Freedom
248. America/Americans; Freedom; SlaveryI will reiterate something I like to quote, Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary:
"How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?"
Johnson: Taxation No Tyranny
Link
666. America; Freedom; Slavery
"Slavery is now no where more patiently endured, than in countries once inhabited by the zealots of liberty."
Johnson: Idler #11 (June 24, 1758)
In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first.
Vegetarian sausage and bacon. It is sort of a stretch that I eat turkey sausage and bacon these days, but I still want some animal protein in my diet. I'm not ready to go totally vegetarian.
So, other than being annoyed that the big electronics firms haven't weighed in on the media player thing, I am ready for the weekend. It would be nice if the big electronics firms came up with one of these things that allowed you access to ALL the material on the internet rather than the crappy little programmes out there, such as Playon and TVersity. Milliesoft's tuner free MCE seems to be the best programme out there except it only works in Vista and Windows 7--neither of which I will touch. Next OS I move to will be Ubuntu.
There is a world of material out there so, it doesn't need to be "57 channels and nothing's on".
Now, Who's a clever boy? I have to brag here. Now, see how you match up at the Pew Research Centre's Political Quiz
The ultimate insult, Tony "The Weasel' Blair went in front of the Iraq Inquiry crew this AM. Amusingly enough, he denied that there was a "covert" deal with George Bush--Does that mean the deal was "overt"? I keep thinking of what Kenneth Clarke, MP said that was recorded in the House of Commons Hansard Debates for 26 Feb 2003 (pt 14):
Mr. Clarke: We have had 12 years, in two or three of which people have done nothing at all. We have had 11 weeks of the present policy and we must judge whether a few weeks more are required.
Let me make clear the origin of my doubts about the very persuasive case that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary sometimes put. I cannot rid myself of doubts that the course to war upon which we are now embarked was decided on many months ago, primarily in Washington, and there has been a fairly remorseless unfolding of events since that time. I am not alone in having heard and met American politicians of great distinction who gave the impression that a change of regime in Iraq was determined upon long ago and that the use of military force in a pre-emptive strike was justified in order to achieve that. I believe that in most cases the motives have been worthy and they genuinely believe that they are ridding themselves of an evil regime. I do not believe the conspiracy theorists. One can go on to hear theories about the installation of democracy in the Arab world, unfinished business from a previous Administration, and a reaction to the understandable state of political opinion in the United States of America in the aftermath of 11 September.
If war happens in the next few weeks—that is a genuine possibility—hon. Members must ask themselves whether it is legitimate to believe that such action had already been determined and had been remorselessly unfolding for many months. Many people believe that. It is why middle England and those of moderate political opinions have so many doubts. To many of my constituents, the answer to the questions, "Did Washington determine such action many months ago?" and "Could the President seek re-election without war and the removal of Iraq's president?" is as obvious as the reply to "Does the emperor have clothes?" The Government must respond to that formidable case.
George Monbiot is offering a bounty for "Tony the Weasel's" arrest
Again, it's interesting that similar movements regarding an Iraq inquiry and arrest of Bush and his cronies hasn't taken hold in the more serious segments of US Society.
26 January 2010
More Media Player
I have to admit a bit of trepidation about all this, but I've decided to go with the Brite-view Cinema Tube. The trepidation is due to the fact that there could be a newer neater media player coming up in the future. Also, it seems that some blue-ray players have the facility to do some of the streaming feature I want.
This video showed the thing works worldwide:
The Brite-view site mentions that it can access BBC iPlayer via TVersity. There is another service, Playon, that allow you to download content from services such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon VOD. I am not sure how easy it will be to transfer content since it seems one has to use the UPnP interface and other things.
It would be nice to have a simple, idiot proof system though rather than something that requires a lot of time and effort to set up. Even without setup, I can have iPlayer programmes, but it requires downloading through get_iplayer to a computer. It would be nice to stream the iPlayer content directly, and have the Hi-Def option.
Anyway, this appears to be a less expensive method of streaming and viewing my media files than buying another computer.
BTW, I found this software that supposedly gives support for BBC iPlayer programming. Unfortunately, it only appears to work on Vista or Windows 7, neither of which I will touch.
This video showed the thing works worldwide:
The Brite-view site mentions that it can access BBC iPlayer via TVersity. There is another service, Playon, that allow you to download content from services such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon VOD. I am not sure how easy it will be to transfer content since it seems one has to use the UPnP interface and other things.
It would be nice to have a simple, idiot proof system though rather than something that requires a lot of time and effort to set up. Even without setup, I can have iPlayer programmes, but it requires downloading through get_iplayer to a computer. It would be nice to stream the iPlayer content directly, and have the Hi-Def option.
Anyway, this appears to be a less expensive method of streaming and viewing my media files than buying another computer.
BTW, I found this software that supposedly gives support for BBC iPlayer programming. Unfortunately, it only appears to work on Vista or Windows 7, neither of which I will touch.
25 January 2010
Media players
If I had my choice between dealing with ninnies along the lines of MikeW. or dealing with fun things, I prefer the fun things. Fun things usually includes beer and wine, good food, MP3 and other media players.
The last bit because I find that it is easier to stream content from the internet: usually the BBC's iPlayer, Lovefilm.com (a British Netflix alternative), or Amazon downloads.
Usually, I watch and download from a PC I have set up to handle my media files, but that it attached to a TV in a room I would prefer not to use form most of my viewing. Also, I'd rather use that PC for the MP3 files. The problem is that there must be a way to watch all this material without having to buy another computer.
Step in the media player, which is basically a glorified hard drive. The problem is that most of these glorified hard drives can't play a lot of your files. For example, I was watchng a ripped copy of "the Poseidon Adventure" on an iomega media player. The thing was playing only a few chapters and the soundtrack was in Spanish. Likewise, most media players may not read your mp3 files. That sort of thing never happens on a computer.
SO, it's coming up with a media player that can play all your files, but there are also the services such as iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon unbox, Lovefilm.com, and so on that allow you to stream material to your computer either for instant watching or later viewing. I am not too thrilled with iPlayer, but you can find the iPlayer downloads that work using get iPlayer. The get iPlayer downloads are usually for portable devices, but the quality is acceptable. BBC says the quality will get better on these downloads.
OK, there are things such as the Brite-View BV-6000P, Roku, Sumvision Cyclone MKV, SoundBridge, Squeezebox, and so on. The question is which of these is best? I bought a streaming box for my wife to stream movies. It seems that a USB media player would work best for me since I can download programmes via iplayer and move it to a USB drive based player.
So, I am shopping around for a player. Not in any great hurry to get one.
The last bit because I find that it is easier to stream content from the internet: usually the BBC's iPlayer, Lovefilm.com (a British Netflix alternative), or Amazon downloads.
Usually, I watch and download from a PC I have set up to handle my media files, but that it attached to a TV in a room I would prefer not to use form most of my viewing. Also, I'd rather use that PC for the MP3 files. The problem is that there must be a way to watch all this material without having to buy another computer.
Step in the media player, which is basically a glorified hard drive. The problem is that most of these glorified hard drives can't play a lot of your files. For example, I was watchng a ripped copy of "the Poseidon Adventure" on an iomega media player. The thing was playing only a few chapters and the soundtrack was in Spanish. Likewise, most media players may not read your mp3 files. That sort of thing never happens on a computer.
SO, it's coming up with a media player that can play all your files, but there are also the services such as iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon unbox, Lovefilm.com, and so on that allow you to stream material to your computer either for instant watching or later viewing. I am not too thrilled with iPlayer, but you can find the iPlayer downloads that work using get iPlayer. The get iPlayer downloads are usually for portable devices, but the quality is acceptable. BBC says the quality will get better on these downloads.
OK, there are things such as the Brite-View BV-6000P, Roku, Sumvision Cyclone MKV, SoundBridge, Squeezebox, and so on. The question is which of these is best? I bought a streaming box for my wife to stream movies. It seems that a USB media player would work best for me since I can download programmes via iplayer and move it to a USB drive based player.
So, I am shopping around for a player. Not in any great hurry to get one.
21 December 2009
More iPlayer moaning
I am really ticked about the DRM on iplayer material since that seems to bugger up just about everything with the player. Also, I have this thing against DRM in that it makes life miserable for the end user, can still be broken, and really doesn't protect anybody's rights anyway. No, it seems to make playback impossible.
Anyway, I had a problem with iPlayer in that get_iplayer was giving me something about the ITV plugin and not letting me download anything. Fall back position was to use the official Beeb iplayer desktop. Amazingly enough the programmes actually downloaded and seem to have done so completely using the official Beeb iplayer desktop. That was a miracle to behold since usually the official Beeb iplayer downloads act wonky as all get out. What's the point of watching something in "hi-def" if the sucker does all sorts of weird things? On the other hand, the shows download and play when I go off line (Ha!).
Get_iplayer has a lot of advantages over the official Beeb iplayer since it removes the DRM that prevents you from keeping the show longer than one week. The official Beeb iplayer desktop has a week's limit to how long you can watch something before you have to redownload it. Also, the the official Beeb iplayer desktop downloads aren't portable (can't move them between computers). Moving the downloads creates all sorts of problems. That's unfortunate since once computer is hardwired and the other is wireless. The hardwired computer downloads stuff in about a 10th of the time.
Anyway, all is well, but I truly wish the Beeb would drop the DRM on the iPlayer downloads since it doesn't do anyone any good.
Anyway, I had a problem with iPlayer in that get_iplayer was giving me something about the ITV plugin and not letting me download anything. Fall back position was to use the official Beeb iplayer desktop. Amazingly enough the programmes actually downloaded and seem to have done so completely using the official Beeb iplayer desktop. That was a miracle to behold since usually the official Beeb iplayer downloads act wonky as all get out. What's the point of watching something in "hi-def" if the sucker does all sorts of weird things? On the other hand, the shows download and play when I go off line (Ha!).
Get_iplayer has a lot of advantages over the official Beeb iplayer since it removes the DRM that prevents you from keeping the show longer than one week. The official Beeb iplayer desktop has a week's limit to how long you can watch something before you have to redownload it. Also, the the official Beeb iplayer desktop downloads aren't portable (can't move them between computers). Moving the downloads creates all sorts of problems. That's unfortunate since once computer is hardwired and the other is wireless. The hardwired computer downloads stuff in about a 10th of the time.
Anyway, all is well, but I truly wish the Beeb would drop the DRM on the iPlayer downloads since it doesn't do anyone any good.
19 December 2009
BBC iPlayer
I really like iPlayer since it allows me to catch BBC programmes and watch them when I want. Although I have some frustrations with the player not always downloading correctly, especially through the actual iPlayer desktop. My hardwired connection can download faster than my wireless, but I can't transfer shows since they tend to stop midway. A programme called get_iplayer is much better for downloading and doesn't have some of the associated iPlayer drawbacks.
Get_iplayer finds the "portable device" version of the show. I find that version is less buggy than the actual iPlayer version. I blame the DRM for a lot of iPlayer's issues. In particular crappy download quality. It seems that programmes either are jumpy as heck or can stop. I am frustrated as heck that I was only able to download half of an episode of the New tricks episode "Mad Dogs". Frustration has cause me to buy a copy of season 5 from a Dutch vendor and the sucker is taking forever to come.
On the other hand, it is a great advantage to catch some of the programmes such as Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton's Madison Square Garden Concert. It doesn't bother me that they're a couple of OAPs. And it seems that QI series 7 is up and running. That means I have to download that!
Why have cable or satellite when you can have iPlayer?
Get_iplayer finds the "portable device" version of the show. I find that version is less buggy than the actual iPlayer version. I blame the DRM for a lot of iPlayer's issues. In particular crappy download quality. It seems that programmes either are jumpy as heck or can stop. I am frustrated as heck that I was only able to download half of an episode of the New tricks episode "Mad Dogs". Frustration has cause me to buy a copy of season 5 from a Dutch vendor and the sucker is taking forever to come.
On the other hand, it is a great advantage to catch some of the programmes such as Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton's Madison Square Garden Concert. It doesn't bother me that they're a couple of OAPs. And it seems that QI series 7 is up and running. That means I have to download that!
Why have cable or satellite when you can have iPlayer?
16 December 2009
Paradoxical paranoia
Yes, I must be mad since I am still watching this, but it is addictive in a strange way (not Strangeways which is a Prison in Manchester). For some reason the show's producers hook you in with titilation about something to do with the MoD. There is a clip, which unfortunately is only available in the UK, where Christian, the Scientist, and DI Flint (Tamzin Outhwaite) discuss the fact that the source of the images may be the Prometheus Satellite with hints that the MoD is behind it all.
For some reason, conspiracy theories are taking over BBC Sci-Fi. The 2008 remake of Survivors is terrible because it hints at secret labs and black helicopters starting the plague. Add in that it happened as the media were whipping up hysteria about H1N1 when it came out. The problem is that the original series had the plague run amok, rather than be controlled by evil government (big business?) scientists. That makes the remake seem really bad along with the fact that the show collapses a lot of the story lines within the original series. Not to mention Talfryn Thomas played Tom Price in the original as a bit of a clown whereas Max Beesley's Tom Price is an armed robber.
But that's an aside that I wanted to get off my chest since the "evil MoD" aspect is contrasted with these images could be a message from God. Not sure what message God is trying to convey here, but...
We are seeing the surly scientist being a bit more helpful, but still off in his own world while the three cops try to figure out what exactly is going on here. This is a truly complicated puzzle that only having a good scriptwriter could make work (somebody find a good scriptwriter--pronto). To be honest, this is not a show you can just start watching since you need to come at the plotline from the beginning. Sorry, no spoilers for you, but plot lines run like the images from the future and blend in to make this a bit confusing. One plotline will go through at least three episodes (we have had images of the future on this in the form of the previews at the end of the show).
This might be one show that having a US remake might make a bit more comprehensible. And if I am saying a US remake could make this bearable, this sucker is baaaaaad.
10 December 2009
It's like God's talking to Manchester.
Or More Paradox!
Well, I've got to admit that this show is getting better, but it must be the writing and not Tamzin's acting. In fact, she wasn't as obvious which is probably why last night's episode was getting better.
Plus, it's getting to be a bit of a cliff hanger. What is the MoD (Ministry of Defence) up to with Prometheus? What will happen to the rapist? Who is sending the images of the future?
I have to admit I have this theory that there is some sort of MoD distant viewing project going on. The images of the future come from the Prometheus satellite. Not to mention the MoD folk tend to have an idea that this is an "ongoing project". And is this some supernatural superhacker who is sending the images?
I guess that is a bit of a bombshell since I never mentioned that these images download from a satellite and give the team 12 hours to solve the puzzle. That sets up the question of who or what is downloading the pictures. Or as I mentioned in the first review:
Derek Acorah (or someone like him) may be the answer.
Anyway, even though it's pretty awful, I am hooked.
Curse BBC iPlayer!
Well, I've got to admit that this show is getting better, but it must be the writing and not Tamzin's acting. In fact, she wasn't as obvious which is probably why last night's episode was getting better.
Plus, it's getting to be a bit of a cliff hanger. What is the MoD (Ministry of Defence) up to with Prometheus? What will happen to the rapist? Who is sending the images of the future?
I have to admit I have this theory that there is some sort of MoD distant viewing project going on. The images of the future come from the Prometheus satellite. Not to mention the MoD folk tend to have an idea that this is an "ongoing project". And is this some supernatural superhacker who is sending the images?
I guess that is a bit of a bombshell since I never mentioned that these images download from a satellite and give the team 12 hours to solve the puzzle. That sets up the question of who or what is downloading the pictures. Or as I mentioned in the first review:
“Where are these photos coming from?” DI Flint asked. “Aliens? God?”
Um ... Derek Acorah?
Derek Acorah (or someone like him) may be the answer.
Anyway, even though it's pretty awful, I am hooked.
Curse BBC iPlayer!
04 December 2009
Yeah, I'm a masochist
I have to admit to watching episode 2 of Paradox out of some weird curiosity after trashing it in my Paradox Review. Strangely enough, I did a piece about it starring Tamzin Outhwaite where I made the comment that "I am not sure how that (having T.O. as the star) bodes".
I told myself that if it became too transparent as to what was going to happen, that I would watch something else. But, this time the plot was a little more thrilling. Episode 2 was better than one was, but that wasn't hard. First off, there is a bit more plot development.
We encounter the spooks at the end of episode 1 who make Tamzin and crew sign the Official Secrets Act, which means they can't talk about what they did. Well, the spooks are making all sorts of ominous comments about the first time being just chance in Episode 2. Also, the surly scientist is beginning to warm up to the crew. This makes you wonder if the mysterious downloads of future events are that mysterious after all.
Can your curiousity over come Tamzin Outhwaite's bad acting? Or do you think she is that hot a babe that it is worth watching her no matter how bad she is at acting? How curious are you about the prospect of something exciting happening?
British TV has made quite a bit out of time travel: Dr. Who, Catweazle, Timeslip, Sapphire & Steel, Crime Traveller, Torchwood (An anagram of Dr. Who), Ashes to Ashes, Life on Mars. Remember that Dr. Who is mentioned in theGuinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world. So, add in mysteries (something else that is over-represented in British TV) and hey presto you have more fodder for scripts! Although, I have a hard time with imagining anythiing with Outhwaite as the star lasting that long.
On the other hand, I was told that you have to grab the audience's eye early on to make your story sell. Perhaps they are hoping that Tamzin will grab the viewer's eye. She might grab mine if she had a more pleasant face. On the other hand, I think about getting a blow job from a piranha when I look at Outhwaite. She'd have to have a lot more jiggle than she shows in this to be a turn on even if we were in a position where I didn't have to look at her face.
Although, thinking about it we have the prospect of some seriously unpleasant fake lovemaking in this series. Tamzin's surly cop bonking the surly scientist. I'm just imagining that pair trying to manage a post-coital smile makes me think of Lurch in the Addams family. It's even more of a stretch to imagine them having any fun (especially since we see Outhwaite break up from her boyfriend and fellow team mate after spending the night with him at the start of Episode 2).
Well, the Beeb has commissioned 5 episodes in the hope that this show will keep up its 4.13m (16.3%) for the next three episodes. Well, Red Cap made two seasons which means there's hope for this one.
editorial comment: I originally said that Red Cap had three seasons, which was incorrect. They were just so bad it seemed like it lasted forever.
I told myself that if it became too transparent as to what was going to happen, that I would watch something else. But, this time the plot was a little more thrilling. Episode 2 was better than one was, but that wasn't hard. First off, there is a bit more plot development.
We encounter the spooks at the end of episode 1 who make Tamzin and crew sign the Official Secrets Act, which means they can't talk about what they did. Well, the spooks are making all sorts of ominous comments about the first time being just chance in Episode 2. Also, the surly scientist is beginning to warm up to the crew. This makes you wonder if the mysterious downloads of future events are that mysterious after all.
Can your curiousity over come Tamzin Outhwaite's bad acting? Or do you think she is that hot a babe that it is worth watching her no matter how bad she is at acting? How curious are you about the prospect of something exciting happening?
British TV has made quite a bit out of time travel: Dr. Who, Catweazle, Timeslip, Sapphire & Steel, Crime Traveller, Torchwood (An anagram of Dr. Who), Ashes to Ashes, Life on Mars. Remember that Dr. Who is mentioned in theGuinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world. So, add in mysteries (something else that is over-represented in British TV) and hey presto you have more fodder for scripts! Although, I have a hard time with imagining anythiing with Outhwaite as the star lasting that long.
On the other hand, I was told that you have to grab the audience's eye early on to make your story sell. Perhaps they are hoping that Tamzin will grab the viewer's eye. She might grab mine if she had a more pleasant face. On the other hand, I think about getting a blow job from a piranha when I look at Outhwaite. She'd have to have a lot more jiggle than she shows in this to be a turn on even if we were in a position where I didn't have to look at her face.
Although, thinking about it we have the prospect of some seriously unpleasant fake lovemaking in this series. Tamzin's surly cop bonking the surly scientist. I'm just imagining that pair trying to manage a post-coital smile makes me think of Lurch in the Addams family. It's even more of a stretch to imagine them having any fun (especially since we see Outhwaite break up from her boyfriend and fellow team mate after spending the night with him at the start of Episode 2).
Well, the Beeb has commissioned 5 episodes in the hope that this show will keep up its 4.13m (16.3%) for the next three episodes. Well, Red Cap made two seasons which means there's hope for this one.
editorial comment: I originally said that Red Cap had three seasons, which was incorrect. They were just so bad it seemed like it lasted forever.
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