To start off, I'm tired of hearing "rock the vote", "vote if you care", "vote for a cup of coffee!!", etc.  Let's start a new campaign involving: "Get involved with politics".  Once an individual realizes he/she wants to control their future, he/she will want to vote.  I will respect people who say they didn't vote because they chose not be informed. Honestly, to me that's one less vote for the democrats.  (no, i'm not saying that if they were informed they'd vote democrat, but saying that many uninformed people will chose to vote Democrat due to some unnerving urge because they want change or something. Nevermind what the change is, but any change after 8 years of bush is good... blah blah blah) Note: that was the only partisan talk on this post.

Why do I have to show an ID to get some OTC medications, but I can walk in and vote and just rattle off my name. Wait... my bad, there was some hardcore security involved: I had to sign my name to verify who I was.  Funny thing though, my original signature from when I registered was on the line below. Any fraudster would just have to do some sloppy on the fly copying and he/she would be good to go.  If they were questioned, they could just say they got a disease or something. Who would question them?

Electronic voting...... OMFG N0T S3cure!!!! Whatever... why did my government pay for an electronic machine that would accept my ballot and print on it for me? Short of help for handicap people, this was a waste of money. ESPECIALLY since it had a bug.  It gave me a summary of my choices, but it neglected to actually show me all of my choices. I did confirm that it had my appropriate choices by clicking "back" many times. I naturally also confirmed them when I had my printed ballot spit back out at me. Thanks for wasting tax dollars for something comletely worthless.

I'm sure I'll come with with some more depressing notions later, until then.

We've been used to unlimited downloads, and being limited by speed.  It's worked for many years and could forever in my opinion.  If you want to save some cash, pay for 2mbps, great! Don't expect to stream video.

Comcast has been sending out propoganda explaining that they're going to cap users @ 250 GB/month because a SMALL percentage of users are using a lot of bandwidth doing BAD THINGS!  First off, fuck you, I know you're talking about me. Second, why is it that you're going to give us double our speeds for free if you're strained so much?

Let me explain why: Comcast's first business in our area was TV.  For example, if I start using Netflix's HD streaming via XBOX 360, I will be interferring with their business model and will be taking away money from them. So, this is where the cap comes in. Since I'm also a customer of their internet service, it is easy for Comcast to implement unfair control measures.  The cap discourgages massive downloads and gets customers to begin to get used to limitations.

Perhaps someday we'll be tiered like we pay for TV: $50 for basic package, $15 more for X,Y,Z content, $15 more for the whole internet!

Two fantastic links below.  Looks like Windows 7 might actually have some promise. They actually showed it running on a mobile netbook with a 1 Ghz processor and 1 GB of RAM (only using 50%).  In order to get that today, you'll need to go find an XP disk..

They also discarded the sidebar and moved all the gadgets to the desktop. A very good call, why be limit the real estate?

MEDIA CENTER.. OMFG. A supported platform that includes extra features we've been waiting for?  Seems like they're actually willing to expand the interface and use more of the screen.  It seemed like they were timid originally with xp and vista. It's not the end all yet, but throw in native BD playback and you'll have happy customers.

Overall, they seem to understand the UI needed a revamp.  They address some of the frustrating window movements to allow quick and easy organizing. They tried to get fancy in vista with the preview from the taskbar and Flip3d. But it was a weak attempt.  Seeing these ideas pop up in a pre-beta is pretty neat.  This means there is more to come (I hope). I did slip into a mild depression after they announced that the Vista betas were feature complete and they were only bug fixing.

These announcements were enough to catch my attention and get me a bit excited. Just don't mess it up.


http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2008/10/28/windows-7-media-center-revealed/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/28/windows-7-details-galore-interface-tweaks-netbook-builds-medi/

Giz turned my head today: FREE SPEED UPGRADES for existing customers!

6Mbps/1Mbps upgraded --> 12Mbps/2Mbps
8Mbps/2Mbps upgraded --> 16Mbps/2Mbps

New Plans:
22Mbps/5Mbps  $62.95/month
50Mbps/10Mbps $139.95/month

This has been needed for a long time. New providers (att, verizon) have recently entered the market and have been whooping Cable Co's asses. These upgrades are just keeping it competitive.  But this makes me curious... why the free word, Comcast? Sure, I think the upgrade should be free too, but I will accept this upgrade cautiously!

Sad story though... there is no roll out date planned for Illinois (yet).  Guess the part with not having much competition in IL makes us less of a target market.

So glad you asked. I'm going to give this to you in a story (then a rant), but we'll start with some background.

An ATI Digital CableCard tuner will encrypt ALL shows recorded, period. Some have noted that this may change to only encrypt shows that request it, but this doesn't solve the overall problem.  This DRM chain is built off of many items: (i don't remember the exact ones, but this is a good start) GPU, Processor, Motherboard. Note: you can only buy your initial pc from an OEM so you have a secondary product code purely for the cablecard setup

Once you start recording shows, if you change a single item of hardware: BOOM, you can NEVER watch your recorded shows.  This happens because the hardware change caused a break in the DRM chain. You will have to erase all of your shows, and start from scratch.

OK, story time....

Bought a refurbished MediaCenter, Sony Vaio VGX-XL3. I doubled up the RAM, bought a new GPU, and added an additional tuner card. Everything works GREAT, except that the ATI GPU is not compatible with the new Media Center TV Pack 2008. Now, first off, I'm no fool. This was a leaked update, and it was my own risk. I totally understand this, so I'm only willing to put the blame on Microsoft in the fact that they went along with this DRM scheme for 1 reason. I will have put my old GPU (nvidia 7000 series)in the computer, I will want to put the new one in once ATI updates their drivers. "Wait... didn't we just talk about that?" It will destory my DRM chain and create a new one. "But Peter, why won't you just use the non-TV pack version?" I'm spoiled by the new features? It handles multiple TV sources MUCH better than the previous release and it handles HD much better in the guide. Plus, even if I were to leave the ATI GPU in and run the orginal Vista Media Center, I'd still lose my DRM chain by upgrading to the TV pack! I might as well keep the TV pack and deal with the older GPU. Note: the reason I'm freaking out is due to the fact that Comcast is coming tomorrow to install my CableCards.

So if you followed me through the this rant, hopefully you'll come to my same conclusion... DRM sucks. It's pointless and extreme overkill. CableLabs, Microsoft, Comcast, NBC, FOX, FCC, whoever is willing to listen. GO LOOK at the torrent sites out there. All of your shows are out there, they will continue to be out there, and you usually release your shows on your website anyway!!!!! (I hate the "who cares because it's going to happen anyway arguement, but honestly, they'll never be 100% protected" for whoever's diety's sake, they were happy Batman: Dark Knight was only leaked hours after the movie was released??? ) So why would a typical CableCard PC owner have to pay over $1000 to get screwed from so many angles? This is all done for one purpose: so you cannot copy a tv episode file from your PC to a different PC. Lame!

I call BS, someone needs to stand up and try using some common sense. I'm sure most of this started with CableLabs and everyone just caved to them since CableLabs dragged their feet releasing the CableCards in the first place and everyone was happy when it finally came out. Also, how was it that there was a specification to for 2-way communication for Cable Co's to use on their DVR boxes, but it JUST WASN'T possible to put the 2-way communication in the first CableCard release? This makes me cringe EVERY time I talk to Comcast about CableCards,"But sir, if you use a CableCard, you won't be able to get On-Demand content. Which DVR box would you like?". It takes every bit of energy for me to hold back and not go ballistic. I usually come up with something clever,"It keeps me from giving your more money".

Image 1 Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Img_5022.jpg
Image 2 Credit: me!

Just received an email this morning from NetFlix announcing that they will be charging me $1 more per month for access to unlimited Blu-ray movies.  I've just been waiting to see the hammer fall, and it finally has. It's not a huge charge, so I'll live with it. I'd be much happier if they told me they were charging more to send me HD-DVDs

Dear Peter,

As you may know, Blu-ray movies are more expensive than standard definition movies. As a result, we're going to start charging $1 a month (plus applicable taxes), in addition to your monthly membership charge, for unlimited access to Blu-ray movies.

The additional charge for unlimited Blu-ray access will be automatically added to your next billing statement on or after November 5th, 2008 and will be referenced in your Membership Terms and Details. If you wish to continue getting Blu-ray movies for $1 a month more, you don't need to do anything. If not, you can remove Blu-ray access anytime by visiting Your Account at the Netflix website.

If you have questions about this change or need any assistance, please call us anytime at 1-888-638-3549.

-The Netflix Team

So, I've been doing some thinking.  Our last plan for getting a server involved collocation and and slim server. Both not cheap.  This was brought up last time, and I'm warming up to it: build a server (not worrying about size), and have someone host it @ their home with a static IP internet connection.

This way we don't have to worry about Bryan running torrents how much bandwidth we use. Sure, it will be a little slower in speed, but I'm willing to accept this.

Comments.. ready... set... go!