Ted – the end January 31, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Technology.add a comment
In my last post about ted I praised it. However after using it for a few minutes, I realised I had no idea if it was downloading or not (none of the usual information that you get with hardcore torrent clients, like % downloaded etc), and that it wouldnt close.It sat in my bottom right tray and wouldnt go away, even when I told it to close.
I would recomend people new to torrents get BitComent and get a friend to explain it to them.
The school internet and system January 31, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Technology.add a comment
Sucks. It really does. The internet is usually horribly slow, and we cant access any of the good websites unless we use proxies. The first half a dozen websites that had games on them were blocked, but they have given up becuase we (the students) keep finding new ones to go on.
Useful websites like gmail are blocked, unless you type in the full address in the adress bar, ie https:/blah blah blah
The software is usually quite slow to load, but a few loopholes have been found. For example, it is possible to access command prompt (Windows XP), but nothing has been found yet that does anything interesting. We can use proxies to get onto most sites if we want to, eg ebay (Why bother blocking ebay ??), and someone from the 6thform has even set up a proxy especially for us =)
The old system was better. When the school threw out someold computers, one kid got one of the hard drives, and went though and found a backdoor to enable admin mode. Needless to say that was fun =)
Hellraiser part 1 January 29, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Film/TV reviews.3 comments
Just finished watching hellraiser part one, and it is awesome!
The film revolves around a box, which can take you to the pleasures of heaven, or the pain of hell. Needless to say we dont get to see the pleasures it can bring !
The film starts of dry, but quickly gets interesting with the part resurection of the main characters brother. Lots of drama too as the skeleton cheats on the main characters wife.
And as for the ending……it rocked. Watch out for that crazeh tramp!
Us military vs Internet January 28, 2006
Posted by metalsam in General, Technology.add a comment
It appears the US military is looking into ways to have complete control over the internet. In a report called the Information operations Roadmap, (which I have yet to read), the whitehouse has outlined that it regards the flow of information across the internet as a possible threat. It is looking at ways to be able to disable complete networks or specific computers, ie, be bale to control the internet. They condem Chinas restrictions of free speach, but this does not seem any better.
I think they should be more worried over there own media in hot zones. The American reportes seem to enjoy reporting live in battle. The enemy commander can just tune into CNN and get a god idea of what the Americans are up to!!
Ted – follow up January 27, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Technology.add a comment
After my orevious failiure with teh torrent client Ted, I decided to give it another shot. First impressions werent too great however. The client just doesnt look very nice. It also uses what appears to be a custom / adapted browser when choosing where to save my files. The windows explorer would have been fine. However, once I started using it, I quite liked it. Most of the interface is quite intuitive, and after a brief read of the documentation, I made the custom rss feed work.
Yet to try and download anything, but Im setup for when I do.
Good Job Ted team!
Myspace January 26, 2006
Posted by metalsam in General, Technology.2 comments
After overwhelming female demand I got myself a myspace page. I was reluctant due to the heavy use of myspace by emo kids, but signed up. After a few minutes I realised that I do not like myspace. The interface isnt that great. Everytime you click a link to look a various parts of your space, you get a different layout, and a different theme.
However,I am, or so I like to think, a semi experienced internet user. Myspace looks quite good to people not used to the techy side of hte internet because:
- If you want to change background, you need to use CSS. An eyeopener for most.
- The bloggin tool takes advantage of RSS feeds. I know from experience that most dont know what rss is. Im the only person but one at my school that does.
So thats it as far as I can see at the moment for positive things about myspace. A little eye opened into the finer points of hte internet. However, Im sure most people just use premade CSS and are rather intermidated / confused by the RSS button.
Meh…
Convergence January 25, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Economy & Business, Technology.add a comment
In a world where technology is coming together, people are going to make millions, businesses will go bust. While reading through an article on the NY Times website, I read this, and I qoute:
“Business-model anxiety. Will paid download services like Apple’s iTunes, not to mention TiVo’s and their ad-defying fast-forward buttons, undercut TV networks’ huge advertising revenue? Or will video from advertising-supported Web sites become so rich that people will drop their cable and satellite subscriptions altogether? Or will they just steal what they want by using file-sharing software like Bit Torrent?”
Steal what they want by torrent? Being an BitTorrent enthusiast, I feel hurt. Although this is very true, afterall, many people use torrents to download music, games, software, Many people also use it to get TV shows off the net. This way we can watch them when we want to, and not have teh networks dictate out lives.
The only way to get TV shows via torrents atm is for someone to record it on their computer, then share it. They cut out all the annoying adverts, credits, and just give you the show. Which rocks.
However, rather than take advantage and use this technology, it looks like it is coming under fire. Surely its not beyond the TV networks to create a torrent for their shows, with adverts? Then everyone wins. It would also give a nice alternative to having to download the show via google video. An annoying format which can only be played in google video player.
Whenever people find a new way to use technology to make an industry more versatile, the industry gets pissed off. This happened with concert tickets in the UK recently. People were making money from reselling tickets on Ebay, and the industry did not like this.
But they cannot stop the revolution!
Brrr January 25, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Economy & Business.3 comments
I woke up today and it was 10 degrees C in my room. I also woke up in the night from being cold. But it appears Britain has it easy. Wheres im pissed off from not getting a good nights sleep, people in some European countries a little closer to home are dying (spelling?) from cold. Could this be to the increased prices by the Russian state owned gas supplier? (Their name escapes me atm). Surely their must be people who cannot afford the higher price of gas. So they cannot heat their homes.
The Russian company knew that people would need extra gas. It was only a few weeks ago if that that they hiked up their prices. Anyone with access to a weather report sense knew it was going to get colder. If its colder we need more heat, therefore more gas. Russian company sees this as an oppurtunity to make a quick ruble, so they jack up their prices. by 500% in some cases.
As a result of which people have died.
Banks January 24, 2006
Posted by metalsam in Economy & Business.1 comment so far
Today, bbc news had an article about people finding it hard to open an account at banks, especially poorer people. At first I thought that this was a load of rubbish as all I needed to open an account was a passport and a was to prove my address (utilities bill, bank statement from previous account etc).
After thinking about it i realised that it is harder for poorer people to open accounts, as they will not have the usual forms of ID that most people do. They wont have passports or driving licences, as they wont travel much or go abroad. If its their first account they wont have a previous statement.
However, they will have utilities bills, and I would have thought that if they really wanted to open an account they could. They probably just dont want to. They might not need to. They could be paid in cash for their jobs and know that if they have a bank account, the government will catch up with them and tax them.
And considering how easy it is to open a bank account, some might say current checks arent enough.
But banks are scum. Pitiful interest rates, poor communications (noone likes talking to an automated machine), and too centralised. Its understandable though. I mean, theyre only making a few billion a year, they have to cut back on these kinda things….
Finally January 23, 2006
Posted by metalsam in General.1 comment so far
…after almost a month or two, the band of which I am a member is starting up again. We had to stop practises for exams =(
Already got some new riffs and ideas to try out, and a recording session at the end of february to prepare for.
Rock on
