Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Buy now: spend the recession inside!

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  • Gareth Ward,

    viewable audio for the ol eyes.

    LOL.
    Time for that long weekend methinks.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Ouch. I actually thought the HDMI standard had HDCP within it, so I certainly would have been caught out with that...

    It does now. But for six months in (I think) 2006, it didn't on some sets. I'm not sure if that would mean a mandatory downconvert or no bloody picture at all, but it ain't great for those punters.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Is that HDCP bizness included from source? i.e. does TVNZ, TV3 etc get the US/UK shows delivered with it embedded in the signal? Presumedly so...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    viewable audio for the ol eyes.

    Everything after that feature on the playstation where you could play CDs and it would make pictures of multicoloured dolphins swimming around has been gilding the digital lily, if you ask me.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Gareth Ward said:

    Ouch. I actually thought the HDMI standard had HDCP within it, so I certainly would have been caught out with that...

    The HDCP "standard" changed. Its status was uncertain for a while, and subsequently HDMI was a bit uncertain too. I suspect that's why there were sets that were lacking HDCP compliance. Welcome to the wonderful world of Digital Restrictions Management.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    multicoloured dolphins swimming around

    Woh, that's right. Thanks for that mildly disconcerting flashback... ;-)

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    f#kme if there isn't some geekspeak going on in this thread! (heh heh). My technophobia started by whatever came after CD's. They were easy, just plug the player into the back of the amp, place a disc on the tray, and press play. That's how easy I want my 'tech stuff'.

    I bought an HDD a year ago and it was so sweet I bought another on Boxing Day. Big mistake. The first one was a Sony and sooo simple to use/program/operate. The second one was a Philips and was the complete opposite. Luckily it also had a fault so I bought it back and got a refund.

    So I'm gun shy now. I want Freeview but which box? I just want to know that what I buy will work as intended. Oh yeah, and I want it do some 'tricks' like MySky or my HDD does. Thus far the Freeview boxes just seem like a basic signal decoder. And they're expensive. So I'll wait a bit longer.

    Besides, I'm really getting into Internet Video lately. They come in such handy 6-9 minute clips I can watch and work (or so I tell myself) at the same time. I've just watched the whole series of this over the past few days:

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • samuel walker,

    Everything after that feature on the playstation where you could play CDs and it would make pictures of multicoloured dolphins swimming around has been gilding the digital lily, if you ask me

    indeed it has, they should have just given up then. we had our future right there.

    Okay so I can see why people might think that the blogosphere was catty and snide and didn't focus on the big issues....

    although for someone who was effectively Felicity Ferret for several years.....he hardly has the right to yelp about it.

    <conspiracy> a little birdy tells me she may or may not have seen a certain left wing appologist blogger and a certain prego loving ex magazine type (wink wink) lunching and lurching behind several bottles of penfolds finest muttering about stirring up some publicity before the debut of said lefties latest trans media vanity project. nothing better for a little msm press than a public bout of verbal fisticuffs eh.........my [redacted] lips are sealed.... </conspiracy>

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    If one can't be bothered with a separate set-top box, there's always the option of an internal DVB tuner card for your PC. It's a bit cumbersome for the non-computer techie, but it is a bit cheaper than getting a set-top box. In particular, Hauppauge make some decent Freeview-ready tuner cards for a reasonable price.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    <conspiracy> a little birdy tells me she may or may not have seen a certain left wing appologist blogger and a certain prego loving ex magazine type (wink wink) lunching and lurching behind several bottles of penfolds finest muttering about stirring up some publicity before the debut of said lefties latest trans media vanity project. nothing better for a little msm press than a public bout of verbal fisticuffs eh.........my [redacted] lips are sealed.... </conspiracy>

    Partly true. I was at Prego today. But the other bloke wasn't.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    If one can't be bothered with a separate set-top box, there's always the option of an internal DVB tuner card for your PC. It's a bit cumbersome for the non-computer techie, but it is a bit cheaper than getting a set-top box. In particular, Hauppauge make some decent Freeview-ready tuner cards for a reasonable price.

    But from what I can see, no MPEG 4 kit yet, DTT or otherwise. It'll take a while. If you have a dish, those MPEG cards will be fine.

    The good news is that Freeview told me yesterday that they'll happily endorse PC cards that do meet the spec.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    OTOH, there is an enormous amount of public research out there to be analysed, and that's something that the likes of DPF (whatever you think of his commenters) and Keith Ng do so well.

    ITA - and even though I complain a lot about the toxicity of the political blogisphere, there's also a number of bloody stars who don't only wonk their socks but always seem to have high quality linky love to some obscure but fascinatingly relevant blog post, journal, newspaper report etc.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Meanwhile, it looks like that old political standard to deflect uncomfortable questions is in play: the feral weapon of mass distraction aimed at your enemy's head:

    Keith Locke: How many cases like that of Ye Guozhu, sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment for his opposition to forced evictions in Beijing associated with construction for the Olympic Games, and subsequently tortured while in detention, would it take for him to reconsider the April signing of a preferential trade agreement with China?

    Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: The Government regularly raises human rights issues with the Government in Beijing. It has done so for many years. However, it is fair to say that the Chinese Government’s record in these matters is somewhat better than in the depths of the days of the Cultural Revolution, when that member supported the Chinese Government’s approach.

    Keith Locke: I raise a point of misrepresentation. I did not support the Chinese Government’s approach in the Cultural Revolution.

    Madam SPEAKER: That is a point of information.

    Keith Locke: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take offence at the sort of abuse directed at me by the Minister. Surely that is out of order in this House. I ask that he withdraw and apologise.

    Madam SPEAKER: It does not come within the rules on personal reflection. It is a matter of debate, but if the member would like to ask another supplementary question he should please do so.

    Keith Locke: I wish to make a personal explanation. I assure the House that I have never supported the Chinese regime—the one-party State—in its activities during the Cultural Revolution or at any other time. I ask the Minister to withdraw and apologise.

    Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: Clearly my memory as a fellow student of the member at Canterbury University is now somewhat faulty on these matters. I must remember him referring to the Pol Pot regime.

    Keith Locke: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have assured the House on several occasions in the past that I have never supported the Pol Pot regime or its genocidal policies, and many members have been forced to withdraw and apologise for saying that. I ask the Deputy Prime Minister to do so, and I think it is a disgrace for a Labour Deputy Prime Minister to sink to that level.

    Madam SPEAKER: I have ruled on the first statement about personal reflection; the second statement, however, has actually been ruled on before, so I would ask the Hon Dr Michael Cullen to withdraw and apologise.

    Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: I withdraw and apologise.

    I've got to love the way Cullen can inflect those last four words so the floor is awash in blatant and poisonous insincerity. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    It’s a fucking debating chamber, they’re debating. it's not sport... and they know each other it seems.

    Cullen is asking Keith Locke to get current human right violations in context to the recent history of China. He’s a very talented debater and a man whose intellect we should celebrate, not demonise.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    Partly true. I was at Prego today. But the other bloke wasn't.

    You can't wriggle out that easily RB -- I've just got back from Prego and the staff confirm that Ralston was in earlier this week with a blond(ish) woman called 'Janet'. That's your drag name right?

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It’s a fucking debating chamber, they’re debating. it's not sport... and they know each other it seems.

    Yes, Jeremy, Doctor Cullen should try debating the fucking question instead of launching a personal attack -- and a rather dishonest one at that -- on Keith Locke (who I don't have a lot of time for, BTW) because the silly man has the gall to ask an inconvenient question.

    And I somehow doubt Beijing are going to adopt "Hey, the Cultural Revolution really sucked so what are you bitching about" as an inspirational slogan.

    He’s a very talented debater and a man whose intellect we should celebrate, not demonise.

    I think I'll subject elected members of Parliament to whatever scrutiny and criticism I please. I don't think its unreasonable to expect serious debate on serious issues rather than the kind of snide bitchery Dr Cullen -- and his fan club -- mistake for intelligence or wit.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yes, Jeremy, Doctor Cullen should try debating the fucking question instead of launching a personal attack -- and a rather dishonest one at that -- on Keith Locke (who I don't have a lot of time for, BTW) because the silly man has the gall to ask an inconvenient question.

    That was bullshit, and completely unnecessary. I'll blog it tomorrow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    No, Keith Locke was doing what opposition parties should do, ask good questions. Cullen answered him.

    The question of Cullens inference is something for those men to settle in the debating chamber, that's why we have a debating chamber.

    How do we know Cullen isn't lying and if he isn't why should he shut up? It's free speech. If he overacted that's incredibly disappointing
    but his track record is excellent and should be recognised as such .

    This is our central chamber of free speech.It's not inconceivable that Keith may have held that position once, a lot of people did. A lot of sensible american politicians thought invading iraq was a good idea
    once.

    Like any political chamber it gets heated.This is a polarised country politically and debate tend to get incredibly heated in these environments.

    I'm not saying our debating chamber is perfect but it's an important vehicle for discussion and needs to be understood as such.Intense rational debate has an aggression that needs to be somehow accomodated in our political discussions or we'll continue moving at this slow boom/bust march to nowhere.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Felix Marwick,

    Re Locke V Cullen.

    Bit of a broken record there. Varying people have been having a go at Keith Locke over the Pol Pot thing ever since he got into Parliament. These days he gets a withdrawal and apology every time someone throws it at him (if he requests it)

    It's also par for the course as far as Question Time is concerned. It's what you get when standing orders require a minister address a question, but not specifically answer it.

    If you're looking for serious debate in Parliament put your focus in places other than Question Time. It's 60 percent theatre, 30 percent bollocks, and 10 percent genuine debate.

    (and I may be slightly over generous with the last figure)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Julie Fairey,

    I'd just like to second Deborah's thanks for the plug!

    Also, while I'm here, wasting bytes, "not even a journalist's bottom" ?!! Did anyone else have flashbacks to Tom Baker on Blackadder when they heard/read that?

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Yes journalist's bottoms are just too small.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Has the Chinese government released the figures for how many of its military have been killed in this uprising?

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't think its unreasonable to expect serious debate on serious issues rather than the kind of snide bitchery Dr Cullen -- and his fan club -- mistake for intelligence or wit.

    Oh, I've got to fisk myself here for the sake of fairness. Michael Cullen isn't a stupid man by any reasonable measure, and I don't really have the moral high ground when it comes to getting in touch with one's inner bitch. But like many very very smart people, Cullen does have a streak of intellectual arrogance - and sheer nastiness - that isn't attractive when it pops out. And with all due (and sincere) respect, Jeremy, there's a line between strongly defending your corner - which Cullen is naturally perfectly entitled to do - and a dishonest personal attack. I don't like that particular dung being thrown at Locke from the right (especially when there's so much substantive policy you can pin the guy and his party on), so why would I be any more tolerant about the same old from the left?

    And a more general comment: Yes, I do understand that no legislature is ever going to be a perpetual group hug and nor should it be. I'd also totally agree with the proposition that a true House of Representatives should also contain a certain proportion of nitwits, dim bulbs and outright lunatics. :) But I'd note calling another member a Nazi or a Stalinist would be immediately ruled out of order, and politicians would certainly be sensitive to trivial invocation of the Shoah.

    Well, perhaps Dr. Cullen should be reminded that there are communities in this country who lived through the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and the Killing Fields, and still mourn those who weren't so lucky. They no more deserve to have their sorrow pimped into an offensive political weapon that those refugees who came to New Zealand to escape repression in Europe.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    curmudgeon

    Bah, as Dogbert would say. I put that in the same category as 'gadfly' - a nonsense word that at once trivialises and licences the bitter narcissism of ageing male baby boomers.

    And the 'primary research' point is not totally true either. The commentators on blogs are numerous, and they will often talk directly about what is going on inside their own domains.

    Seconded, with another echo of the canine Yoda, who is no doubt familiar with Sturgeon's Law (ninety percent of everything is crud).

    A word I do love that has been much degraded is amateur, meaning lover, and related to the advancement of science in the Enlightenment - most of science then was a hobby of the leisured aristocracy. Sure, there are boring, trivial blogs, but then there are blogs like this, which may be obscure to many, but show experts in their field reporting in real time on their vocation (and again, that's another word that bears close examination).

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    I might add that the corollary or subtext of Sturgeon's Law is, FFS get over it - and yourself.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

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