TWiT Podcasts Going Off-Topic

I've been a big fan of the TWiT podcasts. Especially the Apple, Windows and security related podcasts. But lately, the content of those podcasts seem to shift to too much off-topic talk. Take the latest edition of Security Now! (Cross-Site-Scripting - Part II). The podcasts is about an hour in length, but the first half hour is nothing but talk about the Sony e-book reader, and favorite writers. What's that got to do with security?? I don't know. Same goes for MacBreak Weekly. It's more about having a good time for the authors, than about bringing some news. I don't mind that the authors are having fun creating the content. Hell, I appreciate a good laugh as much as the next guy, but keep it on topic. Too bad that only about 50% of the content has something to do with the actual title (Mac / Security). If they keep this up, they will loose a listener (not that they might care).

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New Alex Gaudino Music Video

I can watch this all day long :razz: Just like the Benny Bernassi (Satisfaction), and Eric Prydz (Call on me) music video's.

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Major Server Downtime

Last night my server went down. There was a 'poof', and then nothing. The status LED on my motherboard was still in the green, so it could be either the motherboard, CPU or the power supply. This morning I head out to the local computer dealer to get me a new motherboard, CPU, and a power supply. Thankfully, it was just the power supply that died. This might actually be a good opportunity to upgrade my server to a Mac Mini.

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Wordpress 2.1.2 Update

I upgraded my version of Wordpress to version 2.1.2. This went the usual 'problems'. First of all I 'forgot' to make a recent backup. Second, I used Transmit (an OSX FTP Client) to upload the new pages. Transmit has the possibility to overwrite files. No worries (I thought), I just renamed the files I editted, do I could rename them back when I had uploaded the new files. It seems that I didn't read the warning very well. When I overwrote the directories, Transmit removed them first and uploaded the new files afterwards. This meant that all my uploads, and customized files were gone..... aaaaargh. Fortunatelly, I had a backup from two weeks ago, so I could get the old files. This reminds me to make a decent backup before doing anything about my Wordpress installation in the future....

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Remote Annoyances

It's been a couple of days since I got my new home cinema set, and there are several annoyances with remote controls. My old home cinema components were also from Pioneer, so I guessed that the new remotes would be similar, but boy I was wrong. The new remote for the AV receiver has about 10 times as many buttons, with every at least 2 functions per button. The remote for the Pioneer DVR-545 lacks several key buttons on the remote;

• numeric keys for zapping
• buttons for going fast forward and reverse
• Audio and subtitle selection

If you need those controls (and I need them a lot), you have to slide the remote open, and use a SHIFT button to alter in movie settings (like the subtitles). Why not place these buttons on the surface? So newer doesn't mean better IMO

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Multiregion Pioneer DVR-545H

My latest DVD Harddisk recorder is a Pioneer DVR-545H. Since these things are still region locked I needed to do some searching on how to get the thing region free. In my early DVD years (when a simple DVD player costed about 700 euro), I bought lots of DVD's from Amazon in the USA. The reason for buying them at Amazon was that the prices were much lower, and they had a bigger collection to choose from. Every DVD player I bought afterwards had the possibility of making it region free. Mostly by a hardware modification, or with a hacked firmware. My latest acquisition had the possibility to make it region free by sending an infrared (IR) signal to the player/recorder All you need is a PC/Laptop with an IR out. On this page, you can get a 'kit' which makes your DVR-545H region free without hacking the firmware or making hardware modifications. Just one click on your laptop, and your Pioneer DVR reboots, and is region free. Note that the page is about another DVR from Pioneer. The nice part is that Pioneer standardizes their recorders, so it works on most of them. So again, no need to 'backup' my DVD collection to remove the region coding. And before I forget to mention it.... Use it at your own risk!!.

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New Home Cinema Set

My new home cinema set arrived today. Earlier I mentioned that I'd probably get me the Philips 42 inch TFT, but after seeing lot's of those screens work, I decided to get a Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p). With a new screen, I also needed a new Home Cinema Receiver. This became the Pioneer VSX-2016AV-S. Together with a nice KEF iQ7 speakerset, and an active Klipsch subwoofer. Oh my god, this setup rocks....

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Muchas Pixels Rule

It has been a couple of days since I received my new Dell 24" widescreen TFT monitor. I must say that this is probably one of my best purchases in the last couple of weeks :-) . The desktop is huge. Lots of windows, and still there's space to put more stuff on it. Besides the large screen (1920*1200), it has USB, 7-1 cardreader and 5 or 6 video inputs (I lost track counting :-) ). There is only one regret..... I should have bought two

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Dutch ISP's Block Kiddy-porn Websites

Some large ISP's here in the Netherlands will block about 3000 websites, which are known to host child pornography. Several other ISP's are thinking to follow. Even my own ISP XS4ALL is looking into it. There's nothing wrong with blocking access to these websites, because in my opinion you may shoot them onsite, and hang them by their balls who trades or deals child pornography. On the Internet, or in real life. The question is; Is blocking content it a good idea? I have my doubts;

• Who decides if a website is really hosting child pornography. Most of these websites deal with it behind close doors. You have to get in to get access. Which organization is maintaining the list, AND who verifies the list. It won't be the first time that websites get banned for all the wrong reasons.
• What's next to be blocked? Websites about abortion? gay people? satanism? Let's face it, more and more stuff is being controlled, and/or censored around the world. What will become of our freedom of speech, and privacy. Where will it end?
• Die-hard sicko's know about the dangers of searching for their 'fix'. These 'people' won't use the normal routes to get their stuff. Anonymous proxies (like the TOR network), and alternative networks like Freenet will become more popular.

B.t.w. If you're a customer of one of the ISP's, you have the opportunity to object/complain against blocking these websites. Don't think that that will happen a lot though :-) .

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New Dell 24inch TFT

Today I ordered a new Dell 24inch TFT monitor for my main PC. I currently have a 19inch Sony (1280*1024), and the new 24inch widescreen monitor has a lot more desktop space, which comes in handy when you work with lots of open programs. The main reason for buying was that Dell had a special discount till the end of Februari 2007 (nearly 300 euro's off). The secondary reason was that I wanted to treat myself for my upcoming birthday :-). This evening I was surfing the net, and ended up on the US website of Dell, and saw the prices there..... just take a look at the pictures, and explain the difference to me (I know that you have to add sales tax in the US, but that's not what I'm pointing at).

US Dell Website

Dutch Dell website

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