Well given my previous rants on the subject of cable TV (1, 2, 3) I guess I should share my $0.02 on the latest FCC stupidity.
The truth is that I don't care anymore, I canceled Cable TV back in November and haven't missed it at all. As far as SOC goes, I can't say this is suprising given the FCC's complete disregard for their mandate to ensure that the cable tv system remains open. For those just tuning in, this is not just wishful thinking on my part. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the FCC Report and Order that implements the TCA both state this as a goal.
The FCC only granted a limited wavier to the SOC ban, but I doubt it will stay limited for very long.
Sure, my IP never changes... until it does.
Lets see bad ideas:
* Hosting the primary DNS for your domains on the end of a cable modem
* Hosting the primary MX server for your domains on the end of a cable modem
* Using a 1 day TTL for your domains on the end of a cable modem
* Using a 4 hour refresh for your domains on the end of a cable modem
Maybe this is yet another sign that I should be using real hosting.
Edit: apparently my backup MX isn't accepting mail for me...
Swine flu is almost as dangerous as deer are:
Swine flu deaths in MI this season: 9
Deer-vehicle collision deaths in MI in 2008: 12
Swine flu hospitalizations in MI this season: 256
Deer-vehicle collision injuries in MI in 2008: 1,648
And deer collisions are just one hazard of driving your car...
Statistics obtained from MDCH and MDOT.
One of the Comcast twitter peoples saw my post and suggested I email the special help email account. While these posts have all been prompted by Comcast's push to kill analog cable, the topic at hand is more of the regulatory failures involved in digital cable than Comcast. But, I'm not about to pass up a chance to ask what I've been wondering, so I asked whether or not the service tier analog people are being moved to will be encrypted or not. Last time I heard the digital starter tier was encrypted, but that was 6 months ago.
In order to bulk move all the analog luddites like myself, they needed cheap digital to anlog converter boxes. Cheap, means no support for CableCARD. Now the FCC issued an integration ban back in 2007 that prohibits Cable providers from issuing converter boxes with integrated security modules. The integration ban forced them to start using CableCARD in their own equipment. I originally heard they were seeking a limited waiver allowing them to issue cheaper integrated boxes for limited purpose of porting their remaining analog customers to digital. I have been unable to determine if that request was approved or denied.
More recent evidence indicates the boxes have no support for a security module to begin with, but until I get my 2 free DTAs, I can't verify this. The integration ban only prohibits integrated security modules, it does not actually mandate that seperable modules exist. So a box without any security abilities at all would be perfectly permissible, it would also be even cheaper than an integrated box.
I'm hoping that my current analog channels are just transmitted in the clear since that will make it possible for me to build a DVR by just installing a QAM tuner card in one of my computers. I've been aware of the impending death of analog cable for a while now and have been putting off a DVR because of it. Yes, I still use a VCR.
My last post prompted some discussion of what CableCARD is and why it is not an acceptable solution on IRC amongst my friends. CableCARD's version of open access is about as open as the bottom of a locked filing cabinet in a disused lavatory in a basement without any lights and that has a sign on the door saying 'Beware of Leopard'.
The origins of CableCARD come from a 1998 FCC regulation requiring that the decryption module of a cable tv tuner be physically seperate from the rest of the tuner. CableCARD was a device and interface specification designed by CableLabs to comply with this regulation. Ideally this would mean that anyone could create a tuner that accepts CableCARDs, but this isn't quite the case. The CableCARD and the tuner do a key exchange to verify each other. For this key exchange to succeed, both devices need keys signed by CableLabs. Why? So that the CableCARD can re-encrypt the signal before sending it back to the tuner. Also, a tuner's key is only signed if it complies with the copy protection requirements of CableLabs.
The full failure of the FCC to enforce their 1998 rule can only be understood if the original purpose of the ruling is covered. The FCC ruling is the result of a provision in the 1996 Telecommunications Act requiring the FCC to adopt regulations allowing third party devices access to the cable tv system. The explanation for including this open access provision in the TCA is the 1968 Carterfone decision that forced Ma Bell to allow third party devices access to the telephone system. Of course there is a bit of a difference from what resulted from Carterfone and what has become of CableCARD. CableCARD is like telling Ma Bell she can't prohibit devices, but she is allowed to come up with whatever limits she wants. This includes making rules about what the phone is allowed to do with the signal long after it has left the phone system.
The supposed goal of CableCARD was to promote the same innovation that is possible in the telephone system through a physical card with a well defined interface. After the encrypted cable signal was processed by that card, the sky should have been the limit for innovation. Yet the requirements of CableCARD hinder innovation. The CableCARD compliant series 3 TiVo has more restrictions on what you can do with recordings than the series 2. It does not take a genius to figure out that they are missing because of CableCARD's limitations.
The gold standard for determining if a given regulation promotes innovation or should be what I call the two guys in a garage test, a reference to the origins of the Apple I computer. If two guys in a garage can't do it without outside help, then the regulation is not promoting innovation. Without the help of CableLabs to sign the host key, two guys in a garage can't make a CableCARD host device. Thus CableCARD fails the two guys in a garage test.
The idea that two guys in a garage can build a digital cable tuner is not ridiculous or far fetched. A software defined radio tuner built on top of a USRP and controlled by GNU Radio is well within the technical abilities of many engineers. An ATSC tuner was already developed using them in order to prove that the broadcast flag would never be fully enforceable.
Whether or not CableCARD complies with the letter of the 1996 Telecommunications Act or the resulting 1998 FCC regulations is open to debate, but I think it goes without saying that it completely violates the spirit of them. Remember, beware of leopards.
Took these two screenshots while watching the webcast of a space launch:
So far the launch is going about as well as their webcast :P
Okay so a while ago I noticed that a car in the parking lot had a blue plate. For those not from Michigan (do any of those actually read this blog?) up until January 2007 the basic license plate was blue with white letters. Like this:
Now for some reason (ie. money) starting in 2007, anyone with a blue plate was given a new plate that is white with blue letters and looks really gay. I believe people re-registering early for January 2007 was the last group allowed to keep their old plates. So by the end of January 2008, no blue plates should be left. (With the exception of permanent plates for trailers and stuff)
So this car with a blue plate that expired in August 2007 was a curiosity. I didn't remember when it showed up, but after thinking about it a while I realized it hadn't moved in a long time either. I remember it being there all winter because it and my car always had huge piles of snow around them. I never used my car during the day when they plowed and always took the same spot when I did use my car.
So I notice a white pickup truck has parked directly behind that car and an official looking person was walking around while on the phone. When he got back in his truck and closed the door I could read the name of the company that owned my apartment complex on the door. He drove to the end of the parking lot, stayed down there for a bit (IIRC there is another car down there with a current registration sticker illegally stuck onto a blue vanity plate) and then drove back. Got out of his truck again, and wrote down some stuff while walking around the car. I assume he copied down the VIN and license plate numbers.
I'm now waiting for them to finally tow this car out of the lot. The complex has all our plate numbers and can easily determine if its one of our vehicles. I'm assuming they are gonna run a check on the VIN just to make sure its not a tenant's before towing it. Its a violation of the lease to park a vehicle in the parking lot lacks a current registration or is not highway driveable. They are pretty lax about rules, if its a tenant's car they will probably just tell him to hurry up and get a new registration. I bet its abandoned here though.
Is it me or does the rear seem a bit low? Are there bonus points if the cops show up and find bodies?
If you think I spent too much work on this post, you have to remember I'm trying not to go ballistic about another thing that happened today. Although if everyone wants a rant on that I'd be happy to oblige.
Also, see the puppy poop bag dispenser and trash can? Yeah the owners of the complex are awesome about having dogs. I'll have one RSN.
I figured I should post this since its related to the domain name I chose. The radioactive boy scount did it again.
This was written as part of the Blog Like Its The End Of The World day. The events described in it are all fictional.
Sketchy reports are claiming that zombies (for lack of a better term) are showing up all over the world. I'm documenting what I know on my other blog since this one depends on the local power grid and cable system. There isn't much information on it yet, the major news organizations seem to be oblivous to it. Is this government censorship or are they afraid of the panic that telling the truth might cause?
My sister sent me this, not sure of the original source. The only thing it is missing is that no one has blamed the homosexuals for bringing down the wrath of God.
Weather "happens"...
Up here in the " Mile-High City", we just recovered from a historic event, some even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions." It arrived in the form of a blizzard containing up to 44" inches of snow, winds to 90 MPH and greater, broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities, and cut power to tens of thousands.
FYI:
George Bush did not come.
FEMA did nothing.
No one howled for the government.
No one blamed the government.
No one even uttered an expletive on TV.
Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.
Our Mayor did not blame Mr. Bush or anyone else.
Our Governor did not blame Mr. Bush or anyone else, either.
CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5
snowstorm.
Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.
No one looted.
Nobody - And I mean Nobody ...demanded the government do something.
Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.
No Larry King, no Shepard Smith, no Oprah, no Chris Matthews and no Al
Sharpton or Jesse Jackson.
No Sean Penn, no Barbara Striesand... without fanfare... simply no
Hollywood types to be found.
Nope, we just melted the snow for water.
Caravans of SUVs were sent to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.
ALL truck drivers hauled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a
penny.
Local restaurants prepared food for police and fire departments to deliver to snowbound families, elderly, and anyone else in need.
Families took in stranded people, typically, total strangers.
We fired up wood stoves, broke out kerosene, propane, or Coleman lanterns.
Fire wood was distributed to those that needed it.
We put on extra layers of clothes because up here, it is "Work or die".
We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess... created by a government sponsored welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.
Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early in the season, we know it can happen; and how to deal with it ourselves.
In my travels, I've noticed that once above 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate. It does seem that way, at least to me.
There may be a message inside this message... "The world does NOT owe you a living!" Any part of this you don't understand?
4043 ? 00:00:10 screen
4052 pts/16 00:00:00 \_ vim
4057 pts/17 00:00:00 \_ vim
4062 pts/18 00:00:00 \_ vim
4067 pts/19 00:00:00 \_ vim
4072 pts/20 00:00:26 \_ vim
4077 pts/21 00:00:01 \_ vim
4082 pts/22 00:00:00 \_ vim
4087 pts/23 00:00:01 \_ vim
4092 pts/24 00:00:00 \_ vim
4140 pts/25 00:00:00 \_ bash
4915 pts/15 00:00:00 \_ bash
4919 pts/26 00:00:00 \_ vim
So thats were all my PTYs went!
We had our first day of liquid snow today...
In most areas spring is a beautiful time, in Houghton it is ugly. All the dirt that was collected into the snow piles is laying where the snow used to be.
Got some physical spam in the mail today. This scam has apparently been going strong since 1997. The name printed on the cards was changed around 2003 from NDI Redemption Center to the current NDI University Awards Center.
Front of the card
Back of the card
Note that the side with the mailing labels has two of them. The one beneath the one with my address is somewhere at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA, 30332. The card itself was mailed from Kingsford, MI which is south of Houghton somewhere near the Wisconsin border.
If anyone knows how to trace 1-800 numbers or P.O. Boxes please leave a comment. I want to have some fun with this.
Here is a really good blonde joke.
The Kansas State Board of Education has voted in favor of teaching alternative theories to evolution in science class. They did this primarily to require the teaching of something called Intelligent Design. The basis of which is that life is so complex that some higher power must have been involved (see Ockham's Razor).
I am in full support of the Kansas State Board of Education, everyone knows that we are the descendents of Ark B and the higher power is the Great Circling Poets of Arium.
Texas just passed an anti-gay constitutional amendment with some entertaining wording. The relevant part of which is below:
Sec. 32. (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.
(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't marriage "identical or similar to marriage"? Some lawmakers need to go retake introduction to logic.
Two gun locks chained together make a good bike lock. Better yet the police department gives them away for free!
This is what I know:
* Helicopter rescue operations have been called off because people are shooting at the rescue helicopters.
* The NOPD is essentially disbanded. There is no more command and control structure in place.
* The Superdome is on fire.
* FEMA is having trouble with dealing with the scale of the operation at hand.
* The National Guard is sending an additional 15,000 troops to secure the city (thats the size of a light infantry division BTW)
If you ask me, that first problem can be solved with a few escorts.
<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/">Some people</a> at an ISP down in New Orleans rode out Katrina and are staying in the city despite the evacuation order. Their blog is an interesting account of the chaos in the city right now. They also have a webcam that is acting a bit like a yo-yo.
So I walked out of the computer lab and as I round the corner of the hallway I see a half-dozen guys wearing camo and holding submachine guns (H&K MP5s for the curious). After about 10 seconds of me just standing there staring, one of them notices me and says, "Oh hi there. We're the Wyoming SWAT team, just doing some training." This does explain why I heard voices coming from the stairwell discussing door breaching.
The Discovery (side note: calling it a space shuttle is technically incorrect here) has two strips of the filler between the tiles of the heat shield extending out from the surface of the tiles. NASA is currently debating whether or not these small strips could upset the flow of plasma around the Orbiter as it re-enters the atmosphere enough to cause the destruction of the Orbiter. This is not the first time this has happened, but it has never been observed to this degree so far forward on the Orbiter. No astronaut has ever before preformed a spacewalk to the lower surface of the Orbiter and the remote manipulator arm cannot reach this area. This spacewalk is not without hazards, but those are less risky than ignoring the exposed gap filler.
If this Orbiter fails to return to Earth the Space Shuttle program will be ended permanently. The ISS, NASA, and even manned spaceflight will all be in peril. Even if the Discovery returns to Earth, those are all in jeopardy. As it stands, NASA does not currently have a manned launch capability. Developement of a new vehicle would take 5 years, including the retooling of the launch facilities.
I think this goes to show that war drives technology. Within 25 years of sending the first man into space we set foot on the moon. In the 30 years since we left the moon we really haven't done much with our launch capabilities. Everyone always says, why go to Mars when probes can tell us what we need. The thing is that the trip itself pays out in technology more than the destination. You can thank the Apollo Space Program for shrinking computers. They needed to fit an entire flight computer into that capsule. If we go to Mars we will need a near self-sustaining environment for the astronauts. This could pay back in many ways here on Earth.
We can either let the Space Shuttle be a hinder to our spaceflight or take the need for a new launch vehicle to push out even farther in our solar system. We could have a man on Mars or a colony on the moon in my lifetime if we try. I'd also be the first in line despite the risks. Sometimes I wonder if the setbacks of NASA are going to result in spaceflight becoming a private, rather than a public, endeavor. The suborbital flights of SpaceShipOne are child's play compared to orbit, but its a step in the right direction.
Ad Astra Per Aspera.
After the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Hot Coffee outrage story broke on /. I jokingly suggested that they should really be targetting Maxis for the Nude Sims patch. This patch, like Hot Coffee, merely enables content already contained, but unplayable, in the game. Well it seems like someone took the bait. I figure I'm on a roll, so why stop with the Sims?
The most widely recognized magazine in the world regularly publishes nude pictures of people. This magazine is stocked by most public libraries and school libraries. The August issue contains nudity on a two-page spread. What magazine you ask? None other than National Geographic, check the August 2005 ZipUSA section for the most recent examples.
So acceptable content for a respected magazine results in The Sims getting reclassified as Adults Only? Maybe we should be checking IDs and marking National Geographic as Adults Only. Please, think of the children! Oh wait, NGM doing it is 'tasteful'.
![[setec astronomy]](/graphics/sa/sa.png){kind=small}
