Proper update entry.
Dec. 27th, 2006 11:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reddragdivaPeter Gutmann on why you should avoid Windows Vista like the fucking plague. (And no, he's not "just some blogger", but one of the sharpest computer security experts in the world.) Really. It's bad, bad shit and comprehensively fucked up by design.
And on that note, the most crippled music player ever offered for retail sale. Makes the Zune look open.
The Russian postal service is staffed by frickin' geniuses. Read the caption to see what they had to decode to deliver that thing.
I've done about bugger-all of late and sat in bed with Liz being ill. You can tell I've been ill because I didn't go wild with the camera. I did manage to roast a chicken on Monday night and the gravy was exquisite, so dinner was successfully Christmassy.
I've spent my time in bed writing the sort of fever dream delirium that's just the ticket at Uncyclopedia. As well as what I've posted here, I wrote this, which was thoroughly eclipsed by this. And put together this, which I would undoubtedly go to Hell for if this hadn't already paid my mortgage there in full.
I scored all three featured articles on UnNews today. RAH RAH ME.
The bath is leaking horribly because the tub is subsiding, which we think is because the foundation was either poured badly by our cowboy landlord or the previous cowboy landlord he bought it from, rather than because of, say, anything to do with the tub supports. Which means the floor under the tub is actually subsiding faster than the wall next to it with the expanding crack. Though the shower works really nicely now the boiler's had competent attention. I'll be attacking it with caulking tonight to stave off the inevitable ... taking the side off and looking underneath.
Tomorrow I'm supposed to be back at work and I don't think it's a happener. Half the building's been off sick this month, so they'll know I'm not skiving.
Update: I caulked about two-thirds, then leaned on the tub and it came away from the wall. I took the side off. Said side is made of cheap particleboard, which is absolutely the thing for a bathroom. Underneath is an eternal puddle that isn't dry enough to get mouldy. The struts are wobbly. I mopped it a bit and will have another go in the daytime. TRA LA LA.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 12:14 am (UTC)I work for the largest technology distributor in the world. (so if you know the business, right there you know where I work).
I asked a few people if we'd be switching to Vista.
The response has been the same, pretty much. People who make decisions laugh their asses off. People who clean up after the ones that make decisions pale and mutter "god, I hope not."
So we've got people selling it who've never even used it.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 09:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 11:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 11:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:39 am (UTC)Thank god...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 03:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 02:07 pm (UTC)We do still get asked about the 95 series and NT, so these are obviously still in use in some places.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 11:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:41 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:46 am (UTC)If anyone tries to suggest you should be using X.509 in a situation where you can possibly avoid it, refer them to his rant on the subject - it explains what you have to do to make it work, which is the biggest deterrent you could give anyone.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:50 am (UTC)I've read the X.509 rant ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 01:58 am (UTC)You mean to say that England doesn't have the kind of mold that will grow on the surface of water? First thing I've heard that makes me think I should move there!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 02:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:10 am (UTC)It's scary stuff - has anyone told Microsoft they *want* all this over-engineering? Will it mean people stop caring about 'premium content' and return to the cinema instead?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 06:05 pm (UTC)It will be interesting to see if the next rev of OSX does in terms of HDCP (and if so, how it will orphan users with, say, non-HDCP compliant Apple 30" Cinema Displays.)
But really, what is the alternative to a PC manufacturer getting on board with HDDVD/BlueRay/HDCP? Avoiding the format and using an alternative DRM, like downloaded HD content from the iTunes store or equivalent (ouch HDTV download size)? Getting the RIAA gang to abandon HDCP and go easy on the users (good luck)? Or, just telling users they just can't play along with the studio's protected content game (and not play protected content)?
I'd be happy enough with the latter... perhaps. I've played unprotected 720p content (in xvid/avi and h263/matroska containers) on a Pentium D XP machine out spdif and component or DVI video output to a HDTV and was happy enough. If enough unprotected content is available, who needs anything else.
On the other hand, if protected content monopolizes the market enough (and protected content can't be easily enough unprotected), everyone will have to play that game. And, Apple is probably more in bed with the studio cartel than Microsoft. Open source stuff, however, will be be shut out.
The question then will be how seductive is hi def content, and who would you get in bed with to sleep with it?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:34 am (UTC)sorry
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 12:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-30 04:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-30 04:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-28 10:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-30 02:13 pm (UTC)You're putting that kind of work into a house you don't even own?
Date: 2006-12-28 01:58 pm (UTC)I'm still painting. I haven't even begun to work on the pantry closet yet. And I'm not sure what paint to use for it, probably the bathroom mold inhibitor stuff which will be washable after a 30 day cure.
Re: You're putting that kind of work into a house you don't even own?
Date: 2006-12-28 02:26 pm (UTC)Re: You're putting that kind of work into a house you don't even own?
Date: 2006-12-28 02:57 pm (UTC)This is RIDICULOUS -- you shouldn't be doing these repairs (it's actually dangerous for you, with the mold), the landlord should be getting someone in there to do it FOR you.
*stab stab stab*
-- A :P
Re: You're putting that kind of work into a house you don't even own?
Date: 2006-12-28 04:31 pm (UTC)The bathtub thing is stupid and annoying ... yes, yes, the slumlord should ...
Re: You're putting that kind of work into a house you don't even own?
Date: 2006-12-29 01:43 pm (UTC)Re: You're putting that kind of work into a house you don't even own?
Date: 2006-12-31 02:43 am (UTC)At the very least, he should be PAYING for these repairs, and hopefully having someone to come in and do them so that the burden doesn't fall on you.
Good luck, hon!!
-- A <3