Archive for category Uncategorized
Posted by Daniel in Uncategorized on October 8, 2009
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. –Bertrand Russell
Time Running Out On First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit
Posted by Daniel in Uncategorized on September 26, 2009
Buyers are rushing to close on their home purchased by the November 30 deadline for the first time home buyer’s tax credit. Since it takes 45-60 days to close on the purchase of a home, many real estate agents advise getting a home under contract by the end of September.
reboot
Posted by Daniel in Uncategorized on August 15, 2009
So, I experienced a computer crash a few weeks ago.
I’ve moved this site off my home machine and onto a hosted site. Rather the putz with the hardware that died, I decided to restore from what I had handy, a backup made back in April. Since I really hadn’t written much, it’s no great loss (I think there were some pics of my deck garden, my adventures with growing tomatoes, etc. that were lost)
The whole process was actually fairly smooth.
Pointed my DNS to the new host.
Uploaded the backup I made of the wordpress files to the new host.
Created new mysql db.
Modified the wp-config.php file with the new database details (db_name, db_user, db_password).
Edited the wordpress mysql dump I had made (the part around CREATE DATABASE `db`
USE `db`) to enter in the new database name.
Did a
mysql --verbose --username= --password= dbname < backup.sql
Made sure there were no errors.
Voila. Done.
Will do some error checking to see if there’s anything I might have missed.
Myka
Posted by Daniel in Uncategorized on April 13, 2009
After nearly a year after I mentioned Myka, it appears that Myka is ready to be shipped in versions 80G, 160G or 500G with list prices between $299-$459. To review, Myka is designed as an open-source alternative to devices like Apple TV, Amazon Unbox, Roku and VUDU. It uses BitTorrent as its underlying framework, allowing users to download commercial and unofficial content without being dependent on any one connection or service.
From the surface, Myka platform seems pretty exciting. The BitTorrent P2P protocol obviates the need to talk to a centralized server (like ATV). It is purported to be built on open standards, Linux, HTML, PHP, BitTorrent and an entire gamut of media formats. It is both extensible and upgradeable.
However, a deeper look at the architecture brings serious concerns. Myka adopts a client-server format:. This client will talk to centralized servers somewhere in the Internet cloud that are owned and operated by Myka and store detailed configuration up on the Myka servers. From their own website
Myka has two major sub systems. One running on the actual device and one as a server. This was done to keep the software on the device as simple, flexible and open as possible.
….
The device software was purposefully made very dumb. It gets its commands from the Myka server. Its interface, download scheduling, updating are all driven externally. The device polls the server periodically to find out what it is supposed to do. The device can still play any files it has locally but the management of downloads is handled by the server.
The device software was purposely made very dumb? The management of downloads is handled by the server? What? Is anyone else alarmed? Commands are launched from the Myka servers, owned and operated by Myka. All kinds of alerts about Internet privacy are going off in my mind. Everything the consumer would want to download and watch would be permanently tied to one’s Myka account (logged and stored indefinitely?). Viewing patterns can be determined. Possibly sold off to third-party data brokers. Even if the information is not sold by Myka, who is to say that Myka won’t be acquired and data change hands.
It’s logical to compare Myka to Apple’s AppleTV (ATV) and the content available in the iTunes store. Critics of AppleTV have voiced complains about proprietary format and centralized control by an individual company (Apple). The big difference is that Apple acquires the rights to the content (shows, movies, songs) made available on iTunes — so when a consumer rents or purchases a program, he/she obtains a legal license (to watch/use).
In contrast, while Myka’s dumb-client architecture means the product still has the issue of permanent and centralized storage of the download and viewing habits of the consumer by an individual company (Myka) however the license status of the content is unclear. Currently, Myka doesn’t have content deals but claims to be in negotiations with “major” providers. Will Myka be sourcing it’s content from third party providers of unregulated and possibly unlicensed content like much of what is available on BitTorrent? Is it adopting a don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy? How is that different from the argument against all those [legal, quasi-legal or illegal] companies that profit off of [bootleg] content without paying the copyright owners?
Dollhouse risks cancellation?
Posted by Daniel in Uncategorized on April 11, 2009
Dr. Horrible star Felicia Day tweets, “Man, day getting worse and worse. Found out my Dollhouse ep, #13 isn’t gonna air. Only on DVD. Such a great part too. Thx Fox. 
”
Day had been featured in episode 14 of the series, ‘Epitaph One’.
Indeed, the news from Fox is that 14th episode of Dollhouse would not be broadcast.
“We currently do not have plans to air ‘Epitaph One,’” says a Fox source, who added that this decision does not reflect the network’s feelings about the show or whether Dollhouse will be renewed. Fox had purchased 13 episodes, of which one was originally designated as the series pilot, but was scrapped. An official announcement about Dollhouse’s possible return for next season will be made at the network’s upfronts in May.
Dollhouse is about a group of individuals who are kept in a seeming “blank” memoryless state until they are programmed with a personality profile and skills and dispatched on assignments (called engagements). The Dollhouse refers to the memory-erasing lab where the dolls stay after each mission.)
I have been a fan of Whedon’s work since BTVS but have had mixed feelings about Dollhouse. Dollhouse lacks the clever dialogue and tie-ins with history and popular culture. The idea of a clandestine government organization has already been thoroughly explored in the action/adventure genre with series like La Femme Nikita, Alias, 24 and Kyle XY. The concept seems tired and due for a refresh. While I’d love to see more character development and backstory of the players in Dollhouse, I wouldn’t be surprised if this show didn’t make it to a second season.