revford blog

Christian Voice Claims God Does Exist

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:02:57 GMT

'No God' campaign draws complaint

We saw this coming, Christian Voice, who from looking at their website appear to be Loons, have complained to the ASA (Advertising Standards) that the claims of the Atheist Bus Campaign, "There's probably no God" are untrue.

Loon credentials for the Christian Voice include comparing Abortion to the Holocaust and distributing anti-gay propaganda at Pride events.

Basically this puts the ASA in a no win position. They have to rule on the probable existence of any God or Gods.

The get out could be that the advert says, quite properly "There's probably no God", not "There's no God". As no one can disprove or prove the existence of Gods, that's kinda the point of faith.

The interesting case continues.

Atheist Bus Campaign Launches Today

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:45:43 GMT

Today, around the country the Humanist/Atheist advertising campaign kicks off, it's a nice peaceful message that is sure to send religious Loons (just Loons, you can have faith and not be a Loon) into a frenzy.

It's a nice idea and good luck to them.

Hopefully it's going to stir up some debate about the role of religion both in people's lives and in society as a whole.

But it's more likely to be shouted at for being heathen propaganda and an attack on Gods.

Atheists launch bus ad campaign
Atheist Bus Campaign official website
BHA: The Bus Campaign FAQ

Fuck

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:16:34 GMT

Judge Says Fox Owns Rights to a Warner Movie

Looks like we won't be getting the Watchmen movie next year, or maybe at all.

It's turning into a legal three-way between Fox, Warner and Paramount.

Top Gear Tesla Test Shenanigans

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:23:54 GMT

Looks like the BBC lied about the Tesla Roadster in the Top Gear review.

The news as it unfolded on The Register:

Tesla takes Top Gear test to task

Top Gear Tesla didn't run out of juice

So, when Clarkson said the battery ran out, it didn't.

Also the Brake Failure when charging, was actually a blown fuse that was replaced immediately.

They also said that charging from a standard plug can take as long as 16 hours, this is true, but they don't point out that the car is supplied with a unit that can be installed at home and can charge it in 3.5 hours.

That leaves the only real faults Top Gear found with the Tesla, are that it's heavy and expensive compared to the Lotus it thrashed in drag and track races.

It really is expensive, a 2008 Lotus Elise costs $53,500 and a 2008 Tesla Roadster costs $98,000. Not quite the three times Top Gear claimed, but it is a more expensive machine.

The Lotus weighs 2,006 lbs while the Tesla weighs in at 2,723 lbs. So the Top Gear are right on the money there.

I don't really understand why Top Gear felt the need to deceive people in their review of the Tesla. Could it be that the Petrol Fetishists can't admit that there is now a credible alternative fuel sports car?

Creative Commons Licencing

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:14:19 GMT

I've decided to update the licence for all my original stuff to the UK version of the Creative Commons, Non-Commercial, Attribution and Share-Alike licence.

This means you are free to use, copy and make derivatives of my work, as long as you give me credit, don't use it for commercial purposes and share anything you make from it under the same licence.

Anything I've used under a different licence is clearly marked as such.

Only One Palin

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:25:53 GMT

Monty Python fans marched on the US Embassy to support the one true Palin.

I really wanted to see a CIA man saying "Stop That, That's Silly".

Pythonline have cleverly used this as a very cheap way to plug the new DVD boxed set.

History Will Show Us

New Politics Icon

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:52:02 GMT

Built from two bits of public domain clip-art, a very simple icon for Politics news.

Livingstone to be Chavez adviser

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:35:43 GMT

From the BBC.

Livingstone to be Chavez adviser

How London could trade Red Ken for "Bloody Stupid" Johnson I still have no idea. Must be all the cocaine.

Looks like London's loss isn't going to Venezuela's loss as well after all.

Revolutionary Sims!

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:40:04 GMT

An angry Sim Revolutionary, calls for all Sims to seize control of Build Mode!

No longer shall the means of construction be controlled by the Players. :)

More reasons to hate Yuppie Wankers

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:50:24 GMT

More reasons to hate Yuppie Wankers, they're destroying the planet:

The Register: Snort coke, shaft the environment, say boffins

iPlayer on Linux, Mac, iPhone and Windows

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:59:45 GMT

The BBC iPlayer is a strange beast.

If you are a Windows user, you get to download shows and keep them for a month.

If you're not, you don't.

If you're an iPhone user, you get a better quality MPEG4 h.264 stream.

If you're not, you don't.

It's a strange arrangement. Providing a very different quality of service for different BBC licence payers.

The downloads issue first, as that covers parts of the other one.

It's all about DRM, that is Digital Rights Management. A system to enforce who can watch content and how long they can keep it.

The content providers who the BBC buy content from want DRM on the iPlayer downloads so people can't keep them. The fear being that if people download and keep shows from the BBC, they won't buy the DVDs as well.

The DRM selected by the BBC is available for Microsoft Windows only.

So the downloads of shows is Windows only for now. But the BBC Trust want this reviewed every six months.

Oh and like all DRM, this DRM doesn't work, you can simply remove it.

The BBC website told me so and what tool use.

So the BBC knows that DRM is worthless. So the deal they made with the content providers is based on the fantasy that DRM'ed files will help DVD sales.

Also, the BBC transmit all programs over the air DRM free in both digital and analogue formats.

So anyone can grab whatever they like from the BBC using a video recorder, DVR, DVD Recorder or any other simple and commonly available system.

So really, anyone who wants can save BBC content in whatever format they like using a selection of tech from the last 30 or more years.

So, why not just make the batter quality stream available to everyone?

While they're at it, let people download them too.

If you're telling Windows users how to remove the DRM, why put it on in the first place.

It's going to save the BBC some work, they only need encode two streams (MPEG2 for Set-tops and MPEG4 for everyone else) and they don't have to spend my licence money on a DRM system that they told me doesn't work.

Reference and Further Reading:
DefectiveByDesign.org
BBC Trust approves BBC's on-demand proposals
BBC iPlayer On iPhone: Behind The Scenes
Quick guide: Cracked DRM systems

Worst Idea Ever

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:50:42 GMT

Swearing allegiance to the monarchy, who live in giant houses surrounded by servants, on our money, will make us more "British".

For this you'll get a Tax rebate and a cheaper education.

Pupils 'to take allegiance oath'

And this from a member of the Labour Party? Sounds like the lunatic rantings of the BNP to me.

It just makes you want to scream "REVOLUTION"!

God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron...