We interrupt this blog to complain

This is easily the worst tech blog entry I have read all year:

Microsoft's lukewarm HD-DVD support was the killer

So let me get this straight. It's Microsoft's fault that HD-DVD failed because it didn't bundle an HD drive with the 360, just like Sony included the Blu-Ray with the PS3. You know, the PS3, the game machine that shipped nearly a year later than the 360, more expensive and with no games. I didn't realise that when buying a game machine I was expected to choose sides. Foolish Microsoft, focusing on delivering, you know games for your game console.

So congratulations, Blu-ray. You've just won the war for a format that is already obsolete. You're the new, hot buggy whip. Actually Bug-E whip, since you couldn't even make the effort to put an 'e' on the end of that 'Blu'. Come on. Everybody likes 'e'. It's like a little Pacman right there on the keyboard.

I write software. I'm down with teh tech. I know a lot of other people who are the same. And I don't know anybody who has purchased any kind of next generation video player or plan to in the future. Nobody cares. Fact is, by the time I'm ready to buy a blu-ray player (and don't forget the new television), we'll all be getting our movies via iTunes or the xbox marketplace or some other on demand service.

And games? I've got a 360. It's really cool. But most of the time when I feel the need to play something I break out the good old PS2. Guitar Hero, Grand Theft Auto, Singstar, SSX. Tell me again why I need a high definition video format for my console?

Rant over. Suddenly I have a mad urge to play Guitar Hero.

Unleashing my inner bogan

So tonight I finally got to play Guitar Hero II.

Turns out I've been waiting my whole life to play Sweet Child O' Mine, and I don't even really like GnR.

Is this a sign that I've been watching too much Outrageous Fortune?

I love guitar hero, but I'm nowhere near as good as this 5 year old:

The end

I was going to post a few more week of geek entries - about Virtual Machines and iTunes, but then I though... nah. No more computer stuff for a while.

Meanwhile: How come I was not informed about this? Come on people! The combination of Guitar Hero and 80's is pretty much a perfect storm round my house. Includes tracks by The Police, Oingo Boingo and this one, which is now stuck in my head. Again.

Saving(TM) the world(TM)

This today on BoingBoing about the agreement you must sign if you want to register as one of the Friends of Live Earth. A quick preview:

# The term “Live Earth” is not available for your use as part of your program identity or title. It can be used in descriptions of the event itself (example: Come see the Live Earth concerts, broadcast on big screens in Hyde Park).
# All events using this info should have their own title and identity, clearly separate and independent from Live Earth (example: Save the Planet Toronto). You cannot use the term “Friends of Live Earth” in your program title or lead messaging.
# No one from your organizing team can claim to speak on behalf of Live Earth, act as a representative of Live Earth, or represent your event as a Live Earth event.

Funny thing is, just yesterday I was reading 'Tis the season from China Miéville's excellent short story collection Looking for Jake. 'Tis the season is laugh-out-loud funny - just ask Liz. It's so good that I started reading it to her. It's about a future where Christmas has been commercialised to the point where it's actually illegal to put presents under trees, unless you have the appropriate license. It was originally published in the Socialist Review, and they still have it available online, here.

So here's what I propose: go and read the Live Earth license. Then read Miéville's story. Come back here and tell me which one is funnier.