Slashdot Mirror

It gets a LOT of hits anyway. The site is frequently offline or slow.

Incidentally the guy who runs the site used to appear on the Big Breakfast on Channel 4 in the UK. He'd show the latest submissions to his site on the programme each week.

That was before the programme got axed, anyway.

Hopfully it'll be the presenters from Scrapheap Challenge.

This really sounds like someone saw the Car Jouster, lets hope it's better thou, this was really just dancing about next to each other (you score points by "hitting" a section, not ripping it apeart!)

mlk, looking forward to it.

Somehow, it makes me think of Big Brother, the reality TV show.

Here in the UK c4 shows Futurama at about 6pm on seemingly random weeknights - and sometimes earlier!

I've probably only seen about 6 episodes ever because of this. I know I could tape it, but I'm not that organised, and anyway, I probably don't care enough to bother!

If it was on later, anywhere between 7:30 and midnight, it would get a bigger audience. Unfortunately, those hours are reserved for chick programming like Allie McBeal, Make over shows, and soaps!

I think it goes out first on Sky or e4 at a better time but because I've got a posh old house I'm not allowed a minidish because I have an evil neighbour who puts in planning objections... bitch! And the Monkey signal is too weak on my street.

The excellent Mark Thomas Product, a show on c4 in the UK had a pop at "the Data Protection Act and in particular its sections covering Closed Circuit Television".

Essentially, in the UK, if a CCTV camera records your image you just have to write to the owner of the camera with a £10 cheque asking for a copy of all information they hold on you. By law under the DPA they have to provide you with a copy. If they don't they can go to jail.

He went into a McDonalds with a troup of tumblers and jugglers and asked for a copy of the tape. He went a bunch of other places aswell, get him on video, very funny!

Lots of info starting here, at his own FAQ, and if you get hooked check out google directory for stacks of links.

This is trigger happy TV for the broadsheet reader!

The excellent Mark Thomas Product, a show on c4 in the UK had a pop at "the Data Protection Act and in particular its sections covering Closed Circuit Television".

Essentially, in the UK, if a CCTV camera records your image you just have to write to the owner of the camera with a £10 cheque asking for a copy of all information they hold on you. By law under the DPA they have to provide you with a copy. If they don't they can go to jail.

He went into a McDonalds with a troup of tumblers and jugglers and asked for a copy of the tape. He went a bunch of other places aswell, get him on video, very funny!

Lots of info starting here, at his own FAQ, and if you get hooked check out google directory for stacks of links.

This is trigger happy TV for the broadsheet reader!

The excellent Mark Thomas Product, a show on c4 in the UK had a pop at "the Data Protection Act and in particular its sections covering Closed Circuit Television".

Essentially, in the UK, if a CCTV camera records your image you just have to write to the owner of the camera with a £10 cheque asking for a copy of all information they hold on you. By law under the DPA they have to provide you with a copy. If they don't they can go to jail.

He went into a McDonalds with a troup of tumblers and jugglers and asked for a copy of the tape. He went a bunch of other places aswell, get him on video, very funny!

Lots of info starting here, at his own FAQ, and if you get hooked check out google directory for stacks of links.

This is trigger happy TV for the broadsheet reader!

And he's another Brixton resident :)

The hysteria surrounding all this has to be seen to be believed - for some reason paedophile terror has really taken off in the UK in the last few years, culminating in hilarious/terrifying events like the attack on the house of a paediatrician by a mob of (presumably semi-literate) vigilantes a while back.

For the record, my mother (56, and a psychotherapist) watched the programme and found it amusing to the point of being life-threatening.

Steff

FWIW, here are some links to chat interviews with the Cathy Rogers and Robert Llewellyn about Junk Yard Wars/Scrapheap Challenge and how they set things up, how the heap is seeded, whether the teams even find all the good stuff, and the flexibility of "the last hour". These chats answer almost all of the questions and accusations thrown around elsewhere in this topic...

Channel 4 chat session with Cathy Rogers

Channel 4 chat session with Robert Llewellyn

There's even a Scrapheap Challenge video, for those of you in the UK, or with access to a PAL VCR. It reportedly contains some amusing out-takes.

FWIW, here are some links to chat interviews with the Cathy Rogers and Robert Llewellyn about Junk Yard Wars/Scrapheap Challenge and how they set things up, how the heap is seeded, whether the teams even find all the good stuff, and the flexibility of "the last hour". These chats answer almost all of the questions and accusations thrown around elsewhere in this topic...

Channel 4 chat session with Cathy Rogers

Channel 4 chat session with Robert Llewellyn

There's even a Scrapheap Challenge video, for those of you in the UK, or with access to a PAL VCR. It reportedly contains some amusing out-takes.

Yes, the British show "Scrapheap Challenge" is relabeled by TLC as "Junkyard Wars." Until the recent all-US version, that's all Junkyard Wars was. But TLC's ratings for the relabeled Scrapheap Challenge have been terrific, so they contracted with RDF Media and Cathy Rogers to produce an all-US version of the show.

And yes, Robert Llewellyn (the British host) is much better than George Gray (the American host). I find it amusing that two cast members from Red Dwarf have jobs as gameshow hosts. Craig Charles (who plays Lister) hosts the British show Robot Wars while Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) hosts Scrapheap Challenge/Junkyard Wars UK.

Apparently, British viewers got to see the US vs. UK championship back in December 2000. I'd discovered that website months back and studiously avoided reading too much on there because I wanted to be surprised by the outcomes of the shows.

By the way, the first season of the all-US version of the show was shot in England at the same junkyard as the British version. The second US season will be shot at an American junkyard in California (and is probably being filmed right now).

He said that the experts know what the challenge is beforehand - they submit a tentative design and a list of critical parts - but the actual teams don't know until it starts.

In fact, if you go to the Channel 4 website you can see what appears to be the expert's design brief for each show; e.g.: The Airship.

I'll crawl back under a rock now :-)

Simon Singh has his own web site with details about his books and the Channel 4 programme. Including his book and BBC TV production about Fermat's Last Theorem.

I like Channel4 too, they're really revitalised themselves over the last two years into a innovative channel, it's mainly because they work with hundreds of little independent production houses rather than going wholesale with two or three (even though the latter would make more commercial sense).

However, even though channel 4 is supported by advertising, I feel it couldn't exist in its current form is it went purely commercial rather than state owned. A pure commercial outfit would go for the highest bang-for-the-buck and drop anything apart from high rating programmes, then it would sell the crap out itself with those ratings... whoring out the content for as much cash as possible, whilst pushing for the lowest expenditure as possible on producing the content. Another decent channel down the toilet.

It's nice to see that Channel4 makes cash and is self-supporting, it's also nice to see a channel that doesn't exist purely to make cash.

Seen a top 10 videogames list lately?

And ever heard the figure "one hundred million"? That's how many game boys have been sold in the last 12 years. Do you know any other console that's sold that well?
--

In the UK, the Data Protection Act now allows you to demand copies of all CCTV identifiable as you any given company or organisation has on record. Mark Thomas (a comedian with his own show on Channel 4) has used this to great effect.

Actually, checking out Channel 4's Scrapheap Challenge page, the poor brits are going to get the US series of Junkyard Wars. But at least they're telling their audience it's definitely not the same show, and there's a new series of "Scrapheap Challenge" in production at the moment, presumably with Llewellen.

But, the fact that the BBC generates such quality programming in general is definitely responsible for the quality of programming coming out of other UK channels such as Channel4 and ITV.

Features much subway exploration, deserted hospital raiding and maniac Governement agent avoidence. Really tense. Really engaging. Really out of print at the moment...

Channel 4 show it occasionally...

I guess net access is not on the top of the peoples list of priorities somehow ;)

Of course, the Internet is banned because in such a society it can help the people achieve freedom by acting as a relatively safe channel for the voice of dissent and counter-propoganda.

In a liberated society, the Internet becomes means to different ends. Like pr0n, mp3s and general timewasting on a scale never before dreamed of by our forefathers. How can we stand idly by while people across the world are deprived of such things?

Mind you, we should also consider the other countries where people may be prosecuted for Internet activities such as posting details of politicians' business interests. Such as most of Europe - at least according to the C4 Mark Thomas Product programme here in .uk, who's latest site http://www.mepsinterests.com looks like it's been nobbled. Technical difficulties my arse.

Perhaps we should ask India to invade us too?

Dave

CargoLifter AG, plans to build an airship, the CL160, that could bear 160-ton loads across the ocean, which only boats might otherwise manage--buoyed by nonflammable helium, not the hydrogen that filled the Hindenburg.

It wasn't the hydrogen. As reported in a Channel 4 (UK) documentary, Secrets of the Dead, (and discussed on /.), the Hindenburg had been completely painted with a compound made of iron oxide and powdered aluminum, ie. rocket fuel.

It seems the Nazis were more comfortable saying that an 'act of god' had caused the freak ignition of the hydrogen in the tanks, than admit that the german engineers had deliberately painted the skin with such a substance.

Bob Geldof then went in with eyes wide shut, and secured aid for famine relief. A noble man, but ill informed and painfully naive.

Of course, the Ethiopian government was grateful. How do you think they fed their soldiers? Money from Live Aid was used to support the Ethiopian government in the civil war against rebels. Since rebels were indistinguishable from the general farming population, the government decided to drive out and persecute its own people. Hence, the famine.

Some of the most vivid footage I saw was of an Ethiopian fighter jet bombing a farming village. Damn.

The media has to shoulder a large part of the blame. There was at least one reporter who was trying to give a picture of the real situation but she was ignored and accused of trying to crash the party.

Sorry, I couldn't find a more informative link to Channel 4's informative program.

The raindrops patter on the bamboo leaf, but these are not tears of grief;
This is only the anguish of him who is listening to them.

For UK geeks, Simon Singh is currently presenting his TV series based on The Code Book called The Science of Secrecy on Channel 4 on Thursday nights. You'll just have missed the second programme...
--

For anyone in the UK, Simon Singh has a new series on crypto on channel4, the second program is on tonight at 9pm (BST). You can find out more here

There's also a competetion where you can win a trip to Eygpt if you crack the code.

Three season episode guide, and Channel4's third season only tournament ladder.

While they re-use basic themes, the details change in a noticable way. For example, they have done an underwater show each time. First year, it was making the diving gear. The second was salvaging a sunken car. This year, we built submarines.

Every year, they have built a projectile weapon. The first year, they had siege engines, the second, cannons, and this year a different projectile challenge. Each year a boat gets built, the first it was just a boat, the second an amphibian, the third year, it had to put out a fire. The car for the first year was a pulling tractor, the second a MPG marathon machine, this year, they are steam powered.

They do welcome suggested challenges. One I offered up was "loudest noise you can make with wood", thinking of a wood fired steam boiler explosion going up against a wood fired turbojet engine, or a giant organ pipe (reed) powered by the entire team sitting on the bellows.

I am Jeff, organizer of the first US team to compete, and the one interviewed by Wired. Crash is a teammate. The TLC site is fairly low on content currently. I suggest either our site or the Channel 4 TV site which includes some neat time-lapse photography of the workshops as the machines come together.

TLC is planning to show more episodes of the british show in the late fall and early winter. (the schedule isn't final yet, so I can't give a more exact date). In Jan/Feb, they will broadcast an Americanized version of the show. No they didn't dumb it down. Its the same crew, same pile of junk, and comparable challenges. The big difference will be in the accents of the contestants and they replaced Robert with an American comic.

Yes, it is a real pile of scrap. On the other side of the wall from the set, are Cockneys in large cranes, that end in claws, literally tossing cars thru the air. Like a good yard, the stuff is partially sorted, on one side is a pile of wood and other construction debris (the wood is "experienced" most of the plywood had clearly been a concrete form in its first life). Next comes ex plumbing, and electrical conduit. Cars in various degrees of flattened are piled forming the odd aisle, then the ventilation/hvac stuff. Off to the other side starts some of the more serious industrial scrap. there is a 20 foot pile of very rusted 1-2" wire rope, next to what must have been a large liquid storage tank (20' diameter, guessing from the curve in the 8' square sections of 1" plate steel) There is the twisted remains of some conveyor systems (a great source of chain and bearings), and other large machines, including what looks like the yard's now-deceased former car crusher. Closer to the workshops, are some of the more unusual vehicles, including a well tagged ex- tourbus, and some military surplus truck based device that seems to be a large collection of hydraulic bits.

Even when parts are seeded for a particular purpose, there is no guarantee that they will attach to anything else. To use one of the already broadcast shows, "power pullers", there were apropriate tires in the pile. There were no differentials that fit said tires however, and one of the challenges to using the good (lugged) tires, was how to get them to mate with the differential you found.

-dp-

There is a similar program in the UK. It has various videos on the site. The demolition machine was really cool. (Currently in 3rd series I think). Last week's was aerial bombing. (Airship vs radio controlled plane).

Arrh.. That post was blatently broken.

I ment to say the DemolitionAerial Bomber one was not so hot.

They was more to it (pleas for machines of mass destruction rather than tiny models) but it all got lost in the wash. And to think I bothered to preview, next time I'll read it. Anyone who saw the building bashing and the target bombing shows will know what I was tring to get at... no contest.

Arrh.. That post was blatently broken.

I ment to say the DemolitionAerial Bomber one was not so hot.

They was more to it (pleas for machines of mass destruction rather than tiny models) but it all got lost in the wash. And to think I bothered to preview, next time I'll read it. Anyone who saw the building bashing and the target bombing shows will know what I was tring to get at... no contest.

According to This page the current UK Series (called Scrapheap Challenge) finishes with a TRANSATLANTIC CHALLENGE (their caps) after the final.

Is this going to be a link up with this US based show prehaps or are they just going to pick some random stateside folk and claim they somehow represent the country?

There are a few good links at the bottom of that page to Channel 4's site, the production company's site, a mailing list etc...

It is certainly one of the best shows on TV a the moment, but please can we have more of the massive machines of destruction (as in the DemolitionAerial Bomber shambles).

Anyone wanting to know more about the UK series, which is at least vaguely similar to the US show being discussed, should probably start at The Channel 4 Site. Good site, same the Javascript is broken and they seem to like realplayer a little too much for me.

According to This page the current UK Series (called Scrapheap Challenge) finishes with a TRANSATLANTIC CHALLENGE (their caps) after the final.

Is this going to be a link up with this US based show prehaps or are they just going to pick some random stateside folk and claim they somehow represent the country?

There are a few good links at the bottom of that page to Channel 4's site, the production company's site, a mailing list etc...

It is certainly one of the best shows on TV a the moment, but please can we have more of the massive machines of destruction (as in the DemolitionAerial Bomber shambles).

Anyone wanting to know more about the UK series, which is at least vaguely similar to the US show being discussed, should probably start at The Channel 4 Site. Good site, same the Javascript is broken and they seem to like realplayer a little too much for me.

The only physics it demonstrates is Ke=1/2mv^2, and you don't get to see them building the things.

There is a real "Iron" chef like mechanical challenge show, in the UK it goes by the name Scrapheap Challenge, when shown in the US, they call it Junkyard Wars. It too features a Red Dwarf actor as host, this time Robert, the guy that plays Kryten (without the mask however).

Basic premise: Two 3 person teams are each provided with a specalist, identical workshops, and equal access to an 800 ton pile of scrap metal. (literally). Dragged from their beds at the crack of dawn, costumed in flameproofed jump suits, they are given a problem to solve (something "simple" like a one person glider, or a 4 person amphibian. How about A diving bell, or a MPG marathon machine. It might be something that can solve a problem, say retrieve a car sunk underwater), and they have 10 hours to build a solution, using only what they pull off the scrap pile. The next day, the two machines are run head to head, and the better one's team advances to the next round, and a harder challenge.

I organized the first US team to compete. We think its a whole lot more fun than Survivor or Iron Chef. The obvious questions are answered in my FAQ

In the UK, the show is carried by Channel 4, and the new season starts Sept 17. In the US, TLC carries it, but not particularly well. (they have show 6 of the 13 existing episodes, and haven't yet agreed to pick up the third season. They have commisioned their own version, to be shown in Jan/Feb timeframe.)

-dp-
We flew over, we built, we can't say what we got to build, or how we did until the shows air, we had a truly great time.

This planet needs a lot more kids that think taking the lawnmowers' engine apart is more fun than playing nintendo.

You can already watch the currently running UK version of Big Brother at: http://www.channel4.com/bigbrother/

Just what is the attraction of shows such as Survivor anyway?

Where I live now, we have a channel that shows ``Real Life TV'', and it looks awful! I have a life, thank you, and I'm not especially interested in hearing other ``real'' people argue about meaningless topics, fight over who'll get the last slice of bread, debate which of two kinds of music (both of which I despise) is the greatest, have babies, get married, survive on an island (with a huge television crew watching their every move), or anything else!

What happened to having to write shows? To having intelligent people think about ideas and create a dramatic presentation? Oh, yes, it's expensive. It's much cheaper to throw together some people no one would even talk to if they didn't already know them, force them to interact under surveillance, and broadcast the results.

If you want to watch some ``reality'' television that still has some educational and entertainment value, I recommend Junkyard Wars (originally Scrapyard Challenge in Britain), now airing on The Learning Channel.

Look at http://www.stand.org.uk/ - this is an important site.

They show how to get Jack Straw (important government chap in the UK) guilty of committing a crime. That is, they encrypted a confession to an actual (undisclosed) crime, destroyed the key, and sent him the encrypted data. Jack Straw is now in possession of some information that would pressumably be of interest to the police, but he is unable to provide the decryption key (because he never had it in the first place), but, ofcourse, as many people are pointing out, how do you prove you don't have the key...

While the example of the above site is, considering the circumstances, a fairly light-heated example, consider this: lots of politicans/business people (or anyone, really) are accussed, and investigated, of serious crimes regularly. How easy will it become to provide encrypted data to the person under investigation, without their knowledge, and then inform the police that that person is in possession of encrypted data that may (or may not? who can tell?) be of interest to their investigations. Police find data, ask for key, person is flung in jail.

Ooops.

I really hope Mark Thomas can squeeze a show in about this before the current season ends - I believe the shows are still being taped. (Mark Thomas is similar to Michael Moore, for you US people - only much, much better at what he does.)

...j

I assume you didn't see the Mark Thomas Comedy Product the other night?

I did, comedy with attitude. Anyway Channel 4 seem to think that this is the official MTCP site. (more info, 'orrible presentation), one for the bookmarks i'd say.

cleminan.