Yes - the poor network TV signals make me angry. The Spanish language channels look perfect - even the various Asian language channels look better than ABC, NBC, CBS. I thought there was some minimum broadcast strength that major network affiliates had to maintain. I never got around to getting cable connected (initally a runaround about availability of digital channels, etc.) so now I just don't watch major network TV because it is too much of a hassle to try to tune it in for the quality of shows they are offering. I think Telemundo and Azteca should have English second audio channels or closed-captions.
I hope the same thing doesn't happen to radio next. It wouldn't be as big of a problem though, because pop songs with stupid lyrics are actually better in a language you don't understand as long as the music is OK. ABC, NBC, and CBS's commercials are not reaching me, but I do have to sit through a lot of commercials for phone cards.
Chinese-only games? I imagine quite a few RPGs and some other games are already based on Chinese legend as it is. The Suikoden series and Monkey Hero come to mind (not good specific examples, because they are for Playstation and PS2, plus Monkey Hero isn't a good example of a game). A lot of things were released in Japan that never saw the light of day in the US. Some would need a lot of text translation, but others are probably mostly action based.
There are also lots of very involved Chinese historical costume dramas on TV that are even broadcast in large metro areas in the US (too bad they are almost never subtitled in anything but different kinds of Chinese). I'm sure there are plenty of TVs - bonus for them - lots made there, so no import costs.
I'm not saying that all Chinese pop culture is like a history lesson, that is just what I thought of offhand. Simple action games that would be on older consoles are pretty universal. I think most small boys (and maybe girls) would like to pretend they are driving fast vehicles or flying around.
If this were true then does that mean that using the cheap sound chips in all those children's toys (including the 'educational' talking ones) is dangerous to the development of children's brains and auditory perception? This almost makes me want to go trolling a parents' group on Usenet. Imagine Xmas morning if all the talking truckbots and Bleeppads were silenced.
I am pretty sure modifying laptop screens like this was marked as a service by some company in the early 90's. It was advertised as allowing you to work on sensitive business information on an airplane without the passenger next to you reading it. Sorry, I can't provide a citation. I never saw this in action, so maybe it didn't work well.
Why not one that shows video too like the V-MP3H ? These are occasionally on sale at Compgeeks for $200 (hard drive not included) . I have resisted buying one so far and don't know anyone that has one. Only info I have seen about it is here: http://micro.ee.nthu.edu.tw/~aaron/MMV-80H/ - I can't read this but there are plenty of pictures. Seems tempting, but might not work all that well. Appears to work with Windows and Mac, Linux is not mentioned.
Slashdot Mirror
Time Flies- likes An Arrow
Maybe the User Agent Switcher Extension http://www.chrispederick.com/work/firefox/useragen tswitcher/
would help?
'Blue light special on Western Digital drives.' Masses of ebayers rush to Kmart.
Yes - the poor network TV signals make me angry. The Spanish language channels look perfect - even the various Asian language channels look better than ABC, NBC, CBS. I thought there was some minimum broadcast strength that major network affiliates had to maintain. I never got around to getting cable connected (initally a runaround about availability of digital channels, etc.) so now I just don't watch major network TV because it is too much of a hassle to try to tune it in for the quality of shows they are offering. I think Telemundo and Azteca should have English second audio channels or closed-captions. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to radio next. It wouldn't be as big of a problem though, because pop songs with stupid lyrics are actually better in a language you don't understand as long as the music is OK. ABC, NBC, and CBS's commercials are not reaching me, but I do have to sit through a lot of commercials for phone cards.
There are also lots of very involved Chinese historical costume dramas on TV that are even broadcast in large metro areas in the US (too bad they are almost never subtitled in anything but different kinds of Chinese). I'm sure there are plenty of TVs - bonus for them - lots made there, so no import costs. I'm not saying that all Chinese pop culture is like a history lesson, that is just what I thought of offhand. Simple action games that would be on older consoles are pretty universal. I think most small boys (and maybe girls) would like to pretend they are driving fast vehicles or flying around.
If this were true then does that mean that using the cheap sound chips in all those children's toys (including the 'educational' talking ones) is dangerous to the development of children's brains and auditory perception? This almost makes me want to go trolling a parents' group on Usenet. Imagine Xmas morning if all the talking truckbots and Bleeppads were silenced.
I am pretty sure modifying laptop screens like this was marked as a service by some company in the early 90's. It was advertised as allowing you to work on sensitive business information on an airplane without the passenger next to you reading it. Sorry, I can't provide a citation. I never saw this in action, so maybe it didn't work well.
Why not one that shows video too like the V-MP3H ? These are occasionally on sale at Compgeeks for $200 (hard drive not included) . I have resisted buying one so far and don't know anyone that has one. Only info I have seen about it is here: http://micro.ee.nthu.edu.tw/~aaron/MMV-80H/ - I can't read this but there are plenty of pictures. Seems tempting, but might not work all that well. Appears to work with Windows and Mac, Linux is not mentioned.