howto hack your kindle to run Zork! (and change screensavers)

I recently bought a shiny new amazon Kindle 3. Whilst originally wary of e-readers (“it’s a poor man’s ipad!” scoffed several friends) I have become a complete convert to the truly wonderful e-ink display. PDF support so far has been great, and I am mostly using it for reading technical books whilst at work, and on the toilet – I have all the oracle university books I need, as well as a load of IBM redbooks related to stuff I’m working on like Websphere and AIX.

Anyway, the device has a major flaw in my opinion, and that is some truly ugly “screensaver” images. They are of classic authors, which is fair enough if you like that sort of thing, but I don’t. I’m a geek. I’ve read a couple of orwell books and one dickens. I have no interest in Jane Austin or Virginia Woolf. none…

So when I couldnt find out how to customize the screensaver by fiddling with the device, i turned to Google (as you do) and this is where I learned that to be able to change these images, you had to jailbreak the device!

This is a really simple process, just a matter of copying a few files to the device, updating the firmware, and rebooting a couple of times. As a geek, I’m still frustrated by the way manufacturers try and lock you into only being able to do what THEY want with their kit… beit the iphone (or any apple idevice for that matter) the PS3, and now the kindle. argh! not everyone who wants to hack their devices wants to specifically load it full of illegal or questionable content. some of us just want to be able to do MORE with the device (I recently also bought an appletv2 in the hope that a well-built, tiny, economic media device will be able to do more than advertised – thanks to greenpo1son and limera1n, it is looking like that is possible. but more on that in another post once something useful happens)

I found out today that jailbreaking the device also lets you add some really cool stuff, like the ZORK text adventure! seriously… build this functionality into the devices, and you will open it up to a world of geeks like me who just buy things to be able to do cool stuff on it, you’ll sell more devices, and everyone ends up happy.

ok, so to jailbreak the device and be able to change the screensaver, check out the guide at http://bit.ly/kindlejailbreak

(takes 5 minutes, and as long as you are comfortable copying a file to the usb storage on the kindle, anyone can do it)

and to install zork and a plethora of other infocom games, follow this guide – http://adq.livejournal.com/108011.html – again, it is just a matter of copying a few files to the device, doing a “firmware update” and rebooting. once completed, you have a new “book” on your device, that then lets you load zork or any of the other games.

brilliant. more of this please. and hopefully soon, i’ll be making another post on how to fully unlock the potential of the new appletv so you can run movies off your NAS device without being tied to the atrocity that is itunes (as a linux desktop user, i dont even have the option of running itunes FFS!)

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spotify setlists

another few spotified setlists are now available

melange@thehubb, may 2010

mmmha! sat 11th sept 2010

60s/pop/retirement party (private function)

and a few from the archives…
great escape indie night may 2004 @rescuerooms

sold out @ spiders

Bar 7 DJ Setlist – Sat 8th May 2004

white hart 15 apr 2005 (witewulf ‘s 30th birthday)

a few songs are missing from each playlist, and a couple of songs have been subsituted for alternative versions (including a laughable burger king radio style cover of EXAMPLE’s “watch the sun come up” – seriously spotify… is there really any need to substitute songs like that?)
anyway, it should give you a good overview of what got played. hope you enjoy them! I’ll be doing more over the coming weeks. for some older sets, check the spotify category over there —>

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popnight bomber special edition

This setlist is available via spotify!. See here for more spotify playlists from past DJ nights

mmmha! saturday 11th september 2010

22:00

ok go – here it goes again
gorillaz – superfast jellyfish
ODB ft ludacris – coochie
dj format – ill culinary behaviour
MIA – paper planes
example – watch the sun come up
sleigh bells – tell em
fatboy slim – gangster tripping
jamelia – beware of the dog
prince – my name is prince
britney spears – do somethin
christina milian – say i
mis-teeq – scandalous
eve – tambourine
kelly clarkson – miss independant
santogold – L.E.S Artistes
the knife – heartbeats (rex the dog remix)
robyn – konichiwa bitches
peaches – fuck the pain away
tilly and the wall – l3t the b34t c0ns013 yov (pewep merix)
junior senior – handclaps (motown version)
alphabeat – fascination
rachel stevens – i said never again (but here we are)
the similou – all this love
christina aguilera – aint no other man
justin timberlake – rock your body
kanye west – touch the sky
kelis – millionaire
missy elliott – lose control
destinys child – ch check on it
amerie – 1 thing
rihanna – pon de replay
pussycat dolls ft A R Rahman – jai ho!
black eyed peas – lets get retarded
N.E.R.D – she wants to move

12am

sean paul – like glue
kelis – trick me
NAS – hip hop is dead (ft will.i.am)
wu tang clan – gravel pit
pharoahe monch – simon says
outkast – ghettomusick
kanye west – gold digger
jay-z – 99 problems
p diddy – bad boy 4 life
notorious B.I.G. – notorious
jay-z ft UGK – big pimpin
beastie boys – so whatchtya want
the fugees – ready or not
pras ft MYA – ghetto supastar
house of pain – jump around
cypress hill – insane in the brain
dizzee rascal – fix up look sharp
roots manuva – witness (1 hope)
rhymefest ft ODB – build me up
2pac ft dr dre – califonia love
jurassic 5 – concrete schoolyard
dilated peoples – worst comes to worst
de la soul – the magic number
blackstreet – no diggity

01:30
luniz – i got 5 on it
the sugarhill gang – apache
the wiseguys – ooh la la
bomfunk mcs – freestyler
the ting tings – thats not my name
dolly parton – 9 to 5
stevie wonder – superstition
the jackson 5 – abc
calvin harris ft dizzee rascal – dance wiv me
jazzy jeff and the fresh pronce – boom! shake the room
girls aloud – sound of the underground
b*witched – c’est la vie
beyonce – single ladies
black eyed peas – where is the love
ke$ha – tik tok
take that – back for good
ELO -  mr blue sky
a1 – caught in the middle
ace of base – always have always will
spice girls – stop
britney spears – toxic
daphne and celeste – ooh stick you
kelly clarkson – since u been gone
ini kamoze – here comes the hotstepper
scatman john – scatman
electric 6 – danger high voltage
ratm – renegades of funk
andrew wk – party hard
alan hawkshaw – grange hill theme
herb alpert – spanish flea

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mmmha! saturday 17th july 2010

mmmha! saturday 17th july 2010

22:00

freq nasty – brooklyn to brixton
ok go – here it goes again
cylob – rewind
n.a.s.a – theirs a party
gorillaz – superfast jellyfish
ODB ft ludacris – coochie
nas – the world is yours
dan le sac vs scroobius pip – sick tonight
handsome boy modelling school – the worlds gone mad
outkast – rosa parks
mobb deep – shook ones II
wu tang clan – protect your neck
public enemy – 911 is a joke
beastie boys – brass monkey
jay-z – dead presidents
nas – new york state of mind
dan le sac vs scroobius pip – get better
cylob – rewind
MIA – born free (high contrast mix)
wiley and chew fu – take that
peaches – fuck the pain away
felix da housecat – rocket ride
soulwax – e-talking
the prodigy – stand up
audio bullys – only man
n.e.r.d – hot-n-fun
goldfrapp – strict machine
eve – tambourine
wiley – wearing my rolex
chiddy bang – opposite of adults
tinie tempah – pass out
dizzee rascal – fix up look sharp
lethal bizzle – police on my back
dmx – party up (up in here)
jay-z – 99 problems
NAS – hip hop is dead
n.e.r.d – she wants to move
wu tang clan – gravel pit
pharoahe monche – simon says
notorious B.I.G. – notorious
dead prez – hop hop
dr dre – nuthin but a g thang
busta rhymes – woo haa!
krs-one – sound of da police
house of pain – jump around
cypress hill – insane in the brain
m.o.p. – ante up
adam f ft redman – smash sumthin
kanye west – jesus walks
rhymefest ft ODB – build me up
skee lo – i wish
jurassic 5 – concrete schoolyard
nwa – express yourself (remix)
luniz – i got 5 on it
2pac ft dr dre – california love
blackstreet – no diggity
roots manuva – witness (1 hope)
arctic monkeys – sungoesdown (fakeid mix)
pendulum – slam
dizzee rascal – dirty cash
chad jackson – hear the drummer (get wicked)
SL2 – on a ragga tip
the prodigy – out of space
chemical bros – galvanize
vanilla ice – ice ice baby
sean paul – like glue
oukast – hey ya
coldcut ft roots manuva – true skool
the wiseguys – ooh la la
bomfunk mc’s – freestyler
black eyed peas – pump it
basment jaxx – red alert
groove armada – if everybody looked the same
gnarls barkley – smiley faces
rihanna – pon de replay
kesha – tik tok
britney – toxic
black eyed peas ft juston timberlake – where is the love
eminem – just lose it
dolly parton 9 to 5
stevie wonder – superstition
jackson 5 – abc
jazzy jeff and the fresh prince – boom! shake the room
b*witched – c’est la vie
5ive – keep on movin
backstreet boys – backstreets back
girls aloud – sound of the underground
herb alpert – spanish flea

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melange – the hubb – fri 14th may 2010

The first of my (hopefully) regular new nights at THE HUBB in sherwood:

8:30pm

rilo kiley – the execution of all things
chemical brothers – private psychadelic wheel
four tet – as serious as your life
space raiders – laid back
hooverphonic – the last thing i need is you
death cab for cutie – a movie script ending
I monster – daydream in blue
pulp – sunrise
monkey mafia – as long as i can see the light
the sundays – can’t be sure
massive attack – teardrop (scream team remix)
easy star allstars – airbag
mo solid gold – safe from harm
the egg – getting away with it
orbital – halcyon
leftfield – release the pressure
casual sub – burning spear
sabres of paradise – wilmot
death in vegas – GBH
the orb – little fluffy clouds

10pm
future sound of london – papua new guinea
rae and christian – divine sounds
amon tobin – verbal
lionrock – get carter theme
mr scruff – fish
david holmes – 69 police
4hero – les fleur
mercury rev – delta sun bottleneck stomp
wynder k frog – baby i love you
moloko – fun for me
dust junkys – what time is it?
dub pistols – problem is
one dove – white love
boo radleys – lazarus
the beta band – squares
echoboy – automatic eyes
the sugarcubes – birthday
boz scaggs – dinah flo
the five stairsteps – ooh child
the meters – cissy strut
wynder k frog – jumping jack flash
joe strummer – coma girl
easy star allstars – lucy in the sky with diamonds
de la soul – the magic number
blackalicious – alphabet aerobics
dj format – we know something
biz markie – just a friend
tone loc – wild thing
raekwon – criminology
a tribe called quest – bonita applebum
eric b – follow the leader

12am
brand nubian – rockin it
naughty by nature – OPP
handsome boy modelling school – look at his face (oh my god they’re gorgeous)
luniz – i got 5 on it
brand nubian – slow down
deltron 3030 – 3030
blackstreet – no diggity
fugees – ready or not
snoop dogg – gin and juice
coolio – gangsta’s paradise
black eyed peas – where is the love
faithless – insomnia
wynder k frog – i’m a man
spaceships are cool – let things go
dubstar – not so manic now

1am
eels – last stop this town
simian – la breeze
stars – your ex lover is dead
the meters – wichita lineman

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mmmha! saturday 8th may 2010

mmmha! saturday 8th may 2010

22:15

freq nasty – brooklyn to brixton
cylob – rewind
bentley rhythm ace – bentley’s gonna sort you out
wynder k frog – i’m a man
gorillaz – superfast jellyfish
dj format – we know something
mint royale – show me
N.A.S.A – theirs a party
cypress hill – it ain’t nothin’
noreaga – N.O.R.E.
the prodigy – stand up
audio bullys – only man
dan le sac vs scroobius pip – the beat that my heart skipped
chiddy bang – opposite of adults
professor green – need you tonight
wiley and chew fu – take that
M.I.A – born free (high contrast remix)
N.E.R.D ft nelly furtado – hot n fun
goldfrapp – strict machine
dead prez – hip hop (diplo remix)
stereo MCs – deep down and dirty
peaches – fuck the pain away
felix da housecat – rocket ride
soulwax – e-talking
justice vs simian – we are your friends
eve – tambourine
tinie tempah – pass out
wiley – wearing my rolex
dizzee rascal – fix up look sharp
skepta – rolex sweep
lethal bizzle – keys to the bentley
lady sovereign – 9 to 5
basement jaxx – red alert
groove armada – if everybody looked the same
black eyed peas – i gotta feeling
M.I.A – paper planes
the ting tings – that’s not my name
the jackson 5 – ABC
stevie wonder – superstition
kelis – millionaire
beyonce – ch check on it
N.E.R.D ft nelly furtado – hot n fun
jay-z – 99 problems
NAS – hip hop is dead
notorious BIG – notorious
wu tang clan – gravel pit
busta rhymes – woo hah! got you all in check
jurassic 5 – concrete schoolyard
Dead prez -hip hopkanye west – gold digger
missy elliott – get ur freak on
Roots manuva – witness (1 hope)
lethal bizzle – police on my back
chad jackson – hear the drummer (get wicked)
sl2 – on a ragga tip
prodigy – out of space
the shamen – ebeneezer goode
chemical bros – galvanize
fatboy slim – gangster trippin
wiseguys – ooh la la
black eyed peas – pump it
outkast – hey ya
beyonce – single ladies
rihanna – pon de replay
justin timberlake – sexyback
sean paul – like glue
dee lite – groove is in the heart
dolly parton – 9 to 5
gorillaz – feel good inc
girls aloud – sound of the underground
sugababes – push the button
nelly furtado – maneater
britney spears – toxic
ELO – mr blue sky
ac of base – always have always will
rhymesfest ft ODB – build me up
jazzy jeff and the fresh prince – boom! shake the room
PJ and duncan – lets get ready to rhumble
mc hammer – u can’t touch this
vanilla ice – ice ice baby
journey – don’t stop believin’
bon jovi – livin on a prayer
bryan adams – summer of 69
jackie wilson – your love keeps liftin me (higher and higher)
wynder k frog – i’m a man
weird al yankovic – polkarama
herb alpert – spanish flea
The Trashmen – surfin bird

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Where are they now? pt1 – Stakka Bo

I decided this morning that I don’t update this site nearly enough with my thoughts about music, in fact, in the last couple of years, i have hardly written about music. Finding some old reviews of mine gave me a push. I shall attempt from now on to write at least twice a week. hopefully more. Even if it is just posting classic videos, or old reviews.

Today, i plan on starting with “Here we go” by Stakka Bo. I was reminded of this the other day because i was searching for some info on the Army Of Lovers. A truly great band, and the precursor to modern “gay pop” such as Alcazar and B.W.O (both of them also being Alexander Bard projects!). Aaanyway, I discovered that La Camilla from AoL used to go out with Stakka Bo. what a fantastic, inbred little pop musical planet we live in!

So I dug out my CD Single of “Here we go” and immedaitely remembered how much I loved it at the time…

YouTube Preview Image

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can now track down old popstars and see what they are up to. This is part one of a new series of posts stalking popstars of old. (suggestions of future posts are welcome!) – Turns out it was quite easy finding old Stakka, he’s been a busy boy! Turns out I was subliminally aware of his recent work already.

“He has directed music videos for a number of artists including Kylie Minogue‘s “Love at First Sight“, All Saints‘ “Black Coffee“, Madonna‘s “Hung Up” and “Nothing Really Matters“, Robbie Williams‘s “Tripping” and “She’s Madonna“, The Libertines‘ “What Became of the Likely Lads“, Suede‘s “She’s in Fashion“, New Order‘s “Crystal“, Beyoncé Knowles‘ “Me, Myself and I“, The Knife‘s “Pass This On“, Fever Ray‘s “Seven” and Bat for Lashes‘ “Daniel“. In TV, has directed episode 205 from AMC’s “Breaking Bad”"

Not only this, He has teamed up with Jonas Ackerlund to form “R.A.F.”

wow!

So there you have it. from “Here we go” to “Breaking Bad” in one easy blog post!

coming soon – Army Of Lovers, Pop! and Daphne & Celeste.

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Crack Whitney vs. Liberty X

I was just reading about a new whitney houston tune called “for the lovers” and immediately wondered if it was a cover of the Liberty X song. A quick google revealed that In the 4 years since Liberty X released it, the song had changed it’s name to “song 4 lovers” (it wasn’t my mistake, they changed the song name, dammit!)

Anyway, after listening to whitney’s song, i put on the “original” version. even though it isn’t a cover, the Original Liberty X version is infinitely better. what do you think?

Whitney

YouTube Preview Image

vs

Liberty X

YouTube Preview Image

I’m glad this brought back memories of liberty X. they were mostly poor, but had a few truly great songs, this one included

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spotify good friday – criminal worship

I took an old setlist from sundays at stealth and dropped it into http://spotmysongs.com
it managed to convert all but one song! theres a distinct lack of lo-fidelity allstars on spotify :(

original setlist from http://poptunes.org/?p=96 contains boz skaggs, massive attack, girl talk, apollo 400, stakka bo, jurassic 5, gorillaz, primal scream and the similou as well as loads more!

http://open.spotify.com/user/spazhammer/playlist/40LHRyt4DZC5519UKyBQn

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mmmha! now with added spotify goodness

I’ve been playing with http://spotmysongs.com and converted the bulk of the 4th birthday setlist to a spotify playlist. click here to open the playlist and listen to the sort of stuff we play at the rescue rooms

not all the songs are there, and some are different versions of the ones I played, but it’s up, and it is a pretty good taster of the sort of stuff that gets played.

have a listen, and please comment if you listen to it. let us know what you think!

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