Comments for Asa Winstanley http://www.winstanleys.org Freelance journalist: based in London, specialising in Palestine Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:11:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on Sailing into trouble: “To Gaza with Love” reviewed by Asa http://www.winstanleys.org/2010/01/sailing-into-trouble-to-gaza-with-love-reviewed/comment-page-1/#comment-33986 Asa Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:11:34 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?p=423#comment-33986 I don't see any reason to discount PressTV as a valid source of news just because Iran is run by an oppressive regime. The BBC is also controlled by the state and (especially on TV) is about as critical of British occupations, war crimes and human rights abuses as PressTV is of Iranian foreign policy but I don't see any reason to discount the BBC as news source out of hand either. Personally, as with anything else I watch PressTV critically, bearing its particular biases in mind as I do with any other source. At least PressTV bothers to actually report from Gaza and the rest of Palestine. The BBC generally does not bother unless Israelis are being killed. Contrast that to their extensive coverage of the Green Movement in Iran and you know something fishy is going on. If you want some good copy about Palestine from other sources try e.g. http://electronicintifada.net http://palsoldiarity.org and some of my other links to the right :) I don’t see any reason to discount PressTV as a valid source of news just because Iran is run by an oppressive regime.

The BBC is also controlled by the state and (especially on TV) is about as critical of British occupations, war crimes and human rights abuses as PressTV is of Iranian foreign policy but I don’t see any reason to discount the BBC as news source out of hand either.

Personally, as with anything else I watch PressTV critically, bearing its particular biases in mind as I do with any other source. At least PressTV bothers to actually report from Gaza and the rest of Palestine. The BBC generally does not bother unless Israelis are being killed. Contrast that to their extensive coverage of the Green Movement in Iran and you know something fishy is going on.

If you want some good copy about Palestine from other sources try e.g. http://electronicintifada.net http://palsoldiarity.org and some of my other links to the right :)

]]> Comment on Sailing into trouble: “To Gaza with Love” reviewed by joe http://www.winstanleys.org/2010/01/sailing-into-trouble-to-gaza-with-love-reviewed/comment-page-1/#comment-33982 joe Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:57:40 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?p=423#comment-33982 It disturbs me how easily many have taken Press TV as accurate and repeatable news. In one sense, this is understandable - nobody else got as close to the convoys at Rafah recently or was on the Free Gaza boats. But we should not forget that Press TV is an official mouthpiece of Iran. The same Iran which is currently embarked on a policy of prosecuting Bah'ai for no apparent other reason than that they're not Muslim. Of course, it is a quandary with many other news organisations that have their own agenda and sources of not-very-reputable cash. But it'd be nice if we could get some good copy about Palestine and Gaza that didn't come from Iran. It disturbs me how easily many have taken Press TV as accurate and repeatable news. In one sense, this is understandable – nobody else got as close to the convoys at Rafah recently or was on the Free Gaza boats.

But we should not forget that Press TV is an official mouthpiece of Iran. The same Iran which is currently embarked on a policy of prosecuting Bah’ai for no apparent other reason than that they’re not Muslim.

Of course, it is a quandary with many other news organisations that have their own agenda and sources of not-very-reputable cash. But it’d be nice if we could get some good copy about Palestine and Gaza that didn’t come from Iran.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Asa http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33680 Asa Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:32:22 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33680 Rupert, since you mentioned this, I've started noticing a pattern of which programmes Myth skips ads badly: it tend to be US shows whose ads are skipped well, but the UK ones not so well. For the moment, I'm resorting to manually editing out ads for the old films I want to keep, Rupert, since you mentioned this, I’ve started noticing a pattern of which programmes Myth skips ads badly: it tend to be US shows whose ads are skipped well, but the UK ones not so well.

For the moment, I’m resorting to manually editing out ads for the old films I want to keep,

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Asa http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33676 Asa Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:31:27 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33676 Utilities/Setup -> Setup -> Appearance Then select from the "UI Theme" drop-down box. The one I'm using is called MythCenter (Widescreen). Thanks for the tips on the commercial-skipping. Will have to try that out some time. Utilities/Setup -> Setup -> Appearance

Then select from the “UI Theme” drop-down box. The one I’m using is called MythCenter (Widescreen).

Thanks for the tips on the commercial-skipping. Will have to try that out some time.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Rupert http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33672 Rupert Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:39:06 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33672 Nice little article. I have a question, and in return, I'd like to give some help. First, my question (and this sounds totally dumb, but I haven't found the setting or a guide about this yet): How can I change the skin on MythTV to have one like yours? I am using MythBuntu and the skin it comes with is pretty u.g.l.y. Next, my help. You say you use Freeview and find the commercial skipping pretty naff, this is because mythcomskip is mainly designed and geared towards US TV users, where the way ads are placed between programs is pretty awful (loads of black screen between ads and programs etc.). Thus, it doesn't work so well for us UK TV viewers. Luckily, there is a Windows app that can be run via Wine (or built from source I believe) that most decent DVR apps use, called comskip, found here: http://www.kaashoek.com/comskip/ Simply download and extract and you can run it via Wine in Ubuntu. Next, you need a UK specific comskip.ini file (the config file for comskip) that is tuned to work for UK TV adverts. The best (and only one) I have found, is here: http://mcebuddy.com/files/folders/publicbuilds/entry1181.aspx This installs updated Comskip.ini files and there is a UK specific one called uk_conskip.ini I think. If you can't run this installer for whatever reason, I can upload the file directly on my website. When running comskip via Wine, tell it to use this uk_comskip.ini file and it will find "most" of the ads broadcast by the major freeview broadcasters. However, this obviously doesn't intergrate nicely into MythTV though. There are some workarounds, comskip can create edl files that certain video players (like VLC and XBMC Media Center) use, so long as it has the name name as the video file. Also, it can create .chap files that you can use to encode chapter makers into mkv and mp4 files using mkvmerge or mp4box, which are recognised by VLC and other media players. Finally, you can also use the EDL files to actually cut out the adverts using mencoder. Sadly the results are never always perfect, since UK TV broadcasters are very good at adding adverts between programs and it is very difficult for any app to always detect when they start and end, but the solution I suggest here is the best I have come across. I use comskip to create .chap files and then use mp4box to create chapter markers in the mp4 file I create when I trancode the mpg from MythTV. It works pretty well in VLC. WOW, longest comment ever. So, about changing themes then ;)??? Nice little article.
I have a question, and in return, I’d like to give some help. First, my question (and this sounds totally dumb, but I haven’t found the setting or a guide about this yet): How can I change the skin on MythTV to have one like yours? I am using MythBuntu and the skin it comes with is pretty u.g.l.y.
Next, my help. You say you use Freeview and find the commercial skipping pretty naff, this is because mythcomskip is mainly designed and geared towards US TV users, where the way ads are placed between programs is pretty awful (loads of black screen between ads and programs etc.). Thus, it doesn’t work so well for us UK TV viewers. Luckily, there is a Windows app that can be run via Wine (or built from source I believe) that most decent DVR apps use, called comskip, found here: http://www.kaashoek.com/comskip/
Simply download and extract and you can run it via Wine in Ubuntu. Next, you need a UK specific comskip.ini file (the config file for comskip) that is tuned to work for UK TV adverts. The best (and only one) I have found, is here: http://mcebuddy.com/files/folders/publicbuilds/entry1181.aspx This installs updated Comskip.ini files and there is a UK specific one called uk_conskip.ini I think. If you can’t run this installer for whatever reason, I can upload the file directly on my website. When running comskip via Wine, tell it to use this uk_comskip.ini file and it will find “most” of the ads broadcast by the major freeview broadcasters. However, this obviously doesn’t intergrate nicely into MythTV though. There are some workarounds, comskip can create edl files that certain video players (like VLC and XBMC Media Center) use, so long as it has the name name as the video file. Also, it can create .chap files that you can use to encode chapter makers into mkv and mp4 files using mkvmerge or mp4box, which are recognised by VLC and other media players. Finally, you can also use the EDL files to actually cut out the adverts using mencoder. Sadly the results are never always perfect, since UK TV broadcasters are very good at adding adverts between programs and it is very difficult for any app to always detect when they start and end, but the solution I suggest here is the best I have come across. I use comskip to create .chap files and then use mp4box to create chapter markers in the mp4 file I create when I trancode the mpg from MythTV. It works pretty well in VLC. WOW, longest comment ever. So, about changing themes then ;)???

]]> Comment on Review: “Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide” by Ben White by kate hart http://www.winstanleys.org/2009/08/reviewisraeli-apartheid/comment-page-1/#comment-33656 kate hart Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:22:24 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?p=290#comment-33656 Cannot imagine how the world would receive President Blair with his track record. I want to vote "No" butas a Luddite cannot find the site.....HELP. Every vote counts. Kate Cannot imagine how the world would receive President Blair with his track record. I want to vote “No” butas a Luddite cannot find the site…..HELP. Every vote counts.
Kate

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Advice on selecting CPU and memory for M3N78-VM - MythTV Community Forum - MythTV talk.com http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33651 Advice on selecting CPU and memory for M3N78-VM - MythTV Community Forum - MythTV talk.com Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:05:45 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33651 [...] PC will only be used for MythTV, 4Gb might be overkill. Marc Hi Marc - the example I used was: Asa Winstanley How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux I did ask him how he still felt on the spec, and he did mention that if you want multiple users on [...] [...] PC will only be used for MythTV, 4Gb might be overkill. Marc Hi Marc – the example I used was: Asa Winstanley How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux I did ask him how he still felt on the spec, and he did mention that if you want multiple users on [...]

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Asa http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33647 Asa Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:25:09 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33647 Ah ha! Excellent, thanks silverdulcet. I'll try that next time it skips a movie's commmericals wrong (it mostly seems to be movies). Incidentally, I am currently struggling with a more serious problen: after an Ubuntu kernel security fix got pushed to my box (and I clicked in stall and restart) the remote stopped working. Bah. More details of the problem on Ubuntu Forums if anyone can help: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1282659 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8055285#post8055285 Ah ha!

Excellent, thanks silverdulcet. I’ll try that next time it skips a movie’s commmericals wrong (it mostly seems to be movies).

Incidentally, I am currently struggling with a more serious problen: after an Ubuntu kernel security fix got pushed to my box (and I clicked in stall and restart) the remote stopped working. Bah.

More details of the problem on Ubuntu Forums if anyone can help:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1282659

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8055285#post8055285

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by silverdulcet http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33646 silverdulcet Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:35:38 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33646 You can enable/disable commercial skipping for any program while you are watching it. Press whatever button is defined as the "Menu" key on your remote. By default its the "M" key on your keyboard as well. This brings of the onscreen overlay menu. One of the options is the Commercial skipping. I believe there are 3 options, Skip, Notify or Disable. You can enable/disable commercial skipping for any program while you are watching it. Press whatever button is defined as the “Menu” key on your remote. By default its the “M” key on your keyboard as well. This brings of the onscreen overlay menu. One of the options is the Commercial skipping. I believe there are 3 options, Skip, Notify or Disable.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Asa http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33645 Asa Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:08:41 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33645 So I've heard, but I've never installed from a Mythbuntu disc so I can't say for sure. I will say that installing the Ubuntu MythTV packages (which come from the Mythbuntu project anyway) is so easy as to be trival. So I’ve heard, but I’ve never installed from a Mythbuntu disc so I can’t say for sure.

I will say that installing the Ubuntu MythTV packages (which come from the Mythbuntu project anyway) is so easy as to be trival.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Martin http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33644 Martin Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:50:07 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33644 Thanks, I will do! Am undecided as to whether to install Ubuntu and then MythTV or to go with a pre-made distro such as Mythbuntu. I think the first option will give me more control and a more functional system as far as base software goes. Thanks, I will do! Am undecided as to whether to install Ubuntu and then MythTV or to go with a pre-made distro such as Mythbuntu.

I think the first option will give me more control and a more functional system as far as base software goes.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by asa http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33642 asa Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:52:03 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33642 Thanks Martin. You would have an advantage in that you would be able to try with Ubuntu 9.10 (aka Karmic Koala) -- which will hopefully include the next version of MythTV: 0.22. 9.10 is due out in about 3 week's time. Good luck with the build, let me know how it goes if you do go ahead with it. Feel free to ask any questions I didn't cover. Thanks Martin.

You would have an advantage in that you would be able to try with Ubuntu 9.10 (aka Karmic Koala) — which will hopefully include the next version of MythTV: 0.22. 9.10 is due out in about 3 week’s time.

Good luck with the build, let me know how it goes if you do go ahead with it. Feel free to ask any questions I didn’t cover.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by Martin http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33641 Martin Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:29:51 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33641 WOW, superb article, thoroughly enjoyed reading through it. Some very useful info that applies to me as well. I have also just bought the same TV tuner after recomendation on the Mythbuntu site. Have read a bit on Gary's website that you used for reference also. I am hoping to get a Myth box up and running soon, just got to convince my parents, maybe I should move out! Am also hoping to start making Myth boxes to sell, fill that gap in the market you mentioned, I see the same potential there. WOW, superb article, thoroughly enjoyed reading through it. Some very useful info that applies to me as well. I have also just bought the same TV tuner after recomendation on the Mythbuntu site. Have read a bit on Gary’s website that you used for reference also.

I am hoping to get a Myth box up and running soon, just got to convince my parents, maybe I should move out!

Am also hoping to start making Myth boxes to sell, fill that gap in the market you mentioned, I see the same potential there.

]]> Comment on How I built my own DVR using MythTV and Linux by asa http://www.winstanleys.org/tech/mythtv/comment-page-1/#comment-33640 asa Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:46:27 +0000 http://www.winstanleys.org/?page_id=187#comment-33640 Thanks Jos. I'm not using MCE. I am also trying to twiddle with certain other settings, but I might use your tip to turn it off if I can't get any better results. By the way, do you know if there's any way I can turn it off on some programmes, but leave it on on others? It tend to work fine on certain channels and certain shows, but not on others. Thanks Jos. I’m not using MCE. I am also trying to twiddle with certain other settings, but I might use your tip to turn it off if I can’t get any better results.

By the way, do you know if there’s any way I can turn it off on some programmes, but leave it on on others? It tend to work fine on certain channels and certain shows, but not on others.

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