April 2009 - main

"get_iplayer" puzzle
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Hi Folks, Hoping you've been enjoying the Statutory Idleness! A query for any of you who use get_iplayer. I wanted to download the programme "Thinking Allowed" from Radio 4, first broadcast 08/04/2009, last broadcast last night at 00:15-00:45 (i.e. this morning), which is when I first heard it. It is the one about a Leeds art exhibition in which classic artists depict the social order (I found it very interesting, and recommend it to you even if you don't want anything to do with this query). The following refers to my latest attempt, this morning, to download the programme. It is similar to what happened last night -- a few incidental details differ. 1. I did the usual get_iplayer search, with a standard result: get_iplayer --type radio "Thinking Allowed" Matches: 12855: Thinking Allowed - 08/04/2009, 'BBC Radio 4', Factual, Science, Nature & Environment,Radio INFO: 1 Matching Programmes 2. I did a standard download request, using its index 12855: get_iplayer --get 12855 INFO: Additionally getting cached programme data for radio Matches: 12855: radio, Thinking Allowed - 08/04/2009, 'BBC Radio 4', Factual,Science, Nature & Environment,Radio INFO: 1 Matching Programmes INFO: Attempting to Download: Thinking Allowed - 08/04/2009 INFO: Getting version pids for programme b00jj0f6 INFO: Getting media stream metadata for Thinking Allowed - 08/04/2009, b00jj025 INFO: iPhone stream URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/3/auth/stream/ httpdl_iphone/direct/radio4/ secure_auth/RBN2_radio_4_fm_-_wednesday_1600_b00jj025_\ 2009_04_09_14_31_37.mp3 INFO: Checking existence of default version INFO: File name prefix = Thinking_Allowed_-_08_04_2009_b00jj0f6_default WARNING: Retrying download for 'Thinking Allowed - 08/04/2009' INFO: Attempting to Download: Thinking Allowed - 08/04/2009 INFO: Getting version pids for programme b00jj0f6 ERROR: Required mplayer does not exist, skipping which was unexpected -- usually such a command simply downloads the MP3 without more ado, and doesn't witter on about mplayer not existing! 3. As a test of get_iplayer, I tried another of yesterday's programmes. First, find its index: get_iplayer --type radio "The Reunion" Matches: 12793: The Reunion - 12/04/2009, 'BBC Radio 4', Factual,Entertainment,Life Stories,Radio INFO: 1 Matching Programmes 4. Do the download (exactly the same syntax as before): get_iplayer --get 12793 INFO: Additionally getting cached programme data for radio Matches: 12793: radio, The Reunion - 12/04/2009, 'BBC Radio 4', Factual,Entertainment,Life Stories,Radio INFO: 1 Matching Programmes INFO: Attempting to Download: The Reunion - 12/04/2009 INFO: Getting version pids for programme b00jlxjp INFO: Getting media stream metadata for The Reunion - 12/04/2009, b00jlwpw INFO: iPhone stream URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/3/auth/stream/ httpdl_iphone/direct/radio4/ secure_auth/RBN2_radio_4_fm_-_s unday_\ 1115_b00jlwpw_2009_04_12_11_20_37.mp3 INFO: Checking existence of default version INFO: File name prefix = The_Reunion_-_12_04_2009_b00jlxjp_default and then it happily started to download. Stopped it, since I don't want to keep that programme. The above info is essentially the same as for "Thinking Allowed" until the former gets to the "WARNING" line. 5. Went back to "Thinking Allowed" and proceeded as before. Same result as before. So, QUERY: Can anyone explain why one programme ("The Reunion") downloads without problems. while the other (by all appearances on the same sort of footing) fails to donwload? Is there possibly some hidden "flag", planted by the BBC for some programmes, which allows them to be listened to (which one can do for "Thinking Allowed") but not downloaded, that get_iplayer picks up but does not tell you about? Or is there a bug in the version (1.03) of get_iplayer I'm using? With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 13-Apr-09 Time: 10:38:16 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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telnet/ftp "connection refused"
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 10 Apr '09

10 Apr '09

Hi Folks, I've been meaning to raise this for some time, since I've never got to the bottom of what's causing it. Basically, I want *all* the machines on my local LAN to be able to telnet and ftp to each other. Between the older machines (Suse 5.2, Suse 7,2 and red Hat 9) there is no problem. But I've had a Debian Etch running now for about 18 months, and recently a Debian Lenny (provisional installation), and both of these deny attempts to telnet or ftp into them from the others ("connection refused"). However, I can of course telnet and ftp from either of these to any of the older machines. I have put ALL: ALL in the /etc/hosts.allow file (like in the older machines), but this does not seem to make any difference. I get the impression that access control has changed in some fundamental way, but I can't put my finger on it! Any suggestions gratefully welcomed! Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 09-Apr-09 Time: 22:15:47 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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For your delectation...
by Anthony Anson 09 Apr '09

09 Apr '09

http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20090405 -- Tony http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

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apache question
by Chris G 09 Apr '09

09 Apr '09

A much simpler question than I originally envisaged (the more complicated one may follow). What apache2 directive allows URLs to omit the trailing .html? Half of my pages work without the html and the other half don't and for the life of me I can't find a directive anywhere that would affect this. E.g. I can refer to either:- http://home.isbd.net/sidebar.html http://home.isbd.net/sidebar and they both work but if I go to:- http://home.isbd.net/manual/en/mod/core.html http://home.isbd.net/manual/en/mod/core The first one works but the second one (without the .html) gives a page not found error. -- Chris Green

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Re: [ALUG] backport of trac won't allow upgrade to lenny version
by Jenny Hopkins 09 Apr '09

09 Apr '09

2009/4/9 Brett Parker <iDunno(a)sommitrealweird.co.uk>: > On 08 Apr 23:00, Jenny Hopkins wrote: >> Hullo there, >> >> Does anyone use trac on debian? >> >> I've just upgraded a server from etch to lenny. It had a backport >> version of trac 0.11.1-2~bpo40+1. >> >> The lenny version is 0.11.1-2 >> >> However, the backports package refuses to uninstall to make way for >> the new version. Installation errors show: >> >> Preparing to replace trac 0.11.1-2~bpo40+1 (using >> .../trac_0.11.1-2.1_all.deb) ... >> Traceback (most recent call last): >> File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1891, in <module> >> main() >> File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1885, in main >> rv = action.run(global_options) >> File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1403, in run >> pkg = DebPackage('package', self.args[0], oldstyle=False) >> File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 303, in __init__ >> self.read_pyfiles() >> File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 424, in read_pyfiles >> 'shared files found in old (%s) and new locations (%s)' % >> (old_shared_base, shared_base2) >> __main__.PyCentralError: shared files found in old >> (/usr/share/pycentral/trac/site-packages/) and new locations >> (/usr/share/pyshared/) >> dpkg: warning - old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1 >> >> >> I tried moving /usr/share/pycentral/trac to one side but the same error occurs. >> >> Google is not my friend :-( >> >> Can anyone advise? I'm not much good with pythony things. > > apt-get remove trac > apt-get install trac > > Done, because the lenny version is "newer" than the bpo version: > > brettp@miranda:~$ if ( dpkg --compare-versions 0.11.1-2~bpo40+1 lt 0.11.1-2 ); then echo yes; fi > yes > brettp@miranda:~$ if ( dpkg --compare-versions 0.11.1-2 gt 0.11.1-2~bpo40+1 ); then echo yes; fi > yes > brettp@miranda:~$ > > So, a simple removal and then install should be all it takes. > The problem is that it *won't* remove, - it gives the same errors: Removing trac ... Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1891, in <module> main() File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1885, in main rv = action.run(global_options) File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1403, in run pkg = DebPackage('package', self.args[0], oldstyle=False) File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 303, in __init__ self.read_pyfiles() File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 424, in read_pyfiles 'shared files found in old (%s) and new locations (%s)' % (old_shared_base, shared_base2) __main__.PyCentralError: shared files found in old (/usr/share/pycentral/trac/site-packages/) and new locations (/usr/share/pyshared/) dpkg: error processing trac (--remove): subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 1 Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1891, in <module> main() File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1885, in main rv = action.run(global_options) File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1242, in run pkg = DebPackage('package', self.args[0], oldstyle=False) File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 303, in __init__ self.read_pyfiles() File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 424, in read_pyfiles 'shared files found in old (%s) and new locations (%s)' % (old_shared_base, shared_base2) __main__.PyCentralError: shared files found in old (/usr/share/pycentral/trac/site-packages/) and new locations (/usr/share/pyshared/) dpkg: error while cleaning up: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1 Errors were encountered while processing: trac E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1) Thanks, Jenny

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[OT?] Bank Holidays
by Mark Rogers 08 Apr '09

08 Apr '09

Does anyone have any ideas how (from a script) I can determine whether a date is a (UK) bank holiday? Something I can use from PHP preferred but I'm flexible. Since the dates aren't consistent I assume I'm going to need somewhere to look the information up, but I'm not sure where, but it seems like this ought to be a fairly "standard" need. (For my application I need to allow website customers to select a delivery date, which needs to exclude bank holidays.) I'm hoping there's a standard method. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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backport of trac won't allow upgrade to lenny version
by Jenny Hopkins 08 Apr '09

08 Apr '09

Hullo there, Does anyone use trac on debian? I've just upgraded a server from etch to lenny. It had a backport version of trac 0.11.1-2~bpo40+1. The lenny version is 0.11.1-2 However, the backports package refuses to uninstall to make way for the new version. Installation errors show: Preparing to replace trac 0.11.1-2~bpo40+1 (using .../trac_0.11.1-2.1_all.deb) ... Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1891, in <module> main() File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1885, in main rv = action.run(global_options) File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 1403, in run pkg = DebPackage('package', self.args[0], oldstyle=False) File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 303, in __init__ self.read_pyfiles() File "/usr/bin/pycentral", line 424, in read_pyfiles 'shared files found in old (%s) and new locations (%s)' % (old_shared_base, shared_base2) __main__.PyCentralError: shared files found in old (/usr/share/pycentral/trac/site-packages/) and new locations (/usr/share/pyshared/) dpkg: warning - old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1 I tried moving /usr/share/pycentral/trac to one side but the same error occurs. Google is not my friend :-( Can anyone advise? I'm not much good with pythony things. Many thanks, Jenny

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Ubuntu server report
by James Freer 08 Apr '09

08 Apr '09

http://blog.canonical.com/?p=110 Thought some may be interested in this report. Seems ubuntu is doing very well. How many use it in this group? james

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Anyone know the URL...?
by Anthony Anson 07 Apr '09

07 Apr '09

I want to download the "patch" from the Vodafone site so I can run a PAYG mobile internet dongle on my Eee, running on that 'orrid Fisher Price Linux, FTTB. There is a patch somewhere on the Vodafone website for this purpose, but despite using all the keywords I can think of to search it, the download has been frustratingly fugitive. (Unless, of course, that particular page was 'down' for some reason... Anyone any ideas? Pretty please? -- Tony http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

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[ALUG Announce] 2nd Thurs Pub Meet 9 April 2009
by David Reynolds 07 Apr '09

07 Apr '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Dear ALUG, The monthly second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place on 9 April 2009 at The Reindeer (10 Dereham Road, Norwich, NR2 4AY; tel. 01603 762223). It's very near the junction of Dereham Road and the Norwich inner ring road (Grapes Hill) and serves a selection of real ales, nice pub food (if you fancy going early to eat) and coffee. There are generally people there from 20:00 onwards and we tend to sit to the left of the main entrance. We look forward to seeing you there. Cheers, David -- David Reynolds david(a)reynoldsfamily.org.uk ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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