Steve Taylor

Watching and listening to the BBC from abroad

2009-08-29T23:51:56Z

With the Super Saintees back in the SPL, there's a lot more media coverage. Unfortunately, most of this has been on the BBC, and they block access from outside the UK. This includes BBC Alba (streaming through Zattoo), Radio Scotland commentrary (real audio and/or flash), and BBC Sport website highlights (audio and video, using flash).

I'm working around these blocks using a UK VPN egress point. There are a bunch of commercial and non-commercial offerings: In my case, I'm using http://www.hidemynet.com/, which costs $5/month. The setup instructions are very straightforward from my laptop -- it's just a standard PPTP (GRE) VPN.

I did hit one hiccup: The flash based streams (including Zattoo) use a Content Delivery Network for efficiency. In other words, your streaming client is given a server IP address that is as 'close' to you as possible. Since the streaming all seems to be TCP based, this is significant.

Unfortunately, the CDN redirection is implemented using DNS. This meant that, when I was using my standard ISP's DNS settings, I was being redirected to a streaming server in San Jose, even though my IP address was in the UK. The net result was that the video streams were maxing out at around 250kbps, which isn't sufficient. By default, Windows XP continues to use your default DNS settings even when you're pumping all your Internet traffic through the VPN.

There is a fix: After connecting the VPN, I run this script which puts the VPN's DNS settings at the top of the list that Windows uses. I picked up the script from this site.

' KB311218 - Cannot Change the Binding Order for Remote Access Connections
' ========================================================================
' VBScript that places the \Device\NdisWanIp entry on the top in the 
' registry value Bind (multi-string) that is found under the key 
' HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Linkage\.
' If the entry already is at the top, no registry update is done.

Const HKLM = &H80000002

sComputer = "."   ' use "." for local computer

' Connect to WMI's StdRegProv class
Set oReg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
         & sComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")

' Define registry location
sKeyPath = "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Linkage"
sValueName = "Bind"

oReg.GetMultiStringValue HKLM, sKeyPath, sValueName, arValues

arValuesNew = Array()

For i = 0 To UBound(arValues)
   If i = 0 Then
      If LCase(arValues(i)) = "\device\ndiswanip" Then
         ' Entry is already first in the list, no point in continuing
         Exit For
      Else
         ' Put NdisWanIp in the first element in the new array
         ReDim Preserve arValuesNew(0)
         arValuesNew(0) = "\Device\NdisWanIp"
      End If
   End If

   ' Continue adding the rest of the elements to the new array
   If LCase(arValues(i)) <> "\device\ndiswanip" Then
      iCountNew = UBound(arValuesNew) + 1
      ReDim Preserve arValuesNew(iCountNew)
      arValuesNew(iCountNew) = arValues(i)
   End If
Next

' If there are elements to be found in the array, update the 
' registry value 
If UBound(arValuesNew) > -1 Then
   oReg.SetMultiStringValue HKLM, sKeyPath, sValueName, arValuesNew 
End If

The History of VisionFS

2009-02-27T16:33:38Z

Roger's written a somewhat nostaligic history of what is still the finest thing I ever worked on.

Histon vs Leeds

2008-11-28T19:28:26Z

I notice, with some interest, that the FA Cup second round on Sunday has thrown up IXI vs Visionware.

(I can already hear the whooshing noise of that reference going over nearly everybody's heads.)

SBASL Premier Division: Update after game day 5

2008-09-14T14:45:41Z

We're mid-way through our first season in the top division after being promoted, and we've been holding our own with a 50% record so far.

We should have got something more from every games we didn't win too.

Premier
Teams	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	GF	GA	Diff	Points	P10	Streak
Real Madrid	4	3	0	1	10	3	7	10	3-0-1	W 2
Arsenal FC	5	2	1	2	17	10	7	8	2-1-2	L 1
Clockwork Orange AFC	5	2	2	1	13	9	4	7	2-2-1	W 1
FC Spain	5	1	2	2	9	12	-3	5	1-2-2	L 1
Celtic	4	1	2	1	8	8	0	4	1-2-1	W 1
Monaco FC	5	1	3	1	5	20	-15	4	1-3-1	L 1

SBASL Division 1: Spring 2008 Final table

2008-08-28T18:34:15Z

We blew it on the last day with a 2-2 draw.

Division 1
Teams	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	GF	GA	Diff	Points	P10	Streak
Arsenal FC	10	7	1	2	44	24	20	23	7-1-2	W 2
Clockwork Orange AFC	10	7	2	1	28	14	14	22	7-2-1	T 1
La Sombra Negra	10	5	4	1	29	27	2	16	5-4-1	L 1
SJ Mustangs SC	10	5	4	1	21	23	-2	16	5-4-1	W 1
Inferno FC	10	2	7	1	15	22	-7	7	2-7-1	T 1
Real Sunnyvale	10	1	9	0	14	41	-27	3	1-9-0	L 5

SBASL Division 1 Update after gameday 9

2008-07-06T18:15:19Z

With one game remaining:

Division 1
Teams	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	GF	GA	Diff	Points	P10	Streak
Clockwork OrangeAFC	9	7	2	0	28	14	14	21	7-2-0	W 4
Arsenal FC	9	6	1	2	38	20	18	20	6-1-2	W 1
La Sombra Negra	9	5	3	1	25	21	4	16	5-3-1	W 3
SJ Mustangs SC	9	4	4	1	18	21	-3	13	4-4-1	L 1
Inferno FC	9	2	7	0	15	22	-7	6	2-7-0	L 3
Real Sunnyvale	9	1	8	0	12	38	-26	3	1-8-0	L 4

SBASL Division 1 Update after gameday 8

2008-06-25T21:11:58Z

Division 1
Teams	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	GF	GA	Diff	Points	P10	Streak
Clockwork Orange AFC	8	6	2	0	26	14	12	18	6-2-0	W 3
Arsenal FC	8	5	1	2	33	19	14	17	5-1-2	T 1
La Sombra Negra	8	4	3	1	24	21	3	13	4-3-1	W 2
SJ Mustangs SC	8	4	3	1	18	19	-1	13	4-3-1	T 1
Inferno FC	8	2	6	0	14	17	-3	6	2-6-0	L 2
Real Sunnyvale	8	1	7	0	12	37	-25	3	1-7-0	L 3

Not gutted any more

2007-12-11T19:21:26Z

I'm a few games into the new season with both my indoor and outdoor teams. It's been "interesting".

Outdoor: Won 3-2, then 6-1, then 10-1.
Indoor: Won our first game 13-0.

I'm clearly not accustomed to this sort of form, and have had to spend most of the past few weeks sitting down and fanning myself.

Gutted

2007-09-22T22:23:11Z

In many ways, the mistake was in getting my hopes up. Thursday night was the first time that I can remember challenging for any footballing success, with the end-of-season playoffs in our indoor soccer league.

We'd finished the regular season with only one defeat, in second place behind the unbeaten Cosmos and things were looking great when we strolled through our semi-final 7-0. I even had the luxury of resting some of the guys towards the end of the game.

The final was an hour later, and we faced Sudacas, who had surprised everyone by getting through at the expense of the aforementioned Cosmos. The rumors implying that they were playing with ringers were not unjustified.

Either way, we had a heartbreaker: Ahead early on, we faded and eventually lost 5-4 to a sudden-death 'golden goal' in extra time.

I wasn't happy. I was even less happy when I woke on on Friday with a migraine.

Bad to business as usual then.

Fitba' update: It keeps getting better

2007-09-13T18:23:53Z

I'm on a bit of a roll right now. Saints finally won a game last week, after their dreadful start to the season.

That was followed by another CWO victory on Thursday evening which meant we finished in second place, with six victories out of seven, and bye through to the semi-finals of the playoffs.

At the weekend, Scotland won on Saturday, followed by a decent CWO result outdoors on Sunday.

And just when it couldn't get any better, this happens:

I watched that at the Brit in San Jose, and I was still coming down this morning.

Bad to winning ways

2007-08-31T15:24:52Z

After last week's disappointing defeat to our rivals for the title, last night's indoor soccer was a pleasant return to form. Once again, we showed great character in coming from behind, and dominating the game with our slick passing when both sides started to tire.

For the record, it ended 8-6. That gives us five wins from six, and we're still the top scorers in the league, averaging nearly ten goals per game. One more match and we're into the playoffs.

Soccer update: Another win!

2007-08-04T18:08:55Z

I'm getting dizzy up here at the top of the table... A more comfortable 13-5 scoreline this week at the indoor. Dancer!

Today's our wedding anniversary

2007-07-29T16:18:00Z

Being married is great.

Soccer update: A win!

2007-07-27T18:54:05Z

I've been working hard on building a new team for playing in an indoor (7v7) league. Last night was the first game and we came back from 3-0 down to win 5-4.

This is a nice feeling, one to which I could become accustomed.

Bummed out and knocked out

2007-07-11T18:15:36Z

Last night was the end of my first season playing in the Over-35's indoor league (as one of two permitted players who're just the wrong side of thirty). And I'm pissed off.

It was a play-off game, and we were coasting at 4-1 up, until I was inexplicably sin-binned twice in quick succession. The meant that we were a player down for over 5 minutes, and it cost us the game, which eventually finished 5-5.

We were then knocked out of the competition in a shoot-out.

Even though it was due to a couple of ridiculously bad refereeing decisions, I can't help but feel responsible. So I've been in a foul mood all day. Bastards.

Summer vacation

2007-07-06T20:16:17Z

Last weekend: The 3-Degrees (née Shimmer, née Vibrant) summer campout, up in the hills near Willits. Curtis has photos.

This weekend: we came down to San Luis Obispo to a hot spring spa resorty place to relax. I'm posting this from the restaurant with a nice cup of coffee, and Aliya's having a facial or something. Life is good.

Photos from Craig and Rachel's Wedding

2007-05-29T18:36:36Z

Now up at the usual place. And, yes, my photo album software is still prehistoric, I know.

More good footie news

2007-03-01T18:06:50Z

I had to sit out last weekend's CWO match with an ankle sprain, but the boys didn't need me and dispatched FC Inferno with a 5-0 thrashing. This sets us up nicely for the run in to the season end.

And then, yesterday, I went down to the Britannia Arms to watch the Super Saintees spank Motherwell in the cup.

Sweet.

Yes, it's my birthday

2007-02-20T18:39:49Z

And, yes, I don't normally celebrate. But tonight, Matthew, I'll be the third Mersenne Prime.

Another good weekend for the fitba'

2007-02-05T22:35:21Z

3-0 to the Saints in the Scottish Cup, and 3-2 to Clockwork Orange in the SBASL. "Yay."

C'mon the Saints!

2007-01-31T18:56:20Z

It's the big game today: Saintees versus the Hibees in the Semi-final of the Scottish League Cup.

Of course, this means nothing to practically everyone else on the planet, but it's a big deal to me. I'm planning on sneaking out of the company offsite we're holding in Palo Alto to find a quiet corner of the hotel bar, where I can watch the game online.

Fingers crossed...

Update: One word. Bugger.

Bog roll

2007-01-25T22:25:54Z

This needs to be settled, or I'm heading for a divorce. I reckon that toilet paper should be lined up with the next piece facing the room (so you pull down on the front). My better half insists that it should face the wall.

She's clearly wrong, and my straw poll of bathrooms in the local Starbucks and my office seems to back me up, but I need to be scientific about this.

View Poll: The correct orientation for toilet paper

Reboot

2007-01-24T22:32:25Z

Bizarrely, I've actually had a number of different folk bug me about the dearth of postings in the past eight months. This comes as a surprise, since I was pretty convinced that even if people knew this blog existed, nobody would actually care enough to read it.

So I'm playing catch-up. In a nutshell, here's the past eight months:

June: Watched lots of the World Cup with Aliya, who's become a bit of a footie fan. Sadly, she's decided to support Man Utd, for all the wrong reasons.
July: The wedding. And the stag weekend in Vegas before the wedding. And the honeymoon in Maui after the wedding. It was all awesome. We have lots of photos. I've been too lazy to upload them.
August: Back to work after three weeks off... Started the second season with Clockwork Orange, hoping that our run of shitty results would improve (it did).
September: Simanti and Matt got hitched in Tahoe too. It was cold... I started looking at the various job offers I had inside and outside of Sun.
October: I decided to finally do it, and gave a couple of weeks notice.
November: Started work at Narus in Mountain View. Lots of commuting. Even took the train a few times.
December: Started the winter season with Clockwork Orange -- we should have a good chance of challenging for the division title this time round... Went to my first American Football game -- Cal versus Stanford... Aliya decided to host Xmas dinner at our new house with her Mum's side of the family... We spent Hogmanay at Ruby Skye in the city with Simanti and Matt.

Cutting the umbilical

2006-11-04T02:43:01Z

Today was my last day at Sun, finally putting to an end ten years of collective service for IXI/SCO/Tarantella/Sun. I know it was ten years because they sent me a telescope.

On Monday I start work for a startup called Narus in Mountain View. For the first time since I left college, I think I'm technically unemployed this evening.

It's just like watching St Johnstone

2006-05-22T16:26:31Z

Another league game for Clockwork Orange, another defeat, but this time we had a nightmare and went down 6-0.

Ugh.

To cap it off, we had one guy break an ankle and a few other injuries to add to the existing, and lengthy, crock list.