Going by Train

I’ve been using public means of transport more often in the last few weeks and months as they provide a relaxed way of getting from A to B. What is more, is that going by car is getting more and more expensive and if you’re travelling alone, you can do that for about half the price when using the train. One of the major advantages is that you are able to work on some code when carrying a laptop computer with you. However, as these laptops have limited battery capacity, it’s sometimes very helpful that at least in some waggons there are power outlets where you can plug in your computer.

As I write this entry, I’m sitting in a train named “Europäischer Computerführerschein” (german – “european computer driving licence”) and guess what – really funny – no power outlets here ;) For those of you wondering about the strange name – the major connections and trains, respectively, have all such strange names here in Austria…

Anyway, this time I was thinking of that possibility before entering the train and therefore my laptop batteries are fully charged…

(think of a two minutes break here)

Haha, it gets even funnier, I was just interrogated by a plainclothes policeman who was searching for something or someone I don’t know. He asked for identification, so I handed over my driver’s licence. He looked somehow puzzled for a few moments, then serious again as he realized that I wasn’t the terrorist he was looking for. He definitely didn’t get the point how funny it is to check a driver’s licence in a train with such a name…

The Hornet, Crosswords and sugar-free Coffee

Somehow this blog becomes a picture gallery…

hornet We’ve captured the hornet!

I’m currently sitting here having my breakfast (breakfast, but not too fast, as I occasionally comment on it), after I spent the majority of the last night programming. For me, there are two types of spending a night programming. First, when you keep working on your code, but it will not suddenly happen that everything fits together and you fall off your chair and sleep on the floor dreaming bad dreams. Second, when you keep working on your code and it will suddenly happen that everything fits together and your problem is solved. Sometimes, I like going for the second one. That’s also what I went for last night.

So now I’m here, feeling a little puzzled as every morning, doing some crosswords and trying a sugar-free coffee for the first time. I’ve always used the excuse that I need sugar for my brain, so I can’t drink sugar-free coffee. But let’s see, if this blog gets even weirder as it already is, it may be a result of lack of sugar.

MythTV + DVB-s and Astra

In my spare time, I’ve been playing around with MythTV, a PVR project based on Linux. A very nice feature is the use of program guides which enables the user to record programs easily. Basically, there are two ways to feed MythTV with program data. First, the use of XMLTV grabbers which download data from certain websites. Second, it is possible to get program information directly via EPG from the broadcast signal.

Unfortunately, the first alternative didn’t work out very well because of some grabber errors due to changes on certain websites… so I went for the second alternative.

Using version 0.19, EPG didn’t work out of the box when using Astra satellites. After searching the web for a solution, I’ve found this here useful (in siparser.cpp):

[cpp]

//The following was found to break EIT guide for
// Kristian Kalweit
if (n.LinkageType == 4)
{
PrivateTypes.GuideOnSingleTransport = true;
PrivateTypes.GuideTransportID = n.LinkageTransportID;
}
[/cpp]

I’ve removed these lines and voilà, works like a charm ;)

MythTV also features a bunch of plugins – my favorite one is MythWeb, which allows to control MythTV via a website. Here is a screenshot of it:

MythWeb

Recording TV programs is now officially considered as addictive.

A new engine for my car

About 4 weeks ago I bought an new (used) car. After 6.500 km (or 92.500 km operational performance) the engine gave up. I won’t bore you to death with the technical details but to say the least a part broke and destroyed the cylinder. The following images should illustrate this.

First, the dismantled old engine:

Old engine

The dam(n)aged cylinder and cylinder head.

CylinderCylinder Head

Last but not least the new engine.
new engine

So I’ll get a new engine for my car for free, due to warranty :-) Feel free to ask for high resolution pictures.

Rockstar Vienna closed by Take-Two

I was pretty shocked this morning after reading Niko’s blog and then Jurie’s blog that Take-Two has closed the Rockstar Vienna offices. There is still no official press release by Take-Two, but the website of Rockstar Vienna seems to be unavailable and there is already a news entry on Gamasutra.

So it seems that Austria has lost its biggest game development company which was employing more than 100 game developers. I’m kinda curious about the impact of this on the Austrian game development scene.