I don't get Food TV here, unfortunately. How interesting can food really be, though? After all, you're not eating it. You're just watching someone else make it. Sounds boring to me.


I'm recording all my shows on Linux via my tv card. For each show, I've created a script like the one below using a program called vcr.
<blockquote>#!/bin/sh

DATE=`date +%m%d%y`
FILENAME=/home/ftp/tv/nightlynews_$DATE.avi
v4lctl setstation kfaa
vcr -t 30m $FILENAME</blockquote>
Then, I create a cronjob to record the show every week. When I come home, I have a directory full of divx avi's to watch whenever I want. Just like Tivo!

Here's all the entires I have so far:
<blockquote># minute hour day_of_month month day_of_week comand

# weekly shows
00 9 * * 1-5 /home/juju/scripts/drphil.sh
00 16 * * 1-5 /home/juju/scripts/oprah.sh
30 17 * * 2-6 /home/juju/scripts/nightlynews.sh
25 22 * * 2-5 /home/juju/scripts/nightline.sh
30 23 * * 2-5 /home/juju/scripts/dailyshow.sh
00 2 * * 2-5 /home/juju/scripts/donahue.sh
30 16 * * 1 /home/juju/scripts/dailyshow.sh
30 17 * * 1 /home/juju/scripts/nightlynews_and_60min.sh
00 19 * * 1 /home/juju/scripts/donahue.sh
30 21 * * 1 /home/juju/scripts/crankyankers.sh
25 23 * * 1 /home/juju/scripts/nightline.sh
00 19 * * 2 /home/juju/scripts/crankyankers2.sh
00 19 * * 3 /home/juju/scripts/60min2.sh
00 21 * * 3,4,6 /home/juju/scripts/southpark.sh
28 19 * * 4 /home/juju/scripts/scrubs_and_frontline.sh
00 1 * * 7 /home/juju/scripts/nova.sh
00 4 * * 7 /home/juju/scripts/saf.sh
30 10 * * 7 /home/juju/scripts/stephanopoulos.sh
30 21 * * 7 /home/juju/scripts/crankyankers.sh
30 17 * * 7 /home/juju/scripts/dateline.sh

# one-shot shows
0 22 20 10 * /home/juju/scripts/fullmetalchallenge.sh
30 13 21 10 * /home/juju/scripts/music_behind_bars.sh</blockquote>
I haven't actually seen all of these shows yet, so I don't know if I'll like them or not. I still have to add some of your suggestions. I want to check out more of the msnbc shows you suggested, but I'd like to wait until they're off they're sniper kick.

I've tried getting VH1's "Music Behind Bars" twice so far and failed both times. Apparently the listings I have for VH1 are wrong. I'm really curious to see that show, though. The media sure are having a fit over it. How dare they give criminals airtime!

There was a big stink over it here, particularly since it was done at Graterford, which is near Philadelphia (and currently houses our friend Ira Einhorn).

Rho and I watched it...and we found it very interesting. I don't think it glorified the prisoners in any way...it showed them trying to do something positive while being locked up. Unfortunately though, from what I heard, VH1 will not be doing the show anymore.

I understand that victims' families are still hurting over what has happened to their loved ones. Yes, these guys are criminals, and they've done bad things. But as I see it, the prisoners may get a little notoriety from it, but they can't profit off it. They won't get signed to a record deal; they can't make money off the show. People like a good documentary...and I think a show like Music Behind Bars gives a taste of what life is like in a prison. Maybe it'll convince some chuckleheads not to commit crimes.

You know, I had the same opinion about it when Rho started watching it so often. But many of the shows are rather interesting, and funny too (particularly Alton Brown shows and Iron Chef). And you actually learn things (like learning how saltwater taffy is made on Unwrapped). And Rho has gotten some great recipes that she's tried here at home with success.

Trust me, it can be addictive. Warch, if you're ever in town, or if I'm ever in MN, we'll get together, get drunk out of our minds, and watch Iron Chef. :)

Oh, two new shows on TLC that are great stuff: Full Metal Challenge (co-hosted by Rollins) and Beyond Tough (hosted by Ice-T). Some people might be screaming sell-out, but Rollins and Ice are so damned cool that it doesn't hurt their street credo. Besides, Ice is already on L&O: SVU (and he is a muthaphuckin pimp on there) and Rollins was funny as hell in The Chase.

Yeah, I caught Beyond Tough the other day. Ice T has a really great voice. He could probably recite Green Eggs and Ham and make it sound cool. Doesn't look like the show's on next week, though. I wonder if it was just a one-time thing?

I saw a show on PBS last night on sociology and prison. It said that in order for someone to adopt society's morals, they have to actually interact with society. It's like, you learn morals from the society that you're in. The people around you reinforce it. But you don't learn to function properly in society through prison. You just learn how to be a prisoner.

Nah...it's a new series...I think there have been 3 so far. Maybe it's just taking a week off.

Ice-T is just a pimp. He's still one of the best hip-hop artists ever. He does an okay version of rock. And he's a great actor (New Jack City, Trespass, his work on the TV shows New York Undercover, Players, and SVU).

"Goddamn, goddamn, I do like some muthaphuckin green eggs and ham, bitch!"

Also, I have all of Henry Rollin's spoken word stuff on mp3. He is just amazing. I strive to communicate my thoughts as well as he does.

I'm not as big of a fan of Rollins Band as I used to be, but yeah...his spoken word stuff is just fantastic.

My favorite pieces from him are from the Sweatbox CDs. The airport stuff (James Brown, the new age pilot, and the airport courtesy phone) is hysterical.

And then of course there is "Edie Brickell is an agent of Satan." And the "rock chix."