Ripping Play.FM Streams with Firefox and FlashGot

I’ve recently stumbled across Play.FM, a flash-based music streaming service similar to Pandora but exclusively featuring Electronic and Dance Music. Friendly site with sensational tunes, but many of the songs, particularly those uploaded by independent DJs or artists, are not available for sale or download, making it difficult to listen on portable devices or offline. I tried the usual methods of download/capture for Flash-based music, but nothing was saved to my cache directory, and FreeMusicZilla detected no active streams… I gave the popular FlashGot Firefox plug-in a try and found it to work great. There was one catch: you have to hit play within the Flash player to capture the stream URL, then hit pause for the download to start. I assume Play.FM limits the number of active simultaneous connections from one computer/IP, so you’ll need to toggle the player so FlashGot detects the MP3 URL, then download the file. Here’s the quick breakdown on pulling a Play.FM stream:

1. Fire up your Firefox web browser and navigate to the Play.FM player streaming the music you’d like to save.
2. Start playing the stream until you see the FlashGot icon show up in Firefox status bar (see image below).
3. Right-click the icon and select the Flash stream you’d like to download. There is likely only one entry to select.
4. FlashGot will automatically add this stream download to your “Downloads,” window/queue. However, it won’t start downloading until you pause the stream or close the window.

Getting Married Soon…

I’ve recently sent out invites for our [local] wedding ceremony/reception . Along with custom-designed invites (and RSVP cards), we’ve created an informational website for attendees:

http://wedding.liveaverage.com

It mostly hosts info related to directions, accommodations, registries, etc., but we were pleased with the outcome of the site and invites. In case anyone asks, the invites were printed by Rush Flyers (a great printing outfit from Florida).

Accessing VMare Disks — without VMware Server or Workstation

I spent more time than necessary looking for a VMware disk mount utility to use on a Linux-based distribution. For windows, there’s the VMWare Workstation Disk Mount Utility (5.5) that can installed with the VMWare DiskMount GUI, but I couldn’t find the simple vmware-mount.pl program for Linux distros. Instead, I had to dig it out of a compatible VMWare Server package [for Linux], copy it to /usr/bin/ and create the necessary symlinks for operation. Here’s a quick breakdown of the steps:

1. If you don’t already have it, grab a release of the VMWare Server for Linux — make sure you download the correct version for your distribution (32-bit or 64-bit). You do not need to install the package, simply download it and extract the contents. Alternatively, you could download the package to a Windows workstation and transfer the vmware-mount utility to your Linux workstation/server via SFTP, SCP, FTP, etc..
2. After downloading the VMWare Server package, extract the vmware-mount utility from the following directory in the archive:

   \vmware-server-distrib\bin\vmware-mount

3. Copy vmware-mount to /usr/bin

   cp ~/vmware-mount /usr/bin/

4. The disk mount utility requires a couple of dependencies to run. You can try and run vmware-mount to determine what it needs. In my case, on Ubuntu 8.04LTS 64-bit, it required libcrypto.so.0.9.8 and libssl.so.0.9.8. The utility was looking for these files in a non-existent directory structure:

   /usr/bin/libdir/lib/lib*

   Go ahead and create this directory structure (beats installing the VMWare server package), then provide symlinks to the actual lib files required by vmware-mount:

   sudo mkdir -p /usr/bin/libdir/lib/libcrypto.so.0.9.8; sudo mkdir -p /usr/bin/libdir/lib/libssl.so.0.9.8</pre>
   
   sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.0.9.8 /usr/bin/libdir/lib/libcrypto.so.0.9.8/libcrypto.so.0.9.8
   sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libssl.so.0.9.8 /usr/bin/libdir/lib/libssl.so.0.9.8/libssl.so.0.9.8

5. That’s it! Now you should be able to run ./vmware-mount to determine proper command usage.

Lenovo RS110 Review

I recently had the [unfortunate] opportunity of rolling-out (2) Lenovo RS110 servers targeted for SMBs. We seemed to fit the market for this relatively new Lenovo offering, but the product failed to meet the needs and expectations of my environment. The intention was to launch one of these two units with an Ubuntu/Debian-based Linux distribution to host our Zimbra mail server (currently residing virtual Ubuntu 6.06 LTS machine, with a host OS of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS 64-bit). Here’s some brief hardware highlights:

I won’t lie — I did complete successful installs on Ubuntu 8.04 and Ubuntu 9.04; however, when attempting to copy large files to a Samba share (or via SCP, didn’t matter what protocol), the RS110 would crash… hard… with perpetual disk i/o errors until a hard reset was completed. Debian 5.03 was the only distribution that installed successfully and operated normally under a commonplace workload. Unfortunately, Zimbra offers no support for Debian 5.03 at this time. The RS110 claims support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Suse, but I’m not in the mood to start mixing too many Linux distros in my environment (I’m already running Debian, Ubuntu, and flavors of OpenBSD), nor do I feel up for paying a yearly RHEL subscription/support fee. So, I executed my last option for utilizing an RS110 as my physical mail server: throw in a supported RAID card. I installed a 3Ware (AMCC) 9650SE-2LP card in the available PCI-E riser-card slot. Note that the hot-swap back-plane does NOT use generic SATA/SAS data or power connections, which means I had use a molex to SATA Y-connector for power and two separate, standard SATA data cables. This meant the back-plane was not being used at all…

Apparently this “configuration,” is what Lenovo Support staff called an “unsupported,” hardware configuration. A generic PCI-E RAID controller in a PCI-E slot on the RS110 is unsupported. The 3Ware RAID bios never did post, regardless of several Lenovo BIOS setting changes and physically removing the LSI card from the RS110. Following this last bit of frustration, I contacted the vendor I purchased from and indicated my dissatisfaction with the Lenovo RS110. I’ve decided to keep one as a Windows 2003 R2 VMWare host, but I’ve already packaged the other 110 for return.

Bottom-line: If you’re running a low-load Windows 2003 server, this product might be ideal for your environment. If you intend to run anything else on the hardware, stay away. Support was unclear about the “unsupported,” configuration, so I wouldn’t plan on even using the one available PCI-E slot. The forced purchase of Lenovo hard-disks versus just the disk carriers feels like extortion…

HID Ballast Mounting for 2008 Suzuki GSX650F

Figured I’d post a few helpful pictures for any other GSXF enthusiasts looking to install HID lighting on their 2008 Suzuki GSX650F. I chose to use a pre-existing, pre-drilled location for mounting the HID ballasts. To make certain vibration and movement of the ballasts is kept to minimum I secured the mounting brackets directly to frame using heavy-duty zipties (two ties for each ballast bracket). You will need to drill holes in both plastic caps. However, I ended up cutting and later butt-splicing the HID power connector for the low-beam because the hole size required was too large for the small size of the weather proof fixture cover. Make certain your weather seals (if included with the kit) fit snuggly in the hole(s) you drilled: 

Notice the top [black] screw between the two electrical connections. That’s simply used to secure a portion of the front-fairing to the bike frame. It fit the bracket slot perfectly (no modification required). Make sure to get the zip ties nice and tight to avoid ballast vibration. Also make sure you have a solid ground connection for both HID lights or you may notice flickering (while stationary or moving).

For a point of reference, I used the cheap HID conversion kits (for automobiles, actually) from VVME.com. It was about $60US with shipping. And yes, for a few ($5US) extra bucks they mixed-matched the bulb types so you don’t have to purchase two separate HID conversion kits. Check the original eBay link for more information.

Modded GSX650F (Fender Chop)

I posted a quick how-to on installing the LED tail light, which will soon be followed up on a fender chop ‘how-to.’ Here’s some final pics of my bike (post mods). I also added a HID kit for better night-time driving.

How to: GSX650F LED Tail Light Upgrade

I’ve been wanting to upgrade the stock tail light on my Suzuki GSX650F for some time now. I was hoping an upgrade might precede a quick fender chop to rid the bike of that hideous plastic dragging the aesthetics down. The deed has finally been done (both the tail light upgrade AND the fender chop). Here’s how:

UPGRADING THE GSX650F TAIL LIGHT:

Tools involved:

• Metric Hex Keys (Allen keys/wrenches)
• #2 Phillips Screwdriver
• Precision screwdriver (flat or philips) – or other precision tool
• (Optional) [Blade] Cable splices X 2
  • Used for integrated turn signals
  • Allows for use of stock and integrated signals
• Pliers or Crimpers

(1) Step one involves removing the seat by unlocking the ‘trunk’. Once it’s off, remove the actual lock mechanism (2 X Philips screws/bolts) so the rear cowling can be separated from the fender without the lock cable tethering it.

(2)  Next, remove the two bolts [on each side] keeping the rear handle attached to the frame. Carefully lift the handle up and set it aside.

(3) Using a small, precision screwdriver (or other instrument) press in the black push buttons on each of the 4 X plastic rivots holding the fender to the rear cowling. After pushing each ‘button,’ carefully pull out each plastic rivot and set in a safe place.

(4) The cowling should be free to remove, though you’ll still need to disconnect the modular electrical connector attached to the brake/tail light when you have access to it.

(5) Set the rear cowling on a soft surface (to avoid scratches) and grab a #2 Philips screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the OEM tail light fixture in place. Once removed, set your OEM tail light aside for storage.

(6) Grab your after-market LED tail light and mount it on the rear cowling using the original screws that held your OEM light in place. Take the cowling back over to the bike and connect the modular plug to your after-market light. If you have no intention of wiring your integrated LED turn signals, your finished! Replace the parts in the reverse order described above.

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Only wiring left…

[View with PicLens]

After lots of tedious taping for the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) patterns on the fairings + tank, Chad @ WetLixx completed a full re-design of my 2008 GSX650F. It got a great reception from other GSX650F riders (as found here: http://www.gsx650f.biz/custom-paint-job-circuit-tech-look-2008-gsx650f-t1085.html). I’ll grab some more pictures of the bike once I finish hard-wiring my brain to the throttle for more instantaneous response times =)

GSX650F Gets a fresh coat

So what’s been going through the booth at WetLixx Custom Design + Paint? Well, my spanking new 2008 GSX650F just got its first coat of yellow, along with a complimenting metallic finish. The image (left) shows the bike with it’s fairings temporarily mounted for a quick design tape-off. No clear coat has been applied, but you can certainly see the pearl/metallic finish. The conceptual sketches are soon to follow, along with images of the design.

WetLixx Custom Design & Paint

My very talented friend at WetLixx (http://www.wetlixx.com) decided to promote his dynamic art work (on a variety of cars, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, etc.) by collaborating on a new, custom web showcase for his past and current projects. His primary focus is custom designs and paint jobs on motorcycles (cruiser and sportbike varieties) and golf carts, but he’s established himself as an accomplished artist on all mediums. Be sure to check out his site if you’re in the market for some ‘moving art,’ on your vehicle.