How to automate tivodecode on Mac OSX, so you can convert your TiVo files to save space, add them to iTunes, etc.
For the impatient, there's a summary at the bottom...
TiVo is great for being able to transfer the shows you record to your computer so you can save them. However, as always, the problem is with the restrictive wrappers put on by the TiVo, which prohibits you from doing things like transcoding the files to save space and watching them in the player of your choice.
Thankfully, there's a way to strip the shackles from the TiVo files and leave yourself with a standard MPEG2 file, that you can then convert to the encoding of your choice. It's a no-brainer: 4 GB/hour for an HD TiVo file that only plays in proprietary software, versus a H.264 file that looks great and plays in any player, at less than 500MB/hour.
If you don't have the TiVo Transfer software, you can use http://tdm.sourceforge.net/, which takes care of connecting to the TiVo, downloading the files, de-shackling the files, and transcoding - however, it feels buggy, and I prefer to use the standard TiVo Transfer program that's included with Roxio's Toast.
Once you have your TiVo shackled files on OSX, the next step is running them through a program called TiVoDecode. It's open source, and you can compile it yourself from http://sourceforge.net/projects/tivodecode/ or if you don't have the Developer tools installed, you can download the above mentioned TiVo Decode Manager, and pull the binary out of it. (Right Click TiVoDecode Manager › Show Package Contents › Contents › Resources › copy the 'tivodecode' file elsewhere, I recommend ~/Applications/.)
Once you have tivodecode as a binary file you can use terminal (just execute the command to get the syntax) or - what sparked this post - you can use my very simple Automator workflow to automate the process.
Just open the workflow in Automator, insert you MAK (Media Access Key) into the shell script (you can get this from your TiVoTransfer preferences), run the workflow, and select your TiVo files.
As you can tell from the shell script, the workflow assumes your tivodecode binary is in ~/Applications - that's not your standard Applications folder, it's inside your Home user folder. If you don't have one, just open your home folder and create it.
(If you're the type that prefers to mv tivodecode to /usr/bin/, then I'm sure you'll be able to modify the shell script accordingly.)
After running the workflow, your TiVo files will be run through the tivodecode binary and .mpg added. The original .tivo files will be moved to your trash, but not emptied. Then you can transcode into your preferred encoding. I recommend using Handbrake and the iPhone preset.
The more skilled among you may wish to transcode the files automatically in the workflow using ffmpeg or mencoder, however, that's a bit beyond me for the moment, and I like using Handbrake for its intelligent cropping on a file by file basis. Any suggestions on how I can accomplish this automatically are welcome in the comments.
Summary:
- This only applies if you use TiVo Transfer or some other means to get the .tivo files onto your Mac, and you don't want to use TDM. (TDM is a little buggy, and I think the quality isn't as good as what I get from Handbrake.)
- Get the tivodecode binary.
- The easiest place to get the binary is to download TDM, right click the application file › Show Package Contents › Contents › Resources › 'tivodecode' binary is there.
- Create an Applications folder inside your home folder, and copy the 'tivodecode' binary there.
- Download the workflow.
- Open the workflow in Automator and insert your MAK key in the shell script.
- Find your MAK key in the preferences of the 'Tivo Transfer' application, or in your TiVo settings.
- Run the workflow, or save it as an application and run the application.
- Select the TiVo files you wish to destrangle.
- The .tivo files will be moved to your trash, leaving MPEG2 files.
- The MPEG2 files will be the same quality and same file size as the originals.
- I prefer to queue up the MPEG2 files with Handbrake, converting them to the iPhone preset, allowing it to intelligently crop and resize the files.
- The iPhone preset will use less than 500MB for an hour of HD video, 1/8th the filesize of the original TiVo files at a comparable quality. Also, you'll be able to play them on the device and/or player of your choice.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please post them in the comments.
How to fix Daylight Savings
I love Daylight Savings Time, but like everyone, I hate losing the hour of sleep. Well, I've solved that problem. Someone call President Obama and Congress. See, it's about the economy and the children. Because the sun would go down too soon in the Summer for businesses, we have DST. However, because DST would cause kids to wait for the bus before the sun comes once Winter hits, we "Fall back" before the days get short.
SOLUTION: Instead of the insanity that is "Fall back" and "Spring forward," why don't we change the time school starts. Instead of falling back, school starts an hour later. Instead of springing forward, school starts an hour earlier. Problem solved. I'll take my Nobel prize in economics now, and remember, it's for the children.
(If you get satire, you may ignore my next statement. The overflowing praise of myself, the phrase "it's for the children," allusion to "it's the economy, stupid," and expectations of a Nobel Prize -- are all sarcastic.)
True Church Conference 2010 – Friday Thoughts and Notes
As soon as I can, I'll be updating these for better completeness, but for the moment here are my rough notes and some thoughts from the Friday messages at the True Church Conference. If you missed it, my first TCC2010 blog explains the title of the conference a little better, and includes the notes from David Miller's opening message.
A note on my frequent failure to prefix names with "Brother" - although this is a colloquial title for ministers, never have I been particularly fond its use that way, so I avoid it entirely. It by no means implies any disrespect, and out of consideration for others when I am speaking personally (and unable to give this disclaimer), I will use the de facto title regardless.
Also today, some brothers from a partner church shared of how they first started meeting, and their sermons were YouTube videos of Jeff Noblit and Paul Washer preaching. As I mentioned in my earlier entry, if you were looking at this from a worldly perspective, your concerns of cultish behavior would be reasonable. However, without any reservation I can say - neither man would want anyone to think that they are some figurehead of some movement, not ever. Instead, it is a work of God, using men who have committed themselves to constantly reforming their preaching to be glory of God focused, Christ centered, and Bible saturated. (I am borrowing this wording from the Grace Life Distinctives.) I'll digress, but I still know many people look at Grace Life (and likely, other churches at the TCC) as somewhat of a cult, so I want to try and be honest about the uniqueness and help clarify as best that I can.
Lastly, I should say there are others blogging and tweeting from the conference. To find others on twitter, search #TCC10, and this blog is sharing their sermon notes.
Now to my notes: there are three sermon's notes here: Urging ALL to Repent & Believe by Jon'o Sims, The Use of Alter Calls by Jeff Noblit, and Loving Sinners by Conrad Mbewe.
Defining Hyper-Calvinsim by Dr. Michael Haykin
I missed this one. I'll have to wait until I hear it via CD.
Urging ALL to Repent & Believe by Jonathan (Jon'o) Sims
Why we preach the gospel: Ephesians 2:19-21
I learned this, although I don't recall how he connected it to the message: dispute (Greek) -> dialogue (English)
Main text: Acts 17:30-34
Why do we urge all to repent and believe? (5 points)
1) Urge all to repent and believe because all men are ignorant. (Acts 17:30)
Spurgeon was in trouble from the Arminians for preaching the gospel. He was in trouble with the hyper-calvinists for preaching the gospel to everybody.
2) Because God himself calls every man to repent. (Acts 17:30)
Acts 2:39-40, Romans 2:4
"The great gospel duty." - Matthew Henry
"Command" means to charge with urgency.
3) Because all men will one day face the judgment of God. (Acts 17:31-32)
There is both assurance of this judgment and of Jesus's ability to save.
"America is a wicked pagan nation." - Jon'o. I asked him about this quote later, because I had forgotten the context. He recalled that he was talking about how, absent of gospel preaching, America or any nation, finds itself making idols out of the things that men are easily given to. (That is my wording, not his.)
4) because thanks be to God, some will repent and believe. (Acts 17:34)
"God's sovereign plan is to save some by preaching to all." - Jon'o
5) because this is our calling.
Acts 9:15-16. Acts 26:19. Romans 1:18
The use of alter calls. by Jeff Noblit
"Alter Call" in this context - implying or outright stating that coming forward is a part of one's salvation.
1) "old time religion" or new fad?
Charles Finney - considered the pioneer of modern evangelistic methods ("the invitation system").
Modern methods? How can such a thing even exist when the gospel is 2000 years old? (This is a rough approximate summary of what was said.)
Spurgeon said if you use a come to the front method, at least change it so that people don't think it's part of their salvation.
Certainly, the pre-invitation system conversions seem to be genuine.
Billy Graham was so respected because of the "results."
"Billy Graham is one of my heroes. [He] is a great man .. Yet I am convinced [that] any honest, knowledgeable person should find his invitation system troubling." - Jeff Noblit
Curtis Mitchell says a typical Graham invitation: "I'm going to ask you to come forward ... Come now and come quickly. Don't let distance keep you from Christ ... Certainly you can come these few steps and come to him."
(This is from later in the sermon, but in my notes, it better fits here.) Jeff quotes Joel O'steen without naming him: "We'll never leave before we give you a chance to be saved."
Response to O'steen: "Are you the gate keeper to the kingdom of God? You're not a priest! There's only one priest! [and his name is Jesus]"
2) consequences
* perfectionism
-- I missed what this means in this context.
* carnal Christians
-- no such idea exists in scriptures as Christians who never behave like Christians.
* redundant baptisms
-- an emphasis where the bible has no emphasis - on a system that "causes" people to respond.
* church discipline is difficult in a church where the easy believism labels so many as Christians. Your whole church needs discipline? Your problem isn't with discipline, it's with evangelism.
* church splits unnecessarily
-- because of false believers voting
* diminished glory of God
-- this is what it's about. When things are wrong, His glory is diminished on earth.
3) what say the scriptures?
* nothing on the invitation system. Nothing to help those get saved, or even to identify new believers. Jesus did say come follow me, but it's a stretch to say that "come follow the incarnate Christ" is similar or related to "come forward to the steps."
* make disciples. Matthew 28:18-20.
"Every pastor should have to pastor for 30 years and live with his fruit. [But most just move away to elsewhere.]"
5 minutes of counseling [usually] isn't enough. But - Edwards says sometimes you can with the confidence of grace know that someone is genuine.
2 Timothy 4:3-5
He who rejects sound doctrine rejects those who teach sound doctrine.
* what are biblical invitations?
John 4:14 - drink of this water.
Mark 1:15 - repent and believe in the gospel.
Mark 8:34 - deny yourself and take up your cross and follow.
Acts 2:38: repent and be baptized.
Acts 10:43-44: believes in Him.
John 3:7 - must be born again. Didn't tell him how to do it. [No 'ABC']
Paul talks about begging men to come to Christ. Jesus commanded them. The eunuch was persuaded. It's all of the above.
No system. No structured system of things to do at the end. That's why roman Catholicism is so popular. It melds with what men [wrongly] want [a works based system].
Spurgeon: "an old stag likes to die alone."
It is a call to a total lifestyle.
4) final considerations
* the gospel IS the invitation
- if you're not giving an invitation, you're not preaching the gospel. In reality, the Spirit gives the invitation. John 6:44, John 16:8.
- "Some say 'Brother Jeff doesn't give an invitation anymore.' I give the longest invitations!" [The whole sermon.]
God doesn't necessarily save during the preaching, but through the preaching.
* don't throw everything out. Scripturally you do not need to abandon everything about the modern invitation system. An appeal at the close of the service is not unscriptural. It's not essential, but it itself is not unscriptural. (What you say might make it unscriptural.)
* avoid any notion of works salvation (sacramentalism) in any appeal given.
* never believe that one who doesn't given an immedate appeal is less evangelistic.
* shepherd the brethren to sound practice: 'those of us who believe in grace ought to have some' Acts 18:24-27.
* you can not eliminate all the tares from the wheat.
* let the spiritual maturity of your church be the proof of your doctrine. 2 Cor 3:2.
Loving Sinners by Conrad Mbewe
Luke 19:41-44, Context: Luke 19:28-40
Hyper-Calvinism is: "for someone to think that you're an Arminian for wanting pastors to preach the gospel to lost sinners."
"The apostles went everywhere preaching reptenence of sin and faith in Jesus Christ, and we must do the same."
Jesus spent every one of his last days teaching: (Luke 19:47).
Don't lose sight of lost sinners, and don't lose your passion for them to hear the gospel.
Jesus was moved with compassion for the city that (he knew) was to crucify them. There is no excuse for us [not to have compassion for lost sinners] in that light.
"Unless He draws us, unless He speaks life into us, we must go the other way. However, it did not stop Jesus from weeping."
Compare to Paul: Romans 9:1-5. But Paul does not begin this section with a cold herated, matter of fact statement of the facts, as if he was dissecting his chicken. (It would be really interesting to find out if this is a Zambia thing, or his picturing of a dispassionate American.) Instead, Paul starts with "my heart is broken."
"Romans 10:1. That's my heart's desire. That's my prayer."
The rails on which God's salvation runs: God's sovereignty on one hand, our responsibility on the other.
"Don't tell me that your church is evangelistic if your prayer meeting is half dead. Don't tell me you're an evangelic preacher if your [prayer] closet is empty."
If you truly love sinners as God expects you to, it ought to move you to zealously pray for them, because unless they are saved they must perish forever. Consider the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
Is Hell real? Do we believe what the Bible says?
my thought here: If God is immutable and beyond time: does he eternally mourn for the damned sinner? And what is his purpose for there being a "too late?"
God weeps. Do you?
True Church Conference 2010 – Thoughts and 1st Message
Well, I barely made it home without crashing from crashing. Not a lot of sleep + long day + driving at night = difficult. Now it's time to crash in the bed, but here are my notes from the first night and message of the Grace Life Shoals True Church Conference 2010.
Some observations and anecdotes: I can only imagine what one might think if they were to be visiting the church for the first time. With its title of "True Church Conference" combined with a story of a family moving from another state to attend Grace Life (shared as part of a God glorifying testimony of regeneration), and testimonies of other "young" churches seeking Grace Life for guidance - I can see how some might get the wrong idea, but to the true Church (believing, repenting sinners) it becomes evident that these are stories of God's providence, for His glory and fame.
For those who might ask, the conference is not about trying to declare some church and its members the "one true" church. The conference is about discerning the truth of God from scripture, to equip the true Church (believers) to make disciples of Christ. This year's theme is "The Quagmire of Hyper-Calvinism," and this first message was preached by David Miller, entitled "The Wonder of Unconditional Love."
These are my rough notes. I'll probably come back later after having the chance to re-listen to the sermons.
David Miller. Mal 1:1-5.
"Bible teaching is not where you read the text and depart from it and never return."
=== Jacob have I loved ===
"Was not Jacob Esau's brother?"
By an act of His will, God singled Jacob out and set him up to be an object of the divine affections. Even though Jacob was a cheat and a liar -- depraved. Therefor, if God loved Jacob he did so with selectivity and favoritism.
=== Esau have I hated ===
Esau enjoyed an awesome heritage. He had many blessings: born in answer to prayer and received as a gift from God to the family chosen by God. From a worldly perspective, we would probably like Esau as "every man's man." But God "hated."
Read the verse in context and choose the interpretation that best fits:
Interpretation 1) Relative comparison- meaning in comparison to his love for Jacob he simply loved Esau less. Doesn't fit.
Interpretation 2) Preferred and passed over- doesn't fit context either.
Interpretation 3) He loved Esau but hated the sin: Bro. David keeps this one pretty cut and dry, saying it's not the case, but my reflection on the verse reminds me a couple of things: primarily that the connotation here is more of predestined for salvation than that of emotional hatred. Although, conversely, it is true that God's wrath is stored up against the unbelieving sinner.
Interpretation 4) A valid one- settled opposition toward, and a holy disdain for.
Why the disdain?
a) Esau lived for the present.
b) Esau lived for the flesh instead of the Spirit.
c) Esau lived for the praises of men, rather than of God.
d) Esau counted worthless what God highly valued.
But wait: so did Jacob! so do we!
God has as much right and reason to 'hate' (have a settled opposition and holy disdain for) you, me, and Jacob as he did to hate Esau.
Upcoming Resumption
It is my intention to resume regularly blogging. Immediately, that means I'll be posting my sermon notes from the True Church Conference. (By the way, this blog uses RefTagger to automatically link scripture references and show their text on mouse-over. eg: Jn 1:1) And because I'm a geek, I just want to add that I'll probably be taking my notes using a tiny Apple Bluetooth Keyboard paired with my jailbroken iPhone. Who needs an iPad?
After that, I believe the next series of posts will be a series of answers to frequently asked questions I get, including how to troubleshoot/fix a slow computer, the best applications for making the most of your computer, and the most helpful iPhone Apps (and some fun ones too).
I also intend to revisit my Facebook post, where I name areas in which I believe Facebook is really in need of improving.
Meanwhile, please follow me on twitter: @tollie and stay tuned for further info about two podcasts that myself and a few others are considering (re-)starting.
Soundly sleeping – seems scientific
I'm having difficulty unifying these into a narrative, so I'll just leave it at bullet points.
Caution: Some science ahead. But perhaps it's interesting, and maybe even insightful.
* I've grown accustomed to going to sleep while listening to something. TV, music, podcast, or audiobook.
* Yes, it's possibly causing permanent hearing damage from long-term exposure.
* Who knows what effect it has on how the brain processes sound ordinarily? Maybe this is why I have a hard time distinguishing words from background noise and music. Perhaps that process is controlled by chemicals that the brain normally stores up during down-time, and I'm getting none. I simply don't know.
* I usually listen to podcasts to fall asleep. It helps me catch up, and the content is such that I rarely feel like I should take notes, nor that I am greatly missing out if I never go back and pick up from where I fell asleep at.
* Occasionally I'll listen to audiobooks, however, they have to have a unique quality about them. They have to be engaging enough not be frustrating or grating, but yet, they can't be so engaging that I simply must stay awake to listen to them.
* Other times, it's music. Usually orchestrated film score. However, this can be too 'non-stimulating' - leaving my brain free to run around in circles with whatever non-sense has clouded it. On the other hand, for this reason, sometimes music is helpful in reaching the "sweet spot:"
* There is a sweet spot between regular thought and sleepily drunken stupor - and in that sweet spot, wonderful ideas occur. That's why I keep a pen and paper nearby at all times.
* I'm listening to "The Ring Goes South" as I write this bullet point. It's from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack.
* Listening to nothing, I can fall asleep, but depending on my level of exhaustion, it may take a great deal longer. It's not that the sound wears me out. Therefor, I wonder how unique vs. universal this "lulling" effect is, and to what degree it's social.
* In fact, if suffciently tired, I am more easily made to fall asleep listening to a half-dozen people talking, than to nothing or some generated "noise" such as a fan.
* Another trapping of classical music: the sameness. The process of appreciating the musical quality is, for me, an almost active one. Appreciate it, and the mind is too engaged. Reducing it to mere background melody tends to make for monotony, and the mind is bored.
* I've said nothing of TV yet. TV is perhaps the most dangerous. First: good luck finding a channel worth listening to. If you do, who knows what junk will be on in 2 hours, invading your sub-conscious? Then there's commercials and this awful trend of turning up their volume. The FCC should fine networks for doing this - decibel neutrality. (That's sarcastic.)
* What about a movie? This usually works as far as stimulation levels go, as long as it's one I've seen before. However, inevitably, the change from dialogue to theme music for the credits will wake me up in 2 hours.
* I'd be interested in your thoughts. What applies to you? What doesn't? Am I factually right or wrong anywhere?
- Sound sleep to you,
Tollie
The Lamb
I noticed a number of people in the choir wiping tears as they sang "When I See the Risen Lamb" today. I'm sure some of it is the powerful musical qualities of the song. But how the musical qualities of the song, and more importantly, the truth of its lyrics to forgiven sinners, cause us to reflect on and ponder the greatness of our Savior. It's a song that moves one into great happiness and thankfulness.
When I See the Risen Lamb:
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However, pondering the imagery of the next song broke me.
Following "When I See the Risen Lamb" today was "Behold the Lamb." In this order, I suspect that our music minister, Tom Clay, was intending to paint the picture of the resurrection and the glorified, risen Christ. However, for some reason, my mind went "backwards" to the Old Testament, instead of forwards into the New Testament church.
I could attempt to describe this in the powerful way that it broke me, but almost undoubtedly my words would hinder, and not help, you experience this same brokenness. So I'll try to keep my words to a minimum, in hopes that you'll ponder the truth of them:
God is angry and wrathful against the evilness of humanity.
Lambs are baby sheep, less than a year old - the imagery of innocence.
Showing the magnitude of his righteous anger, God ordered his people, from time to time, to slaughter lambs, ripping their bodies apart and spreading their blood on an alter.
Jesus is called the Son of God. God the Father loves his Son. Jesus is also called the lamb of God.
Jesus was slain just as the lamb was slaughtered - innocent and blameless - and because of God's intolerance for sin, his righteous wrath compelled him to be pleased in the death of his own son.
His wrath was carried out against the Lamb, his son, so that he could love me and adopt me as a son - even though I am the sinner who deserved only the wrath and anger.
What mercy. What love.
Behold the Lamb:
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You can see the service with these songs being sung, as well as the message that was preached, at Grace Life Church's website here. Look for the 9/20/2009 AM service.
Notes from 9-13-2009 PM Sermon – God’s Alluring
Hosea 2:14
== God's drawing the unworthy ==
"Behold, I will allure her."
Man's evil is so complete impending judgment (what Hosea has been talking about so far, and what will still come) could never turn man back. (cf. Gen 8:21) Instead of giving up, God lovingly entices us back. This is grace. (cf. Rom 5:20)
- This means God will gradually unfold before them the majesty of his excellence. He opens their eyes.
- God will out love all former lovers combined. More love, honor, respect than any other has ever been able to give. The pleasures of God are greater than the pleasures of sin.
- It comes by surprise. The people weren't expecting it. (eg. Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis). (cf. John 6:41-44)
== God's bringing to the truth ==
"And bring her into the wilderness."
When God saves you, he puts you into a new wilderness - a new awareness of sin and guilt. He lets you see the truth about yourself. (cf. Luke 7:40-47)
== God speaks to the heart ==
"And speak tenderly to her."
(cf. John 16:8-11) The root of sin is unbelief. God speaks kindly to the heart, convincing sinners they have been given the credit of God's righteousness - unconditional forgiveness. It is God's work, and his means is the ministry of the gospel.
The full kindness of God is beyond our ability to comprehend. (this morning's sermon)
Notes from 9-13-2009 Sermon – Idolatry
Hosea 2:8-13
Idolatry's Punishment
== Israel's Sin ==
- (v. 8a) Deepest ingratitude: (They do not know.) God had lavished wealth on Israel, but their hearts were so hardened in sin, they did not recognize that it was God. (cf. Hebrews 3:13, 2 Cor 4:4) Wealth is dangerous, but poverty is not a virtue. The issue is your heart. (v. 13) "She forgot me."
- (v. 8b) Most offensive use: They turned their unmerited blessings and used them openly in betrayal. Idolatry is in the heart. 'Do you misuse blessings by looking TO them for your joy, rather than looking THROUGH them for your joy?' (cf. Prov 22:2)
- It is the converted heart that causes genuine worship. It can not be codified through extra-biblical rules and laws.
== God's Response ==
- (v. 9, 12) He will remove their blessings to get their attention.
- (v. 10) He will bring public humiliation to demonstrate his power and the impotence of their false gods. Not all humbling is a response to sin. Occasionally it is to bring about maturity.
- (v. 11) He destroys false worship. Why do you go to church? (cf. Amos 8:5)
- (v. 13) Imagery (not meant to be legalistically interpreted) of a wife dressing up erotically for an affair, rather than for her husband. (cf. Ezekiel 16:10-13)
Christ has adorned us with grace. We are married into royalty. Repent of spiritual adultery.
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