How to set a video recorder.

To set your video timer first you need a reliable clock. Done that. The Debian PIII of usefulness syncs it's clock off of pool.ntp.org. The Ubuntu box does the same, falling back on the Debian box if we lose the Virgin* connection.

Then you need to realise that a VCR is impossible to set unless you're under 10 and have very small fingers. At which point MythTV is kinda useful cos it runs on a box with an accurate clock, rather than needing prodding by hand, and said box has a fullsize keyboard, and a web interface for the lazy (or geographically separated). A couple of PCI card TV tuners get handy here.

And then you need the BBC to show stuff at the correct time.

* Actual virgins** are sacrificed in a Technomantic ritual, and their blood forced down a small pipe, and the IP data ts encoded by blood oxidation levels. Our connection has nothing to do with a millionaire called Richard.....

** Actually we ran out of real virgins when the scifi geeks discovered alcohol. So we kill the first person to consider generating a character that has minions who have minions who have minions with a  nuclear missile silo and an infinite supply of anvils and live in a small pocket dimension.....