Looks like I am starting out the year as a total geek - I just spent two hours doing packet-captures on my PC, trying to troubleshoot an audio streaming problem from National Public Radio (NPR), an then blogging about it...

I use a modified HOSTS file, that blocks connection to various advertising and malicious web sites. A very good thing normally, and something more folks should probably look into.

However, NPR now runs ads prior to each audio content clip (kinda ironic), and if I block those, I don't get no Daniel Schorr (horrors!) commentary.

So I downloaded a nice free packet capture program, and monitored what was happening when the audio clip failed to play. I was able to see the connections needed (one of them is in the blue lines in the screen shot above, in case you are curious) that were being blocked by the HOSTS file entries, and comment those out (see below) to make things work properly.

#127.0.0.1 view.atdmt.com #[eTrust.Tracking.Cookie]127.0.0.1 Atlas DMT]
#127.0.0.1 www.atdmt.com #[AveA Action Tag][Ewido.TrackingCookie.Atdmt]
#127.0.0.1 rmd.atdmt.com #[a898.x.akamai.net]
#127.0.0.1 spe.atdmt.com

As I said, the year is starting out on a geeky note. I blame the new job training.

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Meanwhile, right about this hour, Pat is arriving at Chichen Itza in central Yucatan, to explore one of the most amazing archaeological sites on the planet (and one of the officially designated Wonders of the World).


Uh, I guess I'll put my shoes on and walk the dog around the block.

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