[geeks] Proxy servers to get streaming video

[gsm at mendelson.com]

Our local DBS provider is dropping the Cartoon Network. While most people
probably don't care, they are replacing it with an Italian Children's network
showing English language programing, subtitled in Hebrew and Russian.

The bad news is that the programing is aimed at 3-5 year olds, how many of
them can actually read subtitles? 

Not that I really care, my children are 11 and 14, and I would guess that half
of their TV time is spent watching Cartoon Network. The other half is split
between Disney Israel formerly Jetix, formerly Fox Kids, with a few Disney
programs in English thrown in, and Nickelodian. 

They also watch a surprising amount of NHK World. My older son is teaching 
himself Japanese with the Pimsleur course, the younger one just repeats the
"repeat after me" lessons that pop up between shows.

They watch the Discovery Channel and were upset when Discovery Science
was dropped. The replacement, National Geographic, just does not seem to
catch their attention.

I no longer actually watch TV. Between streaming video, and download sites,
I get my fix of TV on my computer. This allows me to schedule my watching,
and does not conflict with the boys who each want their own TV, even if they
happen to be watching the same channel. 

However the streaming video channels from the US are blocked outside of the US.

Has anyone here used any of the proxies that are available to watch TV?

I've tried a few free ones, and they all don't have the bandwidth to
sustain a video image. I've also tried several of the "Internet TV" programs
but the stuff I want is not streamed, or at least not streamed here.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have a slingbox? A friend of mine's father
got one when they first came out, and it was of absolutely no use. It needs 
a sustained data rate of about 1.5megabits per second, and at the time, it
was simply not possible from the US to here without dedicated "lines".

If you do, I'd love to try it. 

Thanks,

Geoff.


-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm at mendelson.com  N3OWJ/4X1GM
New word I coined 12/13/09, "Sub-Wikipedia" adj, describing knowledge or
understanding, as in he has a sub-wikipedia understanding of the situation. 
i.e possessing less facts or information than can be found in the Wikipedia.