[mythtv-users] gentoo, mythtv, and mythweb... 2 minor issues...

[mOjO]

my system:
Athlon XP 1700 (512mb PC2100DDR) on a shuttle SS40G (SiS740 chip)
Gentoo 1.4 RC5 built from gentoo-sources and all is current.
MythTV 0.9.1, mysqld  Ver 3.23.56, mysql  Ver 11.18 Distrib 3.23.56

my issues in order of importance (to me at least):

1.>  i want to patch mplayer so i can use the mythencode.pl, but i am a 
bit confused by the whole ebuild thing.. i mean i know how to install 
stuff with emerge but how do i patch the ebuild? or I should just ask 
what is the easiest way to accomplish my goal of using mythencode.pl to 
dump the .NUV's to something else in gentoo?

2.>  i am running mythweb on a SuSe 8.1 server (different machine from 
mythtv) and using it to connect to the mythtv machine across my local 
lan... and it works great except when i click on "Recorded Programs" or 
"Fix Conflicts" where it then tells me "Unable to connect to 
mythbackend, is it running?"... it seems odd to me that i can schedule 
recordings view scheduled recordings (and they really do get recorded) 
but not see the list of recorded programs from mythweb... the mysql 
connection must be working or it wouldnt schedule them properly or list 
them.... any clues?

3.> ok i lied theres three issues... this one has less to do with myth 
than it does mplayer but here goes. Everything i play in mplayer, 
recorded shows, files outside of myth, or even watching TV seems just a 
bit too bright or dark all the time... its weird kinda like the contrast 
is too high but kinda different... when something on the screen is light 
colored it tends to get very bright and appear more of a blinding white 
and when the whole screen is darker it gets too dark... its more subtle 
than i make it sound but its definitely noticeable and definitely 
annoying.  (btw.. its not the TV.. i checked.)


Thanks in advance... you guys have been awesome at helping me so far.

mOjO