Mute Rhythmbox at the top of the hour so I don't hear the news break

muteRadio

#!/usr/bin/python

'''I run this with crontab using the line:
1 8-17 * * 1-5 /home/gb/bin/muteRadio
'''

import sys
import os
import time
import dbus

# set up the environement so I can access rhythmbox
os.environ['XAUTHORITY'] = '/home/gb/.Xauthority'
os.environ['DISPLAY'] = ':0.0'

# send messages where I can see them
sys.stdout = sys.stderr = file('/var/tmp/mute.log', 'a')

# access the player interface of Rhythmbox
bus = dbus.SessionBus()
proxy_obj = bus.get_object('org.gnome.Rhythmbox', '/org/gnome/Rhythmbox/Player')
player = dbus.Interface(proxy_obj, 'org.gnome.Rhythmbox.Player')

# test if I'm listening to the radio
if player.getPlayingUri() != 'http://152.9.6.199:1910/listen.pls':
    print 'not radio'
    sys.exit(0)

# remember the current volume
v = player.getVolume()

# mute the news
player.setVolume(0)

# wait for the news to end
time.sleep(5 * 60) 

# restore the volume after the news
player.setVolume(v)