how to capture flash, etc

[Mike Wright]

Hi all,

Time was all I had to do to capture a video stream was start one, pause 
it and wait while the stream accumulated into /tmp.  Once complete I 
could move it.  /tmp is now a deep tree with obfuscated names making 
such endeavors nigh on impossible.

I've feel like I've been Gnomed.  Is this the new direction?  Look, 
don't touch?

Does anybody know how to capture a stream now or has that ability also 
been taken away?

TIA,
Mike Wright