This Entangled Bankmay contain traces of knowledgetag:entangledbank.co.uk,2005:TypoTypo2012-10-12T17:24:52+01:00Edurn:uuid:7be12e97-7d76-4a0f-940d-8d53857f23a82012-10-12T10:28:00+01:002012-10-12T17:24:52+01:00Stoics' Selection<p>A new compilation of songs suitable for stoics is available to listen online at Mixcloud:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/miltonlumky/the-stoics-selection/">http://www.mixcloud.com/miltonlumky/the-stoics-selection/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.veryreal.co.uk/stoics.flac">Download the flac here if you want.</a></p>
<ol>
<li>Susan Cadogan: Hurt So Good (Feat. Milton Henry)</li>
<li>Debashish Bhattacharya + Bob Brozman: Bahu Dur Dur</li>
<li>Fisner Augustin: Simbi Dlo</li>
<li>Can: Dizzy Dizzy</li>
<li>L'Arpeggiata: Merula: Hor Ch'e Tempo Di Dormire</li>
<li>Shelagh Mcdonald: Peacock Lady</li>
<li>Pentangle: In Your Mind</li>
<li>Sound Of Rum: Icarus</li>
<li>Ghetto Priest: Come Now</li>
<li>Johnny Clarke: Every Knee Shall Bow</li>
<li>Mad Professor & Jah Shaka: Wig Wam</li>
<li>Frank Hutchison: Back In My Home Town</li>
<li>Malcolm Holcombe: Comes The Blues</li>
<li>Spider John Koerner: Acres Of Clams</li>
<li>Lead Belly: We're In The Same Boat, Brother</li>
<li>Hector Zazou: Visur Vatnsenda-Rosa (Feat. Bjork)</li>
<li>Osvaldo GolijovLua Descolorida (Sop. Dawn Upshaw)</li>
</ol><p>A new compilation of songs suitable for stoics is available to listen online at Mixcloud:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/miltonlumky/the-stoics-selection/">http://www.mixcloud.com/miltonlumky/the-stoics-selection/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.veryreal.co.uk/stoics.flac">Download the flac here if you want.</a></p>
<ol>
<li>Susan Cadogan: Hurt So Good (Feat. Milton Henry)</li>
<li>Debashish Bhattacharya + Bob Brozman: Bahu Dur Dur</li>
<li>Fisner Augustin: Simbi Dlo</li>
<li>Can: Dizzy Dizzy</li>
<li>L'Arpeggiata: Merula: Hor Ch'e Tempo Di Dormire</li>
<li>Shelagh Mcdonald: Peacock Lady</li>
<li>Pentangle: In Your Mind</li>
<li>Sound Of Rum: Icarus</li>
<li>Ghetto Priest: Come Now</li>
<li>Johnny Clarke: Every Knee Shall Bow</li>
<li>Mad Professor & Jah Shaka: Wig Wam</li>
<li>Frank Hutchison: Back In My Home Town</li>
<li>Malcolm Holcombe: Comes The Blues</li>
<li>Spider John Koerner: Acres Of Clams</li>
<li>Lead Belly: We're In The Same Boat, Brother</li>
<li>Hector Zazou: Visur Vatnsenda-Rosa (Feat. Bjork)</li>
<li>Osvaldo GolijovLua Descolorida (Sop. Dawn Upshaw)</li>
</ol>Edurn:uuid:c7f65bb1-3d54-4ad9-b4eb-a9b0c967d3f52011-04-29T10:56:00+01:002011-04-29T10:59:37+01:00Pilaf, pilau or &lsquo;seasoned rice&rsquo;<p>A pilaf or pilau (or ‘seasoned rice’ as my Mum calls it) is made by first coating rice with oil or fat before cooking it with seasonings and / or added ingredients.</p>
<p>As an example, here's a recipe for a ‘seasoned rice’ with prawns, fish and peas (serves 4 people as a main course).</p><p>A pilaf or pilau (or ‘seasoned rice’ as my Mum calls it) is made by first coating rice with oil or fat before cooking it with seasonings and / or added ingredients.</p>
<p>As an example, here's a recipe for a ‘seasoned rice’ with prawns, fish and peas (serves 4 people as a main course).</p><h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li>2 mugs of white basmati or long grain rice</li>
<li>2 large onions, in fine dice</li>
<li>vegetable, fish or chicken stock (or stock cube)</li>
<li>½ tsp smoked paprika</li>
<li>9 fennel seeds</li>
<li>1 tsp hot sauce, e.g. Encona</li>
<li>1 bay leaf</li>
<li>½ glass white wine or vermouth</li>
<li>½ glass olive oil</li>
<li>4 mugs of water (i.e. twice the quantity of rice)</li>
<li>200g white fish, defrosted, in large dice</li>
<li>150g prawns, defrosted</li>
<li>100g frozen peas</li>
</ul>
<h3>Method</h3>
<ul>
<li>sweat the diced onion in the olive oil for 10 mins until soft</li>
<li>add the rice and ensure well coated with oil</li>
<li>add the seasonings (paprika, fennel, hot sauce, bay leaf)</li>
<li>add the stock and wine and water (dissolving the stock cube if using one)</li>
<li>bring to the boil, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and turn down to minimum</li>
<li>wait 20 mins (25 mins if using long-grain rice) without removing the lid</li>
<li>add the fish, prawns and peas and add salt to taste. Replace lid.</li>
<li>wait 5 mins</li>
<li>test that fish is cooked, then serve</li>
</ul>Edurn:uuid:4b8afa79-8ae7-43f7-a5ab-ef2df92c14de2010-12-19T12:45:00+00:002011-04-29T11:01:23+01:00Mind you crisp up the dead baby's ears, lest you be scolded<p>When an old friend sent a cry for help in dealing with the unexpected gift of a suckling pig, which he described unpoetically as "a dead baby in a cardboard box", the right thing to do was clear. I reached for Jane Grigson's <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2vbserm">Charcuterie and French Pork Cookery</a>.</p><p>When an old friend sent a cry for help in dealing with the unexpected gift of a suckling pig, which he described unpoetically as "a dead baby in a cardboard box", the right thing to do was clear. I reached for Jane Grigson's <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2vbserm">Charcuterie and French Pork Cookery</a>.</p><p>To achieve "beautiful crackling" on this "festival dish", Jane Grigson recommends basting with olive oil until the skin becomes <em>croquante</em>. In brief, her method calls for a lightweight stuffing of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirepoix_(cuisine)">mirepoix</a> and breadcrumbs. I would go heavy on the fennel seeds for a porchetta style. Regarding the presentation of the <em>cochon de lait</em> to table she notes wryly that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Many cookery-book writers are anxious that the sucking pig be presented on the table with an American mortician's skill. 'Truss the legs and tail in a lifelike position, a small red apple in mouth and cranberries in the eye sockets. Try to preserve as nearly as possible the animal's original shape and form'. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Writing from personal experience, no doubt, Grigson warns:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But do not overemphasise these effects: few people have the robust constitutions required to look a small creature in its cranberry eye. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Next off the bookshelf was <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2g6447x">Good Things in England</a> by Florence White, descriptively subtitled: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>A Practical Cookery Book for Everyday Use<br />
Containing Traditional and<br />
Regional Recipes suited to<br />
Modern Tastes contributed by<br />
English Men and Women between<br />
1399 and 1932...</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kitchiner">William Kitchiner</a> (1775-1827), the contributor of this recipe: </p>
<p><div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/good_things_sucking_pig.png" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/good_things_sucking_pig_th.png" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<br style="clear:both;" /></p>
<p>has different concerns where it comes to bringing the roast to the table:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Lay...the ears, one at each end, which you must take good care to make nice and crisp, or you will be scolded, as the good man was, who bought his wife a pig with only one ear.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So, apart from finding an oven large enough to accomodate your baby and finding some fellow diners with strong constitutions, the key -- as ever with pork roasts -- is attention to the crackling. </p>
<p>Bagsie an ear.</p>Edurn:uuid:61c050cb-a209-41d3-a892-8abada8fa9fa2010-06-18T12:17:00+01:002010-06-18T12:52:34+01:00Tafelmusik for a Bar Mitzvah feast<p><a href="/files/max_bar_mitzvah_june_2010.mp3"><strong>Get it here</strong></a></p>
<ol>
<li>Thomas Phale: Big Daddy</li>
<li>Aaron Neville: Hercules</li>
<li>Althea & Donna: Uptown Top Ranking </li>
<li>Prince Jazzbo: Ital Corner</li>
<li>Cimarron: La Tonada</li>
<li>Djalimady Tounkara: Mande Djeliou</li>
<li>Boubacar Traore: Santa Mariya</li>
<li>Rokia Traore: M'Bifo</li>
<li>Talking Heads: Listening Wind</li>
<li>Art of Noise: Moments I</li>
<li>Chosen Few: People Make the World Go Round</li>
<li>Mose 'Fan-Fan': Sikulu (Congo)</li>
<li>Scientist: Plague of Zombies</li>
<li>Smith and Mighty: Evolve</li>
<li>Dana Bryant: Religion</li>
<li>Nat King Cole: Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)</li>
</ol><p><a href="/files/max_bar_mitzvah_june_2010.mp3"><strong>Get it here</strong></a></p>
<ol>
<li>Thomas Phale: Big Daddy</li>
<li>Aaron Neville: Hercules</li>
<li>Althea & Donna: Uptown Top Ranking </li>
<li>Prince Jazzbo: Ital Corner</li>
<li>Cimarron: La Tonada</li>
<li>Djalimady Tounkara: Mande Djeliou</li>
<li>Boubacar Traore: Santa Mariya</li>
<li>Rokia Traore: M'Bifo</li>
<li>Talking Heads: Listening Wind</li>
<li>Art of Noise: Moments I</li>
<li>Chosen Few: People Make the World Go Round</li>
<li>Mose 'Fan-Fan': Sikulu (Congo)</li>
<li>Scientist: Plague of Zombies</li>
<li>Smith and Mighty: Evolve</li>
<li>Dana Bryant: Religion</li>
<li>Nat King Cole: Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)</li>
</ol>Edurn:uuid:7f5d1b97-e90b-4491-b989-c028454de1d82010-02-07T23:10:00+00:002011-01-20T13:08:07+00:00Fake iPod 4th Generation<p>In December I bought a fake iPod on Ebay. It was advertised as an ipod 4th Generation in mint condition. Its physical appearance is extremely like that of the genuine article as you can see from these pictures.</p>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/front.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/front_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/back.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/back_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/top.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/top_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<p><br style="clear:both;" /></p><p>In December I bought a fake iPod on Ebay. It was advertised as an ipod 4th Generation in mint condition. Its physical appearance is extremely like that of the genuine article as you can see from these pictures.</p>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/front.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/front_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/back.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/back_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/top.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/top_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<p><br style="clear:both;" /></p><p>The fake comes to life with a plausible-looking Apple animation.</p>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/starting.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/starting_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<br style="clear:both;" />
<p>And the main menu looks good.</p>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/main.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/main_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<br style="clear:both;" />
<p>But from here on it’s a mess as what I assume are video clips and screengrabs give way to the <span class="caps">GUI</span> of the actual embedded media player.</p>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/playing_now.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/playing_now_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<br style="clear:both;" />
<p>Here are some of the screens I got to and was able to photograph. You will see there’s a “Firmware” screen which identifies the device as an “MP4 Player” from “CBD Co Ltd” running firmware version 9.5.54 dated 2009-07-28.</p>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/settings.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/settings_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/admin_menu.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/admin_menu_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<div style="" class="lightboxplugin"><a href="/files/firmware.jpg" rel="lightbox" title=""><img src="/files/firmware_th.jpg" alt="" title=""/></a></div>
<br style="clear:both;" />Edurn:uuid:09812509-14ef-4dcd-b9c6-f9895e71c0e72009-12-29T11:54:00+00:002011-01-20T13:08:54+00:00Good for the heart<h1>Kidney bean casserole</h1>
<h2>Description</h2>
<p>A thick creamy bean stew. Eat with rice and, for example, avocado salad.</p>
<h2>Ingredients</h2>
<ul>
<li>500g dried kidney (red) beans</li>
<li>2 large onions</li>
<li>head of garlic</li>
<li>chillies or harissa to taste</li>
<li>spices (e.g. cumin, coriander seeds etc)</li>
<li>50 - 100g cured pork product e.g. bacon, pancetta or chorizo etc if you like to eat pork</li>
<li>green herbs (e.g parsley, thyme, bay leaf or bouquet garni)</li>
</ul><h1>Kidney bean casserole</h1>
<h2>Description</h2>
<p>A thick creamy bean stew. Eat with rice and, for example, avocado salad.</p>
<h2>Ingredients</h2>
<ul>
<li>500g dried kidney (red) beans</li>
<li>2 large onions</li>
<li>head of garlic</li>
<li>chillies or harissa to taste</li>
<li>spices (e.g. cumin, coriander seeds etc)</li>
<li>50 - 100g cured pork product e.g. bacon, pancetta or chorizo etc if you like to eat pork</li>
<li>green herbs (e.g parsley, thyme, bay leaf or bouquet garni)</li>
</ul><h2>Equipment</h2>
<ul>
<li>a pressure cooker, or else a large (at least 4 litre) heavy pan with a lid. </li>
</ul>
<h2>Method</h2>
<ul>
<li><p>soak the beans overnight in cold water. (If you forget this, you can use the 'quick method' which is more or less equivalent: bring the beans to the boil in plenty of water and boil for 2 mins. Turn off the heat and leave covered for 60 mins.)</p></li>
<li><p>chop the onions finely and saute gently in plenty of (ideally olive) oil for approx 30 mins until golden</p></li>
<li><p>add the garlic, chillies and spices to the onions for the final two minutes</p></li>
<li><p>chop the bacon, chorizo and add to the onion / garlic / herb mixture.</p></li>
<li><p>meanwhile, change the water and bring the beans to the boil. In a big pan (approx 4 litres) the water should come up to the 3/4 level. Boil for 10 mins (This is important if you are using a slow cooker which will be cooking at less than 100°C. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_bean">Wikipedia</a> if more information.).</p></li>
<li><p>add the mixture to the beans once they have been boiling for 2 mins.</p></li>
<li><p>cook in the pressure cooker for 2.5 hours or in a conventional pan for 6-8 hours or until the beans are soft and the creamy. If you don't have a pressure cooker and your pan is oven safe you can bring the beans to a boil on the hob and then cook overnight in the oven on a very low heat (e.g 80°C)</p></li>
<li><p>once the beans are done, if you find that the liquid is rather watery rather than thick and creamy, decant a good portion of the liquid to a heavy wide pan and reduce over a high flame. Add the reduced liquid back to the beans when nice and thick.</p></li>
<li><p>now add salt to taste. <strong>NB: it's important not to add salt (or acidic ingredients such as tomatoes) until after the beans are cooked.</strong> Otherwise the beans and especially their skins stay tough.</p></li>
</ul>
<h2>Variants</h2>
<p>You can use this technique with any other variety of beans which you have or fancy, e.g. black beans, butter beans, flagelot. Adjust the herbs, spices, pork product as you like. Some suggestions:</p>
<ul>
<li>whole cumin seeds or a mixture of ground cumin and coriander seeds</li>
<li>harissa</li>
<li>raw cashews</li>
<li>2 or 3 bay leaves if you find you don't have any fresh green herbs</li>
<li>fresh thyme (loads)</li>
<li>fresh coriander (be sparing)</li>
<li>baby dried figs (with butterbeans)</li>
<li>smoked paprika (with butterbeans or chickpeas)</li>
<li>ends of proscuttio or ham which you pick up cheap from the deli</li>
</ul>Edurn:uuid:0565a10c-f8bb-41af-9965-a0fcb2bf00062009-04-07T20:02:00+01:002010-01-22T14:27:28+00:00printing from Textmate<p>Textmate is a great lightweight text editor but printing functionality is very poor. Here’s a way suggested by <a href="http://lists.macromates.com/textmate/2006-April/009412.html">Jeremy Wilkins</a> to print out the current file or selection in small font size with line numbering. Put this command into a “Command” in the “Bundle Editor” and assign it to the keystroke ⌘P if you like:</p>
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">a2ps --center-title=`basename "$TM_FILEPATH"` --font-size 8 -C --pretty-print --columns 1 -M A4 -R --tabsize=2 --line-numbers 5 -o - - | ps2pdf14 -sPAPERSIZE=a4 - /Users/fred/misc/tm_print/textmate_print.pdf && open -a /Applications/Preview.app /Users/fred/misc/tm_print/textmate_print.pdf</code></pre></div>
<p>You will need <code>a2ps</code> and <code>ps2pdf14</code> also. The latter you should have but the former is available through macports:</p>
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">sudo port install a2ps</code></pre></div>
<h3><span class="caps">UPDATE</span></h3>
<p>Another good solution which I use is to print from TextMate via vim which gives you a syntax-highlighted and line-numbered result (or however you choose to configure it.) In addition to vim it requires ps2pdf but these are easy to install with macports etc.</p>
<p>The only limitation is that the file needs to be saved first.</p>
<p>See this page which shows how to set up the macro as a TextMate ‘command’:</p>
<p><a href="http://biztos.blogspot.com/2008/06/printing-with-textmate-vim-and-friends.html">http://biztos.blogspot.com/2008/06/printing-with-textmate-vim-and-friends.htm</a></p><p>Textmate is a great lightweight text editor but printing functionality is very poor. Here’s a way suggested by <a href="http://lists.macromates.com/textmate/2006-April/009412.html">Jeremy Wilkins</a> to print out the current file or selection in small font size with line numbering. Put this command into a “Command” in the “Bundle Editor” and assign it to the keystroke ⌘P if you like:</p>
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">a2ps --center-title=`basename "$TM_FILEPATH"` --font-size 8 -C --pretty-print --columns 1 -M A4 -R --tabsize=2 --line-numbers 5 -o - - | ps2pdf14 -sPAPERSIZE=a4 - /Users/fred/misc/tm_print/textmate_print.pdf && open -a /Applications/Preview.app /Users/fred/misc/tm_print/textmate_print.pdf</code></pre></div>
<p>You will need <code>a2ps</code> and <code>ps2pdf14</code> also. The latter you should have but the former is available through macports:</p>
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">sudo port install a2ps</code></pre></div>
<h3><span class="caps">UPDATE</span></h3>
<p>Another good solution which I use is to print from TextMate via vim which gives you a syntax-highlighted and line-numbered result (or however you choose to configure it.) In addition to vim it requires ps2pdf but these are easy to install with macports etc.</p>
<p>The only limitation is that the file needs to be saved first.</p>
<p>See this page which shows how to set up the macro as a TextMate ‘command’:</p>
<p><a href="http://biztos.blogspot.com/2008/06/printing-with-textmate-vim-and-friends.html">http://biztos.blogspot.com/2008/06/printing-with-textmate-vim-and-friends.htm</a></p>Edurn:uuid:2ed5b406-64ad-4591-8108-855fa039a3fd2009-04-06T14:48:00+01:002011-01-20T13:09:32+00:00audio resources incl. lame compression switches (mainly for PC)<p>Here are some notes I made a couple of years ago and which were useful when I had to re-install a windows machine which I use for music.</p><p>Here are some notes I made a couple of years ago and which were useful when I had to re-install a windows machine which I use for music.</p><h5>Exact Audio Copy (EAC) (<a href="http://www.exactaudiocopy.de">http://www.exactaudiocopy.de</a>)</h5>
CD Ripper. In “secure” mode it gives a verified exact copy of the data. Use in “burst” mode if the CD is scratched and secure mode takes too long. Under <code>OPTIONS | FILENAME</code> I recommend using
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">%A\%C\%N - %A - %T</code></pre></div>
<p>as the default naming scheme and</p>
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">%C\%N - %A - %T</code></pre></div>
<p>as the “various artists” naming scheme. Under <code>OPTIONS | TOOLS</code> check the option to start an external compression queue running in the background, with just one thread.</p>
<h5><span class="caps">LAME 3</span>.97b3 (<a href="http://www.mp3dev.org">http://www.mp3dev.or</a>)</h5>
<p>The best <span class="caps">MP3</span> encoder. Just upack the dos utility into a folder and then point <span class="caps">EAC</span> at the exe file under <code>COMPRESSION OPTIONS | EXTERNAL COMPRESSION</code> in <span class="caps">EAC</span>. Switches to use in <code>ADDITIONAL COMMAND LINE OPTIONS</code> in <span class="caps">EAC</span>:</p>
1. for music:
<div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">-V 2 --vbr-new</code></pre></div>
<p>(replaces <code>--alt-preset standard</code>) .</p>
<p>This will give Variable Bitrate recordings with a good balance between quality and portability at target rate 190kbit/s in the range 170 to 210kbit/s. The quality should be indistinguishable from the original CD</p>
<p>2. for audiobooks: <div class="typocode"><pre><code class="typocode_default ">-V 9 --vbr-new</code></pre></div> at target rate 65kbit/s in the range 45 to 85kbit/s</p>
<p>If you want to get more technical then check out the Hydrogen Audio forum, home of mp3 propellor-heads. Their Wiki page at <a href="http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Lame_Compiles">http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Lame_Compiles</a> is an excellent overview of <span class="caps">LAME</span> and has useful links for further info on integrating with <span class="caps">EAC</span> etc.</p>
<h5>Ephpod (<a href="http://www.ephpod.com/">http://www.ephpod.com/</a>)</h5>
<p>This simple app allows you to edit files on the ipod and move files on and off the ipod.</p>
<h5>Media Center 12 (<a href="http://www.jrmediacenter.com">http://www.jrmediacenter.com</a>)</h5>
<p>Much better than Itunes. Highly customisable. Allows control over synchronisation so that files are only deleted from the ipod if you want. The use of “Smart Playlists” is particularly useful in synching. Easy to edit tags on multiple selections. Can create custom library fields to your own requirements. See the <span class="caps">HELP</span> for a good strategy for managing more than one Ipod. In order to get the Ipod to be properly recognised you <strong>may</strong> need to:</p>
<ol>
<li>unistall itunes</li>
<li>use Ephod to backup your tunes if they’re not already on the machine you’re using</li>
<li>delete the file Ipod_Control\something-or-other\itunes.db</li>
<li>now Media Center should invite you to re-initialise the ipod. If it doesn’t try:
<ol>
<li>rebooting</li>
<li>reinitialise the ipod using Apple’s update util</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>
<p>You’ll know it’s working when the Media Center tree view no longer shows “Contacts” and “Calendar” and just shows Artist, Album, Genre</p>
<h5>dbPowerAmp</h5>
<p>use the Auxillary Input for ripping vinyl to lossless <span class="caps">WAV</span> format. Then convert to mp3. You can use <span class="caps">EAC</span> to do this via <code>TOOLS | COMPRESS WAVs</code>.</p>
<h5>www.allmusic.com (<a href="http://www.allmusic.com">http://www.allmusic.com</a>)</h5>
<p>For information about recordings and artists. Pretty much comprehensive information on classical and popular recordings. Search by album, artist, song, work etc. View tracklistings, discographies, biographies and reviews.</p>
<h5>Last.fm (<a href="http://www.last.fm">http://www.last.fm</a>)</h5>
<p>Fantastic resource for getting recommendations, reading biogs and seeing pics. Use a “scrobbler” to send information about what you listen to their servers to allow them to suggest other things you might like.</p>
<h5>Surething CD Labeller (<a href="http://www.surething.com">http://www.surething.com</a>)</h5>
<p>Labelling software which allows you to specify which fields you want displayed. e.g. you may want to display the [artist] field against each [track title] on compilations but not on single-artist CDs. It also can read in the “playlist” data automagically from CDs most of the time. (using “CD Text”?)</p>
<h5><span class="caps">IF YOU HAVE MUSIC FROM THE ITUNES SHOP</span></h5>
<h5>SharpMusique (<a href="http://nanocrew.net/software/sharpmusique/">http://nanocrew.net/software/sharpmusique/</a>)</h5>
<p>A lightweight front end to access the Itunes music store. Allows you to preview, purchase and download. Requires Microsoft’s .NET runtime</p>
<h5>JusteTune</h5>
<p>Utility to remove the Apple copy protection from the .m4p files puchased from the itunes shop. I think the .Net runtime (above) is required for this one also. To use, 1) choose “de-authorize” 2) login in with your itunes store login 3) drag and drop the .m4p files into the application’s window.</p>
<h5>JHymn (<a href="http://hymn-project.org">http://hymn-project.org</a>)</h5>
<p>Takes the JustTune idea to a higher level altogether with loads of features including Itunes integration</p>Edurn:uuid:f95ec975-07e1-49cc-81c6-9365b817850f2007-11-11T10:47:00+00:002007-11-11T11:04:01+00:00talking about failure<p>Here’s an <a href="http://www.humanity.org/voices/commencements/speeches/index.php?page=leguin_mills">uncompromising speech</a> given in 1983 to graduates of Mills College by the great science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin.</p>
<p>An extract:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Success is somebody else’s failure. Success is the American Dream we can keep dreaming because most people in most places, including thirty million of ourselves, live wide awake in the terrible reality of poverty. No, I do not wish you success. I don’t even want to talk about it. I want to talk about failure. <br><br>Because you are human beings you are going to meet failure. You are going to meet disappointment, injustice, betrayal, and irreparable loss. You will find you’re weak where you thought yourself strong. You’ll work for possessions and then find they possess you. You will find yourself – as I know you already have – in dark places, alone, and afraid.
<br><br>
What I hope for you, for all my sisters and daughters, brothers and sons, is that you will be able to live there, in the dark place. To live in the place that our rationalizing culture of success denies, calling it a place of exile, uninhabitable, foreign.</p>
</blockquote><p>Here’s an <a href="http://www.humanity.org/voices/commencements/speeches/index.php?page=leguin_mills">uncompromising speech</a> given in 1983 to graduates of Mills College by the great science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin.</p>
<p>An extract:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Success is somebody else’s failure. Success is the American Dream we can keep dreaming because most people in most places, including thirty million of ourselves, live wide awake in the terrible reality of poverty. No, I do not wish you success. I don’t even want to talk about it. I want to talk about failure. <br><br>Because you are human beings you are going to meet failure. You are going to meet disappointment, injustice, betrayal, and irreparable loss. You will find you’re weak where you thought yourself strong. You’ll work for possessions and then find they possess you. You will find yourself – as I know you already have – in dark places, alone, and afraid.
<br><br>
What I hope for you, for all my sisters and daughters, brothers and sons, is that you will be able to live there, in the dark place. To live in the place that our rationalizing culture of success denies, calling it a place of exile, uninhabitable, foreign.</p>
</blockquote>Edurn:uuid:a5363ad3-b6b3-46a6-b7fc-91977c54d0822007-11-11T10:00:00+00:002007-11-11T10:21:44+00:00blue jeans for Generation Apple?<p>A <a href="http://weblog.raganwald.com/2007/11/are-you-in.html">stimulating article</a> by the extraordinary Reg Braithwaite reminds us how Levi Strauss cashed in on the San Francisco gold rush by selling jeans to miners rather than by looking for gold.</p>
<p>The article then challenges us to find analogies for the blue jean in today’s scramble to re-invent the distribution of the music and entertainment industry, a scramble in which Apple continues to get the better of the industry dinosaurs.</p>
<p>Any bright blue jean ideas, let me know.</p><p>A <a href="http://weblog.raganwald.com/2007/11/are-you-in.html">stimulating article</a> by the extraordinary Reg Braithwaite reminds us how Levi Strauss cashed in on the San Francisco gold rush by selling jeans to miners rather than by looking for gold.</p>
<p>The article then challenges us to find analogies for the blue jean in today’s scramble to re-invent the distribution of the music and entertainment industry, a scramble in which Apple continues to get the better of the industry dinosaurs.</p>
<p>Any bright blue jean ideas, let me know.</p>