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I have over 50,000 music files on my computer. Until now, it has been very difficult to manage a collection of that size using iTunes. Apple’s new version of iTunes, iTunes 8, includes significant improvements that may make this software my music manager of choice.
One of the things that was inadequate in previous versions of iTunes was how it sorted music files. If you preferred to have artists filed by last name (Michael Jackson under “J” for example), you had to edit the tag of every music file by that artist — one at a time.
With iTunes 8, you can now edit the sort field of multiple items. Yeah! I don’t know why iTunes didn’t do this sooner.
This feature is such a huge time saver that it alone has me sold on iTunes 8. In addition, the applicant appears to be much faster.
iTunes 8 also introduces a new grid view for browsing albums, artists, and genres. This interface is almost exactly like my favorite music organizer, AlbumPlayer. AlbumPlayer also includes a very robust database and sorting functions (still superior to iTunes).
One new feature of iTunes 8 that I found disappointing was the Genius Sidebar. Genius is supposed to give you lists of tracks that you don’t have for a particular artist and suggest similar music that may be of interest to you.
So, I selected what I thought would be a very easy for Genius to handle, AC/DC:
The Genius sidebar wasn’t able to find songs by AC/DC? It couldn’t match AC/DC to anything similar? AC/DC?! Obviously, Genius isn’t quite as smart as the name implies. I think I’ll be turning this feature off.
I really like the new graphic interface of iTunes 8. It helps quite a bit to have album thumbnails when browsing through my music collection. It makes using digital music more like browsing through CDs in a record store or your own collection (if you’re as organized as I am that is).
I spend quite a bit of time scanning and collecting cover art for my digital music collection. So, it is nice to have a way to display it in iTunes.
BTW, if you’re looking for quality album cover art, check out AlbumArtExchange.com.
I don’t eat potato chips. I prefer tortilla chips and salsa.
However, I am still somewhat disturbed at the news of a shortage of potato chips. It is being reported that farmers aren’t growing as many potatoes these days — especially “chipping” potatoes used to make potato chips.
I haven’t noticed fewer potatoes in the produce aisle at the grocery store. In fact, the spuds were stacked as high as usual the last time I bought some Russetts.
Potato chips in short supply
By STEVE RAABEThe Denver Post
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Denver — What, no chips?
Potato-chip aficionados are discovering their cherished snack may be in short supply.
And if they find it, they’re likely to pay a bit more for it.
The problem: Not enough chipping spuds to supply manufacturers.
“I wouldn’t use the word shortage, but supplies are fairly limited,” said Tim O’Connor, president and chief executive of the Denver-based U.S. Potato Board. “I know there have been some (retail) outages where not all products are available every day.”
King Soopers has posted signs in snack aisles, warning customers that various brands of chips may be temporarily absent.
Potatoes of all varieties are in shorter supply than usual because many farmers are opting to replace potato acreage with corn, wheat and barley — crops whose prices have gone up faster than potatoes.
“There’s definitely a shortage of fresh potatoes,” said Katy Strohauer, who with her husband, Harry, grows russets, reds, Yukons and fingerlings near Greeley.
[…]
Colorado’s largest potato-growing region, the San Luis Valley, produces mainly russets and has few, if any, chipping potatoes.
[…]
But the supply problem has been particularly acute with chipping potatoes. Those special varieties are bred with hard, dense flesh and low moisture, qualities that enhance frying…
I just read an article in today’s newspaper about Cubix Yerba Buena, an outfit in San Francisco selling condos that are only 250 to 350 square feet! I just had to look them up online to see what the units look like and find out more information.
Their homepage begins, “Cubix Yerba Buena is a contemporary, walkable community located in San Francisco’s world-class Arts and Culture district. The building’s playful use of glass, metal and color in geometric forms creates an exceptional architecture.”
The newspaper article says that the units start at just $279,000 — a bargain in S.F.
I simply can’t imagine what it would be like to live in a space that is only 250 square feet. The two-bedroom house that I live in is 850 square feet (not including the garage) and it is cramped. I’m afraid that I’d feel as if I were living in a walk-in closet.
The design features are described as follows:
All ninety-eight studio residences at Cubix Yerba Buena have been designed with an attention to detail. Large dual-paned windows, modern kitchens, baths with frosted glass enclosures, and integrally-colored concrete floors give these homes a sophisticated downtown feel. In-floor radiant heat and state-of-the-art fiber optic wiring are standard. Most all residences feature small outdoor decks with glass railings, boasting views of the downtown skyline, the Bay Bridge, South Beach or Potrero Hill.
Here’s what is described as a typical floor plan:
