Converting Songs with iTunes

I've had a few questions about how to convert music files (from MP4 to MP3, or WAV to AAC, etc.). A lot of programs are floating around the internet, most of which are very limited shareware versions. A lot of them mess up the converted songs with "DEMO Version" throughout the song. There are a bunch of really nice free programs to convert specific file formats. The problem is that these usually only work for a very limited range of file formats. Why not just use software that's (most likely) already on your computer?

iTunes has a great CD ripping feature. It even lets you pick the file format for these imports. If you have a WAV version of a song, but need an MP3 of it, iTunes will do it for you! [The following steps are for PC versions of iTunes, but Mac versions should be pretty similar.]

1. Open up iTunes
2. Open the Preferences window

• Edit -> Preferences...
3. Click on the Import Settings button

4. Use the drop-down menu to select the format you want to convert your music to. The most common format is MP3.

5. (Optional) Use the second drop-down menu to customize format settings
6. OK your way out of the settings (Click the OK buttons)
7. Select the songs you wish to convert to the format you just picked (MP3)
8. Click on the Advanced menu and select Create [format] Version

9. The songs will be converted! This doesn't take too long at all.

10. Once finished, your songs will [should] be in the same folder as the original versions.

Take Control of Your News Feed

I've heard many complaints about the redesign of the Facebook Home Page. Some people like it, most people don't. One of the biggest annoyances I've come across is the lack of filters.

We all have one of those friends who simply must become a fan of every Page on Facebook. I honestly couldn't care less about their Page Addiction, but my new News Feed updates me every time they find a new Page. Thankfully, there's a cure.

For that one annoying friend, Facebook provides a solution:

1. Go to your Facebook Home Page. Make sure you're viewing Most Recent.
   
   
2. Scroll all the way to the bottom; wait a bit, and you might have to scroll some more.
3. Click on 'Edit Options'
   
   
4. In this pop-up box we have the option to see more from certain friends, and nothing from other friends. Don't worry, your friends won't be notified about this!
   
   

Now we don't see any stories from Annoying Friend #1. But what about those other 50 friends that have a Page collection? Unfortunately, Facebook has not yet implemented a way for us to turn off certain stories in our news feed. We can block applications and friends, but not the Core Applications (Photos, Videos, Notes, Pages, Groups, etc.).

For those of you with Firefox, there's an Add-on for that!
(This requires the Firefox web browser)

1. Download Facebook Filter add-on
2. Restart Firefox after installing the add-on
3. Click on the 'Tools' menu and select 'Facebook Filter Options'
   
   
4. These are the settings that I use:
   
   
   (Basic users might want to avoid the 'Applications' tab, and the bottom checkboxes)
   
   
5. When you're happy with the settings, click 'Ok' and refresh your Facebook Home Page. All the stories you don't want to see have magically disappeared!
   

Now we can finally stalk our friends in peace.

For more info about Facebook, visit the Help Center.

Facebook Chat Application

If you use Facebook, chances are you've used the Chat feature. Ever want to chat with your friends on Facebook without opening your browser, going to the Facebook website, logging in, going down to the little bar, and clicking on the chat button? There's an app for that!

So it's not technically an 'app' but it works like one.

What you'll need:
Google Chrome - If you have it, good. If not, get it.
Facebook Account - Obviously...

Step 1. Open up Google Chrome, log into your Facebook account.

Step 2. Click on the chat button at the bottom of the page.

Step 3. Click on 'Options' and then 'Pop out Chat'

A new Chat window will open up.

Step 4: Right-Click on the title bar, and click on 'Show as tab'

Step 5: Click on Page Options, then click on 'Create application shortcuts...'

A little dialog appears, asking where to create shortcuts to this new app.
Step 6: Check the boxes appropriately, I just want an icon on the desktop.



Step 7: Your icon has been created! Open it up for a simple Facebook Chat Application!

There are faster ways for everything, for example, you could simply open http://www.facebook.com/presence/popout.php in a new tab, and then jump to step 5.

Of course, for the nerds out there, one could simply create a new Chrome shortcut and modify the target path from \Chrome.exe to \chrome.exe --app="http://www.facebook.com/presence/popout.php", but then there's no fancy icon...

Anyway, this is a great way to save a few clicks, or to help you multi-task.

News...or entertainment?

Alright, enough is enough. I care about the news, and what's going on in the world. I have a customized Google News page that shows me the major headlines and some topics that interest me.
One of the topics that's been covered WAY too much is President Obama's vacation in Hawaii. The man is roughly 2500 miles away from the mainland, and there are thousands of articles every time he moves a muscle!
Take this one for example: Child of Obama friend injured on Hawaii beach. The child in question is the son of a family we (as the American general public) do not know. It is reported that the kid didn't even need stitches, and from what they tell us, they don't even know what happened! HOW IS THIS NEWS??
My wish to the media: Leave the man alone. He's trying to enjoy a small vacation with his family. If there's a political emergency within his family or office, let us know. If his friend's daughter's cat gets stuck in a tree, that's his problem, not ours.

My Fair Lady

Lately I've been rather busy with "My Fair Lady" at the Arts Center. For those that don't know, I'm in the ensemble. It's a great show with an exceptional cast! We only have six more shows, so you still have a chance to see it. Visit The Arts Center's website for more info.

Anew

I bought my first car. I fixed up my web server. I woke up at 7:30 AM on a Saturday. Read on for more thrilling details.

I have been doing some major over-hauling on my server lately, and decided to switch (from a custom Wordpress installation on my own site) to Blogger. Through the process, I've lost all of my previous posts. This may be heart-breaking for some bloggers, but I'm not really a blogger, so it doesn't phase me. The way I see it, I'm at a brand new starting point. Again.

I recently made a rather large step towards being responsible... I bought myself a car. It was $800, has 200k miles on it, and needs new ... everything. This morning (at 8 o'clock !!!), I went over to the mechanic to have him check it out, see what could be done, and to see how much it would cost. He basically told me I should drive it until the wheels fall off, and then just buy a new (used) car.

After we had switched cars, my mom's car battery died in the parking lot. Turns out, it was the one they installed at the factory. Ten years ago. It couldn't have picked a better place to finally die! So, after that's all fixed, I got home, relaxed for a bit, then had to go out in Dad's car. After about ten minutes, I noticed some strange noise it was making. I got out, walked around, and promptly discovered the source of the strange sound: a flat tire. Today was not a good day for the cars at my house...

I just thought I should christen my new blog with a quick update.
My goal this time is at least a post a month. (Yeah, right!)