Memory and iPods
Okay, firstly, must remember that the screen is not a touchscreen like my PDA’s. Jabbing repeatedly at the little shuffle icon is pointless, and rather embarrassing.
Secondly, Fenric now contains 200 songs. I’d have put more on, but Nigel gets worried when I deviate so much from our evening schedule: I am supposed to be sitting on my end of the futon, reading, so he can be tucked in and sleep on the other end. When I sit at the computer instead, he stands there and stares at me and looks like he’s about to cry. Thus far, though, I’m generally pleased with the speed of ripping from CDs, and the transfer speed isn’t too bad, either. My main complaint is that it takes iTunes a while to react when I insert a new CD, but oh well.
Thirdly, for future music-shopping comfort and convenience, I must learn to write down the names of songs or bands I hear elsewhere and like. In the past two days, I have discovered, much to my chagrin, that the band formerly known as “That Band, You Know, The One I Rather Like” actually has a proper title,[1] and that the band I heard last month highlighted on NPR and fell in love with but promptly forgot all about is in fact the same one that people have been trying to prod me into listening to for the past three weeks or so.[2]
It works the other way, too. Last year I bought a CD from a band with the interesting name Nosferatu — not remembering that a compilation CD I’d bought previously had one of their songs, and I’d found it tiresome and pretentious. Unsurprisingly, I’m not terribly fond of the complete album, either.
I think I saw a mention somewhere (where? who knows) of some software that will let you tap out a rhythm and then will analyze what song you are probably trying to find. I don’t think that would be mighty enough to conquer my bandnomial aphasia. I need electrodes implanted in my brain or something. Or maybe I should just keep a pen and notepad handy as I drive around listening to the radio, so I can write down the names of groups I like.[3]
Or I could get a minion to follow me around and remind me that I liked x but not y. Damn, I must be getting old or something.
Fourthly, the manual disturbs me when it refers to “iPod” without the definite article. “Please do not eat iPod. Be sure not to insert iPod in your toaster. In case of interstellar abduction, iPod’s warranty will be voided.” iPod is creeping me out; was the manual written by Bob Dole or something?
***
[1] Muse, in this case. Thanks to Brian, who was kind enough to enlighten me.
[2] In this case, the Decemberists. Thanks to both David, who lent me the CD, and Brian, who reminded me of its existence.
[3] Sadly, my PDA’s note function will not work for this purpose. I’m not about to try navigating Atlanta traffic while trying to scribe on my PDA’s screen with the little stylus. Paper seems much safer. Well, comparatively.
Fenric is a fabulous name. But, no touchscreen? That’s just wrong! Have you fed Fenric any video?
January 25th, 2006 | #
No video yet. I am only allowed on the computer after ze dog has conked out permanently for the evening, so I’ve been concentrating on moving music over first. I’ll get something video-y on there this weekend, I hope. Fingers crossed, at least, because I’ll be trying to transfer Windows Media Center recordings into whatever format Fenric will handle, and finding software that will help me do that will probably take a bit of time.
Oh, and I have to bake the trial half-recipe of Fauxstess cupcakes this weekend, too. My black onyx cocoa powder arrived last night! Frankly, and possibly pathetically, that was almost as exciting as Fenric’s arrival.
January 26th, 2006 | #
Totally get that about the cocoa. I Googled and didn’t find the cocoa. Help please?
Two great sites that I have used for file conversion:
http://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?howtoselect=4;63#4;63
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/index3.html#encoding_conv
You may find that you need to convert to avi first. Or, maybe not.
January 26th, 2006 | #
Thanks — I’ll check those sites this weekend. I admit to being a little overwhelmed by the thought, so any pointers in the right direction are very welcome!
The black cocoa powder was hard to find; I think I actually managed to find it using Yahoo, which is my auxiliary backup search engine for those rare occasions when Google just isn’t cutting it. The Savory Spice Shop page for cocoa (black, dutch, and natural) is here. I was really pleased with them: everything I ordered was double-bagged to guard against container explosions and generously cushioned for protection, and they added a pleasant handwritten thank-you note to my invoice. I didn’t comparison-shop, because Froogle and similar devices seemed thoroughly confused by the concept of black cocoa powder, but I didn’t think that $7 for a pound of fancy-schmancy exotic cocoa was outrageous.
Another reason I like SSS: they carry vegan cheesy sprinkles (under Blends)! Haven’t tried those yet, but I’ll probably add one or two to my next order. They also carry 10 kinds of sea salts, real cinnamon (not the cassia bark usually used in place of cinnamon), and asafetida. I could spend so much money there, it’s not even funny.
January 26th, 2006 | #