Archive for October, 2008

Thanks iTunes, for “Organizing” my Music folder!

I have noticed that having your iTunes, albeit even the new versions (iTunes 8 at the time of this posting), it somehow manages to duplicate numerous .mp3s all on it’s own.  I don’t know if apple thinks that “organize” is synonymous for “duplicate”, but nonetheless I have found a way to reverse the damage.

Let me start off by saying, if you like iTunes to “organize” your music folder, turn it on, let it do its thing, then turn it off.  Don’t leave it on, or your music folder where turn into stem cells and begin the horrible duplication process.

Don’t Fret, I’m here to help.

First we can see the size of my music folder before anything has been accomplished.  I don’t remember downloading 120GB of music, err, I

mean “purchasing” these music files.

Step 1

• Download Easy Duplicate.

This link is for the Windows “portable” version.  It is a zipped file that can be run without installing, which is always a plus.
This is also great to store on a thumb drive to save your friends iTunes music collection as well.

Step 2

• Run the program
• Select your music folder in the top left of the program
• Click the “add” button
• Last, click the “start” button right in the middle of the program
• LET THE SEARCHING BEGIN!

Step 3

• You will see this box once complete

  

• Right click on any of the files and select “Leave only newest version in each Dup.Group”.  What this means is that instead of manually selecting each file to delete the duplicate, the program itself will delete the oldest file of the duplicates.

• Once the older duplicated file has been selected, you can choose to “Move to Folder” or just go ahead and “Delete Selected”.  I’m brave and have nothing to lose, so I decided to go ahead and delete them instead of moving.

The benefit of moving the duplicated files is that in case you didn’t like what happened you can restore them, by moving them back into your music folder from where you moved them to.

Step 4

• Watch your duplicate files disappear.

• Here is what  my music properties looks like after the duplicate file removal program has finished.  I removed 8GBs of duplicated files!  Wow, thanks iTunes.

Final Step

• Rebuild your iTunes library.

So I was on a quest the other morning to ensure that Phantom Canyon (a local Brewery and Restraunt) was aware of my general dissatisfaction of not having their Peppercorn Steak with Bleu Cheese Tortellini (PSBCT for short) on the menu any longer.

It’s not that I sit around thinking about things to complain about, its the fact that being here in Iraq for now 14 months I begin craving certain things.  On my R&R (in May), my buddy and I were rather dissapointed to find out that while we were away our favorite restaurant,  Phantom Canyon, had removed the PSBCT from their menu.  It had become a tradition on our weekend adventures of late night outings to head down to Phantom Canyon and drink some great beer while consuming what some would say is an orgasm in your mouth.  Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?!?  So I decided to e-mail Phantom Canyon.

This is what is on the line here people!

FROM: Brian Grablin
TO: info@phantomcanyon.com

I would just like to drop a note to your head chef to address my disappointment with the removing of your Peppercorn Steak and Bleu Cheese Tortellini (PSBCT).  Your PSBCT was by far the best dish that has ever been made.  It is said that PSBCT was a recipe given to Phantom Canyon (PC) directly from god on a cedar scroll.  It is the light of many of my friends and a staple of why people come to Colorado Springs.  PC getting rid of the PSBCT is like Colorado Springs removing Pikes Peak.  If necessary I will get a petition signed to show your clientele’s general dissatisfaction with the replacement of your PSBCT with some mushroom dish, which is the equivalent of trading Megan Fox for Janet Reno or Rosie O’Donnell.  And on a side note, I would like to thank you for having a picture of the PSBCT on your website, but not having it on your menu.  You might as well punch us directly in the mouth.  “Here, look at how wonderful this dish looks, but you’ll never see it again!”  Is this picture of PSBCT a ransom note?  Are we going to have to have a secret passphrase in order to get PSBCT?  If so, I will hand you a blank check and you can write any amount that you wish in order for me to receive this passphrase.

I speak for many Americans who in this time of financial hardship are willing to sell their measly stock holdings for even just a sample of the heavenly goodness that is PSBCT.  Please for our sake, by the time we return from Iraq (end of November), PLEASE have PSBCT back on the menu.  What’s next?  Remove beer from the menu?!?!

Concerned Customer,
Brian Grablin

FROM: Head Chef of Phantom Canyon
TO: Brian Grablin

Dear Brian-

All right, all right. you win. The cracked pepper N.Y. strip steak with bleu cheese and smoked bacon tortelinni is back. Good thing you said something too, because the winter menu is going to the printer next week. I was pondering a charred veal flank steak with horseradish scampi butter and angel hair pasta. But, thanks to your passionate input I can put that struggle to bed. Rest assured my good man, by the time you get Stateside I will have a fat steak with creamy goodness waiting for you. The first one’s on me.

Just to let you know, two times a year, every year, I get beat up when I change the menu. What’s the old saying? You can’t please everyone? Well who says that anymore, right?

Usually I would take the verbal lashings with a grain of salt and move on. As of today, I have changed my ways. Who am I to deny the American people their simple pleasures? It is the people like you that give a guy like me real reason to do what I do. Thank you for your support and your hidden compliments. You absolutely made my day.

Hurry home and Godspeed.

Respectfully yours- Chef Scotty  Phantom Canyon Brewing Company

Just receiving the e-mail to find out that Phantom Canyon supports the military was excitement enough, but to read that the PSBCT is returning to us is even more fantastic.  It truly was a great day today.  For all who live in the Colorado Springs area and have not been to Phantom Canyon , I recommend you make your next reservation there.  You know what to order!

Brian