Digging up the books...

My local library are upgrading their computer system over the next three weeks. What they failed to realise was that taking down the library system kills apps like BorrowBox - my library audiobook player. I have called and mailed to make them aware, and they are doing what they can to restore normal service. In the meantime, though, my audiobooks are not playable. No authenticaion? No playback.

So, I had a dig around my iPhone's file system tonight on the hunch that I might find something that resembles an audiobook MP3 file collection, and what do you know, so I did:

I copied these numbered files to my desktop, and added a .MP3 suffix. I then simply added these file to iTunes in the normal manner, and can now listen to my heart's content:

 

If you are struggling to access BorrowBox, or if you want to listen to your audiobook on a more reliable platform, then a little bit of digging might help you too.

New, by me today: ElectricSlide

OverDrive Media Console - DRM free already?

If you have OverDrive Media Console and are frustrated by the digital rights restrictions, worry not. Whilst trying for hours (in vain) to get a recent title onto my (unsupported) MP3 player, I found that during the transfer process, OverDrive kindly provides a temporary copy of a full-quality DRM-free version of each chapter as it is processing the transfer.

The resulting .WAV files are large, but you can always import these into iTunes and create an AAC version. If you've got iTunes match, you may even find that they are matched in the store, and you are offered 256kbps versions of them.

I've written a little toolette that hangs around and slurps up these files for you into a new folder, see below for the link soon. Simply run this before starting a transfer, and select a destination, and let OverDrive do the rest.

Or you can copy the files yourself - On a Windows client, they appear in your TEMP folder in a random four-digit folder that appears during the transfer.

At least this way you may actually get a chance to listen to the title on your chosen device.

Here you go: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1508352/DriveOver.exe

If you can fill the unforgiving minute / With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run...

I read in the news today that time is running down (or out?), and that one day everything will simply freeze, one moment in time captured in freeze-frame for ever. Wow. What a thought. What would you want to be found doing? What would your last moment catch you at? Watching TV? Working at your day job? Would it be something safe and predictable, or are you more of a risk-taker?

Life is so very short, and yet we have the illusion that it will be as it is forever. It's a useful illusion, though, as it enables us to function on a day-to-day basis without undue depression. Ultimately, though, little of what we do and are will stand the test of time. Given a few generations, even our most precious memories will be forgotten.

I have a photo on my desk at work of the man, Sisyphus, to remind me that even though our days sometimes seem mundane and repetitive, it is a joy to be alive to experience them, and to squeeze whatever happiness can be found in each moment - to fill the unforgiving minute with something of worth.

And, perhaps, we can agree with Camus that "one must imagine Sisyphus happy", so that whatever we are doing, and wherever we are when time stands still, we would be found in a happy place.

Go firmly to the window, drink it in.....

I walked past the place where my mum was cremated recently. I wasn't expecting the surge of emotion that came upon me all of a sudden. I hung back a little from those I was walking with, as even the slightest attempt at conversation would have sent me into a blubbering wreck.

What struck me is that even when you haven't seen a lost loved one for such a long time, they are never really truly that far from your thoughts, and that we all are inter-dependant, each of us continuing to exert an influence on each other, even those we don't see any more or those who are at a distance - or even after we are long gone..

Alexendra Leaving..

Another wonderful track from the album "Ten New Songs" from Cohen:

Suddenly the night has grown colder.
The god of love preparing to depart.
Alexandra hoisted on his shoulder,
they slip between the sentries of your heart.

Upheld by the simplicities of pleasure,
they gain the light, they formlessly entwine;
and radiant beyond your widest measure
they fall among the voices and the wine.

lt's not a trick, your senses all deceiving,
a fitful dream the morning will exhaust---
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving,
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost.

Even though she sleeps upon your satin.
Even though she wakes you with a kiss.
Do not say the moment was imagined,
Do not stoop to strategies like this.

As someone long prepared for this to happen,
Go firmly to the window. Drink it in.
Exquisite music, Alexandra laughing.
Your first commitments tangible again.

You who had the honor of her evening,
And by that honor had your own restored---
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving.
Alexandra leaving with her lord.

As someone long prepared for the occasion;
In full command of every plan you wrecked---
Do not choose a coward's explanation
that hides behind the cause and the effect,

You who were bewildered by a meaning,
whose code was broken, crucifix uncrossed---
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving.
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost.


Hydra, Greece
September 1999

Cohen the poet

Absolutely love these words from Leonard Cohen:

If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will
If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing

If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well

And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will

If it be your will.