Use Milkdrop with Spotify - SOLVED

So I decided to give Spotify a go a while back, and so far have been enjoying it. However, it really won't do to part ways with the best visualizer in existence, Milkdrop.

Instead of disqualifying Spotify as a music player option due to its lack of support for visualization, I decided to solve the puzzle of mapping the sound such that I can play music with Spotify and use Milkdrop to visualize it.

Here's how I did it:

1. Install Milkdrop + line-in plug-ins for Winamp

2. Mess with your soundcard until you can get the Stereo Mix to listen to computer sounds

3. Set the soundcard's Stereo Mix as the default recording device

4. Play music with Spotify, then open Winamp and add the URL 'linein://' and play the 'song', then start milkdrop

done

Droid Bionic Optimizations - Extended Bat. Wireless Charging

Last night I was about to embark upon a different project- but then someone brought in the mail.

Maybe it was just my ADHD, but I immediately became excited to dive into a potentially impossible project on a subject about which I have very limited knowledge.

It seems starting a new puzzle is more tempting than finishing existing ones. Probably why my office looks the way it does.

Anyway, the boxes contained the HP touchstone and HP palm cover that I bought to enable wireless charging on my droid bionic (with extended battery).

I actually achieved success in about 30 minutes!

Cost: $13
Time: 30-45 mins
Tools: dremel (optional), soldering iron, wire, aforementioned parts, electrical tape, and the blinding desire to solve puzzles that probably don't need to be solved. and willingness to likely void your warranty.

Disclaimer: you could mess up and brick your phone. enjoy!

Here are some photos and vids.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR7egtQl-Zg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIzhQikhFKI

Data Normalization & Windows 8

Well yesterday morning I believe I was the first downloadee of the publicly released Windows 8 Dev Preview to get it set up on the Asus EP121. Details and video here.

Last night's 'grit' stemmed from a task to import 600+ entries from a hardcopy member directory by hand into MailChimp.

Fortunately, I found the data online- however, it was presented in a very inaccessible fashion... (one big list, impossible to upload directly).

I set out to normalize the data autonomously with a VBA script... and copied it below. It's been years since I've used VBA, so apologies for the inefficiencies.

If anyone has another way to do this, I'd be very interested.

Sub NormalizeData()

Sheets("Sheet1").Select
Dim ws As Worksheet, iRow As Long, iCol As Long, i As Long, curAdd As Integer, curRow As Integer
Dim isStart As Boolean
isStart = True
curRow = 2
curAdd = 6
iRow = 1

For iRow = 1 To 7886

'first data is company name after view more info
'run if statement- if email then put in email go to next, if memb. type, phone, then paste
'if view then go to next and add one to row number
'if none of the above add it to address, do 3 times
'skip empty cells
'dont paste address data after the 5th data row for each entry/company

If Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value = "" Then

GoTo endWith2
Else

End If


If isStart = True Then
curAdd = 6
activeCustomerCellNum = 1
If Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value = "" Then GoTo endWith2
Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Copy
Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A1").Offset(curRow - 1, 0).PasteSpecial
Application.CutCopyMode = False
isStart = False
GoTo endWith
Else
End If

If InStr(1, Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value, "More Info") > 0 Then
isStart = True
curRow = curRow + 1
curAdd = 6
GoTo endWith
Else
End If

If InStr(1, Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value, "Key Staff") > 0 Then
curAdd = 6
GoTo endWith
Else
End If

If InStr(1, Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value, "E-mail") > 0 Then
Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Copy
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Activate
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Cells(curRow, 2).PasteSpecial
Application.CutCopyMode = False
curAdd = 6
GoTo endWith
Else
End If
If InStr(1, Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value, "Phone") > 0 Then
Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Copy
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Activate
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Cells(curRow, 3).PasteSpecial
Application.CutCopyMode = False
curAdd = 6
GoTo endWith
Else
End If
If InStr(1, Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Value, "Member Type") > 0 Then
Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Copy
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Activate
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Cells(curRow, 5).PasteSpecial
Application.CutCopyMode = False
curAdd = 6
GoTo endWith
Else
End If

' .Value.Copy
If activeCustomerCellNum < 5 Then
Sheets("Sheet2").Range("A1").Offset(0 + iRow, 0).Copy
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Activate
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(1).Cells(curRow, curAdd).PasteSpecial
Application.CutCopyMode = False
curAdd = curAdd + 1


GoTo endWith
Else
End If
curAdd = 6
'.Value = .Value & ", " & curState
endWith:
activeCustomerCellNum = activeCustomerCellNum + 1
endWith2:

Next

End Sub

puzzletime

I decided I should have something to show for my ridiculous tendency to fix, tinker and solve every little task I deem momentarily intriguing.

Thus, here's a blog.

Currently just finished restoring an old Ubuntu install to a partition on an internal MicroSD on my cr48, finishing the triple boot -> crOS mario // win7 // ubuntu

Also just swapped the ssd from my old laptop to my new 15z- had to run sysprep, troubleshoot it, and mess with the registry to get things to work. Also, I installed a hard-drive caddy to house the stock 750gb wd :)

Now I have to get Ubuntu on the Transformer. Wish me luck...