Question Asked: Can I Listen to my iTunes Songs Away From Home?Sep 18th, 2009
There’s nothing built into iTunes that will allow you to stream your music to somewhere you aren’t. You can stream music to other rooms in your home, on the same wi-fi network, with Airport Express, which I talk about here.
However, there is a number of solutions that will let you stream music over the internet from iTunes. A co-worker recommended Simplify Media to me a few days ago. He was using it primarily to stream music from his iTunes library to his iPhone while he was on the go.
The reviews I read of the iPhone app were less than desirable, mainly because of a strain on battery power. So I skipped that aspect of their application.
I installed the PC software at home, where my library is. Then installed it on my iMac at work.
I logged in and it told me it’d take a bit to process my library because it was so large. Once done, the library I named “Home” showed up in my iTunes Shared Library list. Along with all my playlists.
And the best part: the audio quality is perfect. There’s no compression or loss of quality as far as I can tell. It sounds as though I am sitting at home and listening to the tracks on my computer.
Also, Simplify Media also does photos over the same process. So you can get access to all of your photos as a shared library in iPhoto, as well.
This answer pertains specifically to iTunes. However, Simplify Media also works with any media player of your choice that supports shared music libraries. It’s not limited to iTunes, though that is what it was designed for.
Question Asked: What Is The Fastest Time To Solve a Rubik’s Cube?Sep 17th, 2009
The current world record was set back in 2008, by Erik Akkersdijk (Netherlands).
He beat the previous world record by nearly two seconds, and solved the Rubik’s cube in an amazing 7.08 seconds to become the fastest Rubik’s cube solver in history.
The first world record, set in 1982 was exactly 19 seconds. It’s amazing how much people have improved over the years.
To see all the results from over the years, head to RecordHolders.org
Question Asked: How Can I See What People Are Searching For On My WordPress Site?Sep 16th, 2009
The most simple option is by using a plugin. There’s a number of plugins that do some better things with search, since the WordPress search leaves something to be desired.
“Search Meter” (link) is the plugin you want.
Once installed, it keeps a record of everything people search for, how many search results there were (if any), and creates a separate section for searches with no results.
The “no results” section is very helpful for site owners. If you see an item that a lot of people are searching for that you don’t have, you can then take a cue to write about it. (Assuming it’s something related to your site.)
Question Asked: What Movie Has Played In The Most Theaters?Sep 15th, 2009
This one’s tough, because the numbers that get reported for box office stats don’t technically count specific theaters, but actual screens at the theaters.
Based on that, the answer is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, which opened on 4,455 screens, worldwide.
It’s estimated that the next installment(s) of the Harry Potter franchise will open on even more screens, with an estimated 5,000 each.
Question Asked: What is the Coldest Day Ever Recorded On Earth?Sep 14th, 2009
I know a lot of people probably think they were there, especially if you live in Michigan during the winter.
However, the coldest day ever was recorded in Vostok II, Antartica.
The temperature got down to -128.F (-89.2 C) on July 21st, 1983.
The average temperature in Vostok II, is -67.1F (55.1C). Here’s a link to their weather forecast. (Yes, this is a real forecast for Vostok II. And yes, it’s really that cold there.)