Want to rip a CD on OS X, and not have to deal with spotty iTunes performance? Do you want to have a secure rip? Are you paranoid about quality? Well…keep reading…

For close to a year, I have been playing with the idea of ripping all of my CDs (many thousands of CDs) to a few hard drives. With 2TB drives now available, I started ripping my entire collection with iTunes (OS X), but the quality was not always the best. On pristine CDs, I would still get occasional glitches in my 44.1k AIFF rips. Since EAC (a Windows ripper) does not exist for Mac, I was stuck…until CDParanoia.

CDParanoia is a binary file for Windows and Linux. It is a GUI-free (read: dos looking terminal command line) program that rips damn flawless copies of your CDs. Until recently, CDParanoia did not exist on a Mac. A few people have ported over the binary file to work in OS X’s Terminal app, but it was still a command line tool…until now.

After weeks of programming in Xcode (along with all the other duties I have every day), I have created the BRAT CDParanoia Ripper. Summary: Rip with CDParanoia, import the tracks to iTunes, and have all the files properly tagged, and in your music library. Simple to run, simple to use, and so so so so so so so much better quality than iTunes ripping. So far, I have ripped over 3,000 CDs while testing my program, and only four (4) discs choked, but these discs have choked in every ripping program (they were pressed poorly), so that is no surprise. What was a surprise was that CDParanoia ripped a perfect rip of a cracked CD-R! I can’t possibly sing high enough praises for CDParanoia.

So - what I made is this. I have made a remote controller. My program does not contain CDParanoia. You install that separately. My program does not contain Terminal or iTunes. Those apps are already on your Mac. My program acts as a bridge, allowing you to rip quality rips with CDParanoia, import the tracks into iTunes, and then you can do whatever you would normally do with songs in iTunes. As the program is 100% my own code, and merely controls other programs, I feel no guilt charging a $10 shareware fee.

Once you try in, you will never go back to the “Import Disc” button in iTunes!

I hope to have a finished version of the BRAT CDParanoia Ripper online in the month of April. If you are an OS X user, you will want to grab this!

Coming soon!!!

Normally, I am completely opposed to all forms of censorship.

I do know, though, the the interweb is a wonderous world, filled with people of all ages, races and beliefs.

Some people have an issue when you type the word FUCK in big bold letters.

As such, I wrote a little piece of code for the blog. On the left, you will find the “Enable Censorship” button. Click that, and every naughty word on the page turns to “(expletive)”. See, isn’t that fucking nice of me?

I was going to name it the “Censor This FUCKING blog button, but I thought that might have been pushing it a bit.

I will work on code to make it a “toggle” (on, or off) in a little while. For now, just play with the button as-is.

To make the feature work, you must hit the button on each page. For right now, it does not remember your preference. If you hit it accidentally, and you want to see all the happy fucks shits and god damns, just refresh the page, and they will magically fucking appear again.

One note: All titles that *had* profanity now default to always displaying “(expletive)”. It was easier that way. Oh…sorry…it was fucking easier that way, dammit!

UPDATE (March 28th): The button is completely functional now. Click once to remove all the fucking words that offend, and click the button again to bring all the fucking “offensive” words back. Fuck yeah!

Day 2 of Jury Duty. This is how it started:

“Juror #16. Please go to empty seat #1. Juror #5, you are excused.”

I was juror #5.

It turns out, when you are leaving a court room, and the defendent looks at you, and gives you a “what’s up?” style head nod, and you return that nod in full view of all attorneys and the judge…well…that is a bad thing.

Food tastes better. The sky is clearer. The roads are a bit more open for me to surpass the speed limit. It is a good day.

Now…I’d like to address some of the “God-fearing” “flag-waving” emails I have received over the last few days…

I have gone through my own court case. From start to end, it was over seven years. During that time, I saw many acts of collusion, deceitful business practice, and other “tried-and-true” lawyer tricks that made me truly sick of the entire system. When someone assaults you, fully admits to it, admits to wanting to do it again, tries to assault you again, yet you lose a case due to your first attorney filing a insignificant paper incorrectly (and then going to work for the other side), it kind of sours you on the legal system. Don’t even get me started about our current president (capital letter not worthy), and his abuse of the system. I love my country. I feel, however, that it is a far ways away from being run properly.

So, I ended up as a juror for two days. That means I received $15. As any good citizen should, I am taking my $15, and helping my fellow man. I have purchased fairjuryduty.com. I plan on using that site to rally together all of the freelance workers in California, and with our joined voices, change Rule 2.1002. Freelance workers are getting screwed by this jury duty law, and that needs to stop!

Watch for the site launch…soon.

Back to real work…

California Law Rule 2.1002
“One Day or One Trial”

The way in which jury duty existed in the state of California prior to May 1999 was as follows:

A person picked for Jury Duty would be called in, and have a ten (10) day period in which said person could be picked from a pool of people, for possible duties as a juror. During this time, many people cited “Financial Hardship”, and were excused.

With the introduction of Rule 2.1002 (introduced in May 1999 as rule 861 by the Judicial Council, implemented by May 2002, and renumbered as rule 2.1002 on January 1st, 2007), the new juror policy became “One Day or One Trial”. You go for one day. If, in the course of a day, you are not picked for a jury, you may go home. You can not be called again for a minimum of one year. If you do get picked, you will only be in service as a juror for the duration of that one trial. The catch is that the “Financial Hardship” policy (note I do not say excuse, for it is in fact a reason) has been severely restricted.

Before I continue, let me address the situation of a freelance employee. This can range from a screenwriter, to a set designer, to a producer, to a songwriter, to a variety of any other people who have chosen to leave the “9-to-5″ workforce, and be self sufficient.

The essence of freelance work is that since you are not part of the “system”, you must hunt down employment opportunities. Jobs will come at you at unpredictable times, and if you are not available to take the jobs, you will lose them. The jobs will simply go to another person. If this happens too often, your business will suffer.

The U.S. Government penalizes individuals for going outside of the normal work model. People who work “9-to-5″ jobs pay their taxes, and usually get a refund, due to the fact that their employers have already removed the “tax money” from their steady paychecks. Individuals who are freelance employees, however, are paid (and taxed) differently. A freelance employee gets paid a a lump sum, and it is up to the freelance person to set aside money from that payment for taxes. In a real world situation, a freelance person’s job opportunities are sometimes few and far between. There can be dry runs that last for many months. During this time, many freelance workers can be characterized by one simple word: stressed.

The California Judicial Council shares the Internal Revenue Service’s characterization of freelance employees. Under state law, a “9-to-5″ worker can not be fired due to Jury Duty. However, a freelance employee does not have the same standard to hold up to. Freelance employees can have multiple employers. Freelance individuals are constantly on the hunt for additional employment. Even one day of opportunities missed can have severe repercussions on that person’s future money making possibilities.

Let’s use the example that I witnessed today. In the juror box was a female voice-over actress. This actress relies on jobs coming in for her to survive. Even on the drive into the courtroom, she received a job offer. The court, however, did not care. The court system does not recognize the additional hardships that freelance employees face. When looking at “Financial Hardship”, the court house employees see a usually high monetary figure as income, and figures that the individual can afford to be out of the work loop for the time of a trial (stated as between one to five days, but in this particular case is estimated at around three weeks). What the court fails to see is that while her income was high, her expenses were high as well. Just because it appears on paper that a person has a sizable income, the actual considerations relating to the possible lost jobs, and tarnished industry name, let alone life expenses, are not taken into account. The court system does not choose to see this aspect of a freelance workers life, and as such, is actually causing more “Financial Hardship” for said individual. Indivuduals within the jury pool (not within the jury box) in the court room had the audacity to make rude comments about the woman, simply because she honestly answered that she was worried about her career. How dare they take such an attitude! The woman is honestly worried about her career, but all these “citizens” saw was a person making an excuse. It is not an excuse. It is a reason, and a damn valid one!

Let’s also take my example. For the year 2007, I only had two gigs. So far, in the year 2008 only one gig is available to me. The market has dried, and I am suffering as a result. Even after write-offs, my taxes will still be in excess of $3,000.00, a figure I do not have, nor am I even close to having. Instead of using my time to try and stir up new business, I am being forced to sit on a jury. If you were up for a jury trial, would you seriously want people on the jury who are not paying attention to your case, and instead are stressing over how they are going to make ends meet. In the case of the individual currently on trial before me, he is getting to experience that firsthand. All that is on my mind is my work. I am sweating bullets, trying to figure out how I will get a new gig before I need to pay my taxes, and the absolute last thing I care about is the innocence or guilt of the individual in front of me. Regardless of that fact, which I did voice with full honesty in the court room, I am a juror. You may look upon me as selfish, or as shirking my responsibilities as a U.S. citizen. I see it as trying to preserve my status as a working U.S. citizen. The first person in my example actually had job opportunities, and had to disregard them to “do her duty”. I don’t even have the opportunities, nor do I now have the time to search for them, with this currently “obligation”. I am not even taking into account how hypocritical it is for me to even be involved with a court system that I have absolutely no faith in. I am solely addressing my concerns as a U.S. citizen who is trying to ensure that he can still have a roof over his head come May 1st.

Freelance people are not using phony excuses to get out of jury duty. These freelance people are expressing, usually with much emotion, just how fickle the freelance industry is, especially if you work in an industry that is not protected by any form of a union. If you are not around for a job, the job will go to someone else. If you miss a number of jobs (sometimes even just one), not only is your name soiled within the community you work for, but that income (and possible future income) is lost. $15 a day, plus one-way mileage costs of $0.34 (effective January 1st, 2003) is nothing in the way of making up a tarnished industry name. As freelance people, we desperately strive to get our names out in the workforce, and to get ourselves work. Having the U.S. Government fail to recognize a freelance person’s unique work situation is without excuse. Being looked upon as people who are just looking for an excuse to get our of a “civic duty” is not only rude, but unfair. I have already felt the stigma from people who look upon my employment, and make the judgment that I simply work at home, and as such must have an easy life. That sort of generalization is something that truly burns me up. In any work day (which is every day, including weekends and holidays), I will work anywhere between 10 and 20 hours. As I am the type of person who does not like to stop until a job is done (or I pass out from lack of sleep), I will occassionally pull one or two “all-nighters”, just because I have the fire within me to finish the job. That, my friends, is “passion”. I do not have a soul-sucking “9-to-5″ job. I have a job (multiple ones, if I am lucky) that I am passionate about, and that passion translates into the work I do for my clients. Just because some “9-to-5″ employees do not share my passion for work does not entitle those people to pass judgment.

Simply stated, the law is broken. When making the “One Day or One Trial” rule, all considerations for the freelance workforce were completely thrown away. The concept that an employer can not fire you while you are serving as a juror does not take into account lost revenue and employment from other jobs. This is unjust, and the law needs to change.

As stated in an earlier post, I am starting talks with a State Senator. I am fully committed to showing the Judicial System that their law is flawed, and by treating freelance employees with such disregard, they are crippling the industry. The freelance industry is a huge workforce, especially within California. The recent Writers Strike displayed that, with a vengence.

This is not a civic “duty”. Under this current law, it is just doody.

History:
For close to one year, I have dealt with the County of Los Angeles court system. Mail. Phone. “On hold” periods lasting over 25 minutes. Always fun. Makes a day at the DMV look like Christmas.

When I last was called for service (years ago), I submitted a “financial hardship” excuse (it is not an excuse - it is a reason). I even sent in a letter from my employers, saying that even one day away from my computer is too much, due to all the work I do. Keep in mind: this was years before YouTube, MySpace and FaceBook! I sent in the paper, and that was it. Jury duty gone, as it should be.

Today:
Apparently now, some genius changed the law. It does not matter that I only have one job. It does not matter that if I have to serve jury duty, I could lose my job.

Today alone, I have dealt with a man on a phone at the Superior Court, a receptionist at the Hall Of Records, an office worker at the Hall Of Records, her manager at the Hall Of Records, another at the Superior Court, as well as local congressmen and senators. Progressive, the amount of concern and caring became less and less, until I hit the congressmen and senator (a glimmer of hope).

More History:
“Sir, for a year, we gave you the opportunity to make your case.”

Are you fucking kidding me!?! I replied to both letters I was sent! I sent in all the appropriate paper work, and even included a letter from my employer in each envelope. Apparently, the US Postal Service loves me, because my paperwork was never received! The Superior Court even went so far as to say I already missed one required appearance at the court house. Now, let’s go look at that…

I replied to the first request. Can’t serve. Financial hardship. Here’s a letter from my boss. The reply? Nothing. Months later, I received another letter from the court house, complaining that I never submitted my first reply. FUCK! I make a call to the Superior Court of Los Angeles, who *SAY* they will cancel my jury date (never fucking did!), and will send me another form to fill out. Fine. I send in the second paper, again completed, and with letter from my employers (the last one I had). The reply? Nothing again. Even better, now the court house has sent me paperwork implying that I missed my first requested appearance! What the hell! Doesn’t anyone in this crap system talk to each other?

Explanation:
You know the real reason for my rage? Forget that this is my only job. Forget that I essentially live check-to-check, and have blown all my saving on paying for all the meds my mom needed while she was alive (a rant I will save for a time that I can complain about the US Healthcare system, and not suffer a stroke while typing). Being treated as a lower-class citizen by court employees who show no love or caring for their job is without excuse.

I talked with the last court person on the phone today, and when asking why my court date wasn’t in the court house in my town, was told “Your assigned court house is only 13-16 miles from you, and up to 20 miles is allowed.” When I pointed out traffic from Burbank to Downtown L.A., with a destination time of 7:45 am (read: get there around 7am), is a bit chaotic, I was told “Sir, real people with real jobs do it every day. I’m sure you can do it.”

Here’s where the fucking shit hits the fan…

Fucking bitch! I work up to 20 hours a day, EVERY fucking day, at a real job! I have not taken a vacation since September 2nd, 1998, when I got my web job. I moderate, code, design, track servers, and create content…every waking moment of the day. I lost one girlfriend already due to how much I work. I was working through taking care of my mom’s liver cancer. I worked three hours after she fucking died! I work harder than this fucking COURT bitch could possibly imagine, and make more than her. I refuse to accept abuse from some bitch who didn’t have the desire or ability to do something with her life other than be the bitch people abuse when they call the court house.

Away from the bitch rant, and back to the “law” rant. I have already been in touch with my local congressman, and state senator. I am determined to have this law changed. It is too damn late for my overworked ass, but I refuse to let another person who works as hard as I do be treated with such an attitude. I refuse to let another person suffer, spilling their guts out to a court house employee, only to be told they can’t do anything. They can’t do anything…but I can! They might have lost the plot, but I have not. I will not stand for this crap, and I will get laws changed. I’ve done it before, and I will do it again.

Fine - you think I make too much for financial hardship? Well, take a few moments to learn about the entertainment industry! You are only as good as your last job. Entertainment people work their fucking asses off MUCH more than a desk jockey in a court house job. Someone working at the Hall Of Records does not take their job home with them. They run screaming from their place of employment at 5pm! Entertainment people work very long, hard hours. We work through holidays, weekends, social events, and are (usually) happy to do it, because we love our work, and appreciate the opportunity to have the job. Now - jury duty. You get stuck doing this crap for any amount of time, and the small amount of pocket change the court house is going to pay you for your time is not going to make up for all of the lost jobs! If you are not available for a gig, someone else will get it. That happens too much, and your ass is gone. You have to work hard as hell, all over again, to get back in the position you used to be in.

The summary:
Fuck “financial hardship”. Why not, instead, truly look at the amount of work a person does on their job, on a daily basis. Fine, some of us might make more than what you consider a “hardship” amount, but our workload should be used to prove that we can not afford the time to hear about some guy on trial. Fuck - if he’s on trial, he’s probably guilty anyway!

I honestly hope that I never do anything that would cause me to be in front of a “court of my peers”. Pissed off people, stuck in a court house all day, hearing lawyers. Hell - I already have enough disgust in the legal system as it is. The last thing any potential juror picker wants is me in their jury pool.

The humor within the day:
You know - one clue to how my day was going to go should have been the desk of the lady at the Hall Of Records (a college gradulate, by the way - you need a diploma to get a life-ending, soul-robbing desk jockey job at the Hall Of Records?). The cubicle was plasted with inspirational phrases from Jesus. Lady, God is not going to help you. You need to find a better job! Anyway, “God” is too busy giving idiot terrorists 70+ virgins each, and looking after the desires of George W. Bush.

Grrr…:
All I will be doing when in court is worrying about the following:

* Are the servers up?
* Is the board running?
* How much email is piling up?
* What do I have to moderate on the Forum / MySpace / YouTube / FaceBook?
* Is the video done encoding, or did the batch script I set up earlier in the morning crash?

You know - this is it. “Final straw” time. A monkey for a president (that I never voted for). A vice-president, who when confronted with the facts of the war, has the absolutely unbelievable balls to say “So?”. Taxes I can’t afford to pay, for a war I do not support. Gas I can’t afford to put in my car. Fuck all of this. I am taking a damn stand.

I want to hear from everyone who works their ass off in a day. People who don’t pay attention to a 24-hour clock, because they work beyond 24 hours in a row. I want to hear from you, here on this blog. I want our voices heard. I don’t want another hard-working person to be fucked over by this court system, just because some fucked up law says that financial hardship isn’t good enough. Isn’t good enough? Why don’t you try working as hard as I do! That’s like Bush saying the war is working. Really? Send your daughters over there, and let them fight, if it’s working…fucker!

ARGH!