Software recommendation: MP3 manager

Assume that I don't like iTunes very much. What's a really good piece of freeware (or adware) for ripping CDs and organizing/maintaining a sizable body of music files? Special emphasis on updating tags quickly without a lot of repetitive typing (e.g., if I have 17 files from the same album, select them all, update the artist/album/year/genre info with a single action).

A political entry I can totally endorse

Courtesy (so to speak) of thetalkingmoose:

• If you really think that you're more American than me because you live in or come from "small town" America: fuck you.


• If you really think that you're more American than me because you wrap yourself in the flag when you go to bed at night: fuck you.


• If you really think that you're more American than me because you attend a Bible-thumping, protestant Church every Sunday: fuck you.


• If you really think that you're more American than me because you are a Republican instead of Democrat: fuck you.

This is what it's come to

Josh Marshall links to a video from an "independent" political group. The ad is a non-threatening black man explaining how Martin Luther King Jr. is inspiring him to not vote for Obama.

Go watch.

Josh asks for translations. My interpretation after the cut.

( And the magic word is... )

Oh, and:

Steve Benen at Washington Monthly:

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE WEAK GET RIDICULOUS.... Recent polling shows Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) trailing in her re-election fight in North Carolina against Democrat Kay Hagan, so it stands to reason that she's getting a little desperate.

I didn't think she'd get this desperate.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole's latest advertisement suggests her Democratic opponent, Kay Hagan, is a godless heathen.

"A leader of the Godless Americans PAC recently held a secret fundraiser for Kay Hagan," the 30-second spot says, showing footage of the group's members talking about their atheist beliefs on cable news.

"Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took godless money," the ad concludes. "What did Kay Hagan promise in return?"

At the very end of the ad, a voice sounding like Hagan's says: "There is no God."

Seriously, Dole used a Hagan impersonator to make voters think she's an atheist.

It's hard to know where to start with an ad this deplorable. First, Hagan is actually a Sunday school teacher and an elder in her church. Second, the fundraiser in question was co-hosted by 40 people, one of whom is on the board of an atheist political action committee. Third, there's nothing scandalous about non-believers.

As many of you know, I lived in North Carolina for sixteen years, during all of which Jesse Helms was one of the senators. Even by that standard, I'm stunned by this ad.

Hagan has a counter-ad up:

( Go watch )

... "not bearing false witness." Heh.

You can donate to Hagan's campaign through ActBlue. (That specific link is to the "This Kind of politics will not be tolerated" donation page.) It might take that sick feeling out of your mouth.