+ I’ve used Quintessential Player in the past and liked it’s user interface. They’ve released a new version which I think is worth trying out. From their site:

It’s time for a change

Stop what you’re doing, find shelter and call your mom, because Quintessential Player 4.50 has arrived. This new version brings you closer to your music then ever before. Stop letting your media player push you around, take control with Quintessential’s new and improved arsenal of features.

QCD is still all about you. With its new extended freeform skinning engine and plethora of feature extending plugins Quintessential Player can be whatever you want it to be.

Most importantly you can take control of your listening experience for FREE. How is this possible you ask? It just is. Don’t let the price fool you, there are no Pro versions, cripples, nags or spyware. Quintessential is here to be enjoyed without any catches.

And here’s a Slate article on how-to asssemble and tend container plants. I unfortunately don’t have anywhere to put a container, so I won’t be trying this out. Brings nice images to mind though of looking out my window in Istanbul at the planters on the window sill across the pit between apartment buildings. I never saw the owner, but the plants inspired me to bring some shrubs and succulents back from my friend Ercu’s family summer home on one of the Princess islands on the Bosphorus. I filled the sills of both windows with terracotta planters, and tended them religiously. Plants are good for the soul.

+ The update is that I gave up my 27hosting.com plan after 1 year of unreliability. That was in April. It’s been a busy month with work and my personal life developing something nice. Been thinking to change giantkicks to something different for quite a while. Say hello to K364.info.