So, I use iTunes almost exclusively as my media player. I also have an HP laptop (a dv6000) that has QuickPlay buttons. These buttons work to control media players from my keyboard (instead of having to find the application window and use the play controls from there).

The catch: these buttons only work with software that comes installed on a new HP. Not with iTunes (unless iTunes is the active - on-top - window). Such a pain!!

So, after a day of searching, I found what I was looking for - an iTunes plugin that allows you to use your Quick Launch/QuickPlay buttons as play controls!

Most of you don’t care, but for the few folks as ANNOYED as I have been, I present to you the easiest solution:

mmkeys.dll

Voila!!

I’m a girl who doesn’t use a mouse if she can help it.  I prefer using keyboard shortcuts - it saves me a lot of time (and some wrist pain).

Sometimes, though, I inadvertently command the computer to do something that makes a drastic change.  Case in point:  while working in Notepad (I was stripping formatting or coding some html/css), I accidentally set my computer to display ALL text right-to-left, instead of the American/European default of left-to-right.  I gotta tell you, it’s bizarre trying to type like that.  And frustrating when you don’t know what key command caused the behavior.  Or how to reverse it.

Fortunately for you folks, I’ve done it several times more.  I use CTRL and SHIFT + arrow keys quite a bit when I type (for selecting text).  Here’s what I learned:  Holding down CTRL + the right SHIFT key will toggle right-to-left typing/reading.  If you accidentally set your text to read RTL, just hold down CTRL + the left SHIFT key to reset.

I discovered another way (one of many) to toggle between RTL and LTR -

1. Open an Explorer window to view the contents of “My Computer.”
2. Right-click on the words “My Computer” in the address bar.
3. Select (or deselect) “Right to left Reading order” from the menu.