fixed code blocks, links

README.md

@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ How to Use this Repo
 
 Basically, this repo contains a bunch of IPython notebooks related to music information retrieval.
 
-If you're a visitor, browse [this repo at nbviewer.ipython.org](http://nbviewer.ipython.org/github/stevetjoa/stanford-mir) which renders the notebooks in this repo so they can be viewed in a web browser.
+If you're a visitor, [browse this repo at nbviewer.ipython.org](http://nbviewer.ipython.org/github/stevetjoa/stanford-mir) which renders the notebooks in this repo so they can be viewed in a web browser.
 
-If you're a workshop participant, follow the steps below.
+If you're a workshop participant, follow the steps below to get started with Git, Vagrant, and IPython.
 
 
 Install Git
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Optional: create an account at <https://github.com>. A GitHub account allows you
 
 2.  Clone this repository onto your local machine:
 
-    macbook:~$ git clone https://github.com/your_github_username/stanford-mir
+        macbook:~$ git clone https://github.com/your_github_username/stanford-mir
 
 Otherwise, without a GitHub account, to clone this repository onto your local machine:
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Otherwise, without a GitHub account, to clone this repository onto your local ma
 Install Vagrant
 ---------------
 
-In previous workshops, a major difficulty was installing software prequisites and handling dependencies. Everyone has a different computing setup, and we would often run into problems when installed packages conflict, or prerequisites aren't met. 
+In previous workshops, a major difficulty was installing software prequisites and handling dependencies. Everyone has a different computing setup, and we would often run into problems when installed packages conflict or prerequisites aren't met. 
 
 This year, we will use [Vagrant](http://vagrantup.com) to create a local virtual development environment running Ubuntu 12.04. Vagrant will ensure that every person has exactly the same development environment with the same installed packages. 
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ Vagrant is available for all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS
 
         macbook:~/stanford-mir$ vagrant up
 
-    If this is your first time running `vagrant up`, this step may take several minutes to download the vagrant box.
+    If this is your first time running `vagrant up`, this step may take five minutes to download the vagrant box.
 
 3.  Finally, login to the new virtual machine:
 
@@ -70,11 +70,13 @@ Vagrant is available for all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS
 Using IPython
 -------------
 
-A majority of our instruction and laboratory work will occur inside the IPython notebook. You can think of the IPython notebook like the Mathematica or Matlab desktop, except it's in Python and it runs inside your web browser.
+A majority of our instruction and laboratory work will occur inside the [IPython notebook](http://ipython.org/notebook.html). You can think of the IPython notebook like the Mathematica or Matlab desktop, except it's in Python and it runs inside your web browser.
 
 1.  In your vagrant box, go to the `stanford-mir` directory, and start the IPython notebook server:
 
-    vagrant@stanford-mir:~$ cd stanford-mir
-    vagrant@stanford-mir:~/stanford-mir$ ipython notebook
+        vagrant@stanford-mir:~$ cd stanford-mir
+        vagrant@stanford-mir:~/stanford-mir$ ipython notebook
 
-2.  On your *host* machine, visit <http://localhost:8888>. Congratulations, you are now running an IPython notebook, and you can get started with the workshop material.
+2.  On your *host* machine, visit <http://localhost:8888>. 
+
+Congratulations, you are now running an IPython notebook, and you can get started with the workshop material.