Digital Simple » Friday: Casual Day

Represent Yourself

Sherman — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:17:03 +0000

Do you ever visit a website where there are comments and see that some people look like this…

While other people have a picture next to their comments?

That’s called a Gravatar and you can get your own by clicking here.

After your gravatar is set up you’re picture will appear next to comments you leave. Go ahead and try it here.

Olympic TV Listings

Sherman — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:20:30 +0000

If you plan on watching the Olympics on TV and don’t want to miss your favorite bob-sledders you need to make a pit stop at the official Olympic TV listings page. You can customize your listings by zip code!

Enjoy the Show!

Get the information

Sherman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:28:38 +0000

Sometimes it’s just quicker to call information, you know – 411. But if you don’t want to pay for each call try Goog-411 instead! It’s fast AND free!

Click here for more information about Google’s information service or just dial 1-800-466-4411 from any phone.

Have a great weekend!

You think you have problems?

Sherman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:24:29 +0000

My wife Amanda was given a task: change the file names on up to 1000+ files; some she had to create names for, some she had to remove the date from the file name. It was a bit daunting.

After an hour she had new names for about 100 files, but there were 800+ left to remove the dates. Thankfully there are programs out there that can help make this task a lot simpler.

That’s one of the key reasons to use a computer: make things simpler. In this case we took a task that could have taken hours and got it done in minutes.

What’s taking you a long time on your computer? How can we help make it simpler? Ask a question and find out!

Have a great weekend!

Big, big files

Sherman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:58:18 +0000

Sometimes I need to send a BIG file to someone – a bunch of images, a presentation, whatever. I’m talking about files that are too big for email. I could put it on a disc and mail it, but drop.io is faster.

On the home screen I click to add the file I want and change the name of the file’s “address”. Then I click “Create A Drop” and watch my file upload; when it’s done I have a unique web URL to send to whoever needs to see my file.

Drop.io is a simple way to pass along that BIG idea! Have a great weekend!

Forgot your password

Sherman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:41:59 +0000

I fixed a friend’s computer the other night. It was simple work as far as computers go except for one bit: She didn’t remember her password.

Fixing that is not simple.

Passwords are tricky; they need to be simple enough to remember and complicated enough to be secure. Luckily most password systems give you some help – a password hint.

Like your password, your hints should be clever enough to remind you what your password is but complicated enough to prevent others from guessing. Like a personal crossword clue

“not see through this Mess!”

Above all; you should ALWAYS enter a hint when it’s offered. Treat your password like a key to your stuff and keep it safe, and make sure and give yourself a way to find your “key” when it gets lots.

BONUS: Take a stab at figuring out the password from the hint – “see through this Mess!”; There may be a prize in it for the first correct guess!

Have a great weekend!

Golden Ratio

Sherman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:51:11 +0000

I’m pleased to offer the following from our first guest author: Robert Bausch.

How can you get that perfectly pleasing proportion for cropping a photo? What’s the perfect balance when dividing Power Point slide or chart? Got something the right height and wondering about best proportional width?

Try the Golden Ratio Calculator.

Wikipedia describes The golden ratio as an irrational mathematical constant, approximately 1.6180339887.

Other names frequently used for the golden ratio are the golden section (Latin: sectio aurea) and golden mean.

1:1.618!

Throughout history artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio; especially in the form of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio – 1:1.618 – believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing. Mathematicians have studied the golden ratio because of its unique and interesting properties.

There are lots of cool examples of its appearance in nature and use in art and architecture. Google “Golden Section” and see.

Hey, life is art; you should consider using this. It’s a simple and arbitrary way to get “divine proportion” in just about anything! Doesn’t matter if you are drawing a rectangle, ordering a picture frame, or cutting a brownie out of a tray in the break room.

Check it out.

Robert Bausch is a photographer, artist, writer and thinker of interesting thoughts.

*Visit wikipedia here.

Shut down for the enviornment

Sherman — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:19:56 +0000

I’m going to be away from the office all next week. I usually let my computer run overnight a few nights a week so it can get updates, but I try to shut it down most evenings and over the weekend. I can save hundreds of dollars a year in electric bills with is good for me and use less juice which is good for everyone.

I’m shutting down since I’ll be gone for a long time. It’s a simple way to help the environment. Have a great weekend!

P.S. Want a little extra power savings? Try using a power strip that stops appliances and electronics from “sipping” electricity while they’re turned off. Get one here!