Archive for the ‘Computer Geek’ Category

If you’re using Safari, there’s an easy way to download YouTube videos. Open the page with the movie and press Command-Option-A, which shows the Activity window. If you’re also loading other sites, you’ll see a list of them: scroll until you find the YouTube page and click on the arrow to show details about what is being loaded.

You will certainly notice an element whose size is over 0.5MB (most of the time, over 5MB). Double-click on it (even if it is still loading), and Safari will download it. When the download is over, navigate to the file in the Finder (which will probably be called get_video) and add the extension .flv to its name. Now you can play it with VLC or with QuickTime (only if you have Perian installed).

Special thanks to Mac OS X Hints - this is a re-post.

Note from Eric M Chicago – When I downloaded the file, it was already named video.flv. FLV files can be directly uploaded to facebook, jsyk.

VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark

Have a Nice Day

June 4th, 2009

                          oooo$$$$$$$$$$$$oooo                        oo$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$o                    oo$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$o        o$   $$ o$     o $ oo       o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$o       $$ $$ $$o$  oo $ $ "$      o$$$$$$$$$   $$$$$$$$$$$$$    $$$$$$$$$o       $$$o$$o$  "$$$$$$o$     o$$$$$$$$$     $$$$$$$$$$$      $$$$$$$$$$o    $$$$$$$$    $$$$$$$    $$$$$$$$$$$     $$$$$$$$$$$      $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$   $$$$$$$$$$$$$    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$  """$$$     "$$$""""$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$     "$$$       $$$   o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$     "$$$o      o$$"   $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$       $$$o      $$$    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" "$$$$$$ooooo$$$$o     o$$$oooo$$$$$  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$   o$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$    $$$$$$$$"$$$$   $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$     $$$$""""""""    """"       $$$$    "$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"      o$$$               "$$$o     """$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"$$"         $$$                 $$$o          "$$""$$$$$$""""           o$$$                  $$$$o                                o$$$"                   "$$$$o      o$$$$$$o"$$$$o        o$$$$                     "$$$$$oo     ""$$$$o$$$$$o   o$$$$""                        ""$$$$$oooo  "$$$o$$$$$$$$$"""                           ""$$$$$$$oo $$$$$$$$$$                                  """"$$$$$$$$$$$                                      $$$$$$$$$$$$                                       $$$$$$$$$$"                                        "$$$""""
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark

A very popular Xbox video game has made its way to the Mac. Braid for Mac was released today alongside a free downloadable demo. The full version costs $14.95.

Explore the human condition and manipulate time in the lush, painterly world of Braid, a puzzle-platformer that takes you from a house in the city on a journey through a series of worlds to solve puzzles and rescue the princess.

Braid is described as a puzzle/platformer created by independent developer Jonathan Blow. The game was released to Xbox Live Arcade in August 2008 to critical praise and commercial success. The game sold over 55,000 units (~$825,000) the first week and went on to become the second-largest selling Xbox Live Arcade game in 2008.

YouTube Preview Image

One unique element to the game was the use of time control that could allow you to rewind your actions. The game was ported to the Mac by Hot Head Games.

This is one of the coolest indie games to come out recently. It has a unique and STUNNING painted art style, and it’s really fun! Definitely check it out. -Eric

VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark

Twitter Emoticons

April 8th, 2009

I just found out that you can use emoticons on Twitter! How utterly fantastic. Special thanks to TrendyGoodNight for the tip:

Copy & Paste any of the following symbols into your Tweet:



© ®
¥ £ ƒ $
« »
ç µ ı
Ω * §
¬ &
¡ ¿ ø å
œ Æ æ π ß
÷ %
˚ ˆ ˜ ˘ ¯
º ª ?

Special thanks to The Next Web for the symbols!

Happy Twittering!

Eric M Chicago

VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark

An actor’s website is an investment, not an expense.

It’s important to have a web presence as an actor. Even if you have an agent. Paul Russell, casting director, director, and author of the hit book ACTING: Make It Your Business – How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor says “…if someone gives me an actor by reference, the first thing I’m going to do is Google. And if that actor’s website doesn’t come up, or if they don’t have anything that comes up within the first five results, I move on to the next actor. It’s vital that an actor have an internet presence.”

Seriously, listen to Paul Russell. A lot of people do. Here’s what they’re saying about his book: “Actors everywhere who are trying to succeed in the business, young or old on stage or on camera, in New York or anywhere in the world, take note: This is your roadmap.” -Bernard Telsey, casting director (Rent, Sex & The City: The Movie, Wicked)

YouTube Preview Image

He goes on to mention that the website doesn’t need to be extremely complicated; but it does need to give them a full picture of who you are and what you can do (reels, audio clips, etc.).

I have fantastic experience designing websites that do just that. I typically design Flash websites for actors and other performance artists that showcase a full range of media and photos and give casting directors easy access to you and your work. (And yes, in addition to Flash sites, I also develop CSS/HTML websites as well)

With every website I design I submit fully standards-compliant Sitemaps to Google and all major search engines, so your Google ranking stays hot and you get seen.

If you’re an actor, singer, or other artist looking to build a web presence, contact me at ericmchicago@gmail.com for an estimate. I generally complete artist websites within 2 weeks and I offer the best prices you will find for custom professional web design. Once the design is completed, you only need to pay $4/month for the hosting.

Some of my other services include:

  • PDF File creation (containing your headshot and resume) – perfect for email submissions
  • Headshot retouching – anything from small fixes to face lifts (you’re the boss)
  • Comp cards/business cards/mini-headshot cards

You can visit www.ericmchicago.com to see some examples of my print work (I’m in the process of re-doing the site to include a web portfolio), but for some examples of my recent work please feel free to visit some of my recent artist sites:

VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark

Facebook Emoticons

March 30th, 2009

Need to spice up your Facebook chat? No problemo. Here’s a complete list of all the Facebook emoticons available to use:

fb_smile Smile
:-) :) :] =)
fb_frown Frown
:-( :( :[ =(
fb_tounge Tongue
:-P :P :-p :p =P
fb_grin Grin
:-D :D =D
fb_gasp Gasp
:-O :O :-o :o
fb_wink Wink
;-) ;)
fb_glasses Glasses
8-) 8) B-) B)
fb_sunglasses Sunglasses
8-| 8| B-| B|
fb_grumpy Grumpy
>:( >:-(
fb_unsure Unsure
:/ :-/ :\ :-\
fb_cry Cry
:'(
fb_devil Devil
3:) 3:-)
fb_angel Angel
O:) O:-)
fb_kiss Kiss
:-* :*
fb_heart Heart
<3
fb_kiki Kiki
^_^
fb_squint Squint
-_-
fb_confused Confused
o.O O.o
fb_upset Upset
>:O >:-O >:o >:-o
fb_pacman Pac-Man
:v
fb_curlylips Curly Lips
:3
robot Robot
:|]
putnam Chris Putnam
:putnam:
shark Shark
(^^^)
facebook-chat-penguin-emoticon Penguin
<(“)
Bold Font
*Bold Font*
Underlined Font
_
Underlined Font_

If anyone knows of other emoticons, let me know!

VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 6.0/10 (3 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark

I get a lot of people asking me what the best way is to get started with graphic design. I always have some immediate resources that I use and refer them to, and I also have my standbys. Here are some of my favorite recent resource finds and standbys that you can visit for some great inspiration, tools, and techniques to use with Adobe Photoshop CS4.

  1. old-photoshop-logo.jpg.jpeg
    Well, this is the first step. You can download a free evaluation copy to use for 30 days before making your (very worthwhile) purchase!
      
  2. Qbrushes.com
    logo.gif
    Qbrushes is one of my favorite new finds. It is a great resource that is FULL of amazing, detailed, and hi-resolution Photoshop brushes to use in your projects!
  3. Dafont.com
    dafont.gif
    There are a lot of great font resources out there, and this one almost never fails me. Most are free for personal use, and you can test out your typography with custom text before you download!
  4. Tutorialvault.net
    tutorialvault.jpg
    It can sometimes be a daunting task to find just the right online tutorial for the project you’re looking for. There are some great subscription-based resource libraries (see below), but if you’re looking for some quality, free help, this is the place to go. With over 2500 tutorials on almost anything you could imagine, this site constantly inspires me in my projects.
  5. Lynda.com
    logo-1.gif
    As far as training libraries go, THIS IS THE TICKET. They have an unbelievably extensive database of VIDEO tutorials for all Adobe products (currently to CS4) ftw! They have hours of extremely helpful videos on each Adobe product available for subscribers to watch at any time. You can, however, watch a select number of videos from each product without a subscription (aka: free). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this site to anyone who wants to learn all the nooks and crannies of Adobe CS4 in the most efficient way possible.

Enjoy these resources as you get to know the amazing possibilities held within Adobe Photoshop!

Cheers!

Eric M Chicago

VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark
imac_2_20071026.jpg
I would like to introduce you to the current love of my life: Philip. A shiny aluminum 24-inch iMac from which I do all my computing. A glossy screen, a built in webcam, 24 inches of beautiful LCD gorgeousness, ONE CABLE (just to plug it in: my keyboard and my mouse are wireless bluetooth), over 2 gigahertz of computing power and a 350 GB hard drive. That’s a ROCKSTAR. Not only that, but I can run both Mac OS Leopard AND Windows Vista on this computer. I’m actually in Vista right now, and everything looks beautiful because Philip allows Windows to run NATIVE on the computer. That means Windows has FULL ACCESS to all of the computing resources that Leopard has access to. Just amazing. This computer is one of the things in my life that makes me the happiest. It’s simple. A screen, a keyboard and a mouse. That’s how it should be. I feel that I should warn, though, against the bluetooth mouse. It’s about HALF as responsive as a normal mouse, and while the bluetooth keyboard works flawlessly I must say that the mouse is a battery hog (I have to replace the 2 AA batteries about once a month) and not worth the $20 upgrade charge.
Gold Star!Gold Star!Gold Star!Gold Star!Gold Star! FIVE ROCKSTARS! I would recommend this purchase to ANYONE (Windows lovers and Mac lovers alike)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.4_1055]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Share/Bookmark