Archive for Free-For-All
An Easy Screen Capture Tool for PCs
Posted by: | CommentsI’m always discovering functions on my computer that I didn’t know existed. When I was searching for a way to take custom screenshots on my PC (other than Ctrl + Prt Scr), I learned about the “Snipping Tool” that comes installed on Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. I love it!
To access and use the Snipping Tool, do the following:
1. Boot up your computer and click the Start button in the lower lefthand corner of your screen.
2. In the “Search programs and files” box that pops up, type Snipping Tool. A link to the program will display. Click the link to open the program.
3. Once the toolbox opens, click “New” and a drop-down menu will allow you to choose from:
- Free-form Snip
- Rectangular Snip
- Window Snip
- Full-screen Snip
4. Select one option (or play with ‘em all to see how they differ). I usually use Rectangular Snip.
5. Drag your cursor around the portion of the screen you want to capture and a new window will open with the Snip (the screenshot) in it. You can write on the snip or highlight portions of it (and you can erase what you’ve written, do don’t worry if you goof).
6. You can copy the Snip, e-mail it, or save it as a PNG, GIF, JPG, or HTML file.
Snips are the quickest, easiest way I’ve found to create and add screenshots to a blog post. Here’s a Snip I just took of an update I posted to the new Social Media Support Group on Facebook (I embedded a link to the Support Group into the image. When you click the image, you’ll be routed to the Social Media Support Group):
Sample of a Rectangular Snip
If you’re a PC user, try the Snipping Tool and share with us a creative way you’re using it. Mac users: what’s the easiest way you’ve found to take screenshots?
Memorize English Phonetic Spelling With Me
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When I’m listening to the radio, the hosts and advertisers often rattle off website addresses so quickly that I can’t figure out what they said.
You may have experienced the same problem during phone conversations, when spelling a name or address.
Whenever this happens to me, I guess at a word to substitute for the letter. And I end up sounding stupid when I say things like, “P is for… er… potato. Or is it panda?… or preposition?
I’ve decided it’s time to memorize the English Phonetic Spelling (also called the NATO Phonetic Alphabet). A phonetic alphabet is a list of spoken words substituted for letters of the English alphabet. It helps prevent confusion between similar-sounding letters (m and n) and to clarify potentially garbled transmission.
If you don’t already have this list memorized, I invite you to join me in this quest. Someone suggested to start by spelling your name, than your company or address. Soon, you’ll know the whole alphabet!
I’m starting with my first name, Laura: Lima Alpha Uniform Romeo Alpha
English Phonetic Spelling (Print and carry it with you)
A Alpha
B Bravo
C Charlie
D Delta
E Echo
F Foxtrot
G Golf
H Hotel
I India
J Juliet
K Kilo
L Lima
M Mike
N November
O Oscar
P Papa
Q Quebec
R Romeo
S Sierra
T Tango
U Uniform
V Victor
W Whisky
X X-ray
Y Yankee
Z Zulu
Anyone have other great memory devices to share?
Should I Buy a Kindle?
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Amazon has slashed the price of their Kindle
Is it time for me to buy one, or should I hold off in hopes that they’ll slash prices even further by Christmas?
The reason for the price decrease, according to an Associated Press article, is because of a price war with Barnes & Noble, which dropped the price on its Nook device to $199.
The pricing history for the Kindle looks like this:
- 2007, debut – $399
- 2009, October – $259
- 2010, June – $189
- 2010, December – Can we predict another $70 drop, down to $119?
Similar to the advent of digital cameras for consumers, I believe the e-book reader market is going to grow slowly, but steadily, and will see adoption on a mass scale once the price for readers drops below $100.
Interesting note from the AP article: only 9 percent of U.S. adults bought at least one e-book last year.
So, should I buy a Kindle now? Cast your vote in the poll below, and please share your comments about the the pros and cons of your own e-book reader!
Loading ...New Web-based List-Making Tool: TeuxDeux (Review)
Posted by: | CommentsI’m always looking for tools to help business professionals (including myself) stay organized. Discovered a new to-do list-making tool called, appropriately, TeuxDeux.
I’ve been testing this free, Web-based tool this week (you just need to create a username and password to use it) and it’s about as simple as they come.
- The interface is clean and displays five days at a time (you can scroll the calendar forwards and backwards as needed).
- Just enter your to-do item in the box and hit “Enter.” Presto; your item shows up on the list for that day. Add as many items for each day as you need.
- Scroll down your screen and you’ll see a “Someday” list. I like this, because many items on my to-do list can be categorized as “Someday, maybe, hopefully I’ll get around to doing this.”
- To mark an item “done,” hover over it with your mouse and click. It strikes through the list item, giving you the satisfaction of crossing something off your list. For an extra thrill, you can also delete the item completely after striking through it, by clicking the red X next to the item.
Even if you decide not to try TeuxDeux, I recommend that you watch the short demo video below. It’s highly entertaining!
TeuxDeux Demo from TeuxDeux on Vimeo.
My wish list for TeuxDeux:
- I want a printable version so I can keep a hard copy handy at all times, instead of having to access my list from my browser.
- I want to be able to see my entire list item at one time, instead of just the first couple of words (currently, you have to hover over the ellipsis in each item to see the expanded version.
- I want the ability to edit any item. I can’t find any way to do that, other than to re-create the item (which is a waste of time).
- I want to undo my mistakes. I accidentally crossed off an item, but couldn’t un-cross it. An “undo” button would solve that problem.
Related article:
Live in the Seattle Area? Here’s a Great Factory Tour
Posted by: | CommentsIf you like taking tours of factories and live in the Seattle area, here’s a must-dotour: Travis Industries House of Fire Tour.
During the tour, you’ll learn more than you ever thought possible about how wood, gas, pellet stoves and fireplaces are built.
Tours (which are free and include a complimentary box lunch) are being offered Wednesday mornings (9-11 a.m.) in December:
- Dec 2
- Dec 9
- Dec 16
I wrote two guest blog posts about the tour for Rich’s for the Home – a review of the tour I took, and an interview with Kurt Rumens, president of Travis Industries.
- Take This Hot Factory Tour – You Won’t Regret It
- A Man Who Loves Fire: Kurt Rumens, Founder of Lopi Stoves
You need to pre-register for the tour; complete details are on Rich’s blog, in either of the above posts.
How to Create a Hacker-Resistant Password
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Did you know that identity thieves use password-hacking software to break into your site?
The Fall 2009 issue of USAA Magazine gives three good tips for creating hacker-resistant passwords:
1. Lengthy.
At least eight characters.
2. Multi-character
A combo of numbers, symbols, punctuation, uppercase and lowercase letters.
3. Memorable.
Build your super-long password around a sentence. For example, “In Super Bowl 43, Pittsburgh defeated Arizona 27 to 23″ becomes ISB43,PdA27t23.
Daniel Scocco of DailyBlogTips suggests developing your own password algorithm (and he explains how to do it in his helpful article).
One of Daniel’s readers, Dean at ProCopyTips, suggested an algorithm I like:
Use the longest password you can… Length is more important than complexity because if someone is going to use brute force to break your password, they’re probably going to work through all available characters. A password that is 10 to 12 characters is very hard to break. Get it up to 20 characters, and it become nearly unbreakable.
All you really need is a “pass phrase” that is variable. For example, make up a sentence you can remember but which others can’t guess: My cat Smoochy has 9 lives and 4 legs. Take the first letter or numeral of each word: McSh9la4l. That gives you 9 characters.
Now add the name of the website: Key Word Suggestion Tool. This translates to KWST. Put your pass phrase together with the site name and you get McSh9la4lKWST. So your password is 13 characters and strong. Make it more complex or longer if you choose.
It’s also a good idea to create different passwords for the sites you use most, such as your Web site, blog, Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. That way, if hackers breach one of your sites, they can’t get in to all your others.
Let’s hear from you, readers. Are your passwords hacker-resistant? Please share the methods that work for you.
Happy 50th, ‘Elements of Style’
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When I was in high school, I read Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Just for fun. (Yeah, I know I’m weird.)
The little volume — considered a must-read for every writer and wannabe writer — was ancient when I read it. Published in April 1959, the book has sold more than 10 million copies during its lifetime.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Longman Publishers released a special black leather-bound, gold-embossed edition.
I like The Elements of Style‘s emphasis on the basics:
- Use active voice.
- Use simple words, not fancy ones.
- Show; don’t tell.
- Keep it short.
Please share your Elements of Style memory.
Source:
Kates, William. “Omit Needless Words: ‘Elements of Style’ Turns 50.” The Seattle Times, March 21, 2009
The 10 Most Important Things to Do Today
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Years ago, the president of General Motors asked a consultant how to improve his business.
The consultant handed him a narrow pad with these words printed across the top: “The Ten Most Important Things for Me to Do Today.”
The consultant said, “Try one of these pads for 90 days, and then send me a check for whatever you feel the idea has been worth to your firm.”
Ninety days later, the president of GM sent the consultant a check for $25,000.
Goes to show the value of prioritizing-and of committing to meeting realistic short-term goals.
I find 10 items overwhelming, and choose to focus on a maximum of five work-related tasks each day. For me, that’s doable.
Today, my five items include:
- Research & begin drafting a social media marketing proposal for client A.
- Draft proposal for client B based on phone conversation we had.
- Organize notes & draft keynote presentation for March 14 adoption conference
- Call client and finalize details of contract.
- Write two blog posts for BloggingBistro.com (one down!)
What’s on your list?
Your assignment: For the next 90 days, prioritize your top 5 or top 10 things to do. Then send us a check for whatever you feel the idea was worth to you. (Just kidding about the check — but do report back to us on June 2, 2009 and let us know how the experiment worked.
Source:
“Achieve Your Writing Goals: Eight Keys to Success as a Christian Writer,” by Agnes Cunningham Lawless, Northwest Christian Author newsletter, March/April 2009. Thanks for the tip, dear friend Agnes!