Wed, 23 May 2007 23:22:52 GMT

101 Adobe Photoshop Tips

Source:www.store.aramedia.com

Despite the plethora of graphics programs available to the digital photographer Adobe Photoshop still reigns supreme as the program of choice.

While Photoshop and its various cousins, such as Adobe Elements, offer practically every imaginable option to digitally manipulate your image files, there is the drawback of a steep learning curve for all these great features.

So, regardless of what version you are using, and unless you're a bona-fide expert with these programs, any help, especially shortcuts and quick tips are always most welcome.

Here's a helpful list of 101 Photoshop tips that should make life easier.

And this link will take you to a listing of more useful Photoshop tips. Posted by: jim      Read more     Source

Wed, 23 May 2007 23:01:17 GMT

Glitzy Swarovski Crystal Philips USB

Its very boring to look at computer ports. You would definitely welcome an idea, which brings uniqueness and style to these boring devices. Gadget fashionistas have understood the boring life of geeks and have added some spicy bling to their gadgets and electronic like this awesome USB pendants which are created by Swarovski & Philips. USB pendants are encrusted with Swarovski crystal and are protected by a user password. The 1GB USB is available in four different shapes of a HeartWare, Heart Beat, Lock In and Lock Out.

Till august you may carry on with your usual USB as by that time these glistening Philips USB pendants will hit the market. Sorry I am not able to tell you their cost as it is not yet disclosed.

Via

Images Posted by: Disha      Read more     Source

Mon, 21 May 2007 09:21:07 GMT

objects with voices

We've gone anthropomorphic crazy in our house. First it was objects with faces. And now I've realised that everything's talking to us. Well not quite everything. We've been living with Nabaztag (archibald2 at nabaztag.com) for a while. Though the only thing he really does for us is announce the time in a serious of (sometimes annoying, often genuinely funny) eccentric ways. It's a top thing. My only gripe is that Nabaztag Tag is made from more brittle plastic than the previous model and it seriously affects the quality of the clocky sounds he makes before announcing the time. The previous one had a nice dull resonance which made the noises coming from him seem almost organic. The new one's a bit too tinny.



Nab is now joined by Jeeves / Stephen Fry, embodied in this splendid (and quite reasonably priced) alarm clock. He wakes you up with gentle, butler-y insistence and with great sound reproduction. It's nothing like the badly robotic Tomy sounds of the past. I like these slightly humanised objects. It feels like the future we were once sold.

And it strikes me that there's an element of unproduct about all these things. The Nab can go on being renewed ad infinitum, (though it's not great that he's always on) and I guess it would be possible to create a version of the Fry alarm clock that could be updated remotely. Though presumably not for the same price. And I have to admit that the addition of the facial stickers to my phone has delayed my inevitable purchase of an N95. Posted by: Russell      Read more     Source

Mon, 21 May 2007 04:01:29 GMT

Is Invisibility Possible?

The Science Alberta Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to increase science literacy and awareness, has recently launched this outdoor ambient advertisement campaign. The campaign stresses on an interesting, compelling and inquisitive subject of invisibility about which everybody is curious about. The advertisement was placed strategically at the bus shelters. The advertisement has used a poster on an opaque wall of a bus shelter that gives impression of a see through image. The campaign has intelligently drawing attention and giving hope that even this is possible with the development of science.

The presentation of the campaign is certainly impressive but it certainly remains uncertain that it might have compelled people to think in this regard and persuade them to have a career in Science. In addition, the advertisement was apparently weather sensitive and a slightest change in weather could reduce the effectiveness of the advertisement. The text of the advertisement reads, ‘Is invisibility possible? Invent your future with a career in science.’ The campaign was created by MacLaren McCann, Calgary, Canada.

Via Coolzor
Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:43:54 GMT

Greatest Hits

Could this be Charlie's kiss good-bye? We'll have to wait until tonight's episode to see if Desmond's premonitions come true. The spoilers are out there for both this episode and the finale and I've been working my hardest to avoid the temptation to read them. Remember to keep the comments spoiler free so that we can all have the opportunity to partake in the show's revelations as they were meant to be enjoyed. Happy Lost Day everyone! Posted by: Kim      Read more     Source

Sun, 20 May 2007 19:01:15 GMT

Shining the Light on Great Ideas

Idea Cafe was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best all-in-one sites for small business owners. Have you stopped by the cafe for a beverage and a chat?

According to The Journal, "all-in-one web sites catering to small business have popped up like T-shirt peddlers at a rock concert." but WSJ felt only Idea Cafe and six others were worth mention. The Wall Street Journal lauded Idea Cafe in particular for its:

strThisFilePathOnline tools, forms, and how-tos

Distinctive fun and friendly homepage ("if somethat garish")

Candid and helpful Coffee Talk With Experts discussions

Spirited active CyberSchmooz community, and

Overall "friendly and engaging feel."

The Journal quoted Idea Cafe CEO Francie Ward regarding why Idea Cafe has been so successful in creating its bond with small business. "So many companies trying to reach small business don't have a clue," Ms. Ward says. "That's our language. We know what kinds of problems (small business owners) are dealing with."

-- For the full story, WSJ.com, Special Reports/Breakaway-Focus on Small Business, Full Service Sites

Need money for your new great business idea? Idea Cafe has business grants - in fact there are a few you can apply for today - check it out.

When I lived in Boston I would travel to Harvard Square and have coffee at a little cafe there. Just me, my coffee and my paper.

I always felt that my IQ soared when in the midst of such knowledge, passion and experience for students mingled with professionals and professors. I would observe those around me, check out what they were reading, eaves drop on their conversations.

The Idea Cafe is kind of like that experience except the coffee is free. You just have to make it yourself.

So stop in at the Cafe and see what's cookin'.

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Professional Writer, Lover of New Ideas
AllWrite Ink

Posted by: Deborah Brown      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 21:24:31 GMT

CARE Austria: An Earthquake Effects More Than Buildings

This is an impressive and hard and to some extent hitting print advertisement launched by CARE Austria to make people aware of the damage inflicted by earthquakes on the lives of people. The campaign evidently tries to underscore the fact that not only earthquakes damage buildings and landscapes but adding to people’s misery it also affects the average income of people. The advertisement is showing barren land with a crack caused by earthquake to depict a decline graph of average income of people.

The presentation of the advertisement is undeniably very remarkable that conveys its message in a very direct way. Another fascinating aspect of the presentation is its simplicity despite the fact that the basic idea has earlier been used many a times. The copy of the ad reads, ‘Average income. An earthquake effects more than buildings.’ The advertisement was developed by Demner, Merlicek & Bergmann, Vienna, Austria.

Via Ads of the World Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 16:34:18 GMT

Federal Loans for Coal Plants Raises Worry for Global Warming

Despite criticism, U.S government allows soft loans to built coal plants even as Congress promises to take possible measure to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists blame that coal plant disgorges carbon dioxide, which is responsible for global warning.

Government pledges to generate pollution free power sources to fight global warming, but the nation’s rural electric cooperatives are getting biggest booty out of government generosity. Co-op plan to spend $35 billion to build conventional coal plants over the next 10 years, which totally offset federal efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S., Office of Management and Budget seek to curtail loans for new power plants, but the powerful National Rural Electric Cooperative Association pressurizing Congress to keep the program going arguing that it is necessary to keep electricity cheap in rural areas. Environmentalists have shown their apprehensions over the program and urge the government to focus on renewable resources.

Rural co-ops get their 80 percent power from coal plants compare with 50 percent for the rest of the country. The customers own Rural-utility cooperatives, and the federal loan reduced the cost of new power generation by 15 percent. Co-ops claims for the soft loans to meet the current demand on the reasonable costs as its members per capita is 15 percent lower than the national average.

Image: sierraclub

Via: washingtonpost Posted by: Rahulbhandari      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 11:24:59 GMT

China Loosens Banking Regulations

China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) has stepped on the path of liberalization in banking sector by announcing a new policy on Friday. China has decided to allow its commercial banks to buy stocks abroad.

In a move aimed at curbing the rising liquidity and check soaring forex reserves in the country, the state has given official go-ahead to a policy under which banks and institutional investors can gain exposure to foreign equity funds. Under the fresh guidelines, a commercial bank holding QDIIs (qualified domestic institutional investor certificates) can issue wealth management products that invest in overseas stocks. Chinese commercial banks can invest up to 50 per cent of the funds pooled under the QDII programme. These guidelines were issued by CBRC in a statement on its website on Friday.

The long awaited banking liberalization regime is set to unleash some of the vast foreign currency reserves of the country. China holds the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world estimated at 35 trillion Yuan ($4.6 trillion). The new rules will allow foreign fund managers to tap Chinas $2,000 billion in retail bank deposits, worlds largest savings pool. The foreign managers will be saved from the trouble of forming mandatory domestic operations. CBRC said that the domestic investors must have at least 300,000 Yuan ($38,900) to purchase financial products.

Under the previous QDII system, qualified banks were restricted to buying bonds, money-market products and fixed-income derivatives. Banks are still forbidden from investing in hedge funds, commodity derivatives and securities rated below the investment grade, according to CBRC. Banks are also barred from investing their own money in such investments. Net value of investment in a single stock is capped at 5 per cent of a wealth management product.

Analysts claim that the improvement over last years QDII will be a win-win for both - the mainland investors and the Hong-Kong based financial markets. It will suck the excess liquidity out of the banking sector and enable the country to use its vast reserves of foreign exchange. I believe that the analysts who claim that this may cause a stock market crash would be proven wrong. I think the Chinese investors have not yet grown out of their fear of foreign markets and a whole scale exodus of funds from the market is not even on distant horizons.

Image

Source Posted by: Gagan      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 06:24:53 GMT

Fay Grim.

"The Long Island-bred [Hal] Hartley is trying to shake up his aesthetic - shake it up without forsaking his gift for deadpan comedy and loopy little playlets in which misfits reach out clumsily from their solipsistic bubbles," writes David Edelstein in New York. "In Fay Grim, he deposits the characters he has already created (and the actors he adores) into an up-to-the-minute, labyrinthine paranoid-conspiracy thriller like Syriana, so that those solipsistic bubbles are burst by the brutality of modern geopolitics. It's a rich idea - a Hartley-esque variation on the theme of American Innocents Abroad. And it works superbly until - well, Grim's the word."

"Hartley didn't merely direct this film," notes Anthony Lane in the New Yorker. "He also wrote, edited, and co-produced it, and apparently tried to cram into it everything that has consumed or appalled him in the years since Henry Fool..... If the movie kept pace with Fay's bafflement, all might have been well, and I was happy to hear Jeff Goldblum reel off reams of political paranoia at dazzling speed, like a court official in a Gilbert and Sullivan song. What happens, though, and what lures the film into disaster, is that Hartley lets slip his sense of humor (always his strongest asset) and begins to believe his own plot."

Updated. Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source