13 posts tagged “diy”
Gimp, LogMeIn, Top 10 Microsoft Replacements from Lifehack.org, question and answer and more!
Link: Previously on LIVE from the Library
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Technorati Tags: DIY, howto, how-to, tutorial, technology, windows, macintosh, software, computers, email, high-tech
by Douglas E. Welch, agn@welchwrite.com
Reader/Listener Line - 818-804-5049
Links mentioned in this podcast:
The Lavender Fields - Photos
Animalbytes with Keri Dearborn
Squarefoot Gardening with Andy Helsby
A Gardener's Notebook Pictures on Flickr
A Gardener's Notebook Photo Sharing Group on Flickr
Theme Music: The One by The Woodshedders, aka the Hot Club of West Virginia, courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network
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Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, grow, build, make, DIY, howto, how-to, outdoors, losangeles, 91411
Keep in touch with your world and keep in touch with the world
Link: Previously on LIVE from the Library
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Technorati Tags: DIY, howto, how-to, tutorial, technology, windows, macintosh, software, computers, email, high-tech
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Transcript: If you remember the theme of this blog and podcast, it has always been to "Control your technology, don't let it control you!" In light of that, today's article is on how to make your computer and your programs act the way you want them to act, not the other way around.
First, every computer, every piece of software and every online service you use will have some preferences that can be altered by you. Sure, there will be default settings that work for the basics, but there can be anywhere from 1 to 100 different options that you can turn off and on, depending on how you want the program or service to operate.
The main reason I am writing on this topic is that nearly everyone I meet, whether friend or client, has some complaint about how their computer or software operates. Microsoft Word is the usual focus of their attacks. It has many features that try to be "friendly" and useful, but usually end up annoying most folks. So, I often find myself telling folks how to turn off this or that feature. The thanks I receive are amazingly heartfelt. After years of suffering under the tyranny of their software, they are free at last.
Now, you might not have such strong feelings about your software, but you can also learn a few things about your computer by checking out the preferences (or Options, as Windows insists on calling them) on your computer.
Let's start with the computer itself. On a computer running Microsoft Windows, the basic settings for Windows are held in the Control Panel. You should see Control Panel listed in your Start Menu, or it might be under Start Menu, Settings, Control Panel. There you will find items that let you change the size and resolution of your screen, network settings, uninstall programs and more. Look around there, and check out each individual Control Panel item. Don't worry, if you think you may have changed something by mistake, press the Cancel button to leave the Control Panel and the settings will remain unchanged.
On an Apple Macintosh computer, your basic preferences are found in the System Preferences application. This is always available from under the blue Apple menu, and it might also be available in your Dock. Just like with Windows, these System Preferences allow you to change the basic settings of your Mac.
Now, each program you use also contains its own preferences that are specific to the tasks that the program performs. Let's take Microsoft Word for example. On a Windows computer, you would select Tools Menu, Options... to see all the settings for the program.
I will admit, the Options page for a program like Word can look intimidating. Not only do you have one page showing 10-30 options, if you look at the top of the Options window, you will see tabs indicating another 10-12 pages of options, divided by category. Clicking on a tab brings that set of options to the front. Clicking OK saves any options you might have changed. Even though you won't have a need to change many of these options, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the options that are available. Then, repeat this for each program you use regularly.
On an Apple Macintosh, you can access preferences for each program by selecting Preferences under the Application menu (This is the menu, next to the blue Apple menu, that is the name of the program you are using. For example, if you are using Microsoft Word, the menu will read "Word".)
The next time your computer or software isn't working the way you wish, try checking out the Preferences and see if there is a way to change its behavior. You can find out more information about each preference by selecting the Help menu in most programs and searching for a particular Preference or operation.
Until next time, "Control your technology, don't let it control you!"
Technorati Tags: DIY, howto, how-to, tutorial, technology, windows, macintosh, software, computers, high-tech
All Things Blogging and More
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Technorati Tags: DIY, howto, how-to, tutorial, technology, windows, macintosh, software, computers, email, high-tech
by Douglas E. Welch, agn@welchwrite.com
Reader/Listener Line - 206-338-5832
Links mentioned in this podcast:
1st Annual Mouse & Trowel Award Finalist
The Water Lily Cross by Anthony Eglin - Review
Country Garden Fair - Sepulveda Garden Center - May 5 & 6
A Gardener's Notebook Pictures on Flickr
A Gardener's Notebook Photo Sharing Group on Flickr
Theme Music: The One by The Woodshedders, aka the Hot Club of West Virginia, courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network
Support A Gardener's Notebook:
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Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, grow, build, make, DIY, howto, how-to, outdoors, losangeles, 91411
I was doing some thinking during my son's ball game tonight and my mind turned back to 2 recent experiences. Both times, I was sitting around with friends who are not really tech geeks like myself. That said, the conversation eventually turned to blogging and podcasting, which they each do in a small way.
These conversations ended up spinning out into mini-conferences on all the great new tools there are available, the conventions of blogging and podcasting (how most people do things) and how to figure out the tech side in order to get some great projects moving forward.
Tonight, via Twitter (you can find me at dewelch), I floated the idea of a Los Angeles-based meetup to talk blogging and podcasting tech. I get together with other groups to chat about content and such, but we NEVER have enough time to share ideas about how, technically, to accomplish some of our ideas.
While I certainly don't know everything, I think I know enough to help facilitate such a group. Nothing pleases me more than getting someone blogging or podcasting, even in a small way. While the site may be rough around the edges or the podcast a bit unrefined, I love the fact that I helped people to get their message out there. I have met enough people, with enough varied knowledge, that I think we need to get together and share that knowledge. There is a pent-up demand for this information. People are just dying to talk about it.
So, if you have any interest in getting together over drinks, food or whatever, for a short tech demo, followed by massive and useful Q&A on all things blogging and podcasting, drop me a line at myword@welchwrite.com. The main goal is to get the information you need to take the next step with your blog or podcast.
While this meeting will be hosted in LA, there is nothing really stopping us from sending out a ustream.tv stream or a Talkshoe conference call to anyone else who wants to join in. Why not use some of these new tools to spread the word? (SMILE)
Let me know what you think!
Here are some possible points for discussion:
- Blogger
- Wordpress
- TypePad
- MySpace
- RSS feeds
- FeedBurner
- Web Hosting
- Libsyn
- Flickr
- Recording and Editing Audio and Video
- Advertising
- Categories
- Technorati
- Amazon Affiliates
- CDBaby
- Directories
- iTunes and its Quirks
- ...and much, much, more!
Read more: Previous "On Podcasting" posts
Technorati Tags: california, build, make, DIY, howto, how-to, podcast, podcasting, creativity, tutorial, losangeles, technology, software, computers, high-tech, freeware, shareware, free, tips, video, learning, education, tips, promotion, recording, record, blog, blogging, meetup, meeting
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Transcript:Last time, I talked about the fundamental commands contained in the File Menu on nearly any computer system. These commands allow you to create new documents, save documents, open them again and print out your work. The next menu to the right, the Edit Menu, contains important commands that allow you to work with your documents...adding, deleting and moving information as you create the final version. There will certainly be other commands in the Edit Menu, but Cut, Copy, Paste and Undo will always be found there.
Let's take the commands in the order they normally appear in the menu, from the top down.
Undo, Undo ...
One of the most important commands on any computer, Undo allows you to undo the last change you made to your document. Maybe you made your text bold by accident, or deleted an entire paragraph. No need to fear, simply select Edit, Undo and your changes will be removed. In most programs today, you even get multiple levels of undo, where you can step back through any number of changes one at a time.
You may notice that often the Undo menu choice will read Undo typing, or Undo bold or Undo followed by the name the action it will undo. This gives you an indication of what exact action the Undo will perform.
In the hierarchy of computer commands, Undo ranks as one of the highest, as it protects us from ourselves and our own mistakes.
Cut
Cut removes information from your document and places it in a hidden area called the "Clipboard". First, you select whatever text you wish to cut using the mouse, then select CUT. You can then place your cursor at another point in your document or another document entirely, and PASTE it into that document. Usually, you use CUT to take a paragraph from one part of your document and move it to another location.
Since Cut actually removes the content from your document it is important that you use Paste immediately after. This is because the clipboard can only hold one item at a time. If you were to Cut or Copy another item, the current item on the clipboard would disappear.
Copy
Copy works much like Cut, except it leaves the item in the document. You can then use Paste to insert a copy of the item into the current document or any other document you might have open.
Paste
The Paste command inserts whatever item is on the clipboard into your current document, wherever the cursor is located. For example, if you were moving a paragraph in a document, you would select the paragraph using your mouse and select CUT. Then you would move your cursor to where you wanted the paragraph to appear and then select Paste. Paste works exactly the same if you COPY a selection or CUT it.
Select All
This command does exactly what it says, it selects all the information in the current document. Then you can copy or cut the selected text or items and PASTE them into a new document.
The Edit menu is your most important ally when creating and modifying your documents. These commands are to your computer work, what walking, running and jumping are to your life. They make up most of your every day actions when working with your computer.
Technorati Tags: DIY, howto, how-to, tutorial, technology, windows, macintosh, software, computers, high-tech
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Technorati Tags: DIY, howto, how-to, tutorial, technology, windows, macintosh, software, computers, email, high-tech
by Douglas E. Welch, agn@welchwrite.com
Reader/Listener Line - 206-338-5832
Links mentioned in this podcast:
Video: Repairing a damaged drip irrigation line
A Gardener's Notebook Pictures on Flickr
A Gardener's Notebook Photo Sharing Group on Flickr
The 10-Minute Gardener: Removing Friction
1st Annual Mouse & Trowel Awards
Book Review: Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart
Amy Stewart.com
Theme Music: The One by The Woodshedders, aka the Hot Club of West Virginia, courtesy of the PodSafe Music Network
Support A Gardener's Notebook:
Join AGN Mailing List | iTunes Review | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Call the Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832
Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, grow, build, make, DIY, howto, how-to, outdoors, losangeles, 91411
