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Civility in critiquing the ideas of others is no vice. Rudeness in defending your own ideas is no virtue.


Mon 24 Nov 2014, 12:44 PM
I am at the point in life where I seek to find meaning in more than the pursuit of filthy lucre (though I'm happy to continue doing that as well). One of the ways is by supporting independent artists and musicians who have chosen a path less lucrative. I have little native artistic talent (though I have fun with Gimp and can write fairly well), but I can throw a few bucks here and there and help out those who make the world a more entertaining, beautiful place. Hence, my interest in Patreon, which I think of as  crowdfunding for the creative class. I have no incentive but to encourage those of you seeking some meaning to consider helping out some of the independent creative people who are making a go it with the help of Patreon. Or just discover interesting people to follow, even if you don't support them. As a business person, I'll probably inject my thoughts in how these artists and musicians are handling the business side of things as well.
 
 

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Fri 14 Nov 2014, 02:40 PM
It's been a while since I posted a Gimp 2.8 tutorial, though my recent one on Camtasia has been popular, so today I've released one which has two parts. The first part (about a minute long) shows a simple, but effective way to create a shadow for a cut-out figure when you paste it into a scene. It's easy and useful. The second part (about three minutes long) shows how to wake the shadow up and make it do something independent. Essentially, it becomes a cinemagraph (remember this one?) where the shadow is the only thing that moves. In fact, it is the one shown below the video.
 
 
Video is best watched in HD, and has closed captions for easier following along.
 
 
 
Inline GIF image
 

Copyright © 2014 Genii Software Ltd.

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Tue 4 Nov 2014, 01:25 PM
There's a famous riddle which you have probably heard before, but I'll repeat it here. Skip to the end if you already know it.

There is a small town in the midwest with exactly two barbershops, one on each side of town. The barbershop on the west side of town is pristine. Its floors are spotless, the windows are always perfectly clear, and the air always smells fresh. The barber has a friendly smile, shined shoes, a well-groomed head of hair, and a fancy shirt. The barbershop on the east side of town is a mess. Its floors and windows are dirty, and the air smells of garbage. The barber always has a grimace on his face. His skin is oily, his hair is short and ragged, and he has food on his clothes all the time. 

A man travelling through the town realizes he needs a haircut. Knowing the stories of the two barbers, the man decides to go to the dirty barbershop on the east side of town. Why does he do this? 

The answer, as you probably know, is that with only two barbers, the grumpy barber with the dirty shop must have cut the hair of the nice man with the clean shop. Since the nice barber has the better haircut, the man goes to the grumpy barber who must have cut his hair.

So, if you understand that, why do you assume that Notes mail renders fine based on the mail you receive? Don't be the clean barber who gives lousy haircuts.



Copyright © 2014 Genii Software Ltd.