Need some help creating some character names? Check out these useful sites that have very interesting tools to generate names and do research on names:
Month: August 2006
Google Book Search
Trying to recall a magical quote from your favorite book? Wondering who else has used the character name 'John Hoggins'? Google's new Book Search feature allows you to do this and more.
Try it out at Google Book Search
One-Step Flash and Java with EasyUbuntu
I have a couple of PCs running Ubuntu Linux for my kids. The installation is easy and hassle-free, but don't include the much needed Flash and Java support for browsers for my kids to play games. Enter EasyUbuntu. One install does it all:
EasyUbuntu is an easy to use (duh!) script that gives the Ubuntu user the most commonly requested apps, codecs, and tweaks that are not found in the base distribution - all with a few clicks of your mouse.
EasyUbuntu is so easy to use in fact, that even your grandma could be playing encrypted dvds, streaming Windows Media, and sporting the latest Nvidia or Ati drivers in minutes!
One word of caution -- don't install Nvidia or Ati drivers unless you feel you really need them. I installed them and then my xserver GUI wouldn't load. The other installs worked flawlessly.
Get the software from EasyUbuntu
Common Errors in English
A great resource for any writer. Common English language mistakes or misconceptions are included in detail. Some examples:
- oversee/overlook
- palate/palette/pallet
- ran/run
- sail/sale/sell
- taken back/taken aback
Much of the content is online here: Common Errors in English
Project Collaboration with activeCollab
Finally! An open source, BaseCampHQ.com clone with great promise:
activeCollab is an easy to use, web based, open source collaboration and project management tool. Set up an environment where you, your team and your clients can collaborate on active projects using a set of simple, functional tools. 100% free!
Read more about this PHP based solution here: activeCollab
Only downside is that it requires PHP 5, which is still not available for many server installations.
Jumpstart Your Writing Efforts
Lot's of practical tips on becoming a writer, such as:
Stop talking about your novel or short story ideas and start writing. Get in the habit of writing for at least an hour every day, no matter what. One strategy is to get up an hour earlier than you have to, make yourself a cup of coffee and completely focus on your writing.
Read more at 52 Projects
Image SEO Guide
Some great tips in this article, including:
- Add a descriptive ALT tag
- Have the image name include your targeted keywords
- Put related content next your image.
From the Image SEO Guide
Drawing lessons from Drawspace.com
Web site Drawspace.com has a large collection of drawing tutorials for those with skills ranging from the casual doodler to the expert artist.
Keyboard Shortcuts for the Mac
Working on a Mac? Learn some of these shortcuts to boost your productivity:
Text
?A move to beginning of paragraph
?B move one character back
?D delete character to right
?E move to end of paragraph
?F move one character forward
?K delete text to end of paragraph
?N move to next line
?O insert newline
?P move to previous line
?T transpose characters
?? delete word to left
?? delete word to rightText Field
?? move one word left
?? move one word right
?? move to beginning of line
?? move to end of lineText View
?? move up one page
?? move down one page
?? move to beginning of line
?? move to end of line
?? move to beginning of view
?? move to end of view
Read other shortcuts Rixstep
Keyboard Shortcuts for Writing on the Mac
Doing your writing on a Mac? Learn some of these shortcuts to boost your productivity:
Text
?A move to beginning of paragraph
?B move one character back
?D delete character to right
?E move to end of paragraph
?F move one character forward
?K delete text to end of paragraph
?N move to next line
?O insert newline
?P move to previous line
?T transpose characters
?? delete word to left
?? delete word to right
Text Field
?? move one word left
?? move one word right
?? move to beginning of line
?? move to end of line
Text View
?? move up one page
?? move down one page
?? move to beginning of line
?? move to end of line
?? move to beginning of view
?? move to end of view
Read other shortcuts Rixstep