Flickr FREE account - making it work

Flickr is a great service for storing online photographs. First of all, it's FREE and allows unlimited storage and you can always download the original sized images to boot. Of course, despite these fantastic features, the FREE service is limited to 300MB uploads a month and also only being able to see the most recent 500 uploads on your photostream; the old uploads are still there but are lost on the photostream and Flickr hopes you'll cough up the $24 per year to get them back on your photostream again.

If you wanted to be REALLY cheap (which I can be :)) you could track every URL of every picture you've ever uploaded and never need to become a paying customer (but that really is kind of cheap, especially since Flickr isn't all too pricey anyway). I won't go on about all the alternative photo-sharing sites available in this post, however, because there ARE alternatives, but since I am a fan of FLICKR (and have been since well before Flickr took over YAHOO Photo's), I am going to focus on a few tricks I've developed to keep my free account alive and working for me.

The basic concept is simple: you upload your pictures in batches every month (and if you take more than 300MB of decent photo's in a month this won't really work out for you and you'll need to buy into Flickr's service, which I think is what they expect to be the case) and then you copy and paste the picture URLs into a spreadsheet for easy referral later on. I've set up a GOOGLE SPREADSHEET for this and I have categories and sub-categories so it's easy to search for what I want, and then just hit the URL to load up the picture (if it's lost on my photostream).

The problem comes in when you have to manually copy and paste one hundred shortcuts; this can be REALLY time consuming, so instead I've set up a basic EXCEL MACRO to do most of the work for me. It's still a bit laborious, but to save $2 a month is worth the satisfaction for me, although truth be told I am only moments away from becoming a paying subscriber because I really don't like the monthly upload limitations for the FREE account.

Anyway, I digress: the point is, you can keep your FREE account alive and kicking using the following tricks that I've hacked together.

Free Steam Games List

A buddy of mine reminded me of this site, and he wants to share the love, so I'm sharing the love on my blog :)

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851573

At the time of writing (and as Oltman points out, last updated 2011/01/23) the list included, amongst others:

For all Steam users:
Alien Swarm: install - storefront
America's Army 3: install - storefront
BattleForge [1][4][7]: install
Between [1][4]: install - storefront
Codename Gordon: install
COIL [1]: install - storefront
Mightier [1]: install - storefront
Moonbase Alpha: install - storefront
Peggle Extreme: install - storefront
Sam & Max: Episode 4: install - storefront
Spacewar: install
TrackMania Nations Forever [2]: install - storefront

Software: DisplayFusion

It's the 21st century now and if you spend your entire (working) life at a computer desk, you'll probably find yourself benefiting from running dual screen. One monitor is your "regular" and "always-on" applications (i.e. email, usually) and the other monitor is your "occasional" applications (i.e. IM, random browsing, and such). If you're a serious I.T. big-wig (i.e. "nerd") then you'll probably find multi-tasking is a whole lot easier with dual-screen: application development or systems administration is just a lot simpler with two or more monitors. The major hurdle is often how to quickly and easily shift displays across, aside, above, below. This is where DisplayFusion steps in!

Image used without permission but for promotional purposes so it's okay :)

* if you don't use multi-screen, jump to the bottom of the post for tips on how DisplayFusion can still benefit your sad single-screen life...

DisplayFusion claims that it will "make your multi-monitor life much easier" and it really does! Some of the features include:

• Multi-monitor taskbar
• Advanced Wallpaper Management
• Window Snapping
• ... and so much more

Of course, many of these features come at a price, but for the sake of my post, I will focus on the FREE stuff, since most of my followers (read: friends and family) are cheap-skates :)

• Different image on each monitor
• HotKeys (for move, size, span, "always on top", transparency)
• Includes move to centre, move to next monitor, size and move to bottom/left/right/top
• This is worth the whole application IMHO and is also as useful on a single screen scenario.
• Customisable TitleBar Button
• Toggle Window Edge Snapping

A comprehensive FREE vs. PRO comparison can be made here.

... and like I alluded to earlier: if you don't own multiple screens on your current setup, you should still find the HotKeys for moving and sizing the window very helpful, and I really think this feature alone is worth the download!

SUPER 15 RUGBY FIXTURES CALENDAR 2011

[ UPDATE: 13 Feb 2012 ]


If you want the 2012 fixtures calendar check out this post: http://brattex.blogspot.com/2012/02/super-15-rugby-fixtures-calendar-2012.html


[ UPDATE: 28 Feb 2011 12:40pm]

There was a glitch with the fixtures for 11 March landing up on 1 March instead. Have fixed that so please update your calendars if it isn't set to synch.

[ UPDATE: 17 Feb 2011 11:40pm]

The downloadable calendar somehow has a region timezone error and adds a double +2 for South African calendars, so everything was starting 2 hours later than it should have. 


I've now created a whole new calendar that works properly when importing into GOOGLE CALENDAR, and as an extra bonus I've included the play-offs at the end and the proper durations  (i.e. start and stop times) for each match. I'll admit I also considered renaming "Durban" to "Kings Park!!" but decided in the end to try to remain professional in case someone else used my stuff. 


Click here to download the CSV file for importing into your favourite calendar application

[ END OF UPDATE: 17 Feb 2011 11:40pm ]

If you want to add the Super Rugby Calendar for 2011 to your (insert technology here) then follow these links to grab the GOOGLE CALENDAR. I've shared it so you should be able to grab it directly and link to it.

Note: This has been verified to work with GOOGLE CALENDAR and BLACKBERRY OS5.* and upwards.

ICAL:

http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/migbst3pjflpdpb441l8f89i6g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics

* you can add iCal format calendars directly into your GOOGLE CALENDAR account by loading up calendar.google.com and then at the bottom under "Other calendars" clicking Add by URL.

XML:
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/migbst3pjflpdpb441l8f89i6g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic

HTML:
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=migbst3pjflpdpb441l8f89i6g%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Africa/Johannesburg
* you can bookmark this on any device that has an HTML browser and you'll always have the calendar directly at your fingertips.
** I've set up a tinyurl to point to the calendar, and it's located at: 

tinyurl.com/Super152011

I can't take all the credit for this, I found the rugbyoracle wordpress and took the calendar from there, but it didn't import (the steps are included there if you want to go straight to the source and try for yourself) so I had to do some tweaking to get it working. Thanks also to The Robert Group Financial Advisor blogspot that also helped point me to the source.

Free Thunderstone promo pack!

If you're at all interested in CCG (AKA "deck-building") then this may interest you: AEG is giving away 4,000 promo packs of their best-selling Thunderstone Card game!

I won't bore you with the details, because it's free and worth a look :)

http://www.alderac.com/thunderstone/free-thunderstone-promo-pack/ to sign up and snag your own FREE deck!

Resolving LOGTRANSPORT2.EXE

Having some memory problems or CPU slow-downs and you have Adobe Reader installed? If you've found a pesky process called LOGTRANSPORT2.EXE running, then chances are it's consuming up to 1GB of RAM. If you end the process, it just comes back. Here's how to finally remove it once-and-for-all if you don't want to replace Adobe Reader with another PDF reader (and note: it won't affect functionality of anything on your system).

1. Load up Adobe Reader, and go to Help and Improvement Program Options.
2. Select No, thank you.
3. That's it!

Another petrol hike, another mass exodus to the stations

And for what? Honestly, it's always amazed me that so many people flock to the petrol stations to fill up just before the increase because I'm doubtful they reckon the savings.

For example, we're expecting a 28c/litre increase at midnight tonight, so a friend of mine urges us to fill up to save money, and I'm sure most people think the same way.

Let's take a few calculations into effect here:

On a 40l tank, that's R11.20 extra per tank, or in this case if you were on 0l when you filled up, a once-off saving of R11.20.

On a 80l tank, that's R22.40 extra per tank, or in this case if you were on 0l when you filled up, a once-off saving of R22.40.

On a 100l tank, that's R28 extra per tank, or in this case if you were on 0l when you filled up, a once-off saving of R28.

First of all, I'm pretty sure no-one is totally dry when they reach the station, so they'll only incur a fraction of the savings listed above. If people are on average half-full (or half-empty) when they go, the 40l owner saves R5.60, 80l saves R11.20 and 100l owner saves R14.

This leads to my second and final point on the matter: if you're driving the 100l car, I'm pretty sure that making an out-of-the-way trip to the service station is going to use up more time than the R14 saving would be worth to you, not so?

PS: compliments of the season!

Zombies spotted in GAME Pavilion!!

Beware!!

My 11,600th day on Earth!

Crack out the bubbly and get your party hats on because tomorrow (Saturday 4 December) is my 11,600th day on God's beautiful green Earth! Yes, that's right! I'm turning 11,600 days old tomorrow!

What a relief!

The water is still mineral water! I was worried there for a moment that maybe it had turned into sludge!

Remember the Poppies!

Today is the day to buy your poppy in remembrance of those fallen in the pursuit of freedom for the rest of us!

BlackApps: ScreenShot FREE

Enter my second installment of BlackBerry App reviews: ScreenShot FREE by S4BB Limited.

For the full list of BlackApp options, visit http://tinyurl.com/BlackApps or go to https://spreadsheets3.google.com/ccc?key=tzaQAeEd4i1RrTG4_ZO5Klw&hl=en_GB#gid=4



Vendor explanation:

With ScreenShot you can take a screen shot of your current BlackBerry® screen with just one click.

Features:
* Takes screen shots and saves them on the sd card / internal memory
* Illustrated how to for setting up ScreenShot on a convenience key for 1-click screen shot taking
* Real camera shutter sound
* After screen shot is taken it can be sent by email easily
* No time limitation

* This FREE version DOES NOT allow for program options change - if you want to do the following, please purchase FULL version.
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/3301

* Screen shots can be queued up for easy batch sending by email
* No branding in screen shot
* Options can be adjusted:
-- File name conventions
-- Alert settings (camera sound, vibration, dialog can be turned on/off)
-- Time delay before screen shot is taken
-- Image format (PNG, BMP, GIF, JPEG, TIFF, WBMP)
-- Storage settings: custom directory

What it all means is that you get a free ScreenShot app to use on your BB. It will take shots and save them to your SD card and make a camera shutter sound when it takes the shot. You can then email the resultant file as an attachment. If you want to pay up, you get a host of additional options and features, including choosing file formats for your images and custom directories for saving the files. Of course, the FREE version watermarks the pictures, which is a downside with this app, but it still does the job and while somewhat limited, the FREE version still allows you to incorporate a convenience key and is integrated into your BB menu button.


PRO's of the FREE version:

• FREE
• Easy to use
• Integrated into menu
• Can email screenshots
• Supports convenience key

CON's

• Watermark
• Relatively large when compared to alternatives
• There appear to be better alternatives, but I haven't reviewed them yet.

ScreenShot FREE can be located here:

https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/11567?lang=en

S4BB Limited can be located here:

https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/vendor/102?lang=en

BlackApps: SMSRelay

I have a confession to make: despite owning a BlackBerry handset for almost six years I didn't really bother with BlackBerry App's until about two weeks ago, and since I started to dig into them I've found quite a few that are really fantastic - almost ESSENTIAL (oh boy, here BrYan goes again).

I've decided to entitle my series of BlackBerry App reviews "BlackApps" because it sounds cool :)

My first BlackApp review is going to be about SMSRelay by Manse eSolutions Inc. 

Getting the date and time right: YY/MM/DD vs. DD/MM/YY

A recent comment made by one of my readers (yes, you know who you are, since you're the only reader :)) has spurred me on to writing this reply. It's simply to put the world in the know, because I fear South Africa will forever be trapped in the cycle of inefficiency and stupidity until we see the logic in the way the date should be organised:


First of all, I don't change the time standard as my esteemed reader alleges. I USE THE LOGICAL time standard. Have you ever wondered why the USA is leaps ahead of RSA in terms of efficiency and development? Here's why:

USA uses the date format of YY/MM/DD vs. the RSA standard format of DD/MM/YY.
If we had a phone bill received on the 1st of every month, then they would be sorted by date as follows:

USA:
2010/01/01 (January)
2010/02/01 (February)
2010/03/01 (March)
and so on

RSA:
01/01/2010 (January)
01/02/2010 (February)
01/03/2010 (March)
and so on

If we want to file all of our telephone bills into folders, if they all arrived on the 1st of the month, then in the USA they'd be filed in a cabinet labeled 2010 in a folder labeled "January", "February", "March" and so on. In RSA they'd be filed in a cabinet labeled "Day 1" in a folder labeled "January". In the USA you'd need one cabinet per year, and in RSA you'd need one cabinet per day (i.e. 31 cabinets per year).

If we wanted to filter out the a phone bill from November 2010, if it was sorted by RSA format we'd need to dig into the file of "1st's" and sift through piles of notes from January through to December 2000 through to 2010 before we found the one we wanted. In other words, to find November 2010's phone bill, you'd dig into a folder of about 120 notes because they've been filed by the Day and then the Month and then only the Year.

The US standard of YY/MM/DD is much more logical because to find November 2010, you start in the 2010 (YY) folder, then the 11 (MM) folder, and then hey presto, there's only one phone bill in that folder.

I am not for the illogical pounds and ounces and inches stuff, but the date sorting makes sense, and that's how I've always used it.

To verify my explanation, go ahead and see for yourself: click on the DATE tab in your explorer and see how it sorts your files - if it's DD/MM/YY does it help you to find your date-organised files as efficiently as if you sorted by YY/MM/DD?

Prepare your clocks! 2010/11/12 @ 13:14:15

Yes, you got it; another fancy time moment is upon us, and this one is kinda nifty...

12 November 2010 at 14 minutes and 15 seconds past 1pm it will read:
2010/11/12 @ 13:14:15 ... that's 10/11/12@13:14:15 ... set your alarms!

Cool huh?