History API

The History API is an API to give you control over the browser history.

The History API is an API to give you control over the browser history. In other words, you can add, delete, and change titles and URLs in the browser history field so that when your readers click the back button, they go to a URL that you have specified.

It is useful for photo gallery (when using Ajax to browse the image on the same page).  With the History API, you can change the URI to reflect the exact photo and the user can bookmarks the page and will return to the last photo they view.

If the browser doesn't support History API, this script history.js will help.

more info on how to use history API...

Quick Sync Video

The 2nd Generation Intel Core Processors (i3/i5/i7) have build-in visuals for quicker video editing and sharing.

Get details on Intel® Quick Sync Video

Lighting Ratio

This lighting ratio helps determine the amount of contrast between the highlights and shadows.

ratio	f-stop difference	description
1:1	no difference	flat lighting
2:1	1 Stop	general slide film
3:1	1 stop and 1/3 ish	black & white
4:1	2 stops	shadowing/contouring
8:1	4 stops-ish	dramatic low key

1:1 - two light sources with the same power
2:1 - if subject is shot at f5.6, then the background is twice the light, i.e. f8

Flash meters and manual control (multiple lights)

When you have multiple lights set up, you can turn them on one at a time, pointing the meter toward each light (not the camera) in turn.

By measuring each light separately, you can set the ratio between them.

Flash meters and manual control

measure exposure

• stand at the subject location
• point the meter toward the camera 
• fire the flash
• read the result and
• set your lens aperture accordingly

Nikon Autofocus: AFS / AFC

AF-S: Single Focus

• when you press the shutter button half way down as long as your finger stays down on the button your focus will not change.
• It is good to use the Single point AF
• Good for group picture (since the focus is lock and I don't want to re-focus again if people are moving around)

AF-C: Continuous

• as long as your finger is pressed half way down it is gong to continue to focus on what ever subject is in the focusing square.
• It is good to use the Dynamic Area AF (3D is no good, the focus keeps switching when tracking the subject)

Nikon Autofocus: Auto Area AF

Auto Area AF (formerly Close Subject Priority AF)
The camera automatically selects a AF point within the viewfinder - focusing on the closest subject.  With Type D or Type G lenses, the lens sends distance information to the camera, assisting the camera to find the closest subject within the AF area to select a AF point to use.

Ideal for handing the camera over to a stranger to take a picture of you, also it could be used in many shooting scenarios but expect some out of focus images that is caused by either back-focusing or front-focusing.

Nikon SB800 Color-Gel Filters

SB-800 comes with two colored Gel filters:

• the FL-G1 for taking flash pictures under fluorescent light and 
• the TN-A1 for use with incandescent/tungsten light

With digital cameras, if you shoot flash pictures under fluorescent light with the camera's white balance set to Flash, the main subject illuminated by the flash will look normal. However, the background will come out green. To compensate, use the FL-G1 (green gel filter) to convert the light coming from the flash to the same color as fluorescent light, then adjust the camera's white balance to Fluorescent. 


Follow a similar procedure when shooting flash pictures under incandescent/tungsten illumination using the TN-A1 filter. In this case, set the white balance to Incandescent.

Nikon Autofocus: Dynamic Area AF

Dynamic Area AF
The Dynamic Area AF is separated into two different functions, depending on the AF Drive (AF-S and AF-C only) set on the camera.

In AF-S Drive, the camera will focus in only one AF point selected by the user.
In AF-C Drive, the camera will focus on only one AF point and its surroundings selected by the user.

Again, in AF-C Drive, once a subject is moving away from the main AF point (central), the surrounding AF points, that lies around the main AF point, sends the distance information to make quick focus adjustment to the main AF point to get the off-center subject, which is located within the surrounding AF points, in focus.
In higher end digital and film SLR's, it allows the user to choose total amount of AF points:
9 Points

• Ideal for photographing any subjects that will move predictable, such as football, basketball, weddings, rock concerts, wildlife, and some portraits

21 Points

• any subjects that will move unpredictable, such as runners (not large group) or skateboarders.

39/51 Points and

• for very isolated subjects that moves very quick and difficult to frame within the viewfinder's AF area, such as running cheetahs, military jets, or flying birds.

39/51 Points with 3D tracking

• In AF-C Drive and Dynamic Area AF, the camera will use all AF points within the AF area to track a moving subject.  The user is required to get the primary subject in focus, while holding the shutter release button halfway down, the camera will start tracking the moving subject, keeping the subject in focus.  The 3D tracking with Focus Tracking with Lock-On (in the Autofocus menus) set to Off is highly recommended for fast action.

How do I decide which AF Area to use for the current shooting scenario?
It depends on the size of the subject, unpredictable or predictable, and how isolated the subject appears in the frame (depending on the lens' focal length).

Excellent tip for accurate continuous focusing and tracking

• the subject's majority color must be different apart from the background's majority color.
• Reminder: If the user plans to do a lot of sports using AF-C Drive + Dynamic Area AF + Focus Tracking with Lock-On set to Off, the user must carry spare batteries and high speed autofocus lenses with AF-S [AF-SWM (Silent Wave Motor)] engine because with these combinations, it uses up more power from the batteries.

Nikon Autofocus: Single Point AF

Single Point AF

Once the user chooses Single Point AF, the camera will use only one AF point in the AF area - limiting the camera to focus automatically using one same AF point.

The user is required to move the AF point around the AF area manually by hand by using the multi-selector button to suit the shooting scenario.
If the subject moves outside the focal box, the camera will re-focus on whatever is behind or in front of the subject after they move.

It is idea for controlled situations, such as landscaping, close-up, photographing non-moving subjects, or to isolate the primary subject apart from the overall image frame.

Hedcut

Hedcut is a term referring to a style of drawing, associated with The Wall Street Journal half-column portrait illustrations. They use the stipple method of many small dots and the hatching method of small lines to create an image, and are designed to emulate the look of woodcuts from old-style newspapers, and engravings on certificates and currency. The phonetic spelling of "hed" may be based on newspapers' use of the term hed for "headline."

more info...

Get Mariner Write For Free!

TapTapTap is celebrating the release of their new iOS app Serenity by giving away free copies of the Mac app Mariner Write. (Retail $49.95)

“Your go-to word processing tool! Professional writer, educator or student, Mariner Write has all the functionality you need for that important letter, technical paper or research project.”

To get Mariner Write for free, head to http://taptaptap.com/serenity and follow the instructions. (Twitter account required)

Manual Focus with the electric rangefinder

Make sure to check the focus indicator (the electric rangefinder) until the green dot lights up continuously in the viewfinder.

For Nikon D7000: If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the subject in the selected focus point is in focus (the focus point can be selected from any of the 39 focus points). After positioning the subject in the selected focus point, press the shutter-release button halfway and rotate the lens focus ring until the in-focus indicator (green dot) is displayed.

AF Fine-Tuning

Calibrate lenses to improve issues of lens' focusing "slightly off the mark" (focus shifting) where soft images are caused by front or back focusing (several cms or inches) off the primary ofcusing target area on the subject


in Setup Menu select AF fine tune, change the value depends on the lens has

• for back-focused (the background is in focus while the subject and foreground is out of focus), use positive values
• front-focused (when the foreground is in focus while the subject and background is out of focus), use nagative values

Two things to keep in mind if AF Fine Tuning is on:

1. the camera might have difficulty in focusing at infinity and minimum focus distances; depending on what AF Fine-Tuning value is set at
2. when use LiveView in Tripod Mode, AF Fine-Tuning will be disabled, so you will need to focus the lens manually instead

Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 7

Add the following folder as new toolbar (right click on task bar, select Toolbars, New toolbar...) :

C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Lens Sharpness Test

Preparation and Settings:

• Clean the Lens
• Put the camera and lens on a tripod
• Remove the glass filter
• Attach the lens hood
• Turn the camera on
• Set the lens' autofocus drive for M/A, A, or AF
• Turn the lens' VR OFF
• Set for Single Point AF
• Set for AF-Continuous Servo AF (AF-C)
• Shoot at RAW Uncompressed (or Lossless compressed) and 14-bit (if available)
• Turn Active D-Lighting OFF (if available)
• Turn Long exp. NR OFF (if available)
• Turn High ISO NR OFF (if available)
• Set AF-C Priority Selection (in a Autofocus menu) for Focus (if available)
• Set Focus Tracking with Lock-On to OFF (if available)
• Set Self-Timer Delay (in c Timers / AE Lock menu) to 10s
• Set Exposure Delay Mode (in d Shooting/display menu) to ON (if available)
• Set for the LOWEST Base ISO sensitivity
• Manual mode
• Set the aperture for the highest aperture
• Adjust the shutter speed until meter reads "0"
• Place the aluminum soda can (e.g. Coke) dead in the center

Shooting:

• Use Remote Cable and Mirror Up (Mup) to shoot (add the sandbeg onto top of the camera on its axis, if available, before shooting)
• Repeat the steps for all apertures from maxumum aperture (lowest f/number) to minimum aperture (highest f/number), differing by one full stop (e.g. 1.4, 2.0, 2.8, 4.0, 5.6, 8.0, 11.0, 16.0, 22.0)
• If you wish to test a zoom (changeable focal length) lens, do full test for the widest focal length, medium focal length, and narrowest focal length (e.g. on the 24-70mm lens, test at all appertures at 24mm, 50mm and 70mm).

Inspection:

From the Lens Sharpness Chart, find the focal length(s) and aperture(s) your lens will be normally sharp.

Download the Lens Sharpness Chart in PDF
Download the Lens Sharpness Chart in DOC

Use one of the RAW development softwares (Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.)

• Import the images into LR, 
• Click on Develop tab to start developing and scroll down to the Detail section
• Set the Amount for 75%
• Set the Detail for 50%
• Go to the last image on the filmstrip then press and hold Shift then click on the last image (selecting all images)
• Click on Sync then ensure all boxes are checked
• Click Synchronize
• Go back and click on the first image
• Click on the main preview for 100% magnification
• Inspect only in the dead center (the can) of the image
• Check the softness of all images (and compare the Lens Sharpness Chart)

Next Stpes:

• If the lens suffering some softness, run the tests again.
• If you lens continues to suffer from softness, proceed to AF Fine Tuning to calibrate the lens for improved sharpness performance.

Nikon D7000 PC Sync Port

Nikon D7000 doesn't have a PC sync port to connect to studio flashes, what you can do is buy the Nikon AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter (Hot Shoe to PC) or a third party product.

The TF-322 / TF-327 Pixel Flash Hot Shoe Sock Converter also works.

Compressor and Gate

Compressors and limiters are specialized amplifiers used to reduce dynamic range--the span between the softest and loudest sounds. They pump up the volume when things get quiet and slams down the peaks when they get loud.

A gate is a switch that turns off the audio when it goes below a defined threshold. It's great for removing room noise, and makes the recording dead silent when it kicks in.

A sidechain is an output and input back into a compressor. You can connect other signal processors to it. The connected processor only gets the signal when the compressor is working. Sidechains are often used with eqs to make a de-esser, which will soften the loud "SSS" and "PP" sounds from a vocalist when they exceed the compressors threshold.

CSS3 Transitions

Transitions are a way to affect how an element looks as it changes from one state to another.

Or you can use JavaScript or a library like jQuery to create them.

Shared Task List

Trying the free Checkvist

and the Android TodoToday for Checkvist

doing vs being

Do I substitute doing for being?

Do I say yes to far too many things?

Am I  busier than I need to be?

Calculate manual flash exposure without a meter

With Gary Fong opaque dome covers the lens, take a picture from the subject into the light source (the manual flash).  Check the histogram and if it is in the center, then the exposure is correct.

Problem Steps Recorder

Microsoft has added a feature to Windows 7 that can help you diagnose a problem by actually looking at a recording of the problem.

• Start, PSR, <Enter>
• The Problem Steps Recorder will appear on the screen
• Click <Start Record> to record the steps of what happening on the screen (include all monitors)
• and stopping the recording when done (and add some comments if you want)
• save the file (a mht file inside a zip file)

when reading the generated mht file in the browser, you can even view all the steps in a slide show, very cool.


We can use this tool as tutorial as well.

Shortcuts for Windows functions

• Right click on your Desktop and select New Folder
• Name the folder with a name of your choosing
• After the name, put in a period and then the following string: {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} 
• Your entry for the name should look like this: <folder name>.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} 
• press the Enter key

Epsilon Delta Limit Definition (Part 1 & 2)

Introduction to the Epsilon Delta Definition of a Limit and using the epsilon delta definition to prove a limit.

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/epsilon-delta-limit-definition-1?playlist=Calculus

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/epsilon-delta-limit-definition-2?playlist=Calculus

Taking a photo...

Observe...

Notice the light, the shadows, the seen and unseen...

DSLR Controller

DSLR Controller is the first and only app that allows you to fully control your Canon EOS DSLR from your Android device, with nothing more than a USB cable. No computer or laptop required, no root required, no Wi-Fi required. All you need is a compatible mobile device, a compatible camera, and the right USB cable. 


Though still in the BETA stage of development, DSLR Controller already gives you remote liveview, remote control of most common settings, remote capture, focus and zoom control, and much more. See the about page for a full list of features, system requirements and screenshots.


http://dslrcontroller.com/




At the moment, only Canon EOS models are supported. Support for other brands of DSLRs is planned, but the implementation won't start until finishing the application for Canon EOS.

BIOS

The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is essentially the next generation of BIOS.

Camera Backpack

worth to take a look...

• ThinkTank Shape Shifter 
• ThinkTank StreetWalker 

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/

Why am I taking this picture?

Because it is pretty...
Because it tells a story...
Because I want to remember this moment...
I don't know, just want to take it...


Becuase it evokes emotion...
Because it is instructional...

Final Cut Studio

Final Cut Studio (part number MB642Z/A) is still available by calling 800-MY-APPLE for $999 (and $899 for educational customers).

Final Cut Studio is a comprehensive video editing package that includes Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, Soundtrack Pro 3, DVD Studio Pro 4, Color 1.5 and Compressor 3.5.

Tapeless Workflow with Final Cut Pro 7

http://library.creativecow.net/articles/ross_shane/tapeless-workflow_fcp-7/video-tutorial

XML CDATA

• All text in an XML document will be parsed by the parser.
• Characters like "<" and "&" are illegal in XML elements.
• But text inside a CDATA section will be ignored by the parser.

A CDATA section starts with "<![CDATA[" and ends with "]]>":

e.g.

<script>
<![CDATA[
function matchwo(a,b)
{
if (a < b && a < 0) then
  {
  return 1;
  }
else
  {
  return 0;
  }
}
]]>
</script>

• A CDATA section cannot contain the string "]]>". 
• Nested CDATA sections are not allowed.

Be All There...

Wherever you are, be all there...

Where to Place Scripts in HTML

• Put the scripts at the bottom of the HTML document, right before the </body> tag except the scripts that need to run before the documents loads or as it loads
• Put any scripts that must be in the <head> right before the </head> tag, i.e. the last thing to load in <head>

How do get the current date in XSL

I am trying to filter out the expired items in an XML file using XSLT... I almost have it done except the last step of how to get the current date (to use to compare the endDate attribute in the xml node)...

It seems it is impossible to do it pure in the client side.

Ways to display XML data on browser

• Open the xml file from IE
• Open XML file from IE using XSL
• Use jQuery to load the whole XML file into a container
• Use jQuery to parse the XML file into a container
• Display the XML file (with/without XSL) in an iframe tag of the HTML file

       e.g. <iframe src="test.xml" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Jesus said, "... I have come..."

The mission of Jesus...

Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’”

Hebrews 10:9
Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.

John 8:42
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.

John 6:38

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

John 5:43

I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

Mark 1:38

Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.

John 9:39

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Matthew 15:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Luke 12:49
I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Matthew 10:34-35

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law...

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Remote Desktop

From Kołakowski Damian

View and retrieve all the contents of your phone such as documents, photos&video
Remote Desktop brings order to your Droid. View and retrieve all the contents of your phone such as documents, photos, videos.

All you need is a standard web browser (! the latest Chrome or Firefox !) and Remote Desktop will allow you interact with your phone as easily as a PC.

I think both PC and the Phone need to be on the same network.

Lightroom 4 Beta

• A lot of enhancement for handling video
• Book module
• Map module
• Image Editing Improvements

Free Preview from Lynda.com

Firewire 800 2.5" External Enclosures

Acomdata TangoDual Triple Interface Portable Enclosure

Acomdata TangoPRO Triple Interface Portable Enclosure

Macally PHR-S250UAB Hi-Speed FireWire/USB PHR-S250UAB 2.0 Storage Enclosure for 2.5-Inch SATA Hard Disk (Silver)

Proof: lim (sin x)/x

Using the squeeze theorem to prove that the limit as x approaches 0 of (sin x)/x =1

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/proof--lim--sin-x--x?playlist=Calculus

Squeeze Theorem

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/squeeze-theorem?playlist=Calculus

CSS3 Shadows: Box Shadows and Text Shadows

examples:

• box-shadow: inset horizontal vertical blur spread color; 
• text-shadow: horizontal vertical blur color;

HTML5 HGROUP Element

The HTML5 HGROUP element is used to group headings so that they don’t show up in the HTML5 outline.


Since outlines are written with one headline per level, the HGROUP element helps keep the pages organized and keep the outlines looking clear. The HGROUP element allows you to group heading tags so that they do not appear in the outline. Instead they are all grouped together into one section.

• only heading elements can be inside it
• should not include any content outside of the H1–H6 elements

SD Video Workflow with FCP

I have captured a lot of SD Videos from my camcorder with Premiere Pro 2 long long time ago but didn't have the time to work on them.  I have exported them in AVI format and saved them on the Windows Home Server for years.

It is time to do something about it.

• I copied the avi files to my MacBook Pro external hard disk.  Import them into FCP 6.5.
• View the videos one by one to add the log notes about each clip
• Create a sequence for an event and drop the related clips in the sequence and edit the sequence, if needed
• Export the sequence to QuickTime movie (it is hugh, for a 14-minute video, it is 3.18 GB)
• Use Freemake Video Converter to convert it to MP4 video (and the result is pretty good and it is about 200MB from the 3GB one)

Issues:

• When I imported the AVI files into FCP, I got a warning saying these files are not optimized to FCP.  (I should convert all the clips to Apple ProRes 422 if I am going to do a lot of editing)
• I tried to export the video directly from FCP to Compressor with different format but the results are NOT good.

Questions:

• What is the setting I should use in Compressor?
• Apple, Format, QuickTime, QuickTime H.264, Key Frames Automatic
• Should I do anything before I import the clips into FCP?

Workflow of my photo management

Current workflow:

• Take photos in jpeg
• copy photos from camera (SD cards) to Windows Home Server shared folder (a new folder will be created and named by date and a short description)
• Copy the new folder to my wife's computer (as a backup and she can view the files right away)
• View the photos using image browsing software (as slide show or just thumbnails) or Windows explorer or Preview app on mac

Challenges:

• The thumbnails displayed on Windows Home Server is extremely slow and sometimes it won't be available for days
• I have used Lightroom but not using it now
• I have used iPhoto with iPhoto buddy but not using it for a long time
• I have Windows and Mac systems
• I have multiple Windows computers (and multiple virtual environments)
• I would like to do tagging (face, keyword, location) but it seems it was taking too much time and not worth the effort
• I have about 150GB of files
• I would like to take photo in RAW but my wife cannot view the photo right away as in my current workflow and it will take much much more space

Going forward:

• Take photo in RAW and both IrfanView (with plug-in) and Faststone Image Viewer can view the RAW image directly
• Copy images from card to local HD (as working copy) with the proper name and date to name the folder as before (add "_Raw" for RAW images)
• Backup the folder to WHS and  my wife's computer
• Import photos into Lightroom

• I have looked into two software for RAW conversion
• DxO Optics Pro 7 (usd 99 until Jan 31, 2012) and 
• PhaseOne Capture One Pro 6 (usd 399, having 50% during last Christmas)

• I should learn Lightroom (taking Lynda's lessons)
• Using Windows Home Server as archive/backup only (not working copy), i.e. work on my local disk

TBC...


updated on : Mar 4, 2012

Inch by inch

"Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life’s a cinch."

-Anonymous

A lot of time, we should break down the task in smaller and manageable sub-tasks, using the "divide and conquer" approach, taking one step at a time.

Limit Examples (parts 1-4, and more)

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/limit-examples--part-1?playlist=Calculus

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/limit-examples--part-2?playlist=Calculus

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/limit-examples--part3?playlist=Calculus

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/limit-examples-w--brain-malfunction-on-first-prob--part-4?playlist=Calculus

More limit examples

Scale of Distance to Closest Stars

4.2 Light Years away

Voyager with the speed 60,000 km/hour (17km/s) will take 80000 years to get there

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/scale-of-distance-to-closest-stars?playlist=Cosmology+and+Astronomy

Solar "wind": electrons and protons (400km/s)

Black Holes

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/black-holes?playlist=Cosmology+and+Astronomy

white dwarf
neutron star
singularities (infinite mass density)
event horizon

Scale of Earth and Sun

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/scale-of-earth-and--sun?playlist=Cosmology+and+Astronomy

Speed of a bullet : 280 m/s (1000 km/hour, ~speed of jet) will take 40 hours to go around the earth
Sun 109x circumference of earth (half a year to go around the Sun)
AU - Astronomical Unit = 150,000,000 km away from the earth (take 17 years to get to the sun from the earth)

Scale of Solar System

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/scale-of-solar-system?playlist=Cosmology+and+Astronomy

Cakewalk SONAR: Automating Data Selections

Sonar 8.5
Press T to choose the Select tool.
Hold Alt to select inside a clip.
Press E to choose the Envelope tool

Sonar X1
Press F5 to choose the Smart tool.
Press T to display the Tools HUD and choose from the edit filter (dropdown) to select Automation, Volume to show the volume envelope.
Press and hold Shift to constrain mouse movement (when moving the envelope notes).

Can copy and paste the volume envelop to other tracks (one at a time) but can adjust all volume envelopes at the same time.

Cakewalk SONAR: Event Inspector Editing

The Event Inspector is a special editing feature in Cakewalk SONAR, which allows you to edit the start time, duration, pitch, velocity, and channel of selected events in a project. It also works as a data indicator for single selected events by displaying their current start time, duration, pitch, velocity, and channel values. In addition, it can help with arranging entire data clips in the Track view.

• The Time parameter represents the Start Time of selected events.
• Time is represented in measures, beats and ticks... M:B:T but enter as M.B.T
• Use +/- modifiers to add/subtract time to/from the current start time (or +/- M.B.T)
• The default ticks-per-quarter note setting in Sonar is 960 (i.e. Whole = 3840; Half = 1920; Eighth = 480; sixteenth = 240)
• The Event Inspector works in the PRV (piano roll view), Event, Staff, Track (inline PRV) views

• The Duration parameter in the Event Inspector is represented by ticks
• You can scale the length of notes by entering a percentage for Duration.  100% represents the current duration value of selected notes.

• Use +/- with the Pitch parameter to transpose notes by semitones (e.g. +12 is up an octave).

What is Microdata and Microformats?

You don't want to surround all your content in DATA tags because it's not all data. That's where microformats come in. Microformats help you define the content of your pages as specific things beyond just data and let that information be machine-readble as well.


Microdata is a set of human-readable libraries added to HTML to make that HTML more semantic, and thus more computer-readable as well. You use microdata with existing HTML tags and attributes to define data that computers can use and humans can read. 


For example, an event that is marked up using microdata can then be added to a reader’s calendar without the reader needing to type in any of the event data. Instead, they would simply click a link and the event would be automatically added to their calendar including the start and end times, location, and any other information that is marked up with microformats.


Microformats use existing HTML attributes and elements like class, rel, and SPAN to define the microdata.


http://webdesign.about.com/od/microdata/a/what-is-microdata.htm?nl=1

Introduction to Limits (HD)

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/introduction-to-limits--hd?playlist=Calculus

Scale of Small

From honey bees to cells, virus, and atoms -- understanding the scale of the very small

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/scale-of-the-small?playlist=Cosmology+and+Astronomy

The Golden Ratio

An introduction to one of the most amazing ideas/numbers in mathematics


http://www.khanacademy.org/video/the-golden-ratio?playlist=New+and+Noteworthy


1.618033988...

Vitamin C and the Limeys

Sal and Dr. David Agus talk about the history of Scurvy (壞血病) and Vitamin C

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/vitamin-c-and-the-limeys?playlist=New+and+Noteworthy

Vitamin C exposed to the air and light becomes oxidized and has no nutritional value

Heart Disease and Heart Attacks

Basics of heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure (heart cannot provide all the needs of the body), angina, cardiac arres (heart stopping)

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/heart-disease-and-heart-attacks?playlist=New+and+Noteworthy

Wrinkles in backdrop

Try to solve it in this order:

1. Hang (usually overnite or longer) 
2. Stretch 
3. Spritz (amazing what a little spray of water will do) 
4. Light flat (Try moving the subject forward from the BD (4') and evenly illuminate it.)
5. Steam 
6. Photoshop

Other idea:

• Throwing the backdrop into the dryer, on low heat, with a small, damp towel or dishrag (to add some moisture into the dryer) and running it for ten minutes can help get the wrinkles out if you don’t have a steamer.
• The trick is to take it out of the dryer the moment it is done with the cool down (before it stops spinning and sits at the bottom of the dryer getting new wrinkles) and hang it up.

• Hang your background and apply misted water where you want to remove wrinkles. Wait 5 - 10 minutes and set something else up while it dries. Or, just mist it and take a hair dryer to it and watch those wrinkles disappear.

• One solution is to light the background separately. This works best with lighter color muslins, especially white. I use 2 mono lights aimed at the muslin from behind and slightly out of frame of the subject. If it's just a head shot, you can get away with one mono light aimed at the background from directly behind the subject. 
• The trick is to get more light on the muslin than you do on the subject. If you use adjustable light sources, set the ones aimed at the background at full and the ones on your subject to half, then meter for the subject. If you use non adjustable light sources, set the lights close to your background and set the subject lights further away from the subject and meter for the subject.
• This effectively washes out the background to a pure white with no wrinkles. If you still have a few visible wrinkles here and there they are much easier to retouch in post processing than when the background is lit the same intensity as the subject.

• Go from behind and gather one or more pinches about the size of a golf ball and twist a rubberband around them. It makes a sweeping drape effect that hides wrinkles. Of course this only works with solids.

Using the New Live Trace Feature in Illustrator CS2

Preparation
Open the photo in Photoshop and removing the background and any areas you so not want to trace there first
If you want less colors to make a smaller vector file, try using the Posterize filter (Image > Adjustments > Posterize) to lower the number of colors in the image


Live Trace
Use the place command to place the photo into Illustrator, 
click the Live Trace button and open the tracing options and make any changes you wish. 
When you're done, click Expand.


You can also use the Object > Live Trace Menu. This one was traced with the Color 16 option. Click the Expand button to expand the trace to paths.


http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/illustrator/ss/sflivetrace.htm

Re-create a Logo from a Poor Quality Scan with Illustrator

Illustrator CS4

In three different ways:

• Live Trace
• manually trace the logo using a template layer
• use a matching font

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/illustrator/ss/Recreate-Logo.htm

Systemic Thinking About Cancer

Dr. David Agus discusses thinking systemically about cancer and other

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/systemic-thinking-about-cancer?playlist=New+and+Noteworthy

From cancering to healthing

Elements and Atoms

How elements relate to atoms. The basics of how protons (define the element), electrons and neutrons

http://www.khanacademy.org/video/elements-and-atoms?playlist=New+and+Noteworthy

The number of Proton can't change (otherwise, you will have another element) but the number of Electron and Neutron can change in an element

Logo Design

http://desktoppub.about.com/od/logos/ss/logobasics.htm


You don't have to know how to draw to create some seemingly complex illustrations. The logo designs and graphics can use only lines, circles, squares, triangles, and text.


Lines come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Don't get stuck in a rut.

• Vary the thickness of the lines.
• Make lines of dots, dashes, or combinations.
• Look at the patterns that a series of lines make.
• Use lines to direct eye flow.
• Use lines to form barriers.
• Use lines to indicate connections.
• Use lines to show movement.    

Everything has a shape but the basic shapes of circles, squares, and triangles can be very effective in logo design, in part because of their simplicity. These shapes have certain sub-conscious meanings as well.

• The circle is protective or infinite.
• The square denotes stability, equality, and honesty.
• The triangle suggests tension or conflict or action.

Replace letters in a word or name with shapes that suggest those letters. A triangle for A or V is obvious. Less obvious is the E made of squares (in illustration) or perhaps two stacked circles for an S or a pair of triangles (one up, one down) for an N.

Scribd

Trying Scribd to put the manuals online and embedded in Blogger

• Create an account
• Upload the document
• Add the web url or the code (in HTML, not Compose) inside Blogger

Encrypted PDF File

Owner Password:

preventing the file from editing (changing), printing, selecting text and graphics (and copying them into the Clipboard), or adding/changing annotations and form fields

User Password:

Protected by password for opening

3D Text Effects

This video (Epic Text Worship Intro) has a lot of different 3D Text Effects.  Good for a reference.

DSLR Video

Resolution = Sharpness

• Film (2K) has 9 times more resolution than NTSC
• HD 1080p

Latitude = Shades

• Film (16) vs HD-DSLR (11) vs NTSC (8) stops of light

Frame Rate

• 24p = Cinematic
• 60p = Slow Motion
• 30p = TV / News

ISO
Stills should always use Whole ISOs

• 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200

Video

• 160, 320, 640, 1250 (highlight clipping, but low shadow noise)
• Bad = 125, 250, 500, 1000 (lots of shadow noise)
• Do not enable Highlight Tone Priority (7D and T2i)

Aperture of F-stop

• 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11,16,  22

Shutter Speed
180 degree shutter rule

• 24p = 1/50th
• 60p = 1/125th
• 30p = 1/60th

Settings
For casual shooting, no grading

• 1080p @ 24fps
• ISO: 160
• Aperture: 2.8
• Shutter Speed: 1/50 
• Picture Style: Standard

For serious shooting with grading

• 1080p @ 24fps
• ISO: 160
• Aperture: 2.8
• Shutter Speed: 1/50 
• Picture Style: Neutral (-1 Saturation)

For serious shooting with grading and slow-motion

• 720p @ 60fps
• ISO: 160
• Aperture: 2.8
• Shutter Speed: 1/125 
• Picture Style: Neutral (-1 Saturation) 

Production Techniques
Neutral Density (ND) Fader (when the light is way too bright)

• Reduces 2 to 8 stops of light

External Mic (Rode VideoMic)

• Beware of Audio Gain Control (AGC) hiss when audio is low
• Use a dead cat when outside to cut down on wind noise

Holding the Camera

• Keep elbow tucked, two hands
• Use support from a wall or table
• Try to get 3 points of contact for a stable shot 
• Pan from the waist
• Watch your wrist!  The pivot point is exactly at your sensor so it’s shaky.
• Use a tripod whenever possible

Manual Focus / No Zooming

• Keep a constant distance between camera and subject (Track their steps and pace)
• Your DOF determines your wiggle room
• Don’t go below a 2.8 f-stop

The Checklist

• Focus 
• Audio
• Clipping
• Exposure: ISO / Aperture / Shutter Speed
• Shoot

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V

the best Travel Zoom Shootout 2011

CNET

imaging resource

HTML5 DATA Element

This element represents data with a machine-readable value attribute attached so that computers can understand that it is data as well.

<data class="dtstart" value="2011-12-02">December 2</data> –
<data class="dtend" value="2011-12-10">10</data>

The Difference Between the HTML5 DATA Element and the CODE Element

Mobile Site Design

• Put the primary content first (not the navigation)
• Put the article on the same page (scrolling is easier than clicking)
• Get rid of everything that isn't absolutely required for that page

Use CSS3 to identify the OS and the type of device of the user

Use WordPress Mobile Pack to convert the existing pages to a mobile-friendly design without removing the content

The ideal order for your HEAD element

1. Meta charset tag
2. Title tag
3. Style tags or links
4. Other meta tags and content
5. Scripts that must be in the HEAD (for optimal loading, scripts should be placed at the bottom of your web pages, just before the </body tag)

Putting the HEAD element in this order helps your web page load as quickly as possible.

What does !important mean in CSS?

The !important rule is a way to make your CSS cascade but also have the rules you feel are most crucial always be applied. A rule that has the !important property will always be applied no matter where that rule appears in the CSS document.

example: p { color: #ff0000 !important; }

Semantic Web

semantic

• (形) 語義的

Semantic Web

• promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web
• aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of data"
• provides a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries
• is a web of data that can be processed directly and indirectly by machines
• is an attempt to look at the meaning of the data that is provided in the Web pages

Web Document Structure

A Web page's document structure is the backbone of the page.

• Use a DOCTYPE to define your document
• Include a root element (usually <html>)
• Include <head> and <title> elements
• Include a <body> or <frameset> element

What is the Semantic Web?

GPS in HK

The GPS of my Samsung Galaxy S is not working in Hong Kong...