A Fix for when InDesign Split Columns Doesn't Work
Thanks to David at InDesign Secrets I've verified a little bug with InDesign's Split Columns feature. Apparently if you try to split columns at the end of a story it just won't work.
The solution is easy enough though:
Add an extra empty paragraph to the end of the story.
Split the column as you would normally.
Delete the extra empty paragraph.
I can't explain why it is that you need the extra paragraph there to make the column split, or why you can delete it immediately afterwards with no Read more [...]
Getting Text From Apple Pages on a PC in a Pinch
The other day I brought a .pages file into a classroom. The problem is all the computers at the school use MS Windows, which can't open .pages files. Did I panic? Yes. Was all hope lost? Nope.
It turns out that the .pages extension is just a fancy compressed file. That means you can simply change the ".pages" extension to ".zip" or ".rar" and get at the file contents.
The simplest way to get at the text from there is to look in the folder called "QuickLook." There should be a PDF in that folder Read more [...]
Dead Simple PHP Calendar
I needed a calendar for a PHP project I was working on. I did a quick look around and found some promising solutions, but they all seemed way more complex than what I wanted. They also used tables, which are gross. This is a ridiculously easy way to get a calendar from php:function calendar($date=false){
$date_parts=(!$date)?preg_split("/[-]+/",$date):preg_split("/[-]+/",date('Y-m-d'));
$year=$date_parts[0];$month=$date_parts[1];$day=$date_parts[2];
$time=mktime(0,0,0,$month,1,$year);
$month_name=date('F',$time);
$days_in_month=cal_days_in_month(CAL_GREGORIAN,$month,$year);
$first_day=date('w',$time);
$calendar=''.$month_name.' Read more [...]
Verizon and the Sale of the Customer
According to Verizon's latest update to their privacy policy, they will now "share" (i.e. sell) lots of information that may make customers uncomfortable. Verizon's changes to their privacy policy, one must assume the term privacy is being used ironically, includes sharing:
Mobile Usage Information:Addresses of websites you visit when using our wireless service. These data strings (or URLs) may include search terms you have usedLocation of your device ("Location Information")App and device feature Read more [...]
The Perils of Using a Free WordPress Theme
Take a look at what happened to this blog's hit counts after switching (briefly) to a new and free WordPress theme downloaded from the official WordPress website.
Before I used my own variation of the freely available sandbox theme. I switched after updating the template andlosing some of my work on it. Now I've gone back with though I haven't put any real effort into making the site look "good."
Since replacing the theme, my site's stats have returned to normal. I won't name the theme that killed Read more [...]
Living with Leopard's Firewall
Here's a few helpful tips: to add a port: sudo ipfw add allow from to So, if you want allow port 80 with tcp you'd type sudo ipfw add allow tcp from 80 to 80 to see your rules: sudo ipfw list to delete an open port: first type sudo ipfw list, you'll get something like this 33300 deny icmp from any to me in icmptypes 8 33400 allow udp from 0.0.0.80 to 0.0.0.80 33500 allow tcp from 0.0.0.80 to 0.0.0.80 take the number proceeding the rule you want to delete and type sudo ipfw deletem , so if I wanted to delete the rule "33500 allow tcp from 0.0.0.80 to 0.0.0.80" I'd just type sudo ipfw delete 33400 Hopefully Apple will realize that giving users no advanced options is dumb. Read more [...]
Hiding PHPSESSID
All you need to do is add php_flag session.use_trans_sid off to the .htaccess file and bang! to your php files, but why add that to all your files when you can add one line to your .htaccess file? Read more [...]
Using <object> in Internet Explorer
Also, by limiting what refreshes it cuts down on page load and makes it so the main page never has the refresh blink (that second of white before things load in the browser). The key is the classid: classid="clsid:25336920-03F9-11CF-8FD0-00AA00686F13" To learn more about using the element and making it work in IE read Brad Wrights discussion of the technique. Read more [...]
Great (Free) Open-Source Script Writing Software
One person even wrote to the Celtx team: I've taught, reviewed and used every editing system, compositing application, audio sequencer, production process, script-writing tool, storyboard system and imaging program known to humankind and I simply need to tell you that Celtx is the most efficient, effective, flexible and forward-thinking piece of software I have ever encountered in 15 years or making moving images...! Read more [...]
The Curse of the Deadly Scam Email of Death
It reads something like this (as with most scam email, note the typos and use of English): I want you to read this message very carefully, and keep the secret with you till further notice, You have no need of knowing who I am, where am from, till I make out a space for us to see, I have being paid in advance to terminate you with some reasons listed to me by my employers, its one i believe you call a friend, i have followed you closely for one week and three days now and have seen that you are innocent of the accusation, Do not contact the police or F.B.I. Read more [...]
