I often watch youtube videos from TedTalks. It shows talks from some pretty switched on people from TedTalks Conferences. I stumbled across one recently that, although not very technical, gave a nice little insight and gave me some food for thought.

In the video the talker, Elizabeth Gilbert, discusses how we view creative people, and how we ‘burden’ them with their creative achievements by giving them full responsibility for them. She talks of the way it used to be believed that we had a genius rather than being one. The genius in this circumstance being some otherworldly being, so to speak, that comes to give us our inspiration and ideas.

She also broaches the idea that whilst the inspiration or idea is being channeled the receiver may be seen to be possessed. Now, if we can get away from the negative connotations associated with this word we might be able to see it for what it truly means, that they are giving themselves over to something which they cannot quite define, something more than themselves, something powerful, a feeling, a freedom, a synchronicity and a knowing that everything is working perfectly. Does that not also describe inspiration? Even those of us who are not fantastically esteemed artists have had those eureka moments. They come to us all.

A great example of this creative ‘possession’, and one that she gives, is that of a dancer becoming ‘transcendent’ and being in line with some greater force. I couldn’t help but think of these words while watching a singer perform recently, watching her strange abstract movements happening so naturally and her voice projecting so effortlessly in a perfect yet surreal harmony, as though some genius was passing through her and possessing her throughout her performance. As though she was merely a vessel for its expression.

It is a concept that is very well put by the speaker, and even if it is difficult for some to accepted in its entirety it still provides an enlightening and intriguing way of describing the creative process and its instigation.

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Ok, so you’ve spent hours tweaking your web code to make it web standards compliant and finally everything seems to be working fine, it’s almost ready to go.. Then unsuspectingly you add an embedded video from YouTube or wherever and whoa, somethings gone horribly wrong. Multiple violations are staring you in the face, what on earth are you going to do now?

Have no fear, it’s not as bad as it seems, actually, the solution’s rather simple..

There is some basic information you will need to take from the embedded code, but other than that the resulting code will be exactly the same from video to video.

Firstly you need the height and width as the dimensions may differ depending on which site you are taking the video from. Feel free to change the height and width to whatever you wish so long as you keep the dimensions the same. You don’t want to end up with a distorted image now do you…

Secondly you need the video location, note that this will not be the same as in the URL bar on the page where you got the video. It’s in the embedded video information and will look something like this “http://www.youtube.com/v/qxbuysNGLOM&hl=en&fs=1″. To test if you’ve garnered the right info open the new URL into a new window, your chosen video should fill up the whole browser window and be viewable. Click for example

All you need to do now is fill that information into the right spaces. Here is the new code:

This will give you fully compliant XHTML code with the added benefit of slimming down your code. There is another option using IFRAMES detailed here. It probably takes a bit too much time to implement if you are going to be adding alot of videos but it is still another option. Personally I like that you can use a chosen graphical piece instead of having the player viewable from the word go. You decide.

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So you’ve got a great idea for a new font but don’t know where to begin to make it happen? Well Here’s a concise list of Free Programs and Great Articles to get you started.

Free Programs

• FontStruct - Allows you to build fonts from shapes and structures in an online environment
• FontForge - Probably the best free download program. Gives you all the features you need to create completely original and usable fonts. Good instructions and information given on site.
• Font Creator Home Edition - A more basic option but still a good functional package
• Your Fonts - Make a font from your handwriting. Limited applicability but makes things a lot simpler if this is all you’re after.

Useful Articles

• So You Want To Create A Font. Part 1
• So You Want To Create A Font. Part 2
• How to Design A Font: {Part 1} Get Inspired!
• How to Design A Font: {Part 2} Draw Up a Storm!
• How to Design A Font: {Part 3} Make It Digital!
• How to Design A Font: {Part 4} Finishing Touches
• Helping GeekKids Create Their Own Fonts

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Today was the release date for the Wooey Wum Woppits TV show. The Wooey Wum Woppits are known for their strange and bizarre comedy musical tracks and have now decided to extend their reach into the film realm aswell. I have put together their logo designs and will be filming and editing the upcoming episodes. Check out the first episode below and check out their MySpace to hear some of their musical madness.

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image by muha

What is a Dreamscape? Pieces of art based on dreams and the unconscious are not outlandish worlds without relation to our own, too strange for us to comprehend or imagine. They are beautifully crafted images that would have us believe their existence. All is in place but for the air of uncertainty and some unexplained anomaly; this is truly a dreamscape. How would we wake unsure of what was real and what was fantasy if the fantasy went too far for us to comprehend? This could not be, and so the only true dreamscape can be that which is still hinged on reality, that which is still recognisable besides all its absurdity.

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With the falling price of recording hardware and the rise of internet communities, so comes the rise of the Interactive Web Series. It has the potential to create truly unique and boundary breaking results. To bring people separated by massive distances and cultural disparity together in creating truly unexpected and diverse results. In my view however, they seem to be falling short of their true potential. Not for lack of enthusiasm or determination, more due to their adherence to the traditions of narrative and lack of experimentation with mixed creative media. This is definitely a trend to watch and anticipate, and if you’re the one who comes up with a truly creative concept, a trend that could propel you into web famedom.

Until then here’s my list of the latest and greatest Interactive Web Series:

Lonleygirl15

This must surly be the most well known and most watched series, it was so popular that it has now reached its third series. Great name too.

Kate Modern

Dubbed the new lonleygirl.

Gravityland

iChannel

A guy starts getting watched, thus starts his iChannel.

Satacracy 88

Thriller series where you decide the direction of the plot at the end of every episode.

Crimeface

Action series using more mixed media than usual.

The Hayley Project

Crime investigation. Too many fake tears in this clip!

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Are you fed up with how Windows greets you?
Would you like a warmer welcome?
A bit of appreciation?
Then this is the tute for you!

Lets Begin!

To start with you are going to need to find a sound you want to use instead of the current Windowns start up sound. If you alredy have one on your PC, well done. If not try one of these links for inspiration; all the links go to free sources of short sound clips that would be suitable(or interesting) for use as your Welcome sound.

Recommended Free Sound Download Sites

Choose to download your chosen clip in WAV form as that is the only audio type that is allowed for this purpose.

Flash Kit - Sound FX - My favourite, a resource site for flash developers containing free sound clips and loops
Sound Jay - A small collection of high quality sounds
Soungle - A sound search engine, great if you know what you’re looking for
Freesound- You need to become a member to access the clips but there is a large range available
FreeSFX - Simple easy to navigate selection

Please refer to the bottom of the article if you are looking for a more comprehensive choice of sound download sites.

What Next?

Now that you have your sound make sure to save it in a suitable location. I chose: My Documents\My Music\New Windows Sound. If your file came in a zipped format download WinRAR for free to unzip it.

Time To Change The Sound..

Now for the final stage Click Start –> Control Pannel (classic view) –> Sounds and Audio Devices, choose the Sounds Tab, Scroll until you find Start Windows then select it. You can now click Browse to find and select your chosen sound(you can preview it too by clicking the small play symbol). Now you need to click Save As under Sound Scheme and give your new sound scheme a unique name. Press Apply and Hey-Voila.

Note you are also able to change the Logoff sound and any number of other automated Windows sounds, have fun.

Other Websites To Download Free Sounds From

Prank Calls Unlimited - Has funny sounds and prank calls
Find Sounds - Searches different sources to find the sound you’re looking for
Partners In Rhyme - A good selection of sounds
A1 Free Sound Effects - Not a very pretty site but has a good collection of sounds. And some good comedy ones if that’s what you’re after
Sound Effects - Some more subtle sounds
SNDBRD - Worth it for DrWho’s Exterminate and Homer Simpson Nacho Nacho Man

(Note)Depending on your internet browset/multimedia player set up you may find these last downloads difficult to download. If you are running Quicktime you will need the pro version to be able to download them. More on this next time.

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I have just completed an set of 3 “ambience” films with the theme of London Buses. These are to be a backdrop in a new Montreal Cafe known as the London Bus Cafe. This is some imagery I created to go with the video piece.

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A tribal inspired event with a tribal inspired poster.

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Ed Hardy is probably the best know tattoo artist of modern times, his bold colours and designs are iconic of the American style of tattoo. He, like his predecessor and mentor Sailor Jerry Where both influenced by Japanese and oriental design.

Sailor Jerry was perhaps more influential than Hardy, he was a tattoo artist at a time when its popularity was confined to a much smaller and seedier social sphere. He used to operate from a section in Chinatown know as “The Honolulu Tattoo District”, the only area on Manhattan island where tattooing was available at the time. This meant competition from neighbouring parlours, also only able to operate from that small area, was fierce. This no doubt served as a constant motivation for sharpening his talents. Tattoos at that time, around WW2, where most popular among sailors on shore leave, looking for a tattoo to augment their masculinity and impress other sailors with. Sailor Jerry was also, as his name suggests, a sailor, both before during and after his tattooing practise. He travelled the world by sea before opening his parlour, during which time he collected his first tattoos and discovered South-Eastern Asian Tattoo Art, along with his admiration of it. His interest in this never waned and its influence can be seen long into his tattooing career.

Apart from his artistic contribution Sailor Jerry also improved the flexibility and safety of tattooing by developing more pigments, finding ways of creating less trauma to the skin and by being one of the first tattooists to be found using proper sterilisation and one-use needles.

The esteemed Sailor Jerry Rum is based on the rum fashioned by sailors on long journeys using rum and spices. There is now a large amount of Sailor Jerry Merchandise sold under the name of Sailor Jerry Ltd. Owned by Ed Hardy and Mike Malone, another of Jerry’s protégé. Related is a growing amount of couture Ed Hardy clothing. It is perhaps sentimental to view this shameless commercialisation as debasing tattooing art, especially to those reaping its rewards. But I find myself hankering for a return to the gritty authenticity of its infant days, rather than its mainstream appeal of providing tattoo designs on t-shirts for people wanting to buy their chunk of the tattooing “lifestyle”.

Links you may find interesting:

A Brief History Of Tattoos - Different influences throughout history
Sailor Jerry Tattoo Gallery - Gallery of Sailor Jerry Tattoos, on the Official Sailor Jerry Ltd site

Video of Ed Hardys Shop in the Meat Packing district:

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