I recently came across this handy tip for the Mac OS I wanted to share. This hint comes courtesy of my friend, Hans, who in turn discovered it through his mother. So now I am passing it along to you…
On a Mac, you can use the “F4″ or “F5″ keys to change the volume. However, these adjustments are always accompanied by a little chirp to help you gauge the levels. While this might be useful in certain scenarios, there are also situations where you would rather not have to hear the quasi-quacking noise. In these moments, hold down “shift” while raising or lowering the volume. You will still be presented with the visual cues, but will get your alteration without having to listen to the accompanying sound. Enjoy!
On two separate occasions this week I have found myself stuck at the airport. The first was when I was coming back from my grandparents’ in Albany, NY and found myself stranded at Dulles for several hours, which happens to me about 20 minutes from where I grew up. The second time was yesterday, when my flight to San Jose from L.A. was delayed. Both time I was able to find comfort in the warm digital arms of my “Flight of the Conchords” DVD’s that I just got from my brother. I hadn’t actually been witness to the show until recently. It has been on my radar, but not on my TV. I definitely am glad to have found occasion to enjoy the hilarity. In honor of my newly-discovered television favorite, check out this clip:
In my ever-present battle to obliterate the empty wall space in my apartment, I have made a recent print purchase. These two companion pieces are by Huck Gee, and were a limited run sold in 2007 to coincide with the launch of a limited-edition run of Dunny vinyl toys. I was ecstatic to track down a seller through the kidrobot forums, and the transaction went smoothly. Now I’m off to the framer!
My love of Legos runs deep and true. When I moved into my new apartment last year, I tried to strike a better balance between my inner-geek and my quasi-adult life. In this spirit, I outfitted my place with practical accessories with playful touches. Many of the key players in this aesthetic came courtesy of Lego. I was able to find Lego coasters and Lego ice trays. You can find many of the accessories online, but I have had better luck at the Lego retail stores.
One of my favorite anime movies in the past couple of years, “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” is screening in L.A. at the Imaginasian Theater through this Thursday. It is the story of a high school girl who discovers that she has the power to literally “leap” through time. At first she takes advantage of her new skill in order to correct the minor mistakes that she identifies as catalysts for unpleasant situations: sleeping too late, saying the wrong thing, etc. However, she quickly learns the repercussions of her actions as she realizes the power of the butterfly effect.
I would highly recommend making your way to the theater to see this film. I actually was fortunate to see this screened last year and hear a panel with the director following the showing. I always take advantage of the chance to see animated films on the big screen, and this is one that I am happy to have the opportunity to see again.
