A couple of free graphics software download favourites

Petite PhotoFiltre download.....it's French! (1.6mb), relatively powerful (as in 'it'll do most things you want to do with a picture').....and it's even 'portable', just extract to your pen drive and you can use it anywhere (in French initially but the last time I tried you have the option to change the language after installation)
PhotoFiltre Download page
PhotoFiltre Tutorials page

If you want something a bit more 'industry standard' you could try Gimp (with it's slightly steeper learning curve) or it's photoshop lookalike version gimpshop.

Gimp online user manual

It would pass muster today....

....as a book jacket. But it hit the Finnish bookstands in 1959.
the nonist again

The Art of Bookbinding

I found this at the nonist (new find, will definitely be visiting again!)

"The British Library has a dynamite collection of fine and historical bookbindings numbering, evidently, in the thousands, and their online database will happily serve them up, in random groups of 25, for your ogling pleasure. On the whole they are ludicrously beautiful, making those spiffy, redesigned, Penguin Classic’s we’re all so fond of look about as precious as supermarket circulars. To see them for yourself go here and simply click “reselect” to see more."

Another failed dance craze

Found at PCL Linkdump

Every now and then you need some graph paper....

.....for an assignment, a craft project or a lesson plan. But do you have any? Of course you don't! Help is at hand at PrintFreeGraphPaper.....now all you need is an ink cartridge in your printer!

Find your nearest atm

I tried out this website by typing in my postcode and was impressed when it came up with the atm buried in my local corner shop at the top of the list! There's worldwide coverage so it could be useful in a 'print-out-before-you-go' holiday context.

Cat costumes

Could we be seeing pictures of Merlot and Syrah sporting these outfits next xmas I wonder?

How a bobbin works...

.....I always wondered! And there's more information on the internal workings of a sewing machine at How Stuff Works

A mission statement and a half!

I couldn't resist downloading this book from archive.com. It turned out to to be a bit of a disappointment except for it's stirring 'mission statement', here's just an extract!

"We are anxious to render elegant amusements conducive to the attainment of moral ends; and to lay that foundation of intellectual superiority, and affectionate regard, for the comfort and happiness of others, which can alone give light and animation, sweetness and blooming freshness, to the interesting scenes of future life. All engagements, which are calculated to elevate, soften, and harmonize the human character, have this tendency ; and it is in the assured conviction that the employments here treated of, are, when cultivated in due subordination to higher duties, well adapted to secure these objects, and to promote these domestic ends, that the Ladies' Work-Table Book has been prepared, and is now presented
to the lovely daughters of our land."

North Tyneside oral histories

There's an interesting collection here at Tynelives

Party masks extraordinaire

Child-sized downloadable template.....but with a bit of enlargement?
Lots more party paper stuff as well as recipes aimed at the younger generation (in French) at the Tomlitoo website.

Make your own tartan.....

.....on the Vivienne Westwood page at the V and A

Listen to Wikipedia......

....at PediaPhon. Just type in your search term and PediaPhon will do the rest......you can opt for a downloadable mp3 of your chosen article or just listen directly in your browser.
It's available in English, German and French flavours.

Putting on the Ritz

Just back from a family party.....one thing led to another and nostalgia kicked in (maybe due to the chest infection......it gets you like that!) I came back with some ancient photos to scan......and to cut a long story short I needed to check out Fred Astaire doing 'Putting on the Ritz'.....look, I have my reasons! All YOU have to do is enjoy the performance!

If you like vintage cinema images....

.....there's nowhere better than 'It'll take the snap out of your garters'!

Don't think I'll be trying this at home!

How To Make Fire Balls - video powered by Metacafe

Meeow, meeow......

Busby Berkeley knew a thing or two!

Found at PCL Linkdump

Weekend gore fest.....

It's been a bad week. First it was a painful back-to-work-after-the-Christmas-break experience and now I've come down with some chest-related ailment that even makes my skin hurt......I'm in the mood for murder and mayhem!

Jayisgames says.....
"Built in 1970, and deserted some time after that, no one has entered the house since the entire family committed suicide due to reasons unknown. Point-and-click your way through the house to unfold the mystery of what really happened to that fateful fictitious family. Best viewed alone, late at night, in the dark, and with the sound turned up."

Sounds good to me!

Play 'The House' here

Wonder why this idea didn't take off?

Could it possibly be the 'Jeez, that's gotta hurt!' factor?

Sounds

Another music search site (listen or download) at mp3 realm

Tarting it up......

......a picture that is!

I've been meaning to post on some of my favourite 'online apps' and free downloadable software for photo editing for a while. Believe me, there's hours of fun to be had!

Some online apps for starters....

FotoFlexer

Pixenate

Snipshot

Phixr

Piknik

We haven't done 'cute' for a while......

How about a bouncing baby goat?

Photoshop tutorial with a difference

This is actually part 2 of the series.......you want to watch part 1?

Similar.....but different

Try it, and see
If you like it try Flow
About Han Hoogerbrugge at Wikipedia

Interactive flash thingy

It's been around for ages.....but it's still fun!
Use the direction arrows to move FlyGuy around his personal universe.

Send nosehairmail

Oh look, just because you can!
Your recipient gets to tweak the growing nasal hair to display the next word in the message(with sound effects).....strangely satisfying!
Do it here

It's a long time until Easter.......

.....so why not celebrate other folks festivals while we wait for the next bank holiday?

Here goes.......
January heralds the camel wrestling festival in Turkey......though I'm not sure how this would work in the (currently bleak) NE of England. OK, so maybe I didn't think this through and I need to do a bit more research!

This one ISN'T in the list......

......but I'd love to see it! Ian McShane pre Lovejoy.

Weird and wonderful films

Check out a long list posted at Eye of the Goof, all of which you can either watch online (low res, but good enough to try before you decide whether to go for the high res version) or download (copyright free and completely legal!) from Archive.org. Here's just the 'A's' for a taster.......

The Amazing Mr. X
The Amazing Transparent Man
The Ape
Assignment: Outer Space
Atom Age Vampire
The Atomic Brain
Attack of the Giant Leeches
Attack From Space

LATER....I've watched the first (small screen) 10 mins of Atom Age Vampire and decided to go for the full download for a fun-filled saturday nights viewing pleasure......but let's face it, I'm easily pleased!

Midweek game....an attempt to combat back-to-work blues

THE FACTS.....I looked at the office clock yesterday morning (first day of term!) absolutely convinced it must be nearly lunchtime.....it was 10.10am......so, roll on Spring! In the meantime, we could all give this game a try.

Jayisgames says...........
"You begin staring at a desk littered with items (and I say, "oh....that sounds sort of familiar!"), including a mysterious (and rather out of place) box. In just a few clicks you find yourself in a dark corridor symbolizing your subconscious mind. Five doors surround you, each leading to a different room packed with puzzles. As you piece together clues from these rooms you open new areas to explore and gather even more items to use. For the most part, items you find will be used in the same room to solve multi-stage puzzles. This isn't always the case, of course, so don't be afraid to carry things back and forth and try out new ideas."

It's called Synapsis.....and you can play it here

Collective nouns

So what would you call a lot of them?
Find out here

A prickly subject

Now, those cacti that I brought back from Amsterdam don't look anything like the ones on the left......yet.

I think I'll be refering to this website when it gets round to the growing season

British Cactus and Succulent Society

LATER....When I got round to actually reading some of the content I found I'd already probably killed the poor things by watering them....firstly, when I shouldn't have, secondly, the wrong way... even if it was the right time to do it.

In short.....THEY'RE DOOMED!

Alternative Dr Who audio theatre

Listen online (or download mp3s) to Dr Who, and lots more, at Darker Projects. Think this might be my next iPod shuffle refill site. I'm going for 'Tales from the Museum' for starters.... will report back!

A woman's place is in the kitchen

Knitting revisited

Current project (except in an attractive primeval slime green). Found at Knitting Pattern Central

Next project?.........

Found at Dirigo - Knitting by the Sea

Home grown recipe

Sorry, no picture....I ate it all!!

Chilli Soy Mushrooms

2 tablespoons olive oil mixed with 1 heaped teaspoon minced garlic
500g flat or button mushrooms, sliced
6 spring onions, chopped
1 finely chopped red chilli, seeds and all
3 tablespoons mushroom soy sauce (though ordinary soy would do)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Heat the oil and garlic, fry the veg, add the soy sauce and balamic vinegar after a couple of minutes, cook gently until the mushrooms are tender.
Delicious on wholemeal toast, though it makes it a bit soggy!

(Next time, and there WILL be a next time, I might try replacing some of the olive oil with sesame oil and serving it on toasted ciabatta)

Video guides on how to do just about anything

At 5min.com
Here we learn how to make a balloon hat.....just because there's times in life when EVERYONE needs a balloon hat!

Stinks and Bangs

One for Chris
The Chemistry Video Collection from the Journal of Chemical Education

Webtoy

There's a demo version of KaleidoDraw to play with online here (but sadly there's no save or print options for your masterpiece!)

Haven't tried this one yet.....

.....apparently this point-and-click, escape-the-room game includes "adult themes, blood and gore", so maybe not one for the kiddywinkles!
Play Icescape here

Beginners origami.....

.....with video instructions at PEM Origami (Don't forget the Canon 3D website for downloadable origami papers)

2008, The UN year of the potato

Oh yes it is! Check out the facts at the International Year of the Potato 2008 website

Nice vintage travel posters

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

For your listening pleasure...

....try MeeMix for music while you surf. Type in an artist name or song title to start, register to save a playlist.

Vampire Rabbit

This bizarre figure of a fanged rabbit is above the ornate doorway of solicitors' offices on Amen Corner, behind St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle. You have to wonder why?

Weekend timewaster

Upload your photo and try out a celebrity hair-do at HairMixer

New (relatively) empty calendar syndrome....

Chinese New Year, 7th February?

Art Deco Vignettes.....

.....links to lots of them at BibliOdyssey

Time for a game

CDX from the BBC.......

"A sacrificial blade forged at the birth of the Roman empire holds the key to an ancient and bloody conspiracy that threatens to erupt into the present day.
Stranded in 21st century Tunis, Adam Foster is plunged into a world of greed, betrayal and murder. But who has the blade, and can the killers be stopped?
Unlock the mystery in this unique interactive-video adventure."

4 episodes released so far
Play them here

More paper models

Here at Nice Bunny. These ones are from the HedKase Artists collection

Back on dry(ish) land

OK, so the skies weren't QUITE so blue, but it was still a great trip....DFDS did us proud! Both crossings were comparatively calm, the food excellent and in huge quantities, as much alcohol as you could stomach (it was an all-inclusive deal), beds/cabins comfortable and everything organised with military, sorry, naval precision. Our time in Amsterdam was enough for a sightseeing tour, a trip to the floating flower market to buy spring bulbs (which I'll plant as soon as it stops bloody raining!) and half a dozen cacti (now THEY were fun to transport back!), some leisurely shopping (for traditional tourist tat and 'foreign' cooking ingredients!) and several cups of coffee. We saw the New Year in offshore from Great Yarmouth apparently. Would I do it again?.....Definitely!
Link to DFDS website