João's posterous

Just for the lulz...

Mac Quick Tip: Adding a signature to PDFs with Preview

Preview is the most underrated piece of software ever. If you spend some time with it you'll find out that you can use it to perform a lot of, sometimes less obvious, functions.

Today I'm going to talk about digital signatures. If you send documents that are (or should) be signed, you probably print them, then sign and then scan them again so they're properly signed. The thing is, it's a lot of trouble and you know that scanned docs don't look as good.

Preview has a tool that allows you to scan a signature, without even needing to have a scanner at hand as long as your Mac has a built-n iSight camera (which it probably has), and add them to your PDFs in a jiffy.

The process is really simple:

1. Write your letter or whatever it is using your favourite text processing app (just make sure you can save the document has PDF) and save it as a FDP file.

2. Make your signature with a black pen on a white paper. Make it pretty and a little bigger than usual (use a black felt pen since it works best).

3. Open it with Preview and click the Annotations icon.

Screen_shot_2011-12-14_at_19

4. The Annotation Bar will pop down. Click on the Signature icon.

0screen_shot_2011-12-14_at_19
Here you can see two options (don't mind my other signature - you probably don't have any there). Click "Create Signature from Built-in iSight".

1screen_shot_2011-12-14_at_19

A new window opens with a kind of scanning window that shows the image captured by your camera. Hold the paper steady and so that the signature rests on the blue line as you see below. Once you're happy with the scanned signature, click Accept (tip: use the Return (Enter) key).

Make sure you have enough light on it and hold it really steady or it won't scan properly.

2screen_shot_2011-12-14_at_19

Don't mind if you can't get it right on the first attempt. It took me a few trials to get it just right.

5. And that's it. You're signature is saved and you can use it to sign your docs without all the print-sign-scan hassle. All you have to do now is to click the signature icon again

Screen_shot_2011-12-14_at_19

and choose the signature you want and click in the place you want it in the document (you can resize it there).

0screen_shot_2011-12-14_at_19

And you're off to impress with your properly signed document.

-João

Oh, Leopoldina

Pois é, ontem recebi o habitual panfleto da Continente para o Natal. Já não me lembro de um Natal sem ele e, mesmo já com 20 e poucos anos, continuo a sentar-me para o folhear enquanto lido com uma sandes de queijo.

Este ano não. Não com aquela infantilização de uma profissional do sexo em jeito de um antes simpático artiodátilo mamífero, próprio da África, de pele muito grossa e nua, patas e cauda curtas, cabeça muito grande e truncada num focinho largo e arredondado*, vulgo hipopótamo, que faz uma cover de uma má cover da Lambada, já por si arruinada pelo mau pop. Foi direito à reciclagem.

-João

Lion fix: Séries automaticamente no iTunes

Top-tv-shows-power-image-jan09

Desde que fix update para o Lion, reparei que o meu método para fazer download de séries para o iTunes através de torrents passou a não funcionar. Mas trago boas notícias.

Demorei este tempo todo a perceber o porquê (confesso que não tinha perdido muito tempo com isso), mas parece que a solução é bastante simples.
O problema é que o iTunes passou a correr em modo 64-bit por defeito, o que o torna incompatível com codecs para o QuickTime (Perian). No entanto, fazendo-o correr em modo 32-bits resolve o problema:

Localizar o iTunes no Finder > Clicar com o botão direito > Get info (ou o equivalente em português) / Cmd + I > activar onde diz "Open in 32-bit mode" (ou o equivalente em português)

E voilá. O método volta a funcionar como antes.

Para os que quiserem (re-) ver todo o guia, aquí estão os links:

Não sei exactamente quais são as desvantagens ao usar o iTunes em modo 32-bit em vez de 64-bit, mas não me parece que as hajam excepto em casos de conversão (em que poderá haver um decréscimo no desempenho). Se notarem alguma desvantagem, podem deixar nos comentários.

-João

Top ten myths about introverts - Jerry Brito (via @rosa)

Top ten myths about introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

(Source: carlkingcreative.com)

via jerrybrito.org

This is totally true. As an introvert, I feel a little better now.

-João

Find your blind spot

Everyone's got a blind spot, that thing they told you about when you got your driver's license and makes overtaking on dual lanes dangerous.

Don't know what a blind spot is? Here's a simple way of defining it: 

An area where a person's view is obstructed.

Well, a blind spot is actually a generic name for, well, a blind spot. When it happens on your brain (unrelated to what happens with your car's mirrors), it's called a psychological blind spot. And it happens in the verge of your eye's capability to perceive light. That is, at a certain peripheral point, your retina can't catch light and you can't see what's there. 

I don't really want to get too technical here, but I leave here an image with which you can test your eyes and discover your blind spot.

Blind-spot-test

(click on the image to make it bigger and easier to get the desired effect)

Now, cover your left eye with your hand and look at the dot on the left. Stay aware of the cross on the right, but don't look at it. Move your head closer and farther away of the monitor and you'll notice that at some point the cross on the right will disappear. 

Stay at that distance to the monitor, cover your right eye and look at the cross. You won't be able to see the dot unless you move your head. This also works with colored backgrounds.

There's your blind spot.

Pretty cool, uh? Now think on everything you're missing from the world around you as this happens.... :)

adapted from io9.com

-João
Posterous theme by Cory Watilo