Sunday, June 1, 2008

"Not In My Cart" from the Consumer's Union

Did you know...
  • 80% of all toys sold in the U.S. are now manufactured in China.

  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission inspects less than 1% of imported goods.

  • The FDA inspects about 1% of imported food.
Yeah. Not too reassuring, is it? The "Not in My Cart" website from the Consumer's Union posts the most recent recalls of products as well as asking you to encourage your lawmakers in Congress to pass laws that protect your safety and the safety of your loved ones.

From the website:

Bright toys coated with lead paint, savory fish with illegal chemicals, toothpaste with a poison used in antifreeze--the recent wave of recalls reminds us that ordinary things we use every day may not be safe. Consumers Union created NotInMyCart.org to give you a place to check for recent product recalls and take action to make all products safer in the future. The U.S. market is now flooded with imported products--tens of millions of items arriving in cargo ships stacked high with containers. Recalls, after a dangerous product is found on store shelves, are important, but not enough.
Also from their website:
Consumers Union (CU) is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers. CU publishes Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org in addition to two newsletters, Consumer Reports on Health and Consumer Reports Money Adviser with combined subscriptions of more than 7 million. Consumers Union also has more than 500,000 online activists who help work to change legislation and the marketplace in favor of the consumer interest and several public education Web sites. Since its founding in 1936, Consumers Union has never taken any advertising or freebies of any kind.
CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE TODAY.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Easiest Tooltip and Image Preview Using jQuery - from the CSSGlobe Blog

From the blog: "Recently I had a project that demanded a rollover image preview. You know, one of those tooltip-like bubble popups that appears when you roll over link or a thumbnail. Since we were already using jQuery on that project I decided to take it easy and investigate what can be done with that extraordinary library. So I came up with a script so simple it hurts! The best thing yet is that it can be applied for a variety of purposes."

This is very, very nice and looks easy, too. The three versions are packaged together for easy download or you can copy and past from the blog.

Version One: The Simplest jQuery Tooltip Ever

Version Two: Image Preview Gallery

Version Three: Links With URL Preview

VISIT THIS BLOG

Aw, just for the heck of it, let's see what I can come up with using this guy's script(s)...

My Version of Version One - the tooltip
My Version of Version Two - Image Preview Gallery
My Version of Version Three - Screenshot Preview

Friday, May 9, 2008

Spinwave Image Crunchers

I've been using the free online demo versions for a long time and they work just great for some types of images. You choose how many colors in the pallette and Spinwave will crunch that little sucker on down to web-manageable size. Photoshop does the same thing when you use their "save for the web" option. But, this place is worth a try and if you like what you see, you might want to actually buy this stuff.

VISIT THE WEBSITE.

5 Column Layout for Blogs

If you would like to change the layout of your Blogspot (Blogger) Blog, check out this blog that offers templates for a five-column layout. Aside from the free templates, details are given for how to install templates and how to back up the blog layout you are currently using.

Accessify.com's "Quick Escape" and Other Web Development Tools

VISIT THE QUICK ESCAPE PAGE HERE

What is "Quick Escape?" It's a tool that lets you quickly paste in HTML and for that to be converted to escaped characters which can be pasted back in to your HTML source code so that it renders on screen. PSST... great for blog posts.

Visit Accessify's homepage.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

MyImager.com and Cool Archive


FROM THE WEBSITE: "myImager.com is your own free everything online image editor! Upload or call images from anywhere on the web and edit them freely with the the dozens of tools and filters that we offer! This is a 100% free service, offered by the great people at Cool Archive."


Okay, you just have to see these guys to believe all the great resources they have here... but here's some of it:

Logo Generator - Create your own logos and banners online.
SAMPLE LOGO (and there are many, many variations):
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Button Maker - Create awesome buttons, 30+ templates.
SAMPLE ONE:
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SAMPLE TWO:
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Clip Art - 1000+ clip art images in 30+ categories.
SAMPLE:
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Fonts - 1000+ fonts organized alphabetically with previews
THREE SAMPLES:
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Icons - 4000+ icons in 125+ categories, (ICO & GIF formats).
SAMPLES:

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Animations - 300+ animations with previews
SAMPLE:
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Textures - 300+ original textures.
SAMPLES:
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Bullets - 200+ hand chosen bullets.
SAMPLES:

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Bars - 170+ selected bars.
SAMPLES (resized to fit this post):

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Arrows - 200+ picked arrows.
SAMPLES:

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Sounds - 100+ sound fx, movies, tv shows, etc.
SAMPLES:
Shagadelic (.wav)
Butthead saying "Assmunch." (.wav)
Boing sound effect (.wav)

...and lots more!

VISIT THE COOL ARCHIVE WEBSITE

PulseTV.com

I don't usually mention shopping websites because they're all pretty much the same to me and that's kinda boring. But, every once in a while, I happen across one that's just a tad different and PulseTV.com is that. Or their products are. Prices are low, just looking at the goodies they have to offer is fun, so there ya go... better than a jab in the eye with a sharp stick.
YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE OR HAVE A LOOKSEE HERE AT A FEW OF THE PRODUCTS TO BE FOUND THERE:
DISCLAIMER: I have no affiliation with this website and if I post their current (as of when I post this) price for an item that in no way guarantees that will still be the price when/if you click any links. It's not my company. Those are not my products. I do not set the prices. Period.
Accupressure Massager - $2.49
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Yeah, this is for accupressure, all right. Sure.
Sole Cleaner - $5.99
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"You can clean your soles and enjoy a comfortable foot massage everytime you take a shower!" Admit it. You've been dreaming about owning your very own sole cleaner, haven't you?
Journey's Edge Flying Alarm Clock - $14.99
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I would be f'ing pissed if somebody had things flying around my head while I was still asleep. Who thought this was a good idea?????
Reefer Madness DVD
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A 1936 cult favorite, this alarmist movie about the eeeeeeeeeevuls of marijuana has been a favorite of teenagers since it was first released. PRICE: Free, but not really. You still pay "shipping and handling" (as of posting this, that's $7.47). Free, my ass.

Multi-Blade Shredder Scissors - $5.99
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Now here's something useful. "Prevent identity thief and protect your personal information with these incredible Multi-Blade Shredder Scissors. Five pairs of stainless steel blades will easily shred your bank statements, credit cards receipts and other personal information at home, office or buisness travels."
Tool Technology 7-PC Tool Set - $5.99
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These are those essentials you try to find when you need them and they're never where you left them. Contains: Measuring Tape (1M to 3 FT); Hammer- Flat Head Screwdriver; Phillips Screwdriver; Tweezer; Long Nose Pliers; Plastic Carrying Case.
In Living Color Season 1 DVD - $29.99
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One of my most favorite TV shows ever.

Pet Blinkers - The Pet Safety Light - $2.99
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"Pet Blinkers give you the added security and peace of mind knowing you and your pet(s) are visible at night. Whether you’re going for a jog with your pet or if you just want extra attention, attach the Pet Blinker to your pet's collar and be seen a half-mile away!"