Parental involvement is a crucial ingredient in the success of many children. Teachers know the saying all too well that it takes more than a village to raise a child, for one - it takes parental involvement. Thus, it is important for teachers to reach out to parents in that first week of school. Teachers should write a formal letter that is welcoming and easily comprehensible to the parent and the student. This letter should be able to communicate that the teacher values the child’s educatio...
This collection of instructional videos from BaseballRox with baseball player Jeff Pick focuses on proper pitching mechanics with an emphasis on safety in the sport of baseball.
This clip introduces the Constraint Tag and specifically looks at the use of the Aim parameters. If you make use of the Target Tag in Cinema4D, then watch this tutorial to see how the Constraint Tag could open up a lot of extra possibilities. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, and to get sta...
This four-part series presents an introduction to some of the techniques for uv mapping in Houdini. This first part introduces the concept of UVs, and looks at UVProject as a way of adding UVs, and UVQuickShade as a way of visualising them. Whether you're new to Side Effects Software's popular 3D production program or a seasoned graphic artist just interested in better acquainting yourself with the application, you're sure to be well served by this free video tutorial. For more information, i...
Animation curves allow you to easily tweak your animation and give you utmost control. This quick tip introduces you to how to access them and how to use them. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely on the lookout for new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this free video software tutorial from the folks at CG Cookie. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, ta...
This collection of instructional videos from BaseballRox with baseball player Max Luckhurst focuses on the equipment for the catcher. Coach Luckhurst explains the proper use of the helmet, chest protector, shin guards, cup and catcher's glove in the sport of baseball.
302 introduces a new physically based daylight sky and sun model. Learn how to create a realistic sun automatically. modo 302 is a service update, free for all modo 301 users. Create physically based skies in modo 302.
Creative Cow contributing editor Tony Ross introduces drawing techniques in Flash, as well as how to use Masking, Motion and Shape Tweens to create an animated pencil drawing a line. Tools used are the Rectangle tool, Pencil tool, and Free Transform tool. Animate a pencil drawing a straight line in Flash.
Illustrator CS4 introduces the new Blob Brush tool to users. Instead of a regular brush stroke, painting with the blog brush gives you a filled, compound path. Any new shape painted with the same color and stroke will automatically merge with existing shapes with the same settings. The Blob Brush tool will pick up style attributes from other objects and has numerous other options to explore and play around with. See how to use this fun new tool, the Blob Brush in this Illustrator CS4 tutorial...
Creative Cow Leader Aharon Rabinowitz introduces you to Shape Layers, one of the most powerful features in Adobe After Effects CS3. Use shape layers in After Effects.
In this video tutorial, Creative Cow leader Aharon Rabinowitz introduces you to the Per-Character 3D Text animation feature in After Effects CS3. Previously, you could only animate characters individually in x and y, but with this new tool you can do it in z as well. Create per-character 3D text in After Effects CS3.
This video introduces the concept of symbols and instances in Flash. It shows you that symbols are objects that can be reused as instances, and targeted with ActionScript code. The tutorial shows you the difference between graphic, movie clip, and button symbols, and how to modify both symbols and instances in different ways. Create and use symbols and instances in Flash CS3 Pro.
An arch is a structure commonly used in bridges and buildings. This video presents examples of the arch as a structural unit and introduces the concepts of compression and tension. Provides support for the structures and mechanism unit of grade 6 to 8 science programs. Understand arches.
In this tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz introduces you to the Fractal Noise Effect, and shows you how to create the animated backgrounds seen in the opening of the Creative Cow After Effects tutorials. Fractal noise is a powerful way to add variation and randomness to surfaces or scenes and this tutorial only covers the VERY basic basics of the tool. Use fractal noise in After Effects.
This video introduces you to XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) , and prepares you to work with Ajax. You will learn how quick and easy it is to create a new XML file in Dreamweaver CS3 and what the typical contents of an XML file are. Use XML in Dreamweaver CS3.
Darrin Judkins - BMG Models NYC, Women's Board Booking Agent
First came the Rubik’s cube, a simple 3x3 puzzle. Then came Rubik’s Revenge, a 4x4 monstrosity. Eventually, the real whizzes attempted to conquer the V-Cube 6 and the V-Cube 7.
Amazing trailer. A sequel that's not a sequel, but takes the series to the open skies! From the official website:BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter currently in development at Irrational Games, the studio behind the original BioShock (which sold over 4 million units worldwide). Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative and gameplay experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky.F...
If you know After Effects, you know how important expressions are to your workflow, but you may have forgotten about the expression controls. In this three part tutorial Aharon Rabinowitz introduces you to expression controls, a series of effects designed only for use with After Effects. The third video has the most advanced tools for experienced users. Use expression controls in After Effects - Part 1 of 3.
In part one of this two-part tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz introduces you to Exponential scale, a keyframe assistant used to counter the issues that occur naturally in After Effects when scaling from very high values. In the second part, you'll learn how to ease the values of Exponential Scale to create a smooth end to your layer's scale animation. This is a better way to create easing in and easing out effects on animations. Fix scaling issues in After Effects - Part 1 of 2.
Story, Characters, and Structure Note:
From The Day of the Tentacle to Syberia, adventure games have come a long way. We now have games developed exclusively for the Google Android platform and iPhone. The newest game is the episodic Fragment 3D, a point and click adventure game focusing on the adventures of a robot who is left to rust in the underworld. You will have to help him escape and help him unearth secrets and conspiracies.
This past Tuesday, Amazon pushed a big software update to Kindle users the world over. While the update introduces a host of great new features—secondary page numbers that allow readers to reference real-world editions, for example—, it also takes something away. What?
How is it that we use Firefox tremendously and yet not care for its needs? You might have noticed Firefox sometimes tends to slow and not respond often. You might have installed countless add-on in Firefox to enhance your using experience, to get the most out of your Firefox use these Hacks. The about:config page contains all most all of the tweaks and enhancements available for Firefox to day.
More science-geek-art: amazing photographs by Alan Jaras. Apparently the images have not been altered in any way (computer generated or color treated) and are true reproductions of light refraction patterns captured on film.
Two wonderful, wonderful things converge! Minecraft Forum's rushone2009 introduces the Bladecraft Project, a melding of Blade Runner and Minecraft. The current texture pack and map downloads contain no adventure or goal, just exploring and discovering movie references. Download here.
In our media-enriched world, past and present, SCRABBLE has made a name for itself, whether deliberately, subconsciously, or influentially. You may have a read a book that had the popular word game within a chapter, watched a movie that showed your favorite characters bringing out the SCRABBLE board, or even listened to a rap about this word or that word. SCRABBLE is everywhere, even if you don't realize it.
It’s been a pretty big week for Google, and Google+ itself. There were a number of articles proclaiming the end of Google+, because allegedly traffic dropped over 60% after it opened to the public. Then +Steve Yegge accidentally posted a long rant on Google+ itself, which was originally meant only for Google employees and colleagues to see. Interestingly enough, the most inflammatory content wasn’t actually about Google itself, but about the horrible work environment at Amazon. The accidental...
This week's review roundup is a diverse lot. They really only have two things in common—their indie origins and puzzle elements. Otherwise, they come from France, Spain and the U.S., a few from unknown designers and one by the guy who inspired Minecraft.
Introduction to KVM KVM is a free and open-source Kernel-based Virtual Machine using the Linux kernel for virualization and is very similiar to a hypervisor like Xen or VMware's ESXi. It is based on Qemu, a processor emulator. Any virtual machine created on or working on KVM can work on Qemu also, but with a great reduction in speed.
A Way Out of the Overload How do we simplify? There's a welter of information, advice, techniques, schools and every imaginable video tape available on the market to answer that question for you. In making a selection from this movable feast you'd want to take into account the background and credentials of the person offering you a way out of the overload. That's assuming you didn't just throw up your hands in exasperation and walk away from the task entirely.
There's a lot to love about iOS 13. Permanent Memoji stickers though? Not so much. Whether you love or hate these personalized icons, most of us can probably agree it's super annoying Apple doesn't let you disable them in the "Frequently Used" section of the Emoji keyboard. Every time you go to use an emoji, you have to see the stickers, whether you want to or not. That is, until now.
The latest update to Apple's Mail app introduces a suite of new colors for flags, unique amongst even the best email apps on the App Store. The problem is they're hard to find — if you try to flag an email the old fashioned way, it'll use the default orange color, with seemingly no way to change it. Of course, there is a way, it's just a little out of the way.
Copying text is as much an iOS staple as anything else. From its inception in iPhone OS 3.0 (yes, the first two iPhones shipped without copy and paste) until iOS 12, the copy function has stayed exactly the same. While the option is still present in your iPhone's contextual menu, iOS 13 introduces a modern way to copy text using just a gesture.
As one of the most heavily utilized map applications out there, it's worth mentioning when Google Maps introduces changes big and small into its app. In the case of the most recent update, it's not so much of a change that they've made as much as it is an improvement.
Today, we're pleased to announce that WonderHowTo is getting a major site-wide update to make it easier to follow the subjects you're passionate about and to share your creations with people who will give you the kudos you deserve!
Welcome to the Google+ Insider's Guide to all things Google+. We're dedicated to keeping you updated with all the latest news, tips and tricks on Google+, and this official index will serve as a one-stop catalog of all our How-To articles, as well as all the news & updates we've covered over time.
If you've gained entry into Google+, one of the first things you should do is adjust your Google account settings. Your settings will now look quite different, and you can adjust your notifications, password retrieval methods, and more. There are many settings that you may not have been aware of before.
We are embarking upon a new year. As usual, some of us will make "resolutions." There isn't anything wrong with setting goals for the year. It's actually a good idea. It may help focus the energy we bring to life.
Kick Ass Review Part 2: Gameplay and Design In the game, you can play as Kick Ass, Hit Girl, or Big Daddy. Each charater has a light and heavy attack that can be strung together into small combos. Each character also has three special attacks assigned to the Square, Triangle, and Circle buttons requiring different amounts of MP. For bosses, each character has two finishing moves.Kick Ass
