Scaled Down Ventures Search Results

How To: Explore and decipher fractal geometry and self-similar mathematics

There wouldn't be any chaos in the world without Benoit Mandelbort— chaos theory, that is. Mandelbrot, who just passed away at the age of 85, pioneered fractal geometry and greatly influenced chaos theory. He spent most of his life working in physics, biology and astronomy, and is best known for his Mandelbrot Set, a mathematical set of points in the complex plane (the boundary of which forms a fractal).

How To: Make a Hairspray-Fueled PVC Rocket Cannon

This week, I've been working on a project that sort of takes a spin off an old-style potato gun. Using PVC pipe and the rapid combustion of hairspray, we can launch a rocket hundreds of feet into the sky. As usual for my projects, I tried to use only materials and parts that are commonly available. I even give two different forms of ignition, in case one method ends up being hard to come by. The following video will explain the project further: The launcher can be reloaded and fired repeatedl...

News: Compose DIY Meditiative Music with Otomata, an Online Audio Toy

It's more addictive than Angry Birds, perhaps as relaxing as transcendental meditation, and satisfyingly simpler than GarageBand. It's Otomata, a newly programmed generative sequencer designed by Batuhan Bozkurt, a Turkish sound artist, computer programmer, and performer. But really, it's best described as an audio/visual music toy that anybody can play online—with beautiful results.

News: Gigantic Carpet of 750,000 Begonias (Assembled in Just 4 Hours!)

Every summer the city of Brussels assembles an enormous carpet of begonias, under the advisement of one hundred experienced gardeners. The project is planned far in advance, with illustrations and scale models based on a chosen theme (previously chosen have been the arms and shield of a town or commemoration of important events). This year's theme features Saint Michael striking down the dragon, the official protective image of the city, founded over 1,000 years ago.

How To: Land a Nitro RC plane

First of all you have to loose the altitude by taking a circle or two around in the air. On the final turn make a good straight approach to runaway and don't use too much ‘ailerons’ then. Just use the controls ‘rudder’, ‘elevator’ and ‘throttle’. Also watch for the cars or the traffic where you are going to land. Keep constant low ‘throttle’. You have to maintain good ‘idles speed’. You might want to adjust and remember the trim settings. After touch down, don’t pull on elevator. Just cut the...

How To: Ride a horse if you're a beginner

In this video from jumper881 we learn how to ride a horse for beginners. First mount the horse by putting your left foot into the left stirrup. Then grab onto the saddle and pull yourself up. Then hold your reigns with your pinky on the outside and your ring finger on the other one. To steer your horse, pull left reign to go left, and right reign to go right. To stop, pull back on the reigns. Not too hard though. To walk your horse, make a noise and squeeze with your heel. Keep heels down and...

How To: Change the unit of measurment in Blender 2.5

In this quick Blender 2.5 video tip, you'll see show how you can change the unit of measurement within Blender away from the default Blender Units to either Metric or Imperial units. Doing this makes it much easier to accurately create objects to scale. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular 3D modeling 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 in...

How To: Build your own set of graffiti lettering

Drawing graffiti letters can be done in hundreds of different ways, but drawing on graph paper helps the letters stay to scale, and using a brush pen creates a flared effect. Draw a few different types of graffiti letters with a demonstration from an experienced artist and art supply store employee in this free video on drawing. This video will demonstrate exactly how to build your own set of graffiti lettering. Build your own set of graffiti lettering.

How To: Make homemade sauerkraut with cabbage and sea salt

Don't settle for store-bought sauerkraut, do it right with your own two hands and make homemade sauerkraut from cabbie and sea salt. Yep, that's all it takes to make a delicious sauerkraut condiment to go with anything, like polish sausages or bratwursts. Never buy sauerkraut again. Watch this video recipe to see how to make it.

How To: Use the displace modifier in 3ds Max

The Displace modifier in 3ds Max acts as a force field to push and reshape an object’s geometry. You can apply its variable force directly from the modifier gizmo, or from a bitmapped image. The 3D Studio Max displace modifier works on Shapes, Meshes, Polys, Patches, NURBS. Displace is often used to make terrains or to add finer texture to 3D models with out having to model in extra texture. It can also be used in a very controlled way to manipulate geometries. With the use of procedural text...

How To: Play a scale in octaves on the violin

Do you want to improve your violin playing technique? This violin lesson teaches you a great exercise to improve your octave playing in scales. This exercise is based on the Yost system. This exercise is designed to increase your familiarity and comfort in all positions, develop confidence and accuracy in all positions, develop an understanding of what to listen for while shifting, and improve your ear training and overall intonation. When practicing this exercise you should relax your finger...

How To: Convert numbers in and out of standard form

In this video, we learn how to convert numbers in and out of standard form. Standard form is a useful way of writing down very large numbers and very small numbers. To do this, you will look at the number you have and ignore the zeros that are just at the end. Then, write down the basic numbers. Put a decimal point in this number to make it between one and ten. Now, write down x 10 and put the power for how many places the decimal point moved to get to the new number. This will help you write...

How To: Make a speedy paper airplane

In this video we learn how to make a speedy paper airplane. First, fold the paper in half and make a crease in the middle. Next, fold the corners down on the top. After this, fold these into another triangle going half way down the paper. Then, fold the tip all the way down so it rests on the opposite side of where it started. Do one more fold like the ones you did in the second and third steps. Make sure you are making crisp creases in the folds that you make. After this, fold the tip to the...

How To: Do the invisible board & super jump glitches in THAW

In this video, we learn how to do the invisible board & super jump glitches in THAW. First, turn low gravity on then get onto the roof of a building. From here, jump onto the ramp then jump into the grass down on the bottom. After this, find the invisible wall and jump up it. After this, climb to the top of the mountain right next to it. Then, run down the street and slap the wall while jumping up it until you reach the top of the hill. Then, run down and jump to the bottom on the street. Now...

Perform a backward wristlock: "Omote Gyaku"

In this video, we learn how to perform a backward wristlock: Omote Gyaku. This is a basic move that can be done in different variations. First, place your thumb on the back of their hand and turn the wrist around. After this, turn it sideways and turn it up and over. Doing this will twist the wrist and lock it so the opponent falls down to the ground with pain. Just a small amount of force sets off a chain reaction in all the joints in the entire body. Once you have this down, it's a very eff...

How To: Prank a coworker with an upside down full coffee cup

Office pranks have a long and distinguished history. You've probably seen this one before, but in case you haven't, this video will show you how to do the upside-down coffee cup prank. Simply take a full cup of coffee, place it on the desk of your victim, place a piece of paper flat on top, then carefully flip the cup onto the desk and remove the paper. The cup will be upside-down, full, on the desk. The only way to remove it is to soak oneself with coffee, as your victim will most likely do.

How To: Write the letter J in calligraphy copperplate

In this video, we learn how to write the letter J in calligraphy copperplate. For the uppercase letter, start by grabbing your calligraphy pen and drag it down so you have a thick black line with a thin line at the top. End the letter with a loop around it, then bring the top line to the left and loop it around, making a semi-thick line with it. To make the lower case letter, make a thin line going diagonally to the right, then dip the pen in ink and bring the pen down in a thick line down. C...

How To: Write the letter Y in calligraphy copperplate

In this tutorial, we learn how to write the letter Y in calligraphy copperplate. First, make a thin line with the pen, going thicker as you go down, make a loop and then come back down. Make a "u" shape, then connect a curved line to the other side finished with a dot on the bottom to complete the letter. To make the lower case letter, make a small thin hump, then drag the pen down to a thicker line. Make a new line on the other side, making a thicker line and connect it with the other shape ...

How To: Enter Excel data into cells with drop down menus

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to create drop down menus in Microsoft Excel. This task is very easy, fast and easy to do. Begin by highlighting a desired cell. Then click on the Data tab and click on Data Validation under Data Tools. When the Data Validates window opens, click on the Error tab and deselect "Show error alert after invalid data is entered". Then click on OK. Now simply type in the data into the selected cell. This video will benefit those viewers who use Microsoft Ex...

How To: Do a parkour palm spin

In this video, we learn how to do a parkour palm spin. Start off running and when you reach the table, place your left hand under and your right hand on top. Push your hands down and twist your body when you run to the table. To practice, jump on the table pushing down with your hands and spinning around the table. After you do this and are successful in going around the table, try doing this running first. After you practice this enough times, you will get the hang of it. Make sure to be car...

How To: Grow tomatoes upside down in a bucket

Interested in less-conventional container gardening methods? Say, growing tomatoes upside-down in a bucket? This video will show you how it's done! It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the process in about 7 minutes' time. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Turn a range of cells upside down in Microsoft Excel

New to Microsoft Excel? Looking for a tip? How about a tip so mind-blowingly useful as to qualify as a magic trick? You're in luck. In this MS Excel tutorial from ExcelIsFun and Mr. Excel, the 10th installment in their joint series of digital spreadsheet magic tricks, you'll learn how to invert a range (turn a range of cells upside down) with two different INDEX formulas.