Smart Idea Search Results

How To: Cut video transitions for action scenes

Associate editor Tom Skowronski of Videomaker demonstrates how to cut video transitions for action scenes. Create an illusion of continuity by keeping only key shots of continuous motion, while taking out aspects that slow the pacing of the video. Use the technique of 'cutting on the action' to transition from one video clip to another clip of the same action. Maintain screen direction between shots by making sure that any moving subject is always moving in the same direction on screen across...

How To: Bend chords on an electric guitar like Albert Lee

If you're a musician in need of some lessons, there's no better way to learn than with MusicRadar's so-called "Tuition" instructions. Although the title tuition is misleading, this video class is anything but costly, because it's free, right here. Whether you're looking for help with your voice, bass, electric guitar, drums, guitar effects, piano, Logic Pro or production techniques, Music Radar is here to show you the way.

How To: Make Your Own Whitefly Sticky Trap

This is a cheap and easy way to make a sticky fly trap that can catch tons of whiteflies. Get a can of Tanglefoot’s Tangle-Trap Sticky Coating. I stored this in the greenhouse which may not have been a great idea, as you can see by the amount of rust there is on the can.

How To: Make Homemade Black Pasta Dough with Squid Ink

When you think squid ink, you don't normally think of pasta, but that's just because you're not thinking of black pasta! Yes, squid ink is indeed edible, despite its thick, gooey texture, and it's used most commonly as food coloring for pasta dough. And adding color to fresh pasta opens up a world of ideas for sauce, meat, herb, or cheese pairings!

How To: Make Your MW2 Perfect Circle Scratched Disc Playable On Xbox 360

Don't you just hate when you buy a new game and one day you play it, you somehow move your Xbox and it makes some horrible sounds so you hurry to get the disc out and see that it's got perfect circle scratches? That happened to me and I felt so bad about it and tried a lot of things to repair it but nothing helped. Then I got an idea that actually helped me.

How To: Make classic Italian marinara sauce with 6 ingredients

Six. It's the magical number for marinara sauce. A great sauce doesn't need a huge list of ingredients, only a handful, and six ingredients are all it takes to make Christine and Carla Pallotta's marinara. The nebo ristorante chef/owners' recipe makes a large batch of vibrant tomato sauce which is a great idea. Use what you need and the rest will freeze perfectly for up to 3 months. That way you'll always have a hearty red sauce available when you've got a craving for the Pallotta sisters' 5-...

How To: Install a ceiling fan with ease

Beauty and brains in one package! A ceiling fan offers many functional benefits while adding a certain decorative touch to a room. In the summer it can help cool a room (or even a porch) by helping to circulate air and by creating a slight breeze. In the winter it can be used at low speed to circulate warmer air that has risen to ceiling level. From the viewpoint of décor, ceiling fans come in many styles and colors and can even include a light kit to offer the added feature of overhead light...

How To: Install a garage door opener

A garage door opener has become an almost indispensable part of modern life. It offers an overwhelming number of convenience and safety features that will make you wonder how you lived without one for so long. On a rainy night, the last thing you want to do is climb out of your car and heave the garage door open manually. Some garage door openers include an outdoor keypad that enable you to punch in a code to open the door – just in case you don’t have the remote control or your house keys. F...

News: Cooking on Google+ with the Social Skillet: Interview with Eric McKee

On Google+, one of the very first creative projects using the popular hangout feature revolved around cooking. Foodies +Lee Allison and +Eric McKee decided to start their own "G+ Cooking School", which has now expanded into the Social Skillet. Although neither have formal training, they're both quite accomplished cooks and skilled instructors. Using hangouts, they've taught their students how to create dishes like margherita pizzas and chicken marsala.

News: 10 Uses for the Front-Facing iPhone Camera

If you're a lucky owner of the iPhone 4, you know that the upgrade to its camera app includes a front-facing camera feature which acts like a video cam on your computer. Apple, of course, intends the front-facing feature to be mainly used for the FaceTime application which enables you to hold video phone conferences with other iPhone 4 and Mac users who have FaceTime installed on their device. This is all well and good, but there several other ways the front-facing camera can be used.

News: "The Ice Cold and Gold for Tots Trick"

Here's a winner! You have to go to kind of a backwoods ass town where Jackass might not be too known to make this believable. You set up sort of a small "village bar" in the middle of town where there's a lot of foot traffic.You'll bring a gathering of kids with various heights and let them in on the stunt. The "bar" has to be set at just the right height to where some kids can see over the bar counters and some can't. The stunt is to set up an outdoor village "beer bar" that is only served d...

News: Jackass 3D Prank Contest

Welcome to the Official Jackass 3D Prank Contest Submission Page Think you've got the wit and imagination to be a Jackass? Well, here's your chance. Johnny Knoxville and Jackass 3D crew are hosting the first ever Jackass 3D Prank Contest to celebrate the upcoming release of their new film, in theatres October 15th!

How To: Make a classic chicken piccata

What sounds better than chicken with lemon, parsley and butter? Nothing! And it's called chicken piccata. Danielle Ahern shares this classic recipe, which includes the use of only one sauté pan. Can't beat that. Boneless chicken breasts are pounded thin which results in a quick cooking process. A butter, lemon juice and caper sauce is reduced to a smooth texture and poured gently over the plated dish. Garnish with fresh lemon and parsley and you're done. Great idea for a weeknight when you're...

How To: Take an accurate soil sample and test for fertility

In order to accurately test a soil sample for fertility, the first thing that you will have to do is find soil that is representative of the entire area. Also, don't test the soil near a fence. The sample shouldn't be deeper than 6". Scoop up some soil samples. You can use a trowel. Take samples from several areas. Set it aside for a few days, in order to let it dry.

How To: Undo her bra with only one hand

This humorous instructional video demonstrates how to undo a bra with only one hand. It begins by stating all the things you do right to make a date a positive experience. This includes giving flowers, going to see a romantic comedy, listening more than you talk, telling tasteful jokes, and using proper hygiene. You will need a few things. First a willing partner, a bra holding breasts, dexterous fingers, nerves of steel, and an adventurous spirit. Second, know your enemy - the bra. Make sure...

How To: Swim the backstroke for beginners

The back crawl is different to most strokes because you cannot see where you are going. It is a good idea to count how many strokes it takes you to swim a length so you will know when you are getting close to the end of the pool. Try and swim with all of your body close to the surface of the water, almost like you are lying on your back in bed with your head on a pillow. Follow along with this swimming how-to video and learn how to do the backstroke if you are a beginner.

How To: Sing scales and arpeggios

Have your pipes gotten a little rusty? For singers, your body is your instrument, so always warm up before practicing or performing—simple scales and arpeggios sung to different vowels and other sounds are good for gradually extending your range as your muscles warm up.

How To: Install an attic soffit vent

Distorted and curled up shingles are often a sign of insufficient or complete lack of attic ventilation. Attic ventilation is crucial in keeping your home’s roof sound and your interior comfortable. Installing soffit vents will increase the airflow under your roof. This will extend the life of your roof and help alleviate ice dams and attic condensation in the winter. In addition, this will reduce your heat build-up in the summer and thus save you money on your air-conditioning bill.

How To: Make a clay soap pump

Clay pottery is a fun and creative art form that can be done with slabs of clay and not only on a spinning wheel. This free video clip series will show you several tips on how to construct a soap pump and open a world of design ideas for you. Make a clay soap pump - Part 1 of 8.

How To: Inject Your Drill Press Table Crank with Steroids

First, I would like to explain that among my family members, I am considered somewhat of an oddball. Mostly because of some of the mods that I have performed on a few of my woodworking tools. After I show you what I did to my drill press, you may be inclined to agree. When I first hatch an idea in my little pea brain, the first thing I take into consideration is whether or not this mod is irreversible and will destroy my tool. In the case of my drill press, I determined that it was safe to pr...

How To: Print, Cut & Fold Your Own DIY Hermès Handbag

Yay, you can now own the iconic Hermès bag for next to nothing! There's one catch—it's made of paper. Hermès is currently offering several free downloadable templates for the "Kelly Paper Bag" on the company's Facebook page. Not exactly usable in the traditional sense, but it still comes directly from the official Hermès design studio, and who doesn't love papercraft?

How To: Become a Great Thrift Store Shopper

Shopping at a thrift store can be a fun adventure, a daunting task, a way to save money, or a combination of any or all of those. There's no question that buying secondhand is almost always cheaper and buying at a thrift store undoubtedly so. But it can also be a lot of work. Here are a few simple tips to make the process a little easier.