Without Ink i am a tech geek, but even with all this cool technology. i have noticed -- life is very different without ink. i used to write a lot. i enjoyed it. now i type a lot... and thats totally different. 2012-01-16T13:34:08Z http://www.withoutink.com/feed/atom/ WordPress Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Squaready for Instagram]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=2177 2012-01-14T04:36:31Z 2012-01-14T04:14:53Z Squaready for Instagram I am an avid user of Instagram. One of the apps I use every time I upload a photo to Instagram is Squaready. Squaready is a free tool that many users tend to pull out prior to uploading their images to IG. Its pretty simple to use.

What does Squaready do?

It's pretty simple really. Squaready, is an app used to crop your photos into a nice perfect square right before uploading. I know what you are thinking... Doesn't IG allow you to do that already? Well, yes you are correct. You can indeed scale and crop your image in IG. However, it often doesn't align perfectly when using the native IG app. So when the photo uploads there are black bars at the top and bottom of your image. Those bars in my opinion look pretty crappy and unprofessional.

I myself tried using the native app to get the bars to go away. Lets just say, no matter how often I tried the image still would end up with those nasty - precious pixel wasting - black bars. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Squaready. This takes all the guess work out of the cropping.

Here is how I use Squaready

1. Once I am done editing my photo I open Squaready. (Free in the App Store)
2. I Click the top left image (looks like a folder).
3. I then select my image from my camera roll.
4. Squaready will automatically center the image inside a box. (The same size as IG)
5. I then touch the screen for a moment. Vertical and horizontal slider bars will appear.
-- Use these bars to move your image so its framed just like you want. However, be mindfully of the edge of the image. We don't want to go past the edge of the image.
6. You can also flip or rotate the image. There are also a few other options... I normally never use them though.
7. Once ready, click the top right button to send your cropped image directly into Instagram. It will ask you what size to send it in. I always pick the largest size I can. This will assure you the cleanest highest quality image.

Congrats, you now are free of those nasty pixel robbing black bars.

If you would like to learn more about Instagram, feel free to follow me on Instagram: @withoutink.

Also, check out my Instagram page on my blog. It will show the apps I use and the last 12 images I have uploaded to IG. As well as, the last 12 images of mine that made the popular page.

]]>
2
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Back in the Saddle]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1521 2012-01-13T13:07:49Z 2011-10-12T01:12:09Z Its been a very long time since I have posted anything to my blog. So much has happened in the last year or so. Good things, great things, sad things, painful things. There is so much to tell, so much to write. Part of me wants to share it. Part wants to bury it all.

Anyway, I have recently moved to the country in the mountains... To find a more simple way of life. To enjoy the basics and not worry about the minutiae. Less distractions. More peace.

]]>
0
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Restoration Hardware]]> http://www.withoutink.com/photography/restoration-hardware/ 2012-01-12T14:41:45Z 2011-06-19T18:24:26Z Here are two pictures I took today at City Place in Palm Beach Florida. They were taken with my iPhone 4 and processed with an HDR filter.

20110621-114022.jpg

]]>
3
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Green Franchise]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1474 2012-01-12T14:41:45Z 2011-03-15T16:20:33Z Looking for a "Green" business opportunity? There is a new interesting franchise that has arrived in the United States.

SuperGreen Solutions is an energy efficient products and solutions franchise. SuperGreen Solutions promotes itself as a One-Stop-Shop for all your energy efficiency needs. Some of their offerings include: Solar Power, Solar Hot Water, Skylights, Ventilation, Insulation, Wind Power and Energy Management.

SuperGreen Solutions has been franchising in Australia for a few years now. Currently, they have 11 franchises in Australia... (They are planning for 52 franchises in AUS). Earlier this year, they joined forces with a company based in South Florida called - United Franchise Group. UFG will be the franchising arm for SuperGreen Solutions in North America and International Markets. They are looking to open 280-310 locations in America.

For More Info:

SuperGreen Solutions
Email: info@supergreensolutions.com
Address: 2121 Vista Parkway, West Palm Beach, FL 33411
Tel: 888-504-2588 - Fax: 561 640 5580

You can also request franchise information: SuperGreen Solutions Franchise

]]>
0
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[WordPress and The Amazon CloudFront Content Delivery Network]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1461 2012-01-13T12:59:31Z 2011-01-12T01:07:55Z So, I recently transitioned part of my blog to the Amazon CloudFront Content Delivery Network. I have to say that latency has improved for my users thankfully.

So, whats a Content Delivery Network (CDN)? Well, basically its a service one can use to store and deploy the static content of their website. The Amazon CDN utilizes AmazonS3 for the storage facility. From there, the files stored are deployed to various edge servers. These edge servers are globally positioned, in strategic locations to provide fast access to all your S3 files.

For example, my server is located in Texas. Its a mid level server, nothing super exciting. Well, one the benefits of using a CDN... The server can process memory intensive functions, while the CDN handles deployment of the static content (stuff that doesn't normally change). The biggest benefit, comes from the fact that if there is a user in London looking at my site, the files are cached on an edge server in London. So, its much faster than if that user had to wait for my server to push the data all the way over to them. Meanwhile, a user in Los Angeles will be accessing these files off a server much closer to them. Thus, improving each users experience.

Another great thing about the CDN... lets say that server in Los Angeles was having an issue. It would automatically send the user the content from the Palo Alto, CA server. So, there is a lot of redundancy of the content these servers are pushing out to the users. Im very happy so far with the speed of my site, and the fact that there is redundancy of these static files is great.

]]>
0
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Deleting Users & Their Home Folder From Ubuntu Linux]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1458 2012-01-13T13:05:01Z 2011-01-05T16:24:13Z So, looking to delete a user from Ubuntu linux?

Run the following command to delete the user:
sudo userdel username

Please note, deleting the user doesn't delete their home folder. So you will need to decide if you want to retain it or delete it as well.

Run the following command to delete the users home folder:
sudo rm -r /home/username/

]]>
0
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Chocolate Vodka Recipe]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1449 2012-01-12T14:41:44Z 2010-12-31T10:40:37Z

This chocolate vodka is such a yummy elixer. It can be used with or for a number of cocktails. I like it with a tiny bit of ice and some cream. This stuff is super tasty and so surprisingly easy to make. Here is how....

WARNING: You are working with a stove, boiling water, steam etc. I do not take responsibility for your mistakes or carelessness. Be cautious with the water and steam it will burn you if not careful.

Total time to make the chocolate vodka is about 30m, well worth the time.

You will need:
5-6 Milky Way Bars (Mars Bars in the EU)
1 Bottle of Vodka
A double boiler (or a pot with a bowl that can rest securely on top of the pot)
Pot holders or oven mits (for safety)
Rubberized spatula

Directions:
1. Fill the pot with water, making sure that the water level sits just below the bowl.
2. Turn the burner on and get the water to a rolling boil (once it reaches a boil reduce heat to medium)
3. Chop the Milky Way (Mars) bars into small slices (this will help melt the bars quicker).
4. Add the chopped bars to the bowl and place the bowl on top of the boiling water. (Or use a double boiler if you have one).
5. Heat the chocolate, until it starts to combine and melt.
6. Pour 50% of the vodka in a separate container (we will use this to top off the bottle). You can reserve the rest for something else like my coffee vodka (recipe forthcoming).
7. Start pouring a little vodka into the melting chocolate... slowing mixing the vodka into the chocolate. Continually adding more vodka into the mix.
8. Its going to take a bit for the carmel in the Milky Way bars to incorporate into the vodka. Just keep stirring, it will eventually works it's way into solution.
9. One warning - DO NOT LET THE VODKA BOIL or you will end up boiling the alcohol out.
10. Once everything is mixed well, use a funnel and pour the chocolate vodka back into the bottle.
11. Top off the bottle with some of the remaining vodka.
12. Cap the bottle nice and tight, then shake the bottle for about 1min to incorporate the raw vodka into the mix.
13. Once the bottle is cool to the touch, leave it in the freezer for storage. The chocolate will not come out of the solution.
14. Pour some, serve with ice and some milk/half n half/or cream

Enjoy!

]]>
2
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Beyonce – Halo Video with Lyrics]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1446 2010-12-30T10:53:05Z 2010-12-30T10:53:05Z Here is one of my favorite Beyonce songs - Halo. Hope you like it as much as I do. It inspires me to smile, and to let love in.

Beyonce Halo Lyrics
Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light

I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again

Feels like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
The risk that I'm takin'
I'm never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Halo, halo

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

]]>
0
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Dido – Sand in My Shoes Video with Lyrics]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1444 2010-12-15T11:01:31Z 2010-12-15T11:01:31Z Another one of my favorite Dido songs & videos....

Two weeks away feels like the whole world should've changed
But I'm home now
And things still look the same
I think I'll leave it till tomorrow to unpack
Try to forget for one more night
That I'm back in my flat on the road
Where the cars never stop going through the night
To a life where I can't watch a sunset
I don't have time
I don't have time

[Chorus:]
I've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again

Tomorrow's back to work and down to sanity
Should run a bath and then clear up the mess I made before I left here
Try to remind myself that I was happy here
Before I knew that I could get on a plane and fly away
From the road where the cars never stop going through the night
To a life where I can watch a sunset
And take my time
Take all our time

[Chorus]
I've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again

I wanna see you again
...
I wanna see you again
Two weeks away, all it takes to change and turn me around, I've fallen
I walked away and never said that I wanted to see you again

[Chorus x2]
I've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I should get on, forget you
But why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again

I wanna see you again
I wanna see you again

]]>
0
Matt http://www.withoutink.com <![CDATA[Dido – Here With Me Video with Lyrics]]> http://www.withoutink.com/?p=1440 2010-12-15T10:15:36Z 2010-12-15T10:13:59Z There is something about Dido... I lover her voice, her songs, her lyrics... She emanates beauty. This is one of my favorite songs/videos from her. Including the lyrics.

I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
And I don't want to move a thing
It might change my memory

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can't hide

And I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

And I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

I don't want to call my friends
For they might wake me from this dream
And I can't leave this bed
Risk forgetting all that's been

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can't hide

And I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here

I won't go
And I won't sleep
And I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

And I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can't hide

And I won't go
I won't sleep
And I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here

And I won't go
And I won't sleep
And I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

]]>
0