Toby Howard :: Toby's Tips


Computer Graphics


Pies

Combatting computery annoyances

  • Unix + nice = Mac.
  • How to use mouse gestures in Chrome on a Mac: xGestures.
  • How to spot spam emails in languages you don't speak.
  • Great backup solution for Win: SyncBackPro.
  • Nostalgy for Thunderbird. No idea why it's called that, but if you're more a filer than a searcher, this is for you.
  • Of historical interest: How to install Windows XP from an external USB CD drive.

Some great free resources for Japanese 日本語 learners

下のページは本当におもしろくて便利です。 どうぞ。

  • Rikaichan is an essential Japanese-English dictionary pop-up for Chrome, Firefox and Thunderbird, based on Todd Rudick's original Rikai site. And why not sign up for Todd's free daily email kanji lesson — it's great! And please send him some money too.
  • For an online dictionary, I use Jeffery Friedl's, which — like Rikai — is based on Jim Breen's amazing EDICT project. Also check out Jim's authoritative posts on  news:sci.lang.japan. Yes, people do still use USENET News!
  • Here's a handy tool for getting the unicodes for katakana, hiragana and kanji, perfect for adding Japanese to webpages when you don't have an input system.
  • If you're serious about learning kanji 漢字 then you really need Jack Halpern's "Kanji Learner's Dictionary", a wonderful book. The SKIP method is a great way to quickly look up kanji based on strokes, shape and radicals. It's not cheap, but it's a book you'll fall in love with. I have 3 copies!

Life stuff :: Take control...

  • Take control of your money. Essential (UK) site: www.moneysavingexpert.com.
  • Take control of phoning banks, utility companies, etc. Before calling the (probably expensive) number listed on your documentation, check out inexpensive alternative numbers, by looking at (UK site) www.saynoto0870.com.

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