How to: Picture Signature in Gmail

Gmail seems to be the wonder email program, for me at least.

I like the fact that it's online, so it's automatically backed up/archived online without me ever having to stress out about my pc crashing or losing contacts etc etc.
It's also great for being able to log into from multiple machines anywhere on earth and do emailing (try doing that with Outlook)
It just gets better and better, but there is one thing that Gmail has been lacking since day one: HTML authoring or embedded picture signatures. Or HAS it been lacking????

So, here is the solution:

Firstly the set up.
1. Host a picture online. Make sure it isn't too big and host it at photobucket or imageshack or flickr etc, or put it on your own domain somewhere

2. Use a text editor such as notepad or wordpad (or a WYSIWYG editor like Dreamweaver, front page or Google Page Creator) to create an html file.
If you have never done that before, in XP go: start>programs>Accessories>Notepad

Put this code into the editor:


Then save the file to your desktop as "my_signature_file.html"

How to use it?
Once you have this file, whenever you want to embed this signature pic to a new email, just open the file, and use your mouse to select and drag the picture over to your new gmail window.
Another way is to open the file then ctrl-A (or edit>select all), then ctrl-C (or edit>copy) and then go to your gmail window and ctrl-V (or edit>paste)

That's it. Oh by the way, if you want to include some text in the html file along with the picture, that is not a problem and it will all come over together.

Wanna know a dirty little secret? You can also drag ANY image from ANY website. How about THAT!!

Living Homes

Wow. It's not that often that a website blows me.....away, but here it is: Living Homes.net
It's another modular building company, but as you'll see these guys are hitting it hard. Serious eco responsibility theme going on here. This is architecture, design and technology blended together perfectly. Awesome.

Go and check out that website tho, seriously. It's really cool. The front page is made up of timelapsed sequences showing the house through out the day.
There is a video showing a cool time lapse sequence of the house being erected on the site in 8 hrs.

It worth having a poke around at other things, particularly take the tour.

LivingHomes.net

Trailer Trash

I like retro caravans, and mark my words they will make a comeback. Vintage caravans are where it's at.

Anyway, I came across this interesting site that is all about making you own retro travel trailer. $60 USD gets you all the plans and info you need to make your own caravan.
http://www.desertteardrops.com/

Plug + Play Construction

This interesting article in wired magazine reminds me of something I have thought about for years: Modular housing. The concept itself isn't new, but previously it's been done only to a certain level.

This "Loblolly" house by kierantimberlake.com is a prototype of a true plug and play house which incorporates wiring, communications, plumbing, heating etc into the wall, floor and roof modules.

"THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY to construct a house is to build it in a factory. This reduces a home's "embodied energy" – the amount of power expended in its fabrication and construction. And conventional homebuilding is dirty work. From the fuel used by commuting workers to onsite diesel generators, the construction and operation of homes and other structures generates 40 to 50 percent of all the greenhouse gases in the US, according to the US Energy Information Administration."

Wired Magazine Article
Loblolly House homepage

Juxtaposed: Religion

As far as Art goes, I quite like this....

5,084,000,000 people 5,360 pages 3,700 years 243 countries 7 books 1 shelf

San Francisco designers Mike and Maaike have created JUXTAPOSED:Religion the first in a series of Juxtaposed curated bookshelves for blankblank.
“For the first time, the world’s most influential religious texts are brought together and presented on the same level, their coexistence acknowledged and celebrated.”
(I don't agree with that emotional fluff, but I like the resulting art)The shelf is made of reclaimed hardwood and is offered in a limited edition of 50.

mikeandmaaike.com
blankblank.net

Sketch Furniture

This year I am going to be busy, so I will write less, but post more. Mainly interesting things I find online.

First up is Sketch Furniture.

The four FRONT members have developed a method to materialise free hand sketches. They make it possible by using a unique method where two advanced techniques are combined.

Pen strokes made in the air are recorded with Motion Capture and become 3D digital files; these are then materialised through Rapid Prototyping into real pieces of furniture.

I really like the concept. Just not sure I'd like to look at a scribble in my living room for any length of time. (unfortunately, the youtube video is no longer up - that would have been interesting I am sure)

http://www.frontdesign.se/sketchfurniture/

Welcome 2007

Wow, it's been a hectic last 4-5 weeks or so, and now that I am back at work I will hopefully be able to do some more blogging get back to a normal sort of routine.

Here goes.