Locked Files in OS X Lion Oct 18, 11, 5:30 p.m.

Over the past couple of weeks or so a problem has developed on my Mac with saving files, usually with an accompanying error something like this: "Could not save as “fileName.ext” because the file is locked or you do not have the necessary access privileges." I've had this happen in Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as in Safari when trying to download a PDF off of my job's server. It continues even if I manually unlock the file on my hard drive. Anyone else experience this? I don't have Time Machine running, but just in case, I disabled its file locking feature. It didn't help. Any insight would really be appreciated.

Draw Mo for Free Speech Apr 24, 10, 9:46 a.m.

http://reason.com/blog/2010/04/2…

Dubious Branding Decisions Jan 22, 10, 4:16 p.m.

"Defier" misspelled, spermatozoa as logo and stylized logotype, and BALListic as the apparent flagship product. http://gravitydefyer.com/GDefy-S…

"...a window to the universe is there for all of us." Jan 20, 10, 7:13 p.m.

Super-cool! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/scien…

InDesign ¶ Style Keyboard Shortcuts on Mac Jan 13, 10, 9:19 p.m.

Since I have this infernal non-numeric pad Mac keyboard, I can't avail myself of keyboard shortcuts for InDesign paragraph styles. Is there a workaround for this? I can't find it via Google.

Illustrator Layer Count May 18, 09, 3:20 a.m.

Anyone know if there's a function in Adobe Illustrator to tell you how many layers/sublayers you have in a given document? I've been working on a composition that has a huge number of objects (all very similar – think repetition) on one layer, and it occurred to me out of curiosity that there might be a way to count.

Thanks, goofballs. :-)

Happy Easter Apr 12, 09, 8:33 a.m.

:-)

Flash CS4 Slideshow Feb 22, 09, 11:08 a.m.

Would someone please help me by pointing the way to any step-by-step tutorials for creating slideshows in Flash CS4? It's gonna be adapted for students, so it'll have to be kinda rudimentary and expansive in its presentation. I haven't done a slideshow in Flash since Studio 8 with Actionscript 2. I"m just looking to do the old next/previous (forward/backward) and refresh buttons with simple alpha transitions between. Something like that.

I'm pretty sure that there's actually some sort of slideshow maker in Flash now, but Adobe's new help system (brings you directly to their confusing site) is definitely not helpful. I've Googled as well, but there appears to be a dearth of info. on CS4 slideshows.

Help me, QBN-Kenobi!

Hey, Goofballs Feb 8, 09, 1:06 a.m.

How's it goin'?

The Best Present Dec 27, 08, 10:02 p.m.

I has it!1

Pay Raise for Do-Nothing Charlatans Dec 19, 08, 11:47 a.m.

With an approval rating well below that of President Bush, and while bemoaning the plight of everyday Americans in today's economy, Congress shows its true colors: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/…

Goodwill at Christmas Dec 10, 08, 7:37 p.m.

Have you guys been giving to any nice charities for Christmas? During the rest of the year I give to animal charities and the WWF, but I do as much as I can to help spread the Christmas spirit during this season. Here's my list so far:

Bought three books (animals and science) for kids at our local Shriners hospital.

Sent five pounds of coffee to our troops in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.

Gave a twenty spot to Salvation Army at the grocery store last night (first time I ever did that and it really good).

Did some design work for the big yearly Christmas event benefitting our local Boys and Girls Club (this event raised $40,000 last year!).

My mother volunteers for the Church's soup kitchen every year, and if I have the time, I might do it with her this year.

One thing I love about Christmas is that it so often seems to bring out more goodwill and generosity of spirit than we see during the rest of the year. Actually, that's probably what I like the most.

Jazz Covers Dec 5, 08, 9:08 p.m.

I was finishing my Christmas shopping (yes!) after work today and I picked up another Taschen beauty: http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/…

Some awesome stuff in it. Some crappy tripe too, but definitely worth getting. Very inspirational.

Also Not an Actual Logo Critique Nov 29, 08, 6:47 p.m.

Kind of in the same vein as Janne's post: Something I was working on yesterday – I'd like to get the impressions of QBN Kenobi.

And B&W:

Flash CS3 & Memory Nov 26, 08, 8:34 p.m.

I'm teaching a course next semester that some Flash stuff in it, so I'm looking to brush up with the application. I put another GB of memory in my machine tonight because I remembered the last time I fired up Flash CS3, the spinning beach ball of limitless joy showed up anytime I'd switch to another app. then try to switch back.

Well, it's still happening now, with 2 GB in my Mac. Anyone else ever get this problem, and if so, how'd you deal with it?

Happy VI Day Nov 22, 08, 10:22 a.m.

I figured I'd share this special acknowledgment of a job well done with the positive, freedom-loving independent thinkers at QBN: http://www.zombietime.com/vi_day…

Thanks, troops! – you guys are the best.

Wanted: Nice Desk for Reasonable Price Nov 10, 08, 9:58 p.m.

I'm looking for a decent L-shaped desk (one or two part) for doing my telecommuting and at-home schoolwork. The side to my left (with the other side, obviously, in front of me) will likely always have briefs, papers, folders, etc. strewn across it. I'm looking to keep storage – drawers, shelves, cabinets – below because it's going in the corner under the eaves (not Eames) part of the ceiling. Open space on top, storage on the bottom, pretty much. If I had time, I would just build this thing, but time is pretty scarce these days (almost 1:00 AM here, and I'm still working).

Anyone know where I can find decent products (preferably not produced in a hellhole sweatshop) online that aren't too exorbitant? I'm checking out IKEA right now, and it's not very inspiring.

Help me QBN-Kenobi – you're my only hope.

Help, Need Free Vector Intl. Flags Nov 9, 08, 7:03 p.m.

I repeat, "Help, I need free vector artwork of international flags." Anyone know where I can get 'em? I'm currently downloading this: http://www.vectorvault.com/2008/…

However, I'm looking for plain rectangular images, not waving flags. Thanks in advance, carnales.

Cool Cartoon PSA Oct 25, 08, 8:22 p.m.

Just an eleventh hour heads-up: Futurama's "Beast with a Billion Backs" is about to show on Comedy Central (11:30PM EST, ten minutes from now).

Adobe Illustrator Photorealism Oct 18, 08, 11:26 p.m.

I'm looking for some amazing, or even just plain decent, photorealistic artwork done with Adobe Illustrator with which to dazzle my students (their next assignment will be a photorealistic rendering). It'll be for an on-screen presentation, so 72 dpi is fine (preferred, actually, maybe about 550 px wide or thereabouts). I've already got a bunch of Yukio Miyamoto's stuff, and rather than just Google for additional artists, I wanted to ask you guys who you like. I'm looking to inspire and fire imaginations, so show me the goods. (No pictures of Jnr's Mom, though – way too obvious.)