What is captured on film isn’t what’s really there. For example, when two characters in a movie are having a conversation in a two-shot, their noses are usually only a few inches apart. In still photography, you pose in a way you think looks great, then see it and think, ‘What the hell happened there?’ Here are some tips on how to take a better portrait . (‘Take’ in this sense means to pose for or actually take the photo. Are there other words that work this way?) Preview: Do an impression of ET doing an impression of Clint Eastwood.

The more ‘friends’ you have on Facebook, the more likely you are to be a Socially Disruptive Narcissist. This isn’t really news, but now there’s data to prove it.

One of the groups of people I detest are complainers, which is why I try not to complain. I never moan about things to which I need not subject myself, nor about things to which I must subject myself but cannot be changed. Here are some tips for those other times.

The world seems to spend its time coming up with new ways to keep you from accomplishing your goals. It’s easy to say, ‘minimise distractions and focus on what’s important,’ but it’s easier to do so if you know exactly what’s going on in your head when you are either focusing or being distracted. The train your mind like a monk. post on Lifehacker does just that and gives you tips on how to focus on (and accomplish) what needs to be accomplished.

This week’s Useful Info post is late because I got a new iPod Touch 4g and have been setting it up properly. When new technology comes into my life, it must be poked and prodded and brought to heel. And this was very new to-it’s my first touch device.

As much as I love technology, I don’t have to have the newest thing the second it’s released. My previous iPod was a Classic and it lasted five years before needing to be retired last week (because I can’t live without music). And I am quite taken with this addition to my gadget arsenal.

Here are some links and information I needed to set up my iPod (her name is Lilith, as I name anything that appears to be alive-including technology).

“Waiting for sync to start” error

You can set up your iPod so it opens iTunes when connected to your computer. However, occasionally, you may receive the error “waiting for sync to start”. It’s better to open iTunes and then connect your iPod. If you receive the “waiting for sync to start” error, eject your device, restart iTunes and reconnect your device.

“Username or password for “imap.gmail.com” is incorrect” error

When setting up your gmail account, you may receive this error.

1.] Make sure you’re using your full email address, not just your usename.

2.] It could be that you need to let gmail know your new device is indeed yours by going here
(Hat tip to the responder in this thread.)

Turning off the Shutter Sound

Settings > sounds > “The volume of the ringer and alerts will not be affected by the volume buttons” turn to ‘on’

Accessing Playback Controls While iPod is Locked

You don’t have to unlock your iPod; just double click the home button.

I never leave the house so I have no use for a phone to occupy my eyes and hands. (I have a Kindle, laptop and DS for that.) But I still found this CNN article on How to Kill Time Without Your Phone to be hilarious.

For my techie friends: a Cracked article about 5 Things Spammers Ruined While We Weren’t Paying Attention .

From Lifehacker: Brainwashing Techniques You Encounter Every Day (and How to Avoid Them) . You’re being blasted with hype left, right and centre. Learning to recognise it is the first step in protecting yourself from it.

Incessant Internet Notifications: The Internet has such promise-all the information (and misinformation) and media you could want at your fingertips. Assuming you can withstand the information vortices of Wikipedia and TV Tropes, the net still seems designed to distract you from all of that useful information. For example, the myriad notifications bleating at us (what can seem to be) every thirty seconds. This post from The Information Diet blog offers suggestions on how to wrangle all of those interruptions into submission.

Sleeping Shouldn’t Be A Privilege: Here are a few useful tricks to help recover from a night of less-than-stellar sleep.

Speak the Secret Language of Coffee: For my fellow caffeine-lovers, 10 Things Baristas Won’t Tell You from the Smart Money blog has some useful and interesting information about coffee. With info about the history (and current craze) of the drink, as well as how to get the most punch for your pound (or dollar).

Hat tip to Lifehacker .

This article is an excellent, if incredibly involved, way of keeping up with how you spend your days (and time) and to see if you’re meeting your short-term as well as long-term goals.

I do something similar though on a much smaller scale.