As a side hobby, I sometimes create and sell 'eBooks'...books that are digital-only and never physically published.  Most of these are various game guides, or some other kind of hobby-related product.

Most eBooks sell better when there's an image that looks like a book.  You've probably seen those 3D eBook Covers that have a nice reflection, a shadow, etc., that make it look like a physical book.

Well...I found out that there's two ways to make those for my eBooks:  hire someone and pay $100 per image, or buy Photoshop for $300 and a macro for another $100 to make them.

I'm way too cheap.  So I've been looking for another way.

I've been using GIMP to do graphics for my websites, but could never figure out how to make those nice-looking manuals.  But I recently found a guide (searching in Amazon Kindle of all places) that teaches step-by-step how to use GIMP to make eBook covers.

The results are really impressive, considering GIMP is free!

Check out Make eBook Covers!

The quality of the images are outstanding, and like I said, I can't get over the fact that the software is free!

WoW changed the way that mounts work...they're stored on a Pets tab on your Character screen now, not in your inventory.  So rather than the 'use item' macros of old, you have to call the companion based on its position in your pet list.

Try this:

/run if IsMounted() then Dismount() return else if IsFlyableArea() then CallCompanion("MOUNT", <flier pos>) return else CallCompanion("MOUNT",<ground pos>) end end

<flier pos> is the position in your Pet list of your flying mount, and <ground pos> is the position of your riding mount.

Don't use the <> symbols.  The command would look like ("MOUNT", 1) if your flying mount was in the first position in your pet list.

So enjoy your one-button macro to summon either a flying or ground mount!

I'll make this quick.  For purposes of the exercise, create a blue background.

1. Create your text, using white for the font color (just for this tutorial).  From the tool options, click the 'Path from Text' button.  (This creates a path that outlines the text.
2. Create a new transparent layer called 'Outline'.
3. From the menu bar, choose 'Select... From Path'.  (This selects an outline of the text on the new 'Outline' layer.)
4. From the menu bar, choose 'Select... Grow'.  Set the growth to 3 pixels.  (This expands the selection in all directions by 3 pixels.  Adjust as you see fit.)
5. Using the Fill tool, with black as the color, fill in the selection on the transparent 'Outline' layer.
6. Move the 'Outline' layer behind your text layer.  Choose 'Select... None'.  Then you can anchor the text layer down onto the outline.

You're done!  Congrats!

Now that you have the basic concept, you can expand on it.  Try varying the colors, the growth amount.  Try using the GIMP quickmask after step 4 to modify the selection border to give different effects to text outline.

Now you know how to use Gimp to outline text!

You'd think that they'd make plenty of them, considering it's the only video game that actually gives you exercise! They are designed to be family-friendly, so that they are getting more customers in on the action. But, alas, stores are selling out the day they get their shipments in. And it's still early. Imagine how difficult it will be to find one in time for Christmas!

At any rate, I've found a place that always makes sure that there are units available:

Wii For Christmas

Check it out!

I've become totally fascinated by old-fashioned recipes lately. I've been learning a lot about the Civil War, reading old books, etc., and finding recipes that actually date back to then. It's interesting to see how they made use of the materials readily available back then.

Here's one recipe I like, for Crab Soup:

"Crab Soup.
Three dozen crabs boiled and picked, divide them equally, boil again one half in a full gallon of water, with salt and mace, for about an hour. Then take off and strain, put the soup on again with a teacup of cream, quarter of a pound of butter, two and a half tablespoonsful of flour creamed with the butter and scalded with a little of the hot soup, a tablespoonful of mixed mustard, black and red pepper. Have in your tureen the remaining dozen and a half crabs cleanly picked, and pour the hot soup upon them, and serve without delay, for it is delicious. "

There's another for Sally Lunn bread:

"Sally Lunn (with yeast).
Warm one quart of milk with quarter pound of butter, two heaping tablespoons of sugar, half a nutmeg. Beat up three eggs and put in, with a little salt, and flour enough to make it stiffer than pound cake. Beat it well. Add a teacup of yeast, and let it rise. Butter a fluted cake mould and pour it in Bake in a quick oven one hour.
If you wish tea at 7 o'clock, set it to rise at 11 A.M."

I love the way these old Civil War recipes are written. It's less like a chemistry textbook than modern cookbooks are. It's more like art.

These two recipes are used with permission from "Old Fashioned Recipes - Great Grandma's Cookbook".

You can find the post and the specs listed here: Mage PVE Spec 3.0.2

With the Holidays approaching, the Garmin Nuvi GPS is in high demand.  It's a great gift with lots of features, great price, etc., etc.  The problem is that alot of the big-box stores either can't keep them in stock, or only carry certain models.  And the stores that do have the better models in stock are way overcharging.

At any rate, I've found a place that always makes sure that there are units available at a discount:

Garmin Nuvi GPS For Sale

Check it out!

World of Warcraft Patch 3.0.2 will include a massive change to how we play our class in both PVE and PVP because of the addition of the new 61 talent points that will carry over into Wrath of the Lich King. Everyone's talent will reset, so have you thought about how you're going to spend your talent points?

The specs are listed below.

But which classes make the best partners for your character? What's the best way to handle each specific opponent? Find out the top WoW PVP strategies in the:

But for now, here are the PVP Recommended Specs:

Druid Balance
Full Balance PVP Build using Spell Crit gear.
53/0/8 -  http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=0xGfui0oAd0VzRtZf0c
Full Balance PVP Build using Spellpower and Spell Haste
53/0/8 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=0EGfzbhoAd0VzRtZf0c

Druid Feral
Feral PVP build with Omen of Clarity and Naturalist
0/45/15 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=0ZxMGscbdbeohcuZ0Eczb
Feral PVP Build with Berserk
0/51/10 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=0ZxMGscbdbeRhIu0o0gc

Druid Restoration
Dreamstate "Restokin" Healing Build with Glyph of Healing Touch
33/0/28 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=0EGbubhohdZZf0Iubuxb
Full Restoration Build
5/0/56 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=0VZZf0IubuxVzAIst

Hunter
Bestial Wrath with Aim Shot - Highest Damage PVP build.
50/11/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=cVbGzxxkiu0eox0xV0o
Marksman With Improved Pet Rez, should still be best for arena build.
7/43/11 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=cV0MZbeVcoAzG0sxzZf0hbo
Survival High CC build with Wvyern Sting , Scatter Shot and Readiness.
0/21/40 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=cZ0eVcohzZcbGiscIuxz

Mage
Full Arcane PVP Build with Arcane Barrage
58/0/3 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=ofe0fzrcdxhuGtcdZ0h
Full Fire PVP build with new Hot Streak for instant Pyroblast and Living
Bomb
2/59/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=obZfEcfRhcuiub0st
Full Frost build with the new Deep Freeze talent.
2/0/59 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=obZZAIccobuhfdgfRt

Paladin
Holy PVP Build for Healing
51/10/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=sxudxhdGVuMeRzacb
Retribution PVP Build for Damage
0/10/51 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=sZ0ebZVf0tbhufMsxzAo

Priest
Defensive Healing Build with Desperate Prayer
50/11/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=bxhMuIgtMcs0boxf0t
Full Shadow PVP Build
10/0/51 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=bVhMZZ0xfiofkbVqbdio

Rogue
Full Assasination Build for Highest Mutilate Damage
54/5/2 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=f0ecoegsiroIu0o0xZ0b
Classic Adrenaline Rush + Hemorrhage Spec (HARP)
0/37/24 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=fZhgAd0bVobubZe0ddhhzd
Full Subtlety Shadowstep Build, probably best for Arena
18/0/43 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=f0ebojZZI0fdhhddVzAMo

Shaman
Full Elemental PVP build
47/13/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=hicVqcdctMeoZGMMso
Full Enchancement PVP build
8/53/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=hV0hZG0gcoxzAIkubRt
Full Restoration PVP Build for best healing
0/10/51 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=hZG0MhZV0xuhxsEzrIRz

Warlock
Full Affliction with Soulink and Pandemic for DOT Crits
50/11/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=Ifx0MtrukiAR0sZbxcz
Full Demonology with Shadowburn
5/45/11 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=I0xZbxczsgRqcsTzZVbho
Classic SL/SL Build for highest Survivability
25/36/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=Ifx0MdrukZbgczsgoacc
Full Destruction with Soulink
0/11/50 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=IZbxczZVf0qrhtAoAco

Warrior
Arms with Sudden Death, Improved Slam and Piercing Howl
51/11/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=LV0IdfhzxfrobckxGx0o
Full DW Fury with Titan Grip , Highest Damage but inconsistent
7/54/0 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=LV0MZGx0sqVurxRbkA
Protection PVP with Piercing Howl
0/11/50 - http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=LZGx0oZVIzrMfzidIzsG

Remember - the spec is only a piece of the puzzle. Class mix, spell rotation, positioning, and your opponents all play a factor. If you want the uber guide on how to crush in World of Warcraft PVP, you can find it at:

The WoW PVP Guide

...and learn how Wrath of the Lich King is impacting World of Warcraft PVP.

HEY! When you respec, do you have enough gold to re-socket your gear?  Changing your spec frequently means changing the stats that are important to you.  Check out Make WoW Gold for gold-making strategies.

Wrath of the Lich King

WORLD of WARCRAFT WRATH of the LICH KING Collectors Ed    US $71.00

WRATH OF THE LICH KING COLLECTORS EDITION WOTLK WOW    US $109.99

World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King Collectors    US $149.99

World of Warcraft Lich King Collectors Edition NEW NEW    US $100.00

World Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King Collector Edition    US $88.00

New WRATH OF THE LICH KING World of Warcraft WoW GUIDES    US $14.99

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Whether you are playing for the forces of Order or Destruction, there is a leveling guide already out that is complete. It's the single fastest way to get to the max level.

This team was in the closed Beta, documenting quests, items, map locations, etc., so that all you have to do is follow the steps through every tier, chapter, and area, regardless of your race! The level of detail is awesome.

You can do it solo, or in groups, and even PVPing. It really can't get any easier than the steps they have laid out.

So check out the Warhammer Leveling Guide if you want to max out your character's level as fast as possible.

In a recent, bad, bout with Poison Ivy, I learned something about controlling the itching.  Two friends told me about this treatment and it really works well!

Run HOT water from your tap over the rash.  As hot as you can stand it.  It will burn and itch like crazy for a few seconds, then it will go somewhat numb (if the water is hot enough).  When you remove your skin from the hot water, the itch will be gone.

I've read several instances of this working on the internet.  There are a few things to note:  1. this is assuming you've already cleaned the area of the oil from the plant that causes the rash.  When you first get exposed to the oil, wash thoroughly with soap and cold water...warm or hot water could cause your pores to open and the oil to make more skin contact.  The HOT water cure is for itching a few days after the rash has already developed.  2. this is not a medically professional recommendation.  This is just me sharing what works for me and some others.  If you have a bad rash, I do recommend seeing a doctor...some of the typical home treatments don't work or only provide minimal relief.

So, if the itching is driving you crazy, give it a try.  I'd love to hear from you when the poison ivy itching stops!