How to Make the Long Dashes

There's the En dash, the Em dash, and the plain old hyphen. When to use them and how to make them.

Never use a hyphen when you mean a dash. Mostly hypens are for making a word (like X-ray) or for writing out numbers (twenty-one). 

To make the Em dash (which is the more popular between Em and En):

On a laptop, press the NumLk key then hold down ALT and type 0 1 5 1 (these are the numbers on the keys that were alpha-characters before you pressed ALT—not the row of numbers across the top of the keyboard) and release ALT. As soon as you lift your finger off the ALT key the Em dash will appear. Tap the NumLk key again to return to alpha characters. Of course if you have a keypad, you don't need to press the NumLk key. (On the Mac I understand it's shift, option, hyphen - but haven't verified)

The En dash would be ALT and 0 1 5 0 (generally used to separate two numbers, such as in a date (2011–12) or score (5–0).

In Microsoft Word, Excel, etc., it's easier:

First try typing two dashes one after the other—this works sometimes.

Otherwise, for the Em dash, you still need to press the NumLk key, then CTRL+ALT+Dash (the one that's available because you pressed the NumLk key—mine is on the same key as my colon/simi-colon).

For En dash, press the NumLk key, then CTRL+Dash

If you can't be bothered, simply cut/paste:
- (hyphen)
– (en-dash)
— (em-dash)

...there you go.

Let Grammer Girl tell you when and how to use them!

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Excel - How to Customize the Quick Access Toolbar

Click on the Office-logo Button at the top-left, then click on the "Excel Options" button (at the bottom right of that dialog box), then choose "Customize". Here you can add/remove commands.

Excel 2007, 2010.

Roomba Vacuum - Deleting Scheduled Cleaning Time

To Delete a Schedule

1. Turn ON your Roomba by pressing CLEAN.
2. Press SCHEDULE.
3. Press DAY to look through the scheduled cleaning times.
4. When your Roomba is displaying the scheduled cleaning time you want to delete, press HOUR until --:-- is displayed. Press OK to save changes.
5. To delete all schedules, press DAY for 5 seconds.

Source: iRobot CustomerCare Website

Now if someone can just tell me how to empty the bin without setting the scheduler every single time!

My Roomba, which I love, love, love: iRobot Roomba® 780

To keep your Roomba in tip-top shape, heed the maintenance tips: http://homesupport.irobot.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/649/~/roomba%E2%AE-500%2F600%2F700-series-battery-maintenance-tips

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Sony DSC-P150 - Flash not working correctly

Resetting the camera worked for me (little button beside the battery).

The flash problem just started, after using this amazing little camera almost daily for 6 years:  When the camera flashes (non-red-eye) there should be 2 flashes that occur very close together. One is the pre-flash and the other is the main flash. The problem involves the Main flash not going off (only the pre-flash does).

Here is how to reset your camera. It's from Sony's self help site, but I'm posting here in case the original goes away:

How to reset a Cyber-shot® digital still camera back to original factory settings.

Solution

Cyber-shot cameras nowadays have a built-in rechargeable battery for retaining time, date, and other settings. Since the built-in rechargeable battery is not removable, current Cyber-shot camera models can only be returned to the original factory settings by pressing a small RESET button on the camera or by using an Initialize option in the menu. Older-model Cyber-shot cameras (prior to the year 2000) do not have a built-in rechargeable battery and do not have aRESET button or Initialize option in the menu. These cameras require a manual power reset. IMPORTANT: To determine whether or not your camera has a RESET button or Initialize option, or for other model-specific information to complete any of the steps in this solution, refer to the operating instructions supplied with the product. Manuals are available online through the Manuals/Specs/Warranty link on this page. Follow the appropriate procedure below for your camera. Using an Initialize option in the menu Since Cyber-shot cameras have different menu system layouts, refer to the instruction manual specific for your camera model. Using a RESET button Locate the RESET button on the camera. Use a pointed object (like a ballpoint pen) to press and hold the RESET button for 2-3 seconds. After 2-3 seconds has elapsed, release the RESET button. Performing a manual power reset Turn off the camera. Remove the battery pack. Remove the button-sized lithium battery. Allow the camera to remain without power for 30 seconds. Reinsert the button-sized lithium battery. Reinsert the battery pack. Turn on the camera. If your camera is experiencing an issue and the issue is not resolved by performing the appropriate reset procedure above, then service may be required. Click the Repair & Status link on this page for available service options.

Region

Canada Latin America United States

Products

Cybershot Digital Still Camera

Last Modified Date: 03-07-2011ID: C265373

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Flickr - Usage outside of Flickr must provide a link back to its page on Flickr

Where is the HTML code and photo file link?

The HTML code to embed a photo in a web page that you used to find on the All Sizes page is now only in the Share menu above the photo, to the right of the Actions menu. We now also include BBCode! (standard message board code)
There are a few cases where the code may not be available: 1) If the photo is restricted. 2) If that person has turned off "Share this" or access to original files.

The direct link to a photo file is no longer shown on the page. Per the Flickr Community Guidelines "pages on other websites that display content hosted on flickr.com must provide a link from each photo or video back to its page on Flickr." Linking directly to the photo file doesn't do this.

My favorite Video to mp3 converter - VideoLAN VLC media player

After searching the web, I found this gets the best reviews and it works great.

video to mp3

VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols.

VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework

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If your Outlook email response became teeny-tiny, here's how to expand back to normal

Generally the zoom setting got changed somehow. Check it.

Blackberry - How to See (or Remove) Calls in Email Message Log

Press the green key, then from the phone screen press menukey, select options, general options, call logging.

Thanks to Bifocals!

Comcast Error S0a00 (aka "One Moment Please" error)

Error code S0A00 generally means a cable is not connected well. Check all connections from the wall outlet all the way through to your TV. That always works for me when I get S0a00 (seriously!).

After checking for looseness, run the cable directly from the wall into the back of the TV (bypassing all the devices), if that works then one-by-one re-connect the devices to see where the problem lies.

If that doesn't work, this from Xfinity's support site:

Error code S0A00
If you have been receiving the S0A00 error message for more than one hour, a live technician will need to troubleshoot the issue with you. Please determine if the error message is appearing on all TVs in your home, or just one before you contact us. 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278).

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39 personal characters allowed in Blogger Post URL

When creating a title for your Blogger post, only the first 39 characters will appear in the URL. Blogger may remove words like "and" and "the" as well.

Testing!