Keyboard Shortcut for Add Comment in Word for Mac

I use Microsoft Word's comment feature (Insert menu → Comment) frequently, both when I'm revising other people's work and when I'm working on something of my own and want to come back to it later. Annoyingly, in Word 2008 (the version I'm using) and presumably in Office 2011 as well, there's no keyboard shortcut listed. I finally did some research, and there is indeed a Mac shortcut for inserting a comment!

In Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, the keyboard shortcut to insert a comment is: Command-Option-A (⌘-⌥-A). Why? I have no idea. On Windows, the insert comment shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+M, which makes just as little sense. Hope that helps!

Inpulse Video

Inpulse, an acapella group from Minneapolis, covers the Beatle's "Come Together" and has a vocal percussion battle at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. This is from a concert last night (October 1, 2010), in Marty's at Luther. Sorry for the giant pillar in the way...I recorded them because (a) they were really good, and (b) I wanted to test the video camera on my new 4th generation iPod Touch.



www.inpmusic.com
www.luther.edu
www.jugglingnebulafilms.com

MacBook Pro Swelling Battery

Here's yet another reason why I like Apple computers. I've been working at a camp for the summer, and my sister had been using my 17 inch MacBook Pro at home. When I came home for the weekend, she explained that the computer was "being weird." I looked at it and discovered the trackpad was not working right. It was fine until you tried to click it, but once it was clicked (using either tap-to-click or the actual button), it would not register that the click had been released. The computer acted as though the button was being held down. If an external mouse was plugged in, it worked fine, so it was pretty obviously a hardware problem. I had also noticed that same weekend that the back of the battery in the laptop had started to come apart, almost like the battery was bulging out, and the glue was letting go. Since I was just home for a very short amount of time, I didn't really have time to research at all, so I asked my mom to take the computer to the Apple store in Milwaukee. I figured that I'd probably have to pay a bit for repairs, since the computer's at least 6 months out of warranty, but I obviously needed the computer fixed before college. Well, Mom took the computer in, and the Apple Genius at the store looked at it, and immediately said we had a defective battery, and the swelling of the battery was putting pressure on the trackpad, and messing it up. So, for free, they gave us a brand new laptop battery (saving me probably about $100), for an out of warranty computer. No questions asked. That's good customer service.

Mac Modifier Key Mapping

Reason #[some high integer] why I like Apple Mac computers:

I just got a nice new Razer Lycosa gaming keyboard (from woot.com) and plugged it into my MacBook Pro. Razer's website says no Mac drivers for the Lycosa keyboard are available, but I knew it would work as a normal keyboard. I figured macro functions wouldn't work, and I was fine with that, but I was somewhat disappointed to realize when I plugged it in that the Mac Command key was mapped to the Windows key on the keyboard. So, after a quick Google search for Mac key mapping turned up nothing, I looked in System Preference, in the obvious place, the keyboard and mouse pane. There, I discovered that not only did Mac OS recognize my keyboard by name, but that I could very easily remap the modifier keys.


So, after almost no effort, I am using a great gaming keyboard from a company that claims not to support Apple, with custom set modifier keys, and no third party software. I like Apple.

Newsboys Replace Peter Furler

I am in total and complete shock. After a day of intense internet rumors, the rumors are true. Newsboys released a press release a few minutes ago. Lead singer (and the only remaining founding member) Peter Furler is stepping back from the stage and being replaced as lead singer by Michael Tait (formerly of DC Talk and Tait). Quoting from the press release: "Michael Tait will be touring with the band as lead singer with Peter making special appearances throughout the year." Peter supposedly will focus on the band's studio work. Earlier, Inpop Records had reassured fans that Peter does lead vocals on all songs on their upcoming May 5th release, "Hands of God." The press release is at newsboys.com.

I'm pretty much in total shock...newsboys have been my favorite band for several years...I knew something was up, after seeing the newsboys Facebook status announcing an upcoming press release and that they had temporarily taken down their message boards (which are now back up). I really didn't think this rumor was true though...I love DC Talk, and I mostly like Tait's solo cd as well. But, Tait in newsboys? Wow...never would have seen that coming. Who knows, maybe Phil Joel will be back too...or a DC Talk reunion tour...anything seems possible...And...maybe I will buy a newsboys tour bootleg cd, just to hear how Tait does on the songs.

PS: I had Peter's testimony memorized...at least their show will have a bit of variety...