This is a fun resource I discovered recently.
Vector-cartoons.com does require registering and has a weekly download limit. I was able to find exactly what was needed – as a high-quality fully editable vector image!
Note: for PPT download the .wmf version (I downloaded the .eps, modified in Illustrator and then exported as a .wmf).
– Troy @ TLC
We often forget as individuals we can do a lot to make this world a better place and spend time waiting for the change to happen. Here is an initiative to prove it to ourselves that we can do as much as anyone to promote peace.
Glenna Shaw and Geetesh Bajaj, both PowerPoint MVPs have started a unique initiative “PowerPoint for Peace”, a Global Community Project. The project just last week and is building a universal presentation that recognizes the contributions and commitments of people from around the World to improve the planet and the lives of our fellow inhabitants.
authorSTREAM.com is being used as a platform and participating is very easy. Just create a single slide that depicts a contribution that helps make the World a better place to live in (must contain your name/group/company and be uploaded using the authorSTREAM link).
See it and participate here.
– Troy @ TLC
Courtesy of my daughter Kelli, I have this fun and disturbing (I read it without any problem and then asked what was so cool about it…) little note. I will have to find a presentation to use this in!
Can you raed tihs?
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
– Troy @ TLC
I am very excited because I finally finished all of the demo’s for the AudioSolutionz webinar that I am doing in just a few days (hey, I have been traveling almost non-stop for the past 3 months – and it has (almost) all been PowerPoint related shows).
The thing that I really became aware of was the best way to add power to PowerPoint is to know what add-ins are available and to know what they do see them demonstrated. That is the really great part about a live a webinar is that it allows me to do more than make a recommendation, I can demonstrate each add-in with real-world presentation examples.
Click here to get details on the AudioSolutionz webinar. Hope to see many of you there!
– Troy @ TLC
It’s always a good day when you are added to a noted technology evangelist’s website! In this case I was just sent an email saying they found my blog from a link on Guy Kawasaki’s AllTop website.
Click here to go to the site. It does has a big collection of presentation specific blogs and websites.
– Troy @ TLC
This is a bit informational and a bit self-promotion – on Friday, June 20th I will be speaking for AudioSolutionz (a division of Eli Research) on what PowerPoint add-ins I use daily. I will also be overviewing a number of add-ins out there as well as an open Q&A session (about add-ins).
Click here for the Audio Solutionz page with all the details (and fees).
– Troy @ TLC
Microsoft recently announced a webcast they are hosting with my friend and author Cliff Atkinson as the speaker. They summarize it as “learn the tips and tricks you need to complete a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation in record time”.
When: June 12, 2008
Time: 9:00am PST
Cost: Free!
More Info: here (note: to register you will need a Windows Live/Hotmail account to login)
I am on showsite that day, but if schedule allows I’ll be there!
– Troy @ TLC
Last week a great article on PowerPoint presentations came out on bMighty by Nilofer Merchant (most likely posted many other places as well). 
The article is “Strategy Matters: Eight Great PowerPoint Myths” which you can read here. It has a good message – don’t use animation for animation, don’t use too much content on a slide, and the presentation is to support the speaker who is to convey the message to the audience (not read the slides or let the presentation tell the story).
My only caution is that the author is not overly objective about the proper use of animation (myth #5) and draws the line on its use by throwing it out… maybe she has seen to many bad presentations.
– Troy @ TLC
Yes it’s true, if you have PowerPoint – or Word – or Excel, you can get free iStockPhoto images. That rarely used clipart feature has some new tricks. When you search for images the results may be istockphoto images. You can see all of the istockphoto images by just searching for “istockphoto”.
Note: images are istockphoto’s screen resolution version (ie. low res) and raster (no vector/emf).
– Troy @ TLC
Ever been on a computer that did not have PPT installed (it’s rare, but does happen). You can install the PPT Viewer from Microsoft or if the presentation is simple you can just send it to a gmail account.
Within Gmail (Google’s email application) an email with a PowerPoint presentation can now open PowerPoint attachments as slideshows, without having to download anything. Just click “View as slideshow” next to the .ppt attachment you want to preview. It only views the legacy format .ppt, so no PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) presentations yet.
– Troy @ TLC