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The first few days after you sign up for Actors Access, don’t do this. Pay attention to all the messages on the site. At first. Then, once they get old, add this CSS to your browser. You are welcome.

div.alert[id=message] {
display: none;
}

Yesterday I released my IMDb Pro Safari Extension. Due to wee bugs, I updated it today to version 0.2 and then 0.3.

(Version and updating are not as automated as they should be. Maybe that will happen in the next version? And then maybe I’ll get it published in the Gallery?)

This Extension does one simple thing: it loads the IMDb Pro version of all IMDb pages. It’s just a beta version, but it’s simple and it’s free. Let me know if you like it, and what additional features you’d like to see.

Please note: this is no good to somebody who doesn’t have an IMDb Pro account!

Safari 5.0.5 breaks some CSS on my site, involving a floating div with a p tag assigned the style text-align: right.

Anybody else seeing this? I’m assuming it’s a bug, but maybe they’re now adhering more strictly to previously overlooked standards? There’s no mention on the interwebs of this bug that I can see….

A few months ago I offered a bookmarklet that makes life easier for users with IMDb Pro subscriptions. In early September, I offered an update. Today, I offer a 3rd update to overcome problems the bookmarklet had with TV shows and TV episodes.

This bookmarklet, as before, does two things: 1. It will take you to a specific IMDb Pro page if you click on it when you’re not on IMDb. The default is in the box below; if you prefer to visit a specific IMDb page instead, like yours, enter it below first. 2. If you’re looking at a regular IMDb page when you click on this bookmarklet, you’ll be whisked to the IMDb Pro version of that page.

So, enter your favorite “home” URL above, then drag this link to your bookmarks bar, and you’re good to go: [IMDb Pro].

I am primarily a Safari user, but this bookmarklet appears to work in Chrome, too. Firefox is being persnickety, however, and I’m working on getting a version that works in that browser.

Recently I sent out another email blast to my list. (Wanna sign up? Here. Wanna see past blasts? Here.) I got a lot of positive feedback on my most-recent email blast, including some inquiries on what service I use to get them done, so I thought I’d write a blog entry on the matter.

I use a service called Campaign Monitor. For myself or for work I’ve done for others, I’ve also used in the past Vertical Response, Dadamail and a couple of others. They all have strengths and weaknesses, but I simply like Campaign Monitor more. It is not free, but I don’t pay very much, and you can try it out for free. Whether you use them or not, I recommend using a service instead of doing it yourself!

The other service I use is called “me.” Meaning, I design my own website and my own email, and I design my email to more or less look like my website. Of course, all email services provide templates, but I prefer to roll my own. Designing email is tricky, and I see a lot of über-bad email design out there. (One common mistake is sending email that looks great for certain recipients but looks like garbage or like absolutely nothing for other recipients.) I’m good at design that looks good for all recipients. If you admire my email updates, Campaign Monitor and I are both available to work for you.

When you are on a Facebook page that links to an external site, clicking on the link will take you to an intermediate Facebook page that starts with http://www.facebook.com/l.php before it takes you to the link you want to access. The JavaScript code Facebook uses reveals why they do this. The code says “UntrustedLink” and some other junk.

But if you trust the links, and if you want to bypass that intermediate business on any one Facebook page, just click this bookmarklet first and you will be good to go: [Trust].

A few months ago I offered a bookmarklet that makes life easier for Safari users with IMDb Pro subscriptions. Today, an update. It works now in mobile Safari on the iPhone.

This bookmarklet by default will take you to IMDb Pro’s home page if you click on it when you’re not on IMDb. If you prefer instead to visit a specific IMDb page, like yours, enter it in the box below first. Whether you enter a URL below or not, if you’re looking at a regular IMDb page when you click on this bookmarklet, you’ll be whisked to the Pro version of that page.

So, enter your favorite “home” URL above, then drag this link to your bookmarks bar, and you’re good to go: [IMDb Pro].

Attention, actors. Previously, I showed how to make IMDb Pro better if you use Safari on an Apple computer. Today, let’s add one more line to overcome.css to improve Actors Access.

The first time you use Actors Access, it’s good to see the message at the top of each breakdown that begins with, “SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS ALWAYS SUBMIT ASAP!!! Submitting within the first day….” But that large message gets old fast! That message just gets in the way after a while. Here’s some CSS you can use to tell Safari to hide the message:

div.alert[id=message] {
display: none;
}

I’ve modified my online copy of overcome.css to include this plus the previous IMDb Pro fix. Download and enjoy! (Need help on this? Just leave a comment.)

Now, if anybody can figure out how to do this on Safari iPhone, too, please let me know!

Recently, IMDb Pro did a small redesign. Quick review: Looks better in browser, prints horribly.

I offer herein a quick fix to the printing problem, at least in Safari / Mac OS X. (Other browsers should have similar solutions for the savvy web user.)

Create a file named something.css and store it on your hard drive wherever you want. I call mine “overcome.css” and put in a my Documents folder. Edit this file with a plain-text editor. Do not use Word. Put this text, this CSS code, into that file, then save it and close it:

@media print {
#nav-wrapper { display: none; }
}

(Alternate solution if plain-text editing is beyond your computer routine: download overcome.css.)

Now in Safari, go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced. Where it says Style Sheet, select the file you just created or downloaded. That’s it! See the difference below, where I offer a side-by-side comparison of the first printed page of my IMDb Pro page. Quick review: Better. Way better. IMDb should hire me.

UPDATE: It turns out that Safari users will benefit from one other CSS change, due to poor cross-browser issues with the new IMDb Pro look. Add this to overcome.css in order to avoid the weird thing that happens where the page shifts down 21 pixels just as it finishes rendering. I’ve altered the download file accordingly.

#nav-wrapper #navbar { margin: 0 !important; }

Again, IMDb should hire me.

(Please leave a comment if you find it useful, or if you find an error.)

You’ve heard about the digital divide, right? There will always be inequalities in the world, but this phrase refers to the new ways in which we are seeing a divide between the haves and the have-nots with new technologies.

Today I would like to take a moment to applaud AT&T on this front. Here in LA, some of the wealthiest neighborhoods have the worst AT&T coverage. I’m talking about the Hollywood hills, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Man, do I admire the Socialist-Commie-Pinko-Democrat-Bleeding-Hearts at AT&T who brazenly do not cater to their richest constituents.

AT&T, you looked at the only neighborhoods in town that could afford iPhones, and you told them to suck it. You go, AT&T!