Start by figuring out how big you want your pentagram to be. This is figured as the distance between opposite points. For our example, we’ll be making a pentagram with a line length of 100mm. We use millimeters to measure as this will produce the most accurate drawing.

One horizontal line at the bottom.

First, draw a straight line at the bottom of the paper using your ruler and pen. This will act as the base that the pentagram will sit on. Make sure the line is dark enough to see through the back side of the paper.

Now fold the paper so that the ends of the line touch. Smooth the fold down with your fingernail. Now unfold the paper and draw a line on the fold.

Two perpendicular lines.

You should have two perpendicular lines.

Now it’s time for a little math.

We’re using what’s called the Golden Ratio. It occurs naturally in biology, anatomy, architecture, art, and physics. Read here for more info on the Golden Ratio.

The ratio is roughly rounded as 1.618034… Since we started with 100mm we will divide 100 by the Golden Ratio. We end up with 62mm after rounding to the nearest millimeter. We now divide 62 by the Golden Ratio and end up with 38mm after rounding down to the nearest millimeter.

We now have 3 numbers: 100, 62, and 38.

Take the second number and divide it in half, which is 31. Set your ruler on the base line and line up the 31mm mark at the point where the perpendicular line meets the base line.

Now mark the 0mm and 62mm points of the ruler on the baseline

Add two points to the base line.

Three points forming a triangle.

Now move the ruler so that the 0mm point remains where it is, and the 100mm mark touches the perpendicular line. Mark the spot of the 100mm mark on the perpendicular line.

If you measure between the top point and the bottom right point, it should also measure 100mm.

Using your ruler, draw a straight line from the bottom left to the top point. Draw another line from the bottom right point to the top point.

You should now have a triangle of the three points.

The two midway points aren't "halfway" points. Make sure you use your third Golden Ratio number and measure along the line from the bottom.

Now we are going to mark midway points.

Using the third number, which is 38 in this case, measure from the bottom left point along the left line, and mark 38mm from the bottom point.

Repeat and mark 38mm from the bottom right point along the right line.

You now have two midway points on each line. They should both be 38mm from the nearest bottom point.

Now we are going to place the ruler with 0mm on the bottom left point. Lay it so that it crosses the right side midway point.

Make a point at the 100mm mark. This point will not be touching any line.

The finished pentagram and all points.

Repeat the other way by putting the 0mm mark on the bottom right point and laying it so that it crosses the left side midway point

Make a point at the 100mm mark. This point will not be touching any line.

Now using your ruler, draw a line from the bottom left point to the top right point

Draw another line from the bottom right point to the top left point.

Finally, draw a line from the top left point to the top right point.

Now you should be seeing a perfectly drawn pentagram!

For a clean drawing without the base and perpendicular lines, place a clean sheet of paper over your drawing. Mark the five points, and reconnect them using your ruler.

Inside the pentagram is a perfectly shaped pentagon that you can trace too, or transfer the points and make a shrunken copy of your pentagram.

Draw a circle around the pentagram, and you’ve created a pentacle.

You can now use your drawing as a sewing pattern, a wood carving or wood burning stencel, a paint stencel, or a metal cutting stencel for making decorative Americana decorations.  If you are a Wiccan, you can use this template to make your own jewelry or altar pieces.

Check out this video on how to make a pentagram with Gimp:

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

#1 Best Youtube Downloader

DownloadHelper

DownloadHelper is an addon for Firefox and one of the best ways to download Youtube movies and songs.  What makes it so great to use is that installs directly into your browser, and doesn’t require you to leave the Youtube page you are on.  It comes with a myriad of options.  You can download them as-is FLV, or convert the files into other formats like AVI, MPEG, 3GP (mobile), or MP3.  It is also cross platform compatible, which means that you can use it on Linux, Windows, or Mac.

I use it on Linux, and DownloadHelper uses the FFMPEG program to convert to any format without having to drop to command line.  Mac also uses FFMPEG.  The Windows version offers conversion software for download.

It also works on hundreds of video sites, so you are not stuck with Youtube.  It is likely that any video you see online, it can download.  It supports a safe mode if you want to block adult sites from downloading.

So if you are looking for a cheap way to create an MP3 list, or you want to download the latest House or Heroes episode to your iPod, this is the perfect tool for you.

Check it out: http://www.downloadhelper.net/

#1 Best Youtube for Mobile

VuClip

So you are on your iPhone, Blackberry, or Droid, and you want to download Youtube or other video site movies directly to your phone.  Never fear, VuClip.com is here.  It comes with integrated cross-site search, ratings, and other tools.  It will let you choose to stream, or download in either low or high quality.  It also supports an audio-only download, but this is in 3GP, not MP3, so it is not ideal for downloading music.

VuClip also allows you to browse the website from your computer and send videos to your phone.  It’s great for when you are not in 3G coverage, but want your Youtube goodness.

Check it out: http://www.vuclip.com/

#1 Simplest Youtube Downloader

KissYoutube

If you want the absolute simplest solution to downloading Youtube videos with no frills, then you want to use Kiss Youtube.  It offers no conversion, no options, no frills.  But it couldn’t be any simpler to use.  Simply add kiss before the url and hit enter, and you’re done.

Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o…

http://www.kissyoutube.com/watch?v=o…

Check it out: http://www.kissyoutube.com/

Who wins?

DownloadHelper wins hands down.  By relying on a converter on your PC, it absolutely destroys the others by offering unlimited conversion options and works as fast as your own broadband connection.  You to choose HD quality videos where available for the best possible experience.  One of the best features is that it allows you to queue up videos, so you can have unlimitted videos set to download and convert, instead of doing one at a time which could take hours of clicking and waiting.  If you want to download more than 1 or 2 videos a month, DownloadHelper gets it done fastest with the least amount of hassle and most options.

Honorable Mention

Video2MP3

There are a lot of Youtube to Mp3 sites out there.  99% of them are pure crap.  All of them are slow, full of ads, and many have spyware.  But one of the few that looks good, works well enough to endure the wait, and doesn’t kill you with adds is Video2Mp3.  It’s not as good as the Download Helper solution, but it does include a browser addon option.

Check it out: http://www.video2mp3.net/

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When Will Smith gets to the part that says, “to the black, to the white, the red, and the brown, the purple and yellow”. Toby points to Will, then himself, then in other directions on the other colors, except when he gets to yellow. When he gets to yellow, he puts a peace sign over his left eye with his left hand sideways to signify slanty eyes.

Will Smith didn’t miss a beat, and kept going.

So, now everyone is going nuts over whether or not this was “racist”. Will Smith didn’t seem to think so at the time.

When Will Smith sings “bang, bang boogey”, Toby cocks his finger and thumb and makes a shooting motion at Will Smith. Anyone think he wants to kill him? He was just gesturing along with the song, which he himself takes up and starts singing.

Considering the lyrics, I think he was just trying to show some love as best as he knew how. I mean, was he racist by pointing to a black man when Will said “black”? No. At least, no more than calling an Asian person “yellow” is racist, which I would assume might be. Nobody to my knowledge in the Asian community is boycotting Rapper’s Delight for calling Asians yellow. The song, after all, is pointing out acceptance of diversity with those lyrics.

Toby, of course, is a big supporter of Obama and a Democrat. That surprises most people. But, his “I’ll kick your butt Saddam” songs alienate many liberals. To throw him under the bus as a racist is going too far.

Yeah, maybe not the “smart” thing to do. I certainly wouldn’t do it, but I’ve seen Asians do it themselves as a joke. Self deprecating race humor rarely gets such attention. But a joke told by Chris Rock retold by Larry the Cable Guy would certainly get a protest march.

I think it’s way overblown. Here’s the video, tell me what you think.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

To the contrary, there is no conspiracy.  It’s just some group of Christians trying to de-commercialize the holidays.  Very new age, emerging Christian, help the environment type of thing.  For instance, they claim that their efforts actually produce cleaner water.  That’s right, by buying fewer gifts and donating more to charity, you will create clean water.  I’m sure by some six degrees of separation that’s true.

Anyways, the video follows.  If you ask me, it sounds like a wonderful sales pitch to churches who need a “new” holiday program for their church to run this year, complete with videos, books, workbooks, and sermon notes.  Other than that, nothing news worthy here.  The person who put this on my desk will be forced to cook their lunch using only a toaster for the next week.  (Haha, good luck with your frozen Salisbury Steak frozen dinner! )

Warning! The feel good, “I just drank a gallon of inspirational holy water” music gets a bit loud, then louder, then louder with voices.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.