Tech Pointers of Mark Rauterkus

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:39:00 +0000

Have you tried LiveCode yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 23:45:00 +0000

If I had some time and wanted to get ahead in life by controlling technology, try this.

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:37:00 +0000

Disk Utility Software Pointer

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Intel Macs can boot from most PC utility CDs. SpinRite will rejuvenate your drive, regardless of what OS formatted it, and whether it already contains data or not. Let it run overnight.

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

Wave At The Bus: Day 150 - Graduation Season

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 22:16:00 +0000

Wave At The Bus: Day 150 - Graduation Season: "' A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps ..."

Search engine optimization guide

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:54:00 +0000

Lost In Space? Get Google's 32-Page SEO Starter Guide
The foundation of online marketing is search engine optimization -- being easily found online when a user types in and searches keyword phrases relevant to your company's product or service.

While it's a challenge to get listed within Google's first two pages, as three million other companies are competing for the same twenty spots, it can be done.

More companies, tired of being lost in cyberspace and hurting from the lack of online visibility, are realizing the importance of budgeting additional dollars to hire the right team to accomplish the goal of being found online -- and hopefully within Google's first two pages.

To learn more about SEO, email Connie Kovolenko for a free copy of Google's Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide.

Thanks for the newsletter article to Pgh PR firm, Yearick Millea.

Update for Concept Mapping Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:32:00 +0000

We have prepared a new version of IHMC CmapTools, bringing it up to v5.04.02. This new version includes new features and a large number of bug fixes. This update is recommended for all users running IHMC CmapTools, particularly users using styles, background images, and working on large knowledge models. A new version of the installer improves installation under Windows, and Mac OS X users will be able to run the program as 64 bits without the need for Rosetta at Installation.

The new version can be downloaded from http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/. Users can safely install the new version over previous versions without loosing their Cmaps or their configuration parameters.

The number of languages has been extended to 19, adding Estonian, and now includes Catalan, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Basque, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Italian, Japanese, Kuna, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Greek, and Estonian. CmapTools defaults to the language of the operating system, but can be changed in the Preferences menu item. For detailed instructions please refer to the Help and read the entry titled "How to Change the Language".

A detailed list of new features and bug fixes can be found at http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/ReleaseNotes.php

We hope you enjoy CmapTools v5.04.02, and please keep in touch regarding your uses of the software. Do not hesitate to contact us at the CmapForum (http://cmapforum.ihmc.us/). The CmapForum contains documentation, answers to the questions most commonly asked, a place to provide suggestions, announcements, and troubleshooting sections.

Sincerely,

CmapSupport
Institute for Human & Machine Cognition
40 S. Alcaniz St., Pensacola, FL, 32502

Visit: http://cmapforum.ihmc.us/

Quartam PDF Library goes open source

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:54:00 +0000

Quartam Software <www.quartam.com> is proud to announce the release of Quartam PDF Library for LiveCode version 1.1, as open source under a dual license. Quartam PDF Library library allows LiveCode developers to go beyond 'print to pdf file' as it offers pin-point control, extensive graphics support and much more.

## Where does Quartam PDF Library come from?

Back in December 2005, I started Quartam PDF Library as a research project for adding PDF export to Quartam Reports. It was spun off as a separate commercial product and used in a wide variety of LiveCode-based projects, such as BlueMango's ScreenSteps <http://www.bluemangolearning.com/screensteps/>.

Although I had kept working on new features, more pressing matters (like my day-job) kept me from pushing ahead and wrapping up a new release. The advent of 'print to pdf' features in LiveCode 4.5 triggered a soul search and eventually led to the decision to release the new version as open source.

The end result: nearly 7300 lines of production quality code, ready for you to use in your LiveCode projects.

## So what is new in version 1.1?

The code got a good cleanup, complies with the rules of variable checking, and replaces most string literals with constants to prevent bugs.

Plus, the following features were added:
- Transformations (scale, translate, rotate, skew, mirror)
- Transparency and blendmodes
- Gradients
- Clipping
- Text box fitting
- Inserting pages (ideal for building a table of contents with bookmarks)
- Compression
- Experimental support for including EPS files (Emulated PostScript)

And for the first time, we offer support for generating PDF documents in LiveCode Server scripts, including On-Rev!

Quartam PDF Library now requires Revolution 3.0 or later, with LiveCode 4.6 highly recommended.

## How do you mean: open source under a dual license?

Although Quartam PDF Library is a free/open source software (F/OSS) project, giving you a lot of freedom and flexibility as to how you use it in your own projects, this doesn't mean you're free to do anything you want with it: you have to respect the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html>.

You can be released from the requirements of the AGPL license by purchasing a commercial license from Quartam Software.

Buying such a license is mandatory as soon as you develop commercial activities involving Quartam PDF Library without disclosing the source code of your own applications. These activities include: offering paid services to customers as an ASP, serving PDF documents generated dynamically in a web application, shipping Quartam PDF Library with a closed source product.

Such a commercial license releases you from the requirements of the copyleft AGPL license, which include: distribution of all source code, including your own product; licensing of your own product under the AGPL license; prominent mention of the Quartam copyright and the AGPL license; and disclosure of modifications to the library.

In addition, the commercial license releases you from the requirement not to change the PDF Producer line in the generated PDF document properties.

## What about my previous commercial license for Quartam PDF Library version 1.0?

Of course you can keep using the closed source version 1.0 in your projects. And if your project is open source, you can use version 1.1 without an additional charge.

However, if you want to use version 1.1 in a commercial activity, you have to purchase an upgrade for USD 49 from the Quartam Software Online Store: <http://store.eSellerate.net/quartam/buyqrtpdfcup>

And if you never bought a copy of Quartam PDF Library, you can purchase the commercial license for USD 149 from the Quartam Software Online Store or the LiveCode Marketplace.

## How can I contribute to the Quartam PDF Library project?

I'm glad you asked - the plan is to build a community around Quartam PDF Library in order to streamline the development of newer versions. If you can help with squashing bugs, researching new features, improving documentation, or any other way, you're more than welcome to join us.

All you need to do is download, sign and email back the Quartam Open Source Contributor Agreement <http://www.quartam.com/qosca.pdf> so that your contributions can be incorporated into the project. Quartam Software has the role of project custodian, taking care of versioning and distribution.

One such contribution was made by John Craig (Splash21) to add compression support to the library, which is included in Quartam PDF Library version 1.1 - another contribution was made by Trevor DeVore (BlueMango) who offered code for writing LiveCode htmlText to a PDF document, which I have yet to integrate but looks really promising.

And I have some experimental code that I'd love to share and put into the project after review - so any reports of this library's death were greatly exaggerated.

So roll up your sleeves, download the new version and get stuck in!
<http://downloads.quartam.com/qrtpdflib_110_xplatform.zip>

Jan Schenkel.
=====
Quartam Reports & PDF Library for LiveCode
www.quartam.com

59 Open Source Tools that Can Replace Popular Security Software

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:40:00 +0000

ClamAV®: 59 Open Source Tools that Can Replace Popular Security Software

3D Stereoscopic Text in Draw (Open Office Help TNT)

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:01:00 +0000

3D Stereoscopic Text in Draw (Open Office Help TNT)

Twitter tools

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:49:00 +0000

http://www.effectivemarketingcompany.co.uk/services/internet-marketing-services/social-networking/twitter-tools/

Knight Community Information Toolkit

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Knight Community Information Toolkit: "The Community Information Toolkit will help community leaders like you harness the power of information to advance their goals for a better community."

Inside System Storage -- by Tony Pearson

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Inside System Storage -- by Tony Pearson

IBM Watson - How to build your own "Watson Jr." in your basement

YouTube links to a portion within a video

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:33:00 +0000

Thanks to YouTube's Deep Links feature, you can e-mail a URL that takes the recipient directly to a specific time within the video.

To send a Deep Link, first copy the YouTube video?s URL into your e-mail message, like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uprjmoSMJ-o.

On the end of the address, add on the time code for the place you want to start in the clip. For example, if you want to direct your viewer to the section four minutes and 30 seconds into a clip, type #t=4m30s at
the end of the video?s

URL so the whole thing looks like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uprjmoSMJ-o#t=4m30s.

When your recipient clicks on the link, the video loads and jumps to the spot you have indicated.

Google has more on using Deep Links with YouTube videos at bit.ly/1k0PVx.

New Book

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:39:00 +0000

Time machine software

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:48:00 +0000

The goal for TimeMachine was to explore a truer perspective of the timescales of events relative to the enormous 13.7 billion year age of the universe. As an example, the entire history of human existence is like 7 seconds on a clock scaled to 14 billion years. TimeMachine allows you to select various timescales, and then move through that time span to view images of well-known events.

http://web.me.com/irog/Roger_Guay/Downloads.html

Author Dave Zirin discusses his new film "Not Just A Game: Power, Politics & American Sports" - ESPN

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Author Dave Zirin discusses his new film "Not Just A Game: Power, Politics & American Sports" - ESPN

When we went to DC last month, I took Erik and Grant to the radio studio to witness a show hosted by David Zirin, because I wanted the boys to meet him. The next day we went to tour the Supreme Court.

Working with Apple and Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Could someone please list the (primary) issues developers need to pay attention to in order to make Mac apps compliant with the new store?

Prohibited items include self-updating (even though iTunes itself does
that), and non-standard GUI elements (even though iTunes itself does
that too). You're also not allowed to let the user try your product
before purchasing, but that's not something LC can address.

One user in the LC forums has noted that his app was rejected because
his document windows don't darken the close dot to indicate unsaved
changes. This has been noted in the RQCC, but I've not heard from RR
as to when this will be addressed.

Elsewhere Jan Schenkel has noted that toolbars such as the attractive
implementation in Trevor's ScreenSteps can't currently be implemented in
a truly HIG-savvy fashion, and that's been flagged as an enhancement
request in the RQCC as well.

A good toolbar implementation also requires other related details, such
as sheet positioning and adding a standard Toolbar button.

We'll also need some means of integrating with Apple's reg system, since
you're not allowed to manage that yourself. It would be helpful if
others here who've dealt with it can tell us what's needed to support that.

--
Richard Gaskin
Fourth World
LiveCode training and consulting: http://www.fourthworld.com
Webzine for LiveCode developers: http://www.LiveCodeJournal.com
LiveCode Journal blog: http://LiveCodejournal.com/blog.irv

Wiki noise

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:39:00 +0000

Do you and your community miss Monaco skin?

I want you to know that ShoutWiki has enabled the popular Monaco skin for all wikis. The skin will be freely available for all users on all wikis until 1 July 2011, after which it will be made an ordinary premium (paid) feature.
More information: http://blog.shoutwiki.com/2010/12/merry-christmas/

You can also download and install the Monaco port (a port based on the Wikian skin Monaco) for your wikia. See details here: http://monaco.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Monaco_port

WPLUG is hosting a general user meeting on Saturday, December 11 from 10:30a until 12:30p to be held at the Wilkins School Community Center

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:57:00 +0000

WPLUG is hosting a general user meeting on Saturday, December 11 from
10:30a until 12:30p to be held at the Wilkins School Community Center (WSCC).

More information about this meeting: http://wplug.org/wiki/Meeting-20101211
and its location: http://wplug.org/wiki/Wilkins_School_Community_Center

The purpose of this meeting will be two fold:
1. welcome the 2011 WPLUG board
2. encourage discussion on the topic: The Linux Desktop

Beth Lynn Eicher will be leading a "table topics" discussion on "The
Linux Desktop"

"Table Topics" meetings are a relaxed environment where we discuss
current Linux and Open Source issues. A facilitator picks a topic and
prepares questions for those gathered to generate conversation. New
Linux users and the curious are encouraged to attend.

Together we will answer the controversial questions such as...
1. Will 2011 be the Year of the Linux Desktop? Why or why not?
2. With the popularity of tablets and smartphones, is the desktop
relevant any more?
2. What can you do and what can't you do with your Linux desktop?

Hope to see you there,

Beth Lynn Eicher

Wiki Founders Protesting

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Dear Wikia administrator,

Does your community dislike the new Wikia (oasis) skin and miss Monaco skin? ShoutWiki does not have the Wikia (oasis) skin, and ShoutWiki editors can choose which skin they want to use. ShoutWiki is also planning to offer the Monaco skin: http://tinyurl.com/shoutwikim The Monaco skin has already been installed and will be available to all wikis by the end of the year.

ShoutWiki is superior in many different ways. See http://tinyurl.com/wikiavs for a comparison of Wikia and ShoutWiki.

How do you leave Wikia? It is very easy, taking less than 7 minutes to set up, and the helpful shoutwiki staff will do the rest, transferring the wiki over the course of a couple days. http://tinyurl.com/leavewikia

If you happen to be one of the administrators in the dozens of wikis who have already left wikia, like the largest wikia, World of Warcraft, please let other wikia editors know about the options they have.

Best Regards,

Anti-Wikia Skin Alliance, http://tinyurl.com/nowikia not affiliated with ShoutWiki.

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:29:00 +0000

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

November 19, 2010 Volume 10, Number 64

A Plan to Mitigate Bus Service Cuts

As expected, the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) has announced that it is out of options and will make drastic cuts in service beginning in March. Faced with a near $50 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year and a looming $30 million deficit in the fiscal year starting in July, PAT’s Planning and Development Committee has recommended a 35 percent service cutback and a personnel reduction of almost 500 employees. More cuts might be necessary later in the year. Waiting and hoping for more money from cash strapped state government has been a poor strategy.

All this has been brought about by the overly generous pay and benefit packages for PAT employees and their unwillingness to make any concessions on compensation or work rules. PAT bus service ranks among the most expensive per passenger trip in the nation and driver wages (on a cost of living adjusted basis) are the highest in the country. Exorbitant benefits have pushed PAT’s annual benefit payments to $128 million to go with wages and salary payments of $141 million. Growth will continue in the future because of contract obligations.

With the cost structure spiraling out of control and the union’s preference of taking layoffs rather than making any meaningful concessions, PAT management must cut service and reduce payroll to close the budget deficit.

But there is something PAT can do to lessen the hardship the planned service cuts will create. Bear in mind the legislation that created the Port Authority back in the 1960s gives it monopoly control over transit service in Allegheny County. No other bus operator, public or private, may operate in Allegheny County without the permission of the PAT Board and to date that permission has not been granted except for regional transit agencies that bring passengers in from surrounding counties.

Now is the time for PAT to loosen its grip and allow other transit agencies and/or private operators to begin offering service in areas where PAT is eliminating or severely cutting back service. After all, PAT’s mission is to provide the most affordable transit service possible to Allegheny County residents—at least it should be. The union’s objectives are clearly not compatible with that mission. So, PAT must seize upon other avenues to fulfill its mission. Allowing other qualified transit providers to operate in the County would represent a huge step in that direction.

PAT will soon have a large surplus of buses on its hands after the service cuts are made. To attract transit agencies or private companies to offer replacement services they could agree to lease surplus buses for one dollar per year—or sell them at a very low price.

Given the much lower pay and benefits packages at the regional agencies, a very low marginal capital cost and the ability to charge PAT fares could entice transit operators to take on the service. At the very least PAT should approach the other regional agencies and any qualified private companies to see if an arrangement can be worked out to restore service to riders who are about to lose their service.

This is not the normal privatization or outsourcing one thinks of in connection with bus service. Typically, outsourcing is when a transit authority contracts with a private company to provide service on existing routes much like what is being is done in neighboring Westmoreland County. In PAT’s present situation, the new transit provider would be covering routes PAT is eliminating.

If there is interest in such arrangements, PAT might want to reconsider how best to deploy the resources available within the County so as to allow other operators to operate with greatest efficiency.

Needless to say there are a lot of details to be worked out and little time to get them done before March 1. But even if the service to many folks cannot be restored until after March 1, it would be worth pursuing viable opportunities to get those riders some service as soon as possible.

In sum, if PAT’s Board and management team are as serious about their obligation to the people in the County who want or need to use public transit as they say they are, then they must at least give some consideration to this proposal. After all, PAT’s slogan is “Connecting People to Life”. It does not say “Connecting People to Life if the unions will let us.” To whom does the Board and management have the greatest obligation—residents or employees? They will make very clear their allegiance by how they treat the proposal to allow other transit agencies to provide service within the County.

Adopting this proposal could have a very salutary effect on unions who have been reluctant to make compensation or work rule concessions. Hoping the state will eventually knuckle under and come up with more money as service cuts continue to mount is obviously their strategy. But if PAT decides to allow other transit providers into the County, that hope will be gone.

And if the state wishes to stabilize the transit situation in Allegheny County and create cost efficient service, the Legislature must take two important actions: eliminate the right of transit workers to strike and remove PAT’s monopoly status over transit in Allegheny County.

Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: alleghenyinstitute.org

If you wish to support our efforts please consider becoming a donor to the Allegheny Institute. The Allegheny Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please mail your contribution to:

The Allegheny Institute

305 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard

Suite 208

Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Thank you for your support.

Apple posts guidelines for Mac App Store (and we have highlights)

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:10:00 +0000

Apple posts guidelines for Mac App Store (and we have highlights)

"Enemies" within the context of your game solely target a specific race, culture, a real government or corporation, or any other real entity. (I wonder if this applies to zombies...)

3M United States: 3M™ Pocket Projector

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:47:00 +0000

3M United States: 3M™ Pocket Projector

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Rauterkus) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:44:00 +0000