New Online Tutorial Demonstrates Visual Data Integration Using Stylus Studio XML Pipeline

BEDFORD, MA 12/11/2006 Stylus Studio (

Today’s tutorial was a request by Kirk from Smallest Photo. As you all know, the way I do or show it isn’t the ‘only’ way, it’s just my way and I’m open for any other tips or suggestions. As always I had fun doing this and I’m always happy to share stuff like this. So here it goes…

Step 1 - Selecting the corner and warp transform it to a curl

Select the Rectangle Selection tool from the Toolbox and drag a squared selection starting from the bottom right corner of the image (holding down shift) going diagonally left, till you have a big part selected of the bottom right corner of your image. Go to the Edit menu and select Transform > Warp. Drag the bottom right point of the mesh up left till you get some curly effect. Drag the bezier handles to get the right curl effect and hit the return key if you're pleased with the result.

Step 2 - Create the curl

Since this curl doesn't show the back of our photo, it doesn't really look realistic. The only way I'm aware of to achieve this effect is that we draw it ourself. Select the Pen tool from the Toolbox and draw a path on top of the picture. Follow the borders of the curl you just transformed as guidance. Fill the Shape layer with a white color (double click the layer icon).

Step 3 - Add shading effect to the curl

Double click on the right of the Shape layer to active the Layer Styles. Check the Gradient Overlay option. Set the Angle of the gradient to 152° and click in the gradient to adjust the colors. Drag the stop swatches to the position shown in the image above and choose a grey for the left stop swatch (click once on the stop swatch and then once in the Color field). You can play around with the effect till you get the result you want. These numbers and info are just as a guidance and what I've used to achieve my result.

Step 4 - Add shading effect to the image

To achieve an even more realistic effect, we add a depth/shading effect on the picture itself as well. Double click on the right of the layer that holds your picture to get to the Layer Styles options. Again, check the Gradient Overlay option. Set the Angle of the gradient to 152°, choose Multiply as Blend Mode (to filter out all the white) and click in the gradient to adjust the colors. Drag the stop swatches again as before to the position shown in the image above. As an extra you can check the Drop Shadow effect in the Layers Styles options as sort of realistic finishing touch.

I have exposed web service using XFire and generated
client stubs with axis-wsdl2java.
now when im trying to invoke service

If you have not seen this video, I really think this is worth 5 minutes of your time.

EPIC 2015 is a fictional movie that explores the effects that the convergence of popular News aggregators like Google News and Newsbot with other Web 2.0 technologies such as blogging, social networking and user participation may have on journalism and society at large in a hypothesized future. ?The timeline from 1989 to 2004 is accurate, and then 2005-2015 is fictional, but very interesting. ? It talks about the merger of Google and Amazon to form Googlezon, the News Wars of 2010, and ends in 2014 when Googlezon unleashes EPIC, the Evolving Personalized Information Construct, which pays users to contribute any information they know into a central grid, allowing the system to automatically create news tailored to individuals, entirely without journalists. ?The narration ends with the statement: "Perhaps there was another way."

Video - Wikipedia

Obviously for me "Access to information" is an important concept. ?It will be fun to see year after year which things come true or not. ?For example, while not called the "Google Grid", we have seen Google release an onslaught of tools this year.

I'd be interested in your thoughts.

The Portal open source project on java.net has added the next piece to it's assembly of components -- an implementation of the OASIS WSRP v1.0

Anyone that follows CNET, CNETTV, or CNET on Tivo will know James Kim, one of their senior editors. ? Sadly, after missing for several days, his body has been found. ?James and his wife and two daughters were stranded in a blizzard in Oregon coming home from Thanksgiving. ?While his family stayed in the car, James tried to find help, and sadly did not survive. ? My best wishes to his family.

James Kim found deceased
James Kim--family man, gadget fan
CNET TV

While in Paris I was a typical tourist and went to the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Champs-Elysées, Versailles, and more... but I've tried to post pictures that are not the typical look at these well known locations. ? I've called the photo set Paris At An Angle. ? I hope you enjoy.

Thumbnail view or Detail view or Slideshow

Learn How to Visually Integrate and Publish Data by Using Stylus Studio XML Pipeline

BEDFORD, MA 12/7/2006 Stylus Studio (

I've recently joined the ranks of BlackBerry Pearl users. ?This is my first BlackBerry, so in addition to learning about the Pearl itself, I also have to learn the basics of having a BlackBerry in general. ? While it is nice, I can't say I am as addicted as the others who refer to these devices as "Crackberrys". ? It is nice, but I am with my laptop most of the time, so email and calendar on a 2 inch screen with little keys is not that compelling for me yet.

Anyway, I was hoping to turn the tables a bit and see if any of you could help me. ? I have "Googled" and searched web sites and forums, but I can't find the knowledge I seek.

1. Is there a way (or software) that I can manage my applications using folders? ? For example, I'd like a folder for "Games" and a folder for "System" so I can clean up (group) the icons on my desktop. ? Yes I know about "hide" but that is not what I want.

2. Is there a way for me to create shortcuts to the menu items I want? ?I'd really like to be able to easily toggle push mail from my BES server on and off. ?When I am at my laptop I don't need/want email coming to my phone. ?I only want it there when I am out. ?Currently I have to open the Messages application, click Menu, scroll down and select Options, choose Email Settings, and then set "Send Email To Handheld" to no. ? I can't be the only person on the planet with a BlackBerry who also sits at their desk a lot of the time. ?Doesn't having email arrive in two places annoy people?

Any help would be appreciated. ? Alan "the BB newbie"

The good folks of Web Directions North have just created an opportunity for you to get yourself a free ticket, as well as hotel accomodation and places on the ski trip. So if you want to come to Web Directions but feeling a bit nervous about the money, here’s your chance.

Web Directions North

In case you didn't knew about WDN yet, it's a conference this February in Vancouver, Canada. There is a list of amazing speakers, including me (don't know about the amazing part though), a fantastic location, and after hours events. There is also more info on the schedule, workshops, topics and of-course pricing.

Get yourself a free ticket

So if you want to get a good deal, join the affiliate program and get 4 people to sign up for the conference and you have a free ticket for yourself. Either use the unique URL on your site or start probing your friends to join you.

If more people sign up it goes even further but you can read that on the affiliate program page. It's a unique way and you never know what happens and it can't hurt to try. All you need to do is get your unique URL, and then you can spread the word in whatever way you think is right for you.

Things have been progressing slowly here around the home/office and it is as many people already have said before, it’s a continuous process of improving the surroundings. We bought a lot of interior magazines and did some googling to get inspiration. That is when the idea came to add a new section to the blog that I think could be worthwhile. Ideas enough for improving things around here but the execution is something else :)

New section about Modern Home Design

Like I said the idea came to me while doing research for us and I thought why not share that stuff with the readers. So as of today I will introduce a new section called "Modern Home Design". It's not my intention to give lectures about the items I show but just post some pictures about what I like and could be of interest. I know it's not like it's not been done before but I really think it could be an asset to this blog since things are about design around here anyway. The items that I post could be all kind of things like furniture, vases, lights, bathrooms etc. Pieces that make you dream and appreciate the art of industrial design.

Swissflex SF 500 - Ambiente

The first item we talk about is something that we opted for our bedroom. We have enjoyed a Swissflex SF 505 slat base for some time now, but since it is just a basic model, it's now time to addd a bed frame to it. That's when we bumped into the SF 500 Ambiente accessories. We wanted something tied but still with some personalty. The SF 500 - Ambiente is all that, since it is very versatile and because you can go from a discreet bed upgrade through sleek design feet to a luxurious complete system featuring headboard, side tables and our unique bed surround. You can choose from different materials: aluminium or various lumbers as well as leather and fabric covers in eleven different colors. It features some nice usability touched like integrated sliding profiles, that can be moved freely along the side of the bed (for when you sit up for example). There are these clever reading lights that can be turned towards where you are reading.

Consider giving your back a break

This bed is not one of the cheapest but if you consider how much time you spend in it, your back will thank you in the long run. I can vouch that it actually works because I sleep better and more solid than I did in my previous bed. The good thing about this system is that it is modular so you can go as far as your budget will take you or you can do as we did, start just with the basics for a few years and update when you can. We chose a black leader back panel and allumium legs combined with bedside tables doors in cherry wood and glass topping.

In response to an earlier blog entry about using Visual Studio Express to write/compile a Notes C-API program (after giving up on using MinGW and Eclipse CDT), I just got a comment by Ed Schaller that he has posted some initial instructions on getting everything working with MinGW on Windows:

Here's his article: MingW32 & Lotus Notes API

I might have to give it another try...

---

[ permalink ] [ e-mail me ] [ read/add comments ]

While scripting frameworks such as script.aculo.us dominate the current AJAX landscape, there are signs that the next phase of development will be in the creation of XML binding models that will associate JavaScript functionality with XML structure.