Author: kiusau

Life is full of surprises. Still, you can quit at anytime, if you have grown weary of their outcome. For, after all, survival is but a first step; it is a primitive instinct that does not distinguish us, humans, from other animals. Accordingly, if it is all that you can achieve in life, do not be surprised that others treat you like an ordinary animal. Alas, if it is all there is left, and you have grown weary, it is good justification to depart. Before you go, however, look deep inside and determine if you are not the cause of your own demise. For, in the end, society owes you nothing, and even your parents are likely to forsake you, if you have not been grateful. Have you said thanks for all that you have received, and have you given in return for all that you have taken? John F. Kennedy once stated "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country". Obviously, he was not thinking of taxes, but the help that he would require to become an effective president. Little that is great can be achieved alone. Then too, it takes great leaders to motivate society and move it forward in a manner that will pave the way to a better tomorrow. The world is in need of good leaders. Maybe you are one of them in disguise. Indeed, no one owes you a living, but if people see you struggling they are apt to lend a hand. Just do not be afraid to reach out. And, do not quit, if nothing is given in return. For, many people simply do not care, and you must not let them get you down. You have a right to your own life and the pursuit of your own happiness, so do not be afraid to claim what is yours. Just do not take what belongs to others, if it not without their permission or obtained in fair competition. And, cry out when you have been cheated, but only if there is something to be gained from your cries, for few people like a cry-baby. Be judicious, strategic, and select your battles wisely. Do not waste your time with trivial injustices, for we all make errors, and we are all, therefore, subject to the injustice of others. It is the very thought of exercising my freedom of last resort that keeps me alive, for it is the comfort that I can put an end to my suffering at any time that allows me to endure enormous pain. It is what gives me the courage to fight for what is right without fear of losing. It is a powerful freedom that you should never surrender! Just do not make pain your goal, or you will surely finish a loser. Then too, never place pleasure over goodness and know to distinguish between the two. In liberty, Roddy

Podcast Feed Data Entry Form

In order for Grammar Captive to succeed it must be easily accessible no matter one’s geographical location, technical preference, and interests. As RSS feeds are cross-platform XML data files that can satisfy many different hosts simultaneously, it is important that the data contained in each be accurate and consistent across episodes or editions.

As there are many popular sites, each with its own set of specifications, it is also important that each host receive data that is both accurate and timely. To these ends I have created an offline form that insures that the data received by Grammar Captive’s online database is both accurate and up-to-date. This form automatically tracks each episode by number, creates a security code (guid) for each podcast transmission, calculates the length of each podcast in milliseconds, and sets the date of each publication in the format required for an RSS feed. In addition, the form automatically captures the link of each newly created podcast and transforms it from a relative localized link to a public absolute link appropriate for RSS feed distribution. Further, data that does not change from podcast to podcast is automatically entered.  Also, empty boxes for special feed instructions are left open and easily filled. Finally, there is a built-in mechanism that prevents any data from being sent to the data base until all required data has been entered, and that informs the data entry person about what data is missing.

This was a major task including 45 separate XML data entries that should yield many future benefits.

Roddy

MySQL Database

After several weeks of research and experimentation with the ins and outs of data base management, file manipulation, and RSS feed creation I have completed structuring the first table of the Seven Gates weekly newsletter.
In addition, the channel and item elements for the weekly podcasts have been selected, formatted, and are ready for uploading to Grammar Captive’s MySQL database.

Eventually two separate RSS feeds will be created: one for the newsletter and one for the podcasts. Different feed formats including RSS 2.0, RDF, and ATOM will be created and modified according to their respective hosts.

Everything will be automated to the greatest degree possible.

The new scheduled launch date for both the newsletter and podcasts is September 11, 2017, or thereabouts.

Roddy

Video Shoot

In an effort to improve the quality of Grammar Captive’s introductory video Grammar Captive has partnered with Precarious Heights. Soon the current video will be replaced with a new one, and you will not have to download the entire video before watching it.

In the meantime the development of Seven Gates, Grammar Captive’s automated weekly newsletter and podcast feeds continues forward. With three different ways to produce a feed and an entire new language the task has been more daunting than originally anticipated.

Roddy

XML – The Language of the Podcast

Podcasts and RSS feeds depend on the language of XML for their storage, manipulation, and publication. As Seven Gates. Grammar Captive’s weekly newsletter, and Grammar Captive’s weekly podcasts are a closely linked production effort, it has been decided to integrate the creation of the requisite XML into the form that produces the content for the Seven Gates newsletter template.

Alas, the form that produces the content for the newsletter is no longer complete and a new sub-project is underway.

If any one senses a summer, rather than a spring podcast launch, you are probably not in error. As Grammar Captive is related to formal education, it would be better to launch at the beginning of the summer term than at the end of the spring term, and the fall term (the ideal launch time) seems so distant.
There have simply been to many non-work related disruptions to make a spring launch very feasible at this point.

Roddy

nudge.online Update

With the recent relocation from Seattle’s chinatown to the heart of downtown Seattle still another important interruption in Grammar Captive’s development was necessary — an update and upgrade of nudge.online’s website.

Nudge.Online is Grammar Captive’s host firm and modification of the website was already planned in advance of Grammar Captive’s launch. Simply the order of events has been reversed due to the unexpected relocation.

Other things equal it is hoped that the relocation to downtown Seattle will produce a more stimulating environment for entrepreneurial development.

Roddy

Change of Address

After an unavoidable, three-day pause Grammar Captive’s web development has recommenced. The outcome of this pause is a new address and a highly stimulative private sector work environment in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Click on the word Contact in the navigation bar on Grammar Captive’s main page for more information.

Roddy

Backend Update – Addendum

Further the form in which the content of the Seven Gates Newsletter is entered before being uploaded to Grammar Captive’s host server for entry into the newsletter’s template and eventual distribution has been completed. This form, along with the template into which the form’s content is loaded, insures a reliable and consistent newsletter format. As the newsletter has many features, it is important that users can go to those features that they value most without have to read through other features that may be of little interest to a particular user. These features include: one, a weekly article about the state of the English language industry, second language learning in general, and learning the English language in specific; two, a profile of a featured Grammar Captive subscribe; three, a question submitted by a Grammar Captive subscriber and answered by Grammar Captive’s host; four, a brief summary of the current week’s podcast; five, a brief summary of the following week’s article; six, an invitation to subscribe or unsubscribe; and seven, a list of important Grammar Captive links. These features do not include the personalized header, the more permanent footer, and images of the seven gates that constitute the newsletter’s emblem and will be filled eventually with commercial advertisements relevant to subscribers’ needs.

Roddy