Since there is all this excitement about OOP on the list, but many are still getting the basics, I am making my book available as a PDF.  It is a little older, but should get the reader in the right direction.  It starts with basic computer science data structures in Progress ABL and continues in a code based (rather than pure theory) discussion of OOP stuff and examples.

It is some 19MB in size.

It can be found at http://amduus.com/dist/book/DOOPOE/Discussions%20Of%20Object%20Oriented%...

Dear Reader,

I am releasing the documentation for EQN II to the general public. EQN stands for EquationN as it is a symbolic mathematics library for your Progress ABL based program. In short, it allows your user base to write little programs to make calculations and such as parameters of operation. It allows a great deal more flexibility for your user base to customize the software to their way of doing business.

This version of EQN has some substantial differences from the original EQN software – in particular – the inability to create your own functions. However, it is far more cleaner and calls into the ABL can be accomplished to reach those procedures and functions.

Bound versions of this document are still available on lulu.com or simply send a check for $39.99 requesting a copy to:

Amduus Information Works, Inc.
1818 Briarwood Dr.
Flint, MI 48507

Recently I embarked on an experiment with designing a web page for an actor.  These are some thoughts I had on the subject.

First off, this involves, in marketing speak, "the marketing of a person."  One writes a web site for a particular audience.  For an actor, there are three audiences: Fans, producers, and the media.  Often a web site is not enough, or perhaps appropriate, to do everything.

OK, I will admit it - I thought I was following an actress, but it turned out to be someone else of the same name.  Luckily I didn't make a fool of myself!  (One of the nice things about working in show business is one soon learns people are people.)  I was following out of curiosity.

So this led me to the question - how do I know the person behind that twitter handle is that person?  After all, while my name may seem unique - it isn't… in fact one person with my name is a criminal (makes security background checks for software development jobs so not entertaining.)

One way to insure twitter handles would be for the actual person, shows and movies should include those handles in the credits.  In the least, include the twitter handles on the show's web site.  This may seem like an extra effort - until one realizes that television and press appearances are not the only way to stir up publicity.  There are many times when actors and participants of a show are online during a show to interact with the viewers, as well to give advance notice that the show or movie is coming out!

I set up my twitter account and emailed it to the vice-president of another company suggesting he get one too.  He asked "What do I want that for?"  Well, given his company was about $500M larger than mine, he might have a point.  Or he might not.

I will admit, for a while I was flailing about with Twitter too.  (And yes, while I studied for a Computational Mathematics degree, I also went back to school and studied for a Marketing degree.)  Do I make it personal interactions with people out of company?  Do I just jaught off the latest company news?  Do I only interact as "the president of Amduus" with people?

Well, the best way I have learned with twitter is "Following" others and watching what seemed to work and what didn't.  Here is what I have seen:

I recently read some thoughts on the internet that all one needed was a Facebook page for marketing these days.

What a crazy idea.