I created www.sunlit-design.com as a solar calculation resource site. Very high accuracy freeware solar calculations software that can be used in office programs, CAD programs and as a plug-in for your own programs. Solar calculation terms … [Continue reading]
The Leadership Challenge
Without a doubt the most helpful leadership book that I have ever read is "The Leadership Challenge" by Kouzes & Posner. The authors have interviewed 1000s of leaders around the world and distilled effective leaders' stories into 10 key themes of … [Continue reading]
Fun with Monad?
Remember command.com and .bat files? Still using them? I recently downloaded Microsoft's new command shell (available here). The key idea seems to be to make 99% of the internals of a MS Windows based computer accessible to a command shell. Whereas … [Continue reading]
Username and Password Jungle
The promise of infocard and digital identity is still a long way ahead of us. Until digital identity provision becomes a 'no-brainer' commodity technology we will still need to keep track of a multitude of usernames and passwords. My best estimate … [Continue reading]
Font Viewer
Working with fonts for Kazakh language is getting easier all the time. Unicode is really having and impact and the old codepage soup is slowly disappearing. Occasionally however, I still need to view a rogue Kazakh (or yesterday Kirghiz) font to … [Continue reading]
Desktop Search
Desktop search has changed the way that I look at my computer. I spend a lot less time filing -- and I can now find my old notes and emails much more reliably. I am currently using Copernic Desktop Search having dumped Google Desktop. Google … [Continue reading]
Mind mapping software
I have looked for years for software that allows me to brainstorm. My friend Francis introduced me to Freemind which is now part of my working set of programs that I use daily. Freemind runs under the Java VM and is now at version .80 . Definately … [Continue reading]
Leap Seconds
Some of you will be aware that the rotation of the earth is not at a completely uniform speed. In fact, due to the action of the tides and other forces, the earth is slowing down. (Dr. Richard Sauder has written an interesting summary here. ) The … [Continue reading]
Kazakh Keyboards
Kazakh Language Keyboards (KLK) is a package of Keyman 6.0 keyboards for typing Kazakh language texts under Windows 98/2000 and XP. Download The latest version of KLK may be found here . Please download, open the zip file and run KLK.exe to … [Continue reading]
A way to backup your files (Windows XP)
Backing up files is a vital part of using IT. Unfortunately, backing up files is boring and potentially time consuming. This solution was arrived at after evaluating about 4-5 freeware, shareware and commercial alternatives. … [Continue reading]
The Sun API
An Excel plug-in that calculates high accuracy solar values according the methods given in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus. … [Continue reading]
Map Representation
A way of representing maps in a computer. See pdf. … [Continue reading]
Car positioning without GPS
An internal map can be matched to the integration of distance and direction measurements. See pdf. … [Continue reading]
Personal Franking Machine
I am bugged by buying stamps. What about a personal franking machine? See pdf. … [Continue reading]
Disposable Suitcase
good for maybe 10 flights<$10-15 eachsame shape as conventional suitcasesgreat for moving to a new areapossible designexternal plastic sheetmiddle net like a fishing netinner: cardboard for rigidityseal with plastic disposable ties. … [Continue reading]