I've been learning Flex for a presentation at my local CFUG, and I'm actually quite impressed with how much you can do with so little code.

However, most of the Flex tutorials I have found are very long and over simplified, so I've created a simple blog reader in 23 lines of MXML code to use as a tutorial. Here's what our Flex Application will look like:

Simple Flex Tutorial

Without any hope of success I typed http://www.google.com/.jpg into my browser's adress bar, and to my big surprise I saw the page you see when you follow the link right now. The next thing I typed in was: http://www.google.com/?.jpg but that didn't work. But I went on, and found that url's like http://www.google.com/search?.jpg worked like a charm. I found that I could easily visit sites like slashdot, google, or even this weblog, when adding a ?.jpg at the end of the url. The next logical step was to automate that. I downloaded greasemonkey.xpi?.jpg (*g*) and wrote a 4 line js script that would add ?.jpg to every link in a document. That way I was able to browse most sites without a hassle.

Funny. Billy, comments?

Hackszine.com: Free airport WiFi

Cloud Computing. Delivered.

RightScale provides a platform and expertise that enable companies to create scalable web applications running on Amazon’s Web Services that are reliable, easy to manage, and cost less. Amazon has created a new model of computing with EC2, S3, and SQS. RightScale lets you harness that power while keeping your focus on what matters most—your own core application.

RightScale is your easy to use portal to Amazon’s Web Services. It is the only end-to-end management platform for AWS that includes everything you need to get a scalable, reliable, performance web application up and running quickly. With RightScale you’ll save time, and breathe easier knowing that your deployment follows best practices.

* Dashboard – manage, maintain, and monitor all AWS activities
* Manager for MySQL– manage replicated MySQL setups
* RightSite – load balancing and DNS for scalable web sites
* Auto-Scaling – automatically scale the number of virtual servers up and down
* RightScripts – dynamic configuration of virtual servers on boot
* Deployments – launch and manage multi-server systems

Key Features of RightScale

Image I took of me, then chopped, for the demo of a new product I'm working on.

Before:

After:

vinniefront.jpg (JPEG Image, 500x500 pixels)

Since March, we’ve been paying rent and working out of a simple space in order to save us from the work-from-home blues. We are also radically more productive when we work together (of course.) We got a place on the cheap with a sweetheart deal in an amazing location, and we haven’t looked back since. We’ve often joked about being able to fit a small call center inside our walls if we needed to, but the recent chatter has really made us look at all that extra space in a different way.

So what are we talking about here? What does this space have to offer? Here’s a quick list of amenities:

* central location, Midtown-Buckhead accessible
* no parking problems
* Lab amenities: land-line, dedicated fax machine, wireless internet, full kitchen, full bathroom, copious whiteboard space, lots of natural sunlight
* walkable amenities: Office Depot, Publix, Starbucks, Panera (dozens more)
* low cost, easy break-even (we already pay for it today)
* no barriers to entry: we handle the lease and we don’t require legal fluff, just grab a desk and get to work
* no barriers to exit: any coworker can leave any time, and we can fold the entire space in an instant when a new facility is finally born
* 3(+) insanely intelligent, radically diverse brains waiting to engage you and your startup plans

All that said, this space is not huge or luxurious. We can comfortably get another 3-5 people in here, and then some room for a few occasional floaters.

I realize the details aren’t so concrete right now, and that is by design. Today’s post is just to officially announce the space, but we’ll publish maps, photos, a video tour, pricing information (it’s cheap!), and the first desk assignments (zomg, who is signed up?!?!?) very soon.

CoworkAtlanta.com

There has been a lot of discussion lately about a co-working space in Atlanta and also a lot of people that are willing and wanting to help out. This is all good news, however we have to combine our efforts to ensure that we are duplicating them.

Where are we at?

That’s a good question. My personal opinion, which is different than others, is that we aren’t far. A lot of chatter on Twitter but that is about it. We need to organize, if only a little, to get this on the fast track.

Where are we going?

I think all we can all agree that we are looking for a permenant space. This space can be utilized for hot-desks and permenant desks as well as a meeting facility that could include a training room along with multiple conference rooms.

The location is a different story. There have been discussions of spaces both inside and outside the perimeter as well spaces located near marta, etc. If you do have a suggestions, please leave a comment.

Next steps?

From here we really need to get a solid idea of who is willing to pay and how much you would pay. Think of this as an informal survey. So if you like the idea we need you to leave a comment below. After the next week or so we’ll begin formalizing meet-ups to get feedback from the community and figure our who take the lead on all of this.

Atlanta Workspace» Blog Archive » A new blog, a new start

So, we code web sites by hand. And one day, it hit us: our web workflow was wonky. We’d have our text editor open, with Transmit open to save files to the server. We’d be previewing in Safari, running queries in Terminal, using a CSS editor, and reading references on the web. “This could be easier,” we realized. “And much cooler.”

Sites: double click, start work.

Your Coda experience starts with “Sites”. Think of them as uber-favorites on cute little pieces of paper. When you’re ready to start work, just double click a site — Coda will instantly restore itself exactly as you left it, connecting to your server, restoring any splits and tabs, and allowing you to code, pronto.
the publish button
One-click publishing.

Work on websites locally, then publish them remotely to your server? Coda’s sites will automatically track your local changes, and do it all for you. Just hit the big, shiny “Publish All” button. Ka-plam! Up they go.

Panic - Coda - One-Window Web Development for Mac OS X

Every time someone buys a song you bought, you get a cut.

Home - Popcuts

This came from Scott Kirsner who has a nice write up of the day via Dharmesh Shah who also has good summary of the event. I know Dharmesh via Steve Derezinski who was in charge of VentureLab before Stephen Fleming showed up on the scene.

I suppose that makes me two or three degrees from Paul Graham depending on how you count them. Well actually I am two because Paul Judge knows Paul Graham. Point of ramble is we are all connected.null

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1732351646

YCombinator Presentation Day: Force of Good: a blog by Lance Weatherby

xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe