Feed

Jeffrey Kishner
  Theron, one thing to note is that the templates you copied include a google analytics javascript with Kyle's ID. You may want to delete that or swap in your own ID if you have one.
    It's the 3rd [script] in the [head]
Betsy Kimak
  @Jeffrey thanks, maybe it'll show with Trex. My Fargo profile isn't indexed (though right now it also doesn't seem to be loading.)
    Love all the first blogs, hoping for time soon to catch up & join in.
    (got a power sander, making a huge mess!)
Andrew
  This is what I was thinking about the other day
    what if ghosts are real
    all the time
Larry Yudelson
  If I'm not mistaken, the quality of the iPhone version of Fargo has been quietly improving. Now all it needs is a tab key...
Larry Yudelson
  @Jeffrey, once you've published a page with the eye, further changes to the outline will be mirrored on the web page.... with a delay of a minute or two.
Theron Kelso
  My First "Real" Blog Post
    From Trex and Fargo.io.
    Copied some stuff from Kyle & Jeffrey. Tinkered a little more - with lots of opps - to figure some stuff out. Not perfect by any means.
ray collins
  After naming an outline, I don't get the 'eye' ... ? What am I doing wrong?
Jeffrey Kishner
  How I'm using type=redirect for my fargo/trex blog on my own domain
Dave Winer
  Jeffrey -- Trex content is dynamically server, it's not static.
    However, it is fully accessible by search engines, and should be indexed like any other site.
Jeffrey Kishner
  @Betsy, it looks like Google does crawl published smallpict content.
    Dave/Kyle can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's just static content sitting on amazon aws (i.e., it's no longer about your dropbox files once it's published, that's just the CMS source)
    this google search of www.jeffreykishner.com already shows some listings
Jeffrey Kishner
  @Chris Wolverton, I pretty much copied Kyle, he was the first one to do it (he's also 1/2 of smallpicture)
    open "kyle" by name to see his opml and how he does it
      the bottom line is that you have your actual blog contents in a separate opml that is included in your named outline, which points to your domain
    also, dave has a full smallpict blog here
      open "threads" by name to see the opml
Dave Winer
  If you're a web developer or designer, you may want to be on the smallpicture-web list, which is where we tested Trex.
    But if you're a writer, please don't feel you have to understand what's going on "under the hood."
    Fargo is a writing tool that can also be used for stuff techies do. And the end result is a richer environment for writers.
Bob Eback
  my first story
    once upon a time yadda yadda
Betsy Kimak
  Woo - excited to have a go at Fargo + Trex!
    I'm guessing I can start building that new blog?
    Hmmm...will it be seen by Google? Dropbox folders aren't indexed.
    (+1 @AngeloR!)
Dave Seidel
  Inline calculator
    You can use an outline to write and evaluate math expressions.
      Just type an expression on its own line and use Ctrl+/ (Run Selection) to see the result.
        Fine print: You can use any expression that is valid Javascript.
      Try it on the next line:
      365 * (60 * 24)
Ken Smith
  Fargo 0.80 is a real pleasure--much to consider and try out, many thanks.
    Here is a sample presentation--a poem.
    And to Jeffrey K.--thanks for the quiz format. I see that it also works with more layers and more answers under each question, very nice.
Chris Wolverton
  Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears that Jeffrey Kishner has implemented a fairly complete rough draft of a blog using Fargo. I hope he doesn't mind that I'm peeping at his tricks in his OPML file!
Angelo R.
  Oh man, can't wait till Fargo lets me use my own domain name! Or perhaps provides a self-hosted version. I would gladly give you money for either.
Theron Kelso
  Yip! Likin' .80. Can't wait to tinker with includes and trex. Tonight is for National's - how bad will they lose?
Kail Keusch
  My Next Car 2013
    Requirements
      Manual Transmission
        Preferably 6 Speed
      Price - No more than 15-18k
      MPG - at least 20
      No less than 350 HP
    Possible Models
      2004 Cadillac CTS-V
        Specs
          5.7L V8
            400 HP @ 6000 RPM
            395 ft-lbs. @ 4800 RPM
          6-speed Manual
          Curb Weight 3850 lbs.
      2005 Cadillac CTS-V
        Specs
          5.7L V8
            400 HP @ 6000 RPM
            395 ft-lbs. @ 4800 RPM
          6-speed Manual
          Curb Weight 3850 lbs.
      2011 Ford Mustang GT
        Specs
        No 6 speed manual trans option until 2011
          2011 is over budget around $23k
      2003 BMW M5 sedan
        Specs
        Notes
          2000-2003 models within requirements
          didn't make the car from 2004-2005
          2006 version over budget around $20k
      2006 BMW M3 coupe
        Specs
        Notes
          didn't make the car in 2007
          2001-2006 models within requirements
      Chevy Camaro
Mike Lopez
  there is no spoon
Dave Winer
  Jeffrey, that's fantasic. Utter simplicity. ;-)
Jeffrey Kishner
  How to publish a quiz in Fargo 0.80
    Follow the directions in the worknotes to publish an outline
    To publish a quiz so that the answers are hidden (like here), copy the following, paste it into your named outline, and change anything but the rules:
      Quiz
            false
        question 1
          answer 1
        question 2
          answer 2
Dave Winer
  Fargo 0.80 is up. Big new features. ;-)
Richard Griffiths
  @Angelo R - I've been using a Tonido Plug 2 as a home server. OwnCloud looks quite similar, software-wise. Apparently people have successfully installed OwnCloud on their Tonido Plug (it runs on Debian) - and I'm now going to try this.
Dave Winer
  There was a bogus message in the queue for the community feed going back a few days ago, which made it look like it was empty. Finally got a chance to look into it and was able to get rid of it, and all of a sudden a few messages showed up.
Angelo R.
  Has anyone here used OwnCloud?
Ken Smith
  For the right audience members, there is a breath-taking moment in the new Superman movie involving RSS feeds. Sadly the movie itself is so-so at best.
Ken Smith
  Richard, thanks for carrying on so generously with the conversation about transitions and outlining.
    You have a keen sense of the process work that outlining helps a writer accomplish. I think you are right about the need to not let transition words hinder those brainstorming, reorganizing stages.
      You might be interested in a handout I use in a freshman writing class to help students think about developing paragraphs that cohere. You will see right off that it does not attend to the process elements that you have been focusing on, but is mainly about the final organization and polish. Here it is:
        W130 Sentence Linking Handout
          In W130 we practice a writing strategy called linking.
            Well-linked sentences make reading easier, even when the subject matter is challenging.
              These sentences usually have four traits. They link explicitly, link early, add value, and stay on topic.
                Well-linked sentences often employ a repeated word or phrase to help a reader see a clear connection between the two neighboring sentences.
                Instead of repeating, using an obvious synonym will also establish a clear link between two sentences.
                Whether there is a repeated word or phrase or a clear synonym, a good writer links explicitly.
                Because readers look for these links as they try to understand a passages, good writers usually supply the linking word or phrase early in each sentence.
                When the link arrives late in the sentence or not at all, a reader begins to lose the thread of the discussion.
                Having established the link early in a sentence, the writer then uses the remainder of the sentence to add other information.
                In this way, each sentence not only links to the previous one but also adds value and meaning.
                Otherwise, a sentence tends merely to repeat what has already been said.
                Once the clear links are in place and each sentence adds something to the discussion, a paragraph comes into shape. But there is one risk: while sentences may all link, a discussion can still wander unless the writer stays on topic.
                Notice how these links go astray: cars, Pontiacs, Studebakers, made in South Bend, home of Notre Dame, football, crowds cheering, cheerleading skills, gymnastics.
                But these links do not stray: car manufacturing, Pontiacs in Detroit, Studebakers in South Bend, Mercedes in Germany, Porshes in Italy.
                Good writers stay on topic.
                All together, the four linking rules provide a rock-solid set of sentence and paragraph skills. To review:
                Link explicitly.
                Link early.
                Add value.
                Stay on topic.
Theron Kelso
  Been having a lot of meetings during the last few weeks. Been using Fargo to keep notes and share them with others through reader. I just realized that there isn't an easy hook into analytics to see if anyone is reading. I suppose I could use something like bit.ly.
    However,
    It would be nice to have that feature within Fargo.io.
Rodney Mitchell
  That reminds me I was going to post this a couple days ago and forgot.
    That Saturday I was afraid of last week was bad but didn't last long:
      29 degrees cooler the next day, and 35 cooler two days later!
        That's 107 Saturday, 78 Sunday, and 72 Monday.
Betsy Kimak
  Was 100 degrees here in Denver yesterday, broke the record for the earliest day of triple-digit heat. Cooler today so it is a good morning. :)
Richard Griffiths
  @Ken Smith - some thoughts on outlining and writing
    I want to be able to reposition nodes in an outline back and forth easily, without breaking the meaning.
      However,
      Placed at the start of a node, words such as and, but, although, so, because, this, seem to get in the way of my aim to sort and re-sort my ideas.
        In contrast,
      It's fairly easy to move around nodes that don't start with a transition, to make new logical connections between ideas.
        So
      The structure of an outline now does quite a lot of the basic sense-making that transitional or connective phrases would otherwise supply.
        For example, it can
        - 'connect one idea to the next'
        or
        - 'help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next'
        or
        - 'show the relationship within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas'.
        Moreover,
        Unlike a standard piece of prose writing, an outline suggests implicit transitions, based on the different levels.
        The outline structure provides meaning and logic - but only for as long as the piece of writing remains in the form of a dynamic outline.
          As soon as the outline is converted to a static list, some of the meaning is lost - the implicit invitation to alter and edit the order, for example.
    Electronic outlining is effectively a new form of communication. Previously, nearly all outlines would be turned into prose or something similar - or else retained as private notes (e.g. shopping lists). This is no longer necessarily the case. Outlines themselves are fast becoming a respectable form of published media.
      The outline can now be the finished product - except the finished product is most useful when it remains a work in progress, still capable of sorting and editing.
    What is the new role of connective words and phrases?
      With the ability to publish reconfigurable outlines, the role of transitional words and phrases can be reconsidered.
      In many, even most cases, where the outline is to be edited further into a more flowing, continuous piece of writing, in which the outline structure is effectively lost, transitional phrases will probably still need to be added.
        In a few cases, where the outline is published for further collaboration and change, the transitional phrases may not be needed.
        Style remains an important consideration. Where the text is intended to be informal or conversational, but, and, so etc are useful.
        In fact,
      Transitional and connective words and phrases can perhaps be seen as the 'plain text' version of a structured outline.
      Strunk & White give an example from Stevenson's Walking Tours, in which the author uses only three transitional words at the start of his sentences. Actually, none of these is required.
        Writing can generally be improved by removing unnecessary transitions.
          Even R. L. Stevenson's !
            (Arguably)
    How could outlines be used to teach the use of transitional words and phrases?
      Using an outliner may help writers to see and improve the logical structure of their own ideas.
        Ideas can be jotted down quickly and then shifted around to make a better logical progression.
        Where a group of ideas (i.e. sentences of paragraphs) is poorly structured, this can easily be changed.
        An outline template can provide a guide structure for a piece of writing.
      Deliberately outlining without connective or transitional words and phrases may help writers to recognise the ultimate importance of these in helping the reader make sense of the argument.
        It's quite hard to write with no connective words at the start of outline nodes. This practice encourages the writer to consider which words are really necessary.
      Where transitional phrases are missing, students could be given the task of selecting the most appropriate phrases to add.
      For example,
      In this outline I have highlighted transitional phrases with a pair of scissors icon. If these were cut out, would the meaning change?
        In some cases, the meaning surely would change. Or at least, the clarity and flow of the writing would be worse, not better.
        I'd like to be able to switch the transitional phrases on and off in the outline, collapsing and expanding just these nodes. Not sure how to do it. I guess some kind of tagging system could achieve the required effect. The icons themselves are basic tags, but they don't have much functionality.
Adam Curry
  False Positives
    @Rodney
      I had the same experience, like Pavlov's dog I click on the 'bolted' tab, only to find it was digital fata morgana...
Rodney Mitchell
  So many false-positive lightning bolts on the Community Feed. Such excitement followed by such disappointment...
    There can't be that many invisible updates, right? Like a dozen times a day?
Theron Kelso
  Trex tease.
Rodney Mitchell
  Usage notes viewing the community feed in the Reader on an old (2.2) Android phone (which I love to do because I don't want to miss anything):
    I can open the link in Ken Smith's recent note but not Dave Winer's.
    I can't open the third node in Ron Jeffries note (or any node that's not already open).
      I can't open that unlinked url either.
Dave Winer
  This piece by Mathew Ingram would be really good as an outline.
    Mainly because it's constantly evolving and growing.
    So much so that he just added a table of contents.
    Here's the link.
Ken Smith
  I'm considering putting together a little public service outline for South Bend, Indiana, with entries for the food stores where you might want to grab picnic foods from the deli. Here is the basic concept.
Ron K. Jeffries
  new-ish fargo users: in community feed, helpful hint:
    If you see e.g. a star icon by your name, that indicates you have not established your fargo identity.
    http://worknotes.smallpicture.com/may2013/fargo061Identity
      It's well worth your while to set up a profile.
      Highlight any top level node in community feed, and click the "eye" icon. You'll see. ;)
Ken Smith
  I notice that Word wraps some code poison around its lines and paragraphs so that a paragraph pasted from a Word doc or docx into Fargo comes out not as one node but as one node per line of text in the source paragraph--obviously a problem. I have pasted the same piece of text into the body of an email message in Gmail and in Outlook and then immediately copied it back out, without even sending the email, and the code poison is stripped away and the paragraph pastes into Fargo as a single node.
    This reminds me that Sakai, the online course software package that Indiana University and others use, has a text box you paste Word-sourced text into before Sakai wants to have anything to do with it. Presumably it serves the same function.
Andrew Shell
  Fargo UI Suggestion
    Maybe I'm spoiled using Asana (a task management app) but when I'm in text, I press return and expect the text to the left of my cursor to stay where it is, and the text to the right of my cursor to move down to a new sibling node. This would have the added benefit of being able to place my cursur at the start of the text and press return to move the text down to a new node, leaving me with a blank node where I started.
Theron Kelso
  Great first day programming a kanban board using jQuery and SharePoint.
    Yes, SharePoint.
    First time using outlines for user story management, and development.
    Wondering how we could:
      Visualize outlines on a Kanban board;
      Set limits on the number of child nodes and parent can have; and
      Make SharePoint lists more Outline friendly.
Dave Winer
  The community feed is like email. Once something is sent, it's been sent.
Rodney Mitchell
  FYI, it is possible to remove or replace the content of a published node and republish it.
Barbara Krasnoff
  Apologies -- when I hit the Community Feed icon, I didn't realize it was public and can't quite figure out yet how to delete it. Please ignore my former post.
Barbara Krasnoff
  So basically, I can use this in any of my devices (mobile?) and I can tweak it in a variety of ways. And I can add links. krasnoff.wordpress.com (But not linking with different text.) And I can add RSS feeds. But that's about it. it.
Betsy Kimak
  2:27:29PM
    @Ken, ditto, exciting.
    I'm thinking of starting a new blog, and using Fargo.
    Would want to point a domain to it and theme a design.
    The Dropbox public folder issue would be a limiter but I can host pics.
    Wondering about the Fargo roadmap and if I should wait...
Dave Winer
  Fargo 0.77 is up.
Theron Kelso
  Used Fargo.io and Little Outliner to create and deliver a presentation yesterday.
    Creating the presentation was a snap. Here is a link to my steps. I hope at some point the Little Outliner step won't be necessary.
    The presentation itself was a little bland - which was okay. But the presenter was engaging! :)
    Lot's of questions about Fargo. I hope to see more people I know popping in.