It is the beginning of a new year. This is the year of the Ox, according to the Chinese zodiac and I was born in the year of the Ox. So I'm Person of Year.
I could not update my weblog often on last year. And I could not update any plugin. I'm sorry for people who were expecting plug-in to be updated.
As prescribed in the previous weblog, I'm obsessively-devoted to play a drums. So, I'll be getting deeper and deeper with the band in this year. It means that I may not expect a big evolution about my plugin project.

However, I will make the new web site for my newest Hammond organ jazz band. I may be updating ( or creating new ) photo viewer plugin on this occasion. Because I can't get motivated if I have no purpose.
Leaving aside that, I want to publish this English-based weblog month by month this year. Will you please wait and see how things go ?

My best regards this year !

Long time no see.
This site and I'm surviving somehow tentative. However working status has been still a little uncomfortable since last year. Also I'm a little uncomfortable for that reason.
In another side, I really get into a drumming lately, because I purchased the Roland V-Drums. And this summer, I purchased the Gretsch drum set I was dreaming.
Despite this, I have not been playing the drum for these two months, because I have no private time. For that reason, I can not update not only web-site but also my plug-in. ( But this is not to say that I gave up the plug-in development project )

Today, I used the RapidWearver after a long interval. Also I updated it to version 4.1.3. And I checked the SimpleViewer plug-in on the RW4.1.3. because I received a comment which reported that the SimpleView plug-in is not running under RW4.
I can use the SimpleViewer plug-in without any problem.
But I need to update plug-ins... ( also include AutoViewer and TiltViewer )

tag : drums , rapidweaver , simpleviewer , autoviewer , tiltviewer

Today, the installation work of the Leopard has been almost completed.
However I have a small problem on the .Mac mail system.
Also I have version problem on the GIMP and the LilyPond. But it seems that time will be solved to these problems.
Of course, the Xcode and the RapidWeaver v3.6.5 has been already installed. And today the remaking of my Web site ( this Web site ) had been completed. Therefore, I could publish this article. ( However I have to remake more than 2 Web sites I'm managing... )

After installing the Leopard and the RapidWeaver v3.6.5, I checked the PostcardViewer plug-in first because some users reported to me that the PostcardViewer plug-in did not work correctly under this environment.
However the PostcardViewer plug-in was working on my environment without any problems.
To the user who uses the PostcardViewer plug-in, will you report to me how the PostcardViewer plug-in is working on your Leopard and RapidWeaver v3.6.5 ?

tag : postcardviewer , leopard , rapidweaver

Today I purchased the Mac OS X Leopard and the iLife '08 at the Apple Store Ginza.
It was Saturday today, but the Apple Store is be crowded with a lot of people who make window-shopping (Also a lot of people was purchasing the Macs and iPods). I could not avoid a sense of explosion in popularity of the Apple in Japan.
Apropos, about installing the Mac OS X to my iMacG5.
I have a lot of movie files and sound files in my hard disk. For that matter, the most of the movie files are DV and the most of sound files are AIFF. Yes, almost files that should be backed up are very huge. This means it takes long time to the backup these files. This is not so interesting task for everyone.
Of course I plan to install the Mac OS X Leopard by clean install because it stands to reason that clean install is best way.
I will make backup copy while sleeping tonight. I hope it to be finished by tomorrow morning.

tag : leopard

I'm using still the Mac OS X Tiger. Upgrading the operating system is difficult because some application may not work for compatibility problem.
For example, I'm using a video capture unit I-O DATA GV-1394TV/M for timer programmed recording. This video capture unit works with a special software which provide programed recording function. This special software wakes up the iMac from sleep mode automatically on programed time, then capture unit will be recording programed TV show. Afterwards, this software does the iMac in the sleep mode. It's working very fine on the Tiger. I feel it's very useful video recording system.
So I was afraid it would not be worked on the Leopard because it seems that it's using critical API (depends on the version of the operation system) for the processing that wakes up from sleep mode.
Also I'm managing 3 web site by the RapidWeaver ( I'm using still RapidWeaver v.3.5.1 ). If I would upgrade the Mac OS X Leopard, I have to upgrade RapidWeaver too. In this case, I'm afraid about compatibility of the RapidWeaver because each web site is not so easy.
But I received decisive comment in the other day from Mr. Lieven as shown in follows.

Mr. Lieven wrote :
the postcard viewer plugin for rapidweaver doesn't work any more on the latest rapidweaver 3.6.5. when you touch a setting in postcardviewer, the thumbs get oversized and there is no way to fix it. people on leopard have to upgrade to RW3.6.5, they cannot use the current postcard viewer plugin any more.

I will go out to Apple Store in Ginza to buy the Leopard and iLife '08 at the end of this week.
Please advise to me for information about compatibility information of RapidWeaver from guru of the Leopard !!

tag : leopard

A happy new year !
On yesterday, I went on the annual seven lucky gods trip ( SICHI-FUKUJIN MEGURI ).
We have a lot of seven lucky gods in Japan. This year, we selected the Shitaya area seven lucky gods. The Shitaya area is one of the famous downtown area in Tokyo. Also with Mr. Mukashiya Imamatsu who is great Raugo master. It was beautifull and mind day yeasterday. It was perfect weather for SICHI-FUKUJIN MEGURI.
After visited seven lucky gods, also we enjoyed a annual new year's party in Ueno.
However I felt stomach discomfort because I had new year's party 3 times in this week. Yes, too much alcohol...

The year-end and New Year holidays was gone. Today kicks off another year of work.
I want to do work more sensibly more than last year. And I want to make a private time for playing music and developing plug-ins.
I look forward to continuing progress in this year.

P.S.
I added new photo album of the seven lucky gods '08. Enjoy !

tag : seven lucky gods , rakugo

One of the purpose of this site is to improve my English skill as written on top page, so I have to update this blog more often. At first, my blog was originally planned to publish for at least every month. and also the plug-in project was scheduled to restart from end of this July. However, an unexpected situation - death march - frustrated all plans.

My big project that was started from last autumn has been finished on end of July as reported in blog. Coincidentally another project that subordinate managed has been in death march.
I had to do a project management for my subordinate involuntarily. It was not so easy job because I had no idea about his project. Also I had to learn from specification about his project. This project was in the on-site stage, so I had to work on the customer site. I secured an apartment for this job. I secured an apartment for this job. However I had no chance to internet connection, so I could not update my blog. Also I had no time to develop the plug-in project, I was forced to stop this personal project.

On last week, we could surmount a lot of problems. The "death march" was gone!
However I found out other problem when I struggle back to my office on last weekend. My own workload had been increased, while I was fighting the "death march"! Needless to say, RapidWeaver and Mac OS X had been increased too!

tag : work

I replaced the outdated cellular phone lately. Actually I wanted to wait for iPhone until released in Japan, but my cellular phone was really acting up. Also I have to change the carrier if I use iPhone. It comes from the particular kind of Japanese cellular phone market I bloged before.

However, I could buy really cool cellular phone which was designed by Kashiwa Sato who is famous Japanese graphic designer. Needless to say, I set the standby screen to the Mac OS X style.

I'm really disappointed but the Bluetooth is not installed (the cellular phone equipped with bluetooth doesn't exist in fact in Japan).
I was able to synchronize the data of iCal with the scheduler of the cellular phone by USB interface(Also it's by wired...). However, I don't think that I positively use this function(It's should be wireless).

By the way this cellular phone include mobile web browser (which was called i-mode on my carrier). My old cellular phone had same function but it only supported Shift-Jis encoding(because it's really old one). Now my new cellular phone supports UTF-8 encoding. This means I can use the bulletin board system that created by the RapidWeaver BBS on cellular phone. It's really convenience.
I'm into cellular phone situation of foreign country. I'd appreciate, if you make a comment about the cellular phone situation of your country.

Recent history about my project ...

tag : cellular phone

I tried resetting HP48S based on opinions from Mr.Rysgaard via comment. On the contrary, I hadn't known the reset switch exists from the very beginning.
So I had to find the reset switch out. Also I used web search-engine, finally I got information about the reset switch. The reset switch was located at inside of a top-right rubber feet. I felt it was very special location.
Be that as it may. I pushed it few seconds several times. But nothing improved...
I seem that an on-board battery for backing up memory had been dead or something like that, because I had not turned it on over 5 years.
...With such thoughts running through my mind, I operated a Mac OS X calculator without any purpose. Then I found out interesting function of the Mac OS X calculator.
I clicked the key-pad in the following order.
Also I was thought that this key order will be parsed as the following formula. (This is normal calculator) But the Mac OS X calculator displayed 31. This means that the Mac OS X calculator performs mathematical calculations.
I felt it was interesting, so I tested the same method with the Windows calculator. Then it became an interesting result.
I report as follows.

• Windows calculator (normal mode)
  (5 * 2 + 7) * 3 = 51
• Windows calculator (scientific mode)
  5 * 2 + 7 * 3 = 31
  
  
• Mac OS X calculator (normal mode)
  5 * 2 + 7 * 3 = 31
• Mac OS X calculator (scientific mode)
  5 * 2 + 7 * 3 = 31
• Mac OS X calculator (programmer mode)
  5 * 2 + 7 * 3 = 31

The calculation result is depending on the mode with the Windows calculator! while on the other hand, my Mac OS X calculator is so smart!
During testing like this, I found out more big feature is implemented on Mac OS X calculator. The Mac OS X calculator had been supporting RPN! (PRN menu had been existing!)
I didn't realize that... What should I do?
(to be continued)

tag : calculator

I used to use a calculator for my job. But now, almost calculations are computed by Excel or special software, so I didn't use a calculator for a long time. My job is FA (Factory automation) and LA(Laboratory automation), so I used to use so-called scientific calculator.
Today I was cleaning out my desk in my office, I found the calculator shown in an upper left icon of this topic which I was using before. (click an icon to see a larger image.)
This is the calculator which is HP48S of Hewlett-Packard Co. I remember the price was over 30,000 yen. It was expensive for me when I bought it. Despite this, my colleagues said "the useless calculator", because this calculator does not have a "=" key. It has a "Enter" key instead of a "=" key.
The reason is that my calculator is based on RPN input method. However I love RPN input method.

For person who doesn't know the RPN...
Anyway above-mentioned explanation tells you how I strongly love to RPN.

I decided reuse the RPN calculator for the first time in many years. Of course, my calculator batteries are dead, so I changed new batteries. Then I powered-on my PRN calculator!
But... nothing happened... Is my calculator dead? Any electric company is not manufacturing the RPN calculator today!
I searched out the customer service of the Hewlett-Packard Japan immediately, but my calculator was already out of support in Japan. And Hewlett-Packard Japan announced on this web-site that the customer support relegated to another oversea company (Broadwin). So I have to contact the Broadwin for repairing my RPN calculator. What should I do?
(to be continued)

tag : calculator

Yesterday, I visited cherry-blossom viewing with my wife according to annual custom. Cherry trees fully blossomed on this weekend, so today is best day for viewing. It was warm in this week, but it was a little cold and gloomy yesterday. Anyway we enjoyed beautiful cherry-blossoms.
This year we enjoyed not only cherry-blossoms but also the special Japan style cafe that is named RAFU. This cafe is not only a cafe but also a gallery, and it's parallel establishment with Japanese green tee shop. So we enjoyed a green powdered tea that called Matcha. Also it's really Japanese taste.
As a matter of course I made a photo album. Please enjoy spring in Japan.

For something completely different,
I used the NeoOffice to make a budget schedule sheet for my wife after a long interval today. The version of the NeoOffice I used was v1.1. Before starting operation, I checked newest version of the NeoOffice with a sudden thought. Then, I found the NeoOffice v2.1 has been released ! I went straight to downloading it. The user interface of the new NeoOffice is like a real Cocoa application! and it supports Office 2007 Word documents and Excel macros!
Great job!!!

tag : cherry-blossom viewing

I 'm sorry for I'm always writing down same log recently... But, my work is really hectic lately !
Now I'm making endurance test system for some kind of transmission. I have to complete it until middle of March. This system is combination of PLC and PCs. Also not so easy.
After that, I'm scheduled to develop another system which controls organic semiconductor to make LEDs. It's generically called MOCVD system.
This system is not only more complex than the current development system, but also it's required high reliability and safety because the MOCVD system should control toxic gasses. I have to complete it until end of May. End of May ? It's really murderous schedule without relation to toxic gasses !
In the meantime however, I'm interested in the development of the MOCVD system. It will become somewhat easy because my project will be only this since middle of March basically. I wonder if I have time to develop the plug-in... Otherwise, the awaited knowledge about the Cocoa and Plug-in goes to waste.

By the way, loghound released great RapidBlog plug-in. It seems working with PHP. Unfortunately, I can not use the RapidBlog because my rental host does not support PHP. However the RapidBlog is great plug-in anyway.
When I visited sample site of the RapidBlog, I found that the RapidBlog overcomes a hurdle which I could not overcome.
I wonder if it might be possible for him to advise me how to overcome my technical hurdle of the RapidWeaver BBS plug-in. If it's possible, it will be breakthrough for my RapidWeaver BBS.
However everything is after the work quiets down.

tag : rapidweaver bbs

A happy new year !
Thanks to you, my site also came the first anniversary.
My best regards in the future.
BTW, Today I made a small trip the seven lucky gods with great Rakugo performer Mukashiya Imamatsu. This tour is done every year and this year we made a trip around in seven lucky gods of of Kawagoe city. It was good weather for a walk. I make a photo album of this tour as usual.

tag : seven lucky gods

Campaign ads which is "Mac and PC" are broadcast on TV and Apple's website of Japan lately. Also these campaign ads had been translated to Japanese.
I had watched the original campaign ads of an English version on the Apple's website of USA some time ago.
However these campaign ads was difficult for me to understand. It's really difficult to understand this kind of humorous cynicism.
At this time, Japanese version of the campaign ads are only three kinds.
I think each advertisement to be translated very well. I'm looking forward to translating to Japanese other stuff.

BTW I'm writing this topic in my office now also serves as a coffee break because my schedule of main job is really really hard now.
I was developing v1 of SimpleViewer plugin by the end of November. However, it remains interrupting.
At this rate, I'm afraid to forget where does this end.

tag : simpleviewer

I'm working to make the PostcardViewer plugin support the Blocks now. (The Overlay mode of current version doesn't work in Blocks) Also it's including cool new feature too.
Therefore, I'm exchanging about it with Isaiah who is a developer of the Blocks via mail several times.
I exchange mail with an overseas engineer on business occasionally. However, it's the first time in such a personal case. It's very happy to exchange not only a technical topic but also personal topics.

Almost Japanese people make "Japanese only" website. (Of course, I'm managing "Japanese only" websites like other people) Inevitably, almost people who access a Japanese website are Japanese.
However, English is a de-facto international language in internet. I feel internet is really connected to international as I made this English based website after all. And it's really exciting to make a plugin with collaboration with overseas people.

Also I thank Felix (the web creator who allowed the bundle of his cool Flash application), Charlie (the theme developer who cooperated for testing under his theme) and the RealMac forum people for positive cooperation !

tag : postcardviewer

In my case, there are a lot of people who develop excellent software in the person who likes music or who plays music.
I heard Alan Kay who is a great software developer whom I respect is a Jazz player.
Actually, I seem the development of software looks like music.

• It is not a physical object.
• It follow the sort of mathematical theory.
• It can be described in a some kind of document.
• It changes as the seconds tick away.
• It is important about user experience.
• It needs some tension occasionally.
• It exists depending on creator's sense.
• It requires a some kind of skill and training.
• etc...

I'm not only a "Sunday Xcode programmer" but also a musician.
I love not only the iMacG5 but also music !
I had stopped the amateur rock band live performance since university student. However, I restarted the amateur rock band after an interval of ?? years in the wake of alumni association.

I make a belated attempt to add a photo album of the "Debut live on 17th Sep. 2006" of my amateur rock band to my band website, because it was so busy with development and announcement of my RapidWeaver plugins. Of course, it's made by my new PostcardViewer plugin !

P.S.
BTW, my band website includes the discussion board which made by alpha version of the RapidWeaverBBS. Unfortunately, this discussion board only allows Japanese language because we had a lot of spam from foreign countries. (This function is depending on a parameter of the RapidWeaverBBS.)

tag : band

From June through July is the rainy season that called (TSUYU) in Japan.

I enjoyed small trip that enjoyed the rainy season of Tokyo with my wife because I had taken the vacation by chance today.
I took the TODEN ARAKAWA LINE which is one and only one of the tram in Tokyo. Also it was a emotional trip.
I made slide show by RapidWeaver 3.5. Please enjoy it if it is interested in this.

tag : photo

I'm using a "SONY NUDE EX" as an earphone for iPod. It's called "plug type" or "sound isolating earphones".
It's not so expensive model, but the sound is so good for me compared with other models which include more expensive.
The other day, I lost one of the ear gasket so I went to an electric shop near my home to buy the spare ear gasket.
Unfortunately the electric shop did not stock the genuine spare parts and there was only a product of the other companies.
Clerk told me "You can use it for your earphone, because size of gasket is completely same." So I bought it reluctantly.
The spare ear gaskets were fitted with my earphone without any trouble but the sound itself was completely different !
It was definitely poor sound which reduced bass sound and overemphasis high pitched sound.
I had used it in patience for days, but I found the genuine spare ear gaskets at another electric shop today. I bought it immediately, then I could get back original sound.
I was surprised that sound is completely different due to the ear gaskets !
The engineer who design the "SONY NUDE EX" has total sound design technic include ear gasket. Excellent !

BTW, the spare ear gaskets package included 3 pair that are 1 pair of large size, 1 pair of middle size and 1 pair of small size.
I can allow this combinations for complete package with earphones. But I can not allow this combinations for spare package because everyone use only one size. Why do not they sell it by one size by 3 sets ?

It's enough on one size even if it is a very excellent design. They made me the ear gaskets millionaire.

tag : ipod

I bought a Mighty Mouse when I bought a iMacG5 ALS on last October.
It's my favorite mouse because the operability of the Scroll Ball and the right button are pretty good for me. (and also I love design itself)
But, the "up-scroll" died suddenly on last week end. I had this kind of problem several times. In that time, I cleaned the Scroll Ball according to the instruction Apple computer published.
In this time, I cleaned the Scroll Ball several times, but nothing improved.
I searched on the web for this kind of problem and I found out that there are many users who share same problem. (include Apple Store's reviews)
I thought it was only the way that I buy new one. That's one point, but that being a case, I decided to repair it myself. I have nothing to lose. Finally ... The repair was not so difficult for me in terms of results. Also the Scroll Ball is working very fine again !
How about your Mighty Mouse's health?

I described a instruction of the surgery for the Mighty Mouse on my album page.
You may refer if you are interested in it. However, please remember that do it at your own risk. Also I cannot support it, and you cannot get repair service from Apple computer after you repair it yourself.

tag : mac os x

It's very short season to enjoy cherry blossoms. It's almost 1 week even if it's long. Now the cherry has been changed to only green leaf. No one enjoys it usually.
But Imamatsu-shisho who is great master of RAKUGO performer invited me to enjoying green cherry viewing at Ueno. Of course it's a kind of RAKUGO performer's joke mind. (Also the cherry blossoms had scattered)
However, Imamatsu-shisho had another plan that is to see Downtown Museum near here.
The lifestyle of the downtown in Tokyo from 1920's to 1940's are being displayed in Downtown Museum.
The scene of the RAKUGO story is laid at this generation. So Imamatsu-shisho has lots of knowledge about this. We had special explanation of master during seeing in Museum. Of cause, it was very interesting.
Afterwards, we enjoyed ourselves drinking the beer and Japanese sake under the green cherry tree. Needless to say that there were no party like us.
I made slide show of Downtown Museum by RapidWeaver. Please see it if you interested in old Japanese life style.

tag : cherry-blossom viewing

There are some parks where cherry blossoms are beautiful near my house. I strolled through the my town to enjoy the cherry blossoms viewing with my wife.
The weather was really nice for enjoying cherry blossoms and we certainly enjoyed spring.
I made slide show of Cherry blossoms 2006 by RapidWeaver.

tag : cherry-blossom viewing

I went to the RAKUGO today.
The RAKUGO is one of the traditional entertainment of Japan. It's too hard to explain the RAKUGO with my English language skill. So more information please refer wikipedia (^^;

It was a solo performance association of Mukashiya Imamatsu shisho. He is a my friend who I occasionally enjoy alcohol in Shinjuku with.
It was exactly great what I was hoping for.

1. RAKUGO is in the Kanji character.
   
2. Mukashiya Imamatsu is in the Kanji character.
   
3. Shisho is in the Kanji character that means great master of RAKUGO performer.
   

tag : rakugo

I purchased the RapidWeaver for building a class reunion site of my junior high school in October of last year (2005).

I have only poor knowledge about Web technology because my mainly job is a system development for FA (factory automation) and LA (laboratory automation). So The RapidWeaver is indispensable software for me. ( And also it's so beautiful & simply elegant software ! )
Fortunately, the class reunion site has been builded and released at the end of last November. However, this would not have been accomplished without The RapidWeaver.

... The next project is to build my personal Web site ...
BTW, I was helped on the RapidWeaver support forum (this is very convenient Web site for RapidWeaver user !) while constructing the above-mentioned site. undoubtedly this Web site is based on English.

From such a reason, the specification that I had decided was a reckless plan of making an English based Web site ! ( I'm pure Japanese )

tag : rapidweaver