January 29, 2006

On Problematic Mangled Lists

Dare Obasanjo aka Carnage4Life - OPML-o-mater: An OPML-based Recommendation Engine

[NOTE: Hey Dare, [see comment below. Thanks!]
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OPML... otherwise known as the supposed outline format that should not be named. And no, I don't mean "shall not".

"Shall not", as in Harry Potter's arch enemy, Voldemort, or "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named" (I think that's correct.. or is it "Must-Not-Be-Named"? It's been a couple of years, but one or both of these sounds right.. I hope!

To all HP fans:

If I'm wrong, and you're offended. Ummm... Get a lif... err... I mean, I'm sorry? I mean sorry!! Yes, Yes, Come to think of it, so very, very sorry!!! :D Hermione, please don't hurt me :D

I'm gonna tip-toe away from this one while I still can...

Actually, maybe I Aughtttaaa RUN!!! YES, RUNNNNNINNNG WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! ;) :D

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Well then... :) Back to the purpose of this post:
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The OPML-o-mater delivers a personalized list of RSS feeds in an xml format called OPML.

The "OPML-o-mater"?

Oh...

Dear....

GOD!!!!

Do I laugh? cry? Or how about I just stick my finger down my throat and gag this awful feeling out of my stomach and replace this horrible taste in my mouth? Even the taste of... uhhh... nevermind... While the tast of 'OPML' *IS* horrible, I have a weak stomach... So I'm just gonna let you feel in any missing details as you feel necessary...

You're welcome. It's np. ;)

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Next Item Up For Bid!!!
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xml format called OPML

xml format? xml format??! XML FORMAT???!!!!????!!!!!

R U Jokin'???!!!

If footnote one from my last post, and the refering content's subject matter is, in mine AND *MANY* others opinion, not XML -- others, BTW who, unlike me, choose to play things politically smart and wisely, as they should, avoid making public there own feelings on the matter. With that said, there are things I purposely remain 'stupid' about... This is one of them.

Anyway, if THAT'S *NOT* XML, then this horrid creature from a random Shift_JIS text generation experiment gone HORRIBLY wrong to begin with, to then be served up as UTF-8 (or utf-8... but if it starts as Shift_JIS, I don't thing the case of the tagged encoding really matters as this point. Either way, the result is FUBAR!) is MOST CERTAINLY not!

OPML files can be imported by any competent RSS Reader/Aggregator.

Competent RSS Reader/Aggregator? Does anyone else look at that and state, "Ummm... how about just a valid XML parser? Shouldn't THAT coupled with an easily accessible and understandible specification be all that is required?

NOTE TO ALL XML DEVELOPERS OUT THERE: There are now THREE core areas you *MUST* have apparently if you hope to be grouped with the "any competent RSS Reader/Aggregator":

- a compliant XML-parser
- the ability to write an aggregator against a well known and easily acessible spec
- the "Luck of the Irish"!

because working with the various flavors, interpretations, etc... of what is a horrid supposed XML file format in OPML...?

You're gonna need it!

In fact, you're gonna need MUCH MORE than JUST the Luck of the Irish! But lets start there and take things one step at a time before setting any loftier goals. If you knew the size of the mountain you were getting ready to clime, you wouldn't ;)

You want the feeds from the OPML-o-mater because they're known quality feeds --

: according to?

at least they were when we entered them.

You're opinion then?

Excellent! Quick Question: I'm interested in learning more about R5RS. Which feed would you recommend to be the most knowledgable, at least "when you entered them in", of course?

Can you describe the determing factors you used in deciding which feed would best suit the needs of those of us interested in accessing content deemed as valuable to the subject of R5RS, especially in regards to implemtations that held to ideals of *STRICT* core compliance first, to then push things to the next level in regards to extending the libary of modules made available?

Or maybe -- and here's a wild thought -- but maybe those of use who actually have such interest, and care enough to know what R5RS is *BEFORE* Googling for it -- wouldn't *WE* be the more qualified of folks to determine such content to other folks with similar interests?

Even if you already have all the feeds you need, it might be worth a look to discover if we've one or two you didn't know about.

Or maybe -- and here's Yet ANOTHER WILD THOUGHT! -- maybe I could just create a custom Technorati feed using the keywords or links I have interest in for each feed, and, while it relies heavily on the number of links point at a resource, or entries mentioning a topic or keyword, to determine value, while --

--- hmmm... althougth, I'll admit -- we don't gain the *LUXURY* of the feeds being *HUMAN FILTERED* and as such deemed *GOOD*! (at least they were when you put em' in there, right?)

Well, then thats GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!

...err wait, no its not.

In reality, whats more important to me is that the Technoratis, and the PubSub's and the syndic8's (and theres LOTS more) all have REALLY SMART FOLKS, probably just like you, but who have written some REALLY GOOD, *PROVEN* software apps, and the content they serve doesn't come with a

"It was a good feed when we put it there.. we're not sure what happened???!!! These things happen, though... Seemingly good feeds, end up turning to a life of HEINOUS irresponsibilities!"

[MOMENT.BRIEF: I think I need a tissue... I get all choked up when I think about such ENORMOUS potential that has been lost!]

...errr, wait. No I don't.

BbzzzzzzzzzzT.NEXT!

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[Comment to Dare: This isn't slamming you or the subject matter of your post, or even, although it probably comes across a bit this way, Bob Rebholz, and instead OPML in general, and the notion that Bob suggests that "finding and filtering desirable content for the rest of us" is a good thing. In fact, this has given me a sudden and immediatte desire to spend a few hours this evening finishing something that will fulfill what it is you want to accomplish with Bandit. In fact, if you ping Uche (I'll ping him quickly now to let him know I made this post) he should be able to at very least help in getting some of your own creative juices flowing a bit in regards to how one of the main projects we have been working on could fit quite nicely into what you're taking about...]