Attention.xml export for NetNewsWire

Attention.xml is an open standard to track attention metadata such as what you read and what you would like to learn more about. So far there has been a lot of talk around the idea and what it could mean for synchronization, resource discovery, and social networking. Technorati and Steve Gillmor have talked about the idea but there has been no implementation to show how you could use this open format with existing applications such as web browsers and feed aggregators to make sense out of your daily activity. Until now.

I wrote an AppleScript that exports all of your NetNewsWire subscribed feeds and followed items within the feed to the Attention.xml format. The output can be saved locally or stored on Technorati’s servers if you have created a Technorati account. Right now the script outputs to a new TextEdit window but I would like to add local storage as well as XML-RPC support for Technorati’s AttentionQuery or post your attention data to a weblog. The output is valid XHTML and can be integrated with existing web pages or wrapped in some extra tags for a stand-alone web page.

This AppleScript is only third AppleScript I have ever written, so modifications and suggestions are most welcome. You are welcome to reuse the code with attribution and please share alike. I use NetNewsWire but you could also apply a lot of the same code to other aggregators with an AppleScript library. The NetNewsWire library does not seem to expose a subscription’s export setting so every feed in NetNewsWire will be exported even if you have setup feeds for exclusion from NetNewsWire export.

Grab the tarball and extract. Inside the tarball is a standalone application as well as the script. If you would like to use the script you need to place it in your user directory under Application Support > NetNewsWire > Scripts and restart NetNewsWire before you can choose the script from the NetNewsWire AppleScript menu.

Another AppleScript I spent five minutes writing was a runner-up in the 2004 Technorati Developer’s Contest.

Technorati now supports keyword watchlists

Technorati now allows users to subscribe to a keyword search through a watchlist delivered in RSS format. You could of course do the same thing through the Technorati API through a SearchQuery and setting your format parameter to rss, but this method is a lot easier and finally fills a big hole for Technorati persistent search.

Technorati also supports the use of boolean operators such as “AND” and “OR” and “NOT.” Note the operators must be in all capital letters for Technorati’s query analyzer to parse correctly.

Six Apart to buy Live Journal

Om Malik reports Six Apart will acquire Live Journal and the deal should close by the end of the month. WOW. Om has been correct in every scoop I have seen, so I consider this news very accurate.

Update: It’s official. From Mena: “While the code bases will remain separate (since LiveJournal is of course remaining Open Source), we will have unification through APIs, syndication formats and shared functionality (i.e. TrackBack support).”

Big news! I wonder if all the LiveJournal employees will move to San Francisco, but some personnel will inevitably be lost. When a company is trying to grow as fast as Six Apart is, sometimes acquisitions are as much about the personnel acquired as the property. Managing the code base of TypePad, Movable Type, and Live Journal will not be easy. I assume this acquisition will slow the development of Movable Type long-term due to limited resources and a large user base to retain and upsell.

Lawrence Lessig on The Connection radio show

Lawrence Lessig was a guest on this morning’s The Connection radio show on WBUR Boston and NPR. He talked about the history of copyright law, Creative Commons, and how technology is changing copyright behavior. You can listed to the entire show in Real Audio.

A good introduction to the copyright law and how Creative Commons is trying to help publishers overcome this complex world of fair use and remix. Callers addressed some of the key issues of the Creative Commons such as rights to a commercially published collaborative work, and what online publishing means for traditional media publishers.

Fighting the white ninja

When I was eight years-old I had a recurring dream in which I was chased by a ninja but had no voice to scream for help. It baffled me that no one else could see a ninja in white chasing me and occasionally throwing his ninja stars by my ear. The dreams continued for about two weeks, until I realized no one was going to stop this ninja except for me. I turned, I fought and won, and the world took notice.

As I think about resolutions for things I would like to change about myself and my life in the new year I am reminded of the white ninja. I hope to be wise enough to identify the things that are chasing me in life and through that clarity take positive action. Too many people run away from their problems screaming for someone else to take care of it for them. I seek clarity, determination, and the vision to act.

Personalized search meets the job market

I am meeting more and more people dissatisfied with their jobs. The top gripe is not job function, but management environment. Are you encouraged to learn new things? Attend conferences? Do you feel like you make a measurable difference?

All interesting things to think about heading in to 2005 from the perspective of the employee as well as the employer. Companies are too busy to post articulate job listings and interview candidates. Most of the good job candidates are passive seekers since they cannot send an explicit signal that might get them fired or make life uncomfortable in their current job.

So I am trying to think off better solutions. I like to connect people with solutions and there are good companies looking for people and good people looking for companies. I am thinking about collecting and highlighting geek job openings in the Bay Area from companies I think are cool. I could broadcast to a new jobs weblog or narrowcast to people I think might be interested in the company and its job opening. I am not interested in doing this for referral fees, it’s just good karma.

Sound interesting?

If you are hiring for technical or product management positions in the San Francisco Bay area contact me with a brief description of what need you are trying to fill, the level of the position, and a contact person.

If you are looking for a position I will try to point you in the right direction. Let me know what are the essential elements of your ideal job function and work environment and I might be able to direct you towards a possible match.