As we all know, rich desktop editors, such as those provided in Microsoft Office, offer a range of end-user programming options, such as Visual Basic macros. These can be used to automate repetitive clerical tasks, such as a mail merge, or to add a … [Continue reading] about OOXML, Macros and Security
The Carolino Effect
"There is it some game in this wood?" Pedro Carolino wanted to write and publish an Portuguese/English phrase book. "Another time there was plenty some black beasts and thin game, but the poachers have killed almost all." But one small … [Continue reading] about The Carolino Effect
The Art of Being Mugged
I will never forget that brisk October evening in 1996. I had arrived home from work, and followed the standard routine — drop off the backpack, boot up the PC, put the keys and wallet on the desk, sort through the mail, turn on the TV, etc. But … [Continue reading] about The Art of Being Mugged
Legacy Inflation
When I was a child I stumbled upon the dark secret that all the adults were hiding. A simple mathematical calculation revealed their conspiracy. I was 10 years old, and my mother was 30. So she was 3x my age. I observed that in 10-years time I … [Continue reading] about Legacy Inflation
Interoperability the ELIZA way
Back in the days before the Web, before GUI's, before PC's, before many of you were even born there was ELIZA. The brainchild of Joseph Weizenbaum, ELIZA was a 1966 computer program that seemed to understand. I'm sure we've all played with ELIZA … [Continue reading] about Interoperability the ELIZA way