This usually results in me pulling out OmniGraffle or Visio and fighting with GUI-based design tools for presentation that really just represents fairly simple relationships, but I think I've found an answer.

yUML is a UML digramming tool that uses a simple, text-base DSL to describe your diagrammes, rather than fighting with mice and grids to get everything to fit together nicely.

For example, the below diagramme is generated with this very simple code:

[User]-(Login)
[User]-(Logout) 
(Login)<(Reminder) 
(Login)>(Captcha)

If you want a simple, command line script to generate these images, check out the yUML Me Gem (although you will have to install Gemcutter first).

yUML can also make class and activity diagrammes, so check it out today.

Being web-based, getting transaction feeds directly from banks, having multi-currency support, simple expense claims, fixed-asset register and most importantly, an API for developers; Xero is highly integrated and, most importantly (and rarely), is actually fun to use.

For the last week or so I have been hacking away at the Ruby xero_gateway library project started by Tim Connor and have been having quite a lot of fun. It's great to take a break from customer-facing software for a while and developing code that will be used by other developers.

If you want to check out Xero, head on over to their main site or their developer's site.

Now, shameless plug, if you are an SME and looking to get some extra efficiency by integrating your current business processes/software with your accounting package, give me a shout and I'm sure to be able to help you get more (time/information/money) from less.

Thankfully, VBA in Word can utilise any of the built-in Windows libraries and therefore the above can be easily accomplished using the MSXML2 library.

Some sample code for posting data to a HTTP server in VBA:

Private Sub PostData()

  Set http = CreateObject("MSXML2.ServerXMLHTTP")
  http.Open "POST", "http://mycompany.com/url/path", False
  http.setRequestHeader "Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
  http.Send "field1=a&field2=b"

  MsgBox http.responseText

End Sub

QuickBooks Premier and above can be installed on Windows Terminal Services.

If ugprading from another QuickBooks version (e.g. Plus), then you get 5 x user licenses (current upgrade price is around AUD$845.00).

If buying new, only 3 of the licenses are enabled and the cost is about AUD$1,449.00

Hope this helps out someone else in the future.

Starting at $69 per month (plus $189 for the 8GB or $309 for the 16GB iPhone), you get just 250MB of monthly data. To get 1GB of monthly data, you need to spring for the $169 per month plan which, on the plus side, gets you a 16GB iPhone for free.

Considering Vodafone were the first Australian carrier to offer a 5GB modem plan for just $39 per month, this is very disappointing.

Oh well, seems like we only have Telstra's plans left to see. At least Telstra have committed to free wireless at all their hotspots (most McDonalds and Starbucks locations).

So, come on over and check out the new, bigger, better and faster AllMyFunds website and see how it is never too early to ensure you can live a comfortable retirement or prevent the Greedy Pig from eating up your superannuation.

AFK combined great food, a relaxed atmosphere and gaming PCs to create a place where geeks could be themselves located in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

This has been a regular place where me and many of my friends would spend our time on a regular basis and I'm very sad to see it go.

Unfortunately, cashflow issues have affected this fledgling (less than 12 months old) business. Whilst the café appeared to be increasing it's numbers week-by-week, it still didn't get to the point to get above it's 'cash burn' rate.

I wish Jason & Adell every happiness in the future. I hope we will all keep in touch.

Their media release can be read below:

It is my sad duty to inform you that, as of 3pm today, afk cafe (an internet cafe in Woolloongabba, Brisbane) is closed for good. For those of you who had organised events here (especially the Blood Bowl League and the Board Game group) or just like to hang out here, we're very sorry. It was a combination of financial and workload pressure that forced this closure, and while it may seem sudden it has been an option for a while. It is not a decision that has been made lightly.

All those involved with the running of afk wish to extend a very grateful thank you to everyone who has offered their help and support while we've been open. Special thanks are due to our members and regulars, without whom we could not have made it this far.

The money we have raised for Child's Play will still go towards gaming equipment for the Mater Children's Hospital, and we will let you know the results of that effort when it's wrapped up.

We will be keeping the Livejournal community and Facebook group open for the next week or two for those who want to comment on or discuss the closure.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4988314698
http://community.livejournal.com/afk_cafe/

1. Click the 'Office Button' (top-left corner of the window) then 'Print'
2. Click 'Options' (bottom-left corner of the print window)
3. Choose the 'Display' section
4. Untick 'Print document properties'
5. Click OK to all the windows and you're done

To install this plugin in Ruby on Rails, just type the following from your application's root directory:

script/plugin install _
https://svn01.allmyfunds.com.au/svn/public/plugins/phonetic_alphabet

To use, see this except from the README file:

You can get the phonetic equivalent of a single character with PhoneticAlphabet[single_character]

or

You can convert a string to it's phonetic equivalent using the String#to_phonetic overridden method.

  Example:

    puts "hello world".to_phonetic

  Outputs:

    hotel echo lima lima oscar SPACE whiskey oscar romeo lima delta

You can also pass in a different separator:

  Example:

    puts "hello world".to_phonetic("-")

  Outputs:

    hotel-echo-lima-lima-oscar-SPACE-whiskey-oscar-romeo-lima-delta

MEDIA RELEASE

SPECIALIST financial planning company All My Funds is applying the discount broker model to Australia’s trillion dollar superannuation industry.

The Queensland-based All My Funds will target the 70 per cent of workers in the 30-45 age groups who are now using retail funds instead of industry funds.

AMF managing director Wayne Robinson said the All My Funds system would effectively transform retail funds into industry funds for AMF clients because the company would return all commissions paid to the client in exchange for a flat annual fee.

``The discount broker model has worked very well in both the sharemarket and the funds management sectors and there is no reason why Australians will not embrace it for their superannuation investments,’’ said Mr Robinson.

“As it stands, a working 30 year old with $50,000 in their super now could lose more than $98,000 from their retail superannuation funds through commissions over their working life.

``We want to change that and also to help people gain the greatest benefit from their retirement savings as possible.’’

Mr Robinson said All My Funds had made the decision to solely concentrate on financial planning issues for the superannuation sector.

``There are a lot of good financial planners operating within Australia but we saw there is not really anybody who is solely specialising in superannuation,’’ he said.

“When you consider the size of the industry, both in terms of investment and the number of participants, it is apparent there is certainly plenty of room for specialist firms in this arena.’’

The three main services that All My Funds will provide clients is:

• An annual subscription service where investors pay an annual fee of $385 and all adviser fees, commissions and trails are rebated to the client
• A consolidation service where AMF on behalf of its clients rolls multiple superannuation accounts into one larger account.
• A 25+ page superannuation checkup report (statement of advice limited to superannuation) for only $275. This will give an overview of a client’s existing superannuation, a comparison with other retail funds, an indication of what their income will be on retirement as a percentage of their current salary and much more.