The new Google Command Line opens up some interesting possibilities. One that I wanted to explore was using TextMate to edit basic Google Docs.

First, install Google’s Command Line tool. Details are on their wiki for each OS. There are lots of tips in the comments and even a packaged installer. (I used ports to install)

The next step is to create a symlink from the “mate” command to “mate_wait”. What this does is default the wait argument to true. This is needed for the Google script to detect changes to your document.

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/mate /usr/bin/mate_wait

You can now open a document in TextMate:

google docs edit --title "Ideas" --editor "mate_wait"

If you select a title for a document that doesn’t exist, it will be created. Once you close the file in TextMate, control returns to the shell and the document is updated on Google’s servers.

You are only able to edit in text only mode. So it works best on documents without any formatting.

To list your existing documents, try:

google docs list

Since my last post, I’ve spent a fair bit more time on improving my Chinese. Some recent changes to my routine have improved the speed at which I’ve been learning.

Lingt

I already use flash cards, but am now spending more time using Lingt.com. They run an online language learning program, that includes audio and writing. My accuracy is improving on words I swore I already knew, but turns out I didn’t know that well.

The site also includes badges and incentives to keep you coming back each day. They remember what you’ve been studying and only allow you to study a certain amount each day, keeping your memory fresh. This is a key part to their success. They’ll replay words at the point where you forget them, increasing the effectiveness of your time.

Reading

This was so simple I couldn’t believe it. To get good at reading Chinese, start reading Chinese.

It has always been my goal to be able to read Chinese content on the web. However, I had also believed that my Chinese wasn’t yet good enough.

Reading Kató Lomb’s book was enlightening. She taught herself more than 16 languages. In her book, she outlines her techniques.

The one that stood out for me was her dedication to reading material in the desired language, well before you can fully understand it. Instead, aim for getting the gist of it on the first read. Don’t look up every word in a dictionary, rather look up those that re-occur lots. Then re-read the book.

For the past few months, I’ve been trying to read two books in Chinese. I find both interesting and I’m learning a lot of Chinese as I go. It doesn’t (yet) feel like reading, but more like attempting a crossword puzzle.

When I started, it would take me around half an hour to muddle through a paragraph. Now, I can often get through between a half and a full page.

One caveat, you do need to allocate time to it. I aim for half an hour a day. Kató suggests that you should be spending at least 12 hours a week on learning a new language.

Talking

I read a great article recently on learning Chinese. The interesting part for me was to look at finding Chinese speakers who’s English is worse than my Chinese. This makes sense once you think about it; I just hadn’t thought about it.

I still have yet to action this particular plan, and am keeping it on my todo list for now.

With my CS4 registration, Adobe gave me one month of a Lynda.com subscription. I didn’t think this would be useful, and was expecting to learn a few things. Turns out, it’s been immensely useful.

I recommend trying it for a month. My current plan is to buy a month subscription one every year or so. Or maybe every six months.

I consider myself reasonably effective with Photoshop and the digital darkroom, yet still learnt many new processes and techniques for producing a completed photograph. The following courses were interesting or inspirational:

• Douglas Kirkland: Creative Inspiration
• Photoshop CS4 Retouching: Fashion Photography Projects
• Beyond Skin: Going Deeper with Photoshop CS3

I also updated a few other Adobe applications, such as InDesign and learnt some Flash basics too:

• Designing a Magazine Layout Hands-On Workshop
• InDesign CS4: 10 Habits of Highly Effective Pros
• Flash CS4 Professional Essential Training

There are other online video learning sites, such as Kelby Training, that are also worth a look. The important bit is to keep updating your skills and improving your workflow.

M & I are starting a food blog here: Dreaming of Winter.

After spending the start of this year doing lots of wonderful cooking and shooting a bunch of photos to go with it, turning the passion into a blog made lots of sense.

The theme is based on our mutual love of winter. Hearty winter soups, rich roast meats and delightful desserts. There may be some lighter summer fare, but don’t count on it.

I also started another photography blog where I intend to post about recent shoots, something I’ve avoided going into too much detail with on this blog.

Dilemma of civilized man; body mobilized, but danger obscure

- page 161

While on holidays I finished Phillip K Dick’s book, The Man in the High Castle, a story of how the world might look if the Allies lost the war. Like all great science fiction, this is a biting commentary on our own culture. Well worth a read.