Fabian_WebSite blogs

Switch to Linux

Robert_Fabian — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 17:29:45 +0000

For years I had been a faithful Microsoft user. Their operating systems offered an appealing combination of features and flexibility, and ran on a wide range of hardware platforms. I had been using XP for more than a decade. I saw no reason to update the operating system, XP worked just fine.

Website Construction

Robert_Fabian — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 22:14:59 +0000

My Path to GetSimple

Over the last 20 years I've been involved in the design, construction, testing, and review of a number of websites. I'm convinced that using a content management system, or CMS, is the way to go for most websites. A CMS separates the content of website from its presentation – you edit the content and the CMS looks after presenting it.

Charrette Charade

Robert_Fabian — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:41:04 +0000

Toronto City Planning has, on several occasions, recommended the use of a “Charrette” or “Design Charrette”. This was recently recommended in connection with the development of a North Downtown Yonge Street Planning Framework. A one-day event was held on 2011 September30 as a part of developing that Planning Framework. It was called a “Charrette” and a representative cross-section of stakeholders were invited to participate.

The Ontario Municipal Board

Robert_Fabian — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:31:22 +0000

Background: Urban Planning and Design is both a local and a provincial concern. Toronto has a fully qualified professional urban planning staff. Their recommendations are developed after consultation with all stakeholders. Those recommendations are reviewed by the appropriate Community Council consisting of elected officials. The recommendations of the Community Councils are then reviewed by the entire City Council. Errors in law are subject to review by the courts. The Ontario Muncipal Board, or the OMB, is a "special" body.

Organizing Thoughs

Robert_Fabian — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:25:30 +0000

There is unlikely to be one best way to organize your thoughts. How you ought to proceed will depend on a host of factors. It could depend on: you, your background, the subject, its depth of treatment, and the audience. The concern, here, is with a more modest question of the best (open source) software to use in helping organize your thoughts.

Open Space

Robert_Fabian — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:56:36 +0000

Years ago, I had the good fortune to work with Eric Trist. He introduced me to the socio-tech view of systems, and to Search Conferences. Soon thereafter, I decided to test the ideas that I had been professing as an academic. I joined a national management consulting firm. The socio-tech way of seeing the world has proved its value on numerous occasions in the years that followed. But I never found a way to apply Search Conferences in my consulting work.

The Computing Body of Knowledge

Robert_Fabian — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:00:56 +0000

Introduction

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone developed the Computing Body of Knowledge? In my view, that’s an unattainable goal. The problem is that computing is too broad a field. This article is my effort to explain what might be achieved, and what will forever remain an unattainable mirage.

The Wild Apricot Alternative

Robert_Fabian — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:44:18 +0000

In this day and age, almost every association needs a website. Prospective members check out the association by visiting the website. Members use the website as their source of information about the association. Association management communicates to the members, and to the public, through the website. For all but the smallest associations, there’s no getting away from the need for a website.

The Certification Challenge - II

Robert_Fabian — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:18:47 +0000

It’s been over a year since I last collected my thoughts about IT certification. That process led to my first “The Certification Challenge” blog entry. This entry sketches my current thinking on the subject.

Certification & Licensing

Drupal for Small(er) Associations

Robert_Fabian — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:24:36 +0000

No Content Management System, Drupal included, is well positioned to provide the “back end” that an association needs to manage its members, events, and stakeholders. But there is a Customer Relationship Management application, designed for non-profit associations, that works with Drupal. CiviCRM is an open source back end association management application that has been designed to integrate into the Drupal platform.