In my search for a Java Service Provider I think I finally found one that works relatively well and provides both SAML 1 and SAML 2 support. The OIOSAML JAVA SP seems to provide a great service provider for any organization to use. The oiosaml java sp provides a great too for developers to integrate Shibboleth SSO security into there applications.

Some of my favorite features of the tool are:

1. Easy to integrate into existing application
2. Built in Servlet Filter to secure pages
3. Open Source
4. Web based configuration built into jar
5. Tool uses its own java keystore
6. Keystore can be created using built in config screens

I have currently used this java sp to secure a few different java applications and have been very happy. The tool has exceeded all of my expectations. There are a few tricks to getting the tool setup with a Shibboleth IdP. I will make sure to write a how to on this whenever I get a free moment.

Rubicode describes RCDefaultApp as:

RCDefaultApp is a Mac OS X 10.2 or higher preference pane that allows a user to set the default application used for various URL schemes, file extensions, file types, MIME types, and Uniform Type Identifiers (or UTIs; MacOS 10.4 only). MacOS X uses the extension and file type settings to choose the application when opening a file in Finder, while Safari and other applications use the URL and MIME type settings at other times for content not related to a file (such as an unknown URL protocol, or a media stream).

I have been using the Graphical Vim in Windows for quite some time now. Now that I am using a Mac, VIM has been installed for the terminal by default, but the graphical version was missing. This has been causing me some issues, because whenever I wanted to edit a text file I would have to do it with the default TextEdit program that comes installed on the Mac. On windows I would just open it up with Vim and start editing it as I normally would.

Well I finally decided to put the Graphical Vim on my Mac computer. To do this you can follow the following instructions.

1. Download the Mac OS X version here
2. Copy the MacVim.app folder into your Applications Directory
3. Copy the mvim script into someplace on your search path
4. Create a local version of the .vimrc and .gvimrc in your home directory.

When I added the mvim script to my path I just did the following

• Created a directory gvim-script under my home directory

  mkdir ~/gvim-script

• Edited my .bash_profile file to include this directory on my path.

  export PATH="$PATH:~/gvim-script"

When I wanted to create the local version of the .vimrc and .gvimrc files in my home directory I did the following from inside the gvim program. It is important to do this so that Vim will not run in compatibility mode.

	:e $VIMRUNTIME/vimrc_example.vim
	:saveas ~/.vimrc
	:e $VIMRUNTIME/gvimrc_example.vim
	:saveas ~/.gvimrc

I am so happy that I can now use vim as a default editor for the mac and get away from using the TextEdit software.

I don’t know about you, but I have a horrible time trying to keep up with all of the stuff that goes on at my job. Tasks seem to rattle around in my mind like a bunch of lottery balls. I am lucky to pick out the tasks in the correct order, and I always seem to loose tasks along the way, while more and more task are thrown in.

Well I an now trying a new way of keeping up with my tasks by using FreeMind . FreeMind is a mind mapping .

Wikipedia describes mind map as:

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.

The FreeMind software is open source, which to me is a big plus. I just hate paying for software. The software makes it easy for you to quickly generate mind maps, organize your thoughts, move nodes, ect. I like the that FreeMind has the ability to put icons on nodes, prioritize your nodes, and break nodes out into new maps.

I can’t be more pleased that I gave this software a try. It has definitely made me more organized and helps me keep track of everything that goes on in my day to day life.

I have sent in my lottery order for the Phish 2009 Hampton run. I pray that I get to go and hope the boys have been practicing and they come out on FIRE!