Link Data is a nicely done Web site to help people produce RDF data from simple excel spreadsheets. It appears to be the work of researchers at the RIKEN BASE group at the RIKEN Yokohama Institute in Japan. The approach is straightforward and consists of three steps: creating a template, downloading it as an excel spreadsheet and adding your data, and uploading the result to the site for conversion and publishing.

In the first step, you use the site to create a template for your table, each row of which will be mapped to RDF data about a single subject. The first column of a row must represent the subject and the remaining columns its properties. After specifying the number of columns, you enter into each a string or a URI representing the property. If you enter a string (e.g., ‘employer’), the system shows some suggested URIs drawn from the OBO ontologies that you can select instead of the string. You can also specify the cell values will be literals of type date, time, integer or float.

After downloading your spreadsheet template to your computer, you will see that the metadata is embedded in the initial rows of the table. Your next task is to enter your data, either as strings or URIs, as appropriate.

The final step is to upload the spreadsheet with your data to linkData.org, provide some additional data, and have it converted to RDF and make available on the site. Along the way you can see the results via the W3C validator as serialized in RDF/XML or depicted as a graph. You can also see how your data is connected to datasets in the LOD cloud.

Here’s the result of a simple test, in which I created a data set about people, their employers and their countries of residence.

The approach is simple and has many limitations, but I liked the Web interface and workflow. We’ve done some work in this space with RDF123 and are currently working on automating the process of producing five-start linked data.

• UMBC Division of Student Affairs -- Office Assistant -- ID# 9249688
• UMBC The Retriever Weekly -- Advertising Manager -- ID# 9249934
• UMBC The Retriever Weekly -- Circulation Assistant -- ID# 9250072

• WTOP AM/FM -- Freelance News Assistant -- ID# 9247646
• Bright Spot, Inc. -- High School Mathematics Tutoring -- ID# 9245891
• YMCA of Central Maryland -- Preschool Substitute Teacher (718-221) -- ID# 9250133
• Progress Unlimited -- Awake Overnight - Direct Support Staff -- ID# 9249182

Established in 1918, today WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, with a network of more than 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and nearly 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline.  Serving nearly 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards. 

College engineering majors listen up! Entries will soon be accepted for the annual Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Joyce Starks Engineering Scholarship essay contest. To be eligible for the $1000 scholarship, students should have a permanent home address in the WSSC service district that includes Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Eligible students must be enrolled in a degree program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Engineering or an advanced degree in engineering. Past winners are also eligible to compete.

Applicants should send a copy of their official transcript along with a cover letter, proof of permanent residency, two references and a 400 to1000 - word essay that answers the following question:

"What, in your opinion, is the biggest challenge/threat for the water/wastewater industry in the United States, and why?"

The reference letters must be submitted separately or in a sealed envelope if sent with the application materials. The scholarship winner may also be offered a paid internship at WSSC in the summer of 2013. The scholarship will be awarded at the August Commission meeting. 

Send applications to Charlett Bundy, Esq., WSSC Corporate Secretary, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707. Applications must be postmarked by June 30, 2012. 

There are 99 slots available

You can signup at the CIC desk

Buses will be leaving The Commons Circle @ 9am and returning to campus around 2pm

Luke 12:22-34 (NIV)

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Reflection:

Every seventh year the Israelites observed a sabbath year, a year of rest where they were instructed not to sow in their fields. But how would the Israelites survive during a year of no planting and harvesting? The blessing of living in God’s care is that he always provides. In Leviticus 25, he assures the people that he will always bless and provide more than enough. It is this assurance that allows the people to freely live the sabbath year. Jesus echoes this abundant care in today’s passage. We see that the birds of the air and the grass of the fields, though they do not sow or reap, are richly provided for. As people who now live under God’s kingdom care, we can also live freely. This freedom is not a freedom from our responsibilities, rather it is a call to fully live for God’s kingdom, believing that God will take care of every need.

Response:

Perhaps like the Israelites in the OT we are afraid to follow God’s instructions, fearful that it will lead to our ruin. Perhaps like Jesus’ audience in Luke 22, we are worried to live fully for his kingdom. Today, what areas of our lives are doubtful of God’s wonderful provision and care? What parts of our hearts are still worried and fearful? Today, Jesus’ assurance is “Do not be afraid, little flock.” (v.32)

As people who now live under God’s kingdom care, let’s pray for a freeing of our hearts from worry so that we can live fully for Him. Our heavenly father knows what we need.