Wednesday, October 31, 2007

23. Summarize your thoughts about this program on your blog.

I have learnt a lot from this program, many thanks for all those involved in setting it up and trawling through all the blogs.

Some of the 'things' I probably wont use very often, but at least I have developed an awareness of what they are, how they are or can be used, both by library users and staff.

Loved mashing up images, bookmarking sites, and learnt more about how to dressup my blog.

I could get addicted to embedding html in my blog.

Look forward to mp3 books, epaper and more.

As a btw, i am not a fan of facebook, like some of the correspondents to the weekend newspapers, i phone my friends, i sms them, i email them, i do not need to write on their walls, or poke them or send them ninja elephant jabs.

bfn
tcl

#22 Audiobooks (or "The end is in sight ")

Bring it on I say. Talking books are so popular these days, and libraries should adopt mp3 format as standard. Cds and cassettes are so bulky, easy to damage etc. People could play them on their mobile phones, blackberries, ipods etc whenever, wherever they want. Bring it on.

Monday, October 29, 2007

#21 Podcasts, Smodcasts!

I added the Cornwall news podcast from the pasty.com (of course, where else).

In the library, could use podcasts to promote events, weekly newsletter, latest bestsellers, and much more.

#20 You too can YouTube

This is great, you never know what you will find, you never know whether it's going to be a good film or not. Very easy to embed into the blog, need faster broadband at home is my only concern.

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 tools

I' liked Weatherbonk from the nominees list for Web 2.0 awards, its cool that you can tailor the map and display options and then insert the html to your blog. I also like the frog that goes pobblebonk down by the creek near my place.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

#18 Web-based Apps: They're not just for desktops

While I like the idea of web based applications, I prefer to use portable apps which I have stored on my usb memory stick.

There are a number of advantages, the main one being I dont have to have an internet connection to access the software and documents.

I didn't like Zoho writer, but I think Google have done a good job with Google Docs.

CL

Thursday, October 11, 2007

#17 Playing around with PBWiki

Got frustrated with the page edit, don't think the link function was working...

#16 So what’s in a wiki?

Wikis ARE so easy to use. I've created a personal one just for fun. Follow the pasty wiki link on this blog....
Library world application? I noticed a few of the wikis had been vandalised and edits are now being verified by submitting email addresses...does that make it not open anymore? I think you could use it for book reviews, but a blog would do that just as well.
I like the idea of having my own wiki with links to info about things i like, such as pasties, or chip butties, in fact i might have a chip butty for lunch today. with sauce of the hp variety.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

#15 Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and blog your thoughts.

I look forward to the day when e-paper rules the world. Y? Well, the 'book' will be whatever you want it to be...it could be Dean Koontzs' next novel (prob about his 1000th), then the next minute the 'book' could display your blog, or the library catalogue, or the latest news, or your mp3 player, or become your phone. I like where we're heading with 2.0, but i want it to be more mobile/portable/wireless/seemless. The end.

#14 Come and get me Technorati spiders

Technorati Profile

#13 Tagging, folksomonies & social bookmarking in Del.icio.us

I really liked this exercise. Having mobile bookmarks isn't such a new idea, but i love the design of the site and it's ease of use. Tags are a cool way to link different sites. If you were doing research on a number of topics you could put the relevant tags into distinguish the sites/articles OR you could link the sites/articles with tags. Does that make sense? Because the tags are whatever you make them, (ie not a prescibed list), you can tag sites/articles with key works that actually mean something to you, or something you would not forget. Good one.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

#12 Roll your own search tool with Rollyo.

Well I rolled my own and have decided I prefer the packet variety on this occasion, unfiltered still of course.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

#10 Play around with image generators


This could be addictive.

#8 Make life "really simple" with RSS & a newsreader

I used to regularly surf to abc.net.au/news and theage.com.au and news.com.au amongst others and browse the headlines, only reading stories if they appealed to me...
bloglines gathers that all together in one page (along with non-news feeds) and so now I can just go to my bloglines account, and if a story appeals to me i will follow the link to the story....
i signed up for the beta bloglines and it seems to work well
nice one!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Review: Chain of Evidence by Garry Disher

This is the first Garry Disher book I have read, and I loved it. A well deserved winner of the Ned Kelly Award 2007. Well written, easy to read, a clever crime novel. Excellent.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

I'm in love! (#7 Technology blog post.)

I just bought a hard disk recorder, its lovely, shiny, sleek, faithful.

My two old vcrs aren't quite so thrilled.

The pile of tapes that gathered dust, took 10 minutes to rewind, weren't searchable, are waiting to be converted to digital.

I also have some old audio tapes in a box somewhere, sitting, waiting quietly in the dark.

My hard disk recorder can record over 80 hours of tv (ick), she lets me record live tv in delay, she lets me rename the recordings, sort them into genres....

I'm in love....

til the next model comes out.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Pause.....learning 2.0 time




The blog deviates due to learning 2.0 activities.

This is my first flickr mashup, it was actually fun.

Flickr is very intuitive, the way the web should be.
Impressed oi be.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Sucked In by Shane Maloney

Shane's latest Murray Whelan book is equally as enjoyable as previous works. A great mix of humour, satire and political insight. A great read.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland

Adrian's first novel features an indigenous protagonist Emily Tempest. This is a feast of beautiful prose and subtle humour. A wonderful crime novel brilliantly executed.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Sensitive New Age Spy by Geoff McGeachin

I could not put this book down, a fast paced thriller, packed with humour. A great read, looking forward to his next novel.

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz

Another exciting thriller from Dean Koontz.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Creepers by David Morrell

Enter at your own risk. Some buildings are abandoned for a reason.

Fantastic.

Rushing to the library now to get another book by Morrell.

Scavenger by David Morrell

A great read, my first Morrell novel. No drawn out narrative, no unbelievable dialogue, strong characters, great action. A madman creates a game of life and death called Scavenger. Very well done.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The Prestige by Christopher Priest

Published 1995 Simon & Schuster. Wow! What a fantastic book. I could not put this down, and now I have to rush out and watch the film. Wow! Another wow!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Working Class Zero by Rob Payne

Working Class Zero published in Australia by Pan in 2003. Your typical 30 something novel, started out very promising. Think Mike Gayle, Nick Hornby, or Max Barry. A good light read with no startling revelations, ended up a tad boring. A good read for a hospital waiting room, (exactly where I did read it). Looking for a great book next, the last few have been a bit dull.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Secret Asset by Stella Rimington

A novel by the former head of MI5. If you like the Spooks tv show, you might like this. Nothing really exciting happens in the book, the language is simple, it's easy to read, actually a bit boring. At least I finished it.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

School Days by Robert B Parker

Fantastic! If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels then you should like this blokey alternative. Private eye Spenser is a real crackup, a tough wise guy with a heart of gold and a great sense of humour. Do yourself a favour and read this!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Life expectancy by Dean Koontz

One of his best. An Odd Thomas book in disguise? Crazy clowns out for revenge. Brilliant! Read this book!

Platform by Michel Houellebecq

An unusual book. Existential erotica? Hmmm. Skip read the last 70 pages due to boredom. The author makes interesting observations about love, sex and commitment. Will read Atomised by the same author before writing him off.