The Alternative Lifestyle Blog

The Last Post happy dance

2009-05-17T15:22:00.003+12:00

Greetings,

Wow, it is finally over.. and boy, am I glad :0). The most enjoyable aspect of this exercise was the beginning: setting up a blogger account... you know, the pretty stuff - choosing an inappropriate blogger address, selecting the right template to match your personality, that kind of thing. However, after the first assignment my enthusiasm wained. Then I pretty much hit a brick wall with RSS feeds.

However, after a couple (or more) months I persevered and (eventually) got the damn thing finished. The most infuriating part of the exercise? Getting stumped over the things that seemed hard but turned out to be really simple - especially posting YouTube thingies to your blog.

Have patrons come into the library wanting to know about RSS feeds and setting up blogs? No and to be honest I kinda hope it remains that way...

*final wave*.

Zoho Test - By GUM this WORKED!!!!!

2009-05-10T18:08:00.002+12:00

Week 8: Online Applications & Tools

Wow. My final assignment. Mind you, it's taken long enough lol. Using Zoho does have it's advantages - as Kelly mentioned, documents/files can be open regardless of what version of windows is installed on your computer. At the moment, the only application I have really paid any attention to is the Zoho Online Word Processor as Microsoft word, the equivalent to this, is what I use mostly at MM.

As for navigation, Zoho doesn't seem tooooo bad. It's layout reminds me of a mixture of outlook and word all rolled into one and best of you you can have smilies!!! . I guess I'm just pre-programmed for Microsoft word. And to be honest, I'm a creature of habit . BUT it is great to know that Zoho exists. Now to try and post this to my blog.... Hmmmm....

Until next time *waves*.

Week 9: Podcasts, Video & ebooks - Thanks Tosca!!!

2009-05-08T13:42:00.002+12:00

Hello,

Wow, the ALMOST last post of my blog has been posted!! I must admit, I found this particular week challenging as I didn't have a clue how to post a YouTube video on my blog. However, I must admit I am now feeling VERY smug (with a lot of help from Tosca - come back, we miss you!!!).

I have been accessing YouTube for a while now for the sole purpose of viewing episodes of yonder years - mostly The Muppets and Black Books. Here's one of the Swedish Chef vs the Chicken - enjoy! *waves*

Week 8: Online Applications and Tools

2009-05-08T13:34:00.002+12:00

Wow. My almost-final assignment. Mind you, it's taken long enough lol. Using Zoho does have it's advantages - as Kelly mentioned, documents/files can be open regardless of what version of windows is installed on your computer. At the moment, the only application I have really paid any attention to is the Zoho Online Word Processor as Microsoft word, the equivalent to this, is what I use mostly at MM.

As for navigation, Zoho doesn't seem tooooo bad. It's layout reminds me of a mixture of outlook and word all rolled into one and best of you you can have smilies!!! . But Alas, I guess I'm just pre-programmed for Microsoft word. And to be honest, I'm a creature of habit . BUT it is great to know that Zoho exists. Now to try and post this to my blog.... Hmmmm....

Until next time *waves*.

A note from a genius: Well, I had problems trying to post this to my blog... so in the end I used the Html code thingy but the emotion icons didn't show. *Sighs* oh well. It was nice fiddling anyhow *finger wave*

Week 7: Social Networking - Facebook: Granny made me do it

2009-05-05T16:36:00.003+12:00

Hello,

Hmm, social networking. In my day MSN was THE programme of choice. For me, it still is. I guess it has something to do with the fact that you can talk to people in 'real time' and that any changes that you make on your account means that other people won't get bombarded with what you have done.

I've tinkered with MySpace and Bebo before. Admittedly, I didn't really like it. I just just don't see the point in it (my gosh I sound like an old fogey). But, I decided to bite the bullet and join Facebook and MY what FUN I had!

Did you know that http://www.facebbok.com/ is a porn site? Well, now you do! Aren't typos fun :0). So anyhow, after adding my three friends and seeing how they were putting all their woes online "I am depressed, work treats me like dirt" - well take a number, buddy and get in the queue, I got bored. And when I get bored it isn't a good thing....

After doing a multitude of online quizzes - apparently the dog resemble most is a Chihuahua (i don't think so) I decided to see what clubs I could join. And I found the perfect one for me! "Facebook has made my stalking 97% more effective". Live in fear peeps, live in fear....

Until next time *waves*

Week 6: Tagging, folksonomies & social bookmarking in Del.icio.us

2009-05-05T16:26:00.003+12:00

Hello again,

I've just been fumbling my way around Del.icio.us and here are my thoughts: In theory, this thing is great. In practice, I do not think that I would have the patience or the will-power to maintain and update a Del.icio.us account. Don't get me wrong, the idea of being able to book mark everything and having one place to go to find it, as well as peering through others' favourite is fantastic (I especially liked the MySpace guide for parents). The amount of book marked items that you can have on your account s mind-boggling. It's just I am: a. blonde, b. a girl, c. would rather spend my time reading then facing copious amounts of time on the internet *shakes head sadly*.

Until next time *waves*.

Disclaimer: Well, not really a disclaimer as such.... But I have indeed managed to create a Del.icio.us account and I have managed to find some really useful Youth Fiction Sites *puts foot in mouth*

Week Five: Wikis

2009-05-05T11:34:00.002+12:00

Well, I must admit that I got my hopes up... I was all set to give you a glorious spiel about how the use of Wikipedia promotes pornography but, alas, another time perhaps...

I must admit that I quickly flicked through the Wikis but the most notable one for me was the SJCPL subject guides (http://www.libraryforlife.org/subjectguides/index.php/Main_Page). They has a whole section of genealogy with tips as to what websites to visit and how to get started. Considering the number of enquiries our branch has for genealogy research, this is a very valuable tool to pass on!

As for the types of applications that the library has that would be fantastic in a Wiki... The main thing that springs to mind is the research that is undertaken at the Central Reference Library - especially local history and family history research... Maybe a how-to guide for how the research was undertaken, what tools were useful... that sort of thing - something localised would be fantastic.

A book review Wiki where staff can post reviews would also be quite useful :0).

In my opinion, a Wiki is a site that you can go to in order to obtain information - any types of information (obviously the most obvious example of this would be Wikipedia). That being said, I would only use Wikis to quench my general questions and interests - I would never use one for academic purposes unless it was posted by a reputable source.

That's the end of my rant *waves*

Week 4: Having Fun with Photos and Images

2009-04-17T22:23:00.003+12:00

Greetings to one and all,

This week I had a little play around with Flickr. I must admit, I have dabbled in it before due to the 'All Eyes on Manukau' Photo Competition for Youth.

Well, I had a look around and was in complete AWE of some of the photos. Then I decided to log into Flickr under the generic log in to see what Manukau Libraries had to offer in the way of awesomeness. I then decided to top this by adding a photo of my dog-who-still-thinks-he's-a-puppy-and-won't-take-no-for-an-answer, Bentley.

However, after successfully managing to upload the photo, I seemed to have trouble posting the photo to my blog via Flickr. I'm pretty sure I followed the instructions... but then again, I am blonde. Nonetheless, click on this link to see a photo of my beautiful boy http://www.flickr.com/photos/newweb2/3449168247/ *proud mother smile*.

Until next time *waves*

Week Three: Play Week

2009-04-12T21:49:00.005+12:00

Well, this week was play week and what fun I had! There are a WHOLE heap of image generators online! One I frequented was http://www.graphics.imagetemplate.net/. It was here that I found the mock magazine covers... and put a photo of my unsuspecting partner on it (no he hasn't been on Police 10-7 YET) *hides*. To get the 'For Dummies' Book cover, I went to a DELIGHTFUL website: http://www.jellymuffin.com/ - don't ask me why I enemas were my focal point for this one, I blame it on the cold weather....

Until next time *waves from afar*

P.S. Don't forget to vote in my poll - YES, your vote does count *winks*

I've THOUGHT of it: RSS - it's, like, Ritually Satanic, Stupid...

2009-04-10T21:02:00.002+12:00

Ah yes, stupidity - a plight most humans, like myself, will ALWAYS have. So imagine my surprise when I went to sign into my blog to do the dreaded RSS feeds only to find... that I have already done it... *bashful smile* - my brilliance astounds me!

I see that the next task is 'play week' and we all like a good 'play' *winks*. But for now, a poll... Until next time *waves*

RSS - Ritually Satanic ... I'll think of something...

2008-10-15T08:44:00.002+13:00

Well.... at last I have returned.... for the moment.... The lovely people at work have come up with this GLORIOUS idea of allowing us half an hour in the morning to update our blogs.... Being the kind, loving, caring person that I am, I offered to do the Item Paging List for the others.... Clean the shelves even but alas *sigh* I have been cornered. RSS feeds.... 20 minutes to master them.... I have looked at the tutorial and I must admit, my eyes glazed over - I'm not a morning person at the best of times :0( and considering I had ADD this is hard. I even the new 'Kelly' sitting beside me and INSTEAD of helping a fellow Web 2.0er, she is LAUGHING at my plight. Gravy is giving me that me THAT look so I thought that I better utilise what time I have and do my humble rant. Until next time *waves*

THE RETURN!!!! Well, Almost....

2008-07-20T21:00:00.003+12:00

Hello Darlings!
My sincere apologies for not updating my blog... It's a tough choice at present... Sanity or the chance to win an IPod... Although I could take a leaf out of Luza's book and bribe Kelly *muahahahahaha*... However, I'm not that kind of gurl *holds her hand to her heart*... MANIX combined with study and Web 2.0 are not conducive to my health at the moment, however the IPod is winning!! It's like fate is guiding me!! By the end of the week, I will be back in all my smutty glory!! I'm really excited about RSS feeds... I'm hoping it's something kinky like RSI which results from continually using compromising positions... handling books of course!! Tehehehe *girly giggle* Bye for now! *waves from afar*

IT HAS BEGUN....

2008-07-03T14:37:00.000+12:00

Hello Possums!
At last.... my blog has been created.... Let the fun and frivolity begin!!! When I first heard that we were doing Web 2.0 training I couldn't help but feel I had to feign my enthusiasm in embarking upon this quest to 'update' what can be most aptly described as my completely archaic web literacy 'skills'.... However I have found that in creating this blog I can mask myself in anonymity and allow the Freudian aspect of my personality to flourish :D Although I must say, the hardest part about creating this blog was choosing the colour scheme... Does my blog look big in this?