#12 Roll your own search engine with Rollyo

I have created my own search roll by adding some of the sites I visit frequently. I really would have liked to have been able to search both my public library catalogues at the same time but Rollyo doesn't seem to work with public library catalogues, at least not with my two. I have therefore removed these from my search roll and stuck with my other sites.

I probably wouldn't use Rollyo myself as I'm quite happy using search engines like Google. I feel that perhaps I could be limiting myself with Rollyo, but on the other hand, if there were a handful of sites that I checked regularly, then it would be useful in combining these to one search box only.

DD

#11 My LibraryThing

I have now created my own LibraryThing library, including some of the titles I have recently read. It is interesting to see how many people are already into such a site. I like the fact that I can see the libraries of other people with whom I have titles in common and try some of their selections. I can also read reviews and see how books have been rated by readers. LibraryThing can also make suggestions for you based on what is in your library and in the libraries of those with the same titles as you. Searching tags is also a way of digging up some new authors.

DD

#10 Play around with Image Generators

GLASS GIANT
There certainly is much fun to be had out there in generator land. Here is a wanted poster I made using a generator at http://www.glassgiant.com/make_pictures.php.

SLIDING PUZZLE
I've created a sliding puzzle using http://slidingpuzzle.com/. Unfortunately, it can only be viewed for a month and only by following this link: http://slidingpuzzle.com/puzzle.php?pid=55875&xtiles=3&ytiles=3. See how you go. Enjoy!

COMIC STRIP GENERATOR
Over to the left, the "Snoopy does RSS" image was created at http://www.comicstripgenerator.com.

There's so much to do and so little time. More exploration absolutely necessary!

DD

#8 RSS & #9 Finding Feeds

I am very new to RSS feeds. At first, I found it rather daunting and confusing, but I think it was my apprehension which was causing the problems. I left it for a few days (procrastinated) and came back to it today after a bit of an absence. All of a sudden, it clicked, made sense and my baying has ceased!

So I created a Bloglines account for myself and can now see how subscribing to RSS feeds can save time by not having to visit each favourite site or blog separately. It could also become quite time consuming if you have subscribed to many feeds and were to read them all!

I've had a look at the suggested search tools for news feeds. I've had more of a play today and find I like Google blog search the best. I have found that checking some of my old favourite sites and looking for the RSS feed button to be quite useful. I'd never noticed the little orange button before.

On some sites, there is no orange button on the page of interest but a link to use in your feeder. These are not alway so obvious. Quite a few sites still don't have the RSS facility and may lose readers because of this. I feel I've made quite a useful discovery with this exercise. I am pleased with the results of this diggin' discovery exercise. How about a bay of excitement from this sniffer dog?

DD

# 7 Blog about technology

It was the early 90s and my partner seemed to relish the possibilities that this new technology, the internet, offered. But it was slow, clunky and required a bit of know-how. The internet was more costly then, and in comparison, offers so much more now. The 'net' has become such a regular part of our daily lives today, we could not have imagined this back then.

When we agreed to get a family dog, we obtained details of The Beagle Club of Victoria via the web, which then provided us with the contact details of a reputable breeder. (Here's the dog theme again and see #6 blog entry for an adorable picture of our Rodney).

Everyone has an email address. I no longer check my letter box in the hope for letters, the way I check my email inbox several times a day. There are facilities like MSN messenger and online role play games, where you can talk online in real-time with friends and family. My pre-teen son has more contact with his friends than I ever had with mine growing up. I don't agree with some people who claim that the net isolates. In my experience I see it as encouraging social interaction and communicating this way teaches the young keyboarding skills and to be succint in what they write (no time to waste after all).

For school projects, the web and the library online databases are useful and time saving tools. My husband has found a wealth of information there also on subject matter not readily found. I've looked up recipes, medications and their side effects for my mother, window furnishings, dining and lounge furniture, locations, phone numbers, what to do and when. Whatever is needed, it is available on the internet.

In my household, we often play musical chair (note the singular) in front of the computer. When one hops up, the other hops in, hops up, in... For example, we'll hear a brief news report on the radio and jump on the net for clarification, hop on for the latest soccer results, and so it goes on. We embrace the internet and all it offers and would find it extremely difficult, nigh impossible to live without it. If I was forced to live without the internet, follow this link to see what I would do...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eubCzq901P0

DD