Rantings from a muppet

Mashup Madness

2010-02-10T22:45:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with mashups. No, I haven't gone mad with the potoato masher - a mashup is a web application that uses content (think images, video, music, etc) from more than one source to create a more interesting display/ outcome.

I've been tinkering with Google maps. I must admit that this took me a while to feel comfortable with, but when I finally got the hang of it I had a lot of fun playing around with it. The instructional video made it look very easy and gave me lots of hope that I would be able to create my own map, which I did and I'm quite happy with it.

The mashup concept is something I was familar with from watching The Gruen Transfer on TV. The show ran a competition where viewers could go to the website and use the tools provided to create their own ad. The results were always interesting and very entertaining and
no.2 mupp-ette and I were very keen to create our own ad, but we just didn't get around to it. So this little exercise might just be the impetus I need to play with more mashups applications.

Hopefully in my next posting I will include my map mashup because at the moment I can't for the life of me remember how to do this. BRAIN FADE or as my sister used to say "LOST IN SPACE". How rude! Anyway, the image I've chosen to include with this posting was taken earlier this year at Burleigh Heads, Queensland. I took the photo while the mupp-ettes very grudgingly accompanied me on a walk around the Burleigh Heads National Park (which incidentally is the map I've been working on).

Video killed the.........?

2010-01-12T23:21:00.000-08:00

This time I've been exploring videos online. It's been FUN! I've been looking at YouTube, Google video, Dailymotion and Vimeo. I've discovered lots of wonderful videos and great ways for libraries and organisations to utilise online videos as ways to promote themselves or their services.

The mupp-ettes are always telling me about videos they've either seen or their friends have seen on YouTube, so I was very aware of it as a video sharing site. I wasn't aware of how easy it is to upload and share your own video clips. This isn't something that I've personally attempted yet, but the instructions on how to actually do it look very easy. Maybe one day, but until then I've found a great video clip to share. Wait for it.....it's the Muppets singing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". There was a comment posted that thought that this clip was "blasphemy", but I think Freddie Mercury would approve. So I'm going to share it with you and trust you'll enjoy it!

Web Browsers wanderings and wonderings

2010-01-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make....

Before this little excursion into the world of web browsers I had primarily used Internet Explorer. I was aware of other browsers of course, but hadn't really felt any great need to use any of them. Well, the times they a-changing!

I've looked at Opera, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox and this muppet is impressed with what they saw. My own preference is probably for Firefox. True, it did take a little getting used to (as I said old muppet, new tricks) but I quite like it. It has different features and a lot of similar features packaged in a different way to trusty old Internet Explorer. As I used to say to the mupp-ettes, "How do you know that you don't like it if you haven't even tried it". Great words of wisdom, hey?

Anyway the upshot is that I find myself using Firefox more and more, not that I'm giving Explorer the old heave-ho. There is an option to "Fashion Your Firefox" which recommends add-ons that you might find useful. I particularly liked the Executive assistant features and Cooliris, which allows you see images as a "wall". You can also decorate your browser to suit your personality. Hmm green and furry - that would be a nice look. Maybe I should suggest it to Mozilla.

Google Mania!!

2009-11-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

I've been exploring the wonderful world of Google. It is so much more than just a search engine, which is what I've been primarily using it as. First I started by looking at the Google Translate feature. I can now say (not with the correct inflection or accent) "I'm thirsty" in different languages. This could come in very handy some day. The translator did have a problem with translating "Gidday mate" but all things considered that's not a major problem. I could even translate whole webpages into different languages. I'm just so impressed with this technology. I can see this feature being invaluable in libraries which has a diverse client base of many different backgrounds.

Next I went looking at Google books. I was able to search for a couple of books that I've been looking for at different book shops. I know that one is out of print and I didn't have any luck in locating it, but I found the other one and could even go off and try to purchase it if I wanted. Maybe after Christmas...

i-Google looks absolutely amazing. It allows you to personalise your Google home page. I'm going to add different gadgets to show me the time, film news, local weather maybe even horoscopes and crosswords. The mupp-ettes will never get me off the computer now! Won't that make them happy? I can't wait to have proper play with this feature.

I watched a video showing me how to create my own personalised Google map. The video made it look easy, so I definitely want to do this. It showed me how to add markers, draw in a route and add pictures and videos. I'm just trying to work out a interesting map I could work on. If I'm successful I would like to add it to my blog, just to show that I did it.

With all these little adventures to get started on, the mupp-ettes better watch out, they may rarely get a turn at playing on the computer!

Pod people

2009-10-28T00:11:00.001-07:00

I'm feeling very old at the moment. Teenage mupp-ette problems - need I say more? I was supposed to be learning about mash-ups. I love the idea of mash-ups and can't wait to actually have a proper play with one.

I don't know if I'm an old muppet or just an old muppet who can't learn new tricks at the moment, but after a number of battles with forementioned teenage mupp-ette I seemed to be having lots of problems with the map mash-up I was working on, so I've decided on taking a step back from it right now and I'll have another attempt at playing with it when I'm feeling a little stronger (both emotionally and mentally).

So this posting is about podcasts. I'd heard about them of course. The radio station that I prefer to listen to has podcasts available to download, but I've never ventured that far down the technological road.

I enjoyed exploring a number of podcasts, although I have to admit that I only listened to ones that I could "stream" (these don't require downloading and with the broadband plan we have and 2 data-hungry mupp-ettes to contend with) so as not to go over our plan's limit. The sound quality was FANTASTIC. I listened to a podcast at the British Library's site, a part of their Talking Liberties Exhibition. It was like being in the same room as the curator (except without pictures of course).

After this I found a podcast by a British radio station where 2 announcers and a caller to the program were randomly talking about Dr Who episodes. Again the sound was great and if I was a follower of the radio program I would have really enjoyed reliving the show. But as someone who had stumbled upon it out of the blue, it was all a bit random.

All of this has made me seriously think about downloading a podcatcher so that I can happily download podcasts instead of relying on streaming being available. If I do, the mupp-ettes had better watch out as their time on the internet will be severely limited!

Sorry.....for that break in transmission

2009-09-23T00:02:00.001-07:00

I'm back. I've been very slack. I know it. I admit it and most importantly I will try to be better at blogging at more regular intervals.

The image on the left is of Sydney during a strong dust storm. It was taken during the day. The light is really eerie and other-worldly. I think it's a reminder, "Don't mess with Mother Nature!"

Well I'm back and learning about more wonderful technologies that are available to us. I've been playing with Google docs. I love the idea of being able to access and edit a document from any computer and not just being tied down to your personal computer or laptop or notebook computer or a network computer. I was even able to share the document with whoever I wanted, so that they could view the document and/or edit it.

As part of the exercise I had to draft a document which sounds so easy, but when I had no guidelines I just let my mind wander (and I'm not sure that it's big enough to be allowed out to wander on its own!). I rambled on about my personal epiphanies about ears and belly button fluff (or navel lint if you prefer). I'm not sure what the person I shared it with will make of it. Oh well...

Until next time, which won't be very long I promise.

2009-06-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

Well I've been having more fun trying out new technology. I've been investigating tagging and folksonomies - basically that means being able to creating content and commenting on this content and other people's content. Quite a social way to be really. I've been playing with LibraryThing (which I love and intend to spend a lot more time on). You'll no doubt notice that I've put the LibraryThing widget on this blog so anyone can see a small selection of the books that I've read recently.

Another new addition to my rantings is the del.icio.us link. This allows me to save all my website favourites or bookmarks in one place - it's not stuck on a particular computer. How cool is that? There are still more of my favourite bookmarks that I need to save. I've got my fingers crossed that I can get to this shortly.

I've been a busy muppet and have had a look at Technorati too. It is the leading search tool and authority on blogs. It tracks blogs and you can see what is popular in the world of blogging and can also make sure your blog is being tracked. So much technology, so little time.Things to rant about....well I'm feeling a little mellow at the moment (probably because the mupp-ettes are on holidays and visiting the grandparents - they'll be back soon though). Stay tuned more more ranting next time.

Eureka! I've discovered RSS feeds

2009-06-23T00:39:00.000-07:00

Yes back again. This time on my voyage of
technologic-al discovery I've been exposed to RSS feeds. (As a person who hates acronyms when they are not explained, it stands for Real Simple Syndication. There I feel better about the abbreviation already.)

I've subscribed to 7 feeds and now when I log onto my RSS reader (you've got to have one of these to be able to view the feeds that you've chosen to subscribe to) I am instantly shown the latest news, information or cute picture or comic without having to go hunting for it on the web. It's FANTASTIC! I am totally won over by this.

Who said an old muppet can't learn new tricks?

I'm keeping this posting short and sweet as I have more things to discover and blog about in a RST (really short time). Sorry about that - I thought I'd finish as I started - with an acronym.

To be a Social Networking Butterfly or not.....

2009-05-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a while between postings I know. I've noticed that I often think about what I would like to blog and even mentally draft blogs in my head.

So here goes the real thing....

I've been investigating the world of social networking. As an older and more responsible muppet to 2 younger mupp-ettes (if you will) it's an area that does hold some degree of dread for me. I can hear my children now "You're so old" with "uncool" implied but not actually said.

After looking at a few networking sites I came across an example of a young man with autism who wasn't able to verbally communicate with people but who had lots of social network friends and was able to deal with people very effectively this way (without all the distracting and ambiguous facial expressions that we all use and which people with autism find very challenging to interpret). This example actually made me feel good and see a real value for social networking sites.

Another example I came across was where a library had set up a networking site specifically to gather information and advice about what gaming platforms and associated games (think along the lines of PlayStation and Xbox) would be best for the library. This one particularly hit home with me as a member asked questions about the Xbox 360 nunchuks and remotes. I'd recently had exactly the same questions and was very confused by the whole nunchuk issue. (I'm sure you'll have guessed that my children were more than happy to answer these questions that I had, and now I'm not an expert by any means but I'm not a novice either.)

As to whether I would feel comfortable with the mupp-ettes joining a social networking site - I'm still thinking about that one!

Wide Weird Wonderful World of Wikis

2009-04-21T22:39:00.001-07:00

I love alliterations! I always have and probably always will. (I could have added more words stating with "W" in the title but I restrained myself.) This time I've been discovering (as the title states) Wikis. I really wasn't all that familiar with them beyond Wikipedia and I had my doubts about the veracity of the entries. But I've happily found that wikis are very useful. It was explained to me that wikis "are a type of website where everyone can pitch in".

A few of the wikis I looked at were Public Libraries NSW Marketing Group Wiki. After looking around at their Tips and Tricks, Merchandise, Photos and Updates sections it appeared that a lot of this sort of information could/ would be found on some organisations intranets. There were templates for a checklist and an event booking sheet - all very helpful.

Wookieepedia was another wiki I looked at and I now know that despite what I thought, I am not a true Star Wars fan. This was a real fan-based site and I discovered that I am soooooooooo ignorant about Star Wars, after all I still think that the first film is the FIRST FILM, while my children keep telling me that it's really the fourth in the series!!!!

I came across a book that sounds really interesting and that I will have to order from the library. It's called "Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization" and it's got me intrigued I have to admit. I read a review about it on Book Lovers Wiki which was a summer reading club for adults wiki which is now locked and is kept active as an archive creating a "snapshot in time" of what the members were reading at that time.

This time's venture into technology has made me stop and look at wikis in a different way. See you can teach an old muppet new tricks.

Oops! Sock Monkeys Part 2

2009-04-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I botched it up. I did say I was on a learning curve.

The images that I wanted to include didn't post. I discovered that the original Sock Monkey trio image I had planned to include was copyright protected, which is fair enough - I didn't research it quite far enough, and the Evil Sock Monkey - well to be honest I'm not quite sure why that didn't appear. We are having a number of computer problems and maybe that had something to do with it. Your guess would be as good as mine.....better probably.

So I'm going to try again and hopefully with much more success this time.

I do need to add that by these images appearing in this blog their owners do not endorse me or the blog. The trio photo appears on Flickr and was uploaded by red5standingby, while the Evil, Evil Sock Monkey photo was uploaded by Flidas. There I think I've done all the legal stuff. Enjoy!

But wait, there's more. I've found an entry in Wikipedia which explains Sock Monkeys. Again enjoy!

What is it with Sock Monkeys?

2009-04-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

I'm still on a learning curve. I've just started reading a new book- a collection of short stories from one of my "new" favourite authors, that is an author I've discovered recently whose work I really enjoy.

I was reading the introduction (yes I'm one of those muppets who read introductions and let's just leave it at that) and he mentioned that one of the stories was inspired by a photograph of a particular Sock Monkey he had seen. This got me thinking "Sock Monkey? Sock Monkey? What is a Sock Monkey?" I had images of stuffed toys resembling monkeys created out of socks that had seen better days. Maybe that's where the lost ones go? I'll have to give that some more thought....

Anyway back to the learning curve I went on Flickr and went looking for sock monkeys and discovered that there's lots of them.

So I decided to post two contrasting versions of them so other people/muppets could contemplate the world of Sock Monkeys with me. Who would have thought that such things exist? The colourful trio look very friendly and harmless but the evil, evil Sock Monkey....I wouldn't want to mess with him. Although I do like the fact that he is sitting beside an empty liquor bottle. But maybe that says more about me than the evil Sock Monkey!

Woo Hoo!

2009-03-24T00:17:00.000-07:00

I did it! I've created a blog! I know for most people probably not a big achievement, but for a person with some Luddite tendencies this is HUGE. When I told my children that I was doing this and what I'd called it I think they heaved a sigh of relief believing (mistakenly) that I would only be ranting in cyberspace and save their poor eardrums. No more would they have to listen to me curse (in a sedated manner) about people who shouldn't be driving if they don't know the road rules.

Speaking of which, this week's particular sore point is with drivers who don't know/ understand/ care about the roundabout rules! Grrrr. I cross alot of roundabouts in my daily driving and I'm sick of drivers who completely ignore the rules and think that by just approaching a roundabout that it's all theirs.

Anyway that's enough for today and it probably has saved my children's eardrums for the moment.