I've checked out Zoho Writer and created a document and spreadsheet. I looked at all the other types of reports, shows, wikis, etc. that can be used in Zoho - almost too much! Some of the business apps I won't be using - but the basic ones - docs, spreadsheets, and online processing I will. I'm trying to keep track of the reviews for children's books and right now they are in multiple places, including on pads of paper. The spreadsheet is perfect for keeping them all together in one document. I'll also be using the online word processing for meeting minutes.
I'm glad to know about Zoho. Unfortunately, now I'll have no excuses for not doing work at home!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Delicious is Great!
Just used Delicious for the first time and I'm glad to know that it's as easy to use as everyone says. It was easy to set up my account. Since I'm doing research for a presentation next fall that I've never done before, and don't know enough about yet, it's great to be able to see the tags of other related sites. I like that I don't have to waste time going to each site separately and that they are all bookmarked in one place. Awesome source! The Delicious tutorial I used was really helpful too.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I Still Prefer Reading "Real" Books
I know that all the new technologies are supposed to make our life easier and help us to be even more connected but...why does it seem to take me so long to learn these new things? I admit that I really want a MP3 player so I'm trying to complete the 13 things in the technology tapas program here at work. I just never seem to have time to do it and now it's almost too late! I'll be going away on vacation at the end of the week and I still have so much to learn!
In the time it's taken me to decide what RSS feeds I want to subscribe to, I could have read a few chapters of a book! Am I too old to get this quickly? I am now on Twitter and it is addictive but I still feel a little guilty for doing it and not something more "productive" - like reading the children's book I'm supposed to read to review for a professional journal or the car manual for my new(ish) car.
I guess I can justify the fact I've just subscribed to the NYT Book Review as a valuable use of learning how to subscribe to RSS feeds. I can't afford to get the print version, especially since it will soon be $5 for Sunday's paper, but now I can read it this way. It's not that I couldn't before but now I don't have to wade through all the news in the paper to get to that section. Since I now have a bunch of book review sources all in one place I can compare the reviews all at once.
Wish I'd had this when I was doing book ordering in the public library!
Now that I think about it, the time I save by having it all in the same place means I will have more time to read those "real" books too! Okay, I guess I've convinced myself that this really is a good thing.
In the time it's taken me to decide what RSS feeds I want to subscribe to, I could have read a few chapters of a book! Am I too old to get this quickly? I am now on Twitter and it is addictive but I still feel a little guilty for doing it and not something more "productive" - like reading the children's book I'm supposed to read to review for a professional journal or the car manual for my new(ish) car.
I guess I can justify the fact I've just subscribed to the NYT Book Review as a valuable use of learning how to subscribe to RSS feeds. I can't afford to get the print version, especially since it will soon be $5 for Sunday's paper, but now I can read it this way. It's not that I couldn't before but now I don't have to wade through all the news in the paper to get to that section. Since I now have a bunch of book review sources all in one place I can compare the reviews all at once.
Wish I'd had this when I was doing book ordering in the public library!
Now that I think about it, the time I save by having it all in the same place means I will have more time to read those "real" books too! Okay, I guess I've convinced myself that this really is a good thing.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
I'll even exercise for a trip to Italy!
Learning something new can be fun, especially if it's painless. I keep an open mind when seeing films and usually learn something from the guest speakers. But, some habits are more of a problem. I used to exercise regularly but haven't in about 5 years. I got out of the habit because I changed jobs, the commute is long and I find myself sitting more at work. The problem is that I've gained about 10 pounds. I've decided to take on the challenge to lose that weight before I go on vacation in May. Luckily I've just bought a townhouse that has lots of space around it to jog and there's even a health club within walking distance. No more excuses - Ten pounds here I come!
Ever heard of a theremin?
You learn things in the oddest places. I attend a film class on Monday nights. We see "soon to be released" films in a real movie theater. Guest speakers talk about aspects of the film - directors, actors, production designers, cops - you never know the speaker will be. We saw the film "Alien Trespass" with Eric McCormack last week. It's a nostalgic look at those so bad they're great alien/monster films of the 50s but with much better production values.
It's a beautifully shot film in gorgeous color. There's even a clip from The Blob in it. The film was okay - I'm not the biggest horror fan but the guest was awesome! This long-haired guy started setting up some kind of machine with an vertical antenna on the top and a loop antenna on the side that looked homemade. Then he started moving his hands around and we all heard those eerie SF sounds that you hear in all the SF films like that strange sounding music that's sung at the beginning of the original Star Trek episodes.
That's what a theremin is! An electronic musical instrument that you play without touching the instrument. Your hand motions control the volume and pitch. You have to rely on placing your fingers in just the right place to stay in key.
The player's name was Rob Schwimmer and he was amazing! He played along with the soundtrack to a classic film scored by Miklos Rozsa and had everyone in the theater mesmerized. The whole time I was just dying to try it but he wouldn't let anyone get near it.
It was great to learn something new while having fun watching a movie. Now I'm going to be listening for theremin music in all the films I see (& I see a lot).
It's a beautifully shot film in gorgeous color. There's even a clip from The Blob in it. The film was okay - I'm not the biggest horror fan but the guest was awesome! This long-haired guy started setting up some kind of machine with an vertical antenna on the top and a loop antenna on the side that looked homemade. Then he started moving his hands around and we all heard those eerie SF sounds that you hear in all the SF films like that strange sounding music that's sung at the beginning of the original Star Trek episodes.
That's what a theremin is! An electronic musical instrument that you play without touching the instrument. Your hand motions control the volume and pitch. You have to rely on placing your fingers in just the right place to stay in key.
The player's name was Rob Schwimmer and he was amazing! He played along with the soundtrack to a classic film scored by Miklos Rozsa and had everyone in the theater mesmerized. The whole time I was just dying to try it but he wouldn't let anyone get near it.
It was great to learn something new while having fun watching a movie. Now I'm going to be listening for theremin music in all the films I see (& I see a lot).
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