tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64412902024-03-05T22:03:16.582-08:00Gail McGovern's Magical ThingsA compendium of ideas, tips and humor to enrich life.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-21977975983428480102009-06-05T20:04:00.000-07:002009-06-07T11:18:28.520-07:00Internet Search Strategies Workshop LinksI discussed these websites during my June 6, 2009 MacNexus workshop.1. Help Pages from Popular Search Enginesa. Google b. Yahoo2. Evaluation ChecklistHow To Evaluate information3. Tutorialsa. Bare Bones 101: A Basic Tutorial on Searching the Web b. Internet for Beginners c. Finding People 4. Selected Specialized Databasesa. General Refdeskb. Health Information Medlineplus c. Mac Support Apple gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-25738582679527881162009-03-02T18:56:00.001-08:002009-03-21T19:18:19.210-07:00Even More Waycool WebsitesThis installment of way cool websites compiled for Interface, the monthly newsletter of MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh User Group. This list covers December 2008 through April 2009.Blogs• AllFacebook For those of you who are wondering about putting information on a Facebook page, this blog is a great resource. If you aren’t sure the best way to make information private, be sure to read the gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-68971320368745191142008-12-02T12:09:00.000-08:002008-12-06T13:04:15.075-08:00Websites for the HolidaysHoliday Cooking and Crafts1. Kaboose.com family website 2. Make-Stuff.com crafts3. Preparing a Turkey Dinner Entertaining Kids1. A Kid’s Heart activities for kids 2. FREE Christmas software games 3. Santa’s Village Financial Tips1. Today Show Tech & Money 2. Living Debt-Free 3. GasBuddy gas price search Miscellaneous Holiday Information1. U.S. Government holiday info 2. U.S. Holiday iCal Calendargailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-56729055767712746902008-11-09T10:58:00.000-08:002009-03-02T19:04:09.324-08:00More Waycool WebsitesHere's the next installment of way cool websites compiled for Interface, the monthly newsletter of MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh User Group. This list covers September through November 2008.AnnualCreditReport.com This site is the ONLY centralized service authorized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-48326848794765112772008-08-16T09:15:00.000-07:002008-08-16T09:19:12.946-07:00Great Tips from AARP onlineThese three articles from AARP provide really useful and easy-to-understand information.Cash Flow Control: Ten Easy Tips to Help You Make the Most of Your Money includes info about the unique risks of debit cards, and how they differ from credit cards. Watch Your Documents Overseas includes a variety of info, e.g. guarding against theft and how to avoid excessive cell phone charges. Can’t Afford gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-72966500598884126722008-08-11T13:28:00.001-07:002009-03-19T10:41:01.732-07:00Way Cool WebsitesI write a monthly column of way cool websites for the MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh User Group. I have decided to post them here instead of emailing them to a select group. Here is a compilation of those I have included in July and August 2008 lists. Bad FadsThis site “was created to take a fun and nostalgic look at fashions, collectibles, activities and events which are cherished by some gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-26203770221877092772008-03-06T21:21:00.000-08:002008-03-06T21:36:32.223-08:00Where Has the Time GoneSince my last entry, my life has been a whirlwind of activity. Looking at the life map I did for my Infopeople online course, Effective Time Management for Library Staff gives a quick overview of my commitments. I made this life map using Inspiration mindmapping software (available for both Macintosh and Windows). Check it out by downloading a free 30 day trial.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-6806293611943731872007-10-30T07:45:00.001-07:002007-10-30T07:56:34.538-07:00FREE Fun Custom Images This cool example of visual poetry is really simple to create. Register for a free Image Chef account and then use the poem feature. You can write a comment or poem in the shape of hearts or other symbols and easily post it to MySpace or your blog.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-57995045640265594362007-10-29T22:58:00.000-07:002007-11-07T08:54:43.050-08:00At the 2007 California Library AssociationWhat a whirlwind four days I spent at the 2007 California Library Association! Here I am in the Maze of Technology showing the differences between an iPhone and an iPod Touch. I'm the one with the orange apron.One of my roles for Infopeople involved coordinating presentations by master speakers; after months of communicating with Craig Newmark, Craigslist founder, futurist Bob Treadway, Shawn gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-61094580429514748532007-10-21T10:08:00.000-07:002007-10-21T10:16:21.441-07:00Halloween NecessityYou can order this Halloween necessity from one of my favorite online gift sources, Archie McPhee. Yes for only $17.95, you can have your own Creepy Hand Bowl.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-22204006352178204012007-10-03T12:33:00.000-07:002007-10-03T13:00:46.880-07:00Pot-Shots from Ashleigh BrilliantI have been an Ashleigh Brilliant fan since I first saw his pot-shot postcards and books in the 80's.If you aren't familiar with his work, brilliant thoughts in 17 words or less, be sure to visit his website.I'm writing about him now because his creations are now available on t-shirts. The one I bought would be a great gift for baby boomers or anyone who feels like an older person!gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-74472839118162075462007-09-08T09:57:00.002-07:002007-09-08T10:23:55.230-07:00Yahoo's Easy Avatar DesignIf you haven't designed an avatar yet, check out Yahoo Avatars. Then use your creation with Yahoo! Messenger. I designed mine as a reminder of my disco days.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-22531399218734183432007-09-01T11:31:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:25:14.342-07:00Teaching Classes for Macintosh UsersI teach classes at monthy workshops sponsored by MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh computer user group. I used my iPhone to take this photo of some of the attendees looking at websites during a class on how to search the Internet.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-6535547429379974752007-08-22T09:24:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:26:19.259-07:00Preventing Computer Stress InjuriesIf you find yourself getting stiff or just concerned about the number of hours you sit at a computer, think about looking at advice from a few sources as well as trying software. The software I am testing out is MacBreakZ Macintosh software (by the same company, Ergonomix is available for Windows). It reminds you it's time to take a break and provides exercises on a timed schedule that you can gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-10544516508964477282007-07-15T08:11:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:27:48.781-07:00My Personalized Logo ItemsI have become a fan of t-shirts and baseball caps, so I decided to see what my logo would look like. I wore the outfit shown here at the American Library Association 2007 annual conference held in Washington, D.C.My earrings are also part of my wizard identity. Since I don't want to have my ears pierced, I am always on the look out for interesting clip-on earrings. For this look, I found what aregailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-10134726272217433532007-07-12T09:21:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:29:54.268-07:00Exploring Web 2.0 ToolsAnother milestone along my Web 2.0 learning curve happening today!I've had this blog since 2004 and have tried out lots of new online tools over the years, however, I've not learned much about html. I'm a "template kind of person" who likes to find easy to understand examples and just customize them with my specifics.I'm a Mac user and for blog entries, I use MarsEdit, a shareware program that gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-14565998132676604872007-07-06T06:09:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:31:00.174-07:00On BloggingWhy are blogs so captivating both to read and to write?Flash back to 2002 by reading these two articles...• The Blog Phenomenon by John D. Dvorak in PC Magazine online in February 2002• The Blogging Revolution by Andrew Sullivan in the May 2002 issue of Wired MagazineDvorak, a technology columnist provided a list of reasons why people blog (i.e. write personal diaries online): • ego gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-37149322133602547472007-05-26T12:56:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:31:46.095-07:00Magical Serendipitous SearchingI've mentioned serendipitous searching in past entries and today my latest encounter really was magical!I listened to a segment on NPR during which synesthesia was mentioned. I wondered if my experiences in seeing colors while my eyes are closed were related. My experiences didn't seem connected, so I decided to do a Google search to return sites with all of the following words: seeing color eyesgailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-23282542002529720352007-05-21T06:23:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:33:18.382-07:00Pacific Rim Street FestivalAt Sacramento's 15th annual Pacific Rim Street Festival this weekend, I posed with one of the Lee–Jet-Don Lion Dancers, a Sacramento-based group that puts on traditional Chinese lion dance performances at local events. How magical is that?gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-22641820491557022502007-05-19T18:16:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:34:03.073-07:00On Magical ThingsI've decided to add a new element to this blog — to keep a weekly log of experiences I've had or things I've read that made a "magical impact" on me.This week I had a wonderful evening with Carole, a friend I've known for over forty years. We met during college and both live in the same city, but don't usually see each other more than a few times a year. We caught up on what had been happening ingailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-19809596388051867892007-04-06T08:47:00.000-07:002007-04-06T10:05:53.533-07:00Vintage Library Catalog CardsFor those days when you find keeping up with new technology wearing and miss the old days, mix technology with nostalgia by using John Blyberg's Catalog Card Generator to create virtual library catalog cards for your books or other possessions.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-37291869710065619052007-03-15T16:54:00.000-07:002007-03-15T16:55:59.795-07:00Podcast PotpourriIf you haven't checked what you can either listen to or watch online or even download to your iPod recently, take another look. Here are some of my favorites:Sit Down Comedy with David SteinbergCoffee Break SpanishTED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) TalksReal Time with Bill MaherNPR programsNolo Press Legal Podcastsgailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-39164035993010286862007-03-07T07:14:00.000-08:002007-03-07T07:20:54.833-08:00My First Frappr MapCheck out this neat new social networking site, Frappr, http://www.frappr.com/Make a map where others who share your interests can join you. This one is for Macintosh enthusiasts. gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-25718092430230919832007-02-08T07:23:00.000-08:002007-02-08T07:25:16.586-08:00Interactive Learning Sources OnlineCheck out these outstanding websites.Newseum The Newseum is the world's first interactive museum of news. Opened in Arlington (VA) in 1997, its mission is to help the public and the news media understand one another better. Be sure to look at two outstanding online features: Today’s Front Pages, a showcase of over 450 front pages of newspapers around the world and Pulitzer Prize Photos, gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1170461533490383062007-02-02T16:12:00.000-08:002007-02-02T16:15:37.831-08:00A Website to Help You Generate IdeasIf you could use some "fun ideas to stimulate your creativity," visit Creative Think by Roger von Oech, author of A Whack on the Side of the Head and the Creative Whack Pack. For you Mac enthusiasts, be sure to look at von Oech's entry about Andy Hertzfeld and Alan Kay.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0