tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64412902011-12-12T16:03:39.413-08:00A compendium of ideas, tips and humor to enrich life.gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comBlogger651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-21977975983428480102009-06-05T20:04:00.000-07:002009-06-07T11:18:28.520-07:00

I 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-25738582679527881162009-03-02T18:56:00.001-08:002009-03-21T19:18:19.210-07:00

This 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-68971320368745191142008-12-02T12:09:00.000-08:002008-12-06T13:04:15.075-08:00

Holiday 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 Calendar

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-56729055767712746902008-11-09T10:58:00.000-08:002009-03-02T19:04:09.324-08:00

Here'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-48326848794765112772008-08-16T09:15:00.000-07:002008-08-16T09:19:12.946-07:00

These 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-72966500598884126722008-08-11T13:28:00.001-07:002009-03-19T10:41:01.732-07:00

I 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-26203770221877092772008-03-06T21:21:00.000-08:002008-03-06T21:36:32.223-08:00

Since 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-6806293611943731872007-10-30T07:45:00.001-07:002007-10-30T07:56:34.538-07:00

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-57995045640265594362007-10-29T22:58:00.000-07:002007-11-07T08:54:43.050-08:00

What 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-61094580429514748532007-10-21T10:08:00.000-07:002007-10-21T10:16:21.441-07:00

You 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-22204006352178204012007-10-03T12:33:00.000-07:002007-10-03T13:00:46.880-07:00

I 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-74472839118162075462007-09-08T09:57:00.002-07:002007-09-08T10:23:55.230-07:00

If 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-22531399218734183432007-09-01T11:31:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:25:14.342-07:00

I 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-6535547429379974752007-08-22T09:24:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:26:19.259-07:00

If 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-10544516508964477282007-07-15T08:11:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:27:48.781-07:00

I 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 are

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-10134726272217433532007-07-12T09:21:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:29:54.268-07:00

Another 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-14565998132676604872007-07-06T06:09:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:31:00.174-07:00

Why 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-37149322133602547472007-05-26T12:56:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:31:46.095-07:00

I'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 eyes

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-23282542002529720352007-05-21T06:23:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:33:18.382-07:00

At 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-22641820491557022502007-05-19T18:16:00.001-07:002007-09-08T10:34:03.073-07:00

I'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 in

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-19809596388051867892007-04-06T08:47:00.000-07:002007-04-06T10:05:53.533-07:00

For 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-37291869710065619052007-03-15T16:54:00.000-07:002007-03-15T16:55:59.795-07:00

If 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 Podcasts

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-39164035993010286862007-03-07T07:14:00.000-08:002007-03-07T07:20:54.833-08:00

Check 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-25718092430230919832007-02-08T07:23:00.000-08:002007-02-08T07:25:16.586-08:00

Check 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-1170461533490383062007-02-02T16:12:00.000-08:002007-02-02T16:15:37.831-08:00

If 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.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1169685543331101392007-01-24T16:39:00.000-08:002007-01-25T07:01:11.936-08:00

If you think librarians still wear their hair in buns and say shh, check out the movie of me trying out my fancy foot work using Dance Dance Revolution dance pads with Jenny Levine. Jenny is an Internet Development Specialist and Strategy Guide for the American Library Association (ALA); she also has her own blog titled, The Shifted Librarian. Jenny told me that libraries are using these dance

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1167697033828918512007-01-01T16:17:00.000-08:002007-01-01T16:17:13.886-08:00

For those Mac Users who want an alternative to iChat that connects to any computer, read about Skype. You can download the newest version, 2.0.0.6 that adds video for those using OS X 10.3.9 or later. It works on Intel Macs too.A Mac User friend and I tested it and found it easy to use with no problems; however, we agreed the quality of iChat's video and audio is much better.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1165961645706605642006-12-12T14:14:00.000-08:002007-11-07T08:43:11.233-08:00

Feeling crafty? Find out how to make a 6 foot tall recyclable Christmas tree using soda cans. What you need: Materials: Approx 400 soda cansConstruction Materials : PVC pipe for the trunk, construction markers for the branches, a drill to get the constructions flags into the PVC pipe.Time: 3 Months of soda drinking / 4 days of building

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1165851052303059722006-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:002006-12-11T07:30:52.393-08:00

I am amazed by the amount of social networking sites. A librarian friend, Beth Gallaway, invited me to iLike today and I LOVE it. Here's the description:Discover New MusicCheck out what your friends are listening to, browse the libraries of people with similar tastes, and get Free MP3 downloads by new artists matched to your own music tastes.Share and CompareShare music libraries with your

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1165247430506939752006-12-04T07:50:00.000-08:002006-12-04T07:50:30.596-08:00

Even if you don't spend a lot of time at YouTube, I recommend setting up playlists. Here are a few of my favorites:Sesame Street Pinball CountdownTaiko Drums Johnny Cash on Sesame Street

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1164564772661205962006-11-26T10:12:00.000-08:002006-11-26T10:12:52.680-08:00

Whether or not you remember when Guy Kawasaki was a software evangelist for Apple, you'll enjoy Guy's interview with Steve Wozniak. Start with Guy's blog entry, The Top Ten Things I Love Most About Woz or go directly to the video of the interview.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1164123672972779692006-11-21T07:41:00.000-08:002006-11-21T07:41:13.130-08:00

Perimeters, Boundaries and Borders is a fascinating collection of photographs posted on Flickr. It "explores the possibilities afforded to artists, architects, designers, and others for the creation of new types of objects, buildings, and products stemming from the increasing use of and integration between digital technologies for design and fabrication."If you want to see all of the photos at

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1162914323685132752006-11-07T07:45:00.000-08:002006-11-07T07:45:23.693-08:00

Drawn is "a multi-author blog devoted to illustration, art, cartooning and drawing. Its purpose is toinspire creativity by sharing links and resources."International Association of Fake Universities (IAFU) is a great site if you need a laugh or a novelty gift. You can create your own fun diploma free using the IAFU Magic Mill diploma generator.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1159885021628437962006-10-03T07:17:00.000-07:002006-10-03T07:17:01.676-07:00

Am I Annoying At this fun site you can vote on how annoying people and organizations are. After you read some background information you vote by choosing annoying, not annoying or undecided. You can also search for a variety of categories of celebrities. Here are a few of the A’s —A.C.L.U., Hank Aaron, Alexander the Great, Gene Autry. There are also lists of the most annoying of the year. For

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1157645541909795452006-09-07T09:12:00.000-07:002006-09-07T09:12:21.976-07:00

Darwin AwardsThe Darwin Awards "salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally kill themselves in really stupid ways." If you don't find black humor entertaining, skip this site. Founder, Wendy Northcutt, a graduate of University of California at Berkeley with a degree in molecular biology, began collecting the real stories in 1993. Besides her award-winning website

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1149525148472961722006-06-05T09:29:00.001-07:002006-06-05T09:33:42.993-07:00

If you like both mystery books and technology, check out You've Got Murder by Donna Andrews. Her main character is Turing Hopperan artificial intelligence personality (AIP).Another must for mystery lovers is Stop You're Killing Me, a "site to die for" with hundreds of authors, chronological lists of their books and even a character index.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1145969234379970972006-04-25T05:47:00.000-07:002006-04-25T05:47:14.536-07:00

Malcolm Gladwell, author of two of my favorite books, The Tipping Point and Blink began blogging in February. While all of his posts are interesting, The PitBull Paradox is great food for thought especially since statistics have such an impact on our lives.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1143941386405170382006-04-01T17:28:00.000-08:002006-04-01T17:36:16.316-08:00

Take a look at Kidzworld's list of kids' favorite pranks and practical jokes for April Fool's Day and see if it brings back memories. Did you ever do these?• put plastic wrap over toilet seats• set hidden alarm clocks to go off at very early times• put sugar in salt shakers• stick chalk in the blackboard erasers

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1143469033104474542006-03-27T06:17:00.000-08:002006-03-27T06:18:57.266-08:00

There are a variety of ways to keep up with teen lingo offered by Aaron Peckham at his Urban Dictionary website.You can subscribe to the Word of the Day, use your cell phone if it can send email or has a WAP browser, add a feed to your RSS reader, or put an auto-updating Urban Word of the Day on your website. See info on all of the cool tools.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1142263502337276792006-03-13T07:25:00.000-08:002006-03-13T07:25:02.373-08:00

If you need something really different for that special gift, try a custom bobblehead doll from Headbobble.The custom dolls are created from your photo. Prices range from $69 for an individual to $179 for a wedding couple. If you want dolls seated on the motorcycle of your choice, the bike will cost an additional $40.Here's the description, "Each one is specially made and goes through 3 full days

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1141132680737816962006-02-28T05:18:00.000-08:002006-02-28T05:18:00.773-08:00

If you own an iPod, don't miss Techeblog's Top 10 Strangest iPod Accessories.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1140388175104549762006-02-19T14:27:00.000-08:002006-02-19T14:30:18.116-08:00

If you are doing podcasts, check out the excellent tips Carson McComas, Internet marketing consultant, entrepreneur, search engine marketer, and web developer provides in his 20 Ideas for a Great Podcast blog entry.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1140369646553442972006-02-19T09:20:00.000-08:002006-02-19T09:22:04.006-08:00

I just discovered another wonderful Japanese character, a domo-kun—a small brown open-mouthed monster hatched from an egg who lives with a wise old rabbit underground. You can learn how to make a domo-kun ipod protector using this tutorial.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1140368649455293602006-02-19T09:02:00.000-08:002006-02-19T09:04:09.466-08:00

I mentioned the MAKE Magazine blog in my last post. In case you haven't checked it out yet, you may be intrigued by a recent entry—a LEGO Mindstorms robot—that detects the direction of sound and follows it!

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1136905642346499422006-01-10T07:06:00.000-08:002007-09-08T10:35:50.390-07:00

Check out these two blogs I've added to my RSS newsreader:MAKE magazine's blog - way cool info on do-it-yourself technologyGuy Kawasaki's Let the Good Times Roll - an eclectic mix of thoughts about innovation, technology, entrepreneurs and more

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1135530458547494442005-12-25T09:06:00.000-08:002007-05-26T12:38:59.746-07:00

Since it is the holiday season, I thought it fitting to check out a parody of the treasured film, It's a Wonderful Life—It's a Wonderful Internet.Serendipitous searching led me to a parody of the dreaded website 404 error—I have terrible news..I finally stopped with Chronicles of NANA - The Llama, The Gypsy & The Drawer.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1134314397567504632005-12-11T07:19:00.000-08:002005-12-11T07:24:01.653-08:00

Yesterday Gail Griffith, instructor for the Infopeople Tips and Tricks for Effective Library Supervision course, and I shared a few of the wonderful experiences one can have in downtown San Francisco. We decided that our first stop would be the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at the Yerba Buena Gardens. Located behind a majestic waterfall fifty feet high and twenty feet wide which cascades over

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1132083679115419662005-11-15T11:41:00.000-08:002005-11-15T11:42:34.573-08:00

Hooray, I just got the Mac OSX 3.0.1 version of Eric's Ultimate Solitaire! I had been using the free beta version for months and was thrilled to upgrade from version 1.0 for only $24.95. The regular price is only $29.95. If you haven't tried it, read the review from Inside Macintosh Shareware.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1130963427829825012005-11-02T12:30:00.000-08:002005-11-02T12:31:56.936-08:00

Why not surprise someone with their own name or special message on a browser home page? See my samples—Google and YahooMake your own at Logo Maker.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1130025945796685152005-10-22T17:05:00.000-07:002007-05-26T12:35:46.623-07:00

Serendipitous searching happens when your quest for information on a particular topic leads you unexpectedly to find something interesting — whether or not the result is connected to your original query.The Internet makes it much easier to experience this type of searching.I decided to search for the phrase "serendipitous searching" to find out more about the topic and not only did I find

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1129126099399799232005-10-12T07:08:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:45:52.136-08:00

Mac OS X users can keep track of library books using Library Books by Harold Chu. Not only does the program connect to multiple library catalogues, download lists of books you have checked out at each and display them in your menu bar, but also can automatically add entries to iCal to remind you to return or renew them. You can also sync your Palm handheld or mobile and be reminded while on the

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1128615634323253432005-10-06T09:20:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:46:38.633-08:00

Here are some of my favorite RSS feeds:43 Folders provides a wealth of tips in four areas: 1) productivity and time management, 2) Mac OS X programs and technologies, 3) ideas about modest ways to improve your life and reduce stress, and4) cool or helpful shortcuts that makes life a bit easierEhow provides clear instructions on how to do (just about) everythingIT Conversations is a listener- and

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1127514270396291372005-09-23T15:24:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:47:14.563-08:00

Take a look at this wonderful video from a segment on 60 Minutes with Dan Rather. I first heard about Songs of Love when it was featured on the Today Show in 1998 and have donated funds every year since.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1127513038712388802005-09-23T15:03:00.000-07:002005-11-15T12:02:50.433-08:00

If you are a Macintosh Tiger user and haven't discovered these free or inexpensive items, be sure to check them out. The links take you to Versiontracker where you can read reviews and then download the software to try it.iClip helps you save time and be more efficient with most everything you do on your Mac. Store various types of clippings in iClip's bins and access them whenever you need them

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1126053355361365832005-09-06T17:35:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:49:38.346-08:00

As you can see from my previous post, I signed up at LibraryThing. That magical thing came to me by way of Sarah Houghton's post on another cool site, Infoblog from Infopeople.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1126052861548892722005-09-06T17:27:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:49:04.720-08:00

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1124721917649916232005-08-22T07:45:00.000-07:002005-11-15T12:01:48.813-08:00

Now that I have MarsEdit, "a weblog editor for Mac OS X that makes weblog writing like writing email—with spell-checking, drafts, multiple windows, and even AppleScript support," I hope to keep on track by entering my interesting thoughts and activities more frequently. Thank goodness I used December to get ready for a full and varied travel schedule in January.Two days before I was to drive to

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1101485523443534982004-11-26T08:07:00.000-08:002005-11-15T12:00:51.956-08:00

If you are both a book collector and a Macintosh iSight camera owner, be sure to check out Delicious Library software at (http://www.delicious-monster.com). The software lets you enter your books into a database just by scanning the barcode using your iSight camera.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1090079076894700872004-07-17T08:18:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:59:56.390-08:00

The last three months have been so full—teaching a five week online course, Effective Time Management for Library Staff, writing for and editing the CLENExchange, a quarterly newsletter of the Continuing Library Education and Networking Exchange Round Table of the American Library Association. Copies can be downloaded at (http://www.ala.org/ala/clenert/newsletter/newsletter.htm), taking an

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1081305226005833762004-04-06T19:19:00.000-07:002005-11-15T11:57:07.676-08:00

March really flew by. On the 12th, I coordinated a staff day for the Sonoma County Library at the San Francisco Public Library. I took Amtrak from Sacramento to San Francisco. I got off the connecting bus at the San Francisco Center, home of Nordstrom's and stopped in at one of my favorite travel stores, Going In Style (see the website at http://www.goinginstyle.com). After a great customer

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1078887681064910972004-03-09T18:51:00.000-08:002005-11-15T11:54:48.266-08:00

I frequently attend library association conferences. The most recent one was sponsored by the Public Library Association from February 24-28 and held in Seattle. What a wonderful time I had—seeing the city (including the Pike Place Market Fish Company of the FISH! Philosophy fame), learning new things and spending time with old and new friends in the library field. One of my new friends is

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1077249865712588142004-02-19T19:57:00.000-08:002005-11-15T11:54:12.606-08:00

Tonight brought another fun Macintosh computer experience. Bob Seigel, a friend who lives in Graettinger, Iowa and I used our iSight cameras and iChat software to view and talk with each other.

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1076201401470989652004-02-07T16:39:00.000-08:002005-11-15T12:00:21.196-08:00

What a wonderful experience I had today at a computer user group workshop. I am one of the founders of MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh users group and I am always amazed at how willing people are to volunteer their time to help others become more computer literate. Today, my first stop was Triage (the computer repair service), where I got answers to both hardware and software questions. My

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1076118929864085372004-02-06T17:42:00.001-08:002005-11-15T11:52:38.573-08:00

One of my favorite computer related purchases of 2003 is the Postworx Speed Ball detachable feet for laptops. I bought mine for $9.95 from one of my favorite vendors, Small Dog Electronics. You can see them at http://www.smalldog.com/product/12653064

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441290.post-1076099080158026972004-02-06T12:19:00.000-08:002005-11-15T11:51:35.810-08:00

My name is Gail McGovern. I am an independent consultant based in Sacramento, California. I specialize in planning and training for nonprofit organizations. My business card title is Planning and Training Wizard and my goal is to empower people to succeed. This blog will describe anything I think may be useful or fun.For more information about me, see my website at http://www.gailmcgovern.info

gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872140032314415974noreply@blogger.com