Bookmarking fun

Social bookmarking has applications for personal and work uses. Delicious allows access to topics you like without all the usual trawling through sites. Technorati and others allow an easy way to organise your reading and to discover more in the line of reading you enjoy from similar readers. This is personal enjoyment plus helps with Reader Advisory at work. Telling others about the site allows them to make their own discoveries and go beyond what you could tell them as everyone's reading habits are different and changing. Loved this one the most of all the "licence" thingies and will probably go home and do some homework !!!!!!

RSS could save heaps of time to follow an interest if you were a disciplined person and not prone to distraction. Love what I found but still worried about the contribution the increased time sitting at a computer makes to the nation's obesity levels!!!!!

Blog Comment: creates an avenue for communication and updating of ideas for people especially for those who are attached to a computer all day. Libraries have to keep up to date with all the new electronic communications to maintain credibility as places of information exchange.

Meeting Wiki for the first time

Short intro but can see applications for like minded groups. Inviting open user facilities could allow for more infection of information and confusion. That, of course, is only a first impression. Moe readind etc of it could easily change all that. Loved the link to Cafes anad Libraries. Want to visit Cup and Chaucer.

childhood magic

Paronella Park is an extraordinary place built by a Spanish immigrant many years ago.

In tropical rainforest outside of Innisfail, battling torrential rains, snakes and the obstacles of isolation, without the benefit of heavy machinery,he constructed a Spanish castle from local rocks he hewed by hand. The first electric lighting for the region was provided by a hydro electric system that he set up using natural waterfalls on the property.

Gardens, fountains, walkways encircled the castle and its outbuildings. As a child, this was the stuff of my fairytale books for me. Visits gave sparkle to the imagination and summer girly frocks became flowing princess gowns and imaginary tiaras glinted in the special crystal light in the centre of the ballroom as I tiptoed down the wide rock staircase. At 16, I was bridesmaid for a cousin who had the reception at Paronella Park and the magic had not died. It seemed everyone twirled in diaphanous gowns.

Time and the passing of the creator dulled the magic and the jungle started to reclaim its heritage. It had a resurgence in popularity with new owners but then the vindictive fury of Cyclone Larry crushed their hopes and again Paronella Park was still as if the princesses and princes were in hibernation. I am not sure what the status of the park is at the moment but seeing the photo on Flickr brought those childhood memories flooding back and the magic is still there. May it be revived to give magic for many little girls in the future.

Are we losing something?

Blogging, twittering ... are the fast responses eliminating the necessity for rational responses? Do people just want to see their names up in "lights"? Is it the "me" generation? Is it the "I want" generation? Does everyone need their 5 minutes of fame? Are we losing the sensitivity of considering the person to whom we are talking?
... and all of this is composed of questions which of course usually necessitates an answer. Do I want a "blog" answer or would I prefer to have a conversation with someone who considers the question and the verbal answer is accompanied by the human touch of body language and other interruptions that can lead to further erudite conversation? Oops ... another question !!!