Reflection

I am going to use this break to reflect on all I have done over the last month. 

I am now pretty used to Blogger and so far it has done everything I have needed it to. 

I go on to iGoogle less and less now that Wimbledon is over but it did get me into the habit of checking Tube updates, which is good.  I deleted my First Great Western RSS feed fairly swiftly, as I got a list of every single train running and how late they were.  I will however set up feeds in the future, as I can see their potential.  Google Reader now tends to be the way I keep an eye on other 23 Things blogs and I am also acquiring quite a random knowledge of all things ice cream due to my Google Alert.

Reflecting on Things 8-9 made me realise that I had not utlised them again since.  I was about to write that it was because I had had no need for pictures but then I remembered my blog, so here you go:

Funnily enough trying to use Flickr this time, I soon discovered the same problems others had encountered - I was struggling to find an image to show exactly what I meant.  I was being a good librarian and thinking of related search terms when I remembered that I actually had the perfect photo myself for one of these other terms.

I have found myself straying back to Facebook.  I think I need time to appreciate Twitter, as at the moment I just log on, quickly scroll down and log off.  Just in the last day or two however I have become aware of one distinct advantage.  I have started to notice that I am reading things in newpapers, which I was already aware of a few days ago thanks to Twitter, for example, can a macaque own copyright?!

I have taken the opportunity to explore LinkedIn in more detail, even looking at the profiles of some respected library professionals.  I am resolved in my conclusion that I should not join until I will be able to dedicate the time to keeping it up-to-date.

I am looking forward to the rest of the Things.

Things 4-7 + Cool Extra Thing

I have experimented with setting up a homepage like iGoogle before, and found that features such as the weather forecast are a novelty to start with but that this soon wears off.  With that said, I am currently enjoying Wimbledon updates and also hope that it will stop me forgetting to check the tube before leaving work.  I was most tempted by the games (my beloved Bejewelled was available) but as it is for work I decided I should probably steer clear so just added London Daily Photo and Spider, as a bit of frivolity.

Trying to find a RSS feed made me realise that there aren't really any websites that I check daily.  I had a flash of inspiration however and checked First Great Western.  I was met with an unpleasant list of cancellations and delays but I guess it is better to be prepared.  It took a while to find the actual feed but Google Reader itself was simple and I found the blogs that I am following were already there waiting for me.   I set up some folders to help manage my different subscriptions.

Extra Cool Thing -

Again my lack of searching for meaningful things regularly became apparent and my first idea for heartwarming pictures of baby guinea pigs was thwarted, as you could not filter by image!  I then remembered my developing obsession for all things ice cream and am proud that I think I have successfully managed to limit to UK updates.

I have found this week more time consuming than last, this wasn't due to the tasks themselves, but more with trying to think of sites and searches of interest.  I can see how the Google Alerts in particular could be of use to others, I was intrigued by the concept of keeping an eye on your competitors this way, as I have never worked in that kind of field.