Conclusion

Well guys, I have to say that I have really enjoyed partaking in this little exercise!It's been valueable in so far as it has shed light on how Gen Yers use technology for communciation, information retrieval and social networking. Now how we might use it all practically in our workplace is not clear yet. . . .brave new world. Thanks to all the helping hands along the 23 things journey!

Communication

Skype, MSN Messenger and Meebo - I'm all for them if they cut your 'phone bill down on those long distance calls. Only problem is your buddies need to be around when you are. Also - a word of warning - you can be stalked. I no longer use Skype because that happened to me.

Podcasts

Well, well, now I understand what the cause of the build up in the galactic traffic (space stations, roving telescopes) is these days - it's your friends from NASA who are getting to know what life is really like out here in the Universe. I've subscribed to "This week at NASA'"podcast and "Swinburne Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing" to keep up to date myself with any research we could help you with - the only problem is how to communicate it to you - I think your Jodie Foster made an attempt some years ago to bridge our communication gap.

Wikis and video sharing

Please look out for Amber Wark. She's the one with the foils that you can't get at the hairdressers!

Library 2.0 movement

Now I understand why we are doing the 23 things program - to keep up with the changes in Libraries ! I think it's great that we are welcoming the two-way flow approach to service through embracing the Library 2.0 service model. The Encore interface is very inviting and gives the patrons much more control over their searching. EBSCOhost 2.0 seems to offer this as well.

Delicious

Delicious was very clearly explained to me as a way of sharing favourite bookmarks with buddies. So now I can travel anywhere in the Universe and still find my favourites and the favourites of friends. Didn't understand how 'tags' worked but now do. They are like an index to finding your bookmarks. Have added a couple of interesting bookmarks to my 'Delicious' but you won't find them because I'm not sharing just yet. . .

Google Docs

Have created a document but don't think I'll be using Google Docs. However....I can see its merit if you were to be working on a document produced by a group of people that would need constant revision - a procedures manual maybe??

iGoogle

I L-O-V-E iGoogle!!!I've included a Movies gadget and can watch trailer after trailer AND be late into a movie session if I so choose!!It's a great way of following your interests from the comfort of home or wherever and you can bring it all together in the one spot.

Google Book Search and Scholar

As suggested, searched for The Missing Manual but felt a little more adventurous so tried looking for Around the World in Eighty Days. Tried an 'All books' search first and got 8 pages including a very welcome surprise - a biography on Audrey Hepburn. Don't ask me how that got there! With a 'Limited Preview and Full View' search got 5 pages and they included weird and wonderful titles. The 'Full View' search produced 17 pages.

Using Google Scholar was quite the learning experience. Stumbled and bumbled my way through all sorts of permutations to look for books and articles by Victoria University. My antennae went into overdrive. The most challenging part of the search was working out how to eliminate any hits that involved Victoria University in Wellington, NZ. Would anyone like to share how they did it????

Google Maps

Just checked for the route from home (in the western 'burbs) to Belgrave and it didn't mention that it is advisable to have an e-tag when travelling through the Burnley tunnel and on Eastlink. Does anyone know if it's possible to get a couple of alternate routes shown?

MySpace and Facebook

Most of the MySpace library pages were colourful and very, very creatively done. I can see why young humans would find them appealing - lots of stuff. I was soooooo excited about trying to find people on Facebook but so far have only tracked down the family. Who can I try next???The beauty of both networks is that they bring people together from every single part of planet Earth.

RSS feeds

Found the Google Reader Tutorial most helpful in setting up an RSS feeder. In my humble opinion (ant's brain)it was much clearer than the kooky introductory video. I've add 3 "out of this world" subscriptions so far. . . 'Astronomy and Space Now', 'Astronomy Today' and Science @ NASA'. I'm so excited - just added 'Digg' to my list of subscriptions! Just took a better look at what you get with 'Digg' and I don't dig it!!!

Library Thing

Looking into the future we might be able to visit neighbouring galaxies. Would you like that?I've started preparing for it and thought I'd like to share these handy tools so that you will have an understanding and be able to converse with your galactic neighbours.

I didn't have a Library Thing account so started by establishing one. After searching Library Thing I found some fun titles under 'intergalactic' and added them to my library. Didn't really like the options for the visual arrangement but for the sake of the exercise chose one anyway. After viewing the titles on my blog, decided that the arrangement wasn't ideal and went back to Library Thing, chose another arrangement and then edited the posting on my blog. Voila!

Image chef

There are even galactic images on 'Image chef'! In case you don't recognise this symbol, it's for the constellation of sexy Scorpio!

Flickr here, Flickr there, Flickr everywhere

Just had loads of fun with Flickr! Started with searching under "Galaxies" and after sifting through a mixed bag of Flickr portfolios with this tag, actually found some beautiful astrophotos of Milky Way planets. Before you go to bed tonight see what beauty is up above and all around!!!

Comment on JEENI blog

I was really taken with the photo of the Welsh castle and the red dragon in the foreground looks stunning. Haven't been to Wales and have only met a few people who have this heritage. It's the land of the fairy folk they say. . . . can anyone vouch for that. . .how about you, Jeeni, are you fairy-like?

In a galaxy far, far away

If you are wondering about your place in the scheme of things (and because I'm so little I always do..) just remember that our home is just one of two hundred billion galaxies, each containing an average of 400,000,000 stars in THE UNIVERSE.



If you are wondering if there is life out there in those other galaxies far, far away. . . rest assured there is. . . .

Milky Way galaxy in a nutshell

• Contains billions of stars of which the planet Earth is only one.


• Our galaxy is about 10 billion years old


• It is an "average" galaxy


• It has a spiral structure


• We have a Bulge in our galaxy and at the centre of the bulge is our belly button - a Supermassive dark hole. It is alo our Galactic Center (my hangout)


• Our Sun is 30,000 light-years away from my hangout

- AstronomyOnline.org

You are a child of the Universe

Greetings human!

Welcome to this site that will take you on a magical journey of galaxies. As Les Crane says "No less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding...as it should". Let's take a look at where we are, the Milky Way and then at galaxies far, far away......