Feeding & watering

Week 4 #9

From a central place in my garden I can send water out to selected points in a very controlled manner via the use of pipes. In much the same way (but in reverse) RSS enables you to gather select blogs or feeds from around the virtual world and direct them to a central point of your choosing. (and you don't have to wait until 8 pm to do it!)

I have created my bloglines account and added the required number of blog links from YPRL participants, news sites, genealogy feeds, school library sites etc. This was very easy to do much to my relief. One thing I couldn't work out was how to display my Bloglines account. I tried to follow the instructions but they didn't work.

Realistically I have little interest in reading these feeds/blogs at this stage. I'm inclined to find them a time-waster but am prepared to be converted. Perhaps when I find more blogs that I want to revisit regularly I will sing RSS praises.

However it is possible that senior students who need to keep tabs on issues for English etc, may find this a convenient way to at least keep up with the current headlines. I could also see that if you wished to keep up with shared ideas in a particular area that a feed would save you the time of checking each newsletter etc individually. Perhaps YPRL could have a feed containing latest activities/news for subscribers.

Here ends my reflective piece on feeding ... and not a pat of manure to be seen!!!

Sowing seeds

Week 3 #7

Well I've turned my first sod of earth (both real & virtual). It was daunting, difficult and dirty & that was just the virtual garden ... the real thing was much easier. A fledging hedge (or is that a hedging fledge) has been planted on the west boundary and mulched heavily to counterbalance the complete lack of aerial sustenance this month.
Meanwhile in the virtual world there is no hedging getting down & dirty. The blog is growing slowly and may benefit from a companion planting of Flickr to speed it along. Flickr appeals to me more than blogs in terms of immediate practicalities. I've looked at photo sets of locations I visit, considered the likelihood of creating a Trip Planner & appreciated the ease with which I can privately share photos with family or friends. However, i have just tried to upload an image from my computer to this blog & it didn't work!
The seed has been sown but vitality of species unknown....

Postscript:

Today I successfully transplanted image from Flickr by simply copying the URL into the link provided by blogger.com. Not sure why I chose this photo... maybe it reminded me of something? No luck with other method.

The Lie of the land

Week 2 #4

When beginning any new project it is usually wise to begin at the (ha ha) grassroots and this is often where I "get blogged down" so to speak. I think about starting, do initial research, plan too big and then either move on to the next new thing or become overwhelmed by it all.
Sometimes I find the best way for me is to simply dive in (sorry no gardening metphor here) and start playing, solve problems on the way & reflect later.

However, this layout will suit me as it is structured, self-paced and allows for playing. The goals are easily achieved which maintains interest, and it is not overly ambitious so I won't feel swamped.

I generally don't have much problems with learning about topics if I'm motivated; the easiest part for me is playing. However I don't always follow through & I do get impatient if tools (read new technology) don't live up to expectations or aren't reliable OR aren't better than those they are replacing!

Novel Gardener

Week 1

Planting seeds.... of thought or of the botanical type ....both can be challenging, exhausting and satisfying. So this is the rather flimsy link between the 2 topics on which I shall blog at indiscriminate times.
Never a green thumb, I am attempting to bring change to a native (read ivy-clad) garden ca 1987 at the same time as I am hesitantly grappling (kid gloves at the ready) with the thorny issues of such species as the Common Wiki (latin name: resourcious anonymous), Podcasting (audious visualous) and the unattractively named Blog (verbalous diahorrea), amongst other trendy offerrings.

How each will seed, grow, bear fruit or wither on the vine, we (or rather I) will see.....