Here I come back after a short holiday.
Wikis are an amazing idea with so many potential applications both at work and in our personal lives. It is a great way to share ideas (especially the ones we are passionate about) and information.
I had a look at all the websites. I could not find the wiki for the Mint Museum, North Carolina. I did not have any technical problems going into the page by clicking the link on your web page, but I could not find it from the home page. It must be there, but is not easy to find.
The Book Lovers Wiki at the Princeton Public Library was a fine example of Libraries using wikis. I liked their simple design and the fact it was so easy to navigate. As I have a friend moving from Germany to Princeton within a month, I will definitely reccomend the library to her. The world is becoming smaller and smaller thanks to the technology. There is a possibility that the "six degreees of separation" idea will need to be revised soon.
The Wookieepedia wiki is a real gem. A group of like minded people can achieve much more than any one person.
Happy wikiing! (Does this word officially exist?)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
RSS feeds
I found this weeks topic interesting. It was plain sailing, with the recommended websites' RSS feeds, until I created an account with Google reader and tried to copy a URL into the box. I was copying the website of a particular high school, but it was coming out as a page out of Wikipedia. This was confusing. I then created an account with Bloglines and when I tried to copy the same URL a message popped up saying to check whether the site actually has RSS feeds, and sure enough it didn't. For a beginner, this message solves a problem of a predictable mistake.
Another feature I quite enjoyed was the "Bloglines quick picks". Dictionary.com Word of the day and A Phrase a Week are alredy my favourites.
For those interested in something completely different from Web 2.0, please read on...
Nothing Big Required, You Are Enough
Most of us have the feeling that we are here to accomplish something big in our lives, and if we haven’t done something that fits the bill we may feel as if we are waiting. We may feel incomplete, or empty, as if our lives don’t yet make sense to us, because they don’t line up with our idea of major accomplishment.
There is no need to hold ourselves to an old idea in the back of our minds that we need to make headlines or single-handedly save the world in order to validate our existence.
Staying in tune with our own values and living our lives in tune with our own vision is all we need in order to fulfill our time here. Our lives are a process of becoming so that we cannot help but cocreate; being who we are, responding to each moment as it comes, we can trust that this is enough.
Another feature I quite enjoyed was the "Bloglines quick picks". Dictionary.com Word of the day and A Phrase a Week are alredy my favourites.
For those interested in something completely different from Web 2.0, please read on...
Nothing Big Required, You Are Enough
Most of us have the feeling that we are here to accomplish something big in our lives, and if we haven’t done something that fits the bill we may feel as if we are waiting. We may feel incomplete, or empty, as if our lives don’t yet make sense to us, because they don’t line up with our idea of major accomplishment.
There is no need to hold ourselves to an old idea in the back of our minds that we need to make headlines or single-handedly save the world in order to validate our existence.
Staying in tune with our own values and living our lives in tune with our own vision is all we need in order to fulfill our time here. Our lives are a process of becoming so that we cannot help but cocreate; being who we are, responding to each moment as it comes, we can trust that this is enough.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Uploading an image using Blogger's photo upload tool
It worked. It is on the right hand side, the way I wanted and now typing the text, I wonder whether it will wrap around the image or appear below it.
Triple Moon and Mars
This is a beautiful image of the Moon I found on Flickr. Please follow the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8526154@N03/2068615062/. It was photographed by Renee Wirick. I've read the comments and found another beautiful image, of the moon and pampas grass taken by 5348 Franco. Please see link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12708811@N07/2067818451/.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Flickr fun
Some of my younger cousins, nieces and nephews send all their photos using Flickr or similar. I have stubbornly sent them via email. Time to join the rest of them...
After creating a flickr account and writing down yet another password, I've chosen a few photos to upload. The first time I somehow managed to upload just one photo. I expected the question "Add another photo" or similar, but it did not happen. Creating tags and description was easy. I then created a set and gave it a name and went about finding how to add more photos to an existing set. I tried frequently asked questions but did not find the answer. It did however point me to the Upload page. It was so plainly obvious where it was, if you just looked. I then uploaded several more photos, deleted one and tried the Organize button. I played with it for a while but cannot remember exactly what I did. By double clicking a photo I enlarged it to show it to a colleague and it opened up a whole new set of things one can do with the photos - and there it was - the Add to set button. I added all the photos to the same set, one by one. While doing this, I noticed that some photos have green buttons and one of them a red button underneath. The red one was private. By clicking the Change link next to it I could change it to Public. Viewed the photos as a slideshow as well.
As for the thought of the day, it is about embracing grief.
Although it may seem that doing so will push us into a deeper state of sadness, truly giving ourselves permission to be with whatever arises actually creates space for us to begin the healing process. This is because the act of grieving is a natural process, allowing us to sort through the range of emotions that are present in our everyday existence. Even though it may sometimes seem easier to involve ourselves in activities that take our minds off of our sadness, this will only make the route to healing more difficult. Unless we listen to where we are in the moment, the emotions we experience will only grow in intensity, and our feelings will manifest themselves in more powerful and less comfortable ways. Once we consciously acknowledge that these emotions are present, however, we are more able to soothe the sorrow of the moment.
When we allow ourselves to accept and deal with our loss fully, we will then be able to continue our life’s journey with a much more positive and accepting outlook. This will make it easier for us to see that our grief is ephemeral and, just like our moments of happiness, it will also come to pass.
After creating a flickr account and writing down yet another password, I've chosen a few photos to upload. The first time I somehow managed to upload just one photo. I expected the question "Add another photo" or similar, but it did not happen. Creating tags and description was easy. I then created a set and gave it a name and went about finding how to add more photos to an existing set. I tried frequently asked questions but did not find the answer. It did however point me to the Upload page. It was so plainly obvious where it was, if you just looked. I then uploaded several more photos, deleted one and tried the Organize button. I played with it for a while but cannot remember exactly what I did. By double clicking a photo I enlarged it to show it to a colleague and it opened up a whole new set of things one can do with the photos - and there it was - the Add to set button. I added all the photos to the same set, one by one. While doing this, I noticed that some photos have green buttons and one of them a red button underneath. The red one was private. By clicking the Change link next to it I could change it to Public. Viewed the photos as a slideshow as well.
As for the thought of the day, it is about embracing grief.
Although it may seem that doing so will push us into a deeper state of sadness, truly giving ourselves permission to be with whatever arises actually creates space for us to begin the healing process. This is because the act of grieving is a natural process, allowing us to sort through the range of emotions that are present in our everyday existence. Even though it may sometimes seem easier to involve ourselves in activities that take our minds off of our sadness, this will only make the route to healing more difficult. Unless we listen to where we are in the moment, the emotions we experience will only grow in intensity, and our feelings will manifest themselves in more powerful and less comfortable ways. Once we consciously acknowledge that these emotions are present, however, we are more able to soothe the sorrow of the moment.
When we allow ourselves to accept and deal with our loss fully, we will then be able to continue our life’s journey with a much more positive and accepting outlook. This will make it easier for us to see that our grief is ephemeral and, just like our moments of happiness, it will also come to pass.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The kaleidoscope of life
My challenge for today was not to worry too much about what the blog sounds like and to learn how to change templates. I've also had a look at several other blogs and got an idea of what other people are doing. I suppose I won't see whether the template changed for this post only or for the previous post as well until I actually publish it.
Here's my attempt at inserting an image:
Well, the first attempt didn't work. I went and searched Google images. I saved an image, clicked Add image button, found the location, clicked upload image and it didn't work. A message came up with a number to quote if I wished to find out more...
Second attempt:
This time it was uploaded and I clicked the Done button but I can't see it here. I'm going to try and publish the post to see what happens...
And for those enjoying a quiet moment of reflection, please continue reading...
We tend to gravitate toward people who are most like us, at least in the ways that make us feel comfortable. But life has its way of bringing us into contact with people who challenge us with their differences.
In a world of dualities, we have trouble defining ourselves without something opposite and can’t discover who we are. Without challenge, there is nothing to do and nothing to discover.
We will always run into people that are different from us, but the true challenge may be in finding ways to be at peace with this process.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Feeling stuck
I usually start my day with a cup of coffee in front of the computer. I read the news and my emails. One of the emails is from http://www.dailyom.com. I'd like to share these with you. Today's one is very appropriate, about feeling stuck, like me feeling stuck right now because I decided to choose a name for my blog that already exists and registering before actually creating the blog.
When we feel stuck in our lives it’s important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what’s keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear. If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can’t see ourselves, it’s because we don’t want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold. In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn’t be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what’s going on.
When we feel stuck in our lives it’s important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what’s keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear. If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can’t see ourselves, it’s because we don’t want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold. In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn’t be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what’s going on.
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