meehoe's blog

Assessment #2 Blog Post

2007-06-11T22:12:00.001+10:00

I think after all this blogging I have learnt that blogging is now essential to most people's lives as a form of expressing themselves to the world. Some people use their blog to introduce new ideas, make themselves heared when no one is listening in the real world, share facts to change anothers view on a subject or even just do it as a means of communicating between friends.

In this blog I have learned how to use different websites such as Technorati, Flickr, Del.icio.us, and Blogger!

From Blogger, I have gathered that aesthetics of a page can give a really good or really bad first impression before someone has even read the content. Colour is on of the major components in aesthetics and a bright colour can capture attention as well as lose it! Not looking to busy on the layout makes it easier on your viewers eyes and loads faster; people these days don't have much patience! I recon flash and/or quicktime takes too long and sometimes doesn't work on some computers. As for content I think that it is pretty subjective to individuals. Most of my blog is fact of my interest and currently puttting some funny ones to entertain myself (and maybe some of you guys too!). Since the start I have changed the layout from the default. I recon it's pretty easy to read now as for function I recon the Del.icio.us links I have help me a lot in my work as well as in my assignments. Even now I constantly refer to them as a source of my favourite recipes that I use daily. I have used my blog as a home page in other people's computer to retrieve links that are needed at the time. Although I wouldn't have said this earlier in the year I have found Blogger quite useful! I haave used Flickr to share my pictures with my friends iin different countries, with Flickr they have been given an insght into my life here in Australia. With some of the pictures, they have taught me that for example using a wrong font in a signage can lead to many misunderstandings.

All in all, although I have not really mastered the art of blogging I have found that this amazing idea of blogging...amazing. Not just learning from whats taught in the classroom but learning from all the other classmates and could share what everone is doing at anytime at a click of the mouse.

Visitors to my blog

2007-06-11T22:04:00.000+10:00

Visitors to my site

a detailed summary of who has visited my site

VISITS

Total 69
Average Per Day 4
Average Visit Length 5:43
Last Hour 4
Today 11
This Week 25

PAGE VIEWS

Total 251
Average Per Day 9
Average Per Visit 2.5
Last Hour 31
Today 48
This Week 62

I have found that not many people have visited my blog. Perhaps the conent is not interesting to other blog users...

:(

The new look

2007-06-11T21:47:00.001+10:00

This is the new look of my blog! Do you like it?

Compare it with my old blog :

What do you think?

Screen captures of some good and bad blogs

2007-06-11T20:48:00.000+10:00

Good blogs and Interesting Layouts

These blogs are different ot the rest in terms of layout.

Bad Aesthetics

Too busy...don't know where to start. Literally stumbled across this one!

Why do we blog?

2007-06-08T22:32:00.001+10:00

I've been on this journey with all of you. And this has set me thinking. What is this blogging thing? Why do we blog? Is it the journalist wannabe inside us? Or do we write to think (clearly)? Or do we want to share our opinion with the netizens of the world?

I have been aimless from the start. I now know blogging is not my style. But I've learnt immensely about it and how it could work. Sometimes it's not the end product that matters. Perhaps "the journey itself is the reward". I don't have a fantastic blog to show but the journey has been great.

The person who has studied blogging is a professor in the University of California at Irvine. She is Bonnie Nardi and written a great academic paper on this topic of blogging. I like to share this with you...

Bonnie Nardi's Academic Paper

Feel free to pass this on. Or comment if you wish. That's what blogging is about after all.

Global Incidents at a Glance

2007-06-07T23:09:00.000+10:00

How safe a world do we live in? Have a look at global incidents that happen daily, updated on this map. Click on the spot to get more details.

Global Incidents Map

How your computer cursor works

2007-06-05T19:51:00.001+10:00

How does the small cursor arrow on your computer work when we move the mouse? Don't believe what you read in books. Or your lecturer!
Now, through the miracle of technology, we can see how it is done.
With the aid of a screen-magnifying lens, the mechanism becomes apparent.

Click on the link below and you will find out.
The image may take a minute or two to download and when it appears,
slowly move your mouse over the light-grey circle, move fast too if you want,
and you will see how the magic works.

Your computer cursor

2012 London Olympics logo

2007-06-05T19:19:00.000+10:00

What do you guys think? Is it a bold logo or you think otherwise?
Have a look.

Olympic 2012 Logo

week 10: Technorati

2007-05-27T20:27:00.000+10:00

Technorati is an internet search engine focused on the world of weblogs, it allow members to claim their blogs, save other people's blog from all parts of the world as favarite. One can gain authority and give authority, at the moment my authority is only 3. Technorati also caculate how far is your blog rank from the top. Currently my ranking is 1,504,548.
Google is entirely different from Technorati. Google is a search engine, a tool for finding resources on the World Wide Web. It search by using key words or subjects. You can search for almost everything not just blogs.

Week 9: aesthetics of webpages

2007-05-21T21:25:00.000+10:00

1)
found this page on myspace:

worst aesthetics #1

this page is bad because:
i)the background and text do not have enough contrast...very hard to read
ii)takes a long time to load
iii)to many flashing animations at one time

2)
found this page:

best aesthetics #1

this page is good because:
i)clear layout
ii)headlines stand out
iii)good content
iv)flexible in layout
v)consists of multimedia component (sound, video, info graphics)
vi)fast update and loading

Week 8 RSS Feed/XML/Readers

2007-05-14T21:24:00.000+10:00

RSS is a program which allows you to receive frequently updated digital content like blogs, podcasts and news feeds. Users of RSS content use software programs called "feed readers" or "feed aggregators". Users subscribe to a feed by entering a link of the feed into the reader program. The reader can then check the user's subscribed feeds to see if any of those feeds have new content since the last time it was checked, and, if so, retrieve that content and present it to the user.
RSS stands for Really Simple Sindication (RSS 2.0). The language that is used to write RSS is known as XML (Extensible Markup Language).

RSS is important to the user for easy access to the source that they subscribe to. It is also important because this enables the subscription of multiple sites (usually topics of your interest) without you going to check on each and every one of them manually.

I have set up Google Reader. I picked it because it has a better interface than bloglines, it keeeps old items (grey out); so that you can always scroll down someone's feed to remind yourself of context. I will write more after a while when I'm used to it and get the hang of it.

Assessment #1 Blog Post

2007-04-30T22:23:00.000+10:00

Blogs...

So what's the craze about blogs. It's really not for everyone. Not everyone has so much to say to everyone in the world. I am not against it, except that why am I so involved in it when this is the first time I've learnt about it? Time.... You need time to do this blogging thing. Sometimes it's hard to find time when you are juggling uni work, full time job and a family. But writing for whom? You don't even know who your audience is!
How to judge interestingness?
I focussed on looking for facts that is useful to me, hopefully it will be useful to someone else. That's why I share them.
The pictures uploaded on to Flickr are educational and informative.
The links in delicious (hopefully) have been helpful to those who live inside their own box. I intended most of my links to be educational in one way or another.
I think I have accomplished the assessment checklist by ticking and checking each and every criteria against my blog, if I found that I haven't done an item I immedietly set to work to accomplish it. This has resulted in my complete blog.

Chocolate

2007-04-30T21:03:00.000+10:00

Facts & Figures About Chocolate

It's healthy!
Chocolate is good for you...
Recent research from Italy suggests that chocolate can lower blood pressure, neutralise free radicals and boost the body's ability to metabolise sugar. However scientists pointed out that the effects were only found in dark chocolate and warned that anyone seeking to boost their health through chocolate should make alterations in their diet to counter the additional calories.

Concentration aid
Chocolate helps you concentrate...
It contains a caffeine-like stimulant called theobromine and chocolate can boost low blood-sugar levels. Also chocolate is a good source of chromium, which helps to control blood sugar.

Gold bars
It boosts the economy...
Last year Britons spent £3 billion on half a million tonnes of chocolate.

It's educational
Chocolate has literary leanings...
Confectionary-inspired reading includes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel and Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

Eggstravagant!
Chocolate eggs are cheaper than Fabergè...
The most expensive Easter egg wasn't made of chocolate. It was designed by Peter Carl Fabergè in the 1800s.

It's always popular
Chocolate isn't going out of fashion
57% of UK children spend their weekly pocket money on chocolate and confectionary.

Funny signs

2007-04-30T20:19:00.001+10:00

Have you seen signs that don't really make sense??
Here are some that I think probably too overboard....

You have been warned!!

Not much of a line forming.

Oh...ok

to see more go to my del.icio.us

Amazing Facts about on bananas

2007-04-29T21:16:00.000+10:00

Do you like bananas? I do. Read this if you do and if you don't you might change your mind after this.

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural
sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily
diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast,
break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning
by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates
your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight:
and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and
crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.
The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a " cooling "fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their babyis born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium
and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water
balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of
death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the
wart, with the yellow side out Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills.When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the
carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so
that we say,

" A banana a day keeps the doctor away! "

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all thetime! I will add one here; want a quick shine on
our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe ... polish with dry cloth.

Amazing fruit!

my del.icio.us link

2007-04-29T21:04:00.000+10:00

this is a link to my del.icio.us:

del.icio.us

check it out!

Flickr

2007-04-29T17:21:00.000+10:00

Here's a post about my Flickr

welcome to my gallery

collection of pictures about things that I find an interest in.

check it out!

flickr

Technorati

2007-04-29T17:19:00.001+10:00

Technorati is for searching web blogs.

I have joined Technorati...here's the link.

Technorati Profile

Check it out!

holidays...about to happen(maybe)

2007-04-07T12:02:00.000+10:00

planning a holiday...... where to?? mmmm...0_o

heard of nutwood farm! have you been there? might not happen because of the road

got it off google earth...do you see text 'danes way'? that's where the farm is and look at the road to get there!

there you can pick your own chestnut...have you seen a chestnut or eaten one before?

they are yum if you roast them in the oven. they will POP! when they're cooked...kinda like popcorn but worse! any other recipes for chestnuts?

happy holidays everyone!

The Simpsons

2007-03-25T11:58:00.000+10:00

Work all week...nothing interesting going on, the usual if u ask me... : |
No time 2 watch tv...nothing interesting on anyway, I normally watch CSI but now most of them r repeats so : (

Went shopping... found Simpson on this packet of soup o_0... thought someone might be interested to search for all the characters... you have 2 find Krusty, Moe, Krabappel, Homer, Disco Stu, Chief Wiggum, Kirk Van Houten, Professor Frink (who are these people anyway? You see, I don't watch the Simpsons so I can't find them... : ( not that I have time to)

I found this tattoo on the packet of soup...it's of this girl...i think she is off the simpsons. write me a comment and tell me who she is!

Welcome to the earth

2007-03-13T10:10:00.000+11:00

Hello, welcome to the blog! Hope we can sure and learn from each other.