Hey All ,

This is my last post for the Amazing Challenge , so its time for Reflectionz :

What were your favourite parts in the program?

My favourite part of the Amazing Challenge was trying out Delicious Bookmarks and having a go with flicker.As well as trying out the new parts of Web 2.0 that I was unfamaliar with .

What technology did you find most interesting?

I found Flicker quite interesting but Id have to say out of everything I tried my Fav was Delious - The Bookmarking Site.
What technology did you think would be most useful for TCL?

I think that Flicker could be useful , to track down all the activities that the library has done - As they say a picture says a thousand words.

Overall I enjoyed the whole outline of the Amazing Challenge , If I had time Id probably have made it longer and some challenges more challenging. In regards to my Goals in post One , I achieved all . YAYAYAY

Social Networking , You either love it or loathe it . Depending on the site , I have to say in general I quite enjoy it .

Nowadays Social networking is the way to go , with texting and letter writing , meeting groups are a thing of the past , sure there are still some around but come on face it , in reality they too are going to slowly disappear into an unknown dimension.

A Few of my favourites depending on age basis were when i was younger and social networkings were just starting up in the heydays of the early to mid 2000's was the good ol MySpace , come on everyone had one . It was the thing to be discovered specially if you were trying to be the next Lady Gaga or think bigger the Next Michael Jackson , you could post videos of you singing LALALALALA or even Mary had a Little lamb.

Then next came Bebo , that was another big hit and still quite popular , if you dont believe me check out our wicked az library bebo www.bebo.com/TaurangaC , its the new kewl thing for libraries , their all doing it now.

Then in recent times , out popped Facebook , the number one site everyone has , you can search fro oldfriends , rellies , family and catch up with absolutley anyone. But what I find really sad about Facebook is the story behind it , it was set up by two mates who became billionaires and now they dont even talk come on , even social networking shouldnt be able to break friendships , thats however brings me to the downside of social networking , The big issue of cyber-bullying , forget bullying face to face thats not "Kewl" anymore , cyber bullying is the new thing , you can post almost anything on the social network sites and not all of them are wise enough to put abuse blockers .

But I do have to say the worse social networking site , I came across was Twitter , god it sounds like a bird tweet tweet, It is the most boring thing in the world , and the only way one could really throughly enjoy it , is if they sat in front of the computer for hours on end casually updating their status every minute ,

I can imagine it Im eating a sandwich , It is a ham sandwich , Im thirsty , im watching tv on the computer. Hello , Like we really are interested in your day-to-day routines.

However , beside my rant overall Social networking can be great you just have to remember to look out for the dangers .I for one belong to Myspace , bebo and facebook and unfortunately Twitter LOL.

Hey All ,

Im off to pretend Homg Kong where were learning all about Podcasting and Videos on Youtube.

Ive only currently discovered Podcasts , Downloaded a few to my Ipod the other day :

True Blood - The wonderful new TV series starring Anna Paquin and those two cute guys who play Vampire Bill and Sam Merlotte , and Ryan kwanten who used to play Vinnie on Home and Away.

Dollhouse - Which is like Serenity and Firefly starring Eliza Dusku

Hannah Montana and also a few movie previews like The Bourne Ultimatum , bratz and the Nanny Diaries .

So check out below , the video Iver embedded ( sounds naughty like embelezzing - wonder if thats where the word came from LOL), Its the trailer of the new movie in the Twilight Saga - New Moon

Hey All ,

Up to Amazing Challenge no 7 , and learning all about Wikis and Wikipedia . Heres what I learnt today : I searched Wikipedia for information all about Library 2.0 and then I searched and added something on our Librarys without work Wiki.

What I Found out from Wikipedia ?
I discovered that the term Library 2.0 was discovered in October 2005 , by Michael Casey on his blog LibraryCrunch as a direct spin-off of the terms Business 2.0 and Web 2.0 , and in September 2006 , was used in the majority of Public Libraries around the world.
 
What I added to the Without Work Tga ?
 

A Good Book to get from The Library which is full of Money Saving Tips and Helpful household hints from Making Your Own Laundry Powder to Make-Up to shopping Tips is :
Domestic Goddess on a Budget by Wendyl Nissen , This is in the 640's. and is free for Loan .
This is only one of the many wonderful household hint books the library has avaliable.

Hey all , This is my latest blog on The Amazing Challenge Magazine . We're learning about the tools of the Web 2.0 , Ive decided to venture on and give Twitter a try , since Ive heard so much about it.

Heres Some Questions about Web 2.0 Tools: Twitter

What do you like about it?

I thought it was interesting , and I liked it as it was similar to facebook with just your usual updates , and you can always find other friends and add them to your twitter account , good to catch up with friends.

Was it easy to use?

It was really simple and easy to use , not too much really to learning how to tweet .(what they call posts on twitter)

Would you use it again, would you recommend it to others?

I probably would't use it again as it seems quite dull , not the impression I was given , I thought twitter was going to be more interesting.

If your'e ever on twitter click on me and become my friend - beau_angelnz ( is my username).

Hey All ,

This is my Second Post to do with the library's Amazing Challenge Race , This week we are in the Dominican Republic and are learning all about RSS Feeds. Heres my Q and A about RSS Feeds. Not to sure what RSS stands for though , some homework for me to dwell into .

What do you like, or not like about RSS feeds and newsreaders?

Hmm , What I like about RSS Feeds is that you can find feeds on almost anything that you like from books to movies and celebrities even the latest Music Videos and information on your favourite Tv Shows , Its Awesome way to find out information and the latest newsbeat. What I dont like though is that the amount of information , depending on wht you have joined can be overwhelming , so much to read through.

How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?

I think I can use RSS Feeds to keep up-to-date with the latest information , as Im really into books , movies and music it gives me the 411 ( to steal a quote from Scary Movie 3) so I can either read, watch or check it out if it tickles me fancy. Working in a library and reviewing books for online magazines by having the latest knowledge it can give me ideas on what to write about or what to read as Im always on the scour for new books and authors.

How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this technology?

The libraries can use RSS to their advangtage for finding the information on latest books and do-dackies , technology and fads which if customers can up to the reference or issues desk to ask about we can be like oh yep thats blah-blah -blah and we can also look intelligent LOL. Also many customers tend to enquire about interviews or book reviews that they have heard on national radio , so with RSS Feeds it saves so much time than having to search for hours through the website.

Have a check what feeds I joined below : For example what you can get :

• Chick Lit Books (4)
• IMDb News (10)
• Mars Investigations
• StephenieMeyer.com (1)
• Top 50 Music Videos
• Videos related to 'Ta... (6)
• Hannah Montana | Mile... (2)

Hey All ,

Heres a bit of something different for all you readers , I am completing the Amazing Challenge through my workplace at the Tauranga Libraries similiar to the Amazing Race on television. This task involves me having to record my goals for the challenge , So here we go  we had to watch this video clip called the 7 1/2 Habits for Lifelong Learning - Was a very interesting clip , next time your on the web check it out via google search So below is my personal goals for the amazing challenge , that I hope to get out of it and some obstacles that may arise and knowing me the Number One is guaranteed to happen LOL and how I wish to overcome these deadly problems.

Personal Goals:

1)      To build up my own personal learning toolbox e.g resource guide

2)      To be competent in all of the challenges

3)      To find time to do and complete all the challenges

Obstacles :

1)      Im too busy with work and study

2)      Im a bit worried about items/tasks like twitter , flicker

3)      If Im worried about a task , I can procrastinate

Solutions :

1)      Draw up a time management plan

2)      Work through the tasks and if needed , have a look on the internet for how-to-guides etc

3)      Work through the tasks at a reasonable pace

4)      Change my schedule and push myself if I find myself procrastinating.

Music Review – Funhouse

By Skye Sailsbury

Following in the footsteps, of latest CD titles followed by Britney Spears Circus and Christina Aguilera’s Enter the Circus, comes Pink’s newest album Funhouse.

This CD , you will notice a big change in the way Pink’s lyrics are , and the way her music sounds however there are a couple of songs on the album where the Pink we know shines through , other than that her album’s philosophy is “ What do I know at 29 ? I know that things are what we seek, but love is beneath that. If love isn’t’ the foundation-then things will fall. For even if they stand-they mean nothing. I’ve had both-and if given a chance to choose-----soberly-I choose love, humbly-----I choose love and wisely----I choose love.”

A Common occurrence between Pink’s songs on Funhouse is that she uses the familiar mix of nanana’s , lalalala’s and dadada’s throughout a number of her songs as either start’s or choruses.

In Pink’s song : Soooo What , we listen as she sings about her recent break-up with ex-hubby Cary , and just to make sure that her music as that Pink familiarity about it , she pays Jessica Simpson ,  a I hate you tribute to her song , another enemy to add to her list. Another familiarity is that the song Funhouse is the only song on the album that contains that husky voice we all know from her earlier albums.

Pink has however toned down her music in this CD, becoming more a Pop singer rather than a punk rocker. Which for myself , I actually prefer better as It’s not too heavy and you can actually understand the lyrics and for once they have a sense of meaning behind them.  If your into dancing and appreciate music with a good beat , then this album is definitely for you , as each song is accompanied by its own dancing individual beat. I think that a big reason she has toned down her music, as I wrote before, her philosophy for this album was the big L: Love. The majority us out there all know well, that the reason a love album succeeds is that the music has that nice, sentimental feel to it and isn’t blowing out your eardrums at the same time, hence the pop twist to the album rather the rocker chick.

As we have all heard the famous song Ave Maria , on Funhouse we are introduced to a new and unheard version as we listen to Pink’s remix titled Ave Mary A.

Overall , I have to say that Funhouse rates as one of the top albums made from Pink , her costumes on the video clips are to utterly die for , the beats and lyrics are awesome . I give Pink’s Funhouse a 8.5/10 Pink  Candyflosses.

Book Review – A Girl for all Seasons – the Year in High Heels by Camilla Morton

By Skye Sailsbury

Need to know those everyday skills, How to write a letter to planning a party to the know-hows of festivals such as The Academy Awards and Cannes Festival. Like a bit of useless trivia to the fact of unusual events of which particular date e.g 2^nd February is the start of the Feast of the Purification of Virgins.

Want to stand out and strut the catwalk gracefully, curate your own art exhibition, overcome those public speaking nerves, be the glamourpuss you are at the Melbourne Cup Days and Ellerslie Flower Shows. Learn a language and travel the globe in style and make the most boring things enchanting.

Well, with reading A Girl for all seasons, you can learn all this whilst reading a month to month guide of tidbits and how-to’s. Each section contains a diary of dates and useless information that happened on that particular date, a selection of How-to’s relevant to that month e.g February brings us and How to do make truffles and How to Valentine’s Day alone and gives a brief on how Valentine’s day came to exist.

Included as a bonus for each month is a collection of fine articles from a Wish you were here: A Chapter from an author to give us a wonderful insight of their country e.g the wonderful Manolo Blahnik writing from Istanbul.

A Muse of the Month: This is a woman who has proved to be an wonderful asset and inspiration to all ages whilst growing up these include ladies such as writer Jane Austen, Cosmetic stars Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Arden, Actresses Marilyn Monroe and an All-time favourite of mine Audrey Hepburn, to Singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Artists Peggy Guggenheim and Frida Kahlo, First Lady Jackie Kennedy-Onassis to Queens Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I (The Golden Age)and for all those who love the fairytale endings our wonderful Cinderella concludes the muses of the month.

For all those bookworms out there, each month provides a different book to read and explore from classics such as George Orwell’s Animal Farm to The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, Perfume by Patrick Suskind (This has recently been made into a flick starring Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman) and every little girl’s favourite The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett to unknown books in the likes of The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans and The Black Violin by Maxence Fermine.

And to conclude each chapter, for all those Shoe-Lovers out there, pun intended a foot note; this discusses a particular footwear item. These range from The Ballet Shoe to the Stiletto/Wedges to the good old Wellington Boots. Included in the footnote tells us all the details from what occasion the shoe is suited to, to the how it got its name. An excerpt of the Wellington Boot explains What it is good for and How the Wellington Boot came to be named “Essential for those April showers and any rainy day in particular . The gumboot, the wellie, the rubber boot, whatever you call its indispensable for the rainy season. It is so named and famed thanks to Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington”.

Whatever your interest be, may it be Drama, Literature, Music or Fashion. This book has a bit of everything for all those girls out there. A must-read for all and all ages appropriate.

Book Review – The Bride of Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

By Skye Sailsbury

Since the release of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Series, it has opened up a huge niche for Paranormal Romances especially involving Vampires/Vampyres depending which book your reading.  For all those who loved Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones Diary and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire either the books or the films, and then you are sure to enjoy this as I place it as a mix between those two.

I was browsing the library the other day , as I am absolutely in love with books on Vamps and Werewolves , and came across a book just released titled The Bride of Casa Dracula , It is set in the desert of Mexico and stars Latino Author Milagro De Los Santos ( Very Latin-American name) and her fiancé Oswald Grant M.D. 

As they prepare for their wedding, they come across and face-to-face with a number of obstacles. The first and major one is that Oswald is a Vampire and Milagro in the face of death was saved by a Vampire, has become a hybrid of human and vampire. To top this all off her future in-laws absolutely despise her, her poor companion Daisy has died, her mother Regina can’t stand her.

To make matters worse in the prior months of her wedding, Milagro is presented with an invitation to appear in front of the “Vampire Council”. In which, they must decide whether or not she is suitable to become a vampire’s wife.  For Milagro this decision is easier said than done, as she has lived most of her life as a human, and her college friends have arrived and taken the wedding planning into their own hands.

Further on in the book , you start to get the feeling are Oswald and Milagro going to get their happy ending as chaos arises from one thing or another. This book faces obstacles from those awful car-brakes getting cut to old and new flames. As things get worse and worse, the cracks between Oswald and Milagro start to seep and we are left thinking is Milagro paranoid or is somebody out there willing to pull all the stops to make sure she doesn’t wed the undead?.

Also featured inside the book , in case you wish to use it as a book club read is a couple of pages filled with discussion questions , a conversation with the author Marta Acosta and a preview to her first book Happy Hour at Casa Dracula.

Christopher Moore acclaimed that this book is “a spicy comedy of manners and fangs”. Anyone who loves that down-to-earth attitude with a twist of vampire blood to it .This is a Fang-tastic Read.