RSS feeds -- Items 9, 10 and 11

I now have a feed reader called Google reader receiving RSS feeds from The Age and Digg. I've also searched on Technocrati and subscribed to some blogs. The Practical Archivist (http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThePracticalArchivist) seemed an interesting blog to subscribe to. It is about preserving and dating photographs etc. I also subscribed to Genea-Musings (http://feeds.feedburner.com/Genea-musings) US based genealogy but seems interesting.

The greatest problem with all subscribing seems to be all the clutter on the subscription pages and then the sheer volume of returns and trying to find something that you want that may have a little (or preferrably a lot) of authority. Its very time consuming and confusing to sift the wheat from the chaff. Even if you know the title of something you would like a feed from , it seems you are more likely to turn up a blog talking about them than a blog emenating from them.

I will answer the required questions later.

LIBRARY THING -- for us Thing 8

Library thing is a good way to keep track of one's home library. Information can be imported from a huge range of sources. (Just as well for my selections weren't in Amazon US nor the Library of Congress.) Needless to say there is no authority control so Library Thing would not do for institutional cataloguing.

My selections are of what provided comfort on dreary wet days before we had TV. Some belonged to my nan and my mum. And so no pictures of the covers I'm afraid. See my widget at the side or see http://www.librarything.com/catalog/capertee

Thing 5 -- Explore Flickr

I added 6 photos to the VU library group photos on Flickr. I was unable to organise them as no group remained (maximum 3 allowed) but I have tagged them. I had also hoped to add one of them here but going down to 8kb was too hard. So I cheated and added it to my profile. Those ducks are probably paddling hard under water as I am sometimes with Flickr.

Google tools -- Google maps revisited-- Thing 13

Why is it that Google maps for Australian cities gives street views and yet Google maps for the UK gives the odd photo and bus route but not the street views? Is it because of privacy laws or are Google trying out features in different countries to test out their acceptance?

Google tools -- play with Google scholar -- Thing 15 (part 2)

I hadn't used Google scholar before. Useful for collecting your own publications for your CV. After all you know all your own pseudonyms. Remember to include the name in inverted commas, ie "complete name", "c name" etc.

Also useful for finding where researchers have moved to. Their publications reflect their newer work addresses. You can also see if the researcher has acknowledged your assistance.

But also useful for its real purpose keeping current with information in a research field.

I need to have a more thorough look to find out how frequently it is updated and the scope of the publications it covers but certainly it did have references to articles published in 2008 and in reputable journals. Will it replace more reputable indexing services such as whatever Current contents is called these days? I would think that would depend on currency, thoroughness and means of indexing, including use of metadata.

Google tools -- play with Google book search -- Thing 15 (part 1)

Gee Already Thing 15. No skipped a few and I will go back. Its called staying in one's comfort zone!! Tee Hee!!

Discovered Google Book Search by accident a great many months ago. Its great when the item you want is out of copyright and therefore fully readable. Its frustrating when there is uncertainty about copyright and they only show snippets -- these have a habit of ending just where the information you would like to have should be (Grrr!) and there doesn't seem to be a way to trick the system to show you that information. Believe me I've tried. Even worse is when there is not a snippet, when there is no view.

Some hints for beginners : The OCR (optical character recognition) software can give some interesting interpretations of text. So always read and copy the original text not just solely the plain text unless you have time to correct the errors. Also think about searching using wildcards particularly for o's and e's. Though it even has trouble with consonants.

What to search for that might turn up a readable book. English trials, Sepuchral records in Great Yarmouth, Registrars of English BDMs (ie The people who did the registering not the Registers ie books themselves. In small towns this could be the local doctor or the real estate agent) . So pick an ancestor's name and a place they were and have a go. Once in a searchable book try just the surname.

The books seem to be mainly what could be filmed in American University libraries.

Google tools -- play with Google maps -- Thing 13

Play with Google Maps they said!! Hmm -- all too tempting!!!

I have done so before. I could find our house on Google Earth and had a friend with a CD-ROM of aerial views of Sydney taken during WWII (available from Museum of Sydney) and compared those with recent aerial shots of Sydney by Google Earth.

I had also gone from Melbourne to Echuca following online directions. When I revisited Google Maps for this the options where fewer and the route less pleasant so I think I probably looked at a different route planner but haven't been able to find it to quote it here. JUST FOUND IT!! It is the route planner associated with the Welcome to Victoria site and the URL is http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.0000B41D-D36D-1A88-8B4680C476A9047C/

I hadn't used street views but I have now enjoyed viewing my nan's old house and vaguely walking a bigger block near home. Our street is too small to be there which is a blessing.

I've also searched for some overseas townships.

I do find it interesting though that you can not get a map to show you where the island of St Helena is (That is not the one in Queensland but the one where Napoleon died)

Thing 7 -- Revisited

Those with Italian heritage (or those who would like to have it) might like to visit The Generator Blog and generate an Honorary Italian grandmother certificate to print or email their Nonna or her substitute.

Our new library? -- Thing 7

Comment on each other's blogs --Thing 4

I have posted 2 comments.
Trying to remember how to tag in HTML.
Its been a while.
So its for italics then close with , right?
Er that seems to be right the tags disappeared and italics appeared.
Ooops!!!

Creating blogs

Things no. 2 and 3 -- No. 1 completed OK

I've discovered that creating a blog is frustrating beyond compare. You are asked for nicknames and titles and on the spot have to dream them up. You then can't go back to check what you used. Then all the URLs you can possibly dream up are taken. What should take a few minutes takes ages in inconsequential details.

Aspirin ... please!!!