Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
In Which I Rave About Web 2.0
Google is the neatest thing since sliced bread. We all know the old-school Google Search, Picasa, Blogger, and my very favorite, Google Earth. But today? Today I fell in love all over again.
It started when the "a" key on my laptop gave up the ghost. I hve to, er, hAve to hit "a" three times to make it work. The last straw on a rapidly failing machine. A new laptop is being made for me as we speak in Dell-land. But Evil Microsoft has now taken Outlook out of the Home/Student version of Office, and I hate Outlook Express. So what to load up when the new machine arrives?
I looked at Open Office, but no email program. MS Office Professional, including Outlook? $399. Hyeah, right. And then I stumbled onto GMail - oooooooooooh my. I can keep my old email address? No POP server to get wonky? Access from any web browser? A nifty add-on that informs me of new email even if I don't have a browser open? A stunningly simple interface? I can import all of my contacts easily? A bare bones chat program for grown-ups?
All over it like a bad rash.
And that led me to Google Docs Beta - Office-like web-based productivity software that can be instantly saved in any of a zillion formats (including Office formats, PDF, HTML), and can be edited by anyone you invite, saved online and again, accessed from any browser. Did I already say FREE? Um? Or $399 to Mr. Gates? Hmmmmmm.
So, we're switching. Further reviews as events warrant. I think it will make my kids' lives so much easier - we have three computers here, only one hooked up to a printer, and they are constantly on any of 20 computers at school. This should make memory sticks and emailing to oneself a thing of the past.
In other news, I finished the knit baby sweater (photos next post), a super cute hat and most of a matching jumbo scarf. I need to start some socks...I have my eye on a cool Interweave free pattern. I also need to make that dalmatian baby quilt - the fabrics are washed and ironed and waiting and the baby is due in 8 weeks. Application to UC Berkeley is out the door, the other two are almost done.
Next week? Knitting in Las Vegas.
It started when the "a" key on my laptop gave up the ghost. I hve to, er, hAve to hit "a" three times to make it work. The last straw on a rapidly failing machine. A new laptop is being made for me as we speak in Dell-land. But Evil Microsoft has now taken Outlook out of the Home/Student version of Office, and I hate Outlook Express. So what to load up when the new machine arrives?
I looked at Open Office, but no email program. MS Office Professional, including Outlook? $399. Hyeah, right. And then I stumbled onto GMail - oooooooooooh my. I can keep my old email address? No POP server to get wonky? Access from any web browser? A nifty add-on that informs me of new email even if I don't have a browser open? A stunningly simple interface? I can import all of my contacts easily? A bare bones chat program for grown-ups?
All over it like a bad rash.
And that led me to Google Docs Beta - Office-like web-based productivity software that can be instantly saved in any of a zillion formats (including Office formats, PDF, HTML), and can be edited by anyone you invite, saved online and again, accessed from any browser. Did I already say FREE? Um? Or $399 to Mr. Gates? Hmmmmmm.
So, we're switching. Further reviews as events warrant. I think it will make my kids' lives so much easier - we have three computers here, only one hooked up to a printer, and they are constantly on any of 20 computers at school. This should make memory sticks and emailing to oneself a thing of the past.
In other news, I finished the knit baby sweater (photos next post), a super cute hat and most of a matching jumbo scarf. I need to start some socks...I have my eye on a cool Interweave free pattern. I also need to make that dalmatian baby quilt - the fabrics are washed and ironed and waiting and the baby is due in 8 weeks. Application to UC Berkeley is out the door, the other two are almost done.
Next week? Knitting in Las Vegas.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
In Which I Say What We've Been Up To
Accidental photographs? Sometimes they're better than the planned ones. This photo of the Teen Princess captures her perfectly. The lovely red-head on the right is a teammate, and they are dining on pizza in Livingston, CA, after an Ultimate tourney.Things have been a little nutsier than usual here with viral bugs and two tournaments and so on.
I did get all but one sleeve done on this cutie for my office-mate's older daughter (the pink rosy quilt is for her baby) - but then lost half my pair of size 8 needles...grr. But I will purchase more and finish this weekend. This was fun: it turned out to be a little small, so I decided to single crochet around the outsides and then crochet together the pieces. Nice and neat, lays flat, it's perfect. I will clean up the front when I put in the collar, and then add some buttons and loops.And here are photos from the quilt show. It was fun, and my quilts fit in just fine. I will try to make it a yearly event.
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