Purple Wren

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Go Ahead and Scribble!

Try Scribble for freehand drawing. Another fun app from Grant Robinson.

Reminds me of the Etch-a-Sketch toy I used to play with.

Learning Styles and Thinking Modes

I was reading a few posts today and came across Chris Cree writing on Successful Blog about Pacing Yourself. Interesting discussion going on over there and it prompted me to write this post (too long for comments).

First, I want to share something that I've incorporated in my workday.

Use a timer, especially when working on the computer.

I set the timer for two sets of 24-minutes each (see links below) and concentrate on a project. Then it's break time for 12 minutes. It's a treat for me to read, so that's what I'm doing today for my break. I get a drink of water or hot tea, sit in the sun, watch the bluejays eat peanuts, and read a bit. And I might sneak a peek at the game.

Lately I've been studying about learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and thinking modes (left-brain, right-brain). So on my latest trip to the library, I found a couple great books about organizing and goal setting for the visual, right-brain person. I'll write more later about what I discover, but here's the titles. So far I've read some interesting tips.

               

There's so much I want to accomplish. For me it's all about focusing on the most important things (having a plan) and making the most efficient use of my time and workspace. What works for you?

Related posts:

• Two 24-Minute Segments Work Better for Me
• Forgot to Set the Timer
• Focus on One Great Thing

Find Books or Music Using Amaztype

Here's another interesting tool called amaztype.

Enter a word in the search box and select from a few variables. I tried a few words, including business and learning. For this example I typed in the word "fun."

Here's a graphic created from pictures of books on Amazon that are tagged with the word "fun."

Try it yourself! The pictures are clickable so you can read more about the book or follow the link to the Amazon product page.

It's a fun, visual search. I found books that I might have never noticed. What are you searching for?

Mini Version of 2000 Bloggers

A lot of people have heard about the 2000 Bloggers project by Tino Buntic. Here's a mini version by the thinking blog.  I like seeing the creativity of the original project and the offshoots.

Note: All credit for this mini version goes to The Thinking Blog.

Since I can't really make out the sites or pictures, it's fun to click at random on a link. It's one way I can read new blogs and meet new friends.

Comments closed 9-23-07 because of s*p*a*m!

Fun Game: Guess-the-google

Here's a fun game Grant Robinson created called Guess-the-google.

Take a look and see if you can figure out what keyword generated the collection of images.

Careful, it can be addictive, especially if you win a few.

Chirag On Using Tag Clouds

This is cool. Here's an example of taking a new tool and applying it to information that's always been available, but now we can view it differently.

This tool tracks the words used most often in State of the Union addresses and displays them in a tag cloud. If you haven't seen a tag cloud before, the words used most, display the largest.

See the US Presidential Speeches Tag Cloud page on Chirag's blog. I like that you can move the slider and see the words used in past speeches - all the way back to 1776. Interesting to see what the buzzwords have been over time.

He also has an aging tag cloud and gives you the instructions to make your own (under a Creative Commons License). This script checks to see how many times a word is used in blog posts (compared to the tag cloud on my blog that is linked to my categories).

Take some time and look around his site. The photos and artwork are spectacular.

NPR News: Recruiting Sisters Using the Internet

Here's an audio clip from npr news. The story is about the shortage of nuns, and how a convent in Michigan is using the Internet - with success - to recruit new sisters, instead of waiting for new recruits to come to them. They communicate with most prospective recruits through email. The convent also gets a lot of prayer requests by email.

Download npr9632.smil (0.7K)

Just an interesting example of how people are using technology.

CIA Recruits on Facebook Using YouTube Video

According to an article on Wired News, the CIA is recruiting on Facebook (requires a login). Here's their 30-second promotional YouTube video. I'm impressed. The government is using new media. Are you?

YouTube: OK Go - Here It Goes Again

It's the weekend, so time for some fun. This is a great example of using new media. This video has been very popular. It was shot with only one camera and never edited.

There was an article in USA Today in November, it's been featured on TV shows, used in advertising, and it became a phenomenon on YouTube.

The video was mentioned in passing at the workshop I attended today, so I thought I'd post it here for your viewing pleasure.

Have you thought about how you can use new media?