Bookworm

Monday Thoughts

• I'm really glad I took some pictures over the weekend and put masses of 2007 shots up on Snapfish.
• It was worth taking the extra time this morning to get two birthday cards in the mail instead of waiting until tomorrow. 
• It was worth taking the extra time to drop off some book donations in the public library's drop box.
• I'm really pleased with the Firefox extension called Better Gmail, particularly the ability to integrate Google Reader (for RSS feeds) into the same window as the email function.  (I use Gmail primarily for "storage" or emailing things to myself instead of for correspondence.) I was using the web-based version of Newsgator for feed reading and there are things I like better about the 'Gator interface.  But what I decided to do was to subscribe to my top 10-20 favorite feeds in Google Reader and keep the rest in Newsgator.  So now I'll just keep a perpetual Google Mail/Reader window open at work and keep Newsgator closed.  I'm hoping that a side effect of reading fewer feeds at work will mean that I do more writing and more work.
• Found a great new tool for tracking/logging work: the Printable CEO Emergent Task Timer.  It's in alpha release, built in Flash; can use it web-based or download a PC or Mac version.  Couldn't be easier to use -- click to fill in a bubble (reminiscent of childhood tests) and click to type what you did in that 15 minute block of time.  At the end of the day, print it out.

IE7 to be distributed via Automatic Updates!

According to IEBlog (a Microsoft blog), the new version of Internet Explorer will be available through the Automatic Update function.  You will be given a choice of whether to install it immediately or wait until later.  [IEBlog]

Favorite Free Software Programs

1. Google Desktop Search -- I don't know how I ever found anything on my computer before this program existed. (Answer: I either didn't find things, or it took way too long!) It indexes your hard drive and allows you to find things rapidly using the familiar Google interface.  The newest version can also be used as a sidebar with neat little widgets that display news headlines, RSS feeds (not truly a full-blown RSS app, but you could add a few key feeds for quick access), pictures, etc., or you can display it on your taskbar, or as a free-floating toolbar.  At work, probably the 2nd and 3rd options are best; the sidebar option is too distracting (although you can set it to autohide).
2. Evernote -- Do you need a program to capture little snippets of information (you know, the ones on Post-it notes on your desk)?  Do you want to snag information from the web with a drag and a click, have it date/time stamped automatically, and automatically include a link to the website you clipped it from?  This is a great little program.  The basic version is free.  You can add toolbar buttons (or right-click menu options) to both IE and Firefox.  If you desire, you can set up categories and categorize the captured material, but you don't have to.  Oh, and it's all searchable. 
3. AOL Instant Messenger -- I use it to communicate with co-workers, friends, and family.  It's a technology that's been around for a while now, but it really is still fun.
4. iTunes -- It's not perfect, but the way it seamlessly integrates my music library and my podcasts of choice with easy (tooooo easy) access to the Music Store for buying new tunes. . . I'm using it as my player of choice these days.

Look for a post on my free favorite web sites/applications soon.  I always seem to write a lot of "summary" posts this time of year. . .