Several of my dedicated readers know who Devrie is, and she had a wonderful site called LITERARY ESCAPE for several years, but do to come complications, she took the site down for awhile. Well, her site is back up today, and it looks like it will be great fun and a promising place for some R&R time.
Here you can post poems, have your poems and writings critiqued, and critique others, involve yourself in intelligent conversation, and experience a growing role with your writings.
The site is brand new as of today, and to me, I find that exciting, as I can become a part of a site that will grow over time. And, from knowing Devrie, I expect it to grow fast.
If you get the chance, please drop by and visit her site here
Good luck Devrie, and I look forward of being a part of this exciting adventure.
Katie
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
BREAKER-BREAKER~What Will Happen Next?
How things can change on an instant moment. Busy doing something you enjoy doing (or have to do, if that is the case), and then BOOM! Like an explosion, your world changes, and everything you were doing, or all your plans are put on hold. Life is a bitch sometimes, ain't it!
If my memory serves me well, the last time I even thought about my blog was a week ago Sunday. I was writing in my journal on things to consider putting in a blog, and also working on eBay, and then the phone call came. BREAKER - BREAKER, needed at the emergency room, problem with your son! My son will be 25 in a few days, but he is still my son, and I was needed to hold his hand. (I remember holding it so well that night, and memories I felt of the comfort of his warmth in the palm of his hand when he was so young and little.) He was running a fever, so cold, and threw up blood, and I have to admit the emergency room attendants were wonderful and so caring. He was released that night, and we took him to his apartment, and when I got home, the bed looked so inviting. I slept or piddled around most of the next day in confusion. Tuesday would be a new day, and a new start. So to speak.
Wednesday was to be our best day. I mean we had a list of things we needed to get done and goals for that day. And we were well on our way, and very ambitious of what we were doing until about 2 that afternoon, and then ~BREAKER-BREAKER, another emergency call. My youngest daughter who just turned 21 (and very independent in her own way) was rushed into emergency surgery for a staph infection on her hand (Think Rosie O'Donnel). This was extremely serious, and could have been deadly. She was very sick, and she just got out of the hospital the other day. The infection was so bad that they had to slice her hand in 4 places. Split the thumb, split the top of her hand, and split in 2 places underneath two of her fingers. This infection started only 2 days before she had to have surgery. (I intend to write a blog on this at a near future date on this infection, and hospital care and drugs when I get a chance to breath again.)
Anyway, for those that think I have had nothing to say, OH, think again, and I hope that no more BREAKER-BREAKER comes into effect before I get the chance. This entire week has give me many things to think and write on.
By the way, I have been reading the blogs when time allows, especially on my reading list, and I will comment soon, and think they are great. Also, will be writing on blogs that I want to comment on, (but can't on the blogs I want to, as they will not allow the comments to go through) , but want to and will voice an open minded opinion on narrow minded blogs, per my blogs.
Katie
If my memory serves me well, the last time I even thought about my blog was a week ago Sunday. I was writing in my journal on things to consider putting in a blog, and also working on eBay, and then the phone call came. BREAKER - BREAKER, needed at the emergency room, problem with your son! My son will be 25 in a few days, but he is still my son, and I was needed to hold his hand. (I remember holding it so well that night, and memories I felt of the comfort of his warmth in the palm of his hand when he was so young and little.) He was running a fever, so cold, and threw up blood, and I have to admit the emergency room attendants were wonderful and so caring. He was released that night, and we took him to his apartment, and when I got home, the bed looked so inviting. I slept or piddled around most of the next day in confusion. Tuesday would be a new day, and a new start. So to speak.
Wednesday was to be our best day. I mean we had a list of things we needed to get done and goals for that day. And we were well on our way, and very ambitious of what we were doing until about 2 that afternoon, and then ~BREAKER-BREAKER, another emergency call. My youngest daughter who just turned 21 (and very independent in her own way) was rushed into emergency surgery for a staph infection on her hand (Think Rosie O'Donnel). This was extremely serious, and could have been deadly. She was very sick, and she just got out of the hospital the other day. The infection was so bad that they had to slice her hand in 4 places. Split the thumb, split the top of her hand, and split in 2 places underneath two of her fingers. This infection started only 2 days before she had to have surgery. (I intend to write a blog on this at a near future date on this infection, and hospital care and drugs when I get a chance to breath again.)
Anyway, for those that think I have had nothing to say, OH, think again, and I hope that no more BREAKER-BREAKER comes into effect before I get the chance. This entire week has give me many things to think and write on.
By the way, I have been reading the blogs when time allows, especially on my reading list, and I will comment soon, and think they are great. Also, will be writing on blogs that I want to comment on, (but can't on the blogs I want to, as they will not allow the comments to go through) , but want to and will voice an open minded opinion on narrow minded blogs, per my blogs.
Katie
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Researching In Thoughts Of What I Am Looking For AND?!!
Researching In Thoughts Of What I Am Looking For and Credibility getting there ~ has of late BLOWN my mind.
I spend a great deal of my valuable time and effort on research, whatever the subject may be that I am interested on or about, and I click all the links thinking I will find something valuable in regards to what I am researching, (I am a sucker for this, and for good reason, as I never know what the next link might bring to me, and hope to learn something new by the click of my mouse). But, as of late, I am a little disturbed and frustrated, as many of the links I have clicked in my excitement of search, have nothing to do with the subject at hand at my first glance upon my click of the mouse, and I do not have the time to explore the site given in the link, (to question if I am lost, or what gives) as there are other places to visit on my journey, with other hopeful clicks to explore.
In other words, a word to the wise (or unwise), if you are trying to make or express a point, and use links to describe or express certain things on your blog, or your site (whatever the case may be), per your links that computer users click, on your examples of links given, it might be a good idea to give some explained history, or adequate information before you give a link where the viewer has to search for the plot and story in place, especially if they are looking for the information via your words, which leads to your credibility.
I guess right now I am just a little perturbed with this, as I do a great deal of research on the Internet so available to me, and when I click a link, I want it to tell me something, or lead me to think and learn more, and become excited on pressing another link to expand further on what I am looking or searching for. I get so frustrated at links that do not lead me anywhere, and waste my time on trying to figure out "WHERE THE HECK AM I. AND WHY DID THIS LINK APPEAR, AND WHERE IS IT SUPPOSED TO TAKE ME NOW?" Thank goodness I know how to use the BACK BUTTON!
Considering other things in relationship to this, if you are going to write on something and try to prove your point, please take the time to give adequate links (and refrain from giving duplicate and redundant links) in efforts that lead your viewers on a lost journey in following your story, and while at it, make sure since you DID spend a great deal of time in providing these links, that you check the links yourself to make sure they follow through with what you are trying to say, and make sure they upload right and with no problems for viewers. Try and make sure the folks that follow these links can find your reasons of why you placed your links with care.
So, in closing, and this is just my personal opinion, it is a good idea to give only a few well researched and valuable links to get your point across (especially if chosen well in what you are trying to get across), as to many links requires to much reading in one spot, and even the good readers have a problem of picking and choosing which one to click next, especially if the links go nowhere on readers, viewers journey.
Just some thoughts on my night research and thoughts, and once again, my considerations for who wants to hear them.
I spend a great deal of my valuable time and effort on research, whatever the subject may be that I am interested on or about, and I click all the links thinking I will find something valuable in regards to what I am researching, (I am a sucker for this, and for good reason, as I never know what the next link might bring to me, and hope to learn something new by the click of my mouse). But, as of late, I am a little disturbed and frustrated, as many of the links I have clicked in my excitement of search, have nothing to do with the subject at hand at my first glance upon my click of the mouse, and I do not have the time to explore the site given in the link, (to question if I am lost, or what gives) as there are other places to visit on my journey, with other hopeful clicks to explore.
In other words, a word to the wise (or unwise), if you are trying to make or express a point, and use links to describe or express certain things on your blog, or your site (whatever the case may be), per your links that computer users click, on your examples of links given, it might be a good idea to give some explained history, or adequate information before you give a link where the viewer has to search for the plot and story in place, especially if they are looking for the information via your words, which leads to your credibility.
I guess right now I am just a little perturbed with this, as I do a great deal of research on the Internet so available to me, and when I click a link, I want it to tell me something, or lead me to think and learn more, and become excited on pressing another link to expand further on what I am looking or searching for. I get so frustrated at links that do not lead me anywhere, and waste my time on trying to figure out "WHERE THE HECK AM I. AND WHY DID THIS LINK APPEAR, AND WHERE IS IT SUPPOSED TO TAKE ME NOW?" Thank goodness I know how to use the BACK BUTTON!
Considering other things in relationship to this, if you are going to write on something and try to prove your point, please take the time to give adequate links (and refrain from giving duplicate and redundant links) in efforts that lead your viewers on a lost journey in following your story, and while at it, make sure since you DID spend a great deal of time in providing these links, that you check the links yourself to make sure they follow through with what you are trying to say, and make sure they upload right and with no problems for viewers. Try and make sure the folks that follow these links can find your reasons of why you placed your links with care.
So, in closing, and this is just my personal opinion, it is a good idea to give only a few well researched and valuable links to get your point across (especially if chosen well in what you are trying to get across), as to many links requires to much reading in one spot, and even the good readers have a problem of picking and choosing which one to click next, especially if the links go nowhere on readers, viewers journey.
Just some thoughts on my night research and thoughts, and once again, my considerations for who wants to hear them.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Keeping Children Safe Via Internet Blogs
Recently I have read a great deal of blogs and articles concerning the dangers with children and teenagers, who are now becoming more and more of the vast majority of Internet bloggers, and their safety being at risk. And to a degree, I agree with this, especially the fact that we must protect our children until they reach legal adulthood of age to make their own decisions.
Bloggers and blogging has become very popular in the past few years, and it is a great way to release what we think about, write about, and give our views, thoughts and ideas on and about. Teenagers are not really that different from us, as they do have their own thoughts developed from their unique personalities, and within their personal blogs, they have found away to express a great deal of this.
MySpace, a very popular expanding and constantly growing blog spot, has been "under the gun" a great deal as of late in relationship to statements that they are exposing teenagers to pedophiles and predators, leading to problems with trolling and cyberstalking the underage youth group. So with my interest peeked on this, I had to know more and when I researched MySpace and all it had to offer on setting up a blog, (easy to do, easy to navigate, options available) I was not surprised why the younger group choose this particular blog site. And because it is such a popular blog spot, this age group (and keep in mind, adults as well) are navigated to this site, explains why, if you do the math, it is so successful, well known and productive now. Anytime something grows to be so expansive and large, there is going to exist an alarm of problems, yet we need to keep in mind that there are other real problems on many other blog spots, located in many chat rooms, forums, etc., but they are not "under the gun", in a matter of speaking, as they are not as large, or well known as MySpace.
Take this into consideration that the majority of the Internet public does not even know that Yahoo has an online auction, and it is free to list and sell, and if you google it concerning problems, you will find very little on the subject. Now, compare that to eBay, which is now a household word, and if you google it for problems, thousands of sites will appear. Why? Because they are well known and HUGE! That is the price you pay when you grow out of your britches while you count your millions.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand concerning children and teenagers on the Internet. This is not a new problem, but one that thankfully in the past few years, has finally been recognized, explored and addressed to a much larger degree. In reality though, this has been a problem since the Internet became the superhighway, and the younger underage crowd were found in many chat rooms and forums and inappropriate web sites.
Parents I believe, have a great responsibility in protecting their children concerning the Internet if they are going to let their children be available to the computer for long hours. I mean, get real, you would not leave a loaded gun lying around the house would you? If a gun is in the house, it is locked away or hidden or no bullets available due to dangers, yet at the same time, parents still let their older children have bb or pellet guns, and sometimes rifles for the sport of hunting. The point I am trying to express is that as parents and responsible adults, we must take responsibility on any and all dangers concerning our underage children. If you have concerns about them, snoop to see what is going on in their life, if that is what it takes. (yet be ready, if and when you do snoop, as you might find things about you and what they reflect and think on and about parents, both good and bad.) Talk with them on the dangers of the Internet, and point out real things that have happened and can happen to bring your point across. Check their computer time to where they have navigated, and the time they spend at certain places. Keep the computer in a safe room, and allow only certain times and reasons to be on the computer if you are concerned or feel there is a need. Try and get them involved in outside activities or give them a good book to read. Promote and expand their interest with your involvement and enthusiasm, and instill discussions on and about things concerning the Internet. But, do let them blog, yet try to set rules concerning blogging, and explain why giving personal information in blogging is a "no no" and is a safety concern for many reasons. Better yet, if they show an interest on setting up a blog, go over the policies that the blog site in question has implemented, and make sure both of you understand the rules and regulations, policies and guidelines.
For example, MySpace has gone to great lengths from all I have researched and read to point out that the age limit to become a member of their blog, is 14 years of age. They also have safety tips here and here and other excellent links connected to them concerning safety at Netsmartz and Safeteens to protect your children. It appears to me that MySpace realizes there is a problem, and have gone to great lengths to address the problem.
In closing, my whole point is that we, as parents and adults need to play a vital and important role in making sure our children are safe. It is so easy to blame MySpace for problems that have been happening concerning the younger crowd, and as far as I am concerned, not a fair assessment. MySpace became a large community because much time and effort, good business decisions and much more was involved into what it has become today. Also, with a site this large, they cannot (and should not be expected) to police all the blogs. And unfortunately, many of the young bloggers are also to blame for the problem, by posting certain pictures (for example, their boobs hanging out, or mooning their butt), and saying inappropriate things. By doing so, they are seeking a certain type attention, (that needs to be addressed) and this does and should cause red flags and alarm. Yet, we should keep in mind that the majority of the younger bloggers display common sense, and use MySpace only as an outlet to meet new friends and share ideas and thoughts and become part of a group, as well as many other reasons. So, if blame is going to be placed on this particular subject at hand, lets make sure we have all the information before placing blame. This last link is also a very informative read Wikipedia Concerning MySpace .
Katie
Bloggers and blogging has become very popular in the past few years, and it is a great way to release what we think about, write about, and give our views, thoughts and ideas on and about. Teenagers are not really that different from us, as they do have their own thoughts developed from their unique personalities, and within their personal blogs, they have found away to express a great deal of this.
MySpace, a very popular expanding and constantly growing blog spot, has been "under the gun" a great deal as of late in relationship to statements that they are exposing teenagers to pedophiles and predators, leading to problems with trolling and cyberstalking the underage youth group. So with my interest peeked on this, I had to know more and when I researched MySpace and all it had to offer on setting up a blog, (easy to do, easy to navigate, options available) I was not surprised why the younger group choose this particular blog site. And because it is such a popular blog spot, this age group (and keep in mind, adults as well) are navigated to this site, explains why, if you do the math, it is so successful, well known and productive now. Anytime something grows to be so expansive and large, there is going to exist an alarm of problems, yet we need to keep in mind that there are other real problems on many other blog spots, located in many chat rooms, forums, etc., but they are not "under the gun", in a matter of speaking, as they are not as large, or well known as MySpace.
Take this into consideration that the majority of the Internet public does not even know that Yahoo has an online auction, and it is free to list and sell, and if you google it concerning problems, you will find very little on the subject. Now, compare that to eBay, which is now a household word, and if you google it for problems, thousands of sites will appear. Why? Because they are well known and HUGE! That is the price you pay when you grow out of your britches while you count your millions.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand concerning children and teenagers on the Internet. This is not a new problem, but one that thankfully in the past few years, has finally been recognized, explored and addressed to a much larger degree. In reality though, this has been a problem since the Internet became the superhighway, and the younger underage crowd were found in many chat rooms and forums and inappropriate web sites.
Parents I believe, have a great responsibility in protecting their children concerning the Internet if they are going to let their children be available to the computer for long hours. I mean, get real, you would not leave a loaded gun lying around the house would you? If a gun is in the house, it is locked away or hidden or no bullets available due to dangers, yet at the same time, parents still let their older children have bb or pellet guns, and sometimes rifles for the sport of hunting. The point I am trying to express is that as parents and responsible adults, we must take responsibility on any and all dangers concerning our underage children. If you have concerns about them, snoop to see what is going on in their life, if that is what it takes. (yet be ready, if and when you do snoop, as you might find things about you and what they reflect and think on and about parents, both good and bad.) Talk with them on the dangers of the Internet, and point out real things that have happened and can happen to bring your point across. Check their computer time to where they have navigated, and the time they spend at certain places. Keep the computer in a safe room, and allow only certain times and reasons to be on the computer if you are concerned or feel there is a need. Try and get them involved in outside activities or give them a good book to read. Promote and expand their interest with your involvement and enthusiasm, and instill discussions on and about things concerning the Internet. But, do let them blog, yet try to set rules concerning blogging, and explain why giving personal information in blogging is a "no no" and is a safety concern for many reasons. Better yet, if they show an interest on setting up a blog, go over the policies that the blog site in question has implemented, and make sure both of you understand the rules and regulations, policies and guidelines.
For example, MySpace has gone to great lengths from all I have researched and read to point out that the age limit to become a member of their blog, is 14 years of age. They also have safety tips here and here and other excellent links connected to them concerning safety at Netsmartz and Safeteens to protect your children. It appears to me that MySpace realizes there is a problem, and have gone to great lengths to address the problem.
In closing, my whole point is that we, as parents and adults need to play a vital and important role in making sure our children are safe. It is so easy to blame MySpace for problems that have been happening concerning the younger crowd, and as far as I am concerned, not a fair assessment. MySpace became a large community because much time and effort, good business decisions and much more was involved into what it has become today. Also, with a site this large, they cannot (and should not be expected) to police all the blogs. And unfortunately, many of the young bloggers are also to blame for the problem, by posting certain pictures (for example, their boobs hanging out, or mooning their butt), and saying inappropriate things. By doing so, they are seeking a certain type attention, (that needs to be addressed) and this does and should cause red flags and alarm. Yet, we should keep in mind that the majority of the younger bloggers display common sense, and use MySpace only as an outlet to meet new friends and share ideas and thoughts and become part of a group, as well as many other reasons. So, if blame is going to be placed on this particular subject at hand, lets make sure we have all the information before placing blame. This last link is also a very informative read Wikipedia Concerning MySpace .
Katie
Friday, March 24, 2006
Writing And Research Resources & Guides
The other day I got an email from a Mr. Paul Bocij, in response to an email that I had sent him on advise on the book I am working on concerning Cyberstalking, and other matters. He has written several books, as well as papers that deal with this subject, and as far as I am concerned, he is pretty much an authority on this, and he was kind enough to give me some excellent advice and pointers. (You can visit one of his sites here, and an example of some of his many papers Victims of cyberstalking: An exploratory study of harassment perpetrated via the Internet by Paul Bocij
Also, he gave me two important sites to visit that I was not familiar with, and I wanted to share these, since the majority of my readers are writers and I thought this might be valuable for you also. Especially if you have to do a lot of research.
Biblioscape appears to be an excellent program for researchers, writers, students, and much more. While the program does cost, it looks like something I might be interested in at one point. And I could not help but notice the other programs on the sidebar that look also to be very valuable programs, especially for serious writers, and I do intend to look closer at these.
Copernic Agent, also seems to be a great program that deals with writing and research, and it has 3 different programs to offer. One being a free download (which I now have) and 2 other that are premium download programs.
For the last 2 years I have used Journal 3, which has been and continues to be a valuable tool for me. I would be lost without it, and before I ever put anything on the Internet, it goes into the Journal first. I did a more in depth review on this at Wild Mind here. (You need to scroll down the comments to my second comment to get my full review on it.)
Anyway, I wanted to share these resources to my readers, as it might be something you are looking for, fits your style, or might be up for your consideration.
Katie
Also, he gave me two important sites to visit that I was not familiar with, and I wanted to share these, since the majority of my readers are writers and I thought this might be valuable for you also. Especially if you have to do a lot of research.
Biblioscape appears to be an excellent program for researchers, writers, students, and much more. While the program does cost, it looks like something I might be interested in at one point. And I could not help but notice the other programs on the sidebar that look also to be very valuable programs, especially for serious writers, and I do intend to look closer at these.
Copernic Agent, also seems to be a great program that deals with writing and research, and it has 3 different programs to offer. One being a free download (which I now have) and 2 other that are premium download programs.
For the last 2 years I have used Journal 3, which has been and continues to be a valuable tool for me. I would be lost without it, and before I ever put anything on the Internet, it goes into the Journal first. I did a more in depth review on this at Wild Mind here. (You need to scroll down the comments to my second comment to get my full review on it.)
Anyway, I wanted to share these resources to my readers, as it might be something you are looking for, fits your style, or might be up for your consideration.
Katie
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