23things plus 5 - #3 KartOO

KartOO a visual meta search engine that provides a traditional search interface with a single Google like search box but the difference is in how the results are displayed. With funky little icons and animations KartOO looks great.

My search “Doctor Who blogs” yielded over 4 million results. It ranks by the size of the page. To see the rest of the results you select next map. It also came up with 14 topics which were useful such as video, photos etc…

I do like the visual mapping of the topics/results and the design and layout look terrific. However, I am such a Google user it would take a giant leap of faith for me to stop Googling. It is so pervasive. I am going to bookmark it and use it over the next 6 months and see if my views change.

woo hoo… hit 100!

Didn’t think it possible but I have made 100 posts…. oh my god! A significant milestone. I am giving myself this Dalek anniversary cake.

Actually this weekend I am going to a Dr Who dinner party which will involve ahhh watching Dr Who with some of my friends who are also fans. We are quite a mixed bunch - librarian (me), educator, classical musician, Vet and not one of us geeky! We will be doing some face-to-face social networking ;oP

Peace

I get the Primaries now…

As a Librarian I should have curiosity about about politics but I have always been quite apathetic. I tend to be left leaning as many are in education. In my youth I used to say I was an anarchist (well it was cool to when you were a punk) but I have since realised that some rules are necessary. I am a librarian for goodness sake.

But I do think we all should stand up and be proud that we live in a country where we can vote and can get involved in the democratic process. We are very fortunate.

In my short life I have discovered that human nature being what it is you can’t always rely on people to be altruistic. But I like to think the best of people and although I don’t always agree with the decisions made by our politicians I think they are a necessary evil. Bit like marketing.

Why am I talking about politics on this fine autumn day? I am going to publicly announce that I have discovered West Wing.

I know I am late to the fold. Yes - I have finally moved beyond my penchant for science fiction and comedy to the grown up world of the White House. It is intelligent and engaging television. I am addicted! I have added it to my growing list of obsessions… Facebook, Dr Who…etc.

After watching Series 6 I now understand what is going on with the primaries in the US and how hard it must be for the Democrats without a clear front runner for the nomination. The characters are complex - their drives, personal lives etc…. captivating.

It has made me consider that librarians actually have a terrific opportunity to get involved in national agendas and have their say. One of ALIA’s roles is advocacy. It is worth having a look at the issues that ALIA is taking an active role in.

However, there are other ways to stand up and be counted for example library blogs. Check out Libraries Interact they have put together a list of Aussie Library Blogs. It is a way you can add your voice to the dialogue around libraries, librarians and the work that we do. But the best way is to just get and there and get involved in the community around you.

Peace

Dr Who Christmas Special Revisited…

All is forgiven… Kylie. I have watched the special three times now and it does get better with each viewing. I have even shed a few tears. Kylie although wooden is rather sweet as Astrid and there are some very clever one liners.

Dr Who has some quite good pick up lines and the Astrid character doesn’t mess around making her feelings pretty clear from the beginning. I particularly like the speech…”"I’m the Doctor… I’m a Time Lord! I’m from the planet Gallifrey of the constellation of Kasterborous! I’m 903 years old and I’m the man who’s going to save your lives and all 6,000,000,000 on the planet below!”

It’s terrific you can watch it here:

Despite what I may have said it is well worth watching. You will need tissues. Evil is again redefined with a particularly nasty character in this one. I finally caught the Weakest Link Dr Who Special and was suprised that David Tennant didn’t know the capital of Denmark. I am not really a fan of weakest link and got bored but I am glad I got to see the actors in their civvies doing their bit for charity.

Peace

I want an iphone…. so I can have a tardis phone cover

I own an ipod touch and when I was catching up on reading the blogs I follow. I was thrilled to see a tardis phone cover for an iphone and my ipod will fit in it. I do use the my ipod for work check emails etc… but would love the full functionality of the iphone. Maybe this year.

Craft Tardis is a great community and I have mentioned them before.  It is one of my favourite blogs. The instructions to make the phone cover are provided.  I would join the community but feel that I need to make something and take photos before I can.  Although I could post pictures of my Dr Who t-shirts.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Peace

Looking hot… David Tennant style and those rumours

In my mind if you want to look hot and you are of the male gender you can’t go past this place. Magnoli Clothiers they make terrific suits and have just started making the Tennant suit. Yes that’s right. A suit based on the one that David Tennant wears in Dr Who.

This place makes clothes based on the styles from the 30s and 40s. And may I say very stylish indeed. Based in NZ. I could also imagine that Captain Jack Harkness gets his clothes from here.

For those of you who were traumatised by the news that David Tennant may be leaving Dr Who he will be around until at least 2009! Whew - all is right with the world now.

Devastating news… Dr Who Fans! Or David v James

Oh my god… news from the UK. David Tennant might be leaving Dr Who. Check out the BBCs coverage here for more information. I am too upset to write anything coherent about the possible demise. Possible replacements muted in the Daily Mail include James Nesbitt (great in Cold Feet). But for me Dr Who is David Tennant. Sniff.

Knitting Frenzy and New Year’s Resolutions

I visited my colleague whose Mum knitted a dalek. It really is beautiful. Now another colleague informs me that she only needs to finish the head and she will be finished her dalek. I met the Marketing Director at my place of work and she had a talking dalek on her desk and then we chatted about Cybermen. You never know who is a closet “Who” fan (Dr Who not the band…).

I wish I could knit. I have started thinking about “goals” for 2008. I know I am getting in early so far my list includes:

1. Learning to swim (a tragedy cos I live in Australia and I am not very confident in the water - earmarked January for this)
2. Learing to surf
3. Completing a triathlon
4. Starting a PhD
5. Learn to dance - the two step is a bit passe now and I like to bust a move
6. Be an advocate for librarians and libraries
7. Go to a least one overseas conference

I think this will keep me really busy. So I don’t think I will add too much more to it for now. With Christmas round the corner, the new year will be here before we know it.

All I want for Christmas

This is what I want for Christmas… Dr Who life-sized. No idea where to put it but I would love one. Actually available online - pity he’s made out of cardboard!

Hello world!

Welcome to Angels have the phone box my musings on pretty much anything I want but often Dr Who. Why Dr Who? Well since Russel T Davies reinvigorated the series it has been so clever and funny. What’s more David Tennant is hot!

I can’t promise that this blog will be entertaining, life changing or riveting but I intend to make occasional posts about whatever takes my fancy or follies that amuse me. I will start this post with a tribute to Crafty Tardis an online community that I think rocks. This community is dedicated to craft of the SciFi nature with a particular bent for Dr Who. It was on this blog that I found a pattern for a knitted dalek. I posted about it and wallah one of my colleagues got her mother to knit one for her. Here is the result. Her mum doesn’t even know what a dalek is hence the colour choice. But I think it is great… like a bee crossed with a dalek. Beautiful.