RSS feeds for beginners.

We know you've got busy lives and when lecturers, librarians and fellow students say, ' You must try this website' or ' You must try this database', that you're not going to have time to try everything.

But what about if the information came to you instead of you having to go looking for it?

That's what RSS (it stands for Really Simple Syndication) does.

If you'd like to know more about how to set up RSS feeds then this video explains it all.

The Internet is quite big.

They don't call me 'The Master of the Understated' for nothing, you know.

I've started to think that the Internet might be around for a while.

I'm 43 and when I'm pondering technological advancement (yes, I really do sometimes...) I find it quite useful to compare the rapid changes in technology with how I've been forced to adapt since leaving school 27 years ago. My secondary school had one (that's 1!!!!!!!!!) computer. And only the clever kids got to touch it. I was not a clever kid. So, unsurprisngly, I decided that computers were not for me and I decided to dig holes and put trees in them instead.

But then I got ideas above my station and decided to go to University. And because I finished in 1998 the Internet was really only in its toddler stages; you know - falling down a lot, limited vocabulary and quite slow and needy. Hence, I managed to avoid technology again.

And then a short 4 years later I started my Masters and every single meaningful thing I did for the course was online. I'd estimate 90% of my research was online, most of the forms I filled in to access resources were online. I communicated with other people on the course via discussion boards. Whereas 4 years previously we'd have met in the pub to discuss projects. Okay, so maybe it wasn't all progress...

So I basically have two points.

1) Considering how fast we've needed to adapt to the juggernaut of new technologies I'm amazed that so few people seem to be freaking out.

2) If you're one of those people who feels they're capable of breaking the Internet into little pieces by just looking at a computer I know how you feel.

If you've read everything above you deserve a reward.

So here's a video showing how big the Internet is.

Respite care for my Dad

I've recently come back from a long weekend on the Isle of Wight with my Dad and sisters.
This was possible due to a program of respite care that my dad needs as he's the main carer for my mum, who has dementia. My dad is in his 80's, is partially blind and has emphysema. I know, I know. I've been told I'm as stubborn as he is, but that seems impossible given that his mule-like refusal to accept any help resulted in years of soldiering on without respite. This seems to me to be remarkably common and he still feels pangs of guilt at needing help.

The issue of respite care was raised in the second electoral debate last week, so I hope it continues to be an issue that is in the spotlight.

This link will take you to a systematic review of the effects of respite care on the frail elderly, published in 2009.

Here are some photos of our trip featuring a lizard, a red squirrel and my Dad and sisters.

This is me.

Blimey. Where do I start?

I'm new at this but I have plans for this blog which I hope will make it worth your time to come back regularly. My name is Alan and I'm a librarian. And I'll blog about being a librarian in applied social studies. This will include entries about new developments at the University, new technology that excites me and other things that I think students should be made aware of.

But I'm also a student myself so at times I'll want to share my experiences of being on the other side of the educational fence. And then there's everything else! When I talk to students one thing that nearly always comes up is how to fit everything into our busy lives. If you're a student, you constantly make sacrifices and I'm no different. We do it to achieve things.

So I may well talk about my children, my inability to grow leeks, why I stay up until 3 am playing on the xbox and why I'm already getting excited about London 2012.

I hope I manage to entertain and occasionally inform.

Alan