TechnoGeekery #37: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Click HERE to leave Chassy Cat a RAVE REVIEW at iTunes for her Podcast O’ TechnoGeekery.

Dr. Horrible. Very cool. Captain Hammer? Corporate tool.

Okay, so I’ll just let this one speak for itself. (I’ve also posted the SONG portion of this vidcast at YouTube… just for kicks. Feel free to click on over!)

Music in this podcast provided by… well, Chassy Cat. Um, check her out.

And don’t forget to visit the Mommycast and Friends Family Channel for more family-friendly podcasting!

Cat, OUT.

Technogeekery Show #7: Breaking Up With Blogger

Click HERE to leave Chassy Cat a RAVE REVIEW at iTunes for her Podcast O’ TechnoGeekery.

Music in this podcast provided by the Podsafe Music Network, with Remember by Black Lab, and Run by Mike Errico.

This week, the question du jour asks about transferring all of one’s posts from one blog host to another. See for yourself:

Dear Chassy Cat,
How do you move your former blogs (ie - blogs from Blogger) over to WordPress?
New TG SuperFan

Come on, you know how the song goes: They say that breaking up is hard to do…

But it doesn’t have to be like that, TechnoGeeks, and this week’s episode of TechnoGeekery shows you how to break up with Blogger–and move right in with Wordpress.com–in a snap.

Plus, there’s singing! And “Leave Wordpress ALONE” gal! And did I mention the singing?! Super bad singing?! Because there’s that.

FYI: These video podcasts are generated in a 640×480 format, which means if you only click and watch at my website, the tutorial videos are too small to see clearly.

So, to see them full-sized, either download the file (it’s a choice right under the video window),

OR

click on the “Subscribe in iTunes” button in my sidebar, wait a minute while iTunes opens (just ignore any blank browser windows that may open up), and when iTunes opens to my TechnoGeekery page, click on the “Subscribe” button. Badda bing badda boom! You’re all signed up to my iTunes RSS feed. SWEET!

Technogeekery Show #6: Trump Teens at Technology

A very special thank you goes out to Paige of Mommycast.com, who agreed to be my very own special guest star slash expert person.

Music in this podcast provided by the Podsafe Music Network, with Remember and Mine Again by Black Lab, and Strange Day in Mexico by The Clintons.

This episode answers a question asked by G:

Hi Cat:
Can you suggest ways that parents can trump their kids at the technology thing? How can we keep on top of what they are doing? How do we maintain some control? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Love your show!
–G

Sure thing, G! And mad props on the alliteration!

For more information about trumping your teens at technology, visit:

GetNetWise.org
SafeKids.com
KidsHealth.org
WiredSafety.org
Teens Health: Safe Surfing Tips for Teens
Parental Controls and Online Child Protection (A Survey of Tools and Methods–link to PDF file)

And for an IM Chat to English translator, try:

A Guide to Understanding Online Chat Acronyms and Smiley Faces

Remember, G… you are the parent. If teens do not listen or follow the safety rules you put into place, unplug the computer! You can do it. You’re supposed to do it. And your child hoofing it to the library? Super good workout! Which… BONUS.

(checklist coming soon)

Technogeekery Show #5: Pimp My Blog, Pt. I

Click HERE to leave Chassy Cat a RAVE REVIEW at iTunes for her Podcast O’ TechnoGeekery.

Wordpress.com:
Blog Themes
Sidebar Widgets
Post Tags and Categories
Privacy Options
Other Features

Blogger.com:
Getting Started
The Basics
Working With Blogger

Interesting Read:
How Not to Get Fired Because of Your Blog

Technogeekery Show #4: On Facebook it’s always a REUNION

This week’s episode is in response to my very first official Burning Question from Kelli at mycircuslife.blogspot.com.

Maybe you can help me (if not, no problemo) — My MIL is looking for a solution for a 50th reunion site. Something that would allow for password protection, but also let everyone contribute pictures and stories. I haven’t checked into any online sources about this yet. Would you know of any?

Oh, do I ever! Watch!… and learn.

Step 1: Sign up for a Facebook account.

…wait for confirmation email from Facebook…

…click on the link in the confirmation email…

…which takes you back to your new Facebook account!

Notice the list of “Applications” listed in the upper left-hand corner of the page (under the word “Facebook”)? That is where you go will find “Groups.” Which brings you to step 2.

Step 2: Create a Group.

Click on “Groups,” then click on “Create a New Group.”

Now, give your group a name. I think “The Cobras!” would be a super good group name. Oooh! Or, “Death By Chocolate.” But that’s just me. Do whatever you want. I don’t even care. *sigh* I guess we’ll just go with “Circus Kelli’s MIL’s 50th Reunion Site.

This is where you can select your privacy options, too, if you want to be all secretive and exclusive and whatnot.

Once you’ve created your group, you can upload a picture that will be representative of your group. I think the school mascot would be a super idea. Because it’s a REUNION. With school SPIRIT.

(If you are not sure how to upload a picture, Technogeekery Show #3 touches on that briefly. The easiest way to do this is to put the picture file you want to upload on your desktop. Then, when you click browse, you will know exactly where to look to find the photo file, so you can select it and upload it to your knew Facebook site. Easy peasy!)

Step 3: Invite members to your Facebook page. All you need are email addresses!

Once you’ve sent out your invitations, sit back and wait for group members to start pouring in. Booyah! You are now a member of the totally cool Facebook scene.

Feel free to install Super Poke and throw a cow at me.

No need to thank me. It was my pleasure.

(But I do like snickerdoodles. Which are easy to make and ship. Just so you know.)

Technogeekery Show #3: Gravatars. It’s All About Image.

**Music in this podcast provided by Podsafe Music Network.

If you liked Booty Voodoo, visit Lee Coulter’s official website and find out how you can hear more of his awesome music!

Theme music for Technogeekery.com is Remember by Black Lab. Visit Black Lab’s official site for more music.**

In our day-to-day lives we can judge others by what they look like, what clothes they wear, how they talk, oh, all sorts of ways. But blogs and boards are so… anonymous. It’s not as if we can actually see each other, right? So how the heck are we supposed to judge each other?!

Fortunately, that’s where gravatars come in. With gravatars, we can create custom images that represent us. A personal logo, if you will. Gravatars identify us and say something about our personality. Which… ah-ha! Okay, what I meant to say was… ah-ha! Now we have something to work with!

Think about it. What can we infer about a person who creates a gravatar image featuring a fluffy white kitten perched atop a pink pillow? Um, cutesy, much? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Conversely, what can we assume about a person whose gravatar features an image of Jude and Tommy during that scene on Instant Star when they were totally making out in the rain? Aaaw! Hopeless romantic, that’s what! Eh? Eh?

Take a gander at some random gravatars:

So if you frequently find yourself commenting on blog posts throughout the blogosphere, I strongly suggest you create a gravatar. You know… so people can judge you? Then your gravatar should appear whenever you post a comment to a gravatar-enabled blog—like Technogeekery.com, for instance. Hey, it’s easy and it’s free, that’s all I’m saying. Do what you want. I don’t even care. Much.

So… do you have a gravatar now? Well, what are you waiting for? Show off the darn thing by commenting on this vidcast, for heaven’s Pete sake. Do it, do it, do it!

Do it.

**Gravatars will work on any site that is gravatar-enabled, but it may take a few days for the gravatar to show up anywhere. However, if you’ve commented, the question mark (or default gravatar) will be replaced with your brand-spankin’-new gravatar. It will! Check back! You’ll see!

It has something to do with approval of your gravatar rating. I guess ol’ Tom doesn’t trust you people not to be gross, which… RUDE.**

Technogeekery Show #2: RSS Feeds… What Are They Good For?

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**CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE**

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Technogeekery Show #1: Blog Basics and Beginnings

Click HERE to leave Chassy Cat a RAVE REVIEW at iTunes for her Podcast O’ TechnoGeekery.

Should I, or shouldn’t I start a blog?

Undecided? Check out Top 9 Reasons to Start a Blog at About.com.

If blogging is a go, then keep on reading! If not, off you go then…

1. Pick a HOST.
Find a decent blogging provider which appeals to you.

Chassy Cat’s Favorite FREE Blog Hosts:
Blogger.com *can be used with Google account
Wordpress.com *not to be confused with Wordpress.org, which offers the blog platform for free but requires the purchase of a host service and a registered domain name.
These sites offer pre-made blog templates and push-button publishing and don’t require much Technogeekery at ALL.

(For a more in-depth look at blogging platforms, visit Choosing a Blog Platform)

2. Make Your Blog PRETTY.
When you sign up at Blogger or Wordpress, pick a ready-made blog template from the gallery and get started personalizing it: add photographs, list the books you are reading, music you enjoy, your like/dislikes, whatev. It’s all about you, baby. However… be smart! Don’t give out too much personal information. No one wants a blog stalker. No, seriously.

3. To Be, Or Not to Be… PUBLIC.
Decide whether or not you want your blog to be private or personal. Do you want freaky-deaky Joe Public reading your blog and viewing your pictures, or do you only want your friends and family to be able to read it? Both Blogger and Wordpress offer privacy options, so you are good to go either way. Unless, of course, you are planning on lambasting said friends and family in your blog, in which case you are screwed.

4. TESTING, TESTING… 1,2,3….
After you’ve set up your blog, write a few posts to test it out. Remember, spell check is your friend. Then, refresh your blog every two minutes to see if anyone has commented on your post. Not that I do that.

5. Don’t LURK, Be SOCIABLE.
Visit other blogs! Comment! Leave your blog address! It’s your virtual calling card… which, how very 18th century aristocratic of you, right?!

DARE TO BE YOU.
If you are feeling super daring, you may want register your own domain name and point it at your blog (more on “pointing” in a later podcast! hey! that’s what we in the biz call a TEASER! note it!). Register a catchy yet philosophically deep name for your new blog—such as “dontputyourlipsonit.com” or “ironekillz.com” or “ilovebooks.com” or “grandmasdiary.com” or “tomkatfanatic.com”—and ring up everyone you know to tell them the URL. Remind your less Technogeekery savvy friends and family that “diaryofaslacker” in your blog’s address is spelled “all one word.”

OR, you could jump into the 21st century and EMAIL your blog link to everyone. Yep. That’s always an option.