Now, *That's* Smart Printing!

If web-based information retrieval has been lacking in a specific area, it's got to be in printing. Often, I really want a print version of information I'm gathering--usually information that spans several web pages. While the old cut-n-paste into Word has its rainy-day pleasures (who am I kidding?), I've always thought there's got to be a better way. HP has answered my prayers with a free app that allows you to grab info from multiple pages and sites, concatenate them to a single page, and then print it out. Check it out at the link below:


HP Smart Web Printing enables simple, predictable web page printing.

Chatmaker

I've been thinking a lot on Web 2.0 tools lately & here's one I've come across that looks like a winner to me. It's a free service called Chatmaker and it allows you to create instant free chat rooms. Just copy the url or code and send it to someone you want to chat with. You are initially logged in as a guest but can change your name. You can also timestamp the conversation, embed links, and use html coding.

Using a service like Chatmaker eliminates the need to sign on/off from a chat program.It looks like a nice alternative for those who don't want to be signed on in another chat program or need a quick tool for conversation. When my advisees are studying abroad this tool would be handy as we work out schedules. I'm sure there are other possibilities I haven't even considered!

Lose weight web 2.0 style!

One of the most popular resolutions each new year goes something like this... "I'm going to eat healthier and lose weight." For some folks, like me, the resolution falls to the wayside when the new semester starts. This year, however, you can find assistance in staying strong and keeping up your healthy habits using an online calorie counter program. It's called The Daily Plate and it's free! You can look up and log thousands of different foods in your personal journal each day! It includes a nutritional breakdown for each item you log so that you track not only calories but grams of fat, carbs, protein, etc. In addition, you can log in your fitness activities to see how many calories you've burned. The service includes several discussion boards and is a very active community.

I've been using the service since August & have found it to be easy to use. My favorite part is my ability to enter my height & weight and have it calculate for me how many calories I need in order to lose, gain, or maintain (so far I've lost over 30 pounds). It graphs my weight and calculates my BMI. I keep thinking that there must be some application for this service in courses on campus though I'm not sure where. So, I'll share it with all of you & hope that it's helpful to someone out there :)

Going The Other Way?

PDF (Portable Document Format) was developed to allow files to be viewed on any computer system, regardless of platform or program. Moreover, distribution in this format provided the means to protect the original file--it could not be easily nor cheaply altered by the user. While I recognize the format's virtues, I'm annoyed at the restrictions more often than not, particularly when I wish to print out only part of a .pdf file or save only a snippet from the file. Finally, help has arrived in the form of several .pdf to .doc converters. This one, aptly named "Free .pdf to .doc Converter," allows you to convert the whole file or simply extract selected images or text and edit the results in Word or Open Office.

Free Flash Buttons

The TLTR Graduate Assistant, Jocelyn Kramarik, has created a Webquest on Newton's Laws of Motion. As part of her Webquest, she wanted to use "interesting" buttons. When she came to me with the request we stumbled upon a site called FlashVortex.com & have been making all kinds of buttons & menus...all for free! (I do love the word free!) In the spirit of the upcoming season, we're sharing. (When we've officially posted the Webquest we'll share that as well.

The site also allows you to create flash text, a really cool digital clock, and a variety of buttons. Check it out. Click here for a free menu maker !