POST-COURSE THOUGHTS

Oh what a great relief that I am going to come out of the tunnel of Web 2.0, having crossed the final hurdle on Geocaching.

My personal post-course review now?     Well, I have some personal viewpoints, some positive, but I think more negative ones, but before I present my viewpoints, I take this opportunity to thank the course administrators for their hard work in giving me an insight into many of the things I was either not aware of or never used on the Internet. So a good eye opener for me to come to know a bit of  the power of Web 2.0 

The positive viewpoints for me is I believe I have learnt from this DIY online course some of the intricacies of Web 2.0…at least when someone mentions now on his/her   Blogging, Wikis, RSS Aggregators/Feeds, Twittering, Facebook, Delicious and Tagging and Library Thing, Online Video, Podcast, Geocaching, I can at least associate in my mind what they are from the little I have learnt.  To me what I have learnt is just the tip of  big iceberg, because I read from some "for dummies" web books,  I noted with  amazement there are much much more to learn to use all these high-tech stuff professionally. Well,  at  least I can share a bit of my  experience with others in my  plunging into the deep blue sea of Web 2.0, climbing the small peaks and wandering through the meandering webbed paths. Certainly what I have gone through are no loss to my gain as they are added colours to my tapestry -- see why I have named my Blog "Stitch to  Patch" with the the url: http://amazetapestry/!!!  I  also wish to thank many blogger friends who gave me helping hands, and some have given  me much encouragement   with nice compliments on what I have written in my blogs...such gesture truly gave me the fuel and   aspire me  to persevere and continue to  run the "amazing race".  I felt consoled  that at least there are  people who spent their precious time in bothering   to read   what I have put down in writing - I still  remember I was always on the borderline when it comes to passing the English and literature exams in school! So the blog writing  gave me an opportunity to improve my communication skill in  expressing myself in English, which is not my mother tongue and a second language I had to learn  when I was young. 

Regarding my negative viewpoints? Because  time is the major hindrance for  me, I found the course too lengthy and too cramped with too much "Discover" and "Explorer" examples  and too little step-by-step guidelines in doing the actual lesson. Also too many sign-in passwords to remember! Hilariously I used wrong password once and ended redoing the particular lesson.   I still have very strong reservation against  Facebook and Twittering.  I  believe it is my own personal bias and prejudices as I found them they too open and transparent in social networking, and Twittering is so "chatty" when I noticed the endless tweets of many twitters!

In my final analysis, the sky is the limit if one really wants to apply fully all these high-tech tools

and one may become "slave to high-tech" web  stuff if one  goes overboard in using them.

Before I bid farewell to blogger friends, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and may 2011 be a more  peaceful year in the world. Once again, I   would like to share the following passage that was found in Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore, Dated 1692:

Go Placidly

Amid The Noise and Haste

& remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly & clearly: & listen to others,

even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story

Avoid loud & aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become  vain & bitter;

for always there will be greater & lesser persons than you.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own careers, however humble:

it is a real possession  in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in our business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

& everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity

& disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the council of the years,

gracefully surrounding the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune

But do not distress  yourself  with imaginings

Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe; no less than the trees

& the stars; you have a right to be here.

& whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,  whatever you conceive HIM to be,

& whatever your labours & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life

keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be careful;

Strive to be happy