I'm new to blogging (my, how naff does that sound). Why would anyone of sound mind want to write their thoughts down on a website which pretty well anyone else in the world could read? It's like baring your soul, leaving your diary open in the middle of the street, getting on the soap box in Hyde Park.

Some things about the web I find amazing, fascinating, just simply useful. Some are really time wasting, but in a good way. Some are nothing but bad. Here's my list:

  • Google - where would we be without it? You love it, but sometimes you love to hate it too. I remember the days when Ask Jeeves was THE thing, you'd love that old butler answering your silly questions. Now there's Google, Jeeves without the personality. A big, cold-hearted, omnipresent vision of internet capitalism. But he gets you where you want to go (usually).
  • Google Earth - fancy being able to look at the place you live, where your friends live, from the sky. It gets a bit annoying now that everyone has posted photos or useless information about their favourite diner, but I'm sure you can switch all that off. When we flew back from somewhere, Thailand or Malaysia, I spent an hour staring out of the window and the first thing I did when we got home was Google Earth (is that a verb?) the land masses I'd memorised. I retraced the journey on Google Earth. Sad but true.
  • Ebay - for buying ski gloves and Ugg-style boots for a 10 year old, at cheapo prices when there are none to be had in the shops, and actually being able to exchange them if they don't fit, like a real shop. For selling a few bits of tat when you have too much time on your hands. For the lovely old dressing table in my bedroom.
  • Freecycle - not so much for doing the actual freecycling, though that is a very noble cause and I have given away stuff twice, but for simply reading the reasons why people are asking for stuff/giving it away. And the lovely messages from moderators asking people to be more polite. It's chivalry and good grace in the 21st century.

There's a lot more to add to this, but I have to go. Things I hate are Facebook and all the others so-called social websites (because I'm too old and I think it's a huge waste of time, but if I was 13 I'm sure I'd love it.)
And emoticons. Stupid name for stupid yellow faces with daft expressions that you usually can't see because they're too small.
And websites that are designed out of all usefulness. These are usually design companies' website, that involve more flash graphics and animation than is good for them. They end up with the most annoying website that no-one wants to visit.

Laters! (is that how a blog should end?)