A Beginner’s Guide to Google Buzz

When Google launched its latest foray into the social networking world early this February, sites like Twitter exploded with anticipation. Web users flocked to their Gmail accounts to find out if their colourful Buzz icon was sitting pretty below their Inbox because it would up a new avenue communication with friends, family, and colleagues.

Within days the buzz about Buzz quickly turned to disappointment, and in some cases anger. The conversational tool that makes it easy to share updates, photos, and videos also automatically exposed one’s Gmail contacts, and the mobile version of the service publishes an individual’s exact location when posting to Buzz. As much as public chats and location-based technologies are popular trends in 2010, most applications operate on an opt-in basis. In other words, you have to turn the public settings on in order to share information online.
With personal privacy at risk, Gmail owners beat up on Google—calling the service the Buzzkill. In return, the search engine giant took steps to expand Buzz settings to allow users more control. Despite all of the bad press and insensitive technology, there are some compelling features that make this new Google service a win, provided you take control of Buzz before it takes control of you.

Here’s how:

1. Banish buzz. If the idea of Buzz turns you off, turn it off. While it might seem impossible to disable the Gmail tool, it’s actually quite easy. Simply go to the bottom of your Gmail homepage, and you’ll see “turn off buzz” on the second to the last line of text. With one click you’ll arrive at a menu list of items that will allow you to customize your Buzz account, or you can click on “Disable Google Buzz.”
2. Filter followers. When you first log into Buzz, you have an option to hide your followers. On sites like Twitter protecting your community isn’t such a big deal since they’re only public persona is a username. Within Buzz, a follower’s handle is his or her real name and email account which is often information that you should keep private. For example, you might not want your business colleagues to automatically have your Mom’s home email address (or vice versa). You can also manage your followers within your “Buzz” tab within Gmail. Check “Do not show these lists on my public Google profile.” Click “Delete it” and “Create Filter.”
3. Nix notifications. One of the things Buzz does automatically is to send all notifications to your in-box. For most people, this content addition is simply adding to email noise. To stop notifications, got to the “Create a filter” link next to Search the Web at the top of your Gmail account. Write “Buzz” within the field “Has the words.”
4. Manage mobilely. If you’re using the mobile version, you can easily hide your location on individual posts or on all posts. Simply go to the Location Sharing Setting and choose “Hide My Location.”
    
Once you’ve spend a few minutes to control your privacy settings, the service makes collaborating with your Gmail contacts a breeze. Not only can you have real-time conversation, you can also pull in photos and videos so that you never have to leave Buzz.
For Gmail-ers who never really “got” Twitter or don’t have time to frolic on Facebook, this service can turn your existing Google community into a virtual watercooler experience with commenting, sharing, and a recommended feature. Just remember, protect your privacy before your begin to buzz.
Amber MacArthur is a social media consultant, speaker, and author of Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Build Your Business (June 10, 20)

Within days the buzz about Buzz quickly turned to disappointment, and in some cases anger. The conversational tool that makes it easy to share updates, photos, and videos also automatically exposed one’s Gmail contacts, and the mobile version of the service publishes an individual’s exact location when posting to Buzz. As much as public chats and location-based technologies are popular trends in 2010, most applications operate on an opt-in basis. In other words, you have to turn the public settings on in order to share information online.

With personal privacy at risk, Gmail owners beat up on Google—calling the service the Buzzkill. In return, the search engine giant took steps to expand Buzz settings to allow users more control. Despite all of the bad press and insensitive technology, there are some compelling features that make this new Google service a win, provided you take control of Buzz before it takes control of you. Here’s how:

1. Banish buzz. If the idea of Buzz turns you off, turn it off. While it might seem impossible to disable the Gmail tool, it’s actually quite easy. Simply go to the bottom of your Gmail homepage, and you’ll see “turn off buzz” on the second to the last line of text. With one click you’ll arrive at a menu list of items that will allow you to customize your Buzz account, or you can click on “Disable Google Buzz.”

2. Filter followers. When you first log into Buzz, you have an option to hide your followers. On sites like Twitter protecting your community isn’t such a big deal since they’re only public persona is a username. Within Buzz, a follower’s handle is his or her real name and email account which is often information that you should keep private. For example, you might not want your business colleagues to automatically have your Mom’s home email address (or vice versa). You can also manage your followers within your “Buzz” tab within Gmail. Check “Do not show these lists on my public Google profile.” Click “Delete it” and “Create Filter.”

3. Nix notifications. One of the things Buzz does automatically is to send all notifications to your in-box. For most people, this content addition is simply adding to email noise. To stop notifications, got to the “Create a filter” link next to Search the Web at the top of your Gmail account. Write “Buzz” within the field “Has the words.”

4. Manage mobilely. If you’re using the mobile version, you can easily hide your location on individual posts or on all posts. Simply go to the Location Sharing Setting and choose “Hide My Location.”

Once you’ve spend a few minutes to control your privacy settings, the service makes collaborating with your Gmail contacts a breeze. Not only can you have real-time conversation, you can also pull in photos and videos so that you never have to leave Buzz.

For Gmail-ers who never really “got” Twitter or don’t have time to frolic on Facebook, this service can turn your existing Google community into a virtual watercooler experience with commenting, sharing, and a recommended feature. Just remember, protect your privacy before your begin to buzz.

Amber MacArthur is a social media consultant, speaker, and author of Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Build Your Business (June 10, 2010 r]]>commandN #206http://chrisdick.com/blog/2010/2/23/commandn-206.htmlChris2010-02-23T18:18:00Z

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Pop's High Fibre Everyday multi-grain


liquid 1 1/2 cups (see notes below)
salt 2 level tspn
honey 2 tablespn (...or brown sugar)
egg 1
margarine / butter 2 tablespn
whole wheat flour 1 cup (see notes)
6 grain bread mix 1cup "
white bread flour 1 1/4 "
oat bran 1/3 cup
rolled oats 1/2 cup
yeast 2 rounded tspn
settings, consult machine instructions,probably ; loaf size 2.0
type ; grain




Kolotch


liquid 11/4 cup (skim milk works)
salt 1 tspn
white sugar 1/4 cup
oil / butter 1/3 cup
egg (beaten) 1
white bread flour 3 cups
yeast 11/2 rounded tspn
settings probably: loaf size 1.5
type ; basic




Pop's Raisin / Cinnamon Bread

liquid 11/2 cups
egg 1
cinnamon 11/4 tspn
brown sugar 2 tablespoons
salt 11/2 tspn
margarine / butter 2 tablespn
whole wheat flour 1/2 cup
5 grain bread mix 11/4 cups
white flour 11/2 cups
oat bran 1/4 cup
rolled oats 1/3 cup
raisins 11/2 cups (soak 10 min or so in hot water)
yeast 2 tspn
settings: loaf size 2.0
type: grain




Pop's Pizza dough

liquid 1 cup
salt 1 tspn
sugar 2 "
butter 11/4 tablespn
flour 23/4 cups (2 white, 3/4 whole wheat will work.)

1 1/4 yeast

setting: dough
...when ready turn out on floured surface. Will stretch / roll out to 13 - 14 inch circle



Naan (.... untested as yet)


milk 1/2 cup
plain yoghurt 1/2 cup
veg. oil 1 tablespoon
salt 1/2 tspn
baking soda 1/8 tspn
sugar 1 tspn
white flour 2 cups
yeast 2 tspn
setting: dough
...when ready turn out onto floured surface. Divide into 8 pieces.
Roll into 8"x4" circles. put on oiled sheet, let rise 20 min, brush with butter and bake in pre-
heated oven @ 450* approx 7 min till done.


Notes:

* liquid: 1 bottle of warm beer = 11/2 cups water. water is fine in everything, if you wish to avoid
alcohol, in fact potato water is best of all, if you ever remember to freeze and save it. Any veggie
water is good, since it 'harvests' the vitamins. Milk or skim milk works fine too, and adds protein.

* flour I use stone ground whole wheat, but bread machine white flour...seems to rise better.
For multi-grain, I use a bread mix as opposed to just 'multi-grain flour' The 'mix' has white flour in it,
and rises better, and can be substituted in direct proportion to any other flour. I keep my flour in
the freezer, and take it out the day before I plan to use it. Unfrozen, pitch it after 6 months or so....it's
cheap! Oh yeah, I usually have about 40% white, even in whole wheat. 100% whole wheat is awfully
dense, but undoubtedly healthier! I have never tried 50 - 50 whole grain and multi grain mix...that might
be good.

* Other Sweeteners - honey, sugar, even molasses, are pretty much interchangeable. for oats, I
use either rolled oats or scotch oats. Don't use 'instant' anything. There is a relationship between yeast
and salt, which affects degree of rising. I like to have a significantly greater amount of yeast than salt.
I use the bread machine yeast in the little jar, and keep it in the fridge. If your bread overrises, it will
implode at the top... tastes just as good, but it's not as pretty. Use the little sets of measuring cups
(dollar store).... they are so much easier and faster than the graduated glass jar type!