Tuesday 15 February 2011

Gobbledegook by any other name...

Bloggie friends!!!

I get an email at work inviting me to attend a course to tell us all about “Mashups”. The email then goes to explain thus:

“What are Mashups?
They are web applications that combine freely available data from various sources to create something new and potentially more useful into a single tool.”

Now why can’t they just say “ It’s like Google - but for academics”?

Charlie says: I stretch therefore I am.


Have a great post-Valentine’s day everyone!

39 comments:

Roxy said...

I'd still be confused by the mashups definition if you hadn't just explained it. You are far smarter than me, Kitty. Charlie's picture make me want to stretch, too!

Tucker The Crestie said...

Wouldn't it be great if everybody just said what they meant? Imagine! Happy V-tines day.

Brian's Home Blog said...

I think Charlie has a great idea, mash up against the door a little more though!

The Words Crafter said...

Well, they needed to sound intelligent and important!

Curious: what breed is Charlie? I've seen cats with curly coats on cat shows and I can't remember what they're called....

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Hello Handsome Charlie!
We think you said it best:
gobbledegook!


purrin
xoxox

Bossy Betty said...

I probably do Mashups every day and didn't even know it. Oh wait...that's just in my fashion choices.

Beth Zimmerman said...

Whew ... I thought it was some kind of dating game! :) Hugs to Charlie!

Unknown said...

Hahahahaha, nice :D

Aw, Charlie. My cat loves that post. We call her Long Cat when she does it.

Summer Ross said...

Good point- why don't they just say that?

Katnip Lounge said...

Humans! Always trying to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. Charlie, we join you in your Stretch of Disdain.

Ellen Whyte said...

Or maybe it's a Wikipedia rip-off?

Thanks for your kind words. Au ate last night AND this morning!!! We're hoping this means he's decided to live. He's a tough kitty so if he has the will, he should recover. Thanks for the purrs. We really appreciate it.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Oooh, Charlie looks like he has life down pat!

I think they're out to make life more complicated if you ask me. *sigh*

♥.•*¨ Elizabeth ¨*•.♥

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Mashups sounds like Greek to me! lol!

Charlie looks 4 foot long when he stretches...wow!

Unknown said...

Yes, why do they have to keep inventing new terminology? I can barely keep up with Twitter...

Simon Kewin said...

Mashups are potentially very cool. Like, for example, you know when blogs have little maps of the world pinpointing where readers have come from? That's a mashup : it's something like Google maps and blog reader data combined and, well, mashed up. Just so you know!

Anonymous said...

Charlie is so lovely!

He's not bothered about mashups I can tell.

I have a purring (almost 2yr old) Tom cat with fish breath (and a rough tongue under my chin) sitting on my lap today :O)

Brigid O'Connor said...

The gobbledegook sounds fascinating!! Charlie is looking super chilled.

Unknown said...

Hmm.... I know what song mashups are but I don't know what this means and I usually understand technobabble... lol!

Susan Fields said...

Yes, I like your description much better!

That's quite a stretch there, Charlie! You look so comfy. :)

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Well we learn something new everyday MOL. Love the picture of Charlie Hugs GJ xx

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Charlie's reasoning makes more sense.

Guinevere said...

Lol! I guess everyone enjoys making up words... :)

Manzanita said...

Mashups or mashdowns. Charlie has the right idea.
Love and Peace

Hannah and Lucy said...

Charlie - that looks like you are having a very enjoyable stretch.
We think a really good stretch is sooo satisfying.
These days Jenn we are bombarded with a hundred words to say something that could be said in less than half of them. I think it's called progress!!!!

Anonymous said...

Of course, he has to stretch in a doorway and block traffic. I tell you, cats are all up to something. Its a cat conspiracy. We'll all find out one day what it is, but by then it'll be too late!

Deborah said...

I hope you have had a nice Valentines Day! I'm with you...why does it sound so complicated!
xxoo
Deborah

Lola Sharp said...

gobbledegook is my new favorite word!

And, I'm getting your brit use of the word 'pants' going over here on this side of the pond.

My kitty loves to stretch and sleep LONG across the middle of the floor. She doesn't even finch as we all step over her. It's their world and we're just allowed to live in it...and serve them. :)

Thanks for always stopping by and leaving me the most positive, kind comments. You are always a ray of sunshine. Thank you. *hugs*

Love,
Lola

Maria McKenzie said...

Saying "like Google for Academics" would be much to easy;)!

Charlie's living the life!

Joanna St. James said...

u have to love work everything has to sound more important than it really is.

Margo Berendsen said...

I remember feeling the same way the first time someone tried to explain to me what a mashup was. Its definitely something for uber-nerds. Though a surprising number of blogs are actually mashups (though they may not even realize it) because they include cool widgets to for instance, google maps, to show the location of all their visitors!

Hart Johnson said...

teehee--then they wouldn't get to feel original... and there IS Google for academics (Google Scholar) but you probably knew that...

klahanie said...

Good grief and here's me thinking that "Mashups" was some kind of exercise in a bunch of crushed up potatoes. What the heck do I know?
Eh Charlie? :)

Golden Eagle said...

It would be a lot easier if they just called something what it actually was--in words that already existed! :P

Great picture of Charlie!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Charlie makes me want to stretch too

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Usually the simple explanation is the best. My daughter says if she's reincarnated she wants to be a house cat. I'm really starting to see the thought behind that.

Anonymous said...

I just love Charlie. He always puts everything into perspective when technology gets overwhelming!

Jen and I wish you both a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Theresa Milstein said...

Ha - I'm glad you translated that for me!

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

even with the explanation I have noooooooooooo clue what you are talking about! lol

Eliza said...

Because people just love jargon for some reason! Have a stretch with Charlie :-)