Online Communities

I am making this post via my iGoogle page which is finally working. I have two iGoogle pages, one freezes my computer and this page which has a link to Google reader and Google docs and one to my blog. I am much happier when I can multi task from one website. However there is a warning voice stating, "you're putting all your eggs into the one basket" . I have a monogomous relationship with Google! I do have a facebook page which is connected to my gmail account and I cannot link it to this iGoogle page which uses my work email login. The world has many religions and spiritual practices to suit the myriad of cultures and belief systems. So too does the online world of network communitites. I was invited along to a dolphin cruise on the Port River and was asked several times have you been on the "pink sofa"?I listened to women having conversations about their chat sessions via the pink sofa. It seems that there is space for the 18 year olds to chat, the fity plus and a forum for all to contribute. It struck me that it is very similar to "blended learning" eg the Harvey Norman room (TAFE SA South) where the marketing students engage with a face to face lecturer and participate in online games and second life as part of their learning. The pink sofa women talk online and follow this up with face to face social activites.
In answer to the question, can you think of ways in which the social- or fun-oriented applications of a site like Facebook can be adapted for our professional purposes? Perhaps we can investigate these building blocks that were on the DFEEST innovation website. I will post the link in another blog, once again I am having trouble logging into to this website!