In general, I liked this program and found most of the information to be very helpful. I have never made a blog in the past, but have created numerous web pages, and found my HTML editing experience to be very useful in getting my desired results in this project. I also found several new resources that I did not know existed, like lulu.com, librarything, etc. Some of the items, like YouTube, are interesting, although very popular and tend to be over-used. All in all, I had fun making my blog and may decide to keep it up in different ways. I liked how I could incorporate my RSS feed and all the different links I found into the new blog I made and I had fun with the imaging software. I especially enjoyed the 43 Things list of lifetime goals. I guess if we can read about people from all over the world, from their own life's commentary, it does indeed, feel like the world is a smaller place filled with people who have the same goals and struggles. The idea of collaboration truly helps to unify people; no idea is ever really perfect, and there will be abusers out there who give false information or do harm to those who put themselves out there, but I do think that there is a bit of bravery involved in publishing your own thoughts online for the whole world to see. So, for what it's worth to whomever reads this, I think that this is a nice project, worth doing, and enjoying the exploration of different ideas and websites. The world is indeed filled with many people who have similar goals, and this is one more unifying factor.
(Thing #23 is now finished!)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Downloading Books and Audiobooks!
This is a great idea! I love the idea that people can download books to view on their home PC's or portable devices...this would have been super helpful to me when I worked in downtown DC and took the train to work everyday. Sometimes reading on the bumpy train made me a little motion-sick. So, I like how Project Gutenberg... clever name... allows people to view e-books to read, and I especially like how Overdrive and Netlibrary have tons of different audiobook titles. Often, if I can not find a title on one engine, it is available on another. I think it's a very valuable service, and like how books can be checked out online the way are at the library. I fully endorse this service, wholeheartedly!
(Thing #22 is finished)
(Thing #22 is finished)
Podcasts- Useful Sites
In case you're looking for podcasts, which I'm not: see the entry on YouTube to find out why... podcasts fall in the same category, check out these search engines:
PodSpider
Vital Podcasts
Poddle
PodCastAlley
Podcast.net
Podscope.com
(Thing #21 is done.)
PodSpider
Vital Podcasts
Poddle
PodCastAlley
Podcast.net
Podscope.com
(Thing #21 is done.)
YouTube
You know, I'm just not as taken with YouTube as most people seem to be. Most of the videos I've seen are not worth viewing. In general, I just think it's another way for very needy, attention-starved people to make fools of themselves by acting stupid. Like the stunts people show themselves doing. Who wants to see someone get maimed? It's not funny to me. Like most of those home video shows are not funny... people running their bikes into brick walls, falling off building, trying to be Evil Kenevil and nearly dying. I think it's demented to be humored by other peoples' misfortunes. But that's just me.
Of course, there are exceptions to my distaste for YouTube. I do enjoy when my sister sends me adorable video footage of my little niece, which she has recently done, and placed it on YouTube (even though it was published elsewhere as well, so I didn't find it, originally, on YouTube.) At any rate, in the video above, is sweet little Abby, playing at the beach. Maybe when I have a child someday, I will videotape my little darling at his/her first birthday party and send it to my friends, but I would be wary of publishing it for a bunch of strangers to be able to see my family and make rude comments. People are really mean! Like the people who posted a photo after the accident in which their child had a fork go THROUGH his nose, and then the jerks who used to site made comments about how ugly the poor little boy was! Geez! Talk about superficial and nasty! And completely inappropriate and immature! Hasn't this kid suffered enough? Do we really want to publicize why you shouldn't run with forks to the whole world?
I would prefer to keep my life private, sending my family pictures and videos only to those I know... there are lots of weirdos out there and we don't know who could be watching these videos and pic out their next stalking victim. Beware of these types of sites! I must admit, I do have a Myspace account and a Facebook account, however, I keep these accounts private and do not divulge too much information about my life to strangers. Always be cautious of internet safety! And that is my tip for the day.
(Thing #20 is done)
Of course, there are exceptions to my distaste for YouTube. I do enjoy when my sister sends me adorable video footage of my little niece, which she has recently done, and placed it on YouTube (even though it was published elsewhere as well, so I didn't find it, originally, on YouTube.) At any rate, in the video above, is sweet little Abby, playing at the beach. Maybe when I have a child someday, I will videotape my little darling at his/her first birthday party and send it to my friends, but I would be wary of publishing it for a bunch of strangers to be able to see my family and make rude comments. People are really mean! Like the people who posted a photo after the accident in which their child had a fork go THROUGH his nose, and then the jerks who used to site made comments about how ugly the poor little boy was! Geez! Talk about superficial and nasty! And completely inappropriate and immature! Hasn't this kid suffered enough? Do we really want to publicize why you shouldn't run with forks to the whole world?
I would prefer to keep my life private, sending my family pictures and videos only to those I know... there are lots of weirdos out there and we don't know who could be watching these videos and pic out their next stalking victim. Beware of these types of sites! I must admit, I do have a Myspace account and a Facebook account, however, I keep these accounts private and do not divulge too much information about my life to strangers. Always be cautious of internet safety! And that is my tip for the day.
(Thing #20 is done)
Web 2.0 Awards Lists
Wow! Some of these sites are amazing! I must say, I was particularly taken with Lulu.com... I have written several books and am interested in having them published and this would definitely make that dream a reality! Also noteworthy is TheBroth.com, where you can display your art work (very interesting to me!), Google Documents, which I mentioned yesterday, and Yourminis.com. In the first place, Yourminis.com looks adorable! And second of all, it features widgets. Don't you love the word widgets? I know I do. I like Biblio.com, as I often fall in love with old books that are no longer in print. Of course, I love Craigslist! I got a great cream-colored loveseat from this guy in Columbia for less than $100... it was beautiful and in perfect condition. I had never seen Judysbook.com, but I like to save $$, so that looks like a new favorite for me. Overall, I think this awards list gave me an opportunity to see cool new websites that I would never have seen otherwise!
(Thing #19 done!)
(Thing #19 done!)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Google Docs...Very useful!
When I was planning my wedding, I was CONSTANTLY on the go! I found Google Docs to be more helpful than I could have ever imagined! It's an online productivity tool where you can post your documents and spreadsheets and edit them online. You can share with your friends and co-workers or just keep them for yourself. I made an Excel document with my wedding budget, guest list, contact list, gift sheet, etc., imported it to Google Spreadsheets, and had it all in one place to edit whenever I needed to make a change. So I didn't have to deal with having multiple versions of the same document and was able to make my edits in one place with an easy and concise program. I highly recommend it!
(Thing #18 is now done!)
(Thing #18 is now done!)
Wikis
In general, I like wikis. I think they're a great way for groups to collaborate and share ideas, rather than having to e-mail back and forth with input, notes, corrections, etc. Data and document management are also wonderful tools for collaboration; I am excited about the prospect of having a shared drive on DeskNow, which is very similar in format to a Thompson-Gale database we utilized at an accounting firm where I worked. Using wikis for public information can be a difficult prospect, as my previous post on credible information access details. A good resource for discovering how librarians, as colleagues, can benefit from the use of wikis can be found at: http://www.libsuccess.org
(Thing #16 is now done!)
(Thing #16 is now done!)
Web 2.0 and Library 2.0
I like the free collaboration idea on the Internet, but in actuality, the anonymous identity of so many web users can make obtaining credible resources difficult. For instance, how do we KNOW that the people on the other end of the keyboard, out there in the void of cyberspace, are really as knowledgeable as they say they are? On the other hand, open collaboration gives a more democratic and accessible approach to information use and helps to remove hierarchical barriers between the intellectual elite, which publishes information as fact, and the average person. A similar debate on access to "privileged" information can be traced back to the invention of Gutenberg's printing press in 1450, when the common people were given access to materials that had previously only been available to the elite. We, as librarians, the primary sources of information resources, may seem to be less "needed" as more information is available to the public, however, librarians are still a vital part of society.
It seems that as more editable rights are made public, sites are being made aware of the potential for fraud. An example of this would be Wikipedia, which is oh so fun to read, but not always the most accurate or credible source... a few months ago, I noticed a clip for Tobey Maguire, saying he was born as "C. Biscuit," to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Biscuit. That might be a slightly funny joke (not really, actually), but come on. This is a real person and making claims like this can actually be damaging. Of course, it was almost immediately "removed for clean-up," but what if it had not been? The world probably wouldn't end because of that, but so many rumors and hijinx circulate as fact, and at some point, this idea of information being published from the wrong hands could become a real problem. Who monitors this information? The "experts" need to. We, as librarians, need to. We need to be able to access reliable, credible sources for our research.
The prospect of Web 2.0 opens a lot of possibilities for everyone to have their place in the sun, but it also creates a difficult dilemma for those of us who are looking for accurate information. I think we should tread cautiously in this arena and examine all possibilities before jumping in fully. I don't believe that the need for "experts" of information access will ever go away. There is SO much information available that most people have neither the time or know-how to sort through it all. The duties of librarians and library staff may evolve from working entirely with print materials to a more digital work environment, but the need for information professionals will never cease.
(Thing #15 is now done!)
It seems that as more editable rights are made public, sites are being made aware of the potential for fraud. An example of this would be Wikipedia, which is oh so fun to read, but not always the most accurate or credible source... a few months ago, I noticed a clip for Tobey Maguire, saying he was born as "C. Biscuit," to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Biscuit. That might be a slightly funny joke (not really, actually), but come on. This is a real person and making claims like this can actually be damaging. Of course, it was almost immediately "removed for clean-up," but what if it had not been? The world probably wouldn't end because of that, but so many rumors and hijinx circulate as fact, and at some point, this idea of information being published from the wrong hands could become a real problem. Who monitors this information? The "experts" need to. We, as librarians, need to. We need to be able to access reliable, credible sources for our research.
The prospect of Web 2.0 opens a lot of possibilities for everyone to have their place in the sun, but it also creates a difficult dilemma for those of us who are looking for accurate information. I think we should tread cautiously in this arena and examine all possibilities before jumping in fully. I don't believe that the need for "experts" of information access will ever go away. There is SO much information available that most people have neither the time or know-how to sort through it all. The duties of librarians and library staff may evolve from working entirely with print materials to a more digital work environment, but the need for information professionals will never cease.
(Thing #15 is now done!)
New Favorite Links!
No, this picture isn't scrambled! It's a photo mosaic! Click the link to go to the image generator! (This is my Thing # 10)
I did! So should you! (Check out this for Things #8 and 9)
My LibraryThings List
List of books that I'd like to have, imported from my Amazon.com wish list.
(Check out this list for Thing #11)
<- Pictures from Flickr.com
(Check this out for my Thing #5)
My Great Recipes List!(This is for my Thing #12)
My Del.icio.us: Bookmarks!
(Thing #13) Read my bookmarks and learn more about me!
My Technorati Bookmark
(Thing #14) If you're looking for a specific keyword search, you can track through other people's blogs, and can add yours to search strings by adding labels to your own blog posts!
My Favorite Movies @ Flixster
My Learning 2.0 SandBox wiki
(Thing #17) What would I like to do with my life? Click the above link to find out!
Ever wanted to know about the cartography of Maryland? Click here to go to MERLIN!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
My Favorite Technological Items!
I must admit, my very FAVORITE technology items are on my new home Dell Dimension PC...
and they are...
And of course, all those great Sims 2 Stuff packs! Let the games begin!!! WHOOPPPPEEEE!!! :D
(Thing #7 is now complete!)
and they are...
MY SIMS 2 GAMES!!!
And of course, all those great Sims 2 Stuff packs! Let the games begin!!! WHOOPPPPEEEE!!! :D
(Thing #7 is now complete!)
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Trials and Tribulations of 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners
It is my belief that lifelong learning is a privilege and a right for every person in this world. In fact, engaging the mind has been proven to be a necessity in preventing the decline of mental processes due to age; learning and discovering new ideas, concepts, and absorbing information can aid in preserving one's senses and keeping the mind sharp and youthful. Therefore, I find the easiest Habit of Highly Successful Lifetime Learners to be Habit #2... take responsibility for your own learning. I have always loved to learn new things, and even while not in school, I enjoy taking extracurricular classes to find new hobbies and expand on the ones which I already enjoy.
Of the suggested habits mentioned, the one which poses as the greatest difficulty for me to embrace is Habit #3: View problems as challenges. I find this to be a demanding proposition: to constantly be looking at the silver lining in the cloud, even when things look bleak. How can one see the potential in problems before the problem has been worked out? I find that the most effective lessons I've learned are ones which have been examined well after a solution has surfaced; only then can one truly understand and learn from testing different strategies. Such skills can prove useful in tackling the next set of problems which, inevitably, will arise. It has not been my experience in life for extreme optimism to be proven fruitful; most of the time, such hopefulness often creates disappointment and stress if the problem in question is not studied realistically. It is this thinking which inhibits me from truly viewing problems as "challenges" to be overcome. I view problems as what they are: difficulties in life, which may make me stronger in the end, but in times of duress, the end result is the last thing on my mind.
(Thing #3 is done!)
Of the suggested habits mentioned, the one which poses as the greatest difficulty for me to embrace is Habit #3: View problems as challenges. I find this to be a demanding proposition: to constantly be looking at the silver lining in the cloud, even when things look bleak. How can one see the potential in problems before the problem has been worked out? I find that the most effective lessons I've learned are ones which have been examined well after a solution has surfaced; only then can one truly understand and learn from testing different strategies. Such skills can prove useful in tackling the next set of problems which, inevitably, will arise. It has not been my experience in life for extreme optimism to be proven fruitful; most of the time, such hopefulness often creates disappointment and stress if the problem in question is not studied realistically. It is this thinking which inhibits me from truly viewing problems as "challenges" to be overcome. I view problems as what they are: difficulties in life, which may make me stronger in the end, but in times of duress, the end result is the last thing on my mind.
(Thing #3 is done!)
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