Flickring around

Flickr is a fun tool to share photos. I uploaded pictures from this years African-American History month exhibit here in the library. Here is the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/afamh07/

Rollyo

Many of these tools make you feel as if you're a web designer. Rollyo is an example of that. You can actually create your own personal search engine of all your favorite web sites then share it with others. I was able to create my search engine which I will share once I've palyed around with it a little more.

Podcasts

Podcasts are great way to keep up with your favorite new channel or radio station while on the go. It keeps you from being tied to your tv, radio or pc while staying abreast of information of interest to you. Downloading your favorite tunes, movies, news stories is really easy. While many podcasts are free there a some that you must pay to access. If I complete all my assignments and get my free mp3 player I will certainly learn more on how to use podcasts.

Library 2.0--The Finale!

I must say that prior to this activity, I had very little interest in knowing about the various web tools people use. But now, I can say that I enjoyed learning how to use them. I think my favorites are LibraryThing, and GoogleDocs. I would definitely be interested in participated in another series of activities like this. This was some thing refreshing for library staff to engage in outside the day to day work duties. This is an example of the good in technology. Thanks to the committee who worked on this.

Facebook, MySpace UGH!

I've looked at face book and MySpace and they aren't tools that I will ever use. Although I'm sure that they were intended to be used in a positive manner, some have chosen to display inappropriate images and messages personal and other wise on those sites. IMO, this is another example of the ugly side of technology.

YouTubing

I think You Tube can be a very useful tool to showcase home videos. I chose to look at Library related videos because this a library activity. I looked at PSA by comedian George Lopez promoting public libraries for PLA. You Tube can be helpful in teaching people about library services. There were quite a few interesting videos created by librarians. This is another tool that libraries can use to promote themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhrcCWjtNQw

Interesting sites on Web 2.0

I checked out Upcoming, Arcaplay, Googlemaps, Peertrainer. These were both fun and useful sites to get into. I especially liked the Upcoming site because you can find out what events are happening in a community near you. Or, if you are planning to travel to city for business or fun, you can find out what events are taking place while you're there. On my next trips I will see what on Upcoming then plan my activities.

Googling

I see why Google is so popular! The inventors of the search engine have created something that covers nearly need a one has in working on the internet. This Google Docs is extremely useful if you're close to a PC with the Office suite on it. Now this is a tool I can really see my self using. I created my calendar and uploaded 2 documents from word. Wherever I am, as long as I can log into the internet, I can compose a document.

Playing in the sandbox!

I finally know what a sandbox is! While looking at the floor plans, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought we were putting a real sandbox in the new Faculty Commons. Now that I've had my crash course on wikis Ifeel a little more educated on the sandbox issue. As a kid I enjoyed playing in the sandboxes and as an adult walking along sandy beaches. I can now bring my joy of paying in the sand to my desktop. Technology never ceases to amaze me!!

The World of Wiki

Wikis are great for condensing information and sharing the knowledge. I like how anyone with expertise in a particular discipline can add new knowledge immediately instead of waiting for information to be distributed the traditional way. This faster format of receiving information can also be a place to go to help knowledge seekers looking for quick facts. I also like the fact that information can be deleted when it is inaccurate or no longer current. This is probably the biggest advantage for creating wikis.

Technorati

Technorati has helpful information about the world of blogging. I think it will help one stay informed on all things blog. Using the search techniques in Technorati can bring up different results list. I enjoyed looking at a couple of the blogs. I think I'm up for the challenge of creating tags. Now if I can just find the time to work on it.

Del.icio.us

Del.icio.us seems to be a great way to tag your favorite web sites to share with students and friends. It could be used as an alternative to the Infotree. This could eliminate the waitng period of having to get approval of links in Infotree. I especially like the tag on the PLMC's site explaining how to look out for fake web sites. I am going to work on creating some tags for my bibliographic areas.

The LibraryThing

The LibraryThing is a great little tool to share books you've read with others. I can see myself using this frequently. I look forward to seeing what others are reading.

Thoughts on Technology

I look at technology as the good, the bad, and the ugly. There's a lot of good that technology has given society, conveniences that help modern man to be more productive at work and at home. There's the bad technology which should have been left in the minds of their creators. And the ugly which in my opinion had great potential to be a positive impact on society, but, some how ended up in the hands of a person or persons who made the choice to make it negatively affect our lives. An example of good technology would be some household appliances. Refrigerators, diswashers, self-cleaning ovens and in some respects the microwave oven all have made ours lives easier as compared to previous generations. These tools have lessen the drudgery of cooking and cleaning in our kitchens. Imagine today if these tools of convenience no longer existed and we have to go back to gather wood to build a fire to prepare meals, many people would go hungry! Bad technology would be bombs, nuclear bombs and in particular, dirty bombs, and tools needed for biochemical warfare. Anything that is meant to destroy mankind is never a good thing to create. What I would consider as ugly technology would definitely include the internet, specifically, the world wide web. I believe when the web was created it was anticipated that it would be a positive impact on society. However, as we are aware, there is an ugly side that has reared it head. It seems that when some thing good on the web is presented, someone equally creates a negative side. An example, all things consider in society as immoral has found a home on the world wide web. Online gambling, adult sites, etc., have given people more access to these vices than ever before. I suspect that the creators never expected that this marvelous advance of technology would include such things. Overall, technology has provided society with many good resources and purposes. And I believe as long as there are inventors who will use technology for the good of man we will have a world that is positively being affected to have have better lives.

image generators

I looked at some cool image generators. This exercise was a little more challenging so I only have one generator. I downloaded some ribbons for breast cancer awareness month to Del.icio.us. I hope it works!

Venturing into the world of blogging & rss feeds

I've read the reports, seen the examples and subcribed to a few. I must say that blogging is pretty cool! Being both the news junkie and information professional that I am, blogging can be a time saver. I don't have to take the time to read the full text of all the topics I'm interested in everyday. Getting the RSS feeds gives you time to focus on other things.

This technology can benefit libraries by serving as a communication tool for staff and patrons. Alden has already jumped on board by using this tool for updating patrons with goings on here in the library. Even some bibliographers are blogging information to their department to update them about library resources. May be we should expand on this use to do a better job in communicating with staff. This may help staff feel more connected to the organization. Something to think about!

Pillow fluffing grandma's, cuppys and diaper freedom

I'll tell you... The Baby Diva has her grandmothers wrapped around her little fingers. Before naps and bedtime at either grandmother's house, Jonelle will ask them to fluff her pillows. And like soldiers both grandmothers spring into action and fulfill the request. Now, tell me, what does a 2 year old know about fluffing pillows? It's amazing how the mind of a toddler operates and how observant they are! The Baby Diva occasionally will take her favorite blanket down stairs and nap in living room near the AC. What can I say, the kid loves comfort.

Jonelle's vocabulary continues to grow. She's added a new word to describe her drinking cup. She calls it a "cuppy". Her mom doesn't know how she came up with that word but it sounds funny when she says it. She sounds like a kid who attends prep school. As long as it took for her to get rid of the bottle, I guess she needed a new way to ask for juice.

Diaper Freedom...

While grocery shopping with mom and grandmother, Jonelle gets restless sitting in the cart. On the advice of her grandmother, Mom takes her out the cart to let her walk. Instead, Jonelle takes off running over to the next aisle(fortunately, there weren't many people in the store). When Mom reaches her she has taken off the diaper and is running around with her bottom as naked as a jay bird. Mom was grandmother were thoroughly embarrassed. As far as Jonelle was concerned, her freedom was much more important than her mother's embarrassment. Now, that's a story to tell at the wedding reception!!

More stories to come...

the latest Jonelle adventures

Since my last posting, I've learned that Jonelle is potty training herself! No Kidding!! When she's ready to go, she takes her diaper off and mommy is alerted. This is happening on instinct and no prodding from mommy. She actually understands what's going on. Amazing! My guess is that by the end of this month when she turns 2 the issue will be resolved. A recent trip to the drs. office was filled with some excitement. Wanting to get a blood sample, the nurse asked Jonelle could she see her arm, to which Jonelle replied, no! The nurse then started playing with Jonelle diverting her attention and preceded to take her hand to quickly prick her finger. When Jonelle realized what was happening she told the nurse to Quit!! She immediately began to throw a tantrum at the sight of her blood! Obviously, this lady was hurting her and she wanted everyone to know. The nurse was back in Jonelle's good graces once she gave her candy! The Baby Diva is learning her vegetables, fruits and colors. She can say bananas, broccoli, celery, carrots, orange very well and she knows green, yellow, blue, pink, red colors. Her favorite foods are yogurt, bananas, french fries, and chicken. I'll be back with more Adventures of Jonelle as they develop.

7.5 Habits...

I think the easiest one for me I think is Habit 5. I have been gathering a variety of resources to learn about a few new things. I do need to slow down the gathering and begin working with some of the resources I have. The hardest would be Habit 3. I have to work on changing my attitude about viewing problems as obstacles. I know problems help a person to learn and grow but, sometimes you just don't want to deal with them!

Who's the baby diva?

The baby diva is none other than my great niece Jonelle. Jonelle is 22 months old and live with her mother and grandmother in North Carolina and is the joy of my life. She is adventurous toddler and is excited by everything that catches her attention. I regularly receive updates on Jonelle's activities weekly and I would like to share them with friends. Right now, I can hear her in the background making the sounds of a pig. Her favorites TV programs are Sesame Street, The Backyardigans, Dora the Explorer, Clifford, the Big Red Dog. Now, if we could only get her potty trained!!!