Week 12, Thing 30: Woot! Done!

Whew! It's been a long, challenging journey to get to this spot, but I've finally done it. It wasn't all bad, regardless of what a few of my blogs say, but it was interesting. I've learned some stuff that I never knew about or didn't have easy access too. And then of course I learned how frustrating it is using a city computer when you work at a library as well.

And Cindy, you put a lot of work into this program for everyone to learn and enjoy and we thank you for that. Yes at times it was stressful, but nothing to take personal. Technology is stressful in general. Just wanted to make that clear.

I think I will take-away the generators. Those are totally fun and nice to use for this and that in the online, social world. Some unexpected outcomes were to learn that we are blocked from quite a bit of information that could possibly be use to help customers, but they think those are playsite for us. Play time is how we learn and put our experience to use. But then again, I understand the slackers ruin that concept. Which is all good.

I think that maybe a beginners and then a more advanced version of this would be nice. Some of us know a lot of this stuff already, but some of us don't know hardly any of it at all. So I can see the challenge on both angles. Also, tests the sites on a city computer before posting and asking us to use them. It's not fair for us to use a public computer when some of us are given time off the desk to complete this during operating hours. It's not fair to be taking away time from the public to use the computers because certain sites can't be accessed. Just my personal opinion.

And lastly, sure I'd like to do another program. It just needs to maybe have more time added or not so much information given at once maybe? Then maybe more staff could complete the project. I noticed it took me an hour or two (sometimes longer) to complete each thing/week depending on the info for it.

So anyways....those are my thoughts! Sorry for the length!

Week 12, Thing 29: Learning 2.0 experience

My 2.0 experience was an interesting one. Some good and some bad. I was excited to learn about the online image generator, I was disappointed in trying to learn about podcasting. I think overall the experience was good and helped me learn a little bit more about technology than I had already knew.

As for posting. I've randomly posted on peoples blogs. I have already been commenting on those I know, so I'm trying to comment on those I do not know now! It was interesting to see how creative other library people are and entertaining they are in their blogs!

Week 11, Thing 28: Rollyo

Well, sorry to say but this Rollyo thing is a waste. I'd rather just do my searches from Yahoo.com or Google.com and come up with the same things or maybe more options. And I would rather collect websites in my favorites than have to set them all up and register (once again) for a website and memorize a password. I get the idea, I'm just not fond of it and will not put this site to use.

Week 11, Thing 27: LibraryThing

LibraryThing was fun. Was hard to get all my covers to show up, but after some time of messing with it, I think I've suceeded as long as LibraryThing cooperates!
Here are some books that I am currently reading, have read, and those that are my favorites, all complied together. Enjoy!

Week 11, Thing 26: Image Generator

This week we were to play around with image generators. This is quite neat! I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now on creating different wallpapers. I knew this stuff was out there, I just never took the time to find it. So it's nice to know I have easy access to it now and I don't have to search all day long for the perfect picture to use as my wallpaper for the day b/c now...I can create my own! Pretty neat! Along with the huge list of others things you can create, not just wallpaper.

So I found the magazine cover generator and it was perfect! My babies are so cute. Take a look! I also noticed the Dear John letter generator, which I had fun with, but that's a bit extreme for posting. hehe

Week 10, Thing 25: Library Podcasts

So once again.....here I am trying to view podcasts (why do I even bother....) that are library related (Denver storytime stuff) and once again the lovely Websense has expressed an interest to grace me with it's presence. It must have felt I didn't read the entire thing the first 5 times I've had to see it with Thing 24.

Here is my honest opinion about podcasts and library. It sucks! It's stupid because library people are filtered beyond belief and cannot even access this information. Well, let me back up, maybe not all libraries and just VBPL because we are stupid like that. So anyway...I'm not doing the podcast thing anymore. This has blanketed me with a bad taste in my mouth and don't wish to experience it anymore. Thanks VBPL...I appreciate the vote of confidence and chance of letting me experience podcasts. You've really made this enjoyable.

Week 10, Thing 24: Podcasts

First off, I'm going to complain here yet once again. Why is every freakin' thing blocked on these computers! Trying to view a podcast site provided by the Web 2.0 people, and the lovely Websense screen comes up. I really think that all the linked websites need to be tested first and if it's blocked, they need to get them unblocked so for those of us who are trying to do this quickly, do not have to go through the stupid websense garbage to view library related materials!!!!! Fwah!

Anyway....so after five minutes, I'm able to get the page open via websense and of course...done with errors. Nice. Oh even better...I try to do a search and now the page is not found. Just great. So I refresh...and yet again!!! Another freakin' websense page! Websense can go to hell for all I'm concerned. OK!!!!!! That is freakin' it! I'm not doing this podcast anymore. I'm sad I have to miss out on it, but I'm not going thru websense after websense over and over again.

Week 10, Thing 23: YouTube

I have known about YouTube for quite some time now. I use it frequently to watch anime clips, video games clips, and just to see what stupidness people have put on there. I especially like YouTube because I can preview a video game before spending loads of money on the game or system it needs to be played on by being able to see it first.

Here is a trailor of a video game I've been looking at although it's not released yet!



And then here's a clip from one of my favorite animes...Azumanga Daioh!

Week 9, Thing 22: Mashups

So I am still a tad confused on mashups, but I get the idea. Not sure how much I'll use them unless they come along in my searches but otherwise, pretty neat! I decided to do the trading card thing (www.bighugelabs.com) and that was pretty neat. Take a look!

Week 9, Thing 21: Flickr cont...

Ok well I can see why tagging is important on these types of websites. I know that YouTube does tagging as well and makes it easy to find certain things you are looking for. It was easy to search for different things with Flickr as well because of the tagging feature. I don't get the "community develop" question so I won't answer that. Otherwise, nice site, but I still like photobucket for other uses.

Week 9, Thing 20: Flickr

Ok. This site got on my nerves. It's a good site...it just wasn't doing what I wanted. I'm suppose to post a picture on here, and thought I had the brains to do that, but not sure what happened! I had help to and help couldn't figure it out either! So...for some reason it would post a nice big empty box. So I dunno. I think I registered through it and will maybe use it for personal use later, but not right now. I'm a fan of photobucket and will more likely stick to that. It's a great website and nice to send to peopel of maybe a photo slide of what programs went on so we don't have to hog up the storage space on the city's computer and email space as well though. That's the only feautre I see that we can use it for the library.


So for those with the imagination key, I found a picture of a garden that some people took when they went to Okinawa, Japan. It was just beautiful and relaxing to look at. They had a few actually. So now I go back to my trusty photobucket and post a picture from there b/c it's MUCH EASIER than flickr which I will probably never use again. Again, not as good as the first one I found, but it will do. Enjoy photobucket!

Week 8, Thing 19: Web 2.0 Awards List

So there is a lot to choose from with the catagories and lists. I chose travel as my catagory and was introduced to http://www.farecast.com/ This is a nifty little site for the travel folks who want to save some money. It doesn't do everything but has most U.S. cities (I didn't like how I couldn't find a list for it up front although). It predicts when to buy your plane ticket because it seems to know that todays ticket will be $300 today, however if you wait a week the price will drop. It's nice because it tells you how long the airline will be holding that specific price as well, but not all airlines have that message underneath the price. I do wish it did international traveling, but as for the U.S., it's quite a nice website.

Week 8, Thing 18: Technorati

Well just as I thought it couldn't get worse. This site is interesting, but not for me either. I did some searches since I was unsuccessful with step one because I still do not know where the Blog Directory is, and found that I would not want to use this site on an everyday basis or even at all. If this is a site formed around blogs, who knows what is fact and fiction when reading this stuff. You don't, so doesn't seem to have much use in a library setting for me. But this is all my opinion of course.

Week 8, Thing 17: Del.icio.us

Well, I'm quite confused. I'm not wishing to, yet again, register a new account, so I try following the directions and how annoying is it when you try to click on a link with the SnapShots boxes keep poping up!! But anyway....I visited del.icio.us and just found it a mess. There are too many things going on with the pages and that just confuses me. Sure I see the links and all, but it's just a messy page with words all over it after clicking here and there a few times. I get the point of the page because I had co-workers explain it to me, but I'm not interested in using this service at the moment. Maybe one day, but with a busy schedule and barely no time at work given to view this in depth (let alone complete Web 2.0)....right now will not be the time to explore more than I did.

I can see how this site could be useful at the library. If each branch was given a login perhaps, then we could save resourceful sites to help customers. But then you have those people who have to save everything, and I can see how a library combined account would not be such a good idea. But sure, it's a nice idea to use at the library.

Week 7, Thing 16: Myspace

Well, I have had a Myspace account for many years now. I use it frequently and sometimes I hardly use it at all. It is an easy, social website to use and I have reunited with many high school classmates that have found me using this website as a search strategy. It's quite nice because if you are one who has trouble keeping up with all your old buddies, you can just visit their page, read their blogs to update yourself and drop them a comment or two to let them know you thought about them that day. Great way to keep in touch and let someone know you are thinking about them.

It's a great meeting place too. I met my current boyfriend from myspace and also have met some other people that are great friends now from there too.

It's nice because it lets you personalize it and express yourself to show your personality, favorite subjects or hobbies by customizing the page, music and pictures. It a great site overall.

I don't wish to post my page on here or make a new on just for work, but if you are dying to be my friend and know who I am, then send me an email or just find me yourself on myspace! See you there!

Week 7, Thing 15: Social Networking

Well, I have used social networking for many, many years. I've heard both sides as to where it can be a bad thing and have also experienced where it can be a good thing. I think it is no different than joining a group in person, in your area in which you have a similar interest in, with the exception that you have more options via social networking and can meet more people from all over the world rather than the current locals.

I think for VBPL to make a social networking site can produce both a good thing and also be a waste of time as well. It's good because it will get the name out there and be an option if some people have friended VBPL, then their friends will see it and so on. I think it can be a waste of time too, because it takes a certain group to want to look for something of that nature. Music bands have it easy because loads of people are always looking for a new band or an old band to be a true fan too, however....how many people are looking for a new program at the library to join or find out about (especially in the teen nature)? Not that many.