That's a Wrap

I'm almost going to miss being forced to take time out to learn. And it wasn't just me learning; several times I'd go home and show Steve what new "thing" I'd done. My vocabulary has increased, with cute little words like; blogs, wiki, feeds, tags, and apps. I'm so proud.
I'd recommend the Web Challenge to anyone. In fact, I mentioned to a committee member that it should be available for our customers, maybe on the library website.

The blog is the best. When viewing other blogs on the web, I'd say to myself...How'd they do that? Now I know how easy it is! And adding photos and pods is just awesome. What do you think? How'd I do?

Tagging was the most difficult for me... not sure I even got it. Recently, however, when searching the web I've noticed the tags a lot. It's something that I wouldn't have known about except for THE Challenge. Can't wait for Web Challenge 2.

Thanks, Web Challenge Committee you've make me web savvy.

ListenNJ

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I already read the book and saw the video but it was the title that I chose to download to my computer from ListenNJ www.listennj.com

What is with that keyword seach in the advanced search? I started out looking for books on employee empowerment and found nothing.

The hardest part was the setup for OverDrive and the security upgrade to my Windows Media Player. After that everything went smooth and I can "read" the book until June 8th when my checkout will expire. I love the fact that there are no overdues.

Podcasting

Since I'll be in Ireland on June 9, 2008 (I know, lucky me) I felt that this podcast is most appropriate.




I must say that I found this podcast via a google search for "podcast Ireland" and not on a podcast website. When I looked at Podcast.com, I didn't find anything worth posting. Most of the podcasts I viewed were just discussion casts, no video. Very disappointing.

I really liked the podcasts on the WebChallenge pages.
Visual Learning tools are great!

YOU (Tube) and ME

I had heard this song on the radio around Christmas and
I wanted to hear it again.
So I went to youtube and found it.
Here's a link to the holiday song...Hanukkah in Santa Monica...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZUgr1zh878 .
From here you can check out Tom Lehrer's other tunes.
So much on youtube...I can't stand it.

Web Apps and Best of the Rest

Where were Web Apps three years ago when Alison was getting married? I can remember typing, printing, correcting, and retyping all kinds of lists. The e-mails were flying along with the tempers. Those wedding lists needed everyone and their grandmothers to make sure that the information was correct. Just what is Great Aunt Sissy's real name? If we invite Cousin George, do we need to invite the other 22 cousins? Just having the address list on Google Docs would have saved a tree!

Now that I'm thinking about it we could have used a blogspot back then, too!

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I could find lots of great stuff to look at on the Web 2.0 Awards site. Of course, I went right to the Photos and Digital Images area where I found some favorites like Flickr and Picasa; but Picnik was a new site that I can't wait to try. And what do you know...there was my new best friend Google Docs with a first place in word processing!

Play Time

Played in the Sandbox, loved it.
Read everyone elses likes and dislikes, lots of fun.
Added a photo, changed some colors,
then added my blog with the rest of the bloggers. Yeah.

Can't take too much time writing about it....
got to move on to the next Thing.

Wiki World

I checked out the Library Success Wiki and chose only a few entries to read. I found some interesting ideas and suggestions. However, I didn't find too much on the subjects of budgets, accounting or office practices; and those are the areas that would be of interest to me. The site looks and feels like a policy manual, not very pretty. Most of the pages I looked at hadn't been modified in a few years. I did, however, hit upon what they called Parvenu Tower Resources which had an amazing list of links for different subjects. I had to wikipedia "Parvenu" to find out about the name. A parvenu is: someone who has gained a position of power but not yet gained the social skills associated with this new position. Are they talking about webchallenged library staff?

So, if you sat and read thru Library Success, how would you know if tomorrow someone added a really great idea to it? Recent changes or Current changes? but not an "RSS"?

I had visited the Wikipedia Ocean County Library page before so it didn't take me long to have a second look. I'm disappointed that some of the links to old photos don't work. I would have liked to have seen James Brolin in the Bishop Building. I'd like to see James Brolin anywhere!

Nothing Technical Here

If you're looking for a posting about the Web Challenge, this isn't one of them. Steve and I are going to have a visit from our grandpup, Tetley. She'll be staying with us for a week. Tetley will be arriving on "vacation" tomorrow night. She'll come with all of the stuff that a pampered pooch may need.
Toys, check; T-shirt, check; Blankie, check.
Ali has a packing list so she doesn't forget anything, although we've reminded her that we only live a few blocks away. I hope that she has packed the Zen puppy treats, Steve and I will probably need to eat some of them ourselves!

The Library Thing

I wish there had been The Library Thing years ago when I started reading. What a list I could have had! If you're into books, and what library staff member isn't, this place is for you.
You can search and list the books you've read or want to read, leave a comment or recommend books for other users, tag and share your list if you like. It's my own little database of books and I've only just begun to explore it. If they could connect the NetLibrary with the Library Thing...they would have an ultimate virtual library.
The little Library Thing widget on the side will show you just a few of my favorite books.

It's a Beautiful Thing 12

I have access to NetLibrary and WorldCat through my library. Although I don't see myself sitting at the computer reading Pride and Prejudice, you could do it if you wanted to using NetLibrary. I can see the advantage to students looking for excerpts from books and you can get the Cliffnotes, too. If my computer was a lot smaller, and lighter, I might consider using NetLibrary for my last night reads. Until then, I'll stick with my paperbacks, they're easier on the nose.

WorldCat told me that I could get Alvin & the Chipmunks on DVD at the Ocean County Library (I knew that already). What I didn't know was that I could also find it at the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ and at the Burlington County Library. And God is my Co-pilot, published in 1943, can be found at the Georgian Court University. Very cool. Now I know where to find those obscure titles I've been aching to read....

Week 6: What a Mess

OK, I get the concept. Tagging and bookmarking could be useful for many but I may not be one of the chosen ones. I've worked my way around the del.icio.us and the Technorati websites but it wasn't easy. Couldn't I just Google what I need? After viewing the tutorials, looking at some links, and checking out some tags, I'm boggled!
When searching del.icio.us for "travel list" most of my results were from companies selling their stuff. A "packing list" that I selected told me to pack both my razor and my electric shaver???even though I told them that I was a "female". What are they trying to tell me? I don't want to know! I have my own packing list that I made up myself and mine is better than theirs...hmmm...maybe I'll tag, bookmark and link to my own page. I liked the tags and the way that they're listed under the links.
Technorati, I never got the hang of this one, and I don't think it liked me either. The best part are the photos. I searched Toms River and OCLwebthings, then selected the photo tab, and voila, there's pictures of my favorite town and library. The photos from my blog are not showing up, however. I think this has something to do with not "claiming" my blog. Well, you can't blame me.

About Technology

Since Steve and I just recently moved into the 21st century by getting digital television, the topic of technolgy seems pretty relevant. A clear picture and a box that will record a program without a tape is pretty impressive to us! Technology seems to have advanced but why did it take four installers five days to get it working?

So I've been familiar with a computer since my Apple II and I've upgraded my PCs throughout the years. However, computer technology has been moving at the speed of CAT5 and it seems I'm working with an analog brain.

It could be that my thoughts are focused on other technologies. I could tell you what's new in the field of photography and power tools but I didn't have a clue what a "widgit" was until today. I may be on the road to earning an MP3 player but I've never used one and do I even need it?

Thanks to the Web Challenge I'm not completely clueless. When I read an article, such as Stephen Abram's 20 Things to Watch, I recognize a few words that I previously would not have known. Blogging, Podcasts and WorldCat are things that I can now discuss. Other words, such as, scrapbooking still hold older meanings. Not to worry, I'll catch up. Perhaps the USB port for the human mind isn't too far in the future!

RSS or Rough Selecting Stuff

Is it just me or is this "reader" just asking for junk mail?
The only difference is that I'm selecting who I want to
send me their junk.

OK, it's really not all that bad. After I got the hang of it,
I find that I won't have to go to the same websites everyday
to find out what cruises are on sale! And learning a new
word everyday (dictionary.com) will probably be good for me.
I've added my 10 feeders (is that what they're called?)
including the library's event page. One of them should be
work related, right? No seriously, new books will be next.
I've added "a clip" on the right, so I can share some of my
articles with you. Just click on the article if you want to
read more about it.

My biggest problem so far seems to be "CRP" or can't
remember passwords. How many more accounts will I have
to set up? And after I set them up, will I remember that
they're there? At home, I've started using a little notebook that
Ali gave to me. On every page I list the website and the
password. Pretty handy for someone like me. Occasionally,
I have to remember where I put the notebook :)

Vacation 2007

It was the trip of a lifetime.

We cruised the Aegean Sea.

Steve and I visited places like

Santorini and Athens, Greece.

We stayed in Rome and saw the Pope.

This is Steve in Positano on the Almafi Coast.

It was an experience I'll never forget!

The problem is...

did we take this trip too soon?

We're planning our vacation for 2008. Where do we go next? Can we ever go back to vacations at the beach? or a short trip to Virginia again? Now that we've seen Europe, will everywhere else be bland and uneventful? We're looking at London, that has possibilities!

Who's Here

Steve - my husband

Alison (Ali) - my daughter

Nick - my son-in-law

and

Tetley - my granddog

When Ali called last night, we talk on the phone at least once a day, she told me that Tetley jumped from the arm of the chair to the floor. This seemed to be an amazing feat for such a little dog. Tetley is a 6 pound Yorkshire Terrier but obviously she thinks she can fly. Tetley arrived last Christmas from Arkansas where her parents live. Steve and I were skeptical at first about Ali and Nick having a dog. Since I never had a dog, I was unaware of the joy that an dog can bring into your life. We've learned to love her and just like having a child, we tend to tell "Tetley stories".

Kodak Moments

This starts my blog.....yeah!