2.0 Teaching Moment

Today I instructed a student regarding how to set up a Google Reads account and and add feeds to it. Yeah!

She expressed interest in keeping up with current newspapers, I suggested that may be the best way.

She was v. enthusiastic and now she knows what those little RSS icons are for and how to use them...

V. Interesting & Mash-Up Brilliance

New York Times article on tracking Wikipedia article editors and thus successfully determining who puts a positive or negative spin on company activity.

BTW

Carnival cruises are AWESOME! The most relaxing vacay I've ever been on, sheer bliss...

Subject Guides

Been diligent on updating, Beth M. really spearheads this effort-- I just hope to heaven someone pays attn. Should have them all fresh-loaded shortly, then Beth'll send out a faculty alert. Dare to dream: feedback?

From the National Weather Service

I decided to drop a line and check out peeps pages as momentary diversion-- before I had a complete melt down over some code...

Speaking of melting, seriously. SERIOUSLY! I went for a (power) walk last p.m. and, this may be t.m.i., I have never sweat so much in my life. UGH. Ugh. ugh.

It's really stultifying... Leaves me looking like a drowned rat and feeling my head's wrapped in cotton...

Summing it all up...

Well! I sure did learn a lot. And, I will likely keep using this space...

"Award" Winning Sites

And the award for most cluttered home page goes to!

Okay, so I'm being catty but still, was a bit underwhelmed...

Maybe I didn't give 'em a fair shot.

More Thoughts on 2.0 (Spoiler Alert: Segue to Soapbox)

The 2.0 librarian "...builds Weblogs and wikis as resources to further the mission of the library", that is where I get hung-up. Trying to visualize how and where these tools can be utilized with our constituency. We're doing the blog which I think has been met positively; however to some degree I fear we're waaaaay over estimating our clientele, and any student that has the savvy/interest for this type of 2.0 activity is little interested in the library...

How to get to them? How to combat the arrogance of youth in their (quasi) intellectual conviction?

Start by not belittling, perhaps?

But how to proceed, when many seem mentally stunted by pop culture as well as paralyzed by not wanting to risk either "looking stupid" by asking questions or "looking smart" by expressing any opinion or, really, trying to distinguish themselves at all in this abysmal culture of consumer lemmings... Ugh.

Hi, can I please get a word of encouragement and hope here?

My Problem With New Technology

"You and your mobile and nonmobile devices—PDA, MP3, laptop, cell phone, camera, PC, TV, etc.—are always online, connected to one another and to the Web."
- from OCLC nextspace page

YUCK! Good heavens, I don't want to be always connected! Although, that's what I said about cell phones too... And MySpace... And... ? Yeah. I guess we'll see, but as it stands I find the implications of the above statement more threatening than exhilarating...

More to come...

On Task!

It occurs to me that I am lacking in three of the "11 Things" this project set out to address. Namely, the Crystall Ball, Wiki Tiki Tavi, and award winning site's perusal.

Today I hope to rectify this shortcoming, and will blog with thoughts...

Thought I'd Never See the Day...

But here it is: I'M BUYING A HOUSE! The house on the left to be exact, located at 1107 E. 42. 1 block from Daffin Park, 3 br 2 ba , c. 1930 but renovated, 1600 sq ft- not to mention the cupola. How on earth is this possible? I'm getting an deal*, sure, but readers, if I can do it- so can you!!!

I've been v. aggressively paying off my credit card, on time with all my bills, and generally paying a hair over the "minimum due" amounts (yay second job) so my credit is wicked good and I'm qualifying for a FHA loan- which requires only 3% down (!!!). When the seller is willing to pay all closing costs, and the house is approximately $150,000 that means you're out of pocket is like 5 grand; a totally reasonable amount to save, beg, borrow, steal- right? I hope this isn't TMI, but I certainly don't mind airing my laundry if others can learn from it... Stay tuned for the house warming invites, closing is Aug 31.

*The dudes I'm buying from purchased the sweetie in foreclosure, she was a crackhouse (seriously), and instead of sitting on it for a few years and making an obscene killing they're simply renovating and selling it to me for a reasonable profit. Decent, honest people in the Real Estate business? Signs point to yes... Ask me and I'll gladly give referrals for all involved parties.

Flickr Flake

Flickr just ticked me off. I finally figured out how to delete a set (as free-loaders we're only allowed 3) and then the silly thing won't let me actually go through with the deletion. What gives?

In other, related, news dear Blogger here is having no-load fits over me trying to get a new image up. I.E.: trying to load for like 10 mins a small picture. It won't accept it from either computer or web...

sigh...

Good Reads

is addictive. I'll soon be polling you all to be my friend, I'm sure...

On Track

Today I vow to re-commit to the purpose of this blog and review the "11 Things," instead of just yammering...

Do Do Do Da Da Da

Pre-show stage for the Police show in Tampa Jon and I saw Wednesday night. Jon's a big fan, I slightly less, so I surprised him with tickets when they came out. Man, did the band sound amazing...

Yes, that is a Smiley Face water tower...

Oh, sweet West Branch- what a home town. And, in the beautiful state of Michigan.

I just returned from a mini-vacation there, which included a little road trip fun up to Mackinac with my folks and bf Jon.

Jon and I bum rushed the Grand Hotel, a place that takes the "No Shirt, No Shoes" concept to swankier levels, hence necessitating Jon's wearing of a random scarf of mine tied as a men's tie; the subterfuge worked! Sure, a little Charles Nelson Riley-esque but what fun!

Who says "2.0" is impractical rubbish?

I'll have you know that I just created a BI handout utilizing the image generator found for this very Learning At Lane 2.0 series.

Huzzah!

ALA

Here's my summary of events for the ALA stuff I did.

I may push more info in dribs and drabs regarding certain events; to wit: I've a "Hollywood Librarian" review cooking in my noggin, we'll see if it gets out...

Let me know if you have any questions and/or problems viewing the document-- it's my first time with Google Docs!

Launch-tastic!

OMG I'm so excited to have this project launched. I want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and support. Here's to it!

Fun With Image Generator