Week 4, Thing 9

When MERLIN attacks:
When I was searching for feeds, I simply used the search box at the top of the page, which would usually kick back websites, and not necessarily feeds. This was confusing, especially when I would try to subscribe to the feed and there wasn't one. The websites with feed links would occasionally work. I learned that like in CARL, you must be very specific when you search, because when I went to subscribe to MERLIN, I searched it using the search box, and websites that took me to the MERLIN page were there, but not necessarily the "subscribe to this feed" hyperlink were there, so I had to search it like the 23 things website said.
When subscribing to feeds, I did it the hard way and individually selected feeds. I should have subscribed to some that were already grouped by Bloglines in interest areas like "knitting" beacuse that would have been easier than hand selecting for a broad topic. MERLIN's subscribe link on the homepage just gave me HTML code, so I had to search for it again and link with it through Bloglines, which was not much fun. I still wish I could post my Bloglines roll... but I have yet to figure it out.

Overall, it wasn't too painful, and I'm glad I subscribed to the blogs that I did.

On a side note: I really like that we are blogging... I enjoy receiving comments from other staff member and leaving comments because it gives me, as a part-timer who has never been to staff day, or really to another branch, for that matter a chance to interact with other BCPL staffers. It's fun.

I've been tagged! or A thingless thing...

These are the rules: Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, and then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged, and asking them to read your blog.

1.) I had a pet goldfish that lived 16 years. It was a carnival prize.
2.) I like to drink all of my cold beverages through straws.
3.) My favorite color is green.
4.) I have been to the Annual Baltimore Science Fair in Towson, with projects that won first, second, and third from my middle school science fair.
5.) I have ridden an elephant.
6.) I enjoy blogging.
7.) My favorite fiction book is The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank.
8.) My favorite non-fiction authors are: Anita Libery and Laurie Notaro.

I am tagging the following: Library Lady, Rock of Ages, Technophobic, Library LunaSea, Sausage King, Wonder Twin Power, Unicorns are Real, and Shhh.

Week 4, Thing 8!

Ha! I have reached Thing 8!!!! I think I have selected blogs that I will actually be interested in reading and obtaining information (as well as some laughs). I like the idea of RSS and bloglines because it will give me a list of things I am interested in reading without going to tons of sites. It also led me to subscribe to sites that I would not normally think of checking. Libraries could use the bloglines to help keep everyone informed of library related news, which is why I suspect that we needed to subscribe to bloglins as part of the 23 things. I know as a part time employee, I probably would not look into Library Journal News, but I subscribed, and I am ecstatic about receiving the Unshelved comic as part of my subscription as well! I think it will be a positive experience, but I am starting to become overwhelmed by all of the passwords I have created for all of these accounts.

I tried to do the optional activity but I am having a terrible time trying to share my bloglines account... I will have to ask someone, and hopefully it will be up before the end of this week. It's a shame since I picked some really good feeds. :(

Week 4, Thing 7

My jump into the technology pool:
This should not have taken me too long to post, but I am finally getting around to it today. I am not usually a fan of technology due to my formerly problematic PC and dial-up internet connection... however, as a child growing up in the 90's... video games were always great! I have probably played almost every system except for the brand new ones, starting with Intellivision and Burger Time, ( I know, I never played Atari). Anyway... this leads me to my new love for my Nintendo DS. I just got an internet browser for the system that will allow me to surf the net with Wi-Fi hotspots, such as our lovely branch. I also saw that I can get a plug-in USB port wi-fi adaptor for my house using our desktop computer. I think this is awesome and alleviates my need to surf the web on my Palm Pilot, which is quite difficult. Besides this new contraption for the internet, the games are pretty great and travel friendly.

I'm also excited about my new iPod that should be arriving shortly, but I will probably hinder its potential by limiting it to a music player, but I look forward to consolidating my CD collection onto this nifty little gadget. I am however worried about the battery life of a rechargeable battery, considering I am an avid music fan and curious how many charges the battery will hold thanks to the little note on the box.

I think I am finally starting to like technology... now that it's working for me.

Week 3, Thing 6

Here is what I imagined could be a mashup... it was taken from a site my friend showed me and it combines different photos and text.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I also think that a neat Flickr mashup would be the mapping application (Mapr). I like the idea that if someone takes a picture of an awesome old building, you can map it so other people admiring the work can know where to find it. You could also do that with unique landforms, and possibly take the photograph and information and learn more about the subject with more background knowledge, like location.

Flickr is cool!

Week 3, Thing 5

Melbourne CBD Yarra River Reflection Looking West
Originally uploaded by mauriceguerrieri

I absolutely love this picture from Melbourne, Australia. It is amazing and I have always wanted to travel to Australia. Flickr artists have captured interesting shots of various people, places, and things. I chose this picture because it reminds me of a Baltimore artist's interpretation of local landmarks using neon colors and light on a dark background, plus it was of Australia. I really enjoyed using Flickr and it was pretty painless to use once I found out I could use my already existing yahoo account to connect easily.

Week 2, Things 2-4: Lifelong Learning

So far, as you can see I believe I have accomplished things 1-4. Whenever I think of Thing__, it reminds me of Dr. Seuss, Thing 1 and Thing 2, etc. etc.

On a more serious note... I listened/watched the 7 and 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners and immediately began to think... this sounds like a "self-help" book, which was funny to me. It also made me think of my current education in college where I am being told that learning is abstract and immeasurable in regards to assessment and in the writing of objectives in the classroom setting. (If you are a teacher, or training to be, you know what I mean).
However... lifelong learning is a critical skill and I firmly believe in it.
As for the powerpoint, I think the hardest of the 7 and 1/2 habits, is Habit 2... "Accept Responsibility for your own Learning" because I often have these great goals and deadlines in my head, but then I never follow through. For example, I have less than one month to learn how to play the guitar. I even bought sale books from work on learning how to play the guitar!

The easiest thing for me, as you can tell from the previous paragraph, I would say Habit 5, "Create your own Learning Toolbox." I can go out and shop with the best of them, and am more than capable of going out and buying the necessary supplies to complete "my goals." I am a fan of accessories of all kinds, that is why I am a knitter and crafter... because there are plenty of accessories. Even when it comes to clothing... handbags are my true weakness, which are considered accessories.

I look forward to hopefully completing this program, and it will hopefully make me more tech savvy, and I can use words like "wikis" and "flickr" in everyday conversations.

Test Post

This is my first post for the Maryland 23 Things Activity for BCPL.