DebF's blog

#23 and 3/4 or something?

2007-10-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

My soldier is home. No words can express my joy, relief and pride. Please keep remembering our military in your prayers. They need all they can get.

#23 Summary

2007-09-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed working on and completing 23 Things. The exercises were fun and informative and I found sites and tools that I had not used before. One of the most useful would probably be #13 Zoho Writer. I didn't know about that and will use it. I really had fun with #6 Mashups and #7 Image Generators.
I liked the concept and thought the program was well done. I would participate in another program.
Sigh....guess I'm done.

#22 Podcasts

2007-09-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to several podcasts with my iTunes
I can just download them and listen when I have time.
I especially like "Ask a Ninja"
http://www.ninja.com/
they don't seem to have an rss feed. But, hey they are Ninjas. That is probably why.
I also subscribe to a Gaelic Language course. Which doesn't seem to have a rss feed either. I am attempting to teach myself Irish. To be very honest, it is going slowly.
I tried twice to link to the provided podcast.net and it froze/crashed my laptop each time. I think I will just stick with iTunes right for podcasts now. Maybe check those out later.

#21 Online Video

2007-09-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

I love YouTube. I would rather (and usually do) watch that rather than TV. Any subject...anytime...
As with any other site like this, you are looking at someone's perspective....so take that into consideration. I can spend hours here. The downside is always reading the comments. So much hostility and ignorance shown. I don't usually read them anymore.
It was hard to choose one. But, since it's on my mind lately. Here it is. Yes, it's MC Hammer. Remember the "Hammer Pants"? Well, he's a Republican now and a Bush supporter. Even wearing a suit. Who would have guessed? This is his message to Bush.

I don't like rap...it's my least favorite music with C/W a close second. But...here you go. U CAN'T TOUCH THIS!!

#20 Special Treat

2007-09-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

Where is my treat? I thought I was going to get something. Like a free iTunes download. Or a laptop. Oh well.
I thought the video was very well produced. General audiences? Sure, why not. The more you are online, the more you realize some people have no common sense whatsoever. They will do/publish anything. Why?? Who knows. Attention? Lack of self esteem? No brains? I don't claim to have the answers. Be careful out there.
Here is a "special treat" back.
http://alanbecker.deviantart.com/art/Animator-vs-Animation-34244097
I got a kick out of it. But..be warned. I am sometimes very easily amused.

#19 Digital Music

2007-09-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

I have an iPod and so am pretty familiar with iTunes. It is very user friendly, visually appealing and has lots to recommend it.
I also enjoy listening to online radio stations...I think you have to have a fairly fast connection to do this....can't imagine it would work with dial-up?
I like Irish music so on my favorite list:
http://www.liveireland.com/
This is a very good site with music, webcams and even shopping. If you are craving a look at the "auld sod" try it.
I also listen to http://www.paddyrock.com/
And check out one of my favorite groups. Gaelic Storm. Ok..not really a digital site, but I plug them whenever I can. They were the Irish band in steerage on the Titanic flick. You remember.... They play the Intersection on occasion and if you get the chance...don't miss them.
http://www.myspace.com/gaelicstorm

#18 Social Networking

2007-09-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

I think social networking sites have had a tremendous impact. Like anything else, it is user responsibility or irresponsibility that determines whether it is a very beneficial experience...or not. I started a myspace page when my son deployed to Iraq. He could log into his page and the date of the log in shows up. It was our sign that sometime that day (or week)...he was at a computer and was ok. Might not sound like much....but it was something. I then started connecting with relatives and friends from all over the US and have really enjoyed it. I had fun creating my page. Of course, there is "the dark side".

The miltary recently has limited use of private e-mail and networking sites. The reason is OPSEC. I don't like it much, but apparently some don't realize that putting troop missions , locations and specific info on your myspace page or blog would be a very bad idea. So, I guess if it keeps our troops safer..I understand. It bothers me that libraries feel they have to ban these sites. I don't personally feel this is a good solution to the problems some of our branches are having. Censorship in the military is to be expected...but in your local library? I don't like the fact that everyone gets restricted in an effort to control the abusers. Parents need to watch what their young kids are doing on the internet. Again...comes down to responsibility.

One site I hadn't visited and will again was http://www.travbuddy.com/. I use tripadvisor all the time and this looked pretty interesting too.

#17 Wikis

2007-09-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Wikis are a good tool for sharing information. I use Wikipedia quite a bit..didn't realize KDL was on there! Since they can be edited at will (or some of them anyway), the info may not be all that accurate, but I just consider them another source to use when looking for info.

#16 Technorati & Blog Tagging

2007-09-08T08:45:00.001-07:00

I thought this was another useful tool when you are searching for something specific and want to narrow the search. You can certainly spend lots of time checking out your results!

#15 Tagging

2007-09-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

I think Del.icio.us would be a useful tool when researching a topic. It could certainly cut down search time and give you access to blogs and sites you might not have found otherwise. I searched for a somewhat remote camp in Iraq and found many sources for info, including personal blogs of soldiers that had been stationed there. It was very interesting and something I would use.

#14. Best of Web 2.0

2007-09-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed looking at the list of 2.0 Awards. I found many good sites that I might go back to and use. One of the most useful to me would probably be http://www.farecast.com/ in the Travel category. I book all my travel plans myself and shop and compare on several different sites before making a choice. I also like orbitz.com, cheaptickets.com, airlineconsolidator.com to compare flights and tripadvisor.com is great for getting hotel reviews.

I'd have to give http://www.cocktailbuilder.com/ in the Fun Stuff category an honorable mention too. Not sure how useful it would be be, but it's pretty amusing.

#13 Online Productivity

2007-09-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

I like Zoho Writer. It was easy to create documents and import pictures. It would be useful to be able to access your documents from any computer. It also had some very nice features like the templates. I'll use it.

#12 Customized Search Engines

2007-09-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

I looked at both Rollyo and Google C0-op. I really don't see the need. It seems like when you limit your searches...you limit yourself?? When I do a general search on goggle or whatever...I always find things I would have never found before...why limit to specific search engines??

#11 LibraryThing

2007-09-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hmm.. another one I wasn't so crazy about. I created an acct. and made it private. Not all that comfortable with this one.

#10 Web 2.0

2007-09-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Quote from "Away From the Icebergs" Rick Anderson, Director of Resource Acquisition, Univeristy of Nevada, Reno Libraries

" In fact, it may no longer make sense to “collect” in the traditional sense at all. In my library, we’ve seen a 55 percent drop in circulation rates over the past twelve years, making it harder and harder to justify the continued buildup of a large “just in case” print collection."

Not true around here. As far as I know, our circ stats keep going up and up.

Quote from Dr. Wendy Schultz:
"What are libraries? Libraries are not just collections of documents and books, they are conversations, they are convocations of people, ideas, and artifacts in dynamic exchange. Libraries are not merely in communities, they are communities: they preserve and promote community memories; they provide mentors not only for the exploration of stored memory, but also for the creation of new artifacts of memory."

That's more what I see.

#9 Library Blogs

2007-09-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Still not crazy about RSS feeds...I looked at all the listed sites, googled and all. Out of the sites on our link..., I thought Topix.net was the best...Syndic8 was the least favorite.
I think...just start looking for the RSS logo as you visit the sites you like.

#8 RSS feeds

2007-09-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

I found it hard to get excited about this one. I created my account on Bloglines and will give it a try though. Who knows..I might like it.
I subscribed to:
CNN
STARS & STRIPES
BBC NEWS
MLIVE
IRAQ WEATHER
WASHINGTON POST
DAILY SHOW VIDEO
WOODTV
FREEDOM JOURNAL IRAQ
COALITION CASUALTY COUNTS

#7 Image generators

2007-08-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

Uncanny, isn't it? Looks just like me. Well, I can't REALLY play the guitar and/or sing, but I don't think the Spice Girls can either....and they are going on a world tour. Did you notice my footwear? Yes, Crocs. I REALLY do wear Crocs. It was fun and I used Meez.com.

#6 Mash-ups

2007-08-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

This turned out to be more interesting than I originally thought it would be. I am still not sure when I would use it..but it's good to know the tools. I decided on a trading card using http://bighugelabs.com/

#5 Photo sharing

2007-08-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Flickr vs Photobucket.

I think they are very comparable. I can't really say I would prefer one over the other. But, since I already have a Webshots and a Photobucket account, I really don't want to start another up on Flickr.
I started the webshots when my soldier son deployed. I thought it might be easier for him to view albums rather than send individual pictures. Email with the Army involved can be a challenge at times. But, now there are restrictions on what our servicemembers can view, so I don't post much anymore.
But, I do have some shots of the blizzard last February on there. That was the day several members of our staff risked their lives to get into work only to find out we were closed. One of us wound up in a ditch waiting for a tow truck. Since I was out anyway I took some pics on the way home.
http://community.webshots.com/user/DebraFin

This picture is from my Photobucket acct. I took it after work a few weeks ago. I entitled it-

"I feel so dirty"
I was shelving music cds (only way is on your knees) and when I got up I found I was soiled. It was embarrassing since it was the beginning of my shift and I had to go through the next 8 hours like that. I am sure my coworkers were thinking..."Wow, Deb's really letting herself go ". I have been wearing my black capris a lot more lately, especially when I know I will be shelving music cds.

#4 Register your blog

2007-08-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

Done

#3 7 1/2 Habits

2007-08-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

#3 7/1/2 habits

Easiest? #6 USE TECHNOLOGY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

I love electronic stuff. Love it all. Ipods, MP3s, laptops, desktops, camcorders, cell phones.....
Electronics....big and small are one of my weaknesses.

Hardest? #7 1/2 PLAY

I don't play. Don't have time..have more important things I have to do. The world is a serious place. No time for playing.