Week 5: Image Generators; Avatars; Librarything...

This week's assignment took waaaaay long...and I spent waaaay too much time playing around with these toys. However, Librarything is fabulous. So many applications for us here in library land. Book discussion groups, all those patrons who want us to keep lists of what they've already read, etc. I didn't allow myself to set up an account because I know if I did I would never finish 23 things--I'd spend too much time creating my personal library catalog. Saving that for later...

I think Rollyo is way too slow to produce results and I'm still thinking about how it could be useful to us at the library. And while I had fun creating my alter ego in Springfield, USA, I had trouble saving my Simpson avatar to this blog--maybe when I'm not in a timecrunch. This should not be giving me this much trouble. sigh....

Week 4: RSS feeds and newsreaders

Bloglines is a really useful tool, but I can't decide whether it will alleviate that feeling of info overload, or just make it worse! I set up my account and picked my most visited sites and also a few new ones (shifted librarian blog, some foodie sites, gadgets).

Lately, I've been trying to remember what life was like before the digital age, trying to remember if I always felt as if my brain was struggling to retain all the info I was picking up from everywhere. Unfortunately, because of this little overload problem, I couldn't summon up a clear recollection. But somewhere in the haze, it seems to me that while it was more of an ordeal (or adventure?) to find information, it was much easier to retain it since there wasn't as much of it pinging the gray matter at every moment. Life in modern times...wonderful and challenging. But it's probably always perceived that way, eh?

Week 3

Okay, whew. What a summer. I'm just now settling back into a routine after lots of travel and lots of work commitments coming due. Think I'll be able to finish out the 23 things in under a week? I usually work well under pressure, but maybe that's pushing it.

As for my technology comment, I love the Flickr thing and as soon as my Dad sends all the photos we took in Italy and Hungary to me, I'll post them to my newly created Flickr account so we can share with the family. Makes sharing the experience with the family so much easier--'course the family may not want to share the photos. Nothing more boring than watching someone else's "home movies"!!

Week 1- Thing 1

Okay, week one was a nice easy transition into learning mode. No memorization or tests, just a nice little webcast to enjoy about lifelong learning habits. I've always considered myself a casual lifelong learner, jumping at opportunities that pop up, but not always setting goals for myself. This might be why I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano--I even have a piano in the garage that an old neighbor gave me--but I still can only play Mary Had a Little Lamb! So I have to set a goal to set a learning goal...learn to play the piano. Wish me luck!