rant'nrave

Play Week

2008-09-18T12:05:00.005+12:00

Well we've come to the end of an interesting few weeks.Whatever will I do with my spare time? I had some problems with my blog that not even our resident techno-geek could solve.It is not surprising ,my children maintain that our house is where electronic devices go to die,and my car electrics are a joke,to lock the doors you must unlock them,the radio doesn't switch off and the clocks spins out of control constantly!It's like the carousel that goes backwards in that very scary book by Ray Bradbury,"Something wicked this way comes."But I digress,I intend to try another blog under another name and see if I can iron out these hitches just for my own satisfaction. I doubt if I would use a blog personally,but the experience has tempted me to keep a journal of thoughts,happenings etc.I just don't want to share it with the world. I have my photographs on Picasa and I intend to explore what that site has to offer.I hope to have my own digital camera soon,and not be limited by what my husband shoots.Everyone seemed to have so much fun with mash-ups and image generators that I would like to pursue these things as I am already a great fan of Publisher. I may use the RSS feeds to keep in touch with whats happening in places where I formerly lived. I'm not a great fan of You-tube but I did find a recording of a song that I have been unable to buy,borrow or interloan.The concept is wonderful, but the reception lets it down.I may go back to sandbox wiki because I have a particular hobby collection and information could be shared with others of a like mind.Library thing was fun,and if I could get the hang of pod casts, I could listen to the Kim Hill interviews I've missed.
I'm a little uneasy about the My space and Facebook type things.I'm glad they were not around while my children were growing up,as I feel they could have sinister connotations, and I wouldn't like to get involved in chat-rooms.
I don't really know what use I will make of my new found knowledge in a work situation,But at least I won't feel such a complete dummy and the terms will be familiar even if I can't always use the applications.
I will feel a little bit of loss at the end of this, because it has been the subject of so much discussion in the lunch room,but not enough to go on to the next 20 steps!

Social Networking

2008-09-18T12:05:00.002+12:00

I read the articles suggested and I must admit I've revised my opinion on My Space ,from the previous excercise.Libraries in some places are literally fighting for their survival,and we need to use all the secret weapons and sophisticated gadgetry it takes to entice young people through our doors.It doesn't appear to be much of a problem here,but who knows how many more youngsters we would attract if we were more switched on.
I'm of the generation who think children should be out in the fresh air, or at least participating in some hobby,but being a computer geek is infinitely preferable to being a couch potato in front of the idiot box!Who knows by making "our space" more appealing,we could be opening up a whole new world and they might just discover that reading is fun.

Bebo and facebook

2008-09-16T16:21:00.002+12:00

I thought Rotorua Public Library's use of Bebo a very good idea,we could put it to good use in our C& YA departments.It was very bright and informative and colourful.
My space didn't have the same appeal for me.
I joined Facebook and found my daughter on it,she has got a lot of friends.I on the other hand have none, boo hoo!I can see the use of this if you're travelling and you want your friends to share your experiences without having to send emails and it would also be useful as a staff notice-board

# 20 e-books

2008-09-09T16:33:00.002+12:00

http://librivox.org/bleak-house-by-charles-dickens/

I found this easy enough but the American accent was a bit disconcerting.
Kindel was interesting but obviously a rival to a lending library.
Reading a book on line has no appeal personally.I like the texture and smell of books, and a glossy magazine can make me euphoric.

podcasts

2008-09-04T21:21:00.006+12:00

At this point in time I feel this whole podcast exercise is superfluous! I have just watched TV3 News and "John Campbell Live "on the homeless problemThis is not a third world country,but we have third world problems!Worrying about whether we use, or do not use podcasts,is almost an obscenity!There might very well be RSS feeds to world poverty ,famine relief etc but what help is that to an Alcoholic,Drug addict,Person with mental problems.
Where I come from we had acommodation complexes called "Model Lodging Houses"which were a cubicle or pod,(another meaning of the word) type accommodation which provided a bed,bedding, bathing facilities,kitchen facilities,and laundry facilities.I do not know if there were any availability bookings.My understanding was that it was a night by night basis..
I realise this is not the point of the exercise,but I cannot get excited about spending my time in front of a computer listening to 95% drivel ,and I cannot see a use for them in the library.

YouTube

2008-09-02T15:15:00.003+12:00

http://www.beadsbylili.comhttp://www.beadsbylili.com

I didn't find this terribly interesting.I can't see the point of watching something with inferior sound and picture,and I doubt if I would use it in a work situation.

Web 2.00 awards

2008-09-02T13:42:00.002+12:00

We had a plethora of choice here.I could have spent hours playing around.Two that did impress me were,Revolutionhealth and communitywalk.I felt both would have their uses in the library,especially revolutionhealth,because it uses layman's language.Patrons often come to the library after visiting their GP because they want more information or because they didn't ask the questions they needed to,or didn't absorb the information they were given.

Zohowriter

2008-09-01T10:55:00.004+12:00

http://writer.zoho.com/index.do

Well this could be great and the google one even better but for the vagaries of the internet.I had great difficulty keeping the programmes open! Maybe when we all finish blogging things will ease up. I wish I could say I know what I'm doing, I'm achieving some results but without any real understanding of how I got them.

How rude can I be about Rollyo?

2008-08-25T17:21:00.004+12:00

I did the first exercise,but decided to go the extra mile to add the searchroll to my blog.Big mistake,each time I get to the customise design bit I get a message telling me that Blogger will make a back-up of my current template,but nowhere is the Upgrade your template button,so I'm stymied.I've created the searchroll,but cannot get it on to my blog.Aside from that frustration I found Rollyo very American and not to my taste at all.
http://www.rollyo.com/dashboard.html
This refers to the first exercise,but I'm damned if I will be beaten on the alternative.Watch this space!!!
Ok I admit defeat,I go round and round in circles trying to get to the Add and Arrange Page Elements.It doesn't exist!And you know something?I don't care!
I've just read the Herald headlines about bloggers in the John Hapeta case and if it perverts the course of justice maybe this whole exercise needs a re-think.
Does anyone remember "1984" when it was written and how far fetched it seemed? Think On!

Library Thing

2008-08-24T15:46:00.000+12:00

I found this enjoyable,but very slow.To speed things up you really need the ISBN and I also found it easier when I changed the database to a British one.It is rather like our reading list,but much more colourful.I might just join this as "me" rather than my alter ego.
http://www.librarything.com/home/diamondlil.jo

Time wasting !

2008-08-19T19:55:00.000+12:00

: http://www.myalphapicture.com/products.cfm?sesid=&pino=0&spra=en
What are you trying to do to me? Is this a plot to drive me into early retirement? Sorry but you have failed miserably,I have bookmarked everything,my only problem is my husband might get there before me,and if he does,he might get to heaven before me too!

lift magic after: same as before

2008-08-19T19:21:00.000+12:00

http://www4.liftmagic.com/liftmagic/img/xlmf-203.100.211.39-921531.jpg

Tried to use examples on google to use as guinea pigs but found they all had copyright on them,so resorted to family photos.I will certainly try this on photographs of myself but no way will I share the experience with you lot!Unfortunately the experiment failed.Downloading the picture was easy but relating it to the programme seemed impossible.

Sandbox wiki

2008-08-17T14:39:00.000+12:00

Well I certainly had fun with this one.I'm not sure I've followed the correct procedure,but I've created a wiki and added a comment to wetpaint.This is something i may go back to in my leisure time

Discovery Exercise # 11 Wikis

2008-08-16T16:54:00.000+12:00

I think wikis are a fun way of accessing information and sharing knowledge,but I question their accuracy.

Next generation libraries

2008-08-16T14:25:00.000+12:00

Well the OCLC Next Space Newsletter was mind blowing,absolutely amazing.I was particularly impressed by the rural school.The shared universal catalogue makes our Elgar pretty small cheese,but I guess you have to start somewhere.
I can't see this service being provided by libraries and librarians as we know them.This is not the kind of thing which could be funded by rates.The danger is that Big Business will be involved using researchers and it may end up a user-pays system becoming elitist.I often imagine Andrew Carnegie,turning in his grave,but this would have him tossong also.

NSL Learning # 9

2008-08-13T14:22:00.000+12:00

http://technorati.com/blogs/www.librarybytes.com

I discovered this on technorati, it refers to PLCMC library program,but I'm afraid tagging on this site defeats me. I have found this the most confusing exercise in the programme so far and the least appealing.

NSL learning # 8

2008-08-12T14:13:00.000+12:00

Well I managed to add a tag in Delicisio and thought it could be a useful tool for groups with a common interest.Technorati did not have the same appeal for me.
We are not half way through the course, and I can understand now getting hooked,but it's playing havoc with my free time.

Del.icio.us no 2

2008-08-12T14:05:00.000+12:00

http://www.noupe.com/photoshop/40-adobe-photoshop-psd-files.html

Technorati

2008-08-11T18:15:00.001+12:00

http://www.shoeblitz.com/

My very own technorati

2008-08-11T18:08:00.000+12:00

NSL Learning Exercise # 8

2008-08-11T17:49:00.001+12:00

NSL Learning Exercise # 8

2008-08-11T17:34:00.000+12:00

I can see the value of tags,it's a bit like having those indexed notebooks that have the finger indentations (for anyone old enough to have used one).As you can see I have bookmarked a web page,just a little bit unsure about adding the tag,will keep plodding on

Discovery on Del.icio.us

2008-08-11T15:11:00.000+12:00

http://www.gibson.com/Products/
I've included this because my husband is a guitar freak and would like to visit the Gibson and Martin factories.I could do the Paul Revere trail while he 's doing that.

NSL Learning # 7 week 3

2008-08-10T17:37:00.000+12:00

I found this a most frustrating excercise.Bloglines kept dropping out and I wasted a lot of time,or at least that's what I thought,however it was a nice surprise to see that all my subscriptions had gone through and adding a post to a blog was easy-peasy.I can certainly imagine this becoming highly addictive,and after the initial problems quite good fun.Will I continue to use it?I may add a couple websites to my favourites list,but I doubt if I'll continue blogging.
I've read all the blogs,some are fascinating,some are beautiful,some are condescending.I reckon a lot of the bloggers must work part-time or else they're doing it in work time,because this is a very time consuming excercise,and it beats me how all these trampers and travellers will find the time to pursue their hobbies and blog about it.I'm afraid I'll have to retire to contiue blogging and that's not on the cards.

As seen on bbc news

2008-08-08T15:28:00.000+12:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7548472.stm

NSL Learning 2.0 # 6

2008-08-01T13:53:00.000+12:00

Some technology is brilliant.I'm so glad I learned to text that is really handy,and I use email to keep in touch with family and friends.I do online banking and pay anything I can online.I buy clothes online,household goods,anything that will save me shopping.I hate shopping.I use trade me on a regular basis,both to buy and sell.I am a collector and have made friends amongst that circle.I love the digital camera so I can just chuck the duds and crop the better ones.
One piece of technology I absolutely abhor though, is the DVD recorder.It is not remotely user friendly, incompatible with other recorders.There is no guarantee that you will ever be able to watch what you record.My other pet gripe is Sky TV perhaps 4 0r 5 channels worth while 50 others rubbish,yet you have to pay for them all.

NSL Learning 2.0 # 5

2008-08-01T10:23:00.000+12:00

I have looked at the various sites and they are interesting.Librarians are always not what one expects,looking at FD Toys.The Flickr Color Picker is fascinating but why would you want to?
Equally the Mappr and Motagr. I can see perhaps using it for something like an anniversary poster or a 21st,but honestly, get a life.Taking the photos would be the best bit,and I can certainly see the value in tagging,(just like cataloguing really)but who's got that sort of time.Most of us keep our photos in boxes and bring them out on rainy days.

'NSL Learning 2.0 # 4 Flickr

2008-07-31T14:23:00.000+12:00

I did join Flickr but I did not use it to blog my photo.I have all my photos on Picasa and it was so simple to blog from there I decided to do it that way.I wouldn't use Flicker personally.I have become familiar with Picasa and will continue to keep my collection there.I'm not interested in sharing my photographs.

"NSL Learning 2.0"

2008-07-30T18:23:00.000+12:00

This

This is Browns Bay,not the library, I know but a beautiful picture nonethelessI.I'm not sure I'm following the instructions exactly but I seem to be getting results.That would sum me up I reckon.I'm now going to try another favourite subject.I couldn't use my other favourite subject because of copyright restrictions, so you will never know what you missed.Shame.

2008-07-25T10:12:00.000+12:00

I've been a bit confused,when I started this exercise,having looked at the "professional blogs",that I had to pick a topic and write about it.Then I learned that what was was wanted was my feeling about the exercise so far,which is why I wrote so little as I knew very little,also I didn't read it properly and didn't realise I needed 50 words!Having read my colleagues blogs I realise they have also had different perceptions of what was required.

Voyage of discovery

2008-07-22T18:29:00.000+12:00

Interesting journey,will explore further when more familiar with process.