Thing #17

Snopes: I've checked out this site about a year ago (I happened upon it by accident). I didn't know they update the urban legends though. I really never heard about many of the ones listed on there now.. just the one abou the prizes and stuff offered (supposedly) from Microsoft or AOL through emails. I never trust any email I get claiming that I'll win something by giving out my email address, or any other personal information for that matter...


Factcheck: I'm not really into much political stuff, but I did check out the article titled "The 2010 FactCheck Awards". Its about weird &/or funny campaign ads. I wish I could have watched some of the videos they had on there, but my PC was being a jerk again... : ( .... oh well....


I think these sites are really useful. Don't spread the rumors!! Check them out on Snopes or FactCheck first!! : )

Thing #16

I've used wikipedia a lot.. I also use several other wikis. My favorite is one for the Forgotten Realms, which is a series of books that I like to read. If interested, you can check it out here: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

 They tend to update the pages for this wiki pretty often, since the books are released fairly regularly. They are usually updated or edited by a handful of people, depending on the popularity of the sub-series of the Forgotten Realms series. I don't think this particular wiki would have been much different when it first started, since in was created in 2005.

I guess i can understand why teachers don't allow the use of wikis, since there really is no guarantee that information provided is accurate because anyone can edit it. Not sure how a library might use wikis. Maybe staff could use them though to learn about more current library related stuff...I'm guessing. I really don't know....

Thing #15

I created an account with Librarything because I thought it would be interesting to see how it works. I've added a few books from my personal collection and tagged them. If anyone is interested in checking it out you can go here: http://www.librarything.com/profile/Dayzid480 but be warned, I have weird tastes in reading materials... : )

I tried the suggester/unsuggester too, with some good/unusual results.

Not sure how the library might use this site. Maybe to highlight books on a subject pertaining to one of the programs going on at the time or with the displays or something. I can't really see us putting the whole catalog in there... that would probably be waaaaay too time-consuming.

Thing #14

I always wondered what that checker-board icon was. I've seen it on several sites before, but never checked it out. Now I know! Kool and very useful tool if you have a crummy computer like mine. When it crashes, I lose all my bookmarks. Now I have a place to go to find them again! Woo-Hoo!!

The Library might be able to use Delicious to bookmark interesting and/or related sites for patrons to check out.

Thing #13

I knew about tagging before this, but never really paid any attention to using it. it was interesting to see the difference in searching using quotes and not using them. The results were quite different. I found that the more specific my tags where, the more the results seemed closer to what I was searching for.  Searching using tags: purple, butterfly, and flower I got pictures of regular yellow butterflies on purple flowers or against a purple background. When I searched using "purple butterfly", I actually got a purple-ish butterfly.

Thing #12

Everyone, meet Ziggy!

Sorry. She gets cranky when I disturb her cat-naps. ; )
(image created using LOLcats)

This was fun! I'm sure the library can find some use for image generators, like funny posters or some other promotional stuff... maybe bookmarks (?)

Thing # 11

Let's see... I checked out Flickr colr pickr. I found some kool purple pics, but I don't know how a library might use this tool.

Tried Spell with Flickr: its kinda fun to play with. I can see the library using it for fun lettering on flyers or posters or something. One problem: I can't figure out how to save the generated image!! : (

Montagr was pretty kool too. I searched for books, and the mosaic was made up of books using the color palette from one photo of books. : ) I suppose this could also be useful in creating some kind of graphic for posters and stuff.

Retrievr: I drew a purple butterfly, and got a bunch of pictures of purple stuff; a couch, a flower, a ring. no butterfly. So I drew a simple purple flower. No flower in results... just purple stuff again... hmmm...and I thought this one was going to be the best gadget thingy...

I actually like the color palette generator. I uploaded a picture of my cat, Ziggy, and it gave me squares of all the colors in the pic! I can use this to paint on my PC! (Which I'm in the process of learning how to do using GIMP. YAY!)


Trading card maker was kinda fun too. I can see the library using this for some kind of activity for the kids or something.

As far as posting pictures goes, I think one should be really careful of what they post because once its out there, there's really no telling who will use it for whatever purpose.

Thing #10

I picked this photo by Garron Nicholls because I thought the sky in it looked really kool. I wish I could visit Stonehenge someday...

Anyways if you want to check out the original image it can be found at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garron/226549834/#/

Thing # 9

Google: I've used their maps, calendar & translator before. I have a Google Android phone and the first two are on there as apps. I did not know that Google Docs existed though. I have used similar sites like that one before though to back-up my crummy, slow, ancient, PC. I would recommend using something like this to anyone who does not have a flash drive! (Like myself ) It was interesting to see the new stuff in the works in the Google lab. I also checked out Picasa. I had heard about it before, and I think I may have had their app on my phone too...It's pretty cool if you like editing your pics. I didn't know about Google books either. It seems like a pretty useful tool. Sort of like an e-book reader, only its online and FREE! YAY!  I liked the little similar books section. When I looked up Lucid dreaming (I know-- I'm weird), it showed several books about the same subject. This might be useful in the library with kids doing reports and research projects.

Thing #8

Twitter. Here's a funny story! I have an account, but I haven't signed on for so long that I forgot who I was following AND my password! Thanks to whoever invented the little "Forgot?" link! Anyways, as it happens I haven't tweeted in over a year and I'm only following one person. HAHA. So you get the picture. I don't even remember why I signed up in the first place.
For the library though, I guess it would be good for the same reasons I stated for Facebook (See post Thing #7)

I suppose I could post my Twitter name here (@dayzid480), since I don't use it. Maybe I might find someone else to follow. I haven't decided yet... oh, well : )

Thing #7

I think that the library having its own Facebook page is great. It gives people an opportunity to find out what's going on with "us", events and those sort of things. I also have a Facebook account, but will not post my username here as I like to keep my personal life out of the workplace.

Things #5 

I think RSS readers are a great idea for those who subscribe to a bunch of blogs. Its way better than going to each blog site and reading them that way. However its not really my thing. I subscribe to a few, but I only read them on occasion. For these thingys I subscribed to some of the suggested library ones, and a few of my own interest : Wizards of the Coast's feed (they publish the Forgotten Realms series of books. I love them!), and a Manga one, 'cause I like them too : ). Oh yea, and a Paranormal news one, 'cause that stuff is kools!

Thing #3

Ok, so we had to search for ourselves on Google. The only thing I found about my self was my MySpace page and my Amazon wishlist! That's sooooo funny!!

Thing #2

I guess the easiest habit for me would be the one about having responsibility for my own learning. I love learning new stuff.Actually what I already know about most of this stuff I learned on my own though exploring. You can't break the internet (but it might break you ; )! ). I'm always reading books and stuff about my weird interests and such.
As for the hardest, I'd say its the one about teaching and mentoring. I find I don't have the confidence in myself to teach others about what I've learned. I always think that what I may have learned about something isn't always good enough to teach someone about. (Its why I stopped doing the cartooning thing for the summer reading stuff.)

Goals: learn as much as I possibly can. What do I need to achieve this? : lots of books and an internet accessible computer, of course! : )

Things #1, #4, & #4.5 (?)

HI! well, for starters, I'm not really into this blogging thing. I'll just be using this for this 23 things program stuff...... My main reason for joining the program.... ??? : ) Actually my supervisor encouraged me to. Hopefully I can get one of those prizes (IPOD!!!) out of this. LOL!