Yay, I'm done! Well, just about.
The Things I didn't much dig: I'm still not sure what the whole life networking thing does for me. I signed up for lifestream and really haven't looked at it since I signed up. It hasn't exactly made life easier for me by combining all the sites I go to into one. I suppose it should, but I'm just not quite following it just yet.
RSS is also something I still haven't much gotten into. I get the idea on this one. I just don't use it to keep up with things.
The whole Online TV thing too ... I guess I prefer commercials too much. I know people like it because they can watch what they want when they want then, but I'm not a late nighter and I don't like being on the computer watching things for long. I'll take the good ole TV any day.
The Things I'm coming around on: Twitter is top of the list. I still don't know how it's really important to me. I use it, I sort of like it, and I can follow Neil Gaiman way easier this way, but I'm still working out the whole "How does this help me at the library" part considering my library doesn't have enough going on to utilize it and the director just looks at me and goes "Huh?" whenever I mention the word "Twitter."
Delicious though, I'm starting to understand better. I'm actually kind of using it and it is actually really useful for bookmarking all those sites I'm learning about here as I use them and think they're cool. Since I don't have the sites elsewhere, It's really great to have them there.
Screencasting is another. It's great to know about and even use when I have something that I can actually think to use it for, but I don't have much I want to do with it for now.
The Things I love: Pandora.fm. I love it because I can sign in and it'll post my loved songs to Twitter. Plus, I just needed a new radio station to listen to, so it's great to have Pandora combined with Lastfm who'll keep track of it all for me, and then have it go to Twitter. So, there, I combined multiple things right there. Go me.
Toondoo is another thing I love. I just don't have much time to use it lately, but I like how easy it is to use and post on the site. It's also got a lot of customizing that goes along with it, so I don't feel short of options.
Webjunction is the final thing I'm loving. Another thing I really need to use more too, but that'll be when I get time. It's great to have a site where I can talk to other librarians not just from MN but from anywhere really. The added bonus of the courses really raised this one in terms of my favorites.
Overall:
I enjoyed round 2 of 23 Things on a Stick. There were a lot of things I didn't know about this time around and when I did know about something, it seemed like I was expanding on it instead of learning about it all over again. There are also a lot of things that I can use both personally and for my work life. I feel like my knowledge of the Web 2.0 has increased at least twofold and I suppose that's the purpose of the exercise. So well done and I am happy to be done with another round.
~J Wiles
17.4.09
Thing 44 - The Economy
This is certainly a timely thing to be doing. I really liked the life/spending tip sites because they are something that we can all stand to do. One of the things that I'm already doing is walking/biking to work as much as possible, and it certainly helps save money when gas prices are high. The banking sites were nice enough, but having had a dad who worked in the industry for most of my informative years, I learned first hand the importance of not overspending or overtaxing my budget. Now that I'm in the stage of having to repay college loans, it's helped to get a jump start on paying back those along with building a little bit of savings, which, after talking to a lot of my fellow college grads, is something they haven't really been able to do. While I'm still just a part-timer in both my jobs and don't have benefits, I've been able to get some money in the bank and keep it there for the future thanks to those wonderful skills my dad told me about years ago.
I'm enjoying Wise Bread for all its little tips and whatnot. Some of it isn't really helpful at the moment, but down the line, it'll be nice to have a resource like that for when things come up because the economy is always in flux and it could get worse (could get better, but right now, that's really uncertain in my opinion) so i might have to be extra thrifty. Having resources like Wise Bread can definitely help because they cover so many topics. The savvy shopper's guide is another source. Since I'm looking at getting a new bicycle in the not so distant future, I thought I'd look and see what info they had and it led me to the Bicycle Tutor which has just about everything I could ever want to know about fixing things. Since my last bike lasted 10 years, that could help get me through 15 with the new one.
I thought the self-sustainability and coupon stuff was nice too. Unfortunately, the grocery store I shop at doesn't take online coupons or it would be even better, but occasionally I've been able to find sites where I can sign up to get coupons sent to me in the mail so I use them then. Self-sustainability is one of those things, too, that can be really helpful to know about in times like this. Sure it might cost something up front, but after that it seems to always pay for itself plus more. My mother has had a garden every year and it's really helped cut on our produce spending, particularly with tomatoes and peppers. When you use a lot of those during the summer, it's nice to have your own so that you're not purchasing them every week. It's definitely one of those things that I'll remember when I move out of the house (yeah, I do still live at home - another way I save on the bills).
Overall, I thought this was a great Thing to go through. I'm finding some tips that I hadn't even thought of before and others that I'd heard about and am learning more about. And some of it is just a reminder of things that I really should be doing and have been thinking about doing and now probably will do.
I'm enjoying Wise Bread for all its little tips and whatnot. Some of it isn't really helpful at the moment, but down the line, it'll be nice to have a resource like that for when things come up because the economy is always in flux and it could get worse (could get better, but right now, that's really uncertain in my opinion) so i might have to be extra thrifty. Having resources like Wise Bread can definitely help because they cover so many topics. The savvy shopper's guide is another source. Since I'm looking at getting a new bicycle in the not so distant future, I thought I'd look and see what info they had and it led me to the Bicycle Tutor which has just about everything I could ever want to know about fixing things. Since my last bike lasted 10 years, that could help get me through 15 with the new one.
I thought the self-sustainability and coupon stuff was nice too. Unfortunately, the grocery store I shop at doesn't take online coupons or it would be even better, but occasionally I've been able to find sites where I can sign up to get coupons sent to me in the mail so I use them then. Self-sustainability is one of those things, too, that can be really helpful to know about in times like this. Sure it might cost something up front, but after that it seems to always pay for itself plus more. My mother has had a garden every year and it's really helped cut on our produce spending, particularly with tomatoes and peppers. When you use a lot of those during the summer, it's nice to have your own so that you're not purchasing them every week. It's definitely one of those things that I'll remember when I move out of the house (yeah, I do still live at home - another way I save on the bills).
Overall, I thought this was a great Thing to go through. I'm finding some tips that I hadn't even thought of before and others that I'd heard about and am learning more about. And some of it is just a reminder of things that I really should be doing and have been thinking about doing and now probably will do.
11.4.09
Thing 46 - WJMN
I like Webjunction because it's a great networking site for librarians, specifically librarians in the state. I like that I can find people who have similar interests and goals and can discuss things with them and get ideas from them.
I've looked at some of the courses and will probably do a few in the future. After creating a new website for the library I work at, I need ideas of how to keep it fresh and exciting and there's a course for that so I'm planning on looking into that in the future when I have more time. It's nice to have resources like Webjunction provides so that I don't have to pay for things I'm interested that also help me developmentally in my librarianship.
I think it's a smart idea to have a place where librarians can get together on the web and discuss things and bounce ideas off each other. Social networking online is such a huge thing that it just makes sense and that is, perhaps, the best thing about Webjunction. Add on the fact that courses are available for free if you're affiliated through the state and it gets even better. A lot of what's offered is stuff that, down the line, I know I'll probably use in some way or another. It certainly helps to know that I can walk myself through the courses and learn what I want to learn instead of sitting in a classroom week after week doing assignments that may or may not be helpful in the long run. It's just a great resource for learning what I want to learn about and giving me more background in the things that I know I'll use.
And if you're wondering, my profile name is wiilyr.
I've looked at some of the courses and will probably do a few in the future. After creating a new website for the library I work at, I need ideas of how to keep it fresh and exciting and there's a course for that so I'm planning on looking into that in the future when I have more time. It's nice to have resources like Webjunction provides so that I don't have to pay for things I'm interested that also help me developmentally in my librarianship.
I think it's a smart idea to have a place where librarians can get together on the web and discuss things and bounce ideas off each other. Social networking online is such a huge thing that it just makes sense and that is, perhaps, the best thing about Webjunction. Add on the fact that courses are available for free if you're affiliated through the state and it gets even better. A lot of what's offered is stuff that, down the line, I know I'll probably use in some way or another. It certainly helps to know that I can walk myself through the courses and learn what I want to learn instead of sitting in a classroom week after week doing assignments that may or may not be helpful in the long run. It's just a great resource for learning what I want to learn about and giving me more background in the things that I know I'll use.
And if you're wondering, my profile name is wiilyr.
Thing 45 - Cloud Computing
I hadn't heard of cloud computing before this and it took me several articles to get it, but I can see the usefulness of it with all the things people keep on the computer. Paper files have pretty much gone by the wayside so keeping files online makes sense. I haven't signed up for anything but I might take a closer look at http://g.ho.st which actually let me get a look at it and not just a walkthrough or demo video. I've looked at google docs before but haven't really used it though i can see how it could be helpful.
I can see using this further down the line in my career but at the moment I don't really have much use for it which is mildly ironic given that I don't actually have a work computer of my own, but a lot of what I do doesn't require backing up files or anything like that. The most I use the computer is for doing the 23 things so I suppose it could be helpful in keeping track of some of that stuff but otherwise I just don't have a lot of things that would require me to use the cloud computing idea.
But I'll definitely be keeping track of it from now on for when I might be using it because having everything right there and stored somewhere else is great especially if something happens and I were to lose the computer i had everything stored on.
The one big issue is, of course, privacy. If I have work stuff on there I probably won't mind as much but all the personal stuff would make me want to be sure that what I was using was fully protected. It seems like there are so many ways around things these days and I'd rather not have to worry about people breaking into my life just because I've stored stuff online. But then again, networks like facebook already have a lot of stuff out there about my life. Pretty much I'd be leery to put something on there that I wouldn't put on facebook.
I can see using this further down the line in my career but at the moment I don't really have much use for it which is mildly ironic given that I don't actually have a work computer of my own, but a lot of what I do doesn't require backing up files or anything like that. The most I use the computer is for doing the 23 things so I suppose it could be helpful in keeping track of some of that stuff but otherwise I just don't have a lot of things that would require me to use the cloud computing idea.
But I'll definitely be keeping track of it from now on for when I might be using it because having everything right there and stored somewhere else is great especially if something happens and I were to lose the computer i had everything stored on.
The one big issue is, of course, privacy. If I have work stuff on there I probably won't mind as much but all the personal stuff would make me want to be sure that what I was using was fully protected. It seems like there are so many ways around things these days and I'd rather not have to worry about people breaking into my life just because I've stored stuff online. But then again, networks like facebook already have a lot of stuff out there about my life. Pretty much I'd be leery to put something on there that I wouldn't put on facebook.
1.4.09
Thing 43 - Online TV/Video
As usual, my computer is not happy with lots of stuff going on, so this post may be a bit more of a rant/evaluation than a look at the sources, which is still good since I'm evaluating I suppose. While I like the idea of internet video (and Youtube is proof that people love/use it), I still like my regular old tv. If I want to view something online, then it's usually because I was busy and forgot to tape what it was I wanted to watch or I was on vacation or something and just want to catch up. Or I didn't know when it was on b/c the network changed the date/time.
But seriously, it's only as useful as the content it hosts. Some, like Hulu, host a lot of stuff, but if you have odd tastes like me, it's not so helpful. (I admit to being an avid BBC fan of which none of those shows are hosted). And if I'm not watching BBC, then it's usually Sci-Fi channel stuff (of which they can only host 10 eps of Stargate Atlantis and I think as many of Battlestar Galactica). So, since I've already seen those shows and it's not the episodes I'm interested in, it doesn't help a whole lot.
Other shows I can usually find on the network sites if I miss a week because, really, I'm not going to wait three months to watch and episode of Heroes I missed last week. I'll watch it this week so I know what's going on for the next episode. Certainly there are people that are less picky or are just looking for distraction and they find what they want.
It's not that I don't see the usefulness, I just don't have much use for it myself. If I want to watch The Colbert Report, I head over to the Colbert Nation home page and link to Comedy Central through that. That's about the only way online video has changed my viewing habits. I know that if I miss a certain show, I can find it online and watch it when I have time. Other than that, I don't go out of my way to watch something.
The one problem I have with internet viewing is that it skews the ratings. Several shows have been cancelled due to lack of viewership from the original broadcast. (Both Stargate series were victim to this.) But it's not that the viewership has decreased, it's just switched from television to internet. I know several people who don't bother to get cable or even a tv because they can watch it online. If anything, the switch to the internet has made finding and viewing things easier given that they're available. It's like DVR in that it's there when you want it.
But seriously, it's only as useful as the content it hosts. Some, like Hulu, host a lot of stuff, but if you have odd tastes like me, it's not so helpful. (I admit to being an avid BBC fan of which none of those shows are hosted). And if I'm not watching BBC, then it's usually Sci-Fi channel stuff (of which they can only host 10 eps of Stargate Atlantis and I think as many of Battlestar Galactica). So, since I've already seen those shows and it's not the episodes I'm interested in, it doesn't help a whole lot.
Other shows I can usually find on the network sites if I miss a week because, really, I'm not going to wait three months to watch and episode of Heroes I missed last week. I'll watch it this week so I know what's going on for the next episode. Certainly there are people that are less picky or are just looking for distraction and they find what they want.
It's not that I don't see the usefulness, I just don't have much use for it myself. If I want to watch The Colbert Report, I head over to the Colbert Nation home page and link to Comedy Central through that. That's about the only way online video has changed my viewing habits. I know that if I miss a certain show, I can find it online and watch it when I have time. Other than that, I don't go out of my way to watch something.
The one problem I have with internet viewing is that it skews the ratings. Several shows have been cancelled due to lack of viewership from the original broadcast. (Both Stargate series were victim to this.) But it's not that the viewership has decreased, it's just switched from television to internet. I know several people who don't bother to get cable or even a tv because they can watch it online. If anything, the switch to the internet has made finding and viewing things easier given that they're available. It's like DVR in that it's there when you want it.
28.3.09
Thing 41 - Mashup your Life
I am finding almost zero practical use in Lifestream at the moment. I'm trying it, but I find it a bit creepy that it'll pull up stuff that i put up on Facebook in 2005. I can see why some people would like it for keeping up with their friends and stuff, but seeing as I communicate with most of my friends by phone or email anyway, this isn't overly helpful. I'm not really feeling this thing all that much. It's just sort of there. I did sign up for Lifestream and I'm using it, but I look at it and go "Why am I using this again?" Maybe I just need friends.
Anyway, I suppose if I had a very large online presence and needed to keep track of everything and everyone I know online this would be a good way to go. But I don't. For work purposes it really hasn't helped me at all and I'm struggling to find a good use for it in the library.
I'm looking at Tabup a little closer since, at the outset, it intrigued me. I did sign up for an account there, but I'm still not entirely sure how to use it since I've not put a lot of time into it. The feature I do like is that it organizes things by categories and the main page is customizable along with the various tabs you can add. I like it as an alternative to other online communities since you can put stuff from other sources on there as well as create new content pretty easily.
I still am not quite sure how to feel about lifestream, but maybe it'll grow on me like Twitter is slowly doing. But really, I'm still not a fan of putting all that stuff together when I still have to go to the other sites individually to do what i want to do anyway.
Anyway, I suppose if I had a very large online presence and needed to keep track of everything and everyone I know online this would be a good way to go. But I don't. For work purposes it really hasn't helped me at all and I'm struggling to find a good use for it in the library.
I'm looking at Tabup a little closer since, at the outset, it intrigued me. I did sign up for an account there, but I'm still not entirely sure how to use it since I've not put a lot of time into it. The feature I do like is that it organizes things by categories and the main page is customizable along with the various tabs you can add. I like it as an alternative to other online communities since you can put stuff from other sources on there as well as create new content pretty easily.
I still am not quite sure how to feel about lifestream, but maybe it'll grow on me like Twitter is slowly doing. But really, I'm still not a fan of putting all that stuff together when I still have to go to the other sites individually to do what i want to do anyway.
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