It seems to me that sites like Technorati and Google Blog search are rather blunt instruments. (But then, Google is a blunt instrument -- I know it's long gone, but gosh, we used to be able to do elegant and precise searches and I miss that.)
Anyway, I looked around for something of interest to subscribe to on... say... English country dancing on Google and found some good posts but nothing I'd want to actually subscribe to.
Topix -- to me -- had an unfriendly interface. Maybe I just didn't relate to the typeface!
For some good library blogs I found it quicker and easier to go from a known item like the IS blog (let's call it a trusted source) and see what was there. From that it was simple.
I think a big issue with blogs is the "who the heck is this and why should I care" question. I'm just not interested in what anybody at all has to say about any/every thing. Guess I'd rather have less coming in but of a higher quality.
We could set up the ability for people to subscribe to RSS feeds for things like library programs, for example. Same thing with the new books lists in iBistro. Maybe we'll have librarian blogs that are intended for the general public, or for the reader of ... you name it. I think we're limited only by our imaginations and mostly our time. This stuff does take time...
Thursday, March 13, 2008
RSS feeds... what?
OK, it's really easy to set up RSS feeds. And I understand how they can be helpful.
My question -- what do they feed? I wonder if they're yet another driver toward info junkie status. I think it would be easy to get into checking every day (or every hour, or...) for new stuff.
What about time to reflect? Is that to be swallowed by yet more input?
I'll give these feeds a while and see how useful I find them. Or distracting. Or... compelling.
My question -- what do they feed? I wonder if they're yet another driver toward info junkie status. I think it would be easy to get into checking every day (or every hour, or...) for new stuff.
What about time to reflect? Is that to be swallowed by yet more input?
I'll give these feeds a while and see how useful I find them. Or distracting. Or... compelling.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Flickr mashups
I had no idea so many people have been creating so many things to do with Flickr.
The spelling feature was interesting for a minute or two. I suppose its purpose is to provide a brief moment of interest. After "fiddle" and "library" I was on to something else.
I liked the color wheel. I love playing with colors and could have spent more time than sensible messing about with the wheel. (I already spent more time than sensible in the other Flickr lesson... must speed up!)
Photo montage -- again, interesting for one or two photos. To me it's sort of a "well looky there, what they can do" sort of thing.
The librarian trading cards are wonderful. I can see people attaching their card to resumes or using them in other ways for job searching. And I noticed that quite a few cards in the librarian cluster were from students, probably thinking along the same lines.
I need to start using Flickr at home for some of our photos -- Inspired! (But have the time?)
The spelling feature was interesting for a minute or two. I suppose its purpose is to provide a brief moment of interest. After "fiddle" and "library" I was on to something else.
I liked the color wheel. I love playing with colors and could have spent more time than sensible messing about with the wheel. (I already spent more time than sensible in the other Flickr lesson... must speed up!)
Photo montage -- again, interesting for one or two photos. To me it's sort of a "well looky there, what they can do" sort of thing.
The librarian trading cards are wonderful. I can see people attaching their card to resumes or using them in other ways for job searching. And I noticed that quite a few cards in the librarian cluster were from students, probably thinking along the same lines.
I need to start using Flickr at home for some of our photos -- Inspired! (But have the time?)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Finding friends on Flickr
Cats... libraries... yep, easy to find. So what about some dance friends?
One of the kinds of dancing I enjoy is contra dancing. Here's a photo that shows Kathy Anderson calling (she's in turquoise up on the stage) and dancers having fun. Notice David at the top of the line in the orange shirt. Here he is enjoying a swing, a favorite dance figure. Even better... English country dancing!
One of the annual migration routes for dancers is to Pinewoods Camp, near Plymouth, Mass. The dock on Long Pond is perfect for conversations, watching the moon rise, and swimming any time. We stay in lavish accomodations complete with beds and closets! Bathrooms, of course, are down the path.
We dance, chat, enjoy seeing friends, play music... gotta tell you. This is serious stuff. It's what we live for.
Oh! Did I mention the hankies and sticks? And... swords!
One of the kinds of dancing I enjoy is contra dancing. Here's a photo that shows Kathy Anderson calling (she's in turquoise up on the stage) and dancers having fun. Notice David at the top of the line in the orange shirt. Here he is enjoying a swing, a favorite dance figure. Even better... English country dancing!
One of the annual migration routes for dancers is to Pinewoods Camp, near Plymouth, Mass. The dock on Long Pond is perfect for conversations, watching the moon rise, and swimming any time. We stay in lavish accomodations complete with beds and closets! Bathrooms, of course, are down the path.
We dance, chat, enjoy seeing friends, play music... gotta tell you. This is serious stuff. It's what we live for.
Oh! Did I mention the hankies and sticks? And... swords!
Friday, December 28, 2007
7 1/2 thoughts
What a great list of reminders.
For me, the most difficult is probably a combination of seeing problems as challenges and using technology to my advantage. I have had a tendency to get frustrated with technofailures -- I think it may have had a genetic source (switch to mental picture of father and lawnmower not working and...) Perhaps this program will help in my ongoing development of a calm and thoughtful problem-solving mode, and even going a-manual-reading in a pinch. In turn, then, I expect to move from a stance of being a late, a very late, adopter to greater enthusiasm for trying out new technologies -- and maybe even buying Leopard pretty darn soon. I know that making this shift will certainly help me better use technology for all kinds of productive reasons. And for fun. Which leads to...
Play! The easiest for me. Although it's sometimes challenging in that it can seem there's not enough time for play. Then it's important to reframe to help something not-play become more play-like. I think most people learn better when it's play.
The game's afoot!
For me, the most difficult is probably a combination of seeing problems as challenges and using technology to my advantage. I have had a tendency to get frustrated with technofailures -- I think it may have had a genetic source (switch to mental picture of father and lawnmower not working and...) Perhaps this program will help in my ongoing development of a calm and thoughtful problem-solving mode, and even going a-manual-reading in a pinch. In turn, then, I expect to move from a stance of being a late, a very late, adopter to greater enthusiasm for trying out new technologies -- and maybe even buying Leopard pretty darn soon. I know that making this shift will certainly help me better use technology for all kinds of productive reasons. And for fun. Which leads to...
Play! The easiest for me. Although it's sometimes challenging in that it can seem there's not enough time for play. Then it's important to reframe to help something not-play become more play-like. I think most people learn better when it's play.
The game's afoot!
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