About the meltdown

This presentation goes a little slow, but has a lot of good facts.

Learn and Play #23

                                                                  

Blogging was a completely new experience for me. Although I had been using computers for some time, my knowledge was limited pretty much to e-mail and office documents. What I discovered was not only am I thrilled with the experience of blogging, but as I have gone along accomplishing the learn and play "things", I want to search out more tools and information.
I would say that several of the "things" accomplished through learn and play are effective for library use. As a matter of fact, one of the things, RSS feeds, would be very useful to "power users" of the library who would like to stay up to date with news from the homepage. An extension of this would be to use twitter feed so that posts are automatically brought to the public's attention on twitter when published. Of course, flickr is a good way to store photos because of the amount of space they take up in the computer. This could likely be said of YouTube as well.

Pixelwiki Blog                                   

After starting the Learn and Play program, I began adding posts as I felt compelled to by the nature of current events. Since CML embarked on this adventure, the world has been more active in it's history making; 2008 Olympics, extreme gasoline prices, Hurricane Ike, death of David Foster Wallace, stock market crash, 2008 presidential election, and the state of our nation as well as the world. I also posted several things for amusement and to become better aquainted with what was available and how it would present on a blog; widgets, myspace, and a mashup using silverlight to name a few.

What I have found is that many of the tools allowed me to quickly compile information from several sources to share or to document events for my own reflection later on. I also found many of the tools highly useful in connecting with others in meaningful ways. Not only did we discuss our opinions, but sometimes we were passing along useful survival information, as was the case during Hurricane Ike.                    

I feel that this means of communication can be of great value especially when sending important messages to many people whether it be a community, a nation, or even to the world.

 

NOTES:
?'s from Learn and Play;
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
YouTube and Twitter
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?" Yes!

This blog's format can be accessed using a Google e-mail address. That said, it is wise to create an annonymous e-mail for the purpose of experimentation when building a blog.
In addition, I think creating a "brand" name for yourself lends itself to keeping your privacy.
Using this name and similar or, if possible, the same passwords for all of the sites you are likely to join lends itself to consistancy and ease of remembering how to access tools.
I feel that Learn and Play is best considered for the possibility of staff creating things to use or for customers to use because of the ease of the social networking tools.

Learn and Play #22 MOLDI

MID OHIO LIBRARY DIGITAL INITIATIVE
Login to MOLDI by accessing MOLDI through the CML web site (lower right-hand corner of the homepage), or, for those of you who have downloaded the Library Toolbar, just click on the link in the drop-down menu in the toolbar. Note: If you’re not a member of CML staff or don’t have a CML library card, full access to MOLDI may not be available.
Click on the Browse eBooks link, or whatever type of media you wish, and explore some of the many titles.
Create a blog post about your findings. Did you locate a title that you might want to try out and download?

Signed in, looked at the titles and catagories of several genre, used the side bar search for music and got "We're sorry, but no results were found for the specified search criteria".
OK..went to search and chose e-flicks instead. I chose science fiction and fantasy. Now, this is fun and easy. Here we go "Brain From Planet Arous"; A strange alien ship crash lands in the California desert, bringing a terrifying evil intelligence from another planet whose mission is to conquer the world using subversive mind control. Wonderful...

I downloaded the OD media console and the windows media player MOLDI had available and then tried downloading the movie. I got a messaage, "Unable to acquire a license to play the selected media title." My computer also says that the download may contain viruses or other malicious code that could harm my computer. My computer hasn't been acting quite right lately and this is probably why with all the downloading and signing up for all manner of things. I just figured that by the end of Learn and Play, I would have to reset and clean up everything so I would have my computer back.
So, since the media player was available through the MOLDI site and was offered for playing movies, I am baffled.
I also tried to down load an e-book on CML's computer and ran into problems where I was supposed to download an Adobe application and sorry, but no success there either. As I am out of time this hour to do this...I think this is about all I need to say about my MOLDI experience.
This isn't the first time that I have had this sort of difficulty with downloading things from libraries or trying to, I should say. Sorry Learn and Play team, but I am not so sure I want to put anything from MOLDI on my computer and at this point, it's not a go.
LATER ENTRY...I FINALLY GOT A BOOK DOWNLOADED...YAY!!!

Thing #21: Podcasts

1.Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories:
a. podfeed.net
b. Podcastalley.com
c. Google Podcast Directory

What I found far more useful was searching Google using "library podcast".and these are some of the results;
Sunnyvale Public Library Podcasts
Audio and Video Broadcasts of Library Programs and Sunnyvale Voices Stories

DiMenna-Nyselius Library > Library Podcasts

and the big one; http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Podcasting
which is "a list of libraries and affiliated organizations that are currently podcasting and offering selected podcast resources service"

Michael Stephen's mentioned here:
Web 2.0 and Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software I just couldn't resist adding it since he came up in the search.

2.See if you can find some interesting library-related podcasts here like book review podcasts or library news.

Get this widget!

Visit the Widget Gallery

http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0%2C1002%2Ccid%25253D230877%2C00.html
3.Can you find other libraries that podcast on a regular basis?

4.Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your Bloglines account.

"How to Make It New: Fostering a Culture of Innovation in Turbulent Times
Deloitte Insights podcast"


5.Create a blog post about your discovery process.

There are so many podcasts. I like to listen while I am doing other things on the computer and I believe it's an effective approach to learning or enjoying programs over the computer.
I was impressed at Deloitte's set up for their podcast, though. They use feedburner and if you click on the RSS near the player, you get all sorts of choices of what to do with the podcast.

6.Did you find anything useful here?
Yes.
7.Can you see how CML might use such technology to promote programs, events, or other things?
Absolutely!!

Thing #20: You too can YouTube!

Explore YouTube and find a video worth adding as an entry in your blog.



This document is a monster, but in it are several YouTube videos. I have been using YouTube throughout this blog for many things, but the videos are separate and in a long string. Using them in presentations using google docs is a nice way to order them.
Obviously, I love Youtube. It's especially convenient to have the embed code available and the search feature is really easy to use. I have come to enjoy YouTube even more than watching TV because you can search for programs you want to watch and there are no commercials...well, usually no commercials.

Learn and Play #17 b

On my first attempt to create a document and publish it to my blog, you couldn't see the text to read it. So, here I am attempting to do it again to see what I can change to make it readable.

By the way, there was a warning about accidentally sharing sensative information in this publication;  

                                                        

Be Careful With Your Google Docs

By David F. Gallagher Thursday, August 28, 2008

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=ddghbm6j_14g23gsbg4&hl=en

Thing #19: Explore CML’s own Tool Box of great Web 2.0 tools

Discovery Exercise:

This Discovery Exercise is easy! As you look through the Power Tools Page, try out some of the links in the Tool Box that we haven’t covered in Learn & Play. If you’re at home, try downloading the Library Toolbar or the Catalog Plugin. Or, read the blog, Tooling Around, and leave a comment. Create a blog post about whatever element of the page you discovered and then enter that post’s URL in the Tracking Log.
I downloaded the CML tool bar. Very cool and so convenient to check my items to return.
Then I got into "MAKE" and surfed around a little. Make is great for finding instructions on how to create all sorts of things and as you can see at the top of this post, Halloween is the feature now (no da). Here's a project;

The google search box is customized to Make so that you get more accurate results. I like making paper snowflakes and Make featured this really cool one at http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/12/how_to_make_a_3_1.html

Make is just so much fun stuff to do all online complete with instructions and videos. It's just fantastic....even for earthlings.

Thing #18: Discovering Web 2.0 tools

Discovery Exercise:

Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees.
Explore the site you selected.
Create a blog post about your discovery. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a library setting?

Obviously, there are sooo many to choose from that it's next to impossible to settle on just one, but myminis was the one that I spent the most time surfing, er excuse me, is it yourminis (http://www.yourminis.com/)? @*%$minis are widgets of all sorts that you can put on your blog. Yourminis won a Webware100 award besides being on the go 2.0 award list.

I have several widgets in my sidebar, but they are mostly from widgetbox.

Thing #17 Google Docs

1. Create a free account for yourself in Google Docs.
2. Explore Google Docs,experiment, and create a test document or two. http://drawu2.blogspot.com/2008/10/on-my-first-attempt-to-create-document.html
3. After you’ve created some test documents, select one and then choose
“More Actions.” You can publish, or save your document as a PDF or other version.
4. Create a blog post answering these questions:

How could online applications such as Google Docs help you in your day-to-day work?
Working on a document from any computer is great since we are always moving around AND being able to put them on a blog facilitates sharing them without the extra steps of downloading as an attachment.

How could libraries incorporate and ultimately benefit from these tools? Not sure just now. This is mainly because while I was attempting to create a document, I had a few issues with how it showed up on the blog. Still, that is not the only way to use Google docs. I was able to insert a picture and generally do what I do where documents are concerned, though, and then post it. That link is in #2of this post.
I really LOVE the presentation feature. It really went smoothly.
OPTIONAL: Share one of your test documents either on your blog or by linking to it online. :)

Visiting LibraryBytes

This was on Helen Blower's Blog @;
http://www.librarybytes.com/2008/10/learn-play-i-say-learn-you-say.html
AND.......on YOUTUBE @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T2hLVZI5EA&eurl=http://www.librarybytes.com/2008/10/learn-play-i-say-learn-you-say.html
where you can also see lots of other cool videos from our own extremely regal Learn and Play team (especially Joy).
I see William Shatner in the background is just longing for you, Joy. I am so jealous. He is such a handsome human....see;


and after all he IS the Big Giant Head;

Bill and David

Hope?? ...as in Arkansas

Words

I recently found a great website about stocks and investments; http://www.portfolio.com/
For a long time, I have thought about investing, but always felt I didn't know enough. With the current state of affairs where the economy is concerned bending and twisting our lives and possible futures in ways beyond our control, I decided to revisit the issue. I now believe that as early as high school our children should be taught something about economics and finance by somebody passionate enough to really impart knowledge that counts. Frankly, I have loathed the educational process because it lacked application when I was growing up. I think my gut feelings were on the mark. I felt that we were all sent to a convenient place where we would be accessible and kept busy all day so that many people had jobs and benefits and politicians had leverage and parents had what they felt was the benefit of many people to teach their children things that were beyond the parents resources to impart.

In any event, the video above discussed being responsible for what you say or realizing what the consequences may be. I thought about Sarah Palin carrying on over being a Hockey mom, too. That's just fine, but a lot of us aren't Hockey moms, Sarah. Why not talk seriously, articulately, and intelligently about the country? Somehow, I just don't feel that safe with a loose cannon whose greatest pride seems more centered on those matriarchal successes than on knowing the score economically in America.

There are two very odd things that have come out of my discovery of the site; the main character in the narrator's story is named Sarah, hence my thoughts about Sarah Palin, and I discovered the site while investigating the Rothchilds. I found that a Rothchild married a very successful American, Lynn Forester http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/17/lynn-forester-de-rothschi_n_127047.html
who has switched parties from backing Hillary Clinton to being behind the McCain/Palin ticket. You may draw your own conclusions.

If you have been keeping up with my blog, you notice that while doing research about the Federal Reserve, Rothchild is a prominent player in the money game.
Getting back to the point, I feel that especially in affairs of state, it is important to be careful about what you say and I have learned that my free wheeling expression, though often cathartic, can be terribly misunderstood and even damaging since I am not considering my intent.

Lately, my intent is to express what I think many of us should or do feel, that we are being cheated and controlled by people who are educated in processes that we don't understand and that because we were not led to know anything about these things in the first place, it is a set up. Think about it. I have come to believe that not even the brokers necessarily knew what they were doing. It was just a product they were told to sell. By the time any of them knew what they were doing, it was too late and somebody was making out like a bandit. No, some several somebodies ARE bandits....or maybe a better term; CROOK. There I go again...freewheeling my thoughts and exercising my American freedom. It appears to me that there was just so much money for a lot of people to get their hands on in the process that as long as they got a cut, they really didn't mind turning away and letting it happen.

Oh, and by the way, Obama keeps saying that these things go back eight years. They go back much farther than that. At least 21 when you consider the Keating Five scandal and at least 30 when you follow the numbers concerning the finances of American families.

We could Google all day about the details about who did what, but where do you find anyone who is a saint in the financial world? Who would be honest enough to do the right thing under so much pressure that may even involve loss of lives or the ruining of children's futures if the authorities were called in to stop it? What authorities can there be if they face some very painful consequences for doing the right thing? People are ruined every day through the misleading powers that be and the ability of these powers to pull hard on the purse strings when ever they want results that include hiding the truth.