Week 8: Social Networks

I love the whole aspect of social networks online. When I first heard about them (probably 4 or 5 yrs ago), I thought they were kind of ridiculous. I felt that if you could not keep your friendship in person, what was the point of keeping it online?
I now have a different perspective seeing that I am avid user of myspace and other sites that allow you to keep in touch with other people.
Sites such as myspace, friendster (if it even exists still), livejournal, flickr allow you to stay connected with friends that you may not be able to see on a regular basis. Apart from the fun side of it, you can network. Many artists (music and otherwise) have commercial profiles and you can add them allowing you to get updates on concerts, new albums, exhibits, etc.
I recently considered deleting my account on myspace but an old friend of mine convinced me to stay when he notified that he is now co-directing a gallery and would like to see my work.
You see? It all works for something.
I hear a lot about Facebook and for this exercise, I created an account with them.

#17 Techno-savant

I wonder what my life would be like without having technology. I guess it would be like the dark ages or something where people get together and have tea time or having burning parties.
I don't know what I am talking about, I am sick. All I can think about is going home to sleep.
But seriously, at the moment, my favorite technological advance would be mp3 players. Although, they have been around for almost a decade (right?), I just purchased mine last Xmas and am now looking for accessories so I can streamline it while I am at home, taking a shower, cooking.
I looked online for product reviews on the stereos that serve as an ipod docking station, alarm, clock, radio- there are too many options, I get confused. I get confused shopping in general. I cannot go into a store and choose between caribbean cool or vanilla sugar (deoderants for example).
I also see that I can invest in a wireless thingy that I can use in my car to hook up to my ipod and listen to it via the radio. So many decisions.

Week 7: Wiki Wiki Wik!

Note to self: Do not hit the back button without saving your post, it will be deleted!

Wikis: I use them regularly but I did not know what they were until this past summer. I was under the impression that Wikipedia was a solid source then I saw some News story about Wikipedia attempting to refine the information added onto the site. I think the idea of an open forum set up is great but there will always be persons who get a kick out of putting false information onto sites. It kind of reminds me of teenagers (or drunk people) who scribble crap on bathroom stalls in restaurants, clubs and bars.
Oh well.
I did add some information to the iHCPL's wiki; however, I could not embed videos correctly so I could not show how funny Flight of the Conchords is or how awesome Arcade Fire is.
I have yet to post a comment on anyone's page; I will do so when I find one worthy of my comments (yes, I am being facetious)

Rehashing the past

I was browsing around online looking for the average store price for Nersesian's new book. I went to Borders website (which is joined with Amazon) and the tags that were linked with Nersesian's book included Miranda July. I was curious about this correlation and look up Miranda July. I came across a book titled "Learning to Love You More." That phrase just hit me and I vaguely remember hearing that phrase. It is a website that was created to help encourage people to make art, regardless of their skill.
A few years (3 yrs to be exact), I went to an art opening at the Contemporary Arts Museum and I spoke with one of the artists. Three years ago, I was in my "manic" phase and for all I know, I could have chatted her up about zombies. But she remained intrigued by what I had to say and then she told me about this site http://learningtoloveyoumore.com/
FYI- I am no longer considered "manic" or "depressive" Maybe now I can actually look up the site and see what it is about.

Exercise #15: Library 2.0/Web 2.0 (is there CliffsNotes for this?)

I am very eager to know how this direction of libraries and the internet will be taking us. I do believe that this may be growing a little too fast for everyone to keep up with. I like to relate it to Frankenstein or I, Robot: a human creation that has disastrous capabilities if it is worked in the wrong hands.
I think libraries will still be necessary, regardless of how "useless" they may seem to some people.
I only realized two years ago that I wanted to pursue a profession in libraries but they have always been a part of my life. I would like to think that they can still influence people with or without the internet.
I am 100% positive that the first library is not like the libraries we have today. Having worked in a public library and been an avid user of university libraries, I think libraries will okay in the long run. Whether its users utilize the library for research purposes or just to get some cool air, people will always use libraries.
A few weeks ago, I went to HPL's Looscan library, which is considered a "green" library. Apart from its eco-friendly features, it had egg shaped chairs that allow you to listen to music (without checking out the cd). Looscan also had an area for a prospective coffee shop.
People are always eager to voice their opinion (when asked); I believe that if library staff conducted surveys, they would be able to get many ideas to work with for future projects.

Exercise #14: Technorati

I am a little confused as to what benefits Technorati might have over Bloglines. Doing these exercises have made me come to a conclusion: one cannot get bored with the internet. I have been debating what services to get in my apartment. I know that I want internet but I don't really care for cable. With all the discoveries, I feel that the internet will be able to entertain me AND educate me in one manner or another.
I was very excited to see my results via the blog search on Technorati. I originally searched New York Life and did not come up with much. When I think of New York, I think of Arthur Nersesian, so I searched his name. I came across Maud Newton's blog which had an entry about Akashic Books celebrating their anniversary. Part of their anniversary, Nersesian came out with a book THIS MONTH! I have read a couple of his books and they remain to be my top choices of reads. I decided I would go to the bookstore this weekend and look for his new book and support him (and Akashic).
I thank Technorati for this find; if I had not used their search engine, I may not have known about this book until next year.

Week 6: del.icio.us

I am so overwhelmed with technology and I am loving it! I try to catch up on information science news as often as possible and a while ago, I hear that del.icio.us was an upcoming feature. I guess I am attracted to this "culture" b/c in some way, it would mean I am "intelligent."
It appears that I created a del.icio.us account not too long ago (perhaps when I read that article), so when I went to the site, I was logged on.
I do not know where to start. I uploaded my favorites and did some tinkering with the tags and sharing them. I even added my profile name onto my blog.
I have grandiose delusions and I hope one day to be an internet celebrity. I think this is allowing me to go in that direction. I want to be this generation's Martha Stewart, without the corporate fraud of course.
I think this is a great device to keep track of sites you come across by accident. My only concern is that I now have more reason to be online. I try to not watch tv so much and I think internet use will have to go up there as well...eventually.

I know I am quick to judge people but at least I am acknowledging that characteristic. Every Saturday night, the same people go into the bakery to get a cup of coffee and a piece of bread. It doesn't bother me much, in fact, I kind of enjoy being able to make small talk with some of them. I do not like when they mention how much I look like my dad or some other crap that has to do with my features.
The man that told me I shouldn't wear glitter (I do not know his name) came in at his usual time. For all the years he has been going to the bakery, I was under the impression that he was friends with the group of men that go in there. To my dismay, when I was checking the tickets to the tables, I saw he was sitting alone in the corner, on the other side of the group of men that go in there basically every night to get away from their wives or whatever. For all I know he could have been thinking about how much he hates people, but in all sincerity, it looked as if there was sorrow in his expressions. My brother came in to check up on the place and went over to talk to him. After my brother left, the gentleman got up and left as well. He came up to pay and said how my brother kept him longer than he expected. I say, "Well, its nice to converse with people from time to time" He responds "Oh of course, I enjoy talking with your brother, hearing about his projects" I say, " Yeah, he is a very intelligent man" He "and very responsible"
Another couple comes in who have been customers for a long time. I find the wife agitating b/c whenever I talk with them, she doesn't stop or she will ask about my sisters and all that business that is not hers. I think old women are just like that, always wanting to know what is going on in others' lives. She would never let her husband speak. I found out last week that her husband has Alzheimer's and she takes care of him. Can I shoot myself now?

Week 5 almost at an end! //LibraryElf

It was very simple to create an account with LibraryElf. I am not too excited about this site seeing that I attempted to set up reminders through my hotmail and never really check them. At least now I cannot blame not knowing my items are due.
Hey, its Friday!

Week #5...still: LibraryElf

I am unable to do the libraryelf exercise b/c it is temporarily down :(
Hopefully, I will be able to work with it next week. Maybe, iHCPL bombarded its site with too many users that it was overwhelmed.
Oh well.

Week #5 Avatar!!!

My attempt to make my own avatar. I don't think it looks much like me but they do not have many full size options. It doesn't snow in Houston, but I want the cold weather to come.

Week 5: LibraryThing

I love being able to share my interests with other people. It is hard to find people in my circle of friends that I can talk to about suggestions without them thinking I am a dork. I don't take offense to that at all; I relish the fact that I know the benefits of a good read. About a year ago, I set up an account with Shelfari, but never logged on again to see what else was new or posted.
Happy reading!

Instant potatoes, where have you been all my life?!

I love potatoes. I think I read somewhere that they are a good food item when you are down b/c they help release serotonin or something like that. I want to be domesticated. I really do. I have my moments where I go and buy stuff and say that I will cook. Then one or two weeks pass, and I have to dump out the smelly rotting food. I spoke with a friend about how I could live off of mashed potatoes, but I get lazy having to boil them and all that jazz. She suggested I purchase instant mashed potatoes. For some reason, I always felt that if I resorted to eating instant foods (just add water types), I would have hit rock bottom. I don't know why, maybe b/c I use the microwave so much, I feel that some aspect of my cooking should entail actual work.
Anyway, I went to Kroger's, picked up a pack of instant potatoes (the loaded kind, this was no time to be a health nut). I went home and tested it out. I have to say, for being under a dollar, this was very satisfying. I may have to just modify my cooking theory a bit.

Post #9...aye

I consider myself rather techno savvy, why am I having a hard time finding feeds?! I added a couple of sites that I check fairly regularly:

The Tokyo Incidents

Postsecret

and http://web.mac.com/davidleeprice/dviad/dddvvviiiaaaddd.html

Yeah, I know its a long url, but he chose that nonetheless. I got onto Feedster and typed in a couple of searches. I first looked up New York and I came across an article about Wes Anderson (a favorite director of mine) and his new movie. I would love to see Wes have his own blog but he is probably busy being uber-indie and pensive. I should be too. I then typed in 'bearded dragons' and came across a site that posts by different Lizard owners. I thought it would be nice to feed to this blog, but I think it will only depress me to know that I am a horrible parent to my lizard; I am not ready for that truth. Either way, I have enough feeds to keep me busy, at least until the end of the week.

Week 4?

I know this should be easy but I am kind of having a hard time subscribing to feeds. I am a bit confused as to what feeds we can subscribe to. For the past 15 minutes (more like 30-oops), I have been browsing feeds to subscribe to and selected a few that deal with photo blogging and the like. I now go back to iHCPL and see it states we should subscribe to 10 NEWSfeeds. Aye, I am ready for the weekend.
But I tend to digress, I did successfully subscribe to a friend's site and another friend who has a livejournal. I added PostSecret which is my Monday morning caffeine so to speak. I really wish I had the internet at home but that would mean I would spend even more hours staring at a computer screen and I question the health risks of that.
hmm...I should see how to attach my bloglines' name on here so that everyone can like what I like!