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Searching #75: Google and Beyond

2010-01-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

I was pretty surprised to find out my preferred search results did NOT come from Google. Like many others, I've been using Google for many services including my primary email address, documents, and searching. After using Blind Search, I see that Bing showed me favorable results twice and Yahoo once. I will definitely test out Bing more from now on. My 3 searches were my name, Sew Crafty, and Arcade Fire. In my opinion, my search phrases were simple; I'm not too sure what kind of complex term I could have searched. Bing showed more links that listed my name (my name is very common apparently) of individuals in Houston. For Sew Crafty, I went with Bing as well as it listed the Houston business first as well as other businesses in the US and craft-related sites. Arcade Fire is band I really like and Yahoo showed results of their website, their Myspace, and their Fan forum page. I believe Google and Bing had Wikipedia entries listed in the top results..no bueno.
But according to Hitwise, I'm not the only one siding with Google. According to this week's statistics, Google is the #1 site across multiple measures: top websites, top search engine in visits and volume. However, there is a marginal difference between the top sites which Facebook is a close 2nd. As for search engines, Google is in the lead by more than 50%!
Although I'm fairly content with what Google offers me, I am very impressed with Bing. I do recall when it first came out but I never took time to look at their site. I am a visual learner and appreciate visual design. I like how Bing has changing backgrounds that offer relevant/educational information tagged on the images. I also like the travel feature that allowed me to search flight prices on the spot. That is very convenient. I also checked out the shopping feature as I am in the market for a new MP3 player. I don't think Google has given me results as precise as Bing has given me. I use Yahoo occasionally as well. In my eyes, Yahoo will always be the middle child, hehe.

Wellness #42: Staying Well

2009-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker

Since I'm not currently taking medication, I decided to test out the Symptom Checker. Fortunately I don't have persistent body pains but on occasion, my arm will be numb. I looked up my symptoms pertaining to arm/hand numbness and the top cause is Carpel Tunnel. I do spent most of my time using an electronic device whether its my work desktop computer, home laptop, or cell phone. But according to the description, carpel tunnel isn't caused by that. I don't think I care too much for this symptom checker and have used WebMD more often because it narrows symptoms by gender and allows you to select the area of the body than to choose what types of feelings you are having. But I did do a keyword search for other issues I deal with and found pertinent information about my recurrent problems. I like how the site breaks down diagnoses with a general description, symptoms, causes, and so on. I can definitely see this site useful for clarification purposes on other "illnesses."

MedlinePlus

I found this site to be very useful; I can't believe I've never used this before! I was able to look up support groups as well as contact information for the support groups. I also wanted to find information on Nutritionists and according to the site, there are 11 businesses near me. I think this is a site I can use for other needs as well. Although I have a set of doctors through my insurance, I have friends and families needing help so I can definitely direct them to this site for information.

Family History

I attempted to create a family tree and didn't realize how large my family is! Both parents come from a large family and I don't any of my uncles or aunts too well. I do recall three of my dad's brothers passed away from stroke-related events. It seems that heart disease is prevalent on my father's side and diabetes and cancer run on my mom's side. This would be helpful for genealogical studies to see what reoccurring diseases pop up and thus mean I am more susceptible to.

iHCPL #41: Going Green (1 & 2)

2009-10-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Going Green Part 1

Prior to reviewing this blog, I felt like I was a fairly green individual. But to my dismay, inactivity (as opposed to pro-active choices) is just as bad as purposely living a non-green lifestyle.
I took the Carbon Footprint text and it says I emit 12.3 tons of Carbon Dioxide a year! To be honest, I'm not sure what it means exactly but compared to the average emission per person and the number of individuals living in the states, I take it that the amount I emit is not good. I already air-dry my clothes and I've gotten into the habit of unplugging SOME appliances when not in use. I know to make small improvements, I can get into the habit of always turning of my power strips when I'm not using those devices.
As for moving around town, I can probably ride my bicycle to the grocery store if I can buy small amounts of items OR make a stop right after work. I have gotten into a bad habit of eating out during the work week which is bad in more ways than one. Apart from letting out more Carbon Dioxide, I choose unhealthy places and spend money I should be saving. I am willing to attempt a stricter workweek diet which will help with spending money and keeping the air a smidgen cleaner.
As for Green Dining, I am not very familiar with local Farmers' markets. I did use to go with my dad when I was younger and he would purchase veggies for the restaurants but I never went for personal shopping. I am most interested in visiting a market b/c the weather is much more tolerable and it may be nice to browse around a market as a pastime. Also, I would be supporting our local businesses and I am always a fan of local shopping.
Also, I just recently befriended a lady who grows her own produce in her backyard. The last time I saw her, she gave me a sweet potato! I am hoping our friendship will inspire me to dabble in the garden and try harvesting my own foods!

Going Green Part 2

After reading tips on how to green my daily lifestyle, I see there is room for improvement. I review the 5 tips for a green home and I can definitely benefit from sealing and topping holes and open slivers around my home. The windows are pretty old and eventually, I'd like to purchase better windows. I am also proud to say I use the compact fluorescent bulbs already.
As far as things I'd like to consider is the make your own non-toxic cleaning kit. Apart from spending money on a variety of products, I would like to invest in a general all-purpose cleaning set. I also checked out on the site about mosquito repellent and the site lists recipes as well as products. I also liked DIYlife which has how-to videos which are more suited for me since I'm a visual learner.
A task I'd like to take up is recycling. Unfortunately my area does not have curbside recycling which makes it harder to save my recyclables. I am currently in the process of tidying the porch so that I can designate plastic bins for different types of recycling. Luckily I found a place that is open on Saturdays where I can drop off recyclables. I hope once my lil' station is set, I can schedule monthly drop off times.

iHCPL #40: Fitness

2009-10-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

I am a fairly large person but I do aim to do some sort of (added) physical activity each day. I love walking at the park because it helps me de-stress and also burn a few calories. However, if I want to lose weight, I know I have to increase my cardio immensely.

I reviewed the Mayo Clinic's 5 Step Program and I know I have a lot of room for improvement. One thing I would like to do in the near future if the weather allows is go on a hike. I went on my first hike sometime in August and thoroughly enjoyed it (apart from bug bites!). I would like to continue this activity if the weather gets under 80 degrees!

I reviewed FamilyDoctor.org's suggestions to keeping at it and I agree with sticking to activities you enjoy and finding a buddy. I have a hard time motivating myself to go and work out but if a friend is interested in accompanying me, I am motivated to go and I get my gossip-fill for the day. I enjoy walking the most so I try to do that but other things need to be done such as cleaning the yard. I have to remind myself that the added benefit of cleaning the yard is burning calories. Another thing I am considering if shopping for an exercise machine via Craigslist and using that while watching my daily dose of TV. There are a number of shows I watch on DVD which I think I can easily convince myself to watch while working out.

Calculators & Questionnaire
So I once I tried out the calculators and questionnaire, I don't think I'm horribly off the trail. I am considered morbidly obese (such a harsh term, don't you think?) but my life expectancy is about 86.3. I don't think I'd want to live that long, but if I did, I want to try and make the best of it. My areas needing improvement are psychological, CAD (coronary heart disease), and Diet. I think they are all interconnected because I tend to stress out about minor details and if I can balance that, I wouldn't be so inclined to snack on serotonin-inducing foods such as carbs and chocolate. I think I am very capable of creating a healthy lifestyle. Apart from my love for research and sharing information with others, I joined HCPL's Wellness Committee so I can educate myself on healthy living and resources. I'd like to try Pilates because I hear a lot of people say good things about it. Not only do you practice relaxation, you stretch your body (which helps release those feel-good chemicals, and burn calories- awesome! I think once I get a handle on a good amount of activity, my body will crave fresh fruits and vegetables. I started buying apples and carrots again and I started adding frozen vegetables to my meals for added sustenance. Even if these are small efforts, it's better than nothing, right?

iHCPL Wellness #39: Nutrition

2009-09-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

Since I volunteered to be on the Wellness Committee, I feel more pressured to be healthy..or at least know more about my choices.
I checked out NutritionData and was hoping I would be able to find the date for The Tea House' Taro Cream Blend Bubble Tea. That stuff is so good and I'm sure it has to be more on the unhealthy side of the nutritional spectrum. Since I couldn't find Bubble Tea, I opted to search for a 2nd favorite treat: Taco Bell's Chili Cheese Burrito! I can easily eat 2, maybe even 3 if I try, but after I eat it, I feel so sluggish and get heartburn. I looked up the Chili Cheese Goodness and...surprise, surprise- the fullness factor is a 2.0! No wonder I could eat an entire box of them! It is also high in Saturated Fat and Sodium. I don't know much about fat (other than my body seems to like it) but I'm pretty sure saturated fats are bad.
Although I think the Recipes.Sparkpeople is useful, I hate having to list out ingredients (could it be b/c I don't want to really know HOW MUCH I'm eating?!). I don't cook all too often from scratch but I do occasionally make enchiladas with cream of mushroom (don't knock it til you try it!)
Here are the estimated ingredients I entered:

Ingredients:

* 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom 1/2 cup, 1 serving
* Corn Tortillas, 4 tortilla, medium (approx 6" dia)
* boiled chicken drumstick, 3 serving
* Olive Oil, 3 tbsp
* *Kroger Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese shredded, 1 cup
* Salt, 1 dash
* Garlic powder, 1 tsp
* Onion powder, 1 tsp

Here is the nutritional data:

Calories 1,081.3
Total Fat 78.0 g
Saturated Fat 26.9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 30.6 g
Cholesterol 125.0 mg
Sodium 1,623.7 mg
Potassium 244.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 60.2 g
Dietary Fiber 7.9 g
Sugars 3.3 g
Protein 37.6 g

Did I mention cheese is a weakness of mine? I adjusted the amount of cheese I would use and that made a huge difference. Instead of a cup of cheese, I put 1/4 cup and the calories dropped down to 781. I then substituted my regular cheese for Fat Free Mozzarella (1/4 cup) and the calories drop down to 731.
So what is the lesson?! Eat less cheese!

#59: Credit, Money Management, and Saving

2009-05-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to make such a good grade on the credit score quiz. I hate to admit but I never actually requested my credit score and I have been meaning to do that. I am very punctual about paying my bills on time. If it weren't for online banking, I'd probably be in a lot of trouble.
I am very interested in starting a budgeting plan. I have high hopes once I am done with graduate school that includes taking at least a month long vacation. I also like my electronic toys and would like to purchase a new computer, camera, and other electronic goodness. I am a horrible online shopper. I can spend a bunch on impulse buys online, such as last night, and I need to tighten my control of spending. I looked at About.com's Build a Budget and the concept is fairly simple. Although my actual budget is pretty flexible, I know I spend more than I should on eating out, going out with friends, and treating myself (as well as others) too often. My biggest expense is tuition but I'm fortunate to have received a small scholarship from school and also can opt for the installment plan which makes the thousand plus bill less daunting.
I attempted to view BankRate's article on advice from top financial advisers and the second page was unavailable. I am sure the key to financial stability is minimize frivolous spending when possible. I love gadgets and books and music and spoiling myself. In the end, I still listen to the same tunes, I read a minimal amount of books, and my gadgets gather dust. If I could be strict with myself, I am sure I can save for a nice vacation for the future.
After reviewing the TCDRS site, I found the resources page most useful. Not to act like retirement isn't a big deal but I have a way before I can think about retiring so I never paid much concern to it. I see the resources page has a glossary which is ideal for me! I never knew the official definition of "being vested" but I see it is important and a great thing to accomplish if possible.

#58: Money & Finance

2009-04-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

I am all about saving a couple trees here and there and I find online banking suitable for my needs. I spend the majority of my time in front of my computer and I never carry cash. I use online banking to send myself reminders when bills are due and automatically transfer money to savings twice a month. My bank does not charge for online banking and I feel it is beneficial for both parties because you save them paper, ink and postage AND you save time. However, this may infringe on the need of bank tellers thus creating a job shortage and such.
I am not too worried about using sites to manage my accounts b/c I feel that my online information is already susceptible to tampering and third party views. This may be naive of me but most banks have some level of protection against identity theft. I decided to create a profile with Mint and received a couple of emails about my weekly expenses. I haven't seen the full potential it offers and plan to cancel the account b/c I don't have time or interest to add in monthly bills that do not extract from my bank account. I think online banking is sufficient use for now. I set up automatic transfers from my checking account to my savings and I also get email reminders when I have bills to pay.
After reading the Consumers Report on spending less, I feel a bit more confident about my spending habit. I recently purchased a water pitcher for myself and my mother for Mother's Day. We constantly purchased water bottles and I've been told that is one habit good to nix b/c of the plastic waste. I definitely think I can be more careful with my debit card as well. At times, I withdraw money but don't make an effort to find my bank's ATM. I've noticed the fees add up fast.

#55: Facebook Challenge

2009-03-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I have a Facebook account so that I can tinker with the library's page. Its not that I don't like Facebook; I jumped on the social network bandwagon with Myspace and I am used to their layout and features.
But I do admit, I get sucked into the endless memes in Facebook and write my status practically on a daily basis and leave comments on other people's profiles.
Today, I used the Friend Finder for my high school classmates in 2000. I found a good number of people and sent requests to add them. I don't really know if "knowing" them on Facebook will deem beneficial but it never hurts, right? Besides, either party can choose to ignore the add or the user entirely. It is nice to have someone find you though. Recently a friend that I knew in my art class befriended me in Facebook and she is now a missionary. I feel that it was kismet to cross paths b/c I am contemplating volunteering abroad when I graduate.
As for applications, I have trouble deciphering these. I've taken the occasional quiz and when I try to send it to friends or get my results, I get an error page. However, when I go back to my homepage, the results are posted. I recently added the Living Social: Books application which I haven't perused much but I like sharing my reads with friends. I also updated my Flixster application and added a couple of my favorite movies to my list. I want to see if I can add my Netflix info onto FB which would be great!
I know some people feel that social networking is lame or for losers. I am even reading articles for class that debate whether the internet is a good or bad thing for individuals. In my opinion, I think everything has good and bad in it and everything can be enjoyed in moderation. Either way, Facebook and other networks make everyday life a little more lively.

#54 Social Networking Through Books

2009-03-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Part 1: My thoughts on Book Clubs
I would love to join a book club but I never have the time to do so. I also think whenever I plan to read a book, I lose interest. The same applies for dieting and other stuff like mowing the lawn. If I say I will do it, I inadvertently don't. A close friend of mine started a book club that was supposed to read a book each month but we would meet every week and read short stories. As interesting as this was and fun to see friends every week, I was unable to commit to it.
Part 2: Implementing a Book Club
I think it would be easy to start up a book club, however, getting people to stick to their guns is another story. I feel like that my opinion and ideas are biased b/c I know the process of setting up a book club. The general public is unaware that they can book meeting rooms at the library. If I had time, I would love to set up a book club on romantic comedies or possibly books that were made into movies. I know one of branches does the books/movie adaptation and there is a database (Mid Continent I believe) that lists the books and movies.
The Houston Great Books Council site is useful; however I am sure they are many more book clubs in Houston. I looked at Meyerland Borders book selection which is appealing. They are currently reading The Best American Short Stories by John Updike.
Part 3: Testing
I decided to use the Dictionary of Failed Relationships as my test subject (and that is collecting dust somewhere in my home)and see if anyone has written reviews about it. On LibraryThing and Facebooks' Living Social, the book has a ~2.5 rating (out of 4). There were a couple of reviews on Facebook that state the women are whiny and the other states its different and interesting.
From my experience, most chick lit books do deal with whiny women. But I enjoy that kind of stuff.

#53: Finding Books Online

2009-02-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

For this exercise, I looked up bookstores in my area and reviewed their online presence.
Doing a Google search for "Bookstores 77054," I retrieved a list of stores. The closest are Half Price Books, Brazos Bookstore and Inner Harmony. Half Price has a general website that lists their locations. This store is my favorite bookstore b/c 1)they're discounted books and 2) they have a wide variety of topics including my favorites: art, fiction and graphic novels. Brazos' site is aesthetically pleasing but hard to navigate and takes too long to upload pages. I am impatient; if I'm going to browse, I'd rather do it in person. As for Inner Harmony, no site or online reviews are provided.
To test the search features, I chose to look for The Dictionary of Failed Relationships. Brazos does have this title online and provides a short synopsis of the book. I searched HCPL's catalog and Bartleby, both do not own copies. Amazon does have this title as an eBook for as little as $8.80. Luckily, I went to Half Price recently and stumbled across this book in their CLEARANCE section for $2.00! Although it is convenient to purchase online, I do enjoy visiting real locations b/c it is rewarding when you find great deals. I use Abebooks.com frequently which has books as little as $1 and most sellers will lower their shipping and handling for multiple purchases.
I briefly reviewed the book swapping sites and I am weary to try those b/c I would have to pay for shipping and there is still a chance that someone may not honor your service.
Another part of the exercise is to explore eBooks. I downloaded the required software to read ebooks from Harris County Public Library's Overdrive and started reading a non-fiction book. This isn't my preferred method of leisure reading (on my computer screen) but it is convenient for when I have to be online for long spurts and am interested in testing out a book before I buy it.
I don't ever intend on purchasing ebooks b/c I enjoy having a book at hand and getting the tactile experience. I don't know if its being old fashioned or resisting change, but reading the traditional bound book is more appealing than reading an electronic version.

Still Exercise 52- Pt. 3

2009-02-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

A customer tells you that he's read every book written by Dean Koontz and asks you to find an author who writes similar books. Using two of the sites listed above, find three new authors to recommend to your customer. Post the sites you used and the results in your blog.

Dean Koontz is renowned for his suspense novels and there are many authors like him. I used What Do I Read Next and Novelist's Read-alikes to find suggestions. Other authors the patron might enjoy include Clive Cussler, W.E.B. Griffin and John Saul.

A customer has read Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. She would like to read the other books in the series in order. Using one of the above resources, post the series title, the order of the books in the series, and the resource you used.

This one took an extra step to find b/c it does not specify if the series is for adults, teens or children. I used Mid-Continent Public Library's series finder. I searched by author and found the series Song of the Lioness which is comprised of four books:
Alanna: the first adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman who Rides like a Man, and Lioness Rampart.

#52 What to Read- Pt. 2

2009-02-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

Using one of the resources listed above find two books suitable for a fourth grade girl interested in animals and another two books for her thirteen year old brother who is interested in ghost stories. Post which resource you used and the books you located.

I used Novelist Plus because it allows you to search by subjects, age level and other terms. This comes in handy because patrons do not always have a specific title or author in mind. I used their advanced search which allows me to search by subject (animals), determine age and grade level (older kids + 4th grade) and choose what types of titles to pull (books, series and reading lists). I found a number of options but I chose A Dog's Life: the autobiography of a stray and Urchin of the Riding Stars which borders on Fantasy Fiction.
For the teenager, I used Ghosts as my subject search and chose The Restless Dead that is short stories and Restless: a ghost's story.

Books, Readers and Beyond: #52 What to Read Pt. 1

2009-02-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

I am back exploring the infinite where cyberspace and libraries coexist. For this exercise, I played around with Reader Advisories.
I am a huge fan of Novelist, an online database that helps find books by author, title, genre, etc. I used it frequently to find new stuff to read. For this exercise, comparing databases and what they retrieve, I used Steve Martin's Shopgirl as my test subject....
In Novelist Plus, the top three results were Shopgirl (tsk tsk), Undead and Unemployed and Wolves in Chic Clothing. On my current reading list is Undead and Unemployed, which is the book preceding Undead and Unemployed. However, I don't see a direct resemblance between Shopgirl and the latter.
My second test involves What Should I read Next? The results were odd because it retrieved graphic novels. I enjoy graphic novel but I don't see any correlation between Shopgirl and graphic novels unless it was made into a comic book, in which case I would be thrilled! It was not a complete failure as I have found a book within these results that caters to my taste: The Dictionary of Failed Relationships.
Finally, I tested Library Booklists and Bibliographies with the same novel. This site appears to be the more difficult of the three to navigate but I like how titles are divided by themes and the themes are divided into more themes! Searching Steve Martin's name brought me to a list of Humor lists but not all links worked. I tried Dark Comedy, Contemporary Humor and a third that were not accessible. The general Humorous fiction did work and a few titles suggested included Jennifer Crusie whose novel I have read and enjoyed.
All in all, these sites are very entertaining and more engaging for the users. I think using these sources for patrons to use will allow them to get a better variety and a higher exposure to lesser known authors.

Post #45: Making your own video!

2008-11-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am excited to finally learn a bit about making videos. Although, this is probably one of the easier options from iHCPL, I think Animoto makes the whole concept of creating videos less intimidating.
I hope to go on a bike ride soon and get some real footage and make personal music videos.

p.s. no fatties

2008-01-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

I am pretty observant with others' conversations. I am not trying to be nosy, I just have a natural reception to what others say. Of course though when I need to be, I can't pay attention to save my life. Yesterday morning, I was preparing my coffee in my work's lounge. There were two coworkers in there with me and lady #1 is preparing a cheese sandwich. Lady #2 is stirring in hot water into her oatmeal but does not take her eyes off Lady #1's sandwich.
Lady #1: "WOuld you like a piece of my sandwich?"
Lady #2: "No thank you, I don't eat anything with fat in it?"
I am the last person to judge anyone based on their appearance, but seriously, how much can you avoid fat in your diet? I also wanted to chime in, "Really? B/c it doesn't look like you don't eat fat." But of course, that is just me without my morning caffeine. I pretty much obliterated any chance of diet in my life. I stopped caring and if I crave something sweet or greasy, I allow myself to do so. So I will probably gain a good 30 pounds this year.

Near brush with death..or so it felt like it

2007-12-31T09:50:00.000-08:00

Considering today is New Year's Eve, I had a hard time motivating myself to get ready for work. I was fortunate last year to spend my holidays in England; however, starting a new job, I have to accrue vacation time.
I am trying to cut down on my carbs but this morning I decided to treat myself to a bowl of Ramen noodles and toast bread. I ran out of my favorite flavor (Creamy Chicken) so I settled for my second choice of Oriental flavor. I realized that I was short on time so I tried to speed up my eating. I made little "tacos" with the bread and as I inserted it into my mouth, the crust of the bread lodged into my throat. I thought if I swallowed harder, it would make its way down but to my dismay, it was going down the wrong pipe.
I started coughing. I thought, should I cough into my bowl of soup or on the table. I opted to purge my partly chewed breakfast onto a napkin. I then noticed that drips of blood were splattering on the napkin. I started to freak and I couldn't breathe. I tried yelling for my mom and I began to bang on the table to get her attention. I still made it to work, busted capillaries and all. I look like the weeping mother from I Am Legend. I am now sore and my eyes hurt when I blink.
Happy new year to me!!! I am thankful that it did not happen while I was driving seeing that I tend to eat my breakfast while on my way to work.
Lesson well learned.

Endings

2007-12-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

I came to work today and not even 30 minutes pass when my mother calls and tells me my aunt passed away. I feel overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow. I could have gone this past Sunday to see her but I chose not to b/c I was tired. I spent Sunday morning working in our yard and I made plans to see her this weekend. When I spoke to my mother, I began to cry. I am not sure if I am crying b/c I feel guilty or it hurts to hear my mother cry. I regret not being able to speak to her one last time. I didn't even care much when my grandmother passed away seeing that I was never really close to her. I wasn't close to my aunt either but she is probably the only aunt I have fond memories of. When I was little, my mother and I would stay with her and my aunt would make me snacks and I would sleep with her. She is now in a better and less painful place; I hope she left peacefully and I hope she left knowing that I do care for her.

Maybe...

2007-12-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

I have a semi-date tomorrow. I met this guy about a month ago and we haven't officially declared any kind of non-platonic chemistry between the two of us. I am trying my hardest to get that fabrication out of my head. For as long as I can remember, I tend to like a guy from afar, latch myself to them (from afar) and fabricate this image of them. And it only gets worse; I never am able to get close to them thus I punish myself with guilt and sorrow and every other kind of negativity I can think of.
So here I am, trying to heal my wounds from my "flavor of the month" and R comes along. I don't know what to expect and in all honesty, I don't even know if I like him. I am hesitant to say anything b/c maybe he is in the same predicament I am: he is getting over someone. I decide I am taking it for what it is and I am not going to jump to conclusions. Jumping to conclusions has only created problems and heart ache for me; I think it is time to start a new approach to conversing with the opposite sex.

Week #10: Finito

2007-11-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

I really did enjoy this training program. I do feel that I had an inkling of an idea for all the topics we learned about; however, it is always nice to get a refresher or an update on these topics.
Of the 23 things we learned, I really enjoyed LibraryThing, RSS feeds, and online photo editing tools. I now use LibraryThing to catalog books I have read and am able to see what others are reading based on the books in my catalog.
Every morning, I check Bloglines and I get to see my "daily dose of imagery" of artsy photos and cute animal pictures along with my Postsecret.
I did not care too much for the Zoho writer but I am sure it might come in handy at a later date. It is a little difficult to really delve into these topics b/c like any item that you are interested in, that item acts an unravelling thread of a sweater which is neverending. I hope to get internet at home so I can really research all capabilities with the internet. It is getting to the point that it is just as bad as television (sitting and staring at a screen for large amounts of time).
I am not really sure what suggestions I have to refine this training. I think having a focus group type discussion might help conjure up ideas.
All in all, I am happy that I took part in this "journey" and hope to continue learning Web 2.0.
Also, I really enjoyed the Wandering Eyre speaker at the very beginning of this course; she really motivated me to brush up on my internet skills.

still week #9: Podcasts

2007-11-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

Finally, a category that I know absolutely nothing about. I was ashamed to ask friends or coworkers about podcasts. I did know that dealt with some kind of audiostream that you connect to online but I was not sure how you access them. I have an ipod and whenever I update my ipod, I see the podcast tab and I never knew what to do with it.
I decided to browse the podcasts at Podcast Alley and chose to listen to IndieFeed. It seems pretty cool. I would like to research some more and I definitely think I will be using podcasts from now on. I now have a way to listen to indie groups. I normally listen to KTRU online; however, I don't think it is a podcast since you cannot upload/connect to past shows.

Week #9.2: Ebooks!

2007-11-16T06:54:00.000-08:00

When HCPL notified employees of their Emedia launch, I took a peek to see what it offered. I was not too impressed with their collection but now that it has been a few months (maybe several), I see that it has grown immensely.
I would still like to see more variety with their "indie" music but I assume most musicians do not go that route. I browsed in the fiction and there is a title I would consider reading, Miss Understanding, which is one of the featured books. I am also happy to see that F.G. Gerson's 21 Steps to Happiness is available for download. When that book came out, I ordered it through ILL (from HPL, not HCPL). I was unable to read it and now that HCPL offers it, I can download it! I also think it is a good idea to include juvenile selections as well.
I do have a few suggestions about the site. I think users should be able to search by publisher (I am quite partial to Red Dress Ink) and users should be able to select how many items can be viewed per page (10,50,100).
Have downloadable books will make it easier for me to broaden the subjects I have read. I don't really care for audio books seeing that I find it hard to do my work and listen to what the speaker is actually saying. Maybe I haven't tried the right books...

Week #9 Youtube!

2007-11-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed this exercise. I use YouTube frequently; however, I was unable to decide on what kind of video to share.
I decided posting a video by Pete Bjorn, a musician I recently came across. As much research as I do in music and movies, I am always a step behind in indie rock.

For some reason, I am having trouble posting the video...bollocks!

#19..Accomplished!

2007-11-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

I created an account with Zoho earlier in the week but was hesitant to use it. I didn't know what to write about.
I always wanted to practice writing and I finally mustered the strength and words to get some of it down.
I am very surprised that it went with sch fluidity! As soon as I started typing, it was like opening Pandora's box that I could not close.
I think I might actually use this regualarly. I may be able to write my comic dialogs this way!

to be continued

2007-11-02T09:34:00.001-07:00

Misinterpretations

I went to visit Denton in the fall of 2004. It had been three months since I moved back to Houston; I was anticipating my reaction to visiting the town I thought I would miss.

Of course, things were still the same; same crowds at the bars, same workers at Kharma Cafe, nothing different.

Because I was visiting during the school week, I took the opportunity to visit my Fibers professor. The walk on campus was so nostalgic; had it been that long since I was attending there? Texas is vast land, it is surprising that the climate change is as drastic from one border to the other. I trekked the one mile to the building and walked down the familiar path. As I walked to her office, I passed the looms and the "peg" boards with the thread wound around x amount of times. I think Ami was busy, so I went into the classroom to see what projects were being worked on.

I walked in and I couldn't help but feel that it was kizmet. There, in front of my face, facing the wash basin, was David. He was absorbed into his work, avidly working on his pieces. He was washing one of his screens. I was filled with delight to see him, almost to the point that I could cry. I decided to sneak up behind him and I did a pretty good job. Considering the spray gun and its generator are loud, he did not hear me approach.

I stood right behind him for a few seconds and then poked him on both sides of his stomach. It was not my best action; he jolted and turned around. I think he was equally surprised to see me and he hugged me and exclaimed, "Veronica!" emphasizing the double r that should be used when saying my name. I noticed he was using one of my screens that I left for the class. As a part of our assignments, we built screens and left them for the next semester of students to use.

It had been so long since we had seen each other and as I looked into his eyes, my mind erased all the emotions and pent up words I had been wanting to say to him.

Week 8: Social Networks

2007-10-30T09:28:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

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?)

2007-10-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-10-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-12T09:47:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2007-10-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

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?!

2007-10-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-03T13:46:00.001-07:00

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?

2007-10-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

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!

mary

2007-09-27T07:32:00.001-07:00

mary
Originally uploaded by ma_vie_en_la_biblioteca

I really need to bring in some photos to work with. All the photos I took with my camera are dark. This is my attempt using pixer; I think I can do better

pop art

2007-09-27T07:22:00.001-07:00

pop art
Originally uploaded by ma_vie_en_la_biblioteca

I am happy with this one. I am a big fan of Warhol and I love screen printing. Although this tool takes away from the actual process of screen printing, I think this is a great tool and I look forward to tinkering with it in the future.

Flickr-ama!!!

2007-09-27T06:57:00.001-07:00

cuca and heha
Originally uploaded by ma_vie_en_la_biblioteca

Ha! I was able actually able to configure this within less than half an hour! If only I could have a job that would allow me to play online all day...
I kind of cheated though, b/c this picture is saved on my desktop. When I have enough time, I would like to upload photos from my camera.
I went to a friend's birthday part last night and prior to the "party" starting, my friend showed me her photo albums. I really regret not ever taking pictures with friends. I totally hate taking photos, so when the chance comes around, I usually just duck; I am trying to reconsider. This picture was taken about a month ago with my good friend Jess who was visiting from England. We went to college together for one year and kept in touch via email. That is a great perk of being internet savvy: being able to keep in touch with just about anyone that you want to. She is now in Germany and I hope to visit her there soon.

Safety?

2007-09-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

I may be a little too apathetic with the safety problem online; however, I feel that we gave up privacy a long time ago. I do fear that someone may hack into my bank account and spend all my money or use my information to open a credit card, but there are procedures to get out of that mess (although they are tedious and a pain in the butt).
I think the key point to remember about online usage, is that there is no privacy. With technological advances and innovative electronics, every aspect of life can be viewed or altered by other people (I can't help but think about the video cameras in bathroom stalls).
A college professor said to remember the term "email" as "everybody mail." With that being said, I try not to worry about what I say in emails b/c everyone has issues and regardless of what you believe, there is always someone worse off than you.

I NEED MORE!!!

2007-09-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

This is great! I get to learn different functions online AND get paid. I also attended the Gadgets and Gizmos earlier in the week and now listen to Pandora regularly.
I learn best when I am able to navigate myself through the tutorials. This method of learning (online, self-paced) works pretty well with my schedule and I prefer working alone. If I really need to, I can still ask for help by submitting my queries and there is also another participant in my department so I am not so alone.
I am looking forward to uploading photos and personalizing my blog!

week 1

2007-09-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

For the first exercise, view this tutorial (see the full version with animation and sound on Harriet) and write down which learning habits are easiest for you and which are hardest.

I tend to learn better when I have a visual to aid in training. If I can see examples of what I am supposed to be learning, I can envision myself doing them, thus making it easier to accomplish.
I have a hard time learning tasks that are just written down or I am verbally told to do. For example, if my supervisor just told me verbally what I am supposed to do for a task (maybe on the computer or something that would require several steps), I usually get confused and instead of paying attention, I being to worry that I will not be able to do it. I have the same problem with spoken directions; I must write down directions in order to understand them.

Make a contract with yourself about your learning habits. You will use your personal blog (which you will set up next) to post your thoughts about lifelong learning.

Contract to Self

I will understand that this course of training is self-paced and

I will not feel overwhelmed by the material.

I will remind myself that I enjoy learning about computers and the internet and these exercises are only beneficial no matter how little I learn.

I will remind myself that I can always go back over material if I do not understand it and I can ask someone for help.

Overview

I am excited about the upcoming weeks. I know a little bit about blogs and flickr; but I just learned how to subsribe to feeds, which is very rewarding. I attempted to subscribe to a feed before, but did not know where to see it. I now know how to subscribe and view the content.