Little Girl with Blue Flower

DSC_3685,
originally uploaded by mollypop.

Thing #14 Technorati

I've spent several days and quite a few computer sessions grappling with Technorati. It seems easy to use--just type in a term and search the blogospere--and yet there are a lot of mysterious, unfathomable (at least to me) aspects about it too. It seems a lot like a Internet search. So many of the hits did not seem to apply. I guess it would probably get more navigable in time.

When I searched for school library blogs, there were SO many (okay, not that many, but still, enough that I didn't want to go through them all), and the ones I looked at seemed pretty random. I know tags are a big part of Technorati, yet they are not stikingly visible, like they are in Flickr and Delicious. I wonder why not?

It's nice to know Technorati is there, but doubt I'll use it often. Yet...who knows? I might surprise myself.


PS I have found some really good blogs (although not through Technorati). My favorite is Doug Johnson's writing blog, where you can find "Doug's T-Shirt Says...List"--it's great! He also write the Blue Skunk blog; both blogs are a nice mixture of humor, library topics and educational/technology information.

Thing #13 Delicious

I found Delicious a few days ago, when I remembered a friend who said she used it. I've read about it and played around with it, but until I learn more, the biggest use I see for it for me is that I can have all my bookmarks available no matter what computer I'm on. I found a way to look at a random person's bookmarks (felt kind of like window-peeping), but, really, why would I want to do that? (I don't window-peep either!) I haven't figured out yet a way to see my colleagues' bookmarks--but I bet they have to have a Delicious account, and then I have to know their username. And probably, that's how I would share with my students too. Students could use this for research by searching for certain tags. It might be especially helpful if they're having a hard time finding a useful site for a difficult subject.

I looked at Digg and and the Top 30 Social Bookmarking Sites, but I think I'm just going to stick with Delicious for now. Seems to be the clearest and easiest...

Trying to Keep It Straight

I found this on Flickr tonight. I'm trying to keep in my head all the ways and places I've been in the last few days. This photograph of a slightly confused looking woman fits my feelings exactly.

Thing #12 To Comment or Not to Comment...

Well, really, that isn't the question, is it? I'm going to have to do this assignment as I go along, because I'm a dyed in the wool lurker. I've never left a comment anywhere--not even on restaurant evaluation cards. However, I've thoroughly enjoyed the comments of others on the blogs I've read, and I agree with the idea that comments contribute to the fabric of education, so I'm determined to change my ways, just let me do it a little at a time, okay?

More about this later.

Thing #11

LibraryThing.

It's easy, that's for sure. I cataloged all the books scattered around my bed, at least the ones I could see. And there's a group or two that might be fun to read, if you had time. I can't really think why I would want to catalog ALL MY books, but maybe I will want to one day. If I ever do (want to, that is), this is the place to do it.

I'm going to pass this on to my hairdresser tomorrow. She'd like it, I bet.

Thing #10

Now this was funner! Okay, several of these image-maker websites were pretty hinky, but I loved Glogster. (Maybe I'm a teenybopper at heart--I saw LOTS of Twilight posters.) And I like the trading cards, and I really like the Big Huge Labs folks (I've mentioned them before), and Dumpr is neat and Wordle is just cool. We already use that a lot. I wish the actual pictures showed instead of just the links. I wonder if all these get through the filter??

See all my pictures?

dumpr.net

Museum by dumpr.net

Thing #9

This has been a depressing assignment for me. There is just too much "STUFF" out there. And here I am trying to make it where I can get to just a little bit more of that stuff every day by organizing my computer so that every second and every quarter inch is utilized to the maximum. Makes me want to go for a walk and look up at the redwinged blackbird sailing along, and then notice the new tomato blooms, and then come in and read awhile, and then get up and make supper--in other words, just one blessed thing at a time.

Don't get me wrong. I love the library, but it already takes up a big chunk of my life. How can you find balance if you're constantly adding more "stuff" to your time, even if it's good stuff? I read on one guy's blog this morning that he reads over 1000 blog posts a day! Sheesh!

Thing #8

My blogs are added to the the reader, including The Daily Coyote. Plus CNN, plus CNN Political. We'll see how it all works--I've sent most of my time drifting and surfing this afternoon, kind of like reading trashy movie star magazines. Might be time for a nap...

Thing #7

TMI!

I ...


love Picasa, maybe because I've used it for several years,

don't think I'd ever remember to look at a Google Calendar (at least before 5 pm),

might use Google Docs, (it's nice to be able to access them from any computer),

am intrigued by Google Earth.

Google is good.

Thing #6

Mashups, kaleidoscopes, mosaics, trading cards, Color Pickr, Music Box, Springy Thingies, coverpops--sounds like ART CLASS! (Except mashups. That sounds like a "peas and carrots" thing.)

Must remember the fun stuff at Big Huge Labs, too.

Thing #5

running loose and fancy free,
originally uploaded by Ted Drake.

"Running Loose and Fancy Free"

A beautiful and mystical image from Flickr for the Time Traveler...

Thing #4

The pertinenent data has been sent; no idea how and if it will be processed by the kickball captains today. Shall I press on? I think.....so.

Thing #3

My little scooter-riding avatar is really cute, but also shy. She just won't show herself. I'll check on the other computer and see if she's there.

The Beginning, aka Thing #2

Finally! I'm here.


Evidently, I'm not a highly effective person--as I watched the video, I seemed to hit snags all along the way, even on point 7.5. (Maybe I play too much!) Oh well, I DO get things done in my own roundabout, last minute, "whole brain" way. I suspect this project will be no different.


My goal: to know something about 2.0, so I can carry on a conversersation in the teacher's lounge with the smart young un's, and in the library with the really smart young un's.


Anyway, we're off to see what we will see!