Week 10, #23

"Is this really the end? Or just the beginning . . ."

First, thank you for putting this together & for your help in negotiating the course. It has been a learning experience, indeed. (All of it wasn't "intuitive," as they say, so your help was crucial to the completion.)

My favorite discovery is "Week 8 #19" Web-based Applications. That is very good. However, Week 7 #16 Wikis was good, too - it led me to give serious attention to Wikipedia, etc. - useful.

Any surprises? Frankly this course is all surprises - every lesson brought "news from afar." And you know that these days, any time afar breaks out, them Firemen are quick to respond so as to keep it from spreading. But in spite of their best efforts, all this technology stuff is spreading like wildfar.

Concerning "ideas for using these technologies," it's likely that most of them will be "remnants of the past" in the "not too distant future," as more innovations overtake us.

What else do I what to learn about? Well, I think the next crucial course is the "Retirement Seminar!"

Although (as is happening here) the "Compose" window has been in use extensively, the most important function needed for this blog is "Decompose," which is really what should happen as soon as possible.

Be well.

Week 9, #22

Downloadable Media: "eAudioBooks, eBooks, Music & Videos."

The Digital Media Guided Tour is helpful & clear. However, upon following the instructions to load the Overdrive Media console, I received the following conclusion: "The installer has insufficient privileges to access this directory. . . . The installation cannot continue. . . . "

Nonetheless I toured the great selection of classical music, selected vol. 6 & ["checked it out"] downloaded it. However, without the media player . . . well you can see that dead end sign. So now I have a music CD checked out (via downloading), but can not play it. It is gratifying, however, that it will be automatically "returned" so there won't be any overdue fines.

All in all, it looks very good.

Week 9, # 21

"Podcasts, Smodcasts." [I think it should be "Schmodcasts," but that's a 2ndary issue.]

Well, with "a little help from my friends," I now have the RSS feed from "Manager Tools" [http://www.manager.tools.com/podcasts/feed/rss2] podcasting to my blog.

This has been a complicated process in which one directory (Yahoo Podcast) was very difficult to use, while another (Podcastalley) was straightforward.

Onward & upward.

Week 9, # 20

Of the various videos on YouTube, Animal entries were more interesting than most others. "Jericho Bald Eagle, Frosty Morning," & "Ruby & the 3 puppies, Week 3" [actually, there were about 8 puppies; why the title said "3" is curious] were . . . interesting. But Penguin Bathtime" from ZSL London Zoo, was entertaining.

The political clips were , frankly "Ho-Hum." The Music clips I checked were, dare I say it, "uninspired." Hailey Wojcik/Dinosaur Bone - sad. Ethan's Turducken Song - pitiful.

I reviewed clips in topics that interest me: Autos & vehicles (Ferrari 430 Scuderia - excellent, but "if you have to ask how much, . . . '), Music, News & Politics, & Pets & animals.

This was my 1st trip down YouTube lane, so "we shall see."

Week 8, #19 iHCPL

November 30, 2007

iHCPL Assignment, Week 8, #19.

Oh, yeah - this is great! Word processing on my desktop whithout MS software. So you might write a report, create a data base, write a novel, . . . all right!

Now, let's see if we can export this thing to my blog.

syotos-m*

Yes! Just go to "Publish" then click on "Go to Blog" (or "Update Blog Posting.")

["See You On The Other Side-maybe"]

Week 8, #18

"Social Networking" - a way to expand one's acquaintances. It's like having your picture in your school yearbook - you can meet folks you haven't seen before even though they are just down the hall from you.

Yes, I watched the "Social Networking in plain English" video, but I did not sign up for "Bookface" (don't wish to be on that, thank you) so I couldn't tour it. The Newsweek article on the growth of Facebook is no longer available, but their are dozens of articles about the popularity, uses, etc. However, none of them inspired me enough to want to join.

- The Myspace "home page" (is that what you call it?) had nothing of interest to me.
- Facebook requires you to "signup" in order to view any aspect of it - thanks, I prefer not to.
- Ning looks very similar to Myspace - there didn't appear to be any difference between them.
- Yahoo360, same stuff . . . These things give the impression that this planet covered with people who are desperately looking for companionship yet can't find it? Sad.
- Dogster is an excellent network, but I was surprized that of the claimed exhaustive list of breeds they failed to list the Anatolian Mastiff. So I sent them an e-mail asking why it's omitted.

Week 7, #17

This assignment is to "blog" about some aspect of technology. I'd like to bla, bla, blog about "CVT." You know, the "Continuously variable transmission." Well, if you don't know, welcome to the club. I, too, didn't know what it was, so I'll share the results of my inquiry with you. (And I think you'll soon see what it has to do with "technology.")

Wikipedia lists 9 variations of the CVT, but defines them as follows:

"The continuously variable transmission is a transmission in which the ratio of the rotational speed of two shafts, as the imput shaft and output shaft of a vehicle or other machine, can be varied continuously within a given range, providing an infinite number of possible ratios."

Further, it says, "The CVT should not be confused with the 'power split transmission' (PST), as used in the Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles that use two or more inputs with one output, despite some similarities in their function." (See Wikipedia: Continuously variable transmission.)

What prompted my curiosity is the fact that Toyata states, in its Prius literature, that the only transmission available in that car is the CVT. How is it that Wikipedia says the Prius tranny is not a CVT, yet Toyota says it is?

Could it be that Wikipedia is incorrect? Which, of course, brings me to the aspect of this that deals with "technology." To wit, is the fact that the very Wikipedia article that states that the Prius tranny is not a CVT, yet later on lists "New automobiles equiped with CVT" and includes the Toyota Prius, an error?

Does this prompt us to ask which statement in Wikipedia is in error? And this is the technology issue: "What is the reliability of the information found in the multiplicity of 'sources' on the Internet?"

I discovered the answer to the question on this specific subject, but challenge you to find out for yourself.

Week 7, #16

Wiki Wiki, whose got the wiki? The British version of that question is, "When does a wiki get sticky, & become a Sticky Wiki?" (Someone said these exercises are supposed to be fun & I admit that I'm having fun playing with them. If you fail to see humor in my "contributions," I sincerely apologize, but do allow me to gone with my frivolity) The answer is, "The Wiki gets sticky when the questions can only be answered by suppositions."

Yep, I went to the hcpl wiki template & left my "Curiosity was here" message. What's the next order of practice? Well, it's back to the assignment list - will return shortly. Since I don't understand how to add a blog to a wiki, I must seek help. bfn.

Week 6, # 15

"Libraries & Librarianship are in transition." Is this a profound statement, or is it an "obvious as the nose on your face" recognition of the pace of technology? Library 2.0 is the term for the almost amazing change that is occuring in this generation.

"Icebergs" are the stuff that is in the way of the "library boat" as it sails into the sunset.

Corporate interest in the process is addressed by OCLC & perspectives on "time" seems to be focused on the "future" which seems to be arriving now.

What it all means to me is: "TMI!" That's right "too much information" is the description of our world overflowing with information that is desperately in need of being transformed into "Knowledge," which needs to be mitigated by wisdom. It is wisdom that appears to be the absent factor in the "Information Age." My take on it: "More than I can comprehend.

Week 6, #14

"Technorati" - an interesting idea whose time has passed. It produces varying results in its 3 different search progressions. However the utility /usefulness of it may not be great. It appears that the information searched/retreived is "mostly opinion" as opposed to documeted fact.

"Searches," "Popular" & "Video" - appears to be the compilation of what other bloggers think is interesting. In the "for what it's worth" depatment, I have no interest in opinion about such things. But it's interesting to look at & know that there are others who think it's useful.



So there, sports fans, is it for this lesson.

Week 6, #13

"Tagging" -



Starting with the words "folksonomy" & "taxonomy" you're getting in to very controversial territory! It sounds like a threat from the government: they already put too many "tax[es] on o' me & on o' you!" And the "folksonomy" stuff sounds like a "Bushism" for him to do more "tax-on-o-me!" Where will it all stop?



Well, be that as it may (or may not), the short film clip of the 2 girls "folksonomy-ing" the back yard is very good. They deserve a bling for that.



("You're it!")

Week 5, #12

Although the Horizon system failure last week prevented some of us from setting up an Elf account (the hcpl listing on the elf library list was deleted) we have now "registered" & set up an account.

The idea is a good one. although my current status is: no holds, no requests, no overdues . . . , it promises to notify me more frequently when I have such an item to act on.

We'll see if it actually is useful.

;-)

Week 5 #11

My LibraryThing account is set up; I added 5 books to my list & am now making a entry in my "blog" stating that I have, in fact, done those tasks, with the intention of earning another bling.

So does it go: "blog, bling, blang?" or is it "Bling, blang blog?"

I must admit I can't imagine that anyone would be interested in what I'm reading, but the subject I'm presently persuing is the use of mathematical puzzles as job interview questions & the application of "testing" job applicants' intelligence as part of the job interview. This inquiry has led me to investigate the subject of "artificial intelligence" or "machine intelligence" as utilized in computing technology because "human intelligence" is deemed to be the major factor in recruiting employees for high tech companies like Microsoft. It appears that they want the greatest human intelligence in order to develop the cutting edge machine intelligence.

Week 5, #10

"Avatars" - Since we're learning about these, it is important for us all to be fully informed of the full scope of this concept. Although the information given in the ihcpl assignment is accurate, a significant omission compels me add the hysterical basis (that's right, not historical) of this important subject. To whit -

The first "Avatar" was the appellation adopted by an avid fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, who of course, authored the ever popular "Tarzan" stories that became popular movies in the formative years of the film industry. This avid Tarzan fan, in the interest of anonymity truncated her name to "Avatar" while establishing the first "blog" in June of 1937. Tragically, no one gave credit to her for this seminal work, primarily because no one knew about the Internet (which she invented) at that time, but also because of the rampant gender bias of that era. As is commonly know, it took decades for her invention to be brought before the public by Claude Shannon, who working for Bell Laboratories & conducting research on Information Theory, was given credit for inventing the Internet.

At this point, I've looked at Goodreads & tries to add my own titles . . . since I prefer nonfiction books, that is what I entereed. Guess what? it responds that it can't find the titles. So, I'll need to verify that my entries are correct & come back later. Well, that's lesson #11, so I'll close this post & move on. ttfn

Week 4, #9

Alright! This is "instant information" in the literal sense of the phrase. The next challenge is to actually read all of this information on a regular (daily?) basis. It gives fast access to sites of interest & is a way to keep up to date with them. Very good, sports fans.
bfn

Week 4, #8

[THIS JUST IN: CNN has this applicant for the anchor position on the 6 o'clock news - her audition tape was inadvertently downloaded to a blog site. As a result, millions of viewers have e-mailed CNN begging them to hire this up-start, but CNN couldn't meet the salary requirements of the candidate who told reporters that she didn't think $22 million for a 2-yr contract was unreasonable. (In confidence, she admitted that the request was based on the recommendation of the Vancouver (BC) Public Library union representative.)]

Also, "this just in:" After reviewing the Wikipedia entry for "RSS" one would not be criticized for thinking, "TMI!" The data about really simple syndication is, might we say, comprehensive.

As a web feed (or "feed" as it is known by insiders) is designed to provide automated updates of information sites that otherwise must be searched manually.

This accumulation is done by an "aggregator." Although the article doesn't give the following information, I'm adding it for the enlightenment of all students of technology willing to admit they don't know it all [it's based on meticulous research.]

The term "aggregator" describes the process of the assimilation of alligators to arid farmland ("agriculture" + "alligator" = "aggegator") as a permanent habitat, away from their normal, aquarian habitat. Aggregators are not to be confused with crocodiles because they live in a different part of the world. The reasoning behind introducing alligators to arid farmland is that since they (alligators) have the habit of burrowing, they are very helpful in digging for water, which, of course, is much needed in order to grow anything in those arid wastelands. And although there is much more detail about this specialized field of zoology (training alligators to be aggregators) I must move on with writing other authoritative reference documents. In any case, if this information is aggravating to you, you're in good company.
ttfn

Week 3, items 5, 6 & 7

Alright! We opened a flickr account [I suppose that's what it's called], "loaded" a photo through Flickr & read about APIs - "Application Programming Interface" - [indeed, after reading the definition of the term, I can honestly admit I have no understanding of it], Mashups - which I really think should be an auto insurance site showing wrecked vehicles - especially since it [mashup] is defined as a "web application hybrid" . . . hybrids get better gas mileage - Trippermap, for you world travellers and a virtually endless list of "tools."

It will be interesting to see how much of this is retained. My impression is that it will have to be repeated several times to imprint the procedures.

So I actually get another bling for this? I think I should be given a new car for it, in light of the "degree of dificulty," which for me, on a scale of 1 - 10, was a 12.

Onward & upward.

Well, now that "blogging" has been done we're on to "flicker-ing" - that can't hold a candle to e-mailing! . . . flicker . . . candle . . . get it?

"Read the Screen."

In the continuing quest to develop facility with this technology, I am faced with "loading" ["using?" ; finding?] a template . . . where [& how] does one find & copy a "template?"

(This stuff is easy for some of you out there, but a few of us are still "lost is cyberspace" looking for the right icon to click on. In reality, we're looking for an icon to cling to, so we're actually "Cling-ons," Mr. Spock.)

Help, please! How do I add a "template" to my blog?

Does anyone collect "grape" jokes? You know, like, "What is purple & goes 'Slam, slam, slam, slam?"

Yes, a 4-door grape.

Certainly everyone knows that famous purple, world conqueror, Alexander the Grape.

And of course, there's the renowned, purple novel, Grape Expectations.

The truth is that I'm putting this drivel on here to see whether anyone reads blogs in general & this one in specific. Especially to ask if there are any punsters tuning in: please send some of your pun-ishment. (With the realization, of course, that anyone deranged enough to make a pun should be drawn & quoted.

bfn

"Safety."

"Internet Safety," the phrase is optimistic & there are good suggestions to avoid unwanted contacts [attacks.]

First Post

Well, this took a lot of help from friends, but here we are. Admittedly I'm curious about how this stuff works, but am plowing ahead inspite of ignorance. If this can earn a "merit badge" (call it a "bling" if you wish, but for an old scout, the new terminology will take as much getting used to as does the technology), all the better.

Ya'll have a good day.