The Big Machine

Today we had a series of big machines around our house - they probably have proper names, but I'm going to refer to them as big drill, paving thing, and thing that belches out asphalt like poop from a goose.

I was trying to catch up with an old friend of mine (visiting from Germany) but the jackhammers drove us away to greener and quieter pastures. Here's a pic of one of the big machines. I'd attach a soundtrack, but you'd have to crank your speakers all the way.

Rollyo - Thang No. 12

Rollyo has been on my list of 2.0 tools, but this is my first time playing with it. I started out in the Public Domain e-books Rollyo and looked for some vague search terms (mystery book) and specific ones (creative commons - which pulled up licensing agreements for shared works - IPL had the best results there).

Then I searched for Ron Howard (I'm quite a fan of Arrested Development) on sapllearns media Rollyo. Because Howard is just a prolific and gifted actor/director/you name it, the search results were massive - but again I liked the ability to rope in results by picking one site and grouping my results. I can definitely see how Rollyo could be useful for Reference - but like all Web 2.0 tools, something that needs to be refined and edited with frequency.

So I decided to add do my own Rollyo for art history. I set up my own Rollyo account under bibliosopher and grabbed some expansive art history sites (like Smithsonian's SIRIS, Artcyclopedia and more). It created my own search rollyo in less than 10 minutes. The search results so far are pretty good - if you like art history or want to learn more, come and play:

Select...art historySearch The Web

Goodreadin' - Thang No. 11

Goodreads is one of my favorite library 2.0 tools. I first chronicled all my children's books before my slipshod memory lost them. Then I added reader's advisory Goodreads shelves for YA lit, comedy & satire, art and more. My Goodreads holds almost 700 books (this includes a list of 100 to-reads, which is growing by the week). Soon my virtual bookshelves will be larger than the ones in my house.

My Goodreads "to-reads" are gathered mostly from suggestions, but occasionally from ALA and TLA reading lists. I can see what Neil Gaiman is reading, and add books from my favorite surreal novelist. How cool is that - to live in a time where I can see what authors I enjoy are reading.

My reading plan currently includes mystery and suspense books. I'd love to hear your bookish suggestions, so feel free to click through my Goodreads widget on the right and send me a message or friend request.

Being John Malkovich - Monroe - Thang No. 10

I decided to try an image generator using one of my drawings rather than a personal photo. First, here's how the original drawing looks. I took a photo of the drawing.



Photofunia has 2 kinds of image generators - one that uses "Face Technology" to match your image to the face (3-D), and one that takes your face and presses it flat. The Face technology one is truly creepy. It gives a new meaning to the phrase - I'm all ears...



A less sinister version is the Photofunia graffiti image generator, that rendered my drawing quite nicely.

The RSS Affair and Daily Lit - Thang No.9

Daily Lit was a joy to use - easy to search for books. I decided to receive RSS installments of Jane Eyre, Bronte's classic novel that I have never read. I liked being able to choose how often my RSS was delivered and bopped around in Daily Lit's book forum, where nothing recent was being discussed. My plan is to read Jane Eyre on RSS and then read the Eyre Affair again. Only 261 RSS Bronte feeds to go!

Then I wondered - is fan fiction alive for the classics? We all know about Harry Potter fan love and Sherlock Holmes homages, but is there a Eyre world beyond Jasper Fforde? Back to the Technorati searches. My survey found luscious fan fiction for Jane Austen (no Bronte so far). But there is [drum roll] a new graphic novel version of Jane Eyre. Will it help struggling readers learn the classics or is it a "dumbing down" of a masterpiece? Genteel bloggers want to know.

It's positively reviewed on the Other Stories blog - and here's a sneak peek.
Jane Eyre The Graphic Novel

RSS Simplicity - Thang No 8.

So I started out thinking I was really simple Selwyn (RSS), mostly because I have once again allowed my RSS feed to reach 1000+ in Google Reader. I'm much better at adding feeds than actually checking them. As a hedonist, I consider it my duty to indulge all kinds of things - techno toys (Lifehacker or Boing Boing), my 23ers (you guys), and Reader's Advisory (Give 'em What they Want). I'm also testing Evanced feeds at the moment - that's what I'm on top of most of all at the moment, along with the reader's advisory feeds.

I do like RSS coming to me instead of bopping around 20 websites or so. The only downside is sometimes it's akin to the Sunday NYTs - too much to examine in one sitting. Just need to develop my skimming skills a little more and a little more often.


Photo credit from Flickr Commons - NYT by Mezzoblue

Technology and Ads - Thang No. 7

There's a whole lotta connectivity with web 2.0, and I'm not just talking about Internet speed. Here's a couple of weird aspects of networking I've noticed - involving ads.

1) Facebook: most pleasant surprise, discovering an old friend, who teaches in Australia. Unpleasant surprise: the new design has even more ad traffic. Also, any other women in the 30's demographic sick of generic diet ads?

2) Reflections on the Wired article: is the Internet one large, flexible learning brain? If so, why are some of the synapses (individuals) feeling a disconnect? Are things growing faster than our ability to process them?

As the Internet grows (and we come producers of information as much as consumers) it has the impact to transform our traditional advertising (for products) but not our basic desires (wealth, sex, forming relationships, fame). I think that Internet banner advertising is going the way of the dinosaur, and in a few years products will be embedded even more in more of our YouTube videos, and eventually in our virtualities. This election was, after all, the first time that political ads were added into billboards in a video game.

What to do with a synapse wraps truth and fiction into our thoughts? A brave new world indeed. It's not all about a buck, but the Wired writer is joking if he thinks it's all free.

Viral Video - Election Day

Here's my attempt at improv for the electorate. It's only on half a lung, but still a decent try. It's called "Getting Out the Sick Vote."

Flickr Fun - Cooking up Thang No. 6th

I've long been a fan of Animoto (for personal and work videos) and I've used Qoop to make gifts for family. So, it's down to the Montagr or the Librarian Trading Card for me. As a gamer, I couldn't neglect playing a trading card. So here goes...

I hope the rest of you are having fun playing with Flickr and creating mashups!

I also invite you to create a reading map based on a photo of your reading interests. All you do is take a picture in Flickr and add notes above each book. You can do this for one of your mysapl Flickr book displays or for your personal Flickr account. Tips on how to do this are on the Intranet Flickr cheat sheet.

Here's an example of a home reading map on cookbooks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibliosopher/1452933675/in/set-72157603568878046/

Romancing the blog - Thang no. 4

One of my pleasures is to read from a different point of view. Those who know me know that I have a hard time with "happy endings." Romance books I struggle with (and struggle I do) but this reader's advisory blog gives me great pleasure:

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com

The romance reviews are funny, sarcastic and give this gal a thrill. You can search the archives by "grade" - finding an A-line romance or (for laughs) an F that falls flat on its plot.

The language can be on the gritty side, but oh so witty! I have found several book recommendations have made me a romantic reader. but I digress... Read more for more.

Flickr - San Pedro Builds Tall - Thang No. 5

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We're exploring Flickr on 23 things next. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite tools of the 2.0 trade.

Here is one of the playful photos emailed to our mysapl Flickr account. It's from San Pedro, where teens built mock architecture from marshmallows & pasta. Obviously, they have having a fabulous time - with math, no less! Maybe math would have stuck for me if it was edible and involved less chalkboard madness.

San Pedro's photo makes me want to go into my neighborhood branch and see what's going on. Thanks for sharing this event with us. You have a great eye for photography, Hondo!

I hope all the 23ers have a fun time exploring Flickr with me. Let me know any Flickr questions you have by making a comment to this post. Your Flickr lesson will be posted soon, so stay tuned...

Photo blogging

I'm going to wrap up editing the Flickr lesson by Sunday, but first an excellent example of photo blogging (basically sharing photos on a similar theme with others).

Here's a blog called "Advanced Style" that features seniors who dress with panache. Yesterday on the bus I saw an 70 year old lady with beret, long flowing scarf, the hippest glasses I ever saw, and black fingernails. I complemented her and she said "Thank you darling..." I hope to look like the "Lady in red" when I'm older. Where's my camera when I need it?

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/

7 1/2 habits - survival style - Thang No. 2

I'd have to say the easiest habit for me is creating my own learning toolbox. I'm a fan of public transit, so I often take my tools with me on the road (books, wifi devices, mp3, sketchpad) and occassionally they open up a mobile conversation. Sometimes I take those tools off the beaten path. The hardest habit would be learning with the end in mind - although I have personal learning goals, sometimes the online tools change (or our impressions of them) in the midst of our learning.

What's relevant today is not always tomorrow, so we have to examine the "end in mind" with that toolbox. What we really need is a leatherman tool with lots of unfoldy options or maybe just one simple survival tool (like a pocket knife) that can shape multiple things. As you can tell, I'm approaching this from a camping/hiking philosophy as well. What's the library 2.0 equivalent of a leatherman or pocket knife? What tools do you want in your backpack and what can be left behind? Not sure, but I hope to find out from 23 things.

Former SAPL gal featured on Boing Boing!

I'm very proud of Adrienne, who used to be among us at SAPL and now graces the bookshelves in Virginia. She and her boyfriend CJ designed a "living banned books display" that was featured on Boing Boing (one of the most popular blogs on the net). See their amazing display here:

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/10/03/library-celebrates-b.html

Double Epics

This morning, I decided to really stretch my brain like taffy.

I've had 3 cups of coffee so far and I am listening to Off Armageddon Reef (by Weber) and then picking up the novel American Gods (by Gaiman). They are both hugemongous books involving gods of various sorts & spiritual warfare, and both have intricately woven worlds.

I might suffer either enlightment or a brain clot, who knows. I'm not sure the wisdom of combining two such detailed and well-written books at one time, but the coffee leads me on.

Banned Books Week - Thang No. 3

While I enjoyed "tossing the hammer" for 23 things, I thought I would write a little about Banned Books Week. Satirizing 1984 just wasn't enough for me...

What was the last banned book you read? I recently enjoyed Deadline by Chris Crutcher, a book that explores the last year of a young man's life, a teen faced with a rare and fatal disease. Crutcher is on the top 10 ten banned authors list for 2007, so I felt I should explore his writing further (his banned books include Whale Talk and Athletic Shorts).

I looked over the ALA's list of the 100 most banned books of 1990 - 2000 and 2007 and both lists contain more Children's and YA titles/authors than adult. All kinds of books, from acclaimed to the simply "campy," are brought under scrutiny for controversial language, sexual content, or religious/political or other social viewpoints.

Author's struggle to portray realistic fiction for their younger audience, while parents seek to guide the behavior of their children (and sometimes beyond their family, claiming a community need for appropriate materials). This is where our guidance as professionals comes in, as well as our ability to represent different viewpoints and perspectives in our collection.

While I consider myself fairly familiar with the Banned Books classics, I encourage you to check out a more contemporary banned book this week and the ALA resources. Make a display about the importance of reading free.

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.cfm