Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thing #12 – Rollyo
This is a strange one. While I can kind of understand the reasoning behind creating your own specialized search engine (the quotes one specifically) I prefer to search everything, not just a couple of sites I like. I like using Google to search for things I don’t know because I want to find as many answers as possible and then take the consensus from those. I don’t quite know how to express it, but I’ll admit it, I don’t know the best sites for everything and I really can’t think of a subject matter (such as quotes) that I could choose favorite sites for because if I don’t have a specific site I use all the time, I just Google it and check several sites. I don’t want to be difficult or anything, but I’m going to opt out of this one, merely because I’m at a loss for what to create a specific search engine for.
Thing #11 – LibraryThing
Rather interesting, but I’m not really anal-retentive enough to use it regularly. I’m also a copy cataloger with hundreds of books at home (no exaggeration: 8 bookcases and I still don’t have enough space) and the thought of entering them all into a database would drive me a little nuts (okay, further nuts). I generally know what I have and about where it is on the shelves. At one point I had them sorted into sections and alphabetized, but I haven’t had the motivation to do that for a while. But seeing as 4 of those bookcases are still at my parents’ house - I know, it’s been 7 years and I just don’t have room to bring them with me. I do go back and raid them periodically and I tend to reread my books or I’d sell them – having my bookshelves separated like that makes it rather difficult to really organize my collection. But back to my point, although it’s a neat site, I just don’t think I have the time to enter all the books I have. Although, if I ever wanted to discuss books with someone, this site would be a good place to start.
http://www.librarything.com/profile/cotton.aj (Profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/cotton.aj (Library)
http://www.librarything.com/profile/cotton.aj (Profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/cotton.aj (Library)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thing #9 - RSS Search Engines
To me, there’s a difference between keeping up on current events via magazines or journals and The News. I don’t like The News. It annoys me and tends to piss me off because I don’t deal well with mass stupidity or with things I have no power over (change-wise). I’m not that big into gossip either and that seems to be what a good portion of The News (especially political News) is.
After getting that off my chest, I can get to the main point of this post – a review of blog search engines. And here’s my opinion:
After getting that off my chest, I can get to the main point of this post – a review of blog search engines. And here’s my opinion:
Topix: too much News. I really don’t care who Palin has annoyed and convinced to use their credit cards or who she blames for the Republican defeat in the 2008 election. I don’t really care how many people were shot today and how many kids have been dropped off under the Safe Haven law. It’s rather selfish, but if it doesn’t effect me or set precedence on something that might effect me, I don’t really want to know about it.I guess my tastes run more toward humorous blogs, things that amuse me or useless information about certain historical events – in other words, things that have little influence on current events. And often times I’m sent links to interesting blogs, I find them in tech journals or links to them from other blogs I like.
Syndic8: interesting but unless I’m looking for a specific subject for an RSS feed or something interesting appears in their Random 5 or 10 headlines/syndicated feeds/countries, I didn’t see much for my favorite sorts of RSS blogs
Technorati: a little better but I was really only interested in the technology tab and even then, I didn’t see anything I’d set up the RSS (or in my case to be emailed the top daily articles) feed for.
Thing #8 – RSS Feeds
Well, I set up a bloglines acct and subscribed to half a dozen RSS feeds and I’ve decided I don’t really care for the service. I’m sure it works well for a good number of people, but for me, it’s just another email account to check (I already have at least 10 so I really don’t need another one). I also tried setting it up in Outlook 2007 which has the option of doing it through their software, but again, it’s just another area for me to look. For me, the best idea so far is to have any feeds sent to my main email address which I always check at the beginning of each workday.
I also have a Favorites folder of regularly updated websites (blogs mostly) that I check when or if I have the time that day. If not, I catch them tomorrow. Or the day after that. But you get the idea. I think it comes down to personal preference.
I also have a Favorites folder of regularly updated websites (blogs mostly) that I check when or if I have the time that day. If not, I catch them tomorrow. Or the day after that. But you get the idea. I think it comes down to personal preference.
Monday, November 3, 2008
thing #7 – blog about anything to do with technology
Okay, there’s an easy one. I’m already a bit of a geek and have an ingrained fascination with technology. I’m pretty sure it’s my father’s fault seeing all the tech stuff in the basement and everything else I take after from him with. Besides, it’s good to have someone to blame when I don’t have food for a week because I bought something else for my computer or handheld. I also blame him for my money management skills (or lack there of).
Actually, maybe this is harder than I thought. What part of technology do I want to write about? When did I first use a mouse? I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade and it’s all a little vague back then (come to think of it, most of my life is a little vague – migraines). Sending a memo via email instead of a fax? Um… never faxed a memo. I do remember the old ditto machine from 1st or 2nd grade. It took up a lot of space (but I was rather small then) and again, most memories of it are kinda vague. I do remember the smell of fresh dittoed papers (with my migraines I have trouble with an ultra sensitivity to smells so I remember a lot of things by scent.) and now I work by the (former) stockyards – great choice there, huh?
I ramble a lot don’t I?
I guess I’m one of the early home computer-era kids. I was taught to type in third grade and had a computer class every semester until well into high school. Email became a big thing just as I entered college and after the first couple years there, the internet we currently know (with images instead of text based) was coming into use. I even think like a computer – everything in folders and subfolders so everything is in its logical place – at least logical to me. I try to do everything electronically that I can. All my bills are paid online or set up as direct withdraw from my checking account. I went for more than six months without using a checkbook just to see if I could do it. Turns out I can and it’s probably better that way because I had an old book of checks stolen and had to end my experiment because I got a new box of checks when I had to change my account number. I had to use them for a few weeks while all the electronic payments were changed to my new account. I haven’t sent a piece of mail in 8 months – I’ll send it via email or fax if absolutely necessary. I tried not opening my mail for three months and that really didn’t work. Apparently some people rely on snailmail for bill notices and stuff like that. All my reminder notes are set up on various computers I log into at different times of the day. I’ve started attending classes for my MLS degree and all the notes are taken on the computer and stored on a flash drive.
God help me if I lose that flash drive or there is a really long power outage ‘cause then I’m kinda screwed.
Actually, maybe this is harder than I thought. What part of technology do I want to write about? When did I first use a mouse? I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade and it’s all a little vague back then (come to think of it, most of my life is a little vague – migraines). Sending a memo via email instead of a fax? Um… never faxed a memo. I do remember the old ditto machine from 1st or 2nd grade. It took up a lot of space (but I was rather small then) and again, most memories of it are kinda vague. I do remember the smell of fresh dittoed papers (with my migraines I have trouble with an ultra sensitivity to smells so I remember a lot of things by scent.) and now I work by the (former) stockyards – great choice there, huh?
I ramble a lot don’t I?
I guess I’m one of the early home computer-era kids. I was taught to type in third grade and had a computer class every semester until well into high school. Email became a big thing just as I entered college and after the first couple years there, the internet we currently know (with images instead of text based) was coming into use. I even think like a computer – everything in folders and subfolders so everything is in its logical place – at least logical to me. I try to do everything electronically that I can. All my bills are paid online or set up as direct withdraw from my checking account. I went for more than six months without using a checkbook just to see if I could do it. Turns out I can and it’s probably better that way because I had an old book of checks stolen and had to end my experiment because I got a new box of checks when I had to change my account number. I had to use them for a few weeks while all the electronic payments were changed to my new account. I haven’t sent a piece of mail in 8 months – I’ll send it via email or fax if absolutely necessary. I tried not opening my mail for three months and that really didn’t work. Apparently some people rely on snailmail for bill notices and stuff like that. All my reminder notes are set up on various computers I log into at different times of the day. I’ve started attending classes for my MLS degree and all the notes are taken on the computer and stored on a flash drive.
God help me if I lose that flash drive or there is a really long power outage ‘cause then I’m kinda screwed.
thing #6
This time, we’re supposed to look at outside applications that use flickr. Some of them are rather interesting and we’re to play with them, pick one and write about it. The suggested choices were to make trading cards, but frankly, I’ve never understood the fascination with trading cards (real or digital) and from all the surfing I’ve done, the whole meme doesn’t really click with me. Maybe cause there’s too much reading with them. I prefer funny pictures with short captions if any.
Instead, I’ve decided to write about colrpickr. It’s rather neat to play with, letting you choose a color and then retrieving pictures with that main color. You can also choose what subject matter you want – Color Fields, Flowers, Crayon Box, Squared Circle, Graffiti, Flickr Central, Doors and Windows, Macro, Textures, Urban Decay, Catchy Colors, Stock Repository, JPG Magazine. Once again, I could find myself spending hours at this site, just looking at all the pictures and classifications. Honestly, I have no idea what kind of application this could have in the real world, but it’s still neat to play with. (actually, that sounds like most of the things in my life)
http://www.krazydad.com/colrpickr/index.php?group=jpgmag
Instead, I’ve decided to write about colrpickr. It’s rather neat to play with, letting you choose a color and then retrieving pictures with that main color. You can also choose what subject matter you want – Color Fields, Flowers, Crayon Box, Squared Circle, Graffiti, Flickr Central, Doors and Windows, Macro, Textures, Urban Decay, Catchy Colors, Stock Repository, JPG Magazine. Once again, I could find myself spending hours at this site, just looking at all the pictures and classifications. Honestly, I have no idea what kind of application this could have in the real world, but it’s still neat to play with. (actually, that sounds like most of the things in my life)
http://www.krazydad.com/colrpickr/index.php?group=jpgmag
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