preschool

online applications and tools

Ok, so this is my gazillionth attempt at trying to post my online application experience, well, maybe I am exaggerating but this is NOT my first attempt... But I think it is going to be my very last attempt.

So, regarding the online applications and tools task...... I did the Google tour, and went through all the applications. This is very probably a handy tool for people who need to have others involved in their various layers of daily work, but it is not something that I believe will be useful to my daily chores at work.

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
Originally uploaded by dereck von

Well, I figured out how to listen to piano jazz, and this is THE MAN to listen to while doing the Web 2.0 tasks.
The tasks going smoother with the ivories being tickled by Dave.
Gotta love that music

March 28, 2007 Tornados

March 28, 2007 Tornados
Originally uploaded by maupin

So this morning on NPR, the was a piece on the price people were willing to pay to sit next to Jack Nicholson at the Lakers NBA final game in LA, $80,000 - come on folks, he puts his trousers on just like my husband, he is a very good actor, but $80,000 to sit next to?

Then on the national news the story on all networks was the tornado event in Iowa that ripped through a boy scout camp - with 4 fatalities - and how the scouts really live by their motto "Be prepared", they knew first aid, and were already hard at work taking care of each other when the first responders made it to the camp.

These two stories are so unrelated, and yet, it left me feeling a bit less kindly toward people who have to be able to say "I sat next to Jack Nicholson", and feeling sad for the families that lost sons at this camp, but proud that the MANY decent folk still outweigh the SHALLOW!

So, my thoughts are What is is that makes Americans let celebrities have such power, and Why are we so obsessed with what they do, when so many of them really don't have positive behavior or are even nice?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Originally uploaded by geekinthegarden (in the woods with no internet!)

This is an incredible photo. Imagine having about 5 of these little guys hanging around the bird feeder sitting on the bar sipping their nectar - we have so much fun watching them in the early evening.
We have lots of native plants around to encourage natural feeding, but they really love the nectar I make. Their favorite plant is the "red hot poker". Only drawback to plants is that they are low enough to the ground, so it is easier for prowling cats to catch them.

overdrive/downloadable material

Life in the library has taken on new meaning with downloadable material, not that it is something I will probably use - I LOVE holding a book in my hand, and when I am not reading, I don't want to listen to someone else read a book.

Nope, downloading books isn't my thing, however, I did the assignment, and decided to check out internet radio stations. I followed, with Stacey's assistance, the directions on installing the system, believe me, I don't know how I did it, but it was successful.

I found some really enjoyable jazz and classic station, have one in links.

I am sure that if pushed I could help someone install overdrive, but I wouldn't "bet the farm" on it.

search engines

Gads, sometimes I wonder what gremlin is sitting inside this terminal. I just finished writing my new post on search engines and poof away it went, and not into my blog!

So, in my task of working on search engines......
I use Google frequently, as I change the screensavers about every 2 weeks on all the staff terminals - so I enjoy using images from Google.

I worked with all the search engines that we had listed on this week's 2.0. As for the various engines, after Google, and Yahoo, I enjoyed Ask the best. UC Berkeley's comparison was interesting to view, and try the different steps. Rollyo, Mamma and Dogpile seemed a bit sophomoric to me, but won't dismiss them completely.

Probably is was on Ask, but I cannot remember, I searched for my friends' address in Hilo, Hawaii, and zoomed down from the overhead satellite to view their house.

podcast success maybe

Unfortunately, I was never able to listen to a library podcast, and not for the lack of trying. One only has so much time one can devote to these projects. So, I started surfing around, and finally decided to try to listen to music, particularly jazz programs from NPR. Success occurred on the first time, then when I tried to RSS a second and third it looked as if I was doomed to yet another failure, however, when I came in the next day and went into my RSS, well by jiggers, there they were.
So I ended up with three jazz podcasts - I am particularly happy as I was able to get Piano Jazz with Mary McPartland!

As for a tool for Sno-Isle, I could see that it might appeal to some patrons, but since so many people walk around with I-pods, maybe they wouldn't be interested in the service. However, if there were language classes offered they might be heavily used.

This was my first experience with podcasts. Last Saturday morning, as we were doing our pre-opening chores, I put on a podcast on Count Basie, so the staff was entertained (maybe, maybe not) for 50 minutes with music, interviews and facts about Count Basie. I didn't use headset, as I needed to be moving around the building.

Rain storm in Melbourne

Rain storm in Melbourne
Originally uploaded by neilcreek

So, there we were at Twin City Elementary school, talking about summer reading to 3rs graders, and the fire alarm went off. Well, it's always good to practice a fire drill, but when the field is muddy and the rain is coming down, being involved in a school fire drill is probably the last place you want to be. Maybe the rain wasn't coming down as hard as in this photo, but it was still rainy and windy.
A special ed student pulled the handle, but everyone still had to evacuate the building...........