Wrap-up/Reflections

I THINK I have done each unit, and hope I didn't skip something. I am finishing this evening because of some "quality time" since no one came to the class I was supposed to teach, which is good, because this learning does take some time.
Definitely the favorite parts were finding photos, videos, newsfeeds, and ways to share books and reading. I even enjoy the blogging part, although reading others' blogs will continue to be reserved for experts in the subject or news areas.
As mentioned in various blog posts, I can see uses for many of these tools in some of the work I hope to continue doing in my life, both professionally and as an amateur writer. I hope to not stop learning, and that includes learning about new technology. That is one of the reasons I enjoy working at the library. What I don't like are things that are just too "cute" and too amateur. I feel real connection with Jon Stewart's take on "friending." Some of the "friending" we were supposed to do with our blog and meebo just didn't work. That was just one of the technical difficulties. Several of the instructional videos could not be heard, no matter how I turned up the volume. Some activities were just not easy to figure out, and although in theory it would be nice to work with others on some of this, and on occasion I did, the fact is most of this was done while I was alone right here in my basement corner. No one to just ask for help. No one around. Room mostly empty. Friends?
I would say the number one problem with this self-study is that there was no time dedicated for all who wanted to participate to actually have time to dig into it. I consider myself lucky to have this evening and a real block of time. I raced through everything earlier just to finish. Just to finish by a March deadline and vacation leave. Most units were done in small minute increments over some days. I would forget what I had started and learned. Luckily I WROTE down some of the login sites, as I changed my password every so often. I TOOK NOTES so I could prepare a semi-sensible blog. Writing reminders on a post-it or scratch paper--I am so high tech.
It would have been great fun to work with other people on some of these. I have talked to some others, they have had some of the same problems.
I will end by saying I am glad for the exposure to the many forms of "citizen media" that are now available. I can understand how some people can become so involved with all the possibilities. I am not sure the content is worthwhile in most cases, but I hope I can continue to pull together the really fabulous and worthy media to enjoy myself and to share, just as I have done with good books for a long time.

Audio & Video: Video

I enjoy these video websites, some of the videos are well done or just fortuitous depending on the circumstances. Some of them are terribly amateur, the Home Movies of years gone by are just the same home movies of today's technology.
I did a rather broad category search of a popular tourist destination. Yellowstone. Should be lots of videos of Old Faithful. Youtube, of course, seemed to have hundreds and one I chose was very slow loading and lots of people in the foreground, heads moving and hair blowing. Bliptv had fewer choices, but I found a very good video there, and the artist had just used the natural sounds as recorded rather than dubbing in some music (which by the comments on Youtube, is popular but I prefer natural). Metacafe--I looked at the "#1 weekly top earner" but the title link did not go to that one. I did my subject search again and looked at one that had earned $800, and it is very funny of a bear coming up to the car to check them out and tries to eat the mirror. That is what I mean by a "fortuitous" moment. Whoever was holding the camera did a better job than most, and I am glad they are now paying for their vacation with this video. Viddler had many fewer choices in my search, and youaretv had zero hits. Revver I nearly gave up on, as it was very slow to load the website, but the videos then ran smoothly. Ads kept popping up and I hated it. ScienceHack had possibilities, but the offerings so far are somewhat limited.
I enjoy these sites. I actually have a couple very faves that I know are on Youtube, Kosovo--now that Kosovo is independent we emailed it to some friends, and dancing treadmills. Watching them brightens my day, and I know I will return to Youtube and Metacafe just for fun.
Definitely libraries could build a collection of informative videos and offer our account to the public. I personally would not want to search here if I wanted to paint window trim, but maybe if it were already collected as "the very best" free video.

Alternative Blogging

I really didn't like these quick and catchy blogsites. If you have nothing to say with a regular blog, there is even less to say with a shortened version. If I were into texting, cell phone camera and mp3, maybe. Looking at the sample posts I made, I do like the way the url is an instant link from what I called it. It is very social, with just your "in crowd." So here it is:
uimich940.tumblr.com

Pocasts

I tried Podcast.net first, but it seemed busy as my browser was unable to connect after a couple tries. Next I went to Podcastalley and looked around. Searched "libraries" and a number of records came up. However, it seemed I would need to download some more software to listen, so I got cold feet. Tried Yahoo Podcasts and it was so much easier to use! With just Windows mediaplayer that I have installed, I was able to listen to a free minute of Johnny Cash, which was featured on the home page, and then searched "libraries" and chose an NPR program "Libraries Become Temporary Refuge for Homeless." NPR programs were free, and they are always good content. (Podcastalley had a lot of catchy library phrases, and nothing against everyone being a star, but I did not want to spend time sifting through a lot of productions that may or may not be worthwhile). It was also extremely easy to add the RSS NPR feed to my bloglines. And instantly, NPR: the Opinion Page appeared. I like easy--no fuss, no installations, no passwords and logins. Someday (soon) when my ever more decrepit portable cd player plays its last Mozart, I too will have an iPod or more covetously, an iPhone, and will definitely be more into iTunes and other subscription media downloads.

Audio & Video

I had some fun trying out these sites, but again with mixed results.
last.fm--searched for Alfred Brendel, gave me a profile but connected me to "similar" artists for listening. Sound quality was not good and I could not turn up the volume to really hear it. It listed the track, but not the composer or full work. I liked the menu choices, including "don't ever play again."
pandora--tried the song name "yesterday." About six different and unknown groups came up, but I guess the Beatles are not sharing their work. When I randomly chose one of the groups, it began playing a completely different song, with a little disclaimer popup --"why we're not playing yesterday" but when I clicked for the explanation--nothing. I know that music copyright is a touchy deal, so maybe I was expecting too much. Sound quality poor.
IMEEM-- I liked browsing the categories. I chose "classical" but it wasn't my definition of "classical." More like just pop lite. The sound quality was much better on this site. But then when I tried to leave the site--I couldn't. Held prisoner!
Internet archive--I had great fun watching a few minutes of some 30's and 40s cartoons since I love the popular culture of that era. Something I will definitely return to when I'm bored at home. The Popeye cartoons were "feature" length, one was a bit pixeled, however. This site is a keeper.
Sound effects--a good one to refer patrons to, as we sometimes have requests for various effects recordings. The ones I tried, I could not play because of something lacking on my computer.
Mango languages--would love to try but am so sick of having to sign up, login, password, etc. Yesterday I just ran out of time, and I see I have just 10 minutes left today to finish this blog. \Gutenberg's audiobook--limited choices, but I hope it grows and grows. I will want to come back, and maybe if it's still around in my old age, volunteer to read something. I love reading aloud to an audience!

I like Google Docs a lot. Perhaps in my old age I will choose to do more with my blog and post some documents. I think it could have very serious applications with committees or just note taking in meetings, since those are usually emailed to supervisors for editing and approval. I am also proud of myself for figuring out to go to the Google Home Page when the link from Web 2.0 instructions did not allow me to login. Home page entry worked like a charm.

cool stuff

Tried blog readability check, when I copied and pasted my url it responded "unable to check url entered." Now I do feel dumb, because I am always moving urls around and no problem. Also looked at Yahoo answers and found a good question I wanted to offer my 2cents advice, but clicking "answer" just went to a dead end and then I noticed Sign In. So I guess you have to have an account, and I am frankly sick of doing that. Already I feel my stock of memorable passwords is depleted, not to mention my email is comprimised. Sketchcast also required a login. Wordshoot was fun and one I will recommend to patrons who enjoy games and NEED some typing skills. The easy level was truly easy.