Thing 7

For this "thing", I am asked to blog about anything that's related to technology.

I have never been one to jump on new technology's bandwagon. Sometimes I want to learn about new technology, but I've never been the "first on my block" to do so. I'm usually hesitant because I think that it's going to be something for which I won't find a use or that it simply won't interest me. Although I'm confident in my ability to learn new things, I've always felt that technology regarding computers is my weakest subject. I think that I learn many things quickly; but, in the world of technology, I feel that I am a slow learner. However, I don't keep a "chip on my shoulder" in this area or any other one. For that reason, I've often been pleasantly surprised. For instance, I found that I was genuinely enjoying my exploration of Flickr.

I became a librarian before HCPL had access to the internet. That's an example of a subject that I thought was going to overwhelm me a decade ago, but now I feel very comfortable "surfing the net" for so much information that personally interests me. As well, I enjoy teaching patrons of our library how to find information on the internet and how to use e-mail.

All of my knowledge has come from Maurice Coleman, Annette Gaskins, and Maxine Rising. (I listed them alphabetically.) All of them have made me feel that I'm just as smart as them and have made me feel very comfortable. All of them seem to truly espouse the adage that "there isn't any such thing as a dumb question". From simply knowing Irmgarde Brown, I feel that she is the same king of teacher; but I've never had a chance to be in a class with her.

After my blog for my fifth thing, someone posted a few words of encouragement. I truly appreciate that.

So, I'll continue to work my way through the 23 things. It will be nice if I complete them in time to get an mp3 player. That's a piece of technology that I've never touched for the reasons that I mentioned above. At first glance, I think that I don't need it or won't find it useful or that it won't interest me; but, I'd bet money that, after I play with it for a while, I'll really like it. Remember, that I'm one that uses his cellular phone in the most basic, rudimentary fashion.

Bob

Thing 6

In this "discovery exercise", I am asked to explore some mashups. Mashups are applications on the web that mash together data from more than one source to form an integrated experience.
For instance, the maps from www.google.com are combined with the information about real estate from www.craigslist.org to create a mashup.
I found a mashup, http://lunchbox.allbusiness.com, which mashes together maps and reviews of restaurants. Supply a zip code and you'll be given reviews of restaurants in the area.
Another, completely different mashup that I used, is Flickr's Color Pickr. It helps you to find Flickr's images that match specific colors. I got there by going to www.krazydad.com/colorpickr. I chose one that I like to put on my computer's desktop. It's at the top of this blog.

Thing 5

I have learned about Flickr. I have learned that Flickr is a website on which folks like you and me may share photographs. Besides being a place to share personal photographs, it is also a great repository of photographs for anyone to use. Perhaps you'll need photographs for certain projects. Flickr is a great place to get them.

I enjoyed browsing through Flickr's thousands and thousands of varied photographs. Here is a link -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/31245549@N00/395007107/ -- to one that I like because of its simplicity. It's attractive to me because few colors are used and I'm seeing textures that I want to touch. It's an uncluttered photograph that brings to my mind pleasant memories of the years during which I worked with community theaters in Baltimore and Harford County.

Bob