Week 10: #23 Is this really the end!

WOW! What a journey!

I can not believe the amount of information that I learned from the iHCPL Learning 2.o Program. I thought I new a lot from helping my sons with school projects using Powerpoint, but if I new then what I know now, they would have had spectacular presentations. The information I learned was also beneficial for me. I will continue to use the Library Elf, I think that is a very helpful tool (especially if you have to keep up with more than one account). Making my avatar was a lot of fun and so was making videos. I envision a lot of the tools to become more valuable once people become more familiar with them, especially Zoho. I can see students taking advantage of all the freedom that the program can offer. I hope this is not the end, but only the beginning of HCPL keeping their employees and customers in the fore front of computer technology.

WAY TO GO HCPL!!!

Week 9: #22 Downloadable Media

My first introduction to downloadable media was in HCPL’s Digital Books 101 training class. HCPL offers digital books and audio books on various topics and numerous authors. I believe that with the volume and ease of obtaining the book that you want, there is no need to go to the other sources that are mentioned. I did look at them, but found HCPL to have better choices. I enjoy listening to audio books, but when I want to read a book, I prefer to curl up with a book in my hand versus reading it online. My only suggestion would be to have universities and colleges look into making some of their books available to students in this format.

Week 9: #21 Podcast/Smodcast

I explored www.podcast.net and www.podcastalley.com and found them to be very interesting. The number of listing were numerous and covered every topic I was interested in. I added a gospel music site and a jazz site to my blogline. I believe that podcasts and ipods have made a radical change in technology and they are here to stay (until some newer, more advanced technology comes along).

Week 9: #20 Discover YouTube

Watch Team USA in the World Youth Championships at Czech Republic get that GOLD in the Swedish Medley Relay!! They are in lane 5 and the legs are, first leg, Isaiah Sweeney, second, Kenneth Gilstrap, third, William Wyne, and last is Danzell Fortson. Way to go USA!!!



If you can not view the video, click the link below:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q1J8PQCttW4

I was already familiar with YouTube because my sons showed me different videos that some of their friends made. I searched the name of my son's high school and was amazed at all the videos that appeared. Some of them were good (talent shows, pep rally, games) and some were in poor taste (food fights), but overall they were fun to watch.

I believe it is obvious why I selected this particular video. I AM A VERY PROUD SPORTS MOM!!!

I think HCPL could use YouTube as a way to inform the public of different services that they offer. HCPL could record their puppet shows and children's reading time.

High School Highlights

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Week 8: #19 Web-based Apps

EXCELLENCE

Excellence is the result of caring

more than others think is necessary,

risking more than others think is

practical and expecting more

than others think is possible.

This was published in Zoho. I think Zoho is an excellent tool. It can easily be used by students who work on multiple computers. I also liked the To Do/Planner that can be generated from Zoho. Great way to keep up with my family's busy sports schedules.

Week 8: #18 Social Networking

My sons introduced me to "myspace" and I think it is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. You can also share pictures instantly with people across the country. I explored "ratemyspace" and enjoyed this site. It was fun to see how other people have redesigned their homes and you can get ideas from them. But, like one of our earlier lessons emphasized, you must practice Internet safety on these sites.

Week 7: #17 New Technology

INFLATABLE CAR!

Here's a novel car design idea. Don't deploy airbags in a crash; build the car out of them to start with.It comes from a company called XP vehicle systems, which believes it has a chance in the Automotive X-Prize. That prize will award millions of dollars for producing a car capable of over 100 miles-per-gallon or equivalent energy economy.XP's idea is to have a vehicle made with a tough inflatable frame - like a Zodiac inflatable boat - on top of an electric chassis. Being lightweight means it can go further on a single charge - they claim up to 2,500 miles. XP even says it can be safely driven off a 25 foot cliff - apparently the air-filled shell will protect you like airbags did NASA's Mars Exploration Rover.

So, what is the big deal about inflatable cars?

* Prices start under $3000.00.
* You can drive them off a cliff, a few times in a row, and be OK.
* They have motors on every wheel.
* They can fold up (“flat-Pack”) for shipping
* They can carry lots of stuff.* They have issued patents on them.
* They all have iPOD holders.
* They plug into your house.
* You can charge them without an extension cord.

Week 7: #16 Wiki

I explored iHCPL Sandbox wiki and posted my blog to the favorites list. I also added my favorite book and my favorite artist to the listings. I think a wiki can be utilized by the children's librarians at HCPL when they are writing their scripts for the puppet shows that they perform. This will give each member a forum to express their ideas, opinions and concerns about the skit.

Week 6: #15 On Library 2.0 and Web 2.0

Library 2.0 is an innovative approach in the way libraries function in today’s online world utilizing the principles of Web 2.0. The article, “Into a new world of librarianship” emphasizes the need for libraries to seek out information and news that may impact future services. It encourages libraries to stay in touch with what the customers want and need, especially the younger generation who have grown up with online information and are computer savvy. I believe HCPL recognizes how quickly the world and library users change with advancing technology and have provided tools and encouragement for everyone to excel in the “Web World”.

Week 6: #14 Technorati

I CLAIMED MY BLOG!
Technorati Profile

Technorati was very interesting. It was amazing how you could narrow your results by doing an advanced search. I found the most helpful search was the "exact phrase".

Week 6: #13 Tagging

I explored Del.icio.us and found it interesting. I can see the benefits of using this tool when you use more than one computer to search for information. I looked at the links for iHCPL and saw several ones that I have used for my blog. It is good to know that these sites are easily accessible if I choose to work on my blog from home.

An Attitude for Life!

Our lives are not determined by what happens; not by what life brings us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst...a spark that creates extraordinary results.

Week 5: #12 Library "Smurf" Elf

Library Elf is a wonderful tool. It is great to get reminders for books that are close to their due dates. The site also tells you what items you have requested. I already receive reminders from HCPL, but another reminder is always great for a super busy Sports Mom.

Week 5: #11 Library Thing

Goodreads was recommended to me by Brown Sugar's World. I found the site very user friendly and fun. Once I started adding books to my list, it was hard to stop. I included books that I have read, books I am currently reading, and books that I want to read at a later date. This was a very interesting and beneficial assignemnent.

Week 5: #10 Image Generators

This was an exciting assignment. It was

fun changing the images to create my avatar.

Week 4: #9 Finding Feeds

I explored Feedster, Topix, Syndic8, and Technorati. There were numerous feeds that could be added to my blogline. I added a scrapbooking site from Topix.

Week 4: #8 RSS

Creating a blogline and adding feeds was very simple. I added 12 feeds to my blogline. I tried to add things from my favorites lists, but not all of them had RSS feedlines. I am not sure if I will use this site versus my favorites list.

Week 3: #7 Editing

This photo was created with Pixer. I cropped the picture, made it sepia and flipped the catch.

What fun!!!

Week 3: #6 Champs

Week 3: #7
Originally uploaded by srs529

These young men represented the United States in the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic in July, 2007. They brought home the GOLD!!!

Way to go son!

Week 3 #6 The catch

My creation
Originally uploaded by srs529

Game winning catch!

This photo was done with the Hockneyizer. It was a lot of fun because you could rearrange the pictures in the collage until you found one you liked.

SISTERS -- Week 3: #5 Discover Flickr

Originally uploaded by srs529

What is a sister?

She is your mirror shining back at you with a world of possibilities.

She is your witness who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.

She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.

She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.

Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.

~Barbara Alpert~

Internet Safety for Teenagers

A concern of every parent of teenagers should be Internet Safety. American teenagers are often adventuresome, knowledgeable about computers and independent but their lack of wariness and life experiences can make them easy targets for various Internet hazards. The Internet poses three major dangers for teens: personal danger; exposure to inappropriate material; and invasion of privacy (Gralla, 204-205).
The first step in protecting teens is in understanding how they use the Internet. An integral part of their lives, they use it for communicating with their friends; homework; finding information and entertainment. Parents need to learn how to use the software that teens use and learn about the safety issues in order to provide their children with the knowledge and skills required for safe Internet usage. There are software tools available that parents can use when necessary. These include activity monitors; cache explorers; site filtering software; spyware removal software; and personal firewalls. Good parenting skills, having a good relationship with the child and having frequent non-judgmental discussions about the Internet and safety are the most important things that parents can use to keep their teenagers safe.

HELP SAVE A LIFE!!!

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors /advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site!

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

Thanks for your cooperation and support.

Perspective

I wanted to share this perspective with you guys, think on these things. :)


One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad," "Did you see how poor people live? the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip? asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. then his son added, "Thanks Dad for
showing us how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing ? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Hi,

I am a SPORTS MOM! I have two young men who have been involved in sports for years. They have played football, baseball, basketball, and track and field. Keeping their schedules organized, going to games, cheering, along with being team mom and sometimes coach has drained me of my energy. Although my energy is zapped, I hope my looks have not. In an effort to maintain my looks this is my daily prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my shape to keep.

Please no wrinkles, Please no bags

And please lift my butt before it sags.

Please no age spots, Please no gray

And as for my belly, Please take it away.

Please keep me healthy,

Please keep me young,

And thank you Dear Lord,

For all that you've done.