Exercise #13: del.icio.us ... the yellow haze of the sun

Social bookmarking. Hmmmph. After trying to grasp the basics of del.icio.us I've come to the conclusion that the way people use tags and bookmarking is purely for personal reasons first and foremost. So if the value of these tools is to build networks of shared information, is it really rational to think that this is in fact how the tools are initially used? I mean, I think that the majority of del.icio.us users probably are keen on the facility of personalized bookmarking that is free-roaming and not tied to a particular computer, but unless directed to utilize as an aggregated collection of tags and bookmarks, is everybody going to potentially use it as such. Hell, I don't know, but I plead ignorance because I'm not on the vanguard of tech tools and only with time and applied use will I understand the enormity (or proposed enormity) of utilizing this in our profession. One can see the possibilities of guiding library users to shared lists of recommended sites related to books, bookclubs, information of all stripes basically, but until I'm using it regularly it will remain an amorphous idea that will take shape slowly and , hopefully, surely.

exercise #12: Rollyo

I see the appeal of adding a Rollyo searchroll to a site seeking to limit searches. This, however, removes the potential for accessing new and unknown sources. Even though a general keyword search on Google can produce far too many results, the burden of collecting specific sites to add to a Rollyo searchroll can presume an authority that maybe is not comprehensive enough ... but maybe it shouldn't be. I guess that's the whole point, sites that you use most or trust most, but I'm not completely sold that it's a tool I would employ frequently if at all. The example of SJLearning Reference Rollyo does provide a simple and functional method for limited searching within a defined parameter. And it works like it should ... whatever. Oh yeah, here's the link to my searchroll, but don't bother unless you want to read about fúrgol and most of it will be in spanish or italian ... vamos: http://rollyo.com/chicoescuela/my_boixosbadalona/

exercise # 11: Web 2.0 awards

I have to say that the possibilities are infinitesimal and, frankly, too damn much to peruse in a short amount of time. I chose to investigate the "mashups & more" link and came across a site that really does a helluva job of visually presenting you with material related to your search for music or movie preferences. Frankly it did a pretty good job trying to connect you to films that may be similar in style (not so much in music, but it's all subjective). In other words, it gives suggestions for consumption that may be of interest based on the data entered and could be replicated as a rather cool and updated form of 2.0 readers advisory for the literary minded. What librarian wouldn't dig that?
The site: http://liveplasma.com Check it!

Exercise #10: Image Generators

Awright, more activities that I'm sure my son would love to spend hours playing around with. To that end, I certainly won't turn him on to the array of image generators, and besides, Club Penguin takes up all his online time anyhow. Ah, to be young and innocent again. I got my image through the Generator Blog and it's countless list of possibilities. Specifically, the link to the cassette generator as it plays on my old skool leanings: http://www.says-it.com/cassette/index.php

Exercise # 9: library blogs and newsfeeds

This post could be an almost identical sentiment as the previous on RSS in that the potential for locating blogs, feeds, etc. is tremendous and seemingly unlimited. Came across plenty of library/librarian oriented blogs and feeds, but nothing that merits mentioning here and now. In terms of search tools I tended to prefer Technorati and Feedster because they allow you to tailor your searches a bit more specifically and Topix.net I liked for the sheer volume of news related possibilities. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood or exhausted by then, but Syndic8 just seemed like alot of open source confusion that I would not be inclined to investigate unless given a very good reason or lots of money. I'll keep looking for unusual and worthwhile stuff, but the unuseful and uninteresting are rampant and dominating the frontier.

Exercise #8: RSS

RSS exercise has proven to be quite educational in the sense that while fully aware of newsfeeds and the scope of "really simple syndication," I came away with a Bloglines account and a newfound appreciation for the promotion of existing (at least partially) in the blogosphere. It's easy to see the potential for RSS feeds benefitting libraries and their patron base by annoucing policy changes, new materials (our branch continually gets feedback saying "tell us when you get new dvd's!"), and related forms of communiqués. To that end, yeah, I like what is offered on a personal and professional level but on another level one could argue that RSS is also an acronym for Really Severe Saturation. Information overload might just be the silent killer of our era. Either that or oat bran.

Exercise #7: Make my funk the P-funk

Technology. Right. Just when you think you're thrilled by some fabulous new development which will surely make our lives inherently more interesting, it likely becomes outdated and irrelevant faster than you can pick your nose and flick it. Let's be honest. With the deluge of products and developments arriving virtually non-stop there comes a moment when it's all insanely too much and I, for one, can sometimes give an Aylesbury duck about the topic. That being said, to keep the conversation decidedly tech-lite, doncha just love the new iKaraoke device that enables you to plug a little microphone into your ipod in order to cancel out the vocal tracks and give you absolute reign over all of those songs you just know you can belt out better than anyone (except, of course, the Barry White songs). So there you have it. Just when I'm about to give up on the tech-laden life I get an itchin' to croon "Yama Yama Pretty Mama" at the top of my 3rd rate lungs and I'm a sucker once again.