Random Notes

1. While watching TV Friday night (I passed on Pizza night with friends because I work Saturday), I received a phone call from AN. She was on her way to Lincoln, NE with her family to see her sister. Our phone conversation lasted about 25 minutes. And of course, we got caught up on each other's comings and goings. As usual, it was exciting to hear her voice.
2. The Powers-that-Be approved my attendance in August to NEKLS' Tech Day which will be held at Washburn University in Topeka. The keynote speaker will be none other than Michael Stephens (http://www.tametheweb.com). He's a librarian/doctoral student whose primary focus is library and information technology and its combined integration with emerging web technologies into traditional library service. In the past year, I've learned to become a big fan of his blog (mostly due to the fact that his friend and colleague Jenny Levine pushed his blog address at last year's Tech Day). On a side note, David King of the KCMO library system will lead a breakout session. I hope I can attend that.
3. SS, one of our original computer lab associates from 2003, worked her final day in the lab this past Thursday. Library staff signed a card and combined resources for a gift for her.
4. The October cruise date is arriving soon. I just received an email from my uncle with an attachment telling me how to prepare for the trip. Looks like I will have to go Cabella's and Dick's Sporting goods to buy some new outdoor/camping/boating gear. It has been twelve years since I last been camping. (Strathcona Park, Vancouver Island, Canada)
5. Finally, MS and PS are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this week. They had their private celebration earlier this week and they will celebrate with friends Saturday. I hope I can make it in time.

The Corruptibles

I saw this while reading blogs about libraries, Web 2.0, and technology. Just some food for thought in today's age:

A Lady Review

Simply put: M. Night's Lady in the Water drowns. I felt sorry for Paul Giamatti. He acts well with what he was given but unfortunately M. Night doesn't give him much.

Cutting our teeth with downloadable audio

Our library is one of many participating in a new State-sponsored program where a library user can download audio books and music. Problem is none of our library staff are experts in using it, so how can we pass this knowledge on to patrons? Darth Sater sent out a series of emails Wednesday expressing his frustrations and other thoughts on the software including downloading patches, being able/not able to burn to CD, and transferring the books to portable devices like an MP3 player.

I spent three hours experimenting with the program and, quite frankly, I ran into the same problems. I was particularly frustrated that I could NOT transfer the books to my MP3 player because I got a message that it violated copyright considerations. I am guessing that the folks at OverDrive have a licensing agreement with only a select group of digital players and my player is not on the list.

Anyway, LL says we will soon have a training session with TG so that we can hopefully iron out the problems that Darth and I encountered.

I felt like I wasted three hours tonight. This is a serious training issue if we are going to run the program and help patrons with it.

Thanks to Zidane.....

.....we have a new way of solving our problems.





I especially enjoy the music.

Diet Coke and Mentos Follow-up

Well, I say the Diet Coke-Mentos guys definitely got a return on their investment. According to CNN, the video where they use many 2-litre bottles of diet coke and about 500 Mentos to create their fountains of pop has generated over $28,000 for these fellows in ad revenue.

Amanda's Interview on MSNBC

Click here to see Amanda Congdon's appearance on MSNBC.

Video blogging

I am interested in seeing how many hits "Amanda Congdon" and "Rocketboom" are getting from search engines. Congdon said she was surprised on how much success RB had on the Internet. She addressed her separation from Rocketboom on MSNBC Wednesday night.
I guess the biggest issue I got from watching this interview is that video blogging, or vlogging, is growing by leaps and bounds. Congdon says this is so because Internet users can watch a vlog at their own leisure and respond instantaneously with a comment. It's impossible for cable news programs to offer that kind of interaction.
Meanwhile, Rocketboom 2.0 premiered today with their interim hostess, a former MTV-Europe VJ. I will give this site a couple weeks of viewing before I render a thumbs up or thumbs down to it.
Finally, the marriage of videographer-wannabes to the Internet continues and I feel the majority of what's submitted to the web is poor. I make this comment after visiting sites like youtube.com and Google video. I also make this comment knowing that I have video production training from nearly 20 years ago and knowing that I have colleague from work who excel at writing to video and at using the latest computer video-production technologies.
Knowing this, our library has the potential to offer audio and video podcasts on our web site. I have discussed this in piecemeal fashion with work colleagues. All we need is a sympathetic administrative ear. It took JG and I about six months to get approval for our BookFix blog. I wonder how long it will take for our library to embrace this emerging video blogging and podcasting technology.

Hello Virginia

It was nice chatting with the Virginia Librarian yesterday morning. CG, our IM conversation was way too short. Once again, congratulations on your engagement.

What the Sam Hill is going on with Rocketboom?

I sometimes fall into the trap of accepting news at face value. But now thanks to Wired, it looks there's split points of view behind Amanda Congdon's leaving of Rocketboom. So, dear reader, I'll give you a choice.

Choice one:

The Rocketboom site--post Amanda.

and

Choice two-with two parts:

1. Amanda's blog: Unboomed.




2. Amanda's video statement from Unboomed.

Most journalists know through training and experience a lot of filtering takes place to report the facts. In the case of the Rocketboom, opinions and hypocritical statements have to be removed.

I believe Amanda makes her point--convincingly. Furthermore, because of her RB experience, I think she will have the networking resources available to her to start Vlogging again and to report intelligently on our beloved Internet culture.

Having more fun with Flickr Toys and some coworkers

A couple of months ago, UltraSpark proved to be a good sport when I created the "Read" poster. Now I zing it to other colleagues from work:

Amanda Congdon is leaving Rocketboom. NNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Well, she does have an entry in the IMDB database. So somebody in Hollywood recognizes talent.

And although she has a quirky sense of humor, she has always displayed a sharp intellect. I wll miss her appearances on Rocketboom.

Diet Coke and Mentos

I just can't get enough of this. Thanks to Haworth Hiker for originally sending it via email.