See, the thing is, I already have Microsoft Office (for Mac, because, re: Techno-babble post, Apple owns my soul). I also own a laptop, a jump drive, an external hard drive, and have access to gmail (even though I hate Google with a passion) from any computer that would also provide access to Zoho. I have no reason to use Zoho. I have no reason at all to familiarize myself with a new word processing platform that is wholly dependent on my Internet connection.
But, for people without the lot I described in that near run-on sentence above, Zoho is a brilliant tool.
I'm just not one of those people.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
social networking
My thoughts on social networking on the world wide web are as follows:
I'm not really a fan.
I know, I know. I'm barely older than the generation obsessed with MySpace and the like. (Speaking of MySpace, I have very strong negative feelings about that particular social networking tool. It makes stalking a frighteningly easy thing, as storylines on Criminal Minds and Numb3rs have taught.) Facebook came on the scene my last undergraduate semester and I essentially set up an account simply because I was procrastinating and my friend told me to. (Bowing to peer pressure. Tsk, tsk. Must work on that.) But I only check my Facebook account when I get an email notification telling me someone wants to be my friend. The site I use for my personal blog is essentially a social networking arena, but in the fandom sense and people tend to be very guarded about personal information. I've bought several shirts from Threadless, but as I'm not artistic, I've never participated in the social networking side of the site.
I admit that dogstar and catstar are amusing sites I'd sort of like to participate in.
So social networking. It's great for some people, and it does allow for easy communication and keeping up with people you'd rather not actually speak to on the phone. It's just not my favorite thing. I suppose that makes me a disappointment to my generation. Alas...
I'm not really a fan.
I know, I know. I'm barely older than the generation obsessed with MySpace and the like. (Speaking of MySpace, I have very strong negative feelings about that particular social networking tool. It makes stalking a frighteningly easy thing, as storylines on Criminal Minds and Numb3rs have taught.) Facebook came on the scene my last undergraduate semester and I essentially set up an account simply because I was procrastinating and my friend told me to. (Bowing to peer pressure. Tsk, tsk. Must work on that.) But I only check my Facebook account when I get an email notification telling me someone wants to be my friend. The site I use for my personal blog is essentially a social networking arena, but in the fandom sense and people tend to be very guarded about personal information. I've bought several shirts from Threadless, but as I'm not artistic, I've never participated in the social networking side of the site.
I admit that dogstar and catstar are amusing sites I'd sort of like to participate in.
So social networking. It's great for some people, and it does allow for easy communication and keeping up with people you'd rather not actually speak to on the phone. It's just not my favorite thing. I suppose that makes me a disappointment to my generation. Alas...
Friday, November 2, 2007
Techno-babble
And now I will wax eloquent about the various and sundry technologies that rule my life.
1. MacBook Pro I was a devoted PC user until a year and half ago, when I realized how stupid my PC (named Stanley) was and decided a change was in order. Now I am the proud owner of a beautiful, shiny MacBook Pro laptop and I will never go back. Apple owns my soul. It bought my soul on credit, paid off all the payments and transferred the Title. And now I love Rodney (the MacBook Pro) more than any other technological item I own. So thanks, Apple, for treating my soul so nicely.
2. The Cell Phone How is it that I managed to survive life without a cell phone and now feel paranoid if, halfway through running errands, I realize I inadvertently left it sitting on my coffee table? I should be able to leave my dwelling without my cell phone, but it makes me nervous. I just know that the one time I don't have the phone with me will be the one time I have car trouble or see an accident or get kidnapped. So thank you, cell phone manufacturers, for making me dependent on communication no matter where I am.
3. iPod I may have one of the oldest iPods possible and it may be backwards in its sizing (small in storage, ginormous in physical size), but I couldn't love Charlie (the iPod) more. All of my music conveniently in one place for easy listening (but not necessarily for easy listening music). People may say the Zen or the Zune or some other appropriately Z-named device trumps the iPod, but I say those people are nuts. Like I said in item 1, Apple owns my soul. So thank you, Apple, for creating the mp3 player and getting that iPod hookup as standard in all cars.
4. Chi The Chi is the most amazing tool to hit hair care since shampoo and conditioner. Hot enough to be scary and expensive enough to seriously dent the average librarian's checking account, it packs a styling punch that is not be laughed at. My hair has never looked better since my cheap, old hair straightener bit the dust and I invested in a Chi. So thank you, Chi manufacturers, for helping me destroy my hair with extreme heat, one sweep of the flat iron at a time.
I could go on, but I'll stop.
My love for technology is so great that it cannot be textually rendered.
1. MacBook Pro I was a devoted PC user until a year and half ago, when I realized how stupid my PC (named Stanley) was and decided a change was in order. Now I am the proud owner of a beautiful, shiny MacBook Pro laptop and I will never go back. Apple owns my soul. It bought my soul on credit, paid off all the payments and transferred the Title. And now I love Rodney (the MacBook Pro) more than any other technological item I own. So thanks, Apple, for treating my soul so nicely.
2. The Cell Phone How is it that I managed to survive life without a cell phone and now feel paranoid if, halfway through running errands, I realize I inadvertently left it sitting on my coffee table? I should be able to leave my dwelling without my cell phone, but it makes me nervous. I just know that the one time I don't have the phone with me will be the one time I have car trouble or see an accident or get kidnapped. So thank you, cell phone manufacturers, for making me dependent on communication no matter where I am.
3. iPod I may have one of the oldest iPods possible and it may be backwards in its sizing (small in storage, ginormous in physical size), but I couldn't love Charlie (the iPod) more. All of my music conveniently in one place for easy listening (but not necessarily for easy listening music). People may say the Zen or the Zune or some other appropriately Z-named device trumps the iPod, but I say those people are nuts. Like I said in item 1, Apple owns my soul. So thank you, Apple, for creating the mp3 player and getting that iPod hookup as standard in all cars.
4. Chi The Chi is the most amazing tool to hit hair care since shampoo and conditioner. Hot enough to be scary and expensive enough to seriously dent the average librarian's checking account, it packs a styling punch that is not be laughed at. My hair has never looked better since my cheap, old hair straightener bit the dust and I invested in a Chi. So thank you, Chi manufacturers, for helping me destroy my hair with extreme heat, one sweep of the flat iron at a time.
I could go on, but I'll stop.
My love for technology is so great that it cannot be textually rendered.
Wiki Wiki Wiki
I have no idea how it happened but I somehow managed to get behind in this iHCPL business. One minute I was coasting along, poking about the 'net, and posting my findings (because this is serious scientific research we are doing here). The next thing I know, BAM! I'm two weeks and something like four posts behind.
Let me tell you, I was crushed, crushed, when no library bling appeared in my mailbox this past week.
The situation must be remedied! So here are my thoughts on wikis.
Wikis are, as a crazy (but in a good way) friend of mine says, wacky bejacky (but in a good way).
My gosh, I had so much fun with the iHCPL Sandbox. I climbed in, picked up my bucket and shovel and immediately started adding another wing (East, I think) to the pretty sandcastle. I love, love, love talking about myself and the Sandbox was the perfect platform for that. I added my own little sand creations to a good number of the Sandbox pages and had a blast doing it.
Do I think this could work in a library setting? Sure it could. It might be fun for the teens, as a sort of "graffiti" board but would need to be monitored closely for language and such. I also like the idea of using a wiki as a place for patron submitted book reviews, but HCPL already has a platform for that.
What are my conclusions on wikis? They are fantastic good fun and I might create one at some point in the future.
For now, I'll just play in the HCPL Sandbox. Just don't throw sand in my hair, please!
Let me tell you, I was crushed, crushed, when no library bling appeared in my mailbox this past week.
The situation must be remedied! So here are my thoughts on wikis.
Wikis are, as a crazy (but in a good way) friend of mine says, wacky bejacky (but in a good way).
My gosh, I had so much fun with the iHCPL Sandbox. I climbed in, picked up my bucket and shovel and immediately started adding another wing (East, I think) to the pretty sandcastle. I love, love, love talking about myself and the Sandbox was the perfect platform for that. I added my own little sand creations to a good number of the Sandbox pages and had a blast doing it.
Do I think this could work in a library setting? Sure it could. It might be fun for the teens, as a sort of "graffiti" board but would need to be monitored closely for language and such. I also like the idea of using a wiki as a place for patron submitted book reviews, but HCPL already has a platform for that.
What are my conclusions on wikis? They are fantastic good fun and I might create one at some point in the future.
For now, I'll just play in the HCPL Sandbox. Just don't throw sand in my hair, please!
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