Deli.cio.us

I can see as how this would have useful applications for reference desk work – all bookmarks could be at all computers, tagged and available.

 For personal use, again, this isn’t how I organize myself. If I were subscribing to things I wanted to look at on RSS, why would I need to deli.cio.us them as well. And if they’re on my blogroll? It all just gets a little overwhelming. I think you need to figure out the tool that works for you, and concentrate on that one.

Rollyo

Of course I created my Rollyo tool for soccer. On the one hand, I could see as how this search tool would be cool if I couldn’t remember exactly where I’d read a story I wanted to read again. This particular tool I created wouldn’t be that great for discovery, but I can see how the tools that were created by libaries would be.

 I think it has some positive implications, but don’t know that I’d go to the trouble of logging in rather than just doing a basic Google search.

I used the quotes one to look for quotes by noted wit Noel  Gallagher of Oasis, and found just a few. But doing a search for “Noel Gallagher quotes” on Google turned up these plus lots lots more.

Show me how this is better than Google, and worth the extra steps, and I’ll be interested.

Library Thing

I had started using tumblr to keep track of the books I’d been reading, but I like Library Thing better. I am often reading so many books at once, and at the end of the year, can’t always remember the highs and lows. Library Thing does a nice job of organizing.

I must be honest, this seems like something I might not have the best follow-through on. It is, however, a good alternative to Amazon comments when you finish a book and really want to know what others are saying.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=vinnycrackers

I also like the ability to sort, so you can see what you read that came out this year, and what older things you’ve read. 

Online Image generators

I’ve been playing with these lately because of my love hate relationship with LOLcats.  I mean, why this is so huge is beyond me, but it’s a joke I’m glad to know about.  Also now there is LOLjocks, and I wouldn’t get that joke without the LOLcats background.

So, I used http://wigflip.com/roflbot/ to generate an LOLCat of my own cats, Vinny and Chester.

RSS also removes serendipity

The other thing: when you get trapped into always looking at the “most looked” at things – you lose the fun of surfing. Just today, when using Techorati I re-discovered the blog Discobelle which links to lots of remixes. After I got over my regret of not going to see Chromeo last night, I was glad I’d stumbled across Discobelle. But not enough to feel the need to look at it every day. But it’s that stumbling that makes the internet so much FUN!

Still not a fan of RSS

I’m a packrat. A big packrat. I have addictions to things – I try to read everything and not miss anything.

That’s why RSS does NOT appeal to me. I liken RSS to a big pile of journals I’ve been ”meaning to read” all piling up and reminding me that I have 200 posts here to read and 100 posts there.

I currently keep up on blogs and newsfeeds this way – if I have a little time, I will always read Deadspin. I generally look at football365.com and soccertv.com in the morning. I read my horoscopes. But if I’m busy that’s it. If I’m bored, I have hundreds and hundreds of blogs I like to look at. But that only happens occassionally. I don’t want to be reminded that they are posting even if I’m not available to read.

 I can see that for others who don’t think this way, it would be different. But this is a piece that I can say for sure I won’t use after 23 Things is over. 

Flickr, Privacy, Gadgets and Me

I already have a Flickr account so I spent some time looking at the 3rd party apps.

First thing I learned was how to blog about something right from Flickr. That was pretty cool, I didn’t know how to do that before. I posted a pic from BookExpo, but I then learned that anyone reading my “work blog” could then click to my whole Flickr. Which I really didn’t want everyone to do. It’s not that big of a deal, but it is always important with privacy issues to think about what kind of doors you are opening.

I also explored the Shozu service which allows you to send pix from your camera phone right to flickr. Currently I usually email them to myself and then add. I liked that idea, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be compatible with my current phone.

Such is technology life! You need new gadgets to use your old gadgets with, then you need new gadgets to use your old gadgets with your new gadgets! And for someone addicted to the new like me, that is a dangerous slope, and one I am constantly sliding down!

 Why didn’t I get an iPhone? Because I would have to upgrade my computer to work with my phone! $2000 later, I’d still be able to do just the same things, only in a cooler way.

Me and Robby Benson

Me and Robby Benson,

This was an autograph I got at the recent Book Expo convention in New York. Anyone of a “certain age” may have loved Robby Benson in their younger years.

Week 2, Thing 4 In Which your poster gets a little cranky

Podcasts can be cool, but not if they are just reading the text. I don’t think this helps people to see why they might want to listen to a podcast!

But I did listen, and register my blog, and enjoyed eavesdropping at other people’s blogs. More to come! 

Week 2, Thing 3

Since I had already used blogger extensively, I decided to do my 23 Things blog in WordPress. So far, I think I like it much better! It seems cleaner and less clunky. Maybe I’ll move my real blog over here when all is said and done!