I can't believe I finished all of the assignments...

I REALLY did not think I was going to be able to finish the 23Things! I was a skeptic at first, but Katherine's encouragement and ongoing positive feedback helped me to keep on trying to work through each assignment!!

Thanks for heading it up and I will be interested in any feedback that we can implement as a result of the 23Things!

week 8 - Google docs

While I REALLY have no interest in opening ANOTHER account at this time....I took the Goolgle docs tour and read the user examples for how the website can be used and be quite useful. Having several people edit a document to save time on a deadline...one guy uses it to divide up his season tickets...organize vacations....I guess my main question is how safe are the docs on the web and how do you safeguard the information? Can Google docs crash and lose all of the data?

Week 9 Podcasts

This is a great technology for museums. Posting a walking tour of an exhibition, promoting it so visitors can download the tour before their visit. It would be great if there was a computer kisok in the gallery where visitors could download a podcast on-site. Does this shock you that I am actually semi-knowledgeable about this techonoligy?? I bet I still blew it, because I fully expect a comment to this blog to tell me that there IS a kisok for patrons to download VHS podcasts!!!

I have one more activity to do, before I am finished with the 23-things .....

Week 7 Wikis

Wikis...wow, I still cannot getover the weird names for computer-stuff. It all goes back to the early 80's when my computer nerd brother (in his 20's at the time) came home with a new car, Gold Mazda, and the license plate that read: BYTE-ONE. We all thought it was at best mildly obscene and certainly inappropriate....we had to be educated that a BYTE was a comptuer measurement...So, bytes, twitters, flickrs, blogs and wikis are all being added to Websters...what would Daniel Webster say (or do?). This is definietly a useful tool, as we have already demonstrated by posting a sign up sheet for the field trip; creating a list of books at staff member desks; and library opening and losing procedures. The wiki is great for feed back, but what if you don't want/need feedback? I am still wondering certain information could still be better accessed on the shared museum drive...

Week 5 Meebo

OK - I get it - I don't want it!! I text message with my kids...I do not want to be interupted on the computer....Remember, I am old-school and still do not want to spend excessive "free-time" on the computer. In general, it is a work tool, not a play thing for me. I find it facinating that a library would be using this technology. Yay libraries!

week 6 Social networking

This one is easier...I have a facebook page - I love being able to keep up with my pals using this site...I like the status update, especially since you can get out useless information out quickly and easily....what I don't "get" is the excessive amounts of applications that people use...throwing snowballs, sending drinks, sharing muppets....on and on...I would do this stuff if each one was not another application I had to download and give "the world" permission to my facebook profile. Who actually can view my profile? hmmmmmm...call me paranoid, but....

I have located old friends and colleagues, my 60+ year old aunt has a page...When I am bored I search my graduation years for high school and college pals...and I am a friend (of fan) of the VHS...Definitely a good way for the VHS to keep people updated on current events at the society...

Week 5 Technorati

OK - This is a cool site...I could spend lots of time searching for stuff. I still have to wonder WHY? Why do people feel the need to share EVERYTHING on-line. I am SOOOOOO old-fashioned that I believe am having a hard time getting past....is it "news-worthy" is this of value to my life??? Do I need to know (or do I care) that the SCV does not want their Jefferson Davis and Jim Limber stautue at Tredegar??? This is a site I would bookmark on my computer....

week 5 - delicious tags

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING....I would love to say I have seen it all, but I know there is so much more and I can't help but say, "OK - Who on earth will CARE about what I tag as my favorites??" I certainly do not care what the world tags.....oops...showing my age, and my headache again. I think one of my limitations is the amount of information I choose to read on a computer screen? Print it out and read in the comfort of my home...yes...sit at my desk and read on a screen? not so much.

This is bothering me so much that I don't see how ANY of this is useful in my work world....someone will really have to enlighten me!! Maybe I will read someone elses blog to see what I am missing.....

Live Mocha

Interesting...for someone who wants to learn a lanquage. I would probably use something like this to learn a few key phrases...but nothing serious. Having looked over their site - I HAVE to join to use it...so this would be of no use for me...for fun. I mean, seriously, who can "join" THAT many sites? and remember them? I am sure I can find a site that will translate something for me.....

Week 4 - the Web2.0 awards

Gee-whiz, whenever I feel like I "get-it" ...looking at these new website things....makes me realize that I am old and out of touch (on the web, that is!)

I have NEVER heard of most of these award winners....except Craigs list, which I have heard of, but never visited the site.

I think there CAN be too much information......

Week 4 - Generator Blog...update

OK - This is a WONDERFUL TIME WASTER!! I will send it to myself at home....check out your Christmas elf name (mine is Zippy)
My hobbit name is: Orangeblossom Brambleburr of Bindbale Wood
My "real" elf name is: Séreméla Silimaurë

Laugh out loud with the Chuck Norris Random Facts

OK - Relavance to the VHS....? What if we developed a game that matched names with historic figures or let you see what Virginia historic figures have the same birthday as you???

just a thought...now I am going to look for another name for myself....
Zippy Orangeblossom

Week 4 - Library thing

While I am killing time before lunch....tryingto "catch up" on the 23 things...I looked over the Library Thing. My dad has his collection on this site...I guess I will join, so I can read up on his postings. I would like to understand how this works for institutions? Is it another way to engage the general public...and if I find something on the VHS library thing - then I could come to the VHS and request the book for research? just wondering...

Week 4 - Generator/James/Flicker toys

These are pretty cool sites for personal use. I can't see a useful purpose in MY job...but I have yet to fully explore and think about them....Letter James looks like what I can play with on Kodak.com with the photos I already have uploaded....Generator Blog...I just don't "get-it" - need to look at it some more...

LOVE THE FLICKER TOYS....again, for personal use - letters to Santa (I have a 2 year-old nephew) The map maker, jigsaw puzzle, CD Cover,....lots of fun stuff, unique gifts.... The jigsaw puzzle will cost $40.00 so I would want to search the web for the same service and compare prices.

Zazzle does wonderful photo stamps, which we gave for Christmas last year!!!

week 3 topix and syndic8

Truthfully here...I do not get it....Why would I look for some strangers comments on stuff??? I just don't care what the average person thinks about....stuff! I know...that sounds mean!! oops!
So, I am trying to figure how this is useful to our world....I think if we could gain insight on how an exhibit is viewed by our visitors? How successful a program is or is not....then I can see the value.....Should we be the pioneers of having an RSS feed on our institution??? Perhaps the answer depends on how much we really want to know about how the cyber-world views us...will we actually make any changes of exhibitions, topics, programming based on (basically) anonymous posts?

FlickR

So, I am trying to figure out the point of Flickr....and I am searching for silly things like Halloween Costumes, small dogs (found a cute dog-cake); bagels (41,819 matching results? what?) and then I typed in the names of a few local museums and learned that lots of people just post their vacation pics...including museum label text, photos from the museum exhibits (even ones with no photography rules)...That brings to mind the need to make sure we, as a museum, maintain professional signs and labels at all times!!!

FlickR is just entertaining enough to be addictive. I have not joined...but might!!

I am SO far behind...

I feel very far behind and overwhelmed with the amount of stuff out there....HOW ON EARTH do people keep up with it all....?

Twittering?

OK - So I am still on week one stuff...but I was reading the Twitter (origins and explanations) on Wikapedia and my main observation is that while it is fun to see what people are doing on Facebook...which seems to be the closest thing I do that is a twitter...I would not want that to be a workplace function. Who would decide/monitor or develop the parameters of what a workplace would send out in the form of a twitter.....I see it as being constantly interupted when an all staff e-mail can accomplish the same thing (sort of)

I think that the younger you are the more you are accustomed to being connected 24/7... I see 24 hour connectivity as the overall loss of personal, private space...that we all need outside of our work.

What's the big deal about ATM's

OK - So, I shared a revalation at lunch the other day with my pals....and then based on the community reaction....felt like a GRANNY WITH A SHAWL IN A WHEELCHAIR BEING ROLLED INTO A CORNER!! ( ;)) This was all in fun....(I think)

The revelation was that I had used an ATM for the first time to get cash out this past weekend!! I have only had a check card for a few months, having never seen the need to get one/use one!! I have always gotten $$ out of the bank AT THE BANK or through the drive-thru...I work/plan my errands around the bank hours and If I miss it...I don't have cash...I figured it was safer for my bank balance that way!

I had to have my 17-year old daughter accompany me to the ATM, she had to show me how to use the thing...that required that I remember the password....which I have used exactly ONCE...and after three tries...I got $40.00 (and paid 2.25 for the priviledge)

I am still planning my next (and future) withdrawals in person...at the bank!! (GO Granny GO)

Stepping off the ledge!

Ok, I have stepped off the ledge and into cyberspace...or would that be into the bloggosphere? Not really sure what I would "blog" about on any regular basis, but I am here! I find this "new" (new-to-me) world of cyber-communication facinating ~ and frankly ~ way over my head!! Thanks (K8) for getting us involved and active in this project!

Blog-on

I have officially "blogged-on"