The 20th Thing Thing

This has been a good experience for me because I haven't had the inclination to explore some of these new technologies. It was well organized, and with the exception of a few technical glitches, it went smoothly for me. Thanks.

Mark Mitchell

Games

I've been trying to avoid computer and video games for about the last two decades or so. However, I must tell you that I could easily get addicted to the Chessmaster program in Yahoo. Very cool!

Mark Mitchell

Cool Tool

Google Earth is a great new tool (for the New World Order). I can't wait to spy on my creepy neighbors. Say, I think I found Jimmy Hoffa's grave and Amelia Earhart's plane. Go out and make it a great day!

Chimp Crazy

Avatars

I have not entered Second Life yet. I'm trying to keep it real. I don't really have that much time to spend on it. Excuse me-I'm off to audition for the Village People 2008 Tour. Thanks for your time.

Mark Mitchell

Online Apps & Tools

I have previously not had a chance to use these online apps. They are wonderful and powerful and represent the future of office-style applications. One of the drawbacks could be insufficient security for proprietary information in some situations. However, this is a drawback for any computer that is connected to the Internet.

Mark Mitchell

Meta-Search Engines

I tried several searches with different phrases on all three meta-search engines. I didn't like the organization, search results, and aesthetics of Rollyo. I liked the look and feel of Mamma and Dogpile better, but Dogpile was comparatively slow (perhaps their server was slow on this particular day). I still prefer the organization, aesthetics, and navigability of Google. Yahoo is probably my second favorite search engine, and I love their home page.

Mark Mitchell

Podcast This

I listened to the booktalk podcast of The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall at nancykeane.com. There are a number of podcasts and print booktalks for a wide variety of books and audiences at that site. I know Sno-Isle is already doing some podcasting. I think that they can be a useful reader's advisory aid as well as a means of inspiring and informing readers of all tastes. I think that a podcast could be a useful tool here at Sno-Isle for readers of all types of books and information. I have been listening to podcasts for years. One of my favorite sites is the economics podcast on bloomberg.com. This fall, I will be recording a weekly podcast show that covers college football.

Chimp Crazy

Generate This

The image generator has to be one of the greatest ideas ever. I haven't had this much fun since my Mr. Microphone quit working. I love you Online Image Generatin' websites.

Chimp Crazy

OverDrive

I had not previously used OverDrive, but several of my patrons have found it useful and generally easy to use. There are a significant number of titles, but few of my own personal favorite authors. Still, it is pretty easy to use, and there are enough titles to browse and enjoy over time. Finally, the technology works fairly well.

Mark Mitchell

Del.icio.us Social Bookmarking

Del.icio.us and other social bookmarking sites provide a new way to form connections and associations with people and their interests. It can allow a given person the opportunity to link with people according to common interests (and their associated websites) and to monitor those links as they expand with new information. If someone has an interest in a given author or genre, for instance, then one can bookmark websites relating to those authors and genres and build on those associations over time. This could be invaluable for librarians and those who do research as the ability to network with others grows over time and new connections are made.

Mark Mitchell

Wiki This

Wiki allows non-technical types to create and link various types of information that were previously restricted to computer experts. I accessed the Princeton Library Wiki and found it to be a valuable resource for information on books and other library materials. Wiki enables library personnel and library users to comment on and link to a variety of readers advisory resources. This ability to link in infinite directions is a great resource for readers, library personnel, and anyone else who is interested in exploring any number of subjects on the Internet.

Mark Mitchell

It's a hit

One of the greatest attributes of YouTube is the ability of up and coming bands to expose their music to a larger audience. You will often see live footage, promotional videos, and documentary-style films of the bands and their music. The above video is a documentary of our band, Chimp Crazy and the Pink Goth, that includes exclusive footage of how the band met, where they played their first gig, and how their fans react to their music. I play the drums and often wear an Incredible Hulk shirt. Enjoy!

Chimp Crazy

MySpace

MySpace is another place on the Web where people can express themselves openly and share common ideas that can lead to new social networks. Like other parts of the Web, it is also a place full of vanity and extremism. I've noticed that many up and coming music acts first expose themselves (so to speak) on MySpace. In general, I think the layout is pretty good. The person search and invite link could be better organized, however.

Chimp Crazy

Białowieża Primaeval Forest

The Białowieża Primaeval Forest, known as Belaveskaya Pushcha (Белавеская пушча) or Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus is a small protected remnant of an ancient forest that once spanned across Europe. Poland is working hard to preserve this ancient forest with a variety of programs. Similar efforts are underway in Belarus and Russia to protect the small areas of old growth forest remaining. I hope to travel there someday to see it for myself. Flickr is another great tool to appreciate and preserve old and new media (and old forests). The link to this photo is:

http://www.drzewa.puszcza-bialowieska.eu/ang/dab10.jpg

Chimp Crazy

Pandora and similar sites

My wife discovered Pandora a couple of years ago. So, I've had some familiarity with the site. One of the most impressive aspects of Pandora is how they must index or catalog bands and genres. It seems to me they do a pretty good job of connecting the various related components of bands, songs, and genres. This is admirable because music is probably the most subjective of the arts, and their ability to identify relationships between these various entities seems improbable. I believe they use a computer algorithm to associate these relationships, and this is even more impressive than a human cataloging those same associations. I did set up a new account for this blog, and the reference band that I used is my favorite band under the age of 30 years, the mighty Arcade Fire.

RSS Feeds

I enjoy having an information stream that is already focused for me when I get online. The RSS feeds are a good way for me to start my Internet day. I think that RSS feeds may help me both personally and professionally because they eliminate clutter and concentrate my interests into a more restrictive area. Libraries can certainly use the multitude of information resources within the library/bookstore/publishing nexus to access useful information more efficiently. I use the Scientific American and Amazon readers, among others. I find that they are a great starting point for information as I start my day. The ability to access this information so readily and efficiently adds to the relevancy of the content.

Chimp

IM + Meebo

I have never used any type of IM communication before. It's undeniably powerful and fun. I suppose it's easier to do than I would have thought. I will have to get more involved in this in the future. Meebo appears to be another useful tool.

Mark Mitchell (Chimp Crazy)

Economic Stimulus Package

The "Economic Stimulus Package" coming this summer from the Bush Administration is an attempt to halt the economy's slide into a full-scale recession. This rebate "package" will involve the dispersal of $600 to every person who filed a 2007 tax return. However, there are some limitations on who receives the rebate. Those individuals making over $87,000 in gross adjusted income and those couples making more than $150,000 in gross adjusted income will not receive the rebate. Unfortunately, this package is too small and arrives too late to significantly affect the movement toward recession.



Chimp Crazy