What a ride - Thanks!

Spending time in the great outdoors riding the island on my bicycle is my form of Second Life or Avatar or even My Space, all without a computer. As I have said during the past twenty weeks "I am living in never land" therefore I can not take advantage of all the neat, exciting things I have been introduced too by our 20 for 2.0 team. But, I can enjoy the knowledge and my new found ability to interact with staff and patrons while at work...kind of a win win situation - enjoy the ride and be part of "whassup wit technology".

My favorite feature is Pandora - listening now as I blog away. Wiki, all things Streaming, Gmail, and Google Earth are excellent and will become faves as I use them on a regular basis.

Would I participate in an assignment like this again, ABSOLUTELY, with bells. This Learning 2.0 program is proof of Sno-Isles focus on making all things better for staff and patrons. This system rocks...and the team rocks.

I say Thank You for making me a better member of the Sno-Isle team. I will be able to talk with and understand the teens, and even older patrons who are into social networking.

Thanks - not always a Technology Curmudgeon

Gaming could be fun - rather ride!

I can see how young kids and teens could become "gaming fans" as the many sites are full of gaming opportunities for all ages and interests. I am not a gaming fan, but that is only because I am, shall we say "older for it" and have other interests. I would rather be riding or working outside than sitting in front of a computer playing games. When I am inside I would rather be reading than sitting playing games. Now competing against my grand kids "gaming on the TV" is another thing, that I do and will continue to do only because I have not gotten the upper hand, yet! And when it comes to playing Wii, that is really fun because I can do it, I can understand it.

Gaming is not for everyone, but it can become an incentive to get kids and teens into the library, as we are currently doing at Oak Harbor with our Teen program on Wednesdays. The more we connect with what Teens are interested in the more Teens we will connect with - hey, it is all about connectivity.

Google it and you are their!

Amazing, accurate and fun. Googled my house and was amazed at the detail, I could even see the mower tracks in my lawn, now that's truly amazing. I can see where this will be a huge help for traveling, home work, just visiting the world and sites, mapping, etc. Now we are talking about the real benefits of the internet. Loved it. We - Sno-Isle-really need to establish resource centers in our Major branches for patrons detailing the many, many social benefits of the internet. These would be especially beneficial for the older patrons who want to be able to use the internet but need the training/awarness.

Google it and you are their!

Not my thing, but I am not a teen

Sorry, but Avatars and Second Life do not excite me, in fact I think that Ms. Dewey is most annoying and pretty symbolic of the way Microsoft does things, I mean I gave HER a search and went to it and the entire time she was bugging me, I mean I don't need that. And Second Life...I do not need a second life, I have a life and it is not in the internet world...but that is just me. I think these are really great resources for Teens and anyone who spends time on the computer daily on a regular basis. The virtual Avatars do make it more fun in some ways. OK, now I feel better, guess Blogging could be considered a great way to build a bridge and get over it when you want to vent.

GoogleDocs and Zoho - Pretty Cool

FREE applications and tools - and they work and they are simple...Hey Microsoft, did you hear ... they are SIMPLE. Who knows, maybe Steve and crew will get the idea that everyone is not so into applications that they have to have every Tech innovation to be considered good, just KISS and we will all be happy.

Search engines - keep it simple - just Google

Great information on Search Engines comparisons from Berkeley - Rollyo, Mamma and Dogpile are all pretty cool, as I am sure others out their are also. Me, I like to keep it as simple as possible so I just Google it. Works for me, onto Applications and Tools.

Search engines - keep it simple -

Podcasting - a great new tool for Seniors

Just visited Pod Cast Alley and Learn Out Loud...great sites, especially for the music nut in all of us. I am sure that younger social networking users are already aware of podcasting and using them to their great pleasure, but WOW!!! what a great resource for our Senior Citizens, many who have difficulty reading. This is another of the many benefits offered by the Internet (if bandwith allows) and a really great learning tool that Sno-Isle can use as another of the resources we offer our patrons. Think about it, an internet resource center for patrons. I am all for it. Now, if I could only get out of neverland...hey HughesNet offered direct satellite internet service, but I would have to win the lottery to afford it. Oh well.

I have Played and Now I Want Out of the Sandbox

Way to much stuff and for me a time eater I do not need. Yeah, maybe for my grandkids and their friends, but not me. So I have played in the sandbox and I want out. Onto #14.

If only Peter could help me!!!!

So now that I have taken advantage of the Overdrive books, music, video downloads offered by Sno-Isles database I am greatly dissapointed because I live in Neverland, remember, the deadzone of Whidbey Island where no man can get anything but dial up, which means NO STREAMING, which means no fun, so I will just spend my 7 or 8 hours a day at work doing nothing but enjoying all these wonderful sites....oh, hell, at least I can help patrons. Peter where are you when I need you, Tinkerbell can you help...please, sprinkle some pixie dust on my house s0 I can join the 21st Century.

Found My Social Networking Mantra

Well, here we go again, yet another social network tool...social bookmarking, and it is way cool.
Yup, I like it and will use it at home to find, bookmark and organize all the sites of my interests.
Especially those sites to do with bicycling...working on bikes, riding bikes, buying bikes...it is becoming del.icio.us. Oh, and I did find a great mantra for someone who finds some of the social network sites not very useful and spending time on the computer/internet when you can spend time outdoors...THINK DIGITAL AND ACT ANALOG.

Cognitive Thinking = Wiki = Bicycle Riding

Wikis are now the new Industrial Revolution according to the article I just read. Well, I think riding a bicycle is the new Industrial Revolution. It is all in the mind of the beholder and the doer. If you spend hours on social networking, or work in a particular occupation that benefits from Wikis etc. than this is great, but to spend time Wiki Whacking when you can be Weed Whacking just does not make sense to me...too many weeds and not enough time.

OK, SERIOUSLY....WIKIS and all other aspects of social networking do have many benefits to people, society and the future as a whole, but to become the parigdiem that controls the success of everything we do is not a viable alternative for me. I am excited that we (Sno-Isle) are educating staff so that we can understand and communicate with the public who are involved in Social Networking, especially the Teens, but when I see hours being spent on our 20 for 2.0 assignments by some staff I get frustrated. Hey, maybe I should make a wiki about frustration, hah, than I would really be frustrated. Onward, onward, onward.

Never, Never Land - Never Gonna Happen

I am told by ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile and Comcast that I live in the DeadZone, an area that is Never, Never going to be able to take advantage of any of the aboves resources so I will continue to be on dial-up. For me that is ok, I do not have any desire or need to use MySpace, YouTube, Hulu, and Fancast, can't anyway cause I am in NeverLand...no, Peter or Tinkerbell do not live or visit there. I think the sites are great for people who use them and can benefit. I have way too much to do to even be interested. I will say that Pandora would be great and I would use it for researching artists and music, but I can't stream.

So, I have been to the sites and all I can say is, "Never Gonna Happen."

Looking forward to wiki wiki.

My Space, Your Space, Everybody's Space

Well, now I am really 21st century...I have a MySpace page and can talk, look and even envy everyone in the World. Yipee! I will have to try and use it for work, that would give me a better sense of accomplishment. Of all the SocialNetworking sites I have created, visisted and used I really enjoy the Pandora Radio music site the best. The chat is ok except my boss, his name begins with an L, constantly interrupts my work with endless questions and answers, I mean I can't even get a word in edgewise. So all I can say is ... myspace is your space, Ciao.

VISITED FLICKER - DON'T HAVE TIME TO FINISH BECAUSE OF LOL

I am sure IT is at Defcon 10 by now, and so are most of the branches. Sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men do not work as we want...so Library On Line has some problems, in time it will all work out, but those problems do not make for happy patrons, let alone happy Techs.
All in all it has been a crazy but fun start to the week. Sooooooo, here is my flicker blog.

Be Careful when you open Pandoras Box

I have opened a new world of music, music and more music. Some oldies but goodies, some current and some I had never heard before, and I am loving it. Now, if I could only get some work done.

RSS feeds - Even for an oldie is a goodie

Setup RSS feeds and wow, it is easy and works. Too many choices, but that seems to be what the world wants.

RSS feeds - Even for an oldie is a goodie

Setup RSS feeds and wow, it is easy and works. Too many choices, but that seems to be what the world wants.

It is not supposed to rain on Whidbey - AKA the rain belt?

Left this morning riding to work in a slight mist, gray skies and calm, thinking at the time that this might not be a good idea. Rode my regular route and as I cornered onto Crescent Harbor all moisture in the NorthWest descended on me and my bicycle, even Jack Johnson in my earbuds singing about the beautiful, warm islands of Hawaii, could not stop the downpour. So, I just kept on pedaling and wishing that the rain would stop - NOT! Not until I pulled into the parking lot and got to work, than the sun broke out and the ski cleared - wouldn't you know it. But hey, I got my excersise and I will be able to ride home so it is worth it. Do I have suggestions for anyone riding on Whidbey when it looks like it may rain, sure, keep on riding cause it is only water and your clothes will dry, assuming that you are dressed for the weather. Make sure you have decent rain gear, it does not have to be super expensive, name brand stuff, just something that will breath and shed the rain. Add a layer or two for the cold and head on out. When it stops raining it is so beautiful, smells so good and feels just right. Remember - ridin 'n' rockin.

50 mile training let's you really see Whidbey

Here is some information about long rides on Whidbey Island - it's ALL HILLS!!!!

There is an old saying, "What goes UP must Go Down" or something like that, well what goes down on Whidbey MUST go UP, and UP, and UP. I went for a long training ride yesterday and came to the conclusion that riding the STP (Seattle to Portland) is no big thing compared to just rididng on Whidbey (especially the Tour de Whidbey - which I have not done, but now have greater empathy for riders who have.) I enjoyed my workout, especially the scenery and cold and wind, and wind, and wind and cold - oh, you get the idea, just another wonderful day on Whidbey.

So this is my third posting and it sure takes time to do, even if it is a brief posting. I am trying to get into the 21st century with the 20 for 20 we are doing here at Sno-Isle and it is not easy. Guess I enjoy my peace and privacy to much, but I am learning and that is what is important so let's get'er done. Now I will be able to keep up with my grandkids and all my children, kids of my friends and friends of my kids, who are into blogging, chatting, myface, myspace, etc.

I am looking forward to keeping up with the times...next.

What a life - rideon (2)

OK, so I posted before I actually wrote my blog - it's a learning curve? So here goes post (2)

I left the house early so I could enjoy my ride into work. It is cool, in the mid 30's, but hey, it's Spring on Whidbey. My pedals are turning, chain is singing, all is well - what a feeling. Bob Dylan is singing in my ear buds, his voice older and even better - if that is possible? His newest CD "Modern Times" may be his best - with a little help from Robert Johnson. I take the shortcut off Silverlake Rd onto Crescent Harbor Rd looking out at the harbor - feeling the breeze on my face from all the cars flying by heading to who knows where - "don't you get it" I shout but know one hears me. I look to my left at acres of pasture, and watch the Spring calves romp while Moms rest , to my left I see Mt. Rainier smiling down on the harbor, a sheet of fog lifting towards the sun, I am in awe, it just does not get any better than this. Now for the challenge, with the music soaking my mind, I head up a long stretch that seems to go forever towards the heavens, actually only a small hill that ends at Regatta Dr, I am flying and have no burn, I take a quick right onto Torpedo Rd and than onto Regatta for the final stretch, up and down, hill and dale. I pull into the Library parking lot and off my bike. Dylan still musing in my ears, the sun is out, water calm on the harbor and work beckons. I could ride forever but must pause - another 7 hours and homeward bound - rockin 'n' ridin...what a great life!

What a life - rideon!