The Conclusion of 23 Things

I was so disappointed when I first found out that I had to participate in 23 Things for LATI. 23 Things was starting during the summer and I wanted to take a break from the internet. However since I began this journey I have found the assignments informative, educational, and beneficial. My favorite discoveries or exercises were:
Thing #6 - uploading a flickr picture; Thing #8 - RSS Setting Up My Own Newsreader Account (I can get up to date information on the subjects that interest me); Thing #11 - Putting my favorite books on LibraryThing - that was cool, dude!; and Thing #17 - sandbox wiki - I got to talk about one of my favorite pasttimes - eating italian ice at Rita's on an extremely hot summer day.

This program has enhanced my lifelong learning goals - I will now explore resources on the web when I undertake a new learning experience. For the most part, once I found ample resources in hard copy format I did not further explore the web resources.

At times it was frustrating to post information on wikis - it was like being in traffic. I learned to be patient, though.

If another discovery program was offered I would gladly participate, but hopefully it would not only be offered in the summer. I would rather "play" (learning goal 7 1/2) than be inside or outside on a computer. I used some of my "play" time to accomplish the 23 Things.

My learning experience in a few words - informative, enlightening, challenging, and rewarding.

Sunset

Sunset
Originally uploaded by fmabrey

www.flickr.com provided this beautiful sunset. That's cool!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

NetLibrary/Project Gutenburg/Overdrive

Although I would rather physically hold the books I am interested in, I can see why NetLibrary and Project Gutenburg and Overdrive are essential tools for a bookworm. I just don't have the space in my home required to own a copy of every book I love or desire to read. Being able to download a book on a MP3 and listen to it at one's own leisure, cuts down on a lot of clutter and makes enjoying a book in a car really easy to do. The last book I have listened to in ebook format is The Holy Bible. I enjoy reading the Bible so the ebook format is just an extra treat. I will not substitute the ebook format for the hard copy format, but I would use it as a supplement.

There were a wide range of titles on Overdrive, NetLibrary and Project Gutenberg and I know eventually more publishers will be offering titles as ebooks also. A lot of our customers enjoy the ebook format as well as hard copy. Some are enjoying a title in both formats for visual and audio stimulations to the upmost.

News Feed

I examined www.feedster.com, www.Topix.net, and www.Syndic8.com. I liked www.feedster.com the best. Feedster is divided into five categories - entertainment, technology, sports, food, and politics and it has a very green search engine. I found it easy to use and comprehend. Having up to date information is incredible. Often times I see up to date news on the internet and the next day read in the paper. I feel like I have secret informers when this happens.

Mom of Six will continue to use news feeds.

Bloglines Newsreader Account/RSS Feeds

I have set up my bloglines newreader account - great! - I have chosen subjects that are an interest to me. That's cool. I chose the following subjects: Investor,
Bookworm, and Vegetarian. I think I will add more later, but now I concentrate reading news on the ones listed above. The Web and its many resources has made my life easier I must admit. With RSS - Really Simple Syndication - I may
stop subscribing to any hard copy magazines or newspapers.

Flickr Mashups

I examined some of Flickr mashups and was quite impress with the website www.MashupAwards.com. Individuals can submit there mashups to be entered into a contest. Some of the award winners had incredible websites. Moving Earth, a meshup, about the latest earthquakes, was very informative and impressive. I think it would take me a little more practice to create a mashup of this sort. This would be project I would try to undertake at a later date. At any rate, mashups are incredible and very useful.

Flickr

I have checked out www.flickr.com. Millions and millions of people sharing photographs from all over the world. Interesting. I can also put photographs on postcards, stamps, etc. One should be able to find photographs on any subject or theme. I will recommend this website to customers, family and friends. I can see myself using it for various projects, both personal and business, as well. I posted a picture from flickr of a sunset on this blog - check it out.

Wikis

I have come to enjoy wikipedia.com and other wikis. I must stay aware that information on these wikis should be verified, but I guess all information should be verified for credibility.

Good bye,
Mom of Six

Online Productivity

I signed up for Zoho.com to use its word processing features. Typed a simple letter. Wished that these types of tools were available online when I was in college over 20 years ago. Glad that my daughters will be able to use these and all the other tools available on the web.

Let the online productivity tools be with you!
Mother of Six

Podcast

I checked out Podcast.net. Currently am looking at podcasts under Business and Money. Did consider this also an useful tool.

You Tube -- The Flintstones

I checked out YouTube. This is one of my children's favorite websites. I looked at the videos of animation - I really enjoyed the Flintstones, so it was a real treat to
see the different segments. check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Oj1Yx80uc.

This is a very useful tool for libraries - different videos can be downloaded to a library's website and use for various purposes such as promoting books and entertainment videos.

Got to go!
Mom of Six

Del.icio.us

Oh well, I finally figured how to post my favorite websites on del.icio.us. Please check them out at http:del.icio.us/FMabrey. This is an excellent tool - a first I did not think so, but it is an easy way to share one's favorite websites with friends and family. I have only listed 6, but will add more later.

Mom of Six

Thoughts on Web 2.0 Perspectives

Thank God for computer technology and libraries. Changes in the way libraries collect and disseminate information and books are happening at record paces. Rick Anderson in his article "Away from the 'icebergs'" notes that "it no longer makes sense to collect information products as if they were hard to get. They aren't. In fact, it may no longer make sense to 'collect' in the traditional sense at all." The statement that information products are not hard to get is true, but many computer illiterate and computer avoiders want to be able to browse an eclectic collection. (I meet many patrons like this on a weekly basis). What do we do for them if we reduce the collection? (For my family and I, visits to the library are social highly visual events and yet we have four computers in my home and a network of hi speed internet).
Sometimes change is hard.

Web 2.0 Awards

The Craigslist is one of my favorite websites. It makes sense that it is an awarding winning site. I think of it as the classifies for the United States of America and some major countries. Just choose the city, state, or country that you are interested in finding housing, transportation, free giveaways, employment opportunities, etc and lo and behold all kinds of vital information appears. The positive of this website - one may find current opportunities and the negative is one may find that a lot of the information is no longer valid. At any rate, if you have a need for any time of classified item, the craigslist is a good place to start. Gosh, I remember when it was only on hard copy.

Mom of Six just trying to keep up.

Sandbox Entry

Going to Rita's Italian Ice for strawberry, kiwi-strawberry or watermelon italian ice on a hot scorching summer day is one of my favorite pasttimes.

The taste, the texture, the color and the temperature of the italian ice is remarkable, excellent and fortifying. After consuming this delicacy, my mouth, tongue, chest and abdomen feels cool. I don't need to be in an airconditioned room. I don't have any worries. All is well. I keep my frequent buyer cards in my wallet anticipating the next free italian ice. The whole family is hooked - This weekly excursion's expense is in the budget. We love Rita's.



Sincerely,

Mother of Six

Technorati

After looking at Technorati, I am now convinced that mankind is spending a great deal of time on their computers and that keeping a hard copy diary is out of date and may become obsolete. I did find the information interesting on Technorati. If I were to further explore any of the top favorite blogs of Technorati, my lists would include "Make Money Online Pro Blogger Blog Tips", "43 Folders", and "How to Change the World". And If were to continue to blog after 23 Things, I would add more tags to my entries.

Rollyo - 40 plus and healthy

http://rollyo.com/fmabrey/40_plus_and_healthy.

Please check out my website above.

I am enjoying my 40s. These websites have helped my tremendously.

Sincerely,
Mom of Six

LibraryThing | Catalog your books online

I enjoyed putting my favorite books on the Library Thing. Will use this tool again - a good way to make book suggestions to family and friends.



LibraryThing | Catalog your books online

Why???

http://cdnll.img1.imagechef.com/w/070707/samp6bb9c2120a98f027.jpg

This is my generator. The sentence it contains explains my feelings about 23 Things and this same sentence is one of the most important in acquiring knowledge. Why??

BlueTooth Technology

For Father's Day, I got my husband a blue tooth device so that he could use his cell phone with no hands. Of course, he is enjoying this new technology and I am still shaking my head that such technology exists. As I said before I do not try to keep up with new technology. But according to www.motorola.com., BlueTooth "cuts the cords and frees your hand, bringing simplicity and efficiency to almost any situation"- wireless connection. Based on their analysis of "bringing simplicity and efficiency to almost any situation", I should be in line ready to purchase my own Bluetooth device. However, I will probably wait a couple of years to obtain my husband's device when he gets the next new device on the market. I am glad this wireless connection technology exists, but I am always a few years behind.

Back to Blogging

I have not blogged in a while. Been on vacation. Had a wonderful week in Ocean City - went to the beach four days. Got a lovely caramel tan. Visited the Ripley Believe or Not Museum on the Boardwalk. At first I thought it was going to be lame, but it was well worth my money and time.
Hubbie and I rode bikes on the boardwalk on 2 different occasions and took one hour walks on 2 different occasions. Went to Delaware to do tax-free shopping at Tanger Outlets - we got a lot of nice bargains. Did not eat too much, had plenty of energy. (The girls were surprised mom and dad wanted to do something everyday we were there). Left Ocean City - went to a play with mom and did some more outlet shopping. Oh I played a lot for 2 weeks. I think I like to play more now as adult that when I was a child. Life is good. I am thinking of my next play excursion. Everyone should play - it is such a learning experience.

7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

After reading the habits, I would say that the habits that I am strongest in are:
1. accept responsibility for your own learning
2. view problems as challenges
3. have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
4. teach and mentor others
5. play

The habit that is the hardest for me is: use technology to your advantage. I don't want a lot of technology - I don't want a lot of things - I have too many people to manage and not enough time for gadgets.

I like to learn, but I have to get use to putting my thoughts in writing in a public arena.

mother of six signing out