Morris Day and The Time
That's what Time It Is!
I was extremely fortunate to be able to see Morris Day and The Time last night at the Furniture Market in High Point. My brother's girlfriend worked at Market and had a pass to get into the show. Erica and I enjoyed the food and the music.
Morris was in great form--the pimp from North Minneapolis rocked the stage and kept the crowd moving all evening. I took some pictures, which came out fuzzy, and a lot of clips of the show. Check my YouTube account as I upload the videos.
I was great to see Jellybean and Monte (the other original members of The Time) and the guitar and bass player really helped move the show along and kept the audience pumped.
Morris Day and The Time start the show with Skillet from the album Pandemonium.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Early Disney Photo's
(for me, anyway)
In May of 1994, my wife and I made our first trip to Walt Disney World. It was my first trip and her 6th or 7th. My memories of planning the trip were simply thinking about going to Disney and reading the Official and Unofficial guides to WDW. The Sehlinger book was a little more daunting to me. I was really not familiar with anything in Orlando and relied on the guidebooks to give me all of the information. Since the Official guide had pictures, I have always had a soft spot for it and still recommend it to newbies.
My wife handled most of the arrangements for the trip. She booked it with the travel agent and kept up with most of the details. Most of that has flipped. We make the decisions together, but I handle all of the bookings and other travel related chores.
It had been a lifelong dream to visit WDW since I was about four or five. I remember that a friend came back from a family vacation to WDW and had viewmaster slides of the vacation kingdom. I remember the exact moment I saw the slide for the Haunted Mansion and thought how amazing it would be to see it. It would literally haunt me for the next 20 years. We had friends that moved to Florida (can't remember where) and my parents always regretted not taking us. Me, I'm not so sure. Without any planning, visiting WDW between 1982 and 1986 might have caused us not to enjoy the vacation and therefore, not instilled a love for the theme park.
But back to the 1994 trip. We were both sort of inexperienced and we weren't sure what to think. We stayed at the Port Orleans (when it was just Port Orleans) and we really enjoyed the food court and the sit-down restaurant (hey Andy, want some strawberries and cream?). To us, the rooms were amazing and the grounds/theming were meticulous.
Our first thing after checking in was to drive to the Magic Kingdom. We had a rental car and it was about 3:00 in the afternoon. As we were pulling out of the Port Orleans resort, the sign said "All Guest Areas" with an arrow pointing left. Well, being a guy, I knew we hadn't seen the Magic Kingdom during our drive to the resort, so it must be to the right. We drove past the security at Ft. Wilderness, under the water bridge at the Contemporary and suddenly noticed that we were behind Space Mountain. Teresa exclaimed that she had never parked behind Space Mountain before and that maybe we should turn around. We did. It only took us a few extra minutes to get there.
After parking and riding the ferry (which was recommended for the first time visitor--one of the guidebooks), we entered the Magic Kingdom. It was awe-inspiring. We were both starving and had dinner reservations for the Liberty Tree Tavern at about 5:00. So, we got popcorn and ate it while strolling down Main St. USA and into Liberty Square. I do remember being amazed and excited about finally being there. Teresa did mention how my excitement was contagious. We didn't ride anything. I wanted my very first ride to be the Haunted Mansion.
We ate at the Liberty Tree Tavern and we both agree that it was a perfect meal that has not been replicated since. We still talk about the fried cheese platter that Teresa got as an appetizer. They have changed the menu since then and each succeeding visit has paled in comparison. Our experiences at the Tavern have gone downhill.
After the meal, we walked across to the Haunted Mansion and got in line. I have to admit, the ride was phenomenal. It is still one of my favorites. Splash Mountain, the Haunted Mansion and MuppetVision 3D are the big three for me to this day.
The only other things I remember about that first day:
I was inspired to write this post from a couple of other blogs that I read (i.e., devour) whenever there is a posting (in no particular order):
They have been sharing stories, old photo's and really cool posts about the Disney theme parks. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Also, I thought it would be fun to reminisce and talk about where my fascination started.
(for me, anyway)
In May of 1994, my wife and I made our first trip to Walt Disney World. It was my first trip and her 6th or 7th. My memories of planning the trip were simply thinking about going to Disney and reading the Official and Unofficial guides to WDW. The Sehlinger book was a little more daunting to me. I was really not familiar with anything in Orlando and relied on the guidebooks to give me all of the information. Since the Official guide had pictures, I have always had a soft spot for it and still recommend it to newbies.
My wife handled most of the arrangements for the trip. She booked it with the travel agent and kept up with most of the details. Most of that has flipped. We make the decisions together, but I handle all of the bookings and other travel related chores.It had been a lifelong dream to visit WDW since I was about four or five. I remember that a friend came back from a family vacation to WDW and had viewmaster slides of the vacation kingdom. I remember the exact moment I saw the slide for the Haunted Mansion and thought how amazing it would be to see it. It would literally haunt me for the next 20 years. We had friends that moved to Florida (can't remember where) and my parents always regretted not taking us. Me, I'm not so sure. Without any planning, visiting WDW between 1982 and 1986 might have caused us not to enjoy the vacation and therefore, not instilled a love for the theme park.
But back to the 1994 trip. We were both sort of inexperienced and we weren't sure what to think. We stayed at the Port Orleans (when it was just Port Orleans) and we really enjoyed the food court and the sit-down restaurant (hey Andy, want some strawberries and cream?). To us, the rooms were amazing and the grounds/theming were meticulous.Our first thing after checking in was to drive to the Magic Kingdom. We had a rental car and it was about 3:00 in the afternoon. As we were pulling out of the Port Orleans resort, the sign said "All Guest Areas" with an arrow pointing left. Well, being a guy, I knew we hadn't seen the Magic Kingdom during our drive to the resort, so it must be to the right. We drove past the security at Ft. Wilderness, under the water bridge at the Contemporary and suddenly noticed that we were behind Space Mountain. Teresa exclaimed that she had never parked behind Space Mountain before and that maybe we should turn around. We did. It only took us a few extra minutes to get there.
After parking and riding the ferry (which was recommended for the first time visitor--one of the guidebooks), we entered the Magic Kingdom. It was awe-inspiring. We were both starving and had dinner reservations for the Liberty Tree Tavern at about 5:00. So, we got popcorn and ate it while strolling down Main St. USA and into Liberty Square. I do remember being amazed and excited about finally being there. Teresa did mention how my excitement was contagious. We didn't ride anything. I wanted my very first ride to be the Haunted Mansion.
We ate at the Liberty Tree Tavern and we both agree that it was a perfect meal that has not been replicated since. We still talk about the fried cheese platter that Teresa got as an appetizer. They have changed the menu since then and each succeeding visit has paled in comparison. Our experiences at the Tavern have gone downhill.After the meal, we walked across to the Haunted Mansion and got in line. I have to admit, the ride was phenomenal. It is still one of my favorites. Splash Mountain, the Haunted Mansion and MuppetVision 3D are the big three for me to this day.
The only other things I remember about that first day:
- getting caught in the horrible exodus from the Magic Kingdom. I know that it must have taken us a good hour to get back to the hotel,
- ordering pizza from the Sassagoula Express and confusing the operator by ordering a cheese pizza with cheddar cheese (and getting one with only cheddar--no mozzarella), and
- being overwhelmed and thrilled at the same time.
I was inspired to write this post from a couple of other blogs that I read (i.e., devour) whenever there is a posting (in no particular order):
They have been sharing stories, old photo's and really cool posts about the Disney theme parks. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Also, I thought it would be fun to reminisce and talk about where my fascination started.
Monday, March 12, 2007
"I finally see the light; I've opened my eyes."
Brad Delp, lead singer of Boston, passed away on Friday, March 9th.
My cousin, Cheryl, introduced me to Boston in 1986 when Third Stage was released. At this time, I was still purchasing records and most of my music ran towards Prince and his musical family. I know Cheryl was trying to get me to listen to other artists and I thank her for all of the albums that she bought me. She always had great taste in gift-giving.
Boston is one of my super groups. Almost everything they did, I loved. There are very few bands in this list: Prince, Jellyfish and Boston.
What drew me to Boston? The sound.
Simply, it was mind blowing. Tom Scholz 's writing and recording techniques were flawless. Each of the three albums done with Brad singing were amazing. The harmonies, guitar leads, bass and drums...inspiring.
I realized that it has taken me over a week to write this post. How do you share something as personal as music? Especially if you haven't experienced Boston. Boston is not a heavy metal band. Definitely rock-n-roll with very pop influences.
I want to look at each album. I'll start with my first.
Third Stage (1986)
Amanda--a love song. Many Boston songs were about love. Whether they were as open as this one, you would have to listen for yourself. It is a more mature love song and deals more with a relationship than with just being in love.
We're Ready--Scholz said that Third Stage was meant to be listened to in order. This song continues what started in Amanda. Moving on and taking it to the next level.
The Launch: Countdown/Ignition/Third Stage Separation--the longest title with the shortest song. Boston's signature instrumental. Amazingly heavy keyboards/organs. Very arena rock.
Cool the Engines--the most reminiscent of the first Boston album with the signature guitar sound.
My Destination--simplistic. Brad singing, keyboards and drums at the end.
A New World--it does feel like we've landed. Great instrumental. Powerful
To Be a Man--the answer to "A Man I'll Never Be" from Don't Look Back. I still worship this song and try to hold it close to my heart. Search for the lyrics and ruminate on them.
I Think I like It--big guitar and even bigger vocals. This song has the tightest vocal harmonies and one of the first "ear-gasm" moments I can truly remember: the final chorus. Nuff said. Probably one of Brad's best vocal works.
Cant'cha Say (you Believe in Me)--Great harmonies, great chorus and great build-up after the first verse.
Hollyann--can you say power ballad? Real honest to goodness power ballad! This has some soaring guitar and vocal work on it. Great way to end an album. Love through the ages.
Overall, a very impressive album. This is one of my perfect albums. Every song is great and could stand on its own. The weakest song is till better than most songs on other albums.
Brad, you will be missed.
Brad Delp, lead singer of Boston, passed away on Friday, March 9th.
My cousin, Cheryl, introduced me to Boston in 1986 when Third Stage was released. At this time, I was still purchasing records and most of my music ran towards Prince and his musical family. I know Cheryl was trying to get me to listen to other artists and I thank her for all of the albums that she bought me. She always had great taste in gift-giving.
Boston is one of my super groups. Almost everything they did, I loved. There are very few bands in this list: Prince, Jellyfish and Boston.
What drew me to Boston? The sound.
Simply, it was mind blowing. Tom Scholz 's writing and recording techniques were flawless. Each of the three albums done with Brad singing were amazing. The harmonies, guitar leads, bass and drums...inspiring.
I realized that it has taken me over a week to write this post. How do you share something as personal as music? Especially if you haven't experienced Boston. Boston is not a heavy metal band. Definitely rock-n-roll with very pop influences.
I want to look at each album. I'll start with my first.
Third Stage (1986)
Amanda--a love song. Many Boston songs were about love. Whether they were as open as this one, you would have to listen for yourself. It is a more mature love song and deals more with a relationship than with just being in love.
We're Ready--Scholz said that Third Stage was meant to be listened to in order. This song continues what started in Amanda. Moving on and taking it to the next level.
The Launch: Countdown/Ignition/Third Stage Separation--the longest title with the shortest song. Boston's signature instrumental. Amazingly heavy keyboards/organs. Very arena rock.
Cool the Engines--the most reminiscent of the first Boston album with the signature guitar sound.
My Destination--simplistic. Brad singing, keyboards and drums at the end.
A New World--it does feel like we've landed. Great instrumental. Powerful
To Be a Man--the answer to "A Man I'll Never Be" from Don't Look Back. I still worship this song and try to hold it close to my heart. Search for the lyrics and ruminate on them.
I Think I like It--big guitar and even bigger vocals. This song has the tightest vocal harmonies and one of the first "ear-gasm" moments I can truly remember: the final chorus. Nuff said. Probably one of Brad's best vocal works.
Cant'cha Say (you Believe in Me)--Great harmonies, great chorus and great build-up after the first verse.
Hollyann--can you say power ballad? Real honest to goodness power ballad! This has some soaring guitar and vocal work on it. Great way to end an album. Love through the ages.
Overall, a very impressive album. This is one of my perfect albums. Every song is great and could stand on its own. The weakest song is till better than most songs on other albums.
Brad, you will be missed.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
A Fond Farewell...
Over at the Disney Blog, John Frost has posted about the closing of L'Originale Alfredo Di Roma in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot. He raises some excellent thoughts about why this beloved and cherished restaurant is closing. The biggest? The Disney Dining Plan.
Personally, I experienced this restaurant in 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2001. We didn't visit it in 2004 or 2006 for different reasons. At each dining opportunity, I always ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo, the signature dish. I found it to be absolutely perfect and ruined me for life. (Just like my wife's lasagna.)
We didn't visit the restaurant in 2004 because my mom didn't want to spend a lot of time in restaurants or eating heavy meals (during that May trip, we did eat at Sci-Fi, Prime Time, and Olivia's). When we visited Epcot, we ate at the Electric Umbrella and the Rose & Crown (for my Dad).
In 2006, we did the Dining Plan (DDP). It was just us (me, wife and both kids) and it really wasn't worth it for us. Our kids are very finicky and they had just changed the DDP kid's menus. Honestly, we were shocked. Our first meal was at the Rose & Crown and there was nothing on the menu that either one of our children would eat. I am not kidding. We begged the waitress to make a grilled cheese and they couldn't accommodate us.
The rest of the week, as far as dining was concerned, went very downhill. Sure, we saved money and ate in restaurants we would never have tried. But, we ate way too much and left a lot of food on our plates. We talked about it the whole trip. We looked at the menu and discussed what we would have shared to save money. We decided with the kids, it would have saved so much time and effort to eat all of our meals at counter service locations. Our favorite meal of the trip was at Pinocchio's Village Hause in the Magic Kingdom.
I started this post to commiserate and celebrate Alfredo's. I have digressed, but I always do that when I mention the DDP. Here are some shots of our 2001 visit to Epcot. (the shot at the top of the post is of my mom and dad.)
This is Connery trying to take a nap...or us trying to get him to take a nap.
Here is my youngest brother, Stacy, in front of the fountain.
Connery entertaining himself in the lobby of the restaurant.
Good food, good times. Alfredo's, we will miss you. I do wonder what other restaurants at Epcot might suffer the same fate.
Over at the Disney Blog, John Frost has posted about the closing of L'Originale Alfredo Di Roma in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot. He raises some excellent thoughts about why this beloved and cherished restaurant is closing. The biggest? The Disney Dining Plan.Personally, I experienced this restaurant in 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2001. We didn't visit it in 2004 or 2006 for different reasons. At each dining opportunity, I always ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo, the signature dish. I found it to be absolutely perfect and ruined me for life. (Just like my wife's lasagna.)
We didn't visit the restaurant in 2004 because my mom didn't want to spend a lot of time in restaurants or eating heavy meals (during that May trip, we did eat at Sci-Fi, Prime Time, and Olivia's). When we visited Epcot, we ate at the Electric Umbrella and the Rose & Crown (for my Dad).
In 2006, we did the Dining Plan (DDP). It was just us (me, wife and both kids) and it really wasn't worth it for us. Our kids are very finicky and they had just changed the DDP kid's menus. Honestly, we were shocked. Our first meal was at the Rose & Crown and there was nothing on the menu that either one of our children would eat. I am not kidding. We begged the waitress to make a grilled cheese and they couldn't accommodate us.
The rest of the week, as far as dining was concerned, went very downhill. Sure, we saved money and ate in restaurants we would never have tried. But, we ate way too much and left a lot of food on our plates. We talked about it the whole trip. We looked at the menu and discussed what we would have shared to save money. We decided with the kids, it would have saved so much time and effort to eat all of our meals at counter service locations. Our favorite meal of the trip was at Pinocchio's Village Hause in the Magic Kingdom.
I started this post to commiserate and celebrate Alfredo's. I have digressed, but I always do that when I mention the DDP. Here are some shots of our 2001 visit to Epcot. (the shot at the top of the post is of my mom and dad.)
This is Connery trying to take a nap...or us trying to get him to take a nap.
Here is my youngest brother, Stacy, in front of the fountain.
Connery entertaining himself in the lobby of the restaurant.
Good food, good times. Alfredo's, we will miss you. I do wonder what other restaurants at Epcot might suffer the same fate.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Book Review
The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook by Kimberly Button. 2006 ed. Infinity Press. 386 p. 0-7414-3268-4 $19.95
Kimberly Button, a former Walt Disney World (WDW) and Disney Cruise Line cast member, has written a handy guide to easing the time standing in all of those lines at WDW. She states in the introduction that the book “gives you only the essential, straightforward information that you need to simply enjoy Disney’s theme park attractions along with plenty of entertaining fun and games so that your entire day, even the time spent in queue lines, can be purely magical.”
This sums up Ms. Button’s work pretty well. She has divided the book by theme park and then by individual land. Within each land, she describes the rides; approximate time of each ride, helpful hints and if there is a fear factor or other important information. The real fun and excitement begins after the ride overview. For each attraction, there are several pages of trivia, scavenger hunt items and word scrambles.
At first, I was a little unsure of the value of the book. Would I really take this into the park? Would my kids enjoy it? Would I enjoy it?
I thought back to my last trip to WDW and realized that the guide really would have come in handy while waiting for restaurant seating, downtime at the hotel, waiting for the bus and for planning the trip with the kids in mind. I am a trivia hound and often the tidbits and facts that I spout don’t seem to interest my eight year old. This book has various levels of trivia…there were questions to make you laugh and ones that befuddled me! The kids would have loved the word searches and I know that it would have been fun to help them find the scavenger items while waiting in line.
The real questions are whether I would recommend this title and to whom? Wholeheartedly! I believe that this guide does offer something completely unique and worthwhile. I would suggest taking post-it notes and marking the specific areas you are going to visit for that day. Another idea would be to highlight the correct answer for the trivia questions or make a small notation next to the answer. It will make it easier to figure out who is right while you are standing in line. Almost anyone would benefit from this book. WDW veterans will find new things to discover and first-timers will be able to use the book to keep their sanity during long waits.
The book is approximately 8”x5” and about an inch thick. It is a backpack book. I would expect it to be rather dog-eared by the end of a week long vacation at WDW. You will be shuffling it in and out of your bag whenever you find yourself with more than a 5 minute wait anywhere!
The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook by Kimberly Button. 2006 ed. Infinity Press. 386 p. 0-7414-3268-4 $19.95
Kimberly Button, a former Walt Disney World (WDW) and Disney Cruise Line cast member, has written a handy guide to easing the time standing in all of those lines at WDW. She states in the introduction that the book “gives you only the essential, straightforward information that you need to simply enjoy Disney’s theme park attractions along with plenty of entertaining fun and games so that your entire day, even the time spent in queue lines, can be purely magical.”This sums up Ms. Button’s work pretty well. She has divided the book by theme park and then by individual land. Within each land, she describes the rides; approximate time of each ride, helpful hints and if there is a fear factor or other important information. The real fun and excitement begins after the ride overview. For each attraction, there are several pages of trivia, scavenger hunt items and word scrambles.
At first, I was a little unsure of the value of the book. Would I really take this into the park? Would my kids enjoy it? Would I enjoy it?
I thought back to my last trip to WDW and realized that the guide really would have come in handy while waiting for restaurant seating, downtime at the hotel, waiting for the bus and for planning the trip with the kids in mind. I am a trivia hound and often the tidbits and facts that I spout don’t seem to interest my eight year old. This book has various levels of trivia…there were questions to make you laugh and ones that befuddled me! The kids would have loved the word searches and I know that it would have been fun to help them find the scavenger items while waiting in line.
The real questions are whether I would recommend this title and to whom? Wholeheartedly! I believe that this guide does offer something completely unique and worthwhile. I would suggest taking post-it notes and marking the specific areas you are going to visit for that day. Another idea would be to highlight the correct answer for the trivia questions or make a small notation next to the answer. It will make it easier to figure out who is right while you are standing in line. Almost anyone would benefit from this book. WDW veterans will find new things to discover and first-timers will be able to use the book to keep their sanity during long waits.
The book is approximately 8”x5” and about an inch thick. It is a backpack book. I would expect it to be rather dog-eared by the end of a week long vacation at WDW. You will be shuffling it in and out of your bag whenever you find yourself with more than a 5 minute wait anywhere!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Blog Review
2719 Hyperion
I ran across this blog a few weeks ago after it was mentioned on the belated Mousetunes Podcast. I have spent the past few weeks digesting it. If you are a fan of Walt Disney World, you have to add this blog to your aggregator ( I still like bloglines).
What drove me to the site was the wonderful interview with Jeff on the Mousetunes podcast for January 28, 2007. Jeff and Lou (the host) spent time discussing the Muppet Vision 3D attraction--specifically the queue areas. This is one of my favorite attractions and the Muppet Show was my favorite show growing up. Hearing Jeff and Lou laugh and discuss the secrets, jokes and insider information was one of the best segments of the podcast series.
When I got home, I immediately checked the show notes for the blog site and was amazed at the content.
At first, I was drawn in by the fantastic pictures. Due to the detail, I assumed that Jeff was an Orlando native. When I checked his profile, I was astounded to see that he lives in North Carolina (the home state of yours, truly).
Once I delved into the blog (I started with the first post and read backwards), I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jeff was not just a fanatic, but he cared about Walt Disney World. He didn't gush or lambaste...he was somewhere in the middle. He obviously had done his research and has spent many years following the Walt Disney Company.
I liken Jeff's blog to an online course about Disney. He has articles detailing classic cartoons and characters, extinct attractions and attractions that were never built. My absolute favorite section of Jeff's blog deal with the small details of the theme parks that you might miss as you sprint to Splash Mountain or the Tower of Terror. Whether it is a sign, and architectural detail or a hidden element.
I applaud Jeff and thank him for the work that he is doing.
2719 Hyperion
I ran across this blog a few weeks ago after it was mentioned on the belated Mousetunes Podcast. I have spent the past few weeks digesting it. If you are a fan of Walt Disney World, you have to add this blog to your aggregator ( I still like bloglines).
What drove me to the site was the wonderful interview with Jeff on the Mousetunes podcast for January 28, 2007. Jeff and Lou (the host) spent time discussing the Muppet Vision 3D attraction--specifically the queue areas. This is one of my favorite attractions and the Muppet Show was my favorite show growing up. Hearing Jeff and Lou laugh and discuss the secrets, jokes and insider information was one of the best segments of the podcast series.
When I got home, I immediately checked the show notes for the blog site and was amazed at the content.
At first, I was drawn in by the fantastic pictures. Due to the detail, I assumed that Jeff was an Orlando native. When I checked his profile, I was astounded to see that he lives in North Carolina (the home state of yours, truly).
Once I delved into the blog (I started with the first post and read backwards), I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jeff was not just a fanatic, but he cared about Walt Disney World. He didn't gush or lambaste...he was somewhere in the middle. He obviously had done his research and has spent many years following the Walt Disney Company.
I liken Jeff's blog to an online course about Disney. He has articles detailing classic cartoons and characters, extinct attractions and attractions that were never built. My absolute favorite section of Jeff's blog deal with the small details of the theme parks that you might miss as you sprint to Splash Mountain or the Tower of Terror. Whether it is a sign, and architectural detail or a hidden element.
I applaud Jeff and thank him for the work that he is doing.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
A Little Wii-modeling is in Order...
Well, we were able to add a new member to our family: the Nintendo Wii! It is a long tale, full of heartache, suspense, princesses and...
Well, not exactly.
My friend, Michael, let me borrow his Wii over Christmas while he visited his girlfriend's parents (with her, of course). The family came over and we had a great time playing bowling, tennis, baseball and boxing.
Well, to make a long story short...
My friend, Michael, is moving in with his girlfriend (go Michael!) and they both have Wii's. She offered to sell us hers if we were interested. Of course!
So we have to move some TVs around and figure out the optimal placement for the game systems. We have an Xbox 360 and it is hooked up to the big TV and the surround sound system. A system like the 360 deserves a TV that can show off it's graphical capabilities. Since the Wii only has SDTV and we have 4 gamers in the house, we will want the Wii on another TV with a lot of room to flail the Wii-mote. We will put the Wii in the playroom--but it has a 20" TV. The master bedroom has the 27" TV. So, we make the sacrifice and switch the TVs.
But...the dresser in the playroom might not be able to hold a 27" TV. So, does more furniture need to be involved? Can we put something smaller in the bedroom for the 20" TV and use the stand in the bedroom for the playroom? We plan on buying a new TV over the summer. Even though that is 6 months away, it will mean shifting TVs and furniture again.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
But I am not complianing. Not at all!
Well, we were able to add a new member to our family: the Nintendo Wii! It is a long tale, full of heartache, suspense, princesses and...
Well, not exactly.
My friend, Michael, let me borrow his Wii over Christmas while he visited his girlfriend's parents (with her, of course). The family came over and we had a great time playing bowling, tennis, baseball and boxing.
| www.flickr.com |
Well, to make a long story short...
My friend, Michael, is moving in with his girlfriend (go Michael!) and they both have Wii's. She offered to sell us hers if we were interested. Of course!
So we have to move some TVs around and figure out the optimal placement for the game systems. We have an Xbox 360 and it is hooked up to the big TV and the surround sound system. A system like the 360 deserves a TV that can show off it's graphical capabilities. Since the Wii only has SDTV and we have 4 gamers in the house, we will want the Wii on another TV with a lot of room to flail the Wii-mote. We will put the Wii in the playroom--but it has a 20" TV. The master bedroom has the 27" TV. So, we make the sacrifice and switch the TVs.
But...the dresser in the playroom might not be able to hold a 27" TV. So, does more furniture need to be involved? Can we put something smaller in the bedroom for the 20" TV and use the stand in the bedroom for the playroom? We plan on buying a new TV over the summer. Even though that is 6 months away, it will mean shifting TVs and furniture again.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
But I am not complianing. Not at all!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Come to me, son of Jor-El! Kneel before Gnod!*
I have been playing with the artificial intelligence software at gnod.com over the past few days. It is sort of like a recommendation software. Here is the description from the website:
Gnod is my experiment in the field of artificial intelligence. Its a self-adapting system, living on this server and 'talking' to everyone who comes along. Gnods intention is to learn about the outer world and to learn 'understanding' its visitors. This enables gnod to share all its wisdom with you in an intuitive and efficient way. You might call it a search-engine to find things you don't know about.
You put in your favorite authors, musicians or authors and Gnod will give you a map of similar artists and people.
Here is a screen shot I did for Orson Scott Card (OSC):
OSC is in the middle of the map. Various other authors are arrayed around him based on what other readers have said. When I look at the map, I do see a lot of other authors that I have enjoyed:
J.K. Rowling, John Iriving, Connie Willis, JRR Tolkein, Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Kurt Vonnegut, and Dan Brown. Many of the other authors listed have piqued my interest before and have come up in conversations with other people. They are on my list.
With music and movies, you can put in three favorites and it will bring back recommendations. When I did it, I knew and liked about half, didn't know a few and didn't like one or two. It was very close to my preferences.
It is a fun site to play with and would be very helpful when looking for moves on Netflix or trying to catch new authors at your library. As far as the music, I would love a way to import the artists into my Pandora or Yahoo! Music stations.
*Yes, that is a Superman II reference.
I have been playing with the artificial intelligence software at gnod.com over the past few days. It is sort of like a recommendation software. Here is the description from the website:
Gnod is my experiment in the field of artificial intelligence. Its a self-adapting system, living on this server and 'talking' to everyone who comes along. Gnods intention is to learn about the outer world and to learn 'understanding' its visitors. This enables gnod to share all its wisdom with you in an intuitive and efficient way. You might call it a search-engine to find things you don't know about.
You put in your favorite authors, musicians or authors and Gnod will give you a map of similar artists and people.
Here is a screen shot I did for Orson Scott Card (OSC):
OSC is in the middle of the map. Various other authors are arrayed around him based on what other readers have said. When I look at the map, I do see a lot of other authors that I have enjoyed:
J.K. Rowling, John Iriving, Connie Willis, JRR Tolkein, Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Kurt Vonnegut, and Dan Brown. Many of the other authors listed have piqued my interest before and have come up in conversations with other people. They are on my list.
With music and movies, you can put in three favorites and it will bring back recommendations. When I did it, I knew and liked about half, didn't know a few and didn't like one or two. It was very close to my preferences.
It is a fun site to play with and would be very helpful when looking for moves on Netflix or trying to catch new authors at your library. As far as the music, I would love a way to import the artists into my Pandora or Yahoo! Music stations.
*Yes, that is a Superman II reference.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Woo Hoo!
This is the ONLY time I have taken a web quiz. So, this means that I am half Supergirl? Which half?
Your results:
You are Superman
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
This is the ONLY time I have taken a web quiz. So, this means that I am half Supergirl? Which half?
Your results:
You are Superman
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  |
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
LibraryThing Rocks!
I have been using LibraryThing with my job and really liked the ease of use. We used it to display new books on our Library blog.
I have been wanting to create a catalog of all of my Disney, Star Wars and other favorite books for several months. I signed up for an account (which had to be the easiest registration ever) and started entering the ISBN's right away. Since a few of my books were only sold at Disney theme parks, they did not have an ISBN or other identifying mark (like a publication date). I was able to enter 60 titles last night and it took me about an hour. That was in between changing a diaper, eating supper and keeping the boys from getting toys everywhere.
I am still exploring the power of LibraryThing. I added a widget to the left hand column of this blog that will display random titles from the books that I have entered. I can tell it to only show books with certain tags (or keywords) or by specific authors.
I hope to start entering my Star Wars titles next.
I have been using LibraryThing with my job and really liked the ease of use. We used it to display new books on our Library blog.
I have been wanting to create a catalog of all of my Disney, Star Wars and other favorite books for several months. I signed up for an account (which had to be the easiest registration ever) and started entering the ISBN's right away. Since a few of my books were only sold at Disney theme parks, they did not have an ISBN or other identifying mark (like a publication date). I was able to enter 60 titles last night and it took me about an hour. That was in between changing a diaper, eating supper and keeping the boys from getting toys everywhere.
I am still exploring the power of LibraryThing. I added a widget to the left hand column of this blog that will display random titles from the books that I have entered. I can tell it to only show books with certain tags (or keywords) or by specific authors.
I hope to start entering my Star Wars titles next.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Speaking of Disney....
Oh, wait. You mean you weren't talking about Disney World? That must have been me!
We just got back from a 6 day trip to Walt Disney World. We stayed at the Polynesian Resort and had a really good time. This was a different trip for me for a few reasons.
1. Both boys were able to ride most attractions.
2. Both boys knew about Disney and had some expectations.
3. This was the first trip since 2000 without my parents.
I also wanted to make good memories for the boys. Give them a few bright spots to hold onto and remember. Make them want to go back to Disney World.
We did the opposite of most of my previous trips. We slept late, avoided the big rides and just let the boys lead us around.
We had a few expectations for the trip. We were assuming that the weather would be nice. We thought that the parks would not be as crowded as summer months. We thought the Christmas decorations would be amazing.
Well, the weather was overcast and kind of gray. The parks were more crowded than usual, but we still had short waits. There didn't seem to be much Christmas spirit anywhere. There was plenty of Christmas music being piped all over the parks and the resorts, but the decorations weren't as stunning.
One of our highlights was actually being in the Family Fun Day Parade. We were asked by a Year of a million Dreams castmember as we made our way to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride at about 9:45 at the Magic Kingdom. Here are some pictures of it:
Connery really enjoyed it. It was pretty cool to walk down Main St. USA at the Magic Kingdom with a brass band playing 76 Trombones right behind you. A lot of people were watching us as we walked on by. It really was a great experience.
Oh, wait. You mean you weren't talking about Disney World? That must have been me!
We just got back from a 6 day trip to Walt Disney World. We stayed at the Polynesian Resort and had a really good time. This was a different trip for me for a few reasons.
1. Both boys were able to ride most attractions.
2. Both boys knew about Disney and had some expectations.
3. This was the first trip since 2000 without my parents.
I also wanted to make good memories for the boys. Give them a few bright spots to hold onto and remember. Make them want to go back to Disney World.
We did the opposite of most of my previous trips. We slept late, avoided the big rides and just let the boys lead us around.
We had a few expectations for the trip. We were assuming that the weather would be nice. We thought that the parks would not be as crowded as summer months. We thought the Christmas decorations would be amazing.
Well, the weather was overcast and kind of gray. The parks were more crowded than usual, but we still had short waits. There didn't seem to be much Christmas spirit anywhere. There was plenty of Christmas music being piped all over the parks and the resorts, but the decorations weren't as stunning.
One of our highlights was actually being in the Family Fun Day Parade. We were asked by a Year of a million Dreams castmember as we made our way to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride at about 9:45 at the Magic Kingdom. Here are some pictures of it:
| www.flickr.com |
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Welcome to the Social (Gaming, that is)
Anyone that knows me, knows my passions. I do wear them on my sleeve. Just take a look at my sidebar. In no particular order: libraries, video games, music, reading and Disney Theme Parks.
I have been a video game player since my parents brought home a pong console in the mid to late 70's. It also played jai lai and hockey. We didn't care. We were mesmerized by the glowing white bars and the bouncing square.
We didn't get an Atari 2600 until summer of 1983. My parents were always late adopters. Hours and hours of playing Combat with my brother. We could never agree, though, on whether the three bi-planes were better or the large jet.
Then came Mario. The NES. The Nintendo Entertainment System. (Wow. I can't wait to get my hands on a Wii.) Well, since then, there has always been a Nintendo console wherever I lived. I loved the Zelda series. Anything with an action/RPG gameplay. Yes, there is a Gamecube in the play room.
Even though Nintendo revolutionized the gaming industry, I wasn't a semi-hardcore gamer until I played Halo. You may have heard of it. It was the killer app for the Xbox. It was the first game I ever beat. The first game I ever played all the way through with my son. And my introduction to social gaming. We called them Halo Nights. Or LAN parties. We would get 3 or 4 Xbox's, a couple of projectors, a router and at least 12 friends. Drinking, cursing, yelling, lasagna and plenty of male bonding ensued. Hang 'Em High, Blood Gulch...you name it...we played it.
Halo is a first person shooter (fps), which means that you see the guns on the screen and you have an aiming reticule. You basically run and gun. Shoot. Try to take out the enemy first. With the Halo Nights, we would play Team Slayer (two teams try to get as many kills as possible), Team Deathmatch (similar concept) and Capture the Flag. Great fun.
Halo 2 took the Halo Night online. You could go online and play against friends and strangers. You had a headset and mic, so you could talk to your fellow players. It was great. But it wasn't the same. It was difficult to create a party and go online with your friends. I could have up to three friends come over and we could all go online, but you were dumped into an unranked match (meaning you were either playing against noobs or pros).
That all changed on Emergence Day.
I have an Xbox 360. It is incredible. So far, there has not been a Halo for the Xbox 360. No real killer app. Until Gears of War. There has been incredible hype about this game.
I played it. Thought it was ok. Harder than Halo. this title is a third person shooter. You actually see your character on the screen. In Halo, you run and gun. Just go. Like a tank. occasionally, you would have to stop, so your shield would regenerate...but mostly you would run. In Gears, you actually stop and pop. You have to hide. You need cover. You won't survive otherwise.
Well, back on target...
With Gears, two people can play co-op on the same Xbox 360. Just like Halo. What is different is that you can play Gears in co-op mode through Xbox Live (internet). I was introduced to this by a friend. it is hard to explain how amazing this is. I can be in the middle of a game, notice that my friend comes online and invite him to play with me. Sounds simple, but it is revolutionary.
He lives about 30 miles away. I have another friend that is about two hours away. We use the headsets, we plan strategy...we play the game. Just like we were in the same room.
Is it social gaming? Sure. We talk about the game, what is going on in life...just like a phone conversation. We just happen to be saving the planet at the same time. Or at least we think so.
That is always what has made gaming fun. playing with friends. Saving the world with friends...
Anyone that knows me, knows my passions. I do wear them on my sleeve. Just take a look at my sidebar. In no particular order: libraries, video games, music, reading and Disney Theme Parks.
I have been a video game player since my parents brought home a pong console in the mid to late 70's. It also played jai lai and hockey. We didn't care. We were mesmerized by the glowing white bars and the bouncing square.
We didn't get an Atari 2600 until summer of 1983. My parents were always late adopters. Hours and hours of playing Combat with my brother. We could never agree, though, on whether the three bi-planes were better or the large jet.
Then came Mario. The NES. The Nintendo Entertainment System. (Wow. I can't wait to get my hands on a Wii.) Well, since then, there has always been a Nintendo console wherever I lived. I loved the Zelda series. Anything with an action/RPG gameplay. Yes, there is a Gamecube in the play room.
Even though Nintendo revolutionized the gaming industry, I wasn't a semi-hardcore gamer until I played Halo. You may have heard of it. It was the killer app for the Xbox. It was the first game I ever beat. The first game I ever played all the way through with my son. And my introduction to social gaming. We called them Halo Nights. Or LAN parties. We would get 3 or 4 Xbox's, a couple of projectors, a router and at least 12 friends. Drinking, cursing, yelling, lasagna and plenty of male bonding ensued. Hang 'Em High, Blood Gulch...you name it...we played it.
Halo is a first person shooter (fps), which means that you see the guns on the screen and you have an aiming reticule. You basically run and gun. Shoot. Try to take out the enemy first. With the Halo Nights, we would play Team Slayer (two teams try to get as many kills as possible), Team Deathmatch (similar concept) and Capture the Flag. Great fun.
Halo 2 took the Halo Night online. You could go online and play against friends and strangers. You had a headset and mic, so you could talk to your fellow players. It was great. But it wasn't the same. It was difficult to create a party and go online with your friends. I could have up to three friends come over and we could all go online, but you were dumped into an unranked match (meaning you were either playing against noobs or pros).
That all changed on Emergence Day.
I have an Xbox 360. It is incredible. So far, there has not been a Halo for the Xbox 360. No real killer app. Until Gears of War. There has been incredible hype about this game.
I played it. Thought it was ok. Harder than Halo. this title is a third person shooter. You actually see your character on the screen. In Halo, you run and gun. Just go. Like a tank. occasionally, you would have to stop, so your shield would regenerate...but mostly you would run. In Gears, you actually stop and pop. You have to hide. You need cover. You won't survive otherwise.
Well, back on target...
With Gears, two people can play co-op on the same Xbox 360. Just like Halo. What is different is that you can play Gears in co-op mode through Xbox Live (internet). I was introduced to this by a friend. it is hard to explain how amazing this is. I can be in the middle of a game, notice that my friend comes online and invite him to play with me. Sounds simple, but it is revolutionary.
He lives about 30 miles away. I have another friend that is about two hours away. We use the headsets, we plan strategy...we play the game. Just like we were in the same room.
Is it social gaming? Sure. We talk about the game, what is going on in life...just like a phone conversation. We just happen to be saving the planet at the same time. Or at least we think so.
That is always what has made gaming fun. playing with friends. Saving the world with friends...
Friday, December 01, 2006
How Cool is That?
I was messin' around on Flickr and saw this new "addition" to their services.
I was messin' around on Flickr and saw this new "addition" to their services.
So, needless to say, I clicked on it.
It does show the most popular cameras used on Flickr--by number of photos submitted. You can click on specific brand or camera. It will show you different types of pictures taken by that camera. Gives you an idea of whether the camera fits you or not. I found my model of camera and then did a search for polynesian and disney. I wanted to see pictures of my favorite resort at Disney World taken with my camera.
While you're browsing Flickr, you can see what type of camera took the picture. Look at the Additonal Information area. Not every picutre has camera information. Some images were scanned or sent in by a cell phone camera.
You can click on the link for the camera. It takes you to a page that shows the camera (and of course--a link to buy the camera through Yahoo!), some specs and pictures that have been taken by the camera.
Thought this might be helpful and fun. Especially when thinking about buying that new digital camera for Christmas.
But then, none of my pictures look as good as the ones highlighted on Flickr.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Pandora...best website ever!
Ok. In my top 5 anyway. Have you experienced Pandora? I ran across it through a magazine article and I visit it almost every time I am on the web.
Ok. It is part of the Music Genome Project. What's that? Well...
Inigo Montoya: Let me 'splain. [pause] No, there is too much. Let me sum up. Buttercup is marry' Humperdinck in a little less than half an hour. So all we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape... after I kill Count Rugen. --The Princess Bride
A group of "musicians and music-loving technologists" came together to analyze music and try and separate it into genes--or attributes. If you give them a song, they will find similar songs.
Frankly, it is quite amazing. I have several stations that I have created, but I really only listen to one. It is my Power Pop station.
"What is Power Pop?" I sense you asking. Here is the definition from wikipedia:
Power pop is a musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop music.
The music is characterized by strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are kept to a minimum, and blues elements are largely downplayed. Recordings tend to display production values that lean toward compression and a forceful drum beat, most often in a dance vein. Instruments usually include one or more electric guitars, electric bass guitar, a drum kit, and perhaps electric keyboards or synthesizers.
Badfinger's "No Matter What" (1970), The Raspberries' "Go All The Way" (1972), and The Knack's "My Sharona" (1979) are some of the most commercially successful singles of the power pop genre.
While its cultural impact has waxed and waned over the decades, it is among rock's most enduring subgenre.
My personal definition is one that I have been using for years; before I really discovered power pop. A song that makes you sing, you can dance to it, it has a great chorus and it us under 4 minutes.
Ok. back to Pandora. You visit the website and create a free account. Name the radio station you want to make. Put in a song that you like. Listen to what Pandora suggests. Click on the "I Like it" or "I Don't Like It" thumbs on the CD art. Pandora will then play something else based on your input.
I amazed at the music that I have discovered. And the artists. You can visit my profile page to see some of the new groups and songs that I have bookmared.
My two new favorite bands? The Rocket Summer and The Marvelous 3.
Try it out. Seriously...
Ok. In my top 5 anyway. Have you experienced Pandora? I ran across it through a magazine article and I visit it almost every time I am on the web.
Ok. It is part of the Music Genome Project. What's that? Well...
Inigo Montoya: Let me 'splain. [pause] No, there is too much. Let me sum up. Buttercup is marry' Humperdinck in a little less than half an hour. So all we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape... after I kill Count Rugen. --The Princess Bride
A group of "musicians and music-loving technologists" came together to analyze music and try and separate it into genes--or attributes. If you give them a song, they will find similar songs.
Frankly, it is quite amazing. I have several stations that I have created, but I really only listen to one. It is my Power Pop station.
"What is Power Pop?" I sense you asking. Here is the definition from wikipedia:
Power pop is a musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop music.
The music is characterized by strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are kept to a minimum, and blues elements are largely downplayed. Recordings tend to display production values that lean toward compression and a forceful drum beat, most often in a dance vein. Instruments usually include one or more electric guitars, electric bass guitar, a drum kit, and perhaps electric keyboards or synthesizers.
Badfinger's "No Matter What" (1970), The Raspberries' "Go All The Way" (1972), and The Knack's "My Sharona" (1979) are some of the most commercially successful singles of the power pop genre.
While its cultural impact has waxed and waned over the decades, it is among rock's most enduring subgenre.
My personal definition is one that I have been using for years; before I really discovered power pop. A song that makes you sing, you can dance to it, it has a great chorus and it us under 4 minutes.
Ok. back to Pandora. You visit the website and create a free account. Name the radio station you want to make. Put in a song that you like. Listen to what Pandora suggests. Click on the "I Like it" or "I Don't Like It" thumbs on the CD art. Pandora will then play something else based on your input.
I amazed at the music that I have discovered. And the artists. You can visit my profile page to see some of the new groups and songs that I have bookmared.
My two new favorite bands? The Rocket Summer and The Marvelous 3.
Try it out. Seriously...
Friday, November 17, 2006
Blind Spot
We were watching Grey's Anatomy last week. The show centered around the theme of blind spots. Not the actual blind spot, but things that we can't see or that we refuse to see.
I was thinking about what kind of blind spots that libraries have.
I have been keeping up with a lot of different blogs about libraries and they seem to fall into three camps:
1. The Library Mavens--they push the edge of what libraries can and should be doing,
2. The bloggers that report on what the Mavens are writing about and doing and
3. The bloggers that are complaining about their jobs or libraries.
Some of my favorite library blogs are in the Maven category. I find myself thinking about the posts from Michael Stephens of Tame the Web, Michael Casey of Library Crunch, Jenny Levine of the Shifted Librarian and Stephen Abrams of Stephen's Lighthouse on a daily basis.
I enjoy the Library Mavens because of their enthusiasm. They preach the good that libraries are doing and they spend their time inspiring us to take that step. Even if it means leaving our comfy library world and exploring something new. I was fortunate enough to see Michael Stephens and Michael Casey at the Learning 2.0 event at the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Library. I went with the Assistant Director of my library. We both left inspired and ready to make some changes.
What we liked about the presenters were their enthusiasm. Not just for web 2.0--but for libraries doing their very best to build community. To meet the patron wherever the patron is. To offer services because they make sense for the patron. Granted, Michael and Michael are on the edge. They have to be extreme in order to get the point across. We can't do everything that Michael and Michael suggested, but we can add services, make changes or try out some things. Take a few steps.
I guess this leads to blind spots. Are we so trapped in the traditional library mode--through staff, patrons and governance--that we can't see what is needed? Could all of this talk about library 2.0 be a blind spot? Are some of us so hyper-focused on new technologies that we are leaving our traditional patrons behind?
My current job has a lot of freedom. My previous job didn't. I am finding tremendous growth in my new position. Although, I am allowed to do whatever I think necessary to get the job done, I still have to think about the whole picture--and be 'mature' about my decisions. I have been given the opportunity to try new things. If I fail, then we all learn and we try something else. Our biggest motivating factor is to have people like the library. That encompasses a lot. Not only finding the books they want, but having a helpful staff, having computer access and a great library space.
What about my blind spots? I get bored easily. I tend to be too nice to people. I want everyone to like me. I often choose technology over simpler things. And I overanalyze everything.
Seriously.
What about you?
We were watching Grey's Anatomy last week. The show centered around the theme of blind spots. Not the actual blind spot, but things that we can't see or that we refuse to see.
I was thinking about what kind of blind spots that libraries have.
I have been keeping up with a lot of different blogs about libraries and they seem to fall into three camps:
1. The Library Mavens--they push the edge of what libraries can and should be doing,
2. The bloggers that report on what the Mavens are writing about and doing and
3. The bloggers that are complaining about their jobs or libraries.
Some of my favorite library blogs are in the Maven category. I find myself thinking about the posts from Michael Stephens of Tame the Web, Michael Casey of Library Crunch, Jenny Levine of the Shifted Librarian and Stephen Abrams of Stephen's Lighthouse on a daily basis.
I enjoy the Library Mavens because of their enthusiasm. They preach the good that libraries are doing and they spend their time inspiring us to take that step. Even if it means leaving our comfy library world and exploring something new. I was fortunate enough to see Michael Stephens and Michael Casey at the Learning 2.0 event at the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Library. I went with the Assistant Director of my library. We both left inspired and ready to make some changes.
What we liked about the presenters were their enthusiasm. Not just for web 2.0--but for libraries doing their very best to build community. To meet the patron wherever the patron is. To offer services because they make sense for the patron. Granted, Michael and Michael are on the edge. They have to be extreme in order to get the point across. We can't do everything that Michael and Michael suggested, but we can add services, make changes or try out some things. Take a few steps.
I guess this leads to blind spots. Are we so trapped in the traditional library mode--through staff, patrons and governance--that we can't see what is needed? Could all of this talk about library 2.0 be a blind spot? Are some of us so hyper-focused on new technologies that we are leaving our traditional patrons behind?
My current job has a lot of freedom. My previous job didn't. I am finding tremendous growth in my new position. Although, I am allowed to do whatever I think necessary to get the job done, I still have to think about the whole picture--and be 'mature' about my decisions. I have been given the opportunity to try new things. If I fail, then we all learn and we try something else. Our biggest motivating factor is to have people like the library. That encompasses a lot. Not only finding the books they want, but having a helpful staff, having computer access and a great library space.
What about my blind spots? I get bored easily. I tend to be too nice to people. I want everyone to like me. I often choose technology over simpler things. And I overanalyze everything.
Seriously.
What about you?
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Keeping up with the Blogs...
If you spend anytime reading blogs, you understand the trouble of bookmarking, remembering and keeping up with the latest posts. I attended a Library 2.0 conference at the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Library many moons ago. Michael Casey and Michael Stephens both shared "get your library butt into gear" or else presentations with inspiring images, words and general library goodness. At the time, the idea of web 2.0 was foreign. I have taken small steps and big leaps since then. It is feeling more like home.
One of the tools mentioned was a blog aggregator. This is a piece of software that keeps up with your blogs and will track posts that you have read. When you log in or launch the software, it will list all of the blogs you subscribe to and let you know which ones are new. Bloglines is one that I have been using for several months.
You can see my list of blogs here. Of course, they are mostly library related.
If you spend anytime reading blogs, you understand the trouble of bookmarking, remembering and keeping up with the latest posts. I attended a Library 2.0 conference at the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Library many moons ago. Michael Casey and Michael Stephens both shared "get your library butt into gear" or else presentations with inspiring images, words and general library goodness. At the time, the idea of web 2.0 was foreign. I have taken small steps and big leaps since then. It is feeling more like home.
One of the tools mentioned was a blog aggregator. This is a piece of software that keeps up with your blogs and will track posts that you have read. When you log in or launch the software, it will list all of the blogs you subscribe to and let you know which ones are new. Bloglines is one that I have been using for several months.
You can see my list of blogs here. Of course, they are mostly library related.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
My Flickr set. Flickr is a great Web 2.0 tool for sharing your photo's. If you go PRO, you can upload archival copies of your pictures. It is a great way to back up you pictures online and share with friends and family!
www.flickr.com
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