Miss Miracle

#91: Fun with Photos --You Oughta Be in Pictures

2010-06-25T12:45:00.001-07:00

ORIGINAL

USING-- BIG HUGE LABS

FotoFlexer, BeFunky and BigHugeLabs-- I like all of them and can see myself utilizing them more. Each one has similar features and others have more variety. You can create ordinary pictures to pretty amazing images. I enjoyed creating them and trying all the different effects. I especially enjoyed having the images with ability to create motivational images. I can certainly use this for the next Wellness Challenge for my team!

#90: Sharing Photos --You Oughta Be in Pictures

2010-06-25T12:44:00.001-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER --CARTOONIZED
All the pointers are important to me. I will use picasa, flicker and photobucket more. I enjoyed creating many cool images on befunky. It is easy, simple, free and fun to use. I will be utilizing this more often.

#89: Basic Photo Editing --You Oughta Be In Pictures

2010-06-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

UTILIZING FOTOFLEXER MOVED IMAGES, ADDED BUTTERLY STICKER OR ANIMATION, WASH IT OUT ETC..... fun creating it.
BEFORE ORIGINAL ORDINARY PHOTO

I like all of them and will use them.

The Web According to Google #86: Calendar and Documents

2010-05-06T10:15:00.001-07:00

I've been using google calendar for sometime. We have a family plan on the iphone. We log all our activities, appointments, kids exams, etc. It is an wesome and powerful tool. It keeps my kids on their toes on all their exams and activities and parents are aware of it. It cuts down on any surprises. When you are a busy, working parent this is a handy tool. I know how my day will be and can plan accordingly. Its a powerful tool to have to stay ahead of the pack. This would be helpful at work as well.

Created an agenda to share with the family. I think this is an awesome tool when working on same document with others. I may not use it for private and personal information to a group. This maybe helpful when creating schedules that change too often. I may have to use this for our daily schedule on Excel.

The Web According to Google #88: Wave, Buzz, and Mobile

2010-05-06T09:53:00.001-07:00

I like the demo and the whole idea of Wave & Buzz for collaborationm content. I created one for my family members. I have a very international family and this application would have been great when planning my parent's 50th anniversary where all the 7 children could post the ideas for planning the occassion.

As for Apps:
I like and have Latitude allows you to share your location with friends and view their locations on a map. Latitude is available both on your phone and your computer. This is what you need to do before you can start sharing your location and seeing your friends' locations. This is very useful to me when my husband goes long distance biking. I can still monitor on the PC where he is. Also with the kids, when my son was not answering his phone, he had place it on vibrate mode, my husband was able to track where he is at the movie theather with his friends.

I am already using these on my iphone--Google Maps, Calendar,Gmail etc. I think I may need the translate app for an upcoming trip outside the country. This may prove useful.

The Web According to Google #87: Google Reader

2010-05-06T09:52:00.001-07:00

I like Google Reader and will subscribe to many of the RSS feeds of interest including the library. I can RSS my favorite news sites and blogs for new content.
I can share with friends and co-workers. I can see me using this more often.

The Web According to Google #85: Resistance is Futile

2010-04-18T18:43:00.001-07:00

I use google maps, images, video, blogger, gmail etc. Most of the time I have successful results with my search. It seems to work for me. I am disappointed that they took the government site filter off. As a librarian, that feature was useful to me.
With yahoo and other competing applications, I have had some technical difficulties with access at times. I just prefer the google engine and other products.

I guess I would try chrome from home. Our computer is set to open with diffent tabs all running at one time--cnn, nyt,facebook,gmail, wsj etc. I'd like to see if chrome will make it faster to open the browsers intially. I have google earth at home pc. I like very much...Ok just a bit worried at times with privacy.

I took a webminar on Google books and hidden resources. Yes, the google books would be useful as an alternative to patrons. Patrons seems impressed with accessibility and free use. I would definitely recommend it.

Publishing Evolution #84: Writer Communities & Author Websites

2010-04-18T18:42:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have visited my favorite auhtor's websites usually to get more information about the books they have written and when it will be available. Yes, I have interacted with some through their blogs and email. I like the idea of having a popular vote but books are really personal. I depends on what you like and what interest you. I like the idea of popularity and relevance. I still prefer browsing a book to see if it interest me. Just becasue many people like it, does not necessarily mean its great. Its subjective. Its a matter of taste.

I like Writer.Com, Writerface, ScripFrenzy and Facebook writer clubs or social site. Its nice to in touch with authors weather you are a fan or colleague. As to Harper Collin's Autonomy as the new wave of publishing? Its seems reality shows like American Idol are very popular in the US and the world. If there is a fan base for it, I suppose it maybe a way to get noticed. Time will tell.

Publishing Evolution #83: Paper to Pixels (or e-ink)

2010-04-18T18:41:00.001-07:00

I prefer print. I have an iphone and I have an app to read classic books. I'd much rather read a print than a e-device. It's just easier on the eyes. The e-ink display just seems a strain to the eyes.
Price has an influence on me when purchasing a book or other formats. I would probably go with my needs--if I need audio or e book and I am on the go, I will purchase it that way. If I just needed it to read physically, the a book will suffice.

I like iFiction and what it offers. The idea of preview and then pay is a great idea. We preview CDs, videos trhough trailers and why not for books. If you have the desire to continue on and finish the book and it captivates you, yes....you should get the book.

Publishing Evolution #82: Print on Demand

2010-04-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

Exercises
Visited LuLu and was amazed about what it offers. Looked at the demo to see what it offers. I looked for books that I have read--Classics to current bestsellers. Yes. I was able to find them on Lulu. It's the same book cover that we have on the library. Yes, I would red them.
I really like it. I like to have control of content and I like what it seems to offer. To be able to publish without the overhead costs, that's powerful. What do you think of self publishing? Its amazing that you can cut all that red tape and have a treasure at hand. I like the idea of have control of what you wish your book to be. I also think that woth the traditonal method, publsihers have staff that can focus on editing, advertsing, illustrating and other content to make it more polish.
Went to CreateaSpace, browse the site and items of interest. Books that you can browse and you can even comments if some of its content have inappropriate or abusive content. iUniverse was amazing as well. I like the recognition program awards. I like what I see with iUniverse and will probably use it if was publishing a book.

The Future of Media #81: Get Out Your Crystal Ball

2010-03-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

I have a techie husband who likes new gadgets. I often, feel that we are wasting money as new technology comes in and replaces the old ones we have. For me, the old gadgets seems to work fine. My husband bought me an iphone (family plan). Well... it has become entertainment, babysitter, phone, gps, text, email, calendar, alarm, calculator, money converter, excercise and fitness palnner, day planner for all of us --family of 4. I know when my kids exams and what is due. I know when my appointments and commitments etc... Its a radio (even an emergency radio), music player, a recorder, camera & photo album, social network, TV (movie player) a flashlight, rosary and daily readings, its a dictionary, recipes, a library of classic books, newspaper, market watch for finance, and other media I download. Its a first aid reference kit, notebook, book keeper, even monitors my kids where they are and my home security system. When I am on travel, I can look at my home inside and out. During Ike, I was able to see how strong the winds and the flooding outside (until electricity was cut off). I have very active kids with lots of school and social events. With my iphone, I can monitor where they are. On the map, I can see where is my son at the movies. I can also see the location where my daughter who is at a camp out with her Girls Scouts troop. This technology lets everyone know within our network--our whereabouts!

With an incident at the library, I noticed that a group who comes to the library did not follow our rules, I decided to take a few pictures with my iphone for evidence. I got the photos I needed to support my case (inconspicuously off course). Publisher's Weekly article indicates that there apps for SAT, GRE, etc... Neat!! It's definitely made world easier. All in one and I only have a few apps. I have not even begin to look at other apps available out there!!!

Newspapers are still good to have. Not eveyone wants to read a paper online (nor have the equipment) to do so. But it is there available through the public library system and many schools have good techonology. The same could be said for books. Many people still prefer reading print version. Now a days, we have mp3s, ipods, Sony Readers, Nooks, etc. More to changes to come I am sure....just embrace what works for you.

I have not invested in blueray. I still have DVDs and some VHS. Its nice to know its avialble online for free or on a fee basis. Gameboy--various colors, DS, PSP, etc. What ever happened to these? More gadget--ipad? Can't keep up!!! I probably never will but its good to know its there should you choose to invest in more.

The Future of Media #80: Movies

2010-02-17T09:30:00.001-08:00

I went to hulu. It don't mind looking online for clippings, TV episodes, etc. As to any preference on TV via PC...for me, I am fine with either. I enjoy looking at trailers for upcoming movies. It allows me to see if the movie is appropriate for my family. Should I pay money for it? Wait till it comes on video? Is it worth my attention and time? It maybe offensive and not family friendly etc...I still enjoy going out to the movies with freinds and family. It's social! I am happy that there are some available online. Having some shows and educational clippings online is helpful. It saves money. It saves time. It makes it easy and accessible to all.

The Future of Media #79: Television

2010-02-17T09:29:00.002-08:00

Exercises:

Reviewed the Hulu website. I was amaze with the amount of coverage it had. Channels--various subjects--Reality Shows, game shows, Food and Leisure, Action, Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Animation etc. The category tabs are easy to navigate and maneuver and explore any clippings you want. You can seacrh via most popular all the time, weekely, monthly etc. It had recently added, most popular and newest in alpha order. The Lab- experimental projects wrere interesting. I especially like trailers. I reviewed a few that I may consider watching at a later time. The Human experience is one that caught my attention. There is a homeless man that visits the library often and we had difficulty with patrons complaining of his smell and appearance. He has turned around since to the point where I do not recognize him at times. I has cleaned up and look like everyone else now. This movie seems to focus what it would be like to be in his shoes. The movie comes out 4/9 and I will be looking forward to seeing it.
TV.com--Discovery Channel is there. Popular videos, Forums, Photos, etc.
There are full episodes, video spotlights, HD video, etc.
I have an iphone and yes, I have watched videos on my phone. Its a good feature when you need it. Often my kids would show me videos online but I don't post any.

Searching #78: Video

2010-02-17T09:29:00.001-08:00

Review-- Too late went to all of them and spent much time looking at them.
Google Video
Clipblast [least liked--too long to load]
Yahoo
Video
Bing
____________________________________________________________________________________

1. Truveo
Easy acces search box. Enter your key terms and see results.
I typed Toby Mac on the search box as my kids recently saw him. It pulled about 8,199. It can sort by top ranked, most popular, highest ranked etc. As you enter your search terms, it gave you other options. Its a nice touch.

Blinkx--looks a lot more busy. Safe search is a nice touch. You can browse by category and channel. It had play list area. With my seach results, it found 8,000 videos--a good many seems to be from YouTube.

Familiar with the YouTube channel. Looked at HCPL videos. I saw last year's book review projects posted online with JJ-Jim Johnson. Maybe monthly programming videos of some of programs for teens, children and adults would be nice. Show the featured events--Art Camp for the Summer with HMFA,Black History Month, Art Exhibits at the library by Arts Alliance artists.

How to guides--
-job search
-test taking databases-- learning express and how to use it
-how to compare insurance
-how to start a business and sources available
-featured CCISD school assignmenets:
science fair
texas widlfower
texas history
career and employment
using literary resouces
* how to use MLA, APA, Chicago style and source available

We can use source we have at HCPL and refer to organizations or links that makes it easier for patrons to get additional information. For example, tax forms available at the library, tax books available, online tax forms, AARP listing on free tax help etc. etc... Making a short and sweet video may help with the process on how to guides.

Searching #77: Images

2010-02-17T09:28:00.001-08:00

Exercises:
1. With AllFreeClipArt, A colored santa appeared--about 4-6 clickss...2nd seacrh result had it in color.
2. Read “10 Places to Find Free Images Online”. Blog about 2 of the sites listed.
I liked Free Digital Photo. Easy to download free images:
•no registration required
•corporate use is OK
•instant download
•option to purchase super high resolution files for use in print or graphic design
•optional member registration gives access to lightboxes and email-to-a-friend features. There is a section for featured photographers with some nice images as well.
FreePhotosBank.com allows you to download digital iamges of your choice. Found an image I could use for Earth day coming up. Really easy to use and free.

3. Logged on to clip art used an image and credit Clip Art--Olympics

Searching #76: Sound Effects

2010-02-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

Exercises:
---------
I enjoyed listening to the sounds.
Three animal sound effects in your blog--
Seal--came from http://www.ndrr.com/rmr_faq/ Model Railroading
Peacock--came from HindiNest.com [site is in Hindi]
http://www.hindinest.com/bachpan/pakshi/02261.htm
Free/Beluga Whale http://www.manon.org/telecharg.htm [Site is in French]

Searching #75: Google and Beyond

2010-02-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

I looked at Blindsearch and added by search for SRI--Socially Responsble Investing--with the result, I got being blinded it came out to be almost the same...few variations. I clicked on the tab to see what were the search engines and -Yahoo,Google & Bing showed up. I actually liked the results without all the adds and distractions on the sides. It was easier on my eyes. I could go to the areas I needed to focus on. Looks the google is the mostused search engine accodring to Hitwise.
Exercises:
1) Type in at least three queries in Blindsearch--
a. SRI Yahoo, Google, Bing
b. Earth Day Google, Yahoo, Bing
c. Clear Lake City County Freeman Library Yahoo, Google, Bing
Google seemed to come up with the better search results.
Top Search Engine - ranked by Volume of Searches for the 4 weeks ending 02/13/2010. Rank Search Engine Searches
1. www.google.com 71.23%
2. search.yahoo.com 14.63%
3. www.bing.com 9.64%
Yes, it seems to be in line with my choices.

Marketing of search engines requires that they continually add new features that they hope will appeal to you. Explore the features of one of the major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, or Bing). What new things did you discover that you would find useful? Bing search page looks great as well. Its pleasing to the eye but unsure whatelse it offers without you looking further. Lots of videos and graphics.
Yahoo, used to this kind of engine. Its extremely irritating when a car jumps in front of what you are looking at and blocks it. You need to close it to look further. With the google engine, everday the search box is different and it finds a way to remind me of somethings that I may not be aware of readily-- Earth day, Sesame Street Anniversary, etc. It's just added fun and different.

# 60: Food, Fun & Frugality

2009-05-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Recession Busters
Stretch Your Food Dollars Recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Cooking-on-a-Budget/Detail.aspx
Cheaper than Take Out Video:
Three Easy Meatball Dishes From One Recipe (Video)http://http//allrecipes.com/HowTo/Three-Easy-Meatball-Dishes-From-One-Recipe-Video/Detail.aspx
Share a few recession busters that you have heard or seen about in the media over the last few weeks, either on the local or national level.
CNN - 5/12 Learning to be happy in tough economic times
With the recession and extra challenges people are facing today, tools for learning how to remain happy or cope with hard economic times may be particularly ...Researcher states that "The general conclusion was that economic ups and downs don't really affect overall happiness in rich countries. The big trend is that people are getting happier. "We know that most people are happy, so people know happiness is possible and more or less in their own hands."
Recession Guide to Cheap Summer Fun
The Best Deals and Discounts to Help You Have Fun This Summer Without Going Broke
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ ABC NEWS Business UnitApril 30, 2009
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Travel/story?id=7464225&page=1

Recent Tips -- saving money during :
For free fun activities around town--try Arts Hound:
http://www.artshound.com/event/cat/free_events
For best deals on travel:
http://last-minute.travelzoo.com/
Try Outdoor activities for fun and entertainment:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
Try Movies:
http://www.pccmovies.com/

Money & Finance #58: Banking, Budgeting, and Spending

2009-04-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

Exercises:1) Does your bank offer online banking? Is it free or fee based? If so blog about your experiences with online banking. What features do you like or dislike? If your bank doesn't offer online banking, blog why they should or should not consider adding it. What security safeguards does the bank offer when you use online banking? What safeguards can you use when banking online?2) Take a look at several of the budgeting tools listed above. Do you see any that you particularly like? Can you see yourself using these? Test them out and blog about your reactions.3) Read the article on ways to cut back on your spending. Blog about 2 or 3 ideas mentioned that you'd like to incorporate/implement into your financial plan.

Pot Luck #57: TXT U L8R - Texting

2009-04-03T10:04:00.001-07:00

I prefer texting. Its a good way to communicate with someone even when you are too busy to talk to them at the moment or just do not wish to attract too much attention around you. My husband responds to me instantly even when he is at his many meeting during the day. My kids responds to me when they are in the bus on the way to and from school. My brother text me with information about their vacation and many family events going on. My family can leave me messages on the voicemail or text me and I get their information instantly. It is an amazing tool. I text regularly. I try to use the lingo because it cuts the time to type everyhting. I am still learning the text lingo. Texting and driving.....just not a good mix! When you drive...focus should be on the road.

Potluck #56: To Tweet or Not To Tweet...Twitter

2009-04-03T10:03:00.001-07:00

I was not thrilled about setting another account on twitter. When I got started I got more curious that this social network all about. I was hooked when I realized how short and sweet the summaries are for many of the postings--followings I joined. CNN, NYPL, HPL etc. I think I am hooked on this one. Short sweet and easy--enough to get me by...Just what I need--Too much information overload at times....Nice!

Pot Luck #55: Getting the Most Out of Facebook

2009-04-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

I like facebook. Its a good place to see what is going on with families and friends. They have their own accounts and the share contents within their groups. I got started with many of my colleagues, families and friends to be their friend on facebook. I got curious and so I accepted and created my own account. Before you know it, I had many close friends online as well. We share video postings, write on their walls, view and upload pictures, etc. It's fun, free and good place to just keep up with everyone. I don't post a lot about me but I enjoy seeing friends post things about them.

#54 Social Networking Through Books --Books, Readers and Beyond

2009-02-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

Exercise One
FM has staff book club monthly. I would do both-in person and online. Prefrence--online book club. Fast and accessible when you want to.

FM has several book clubs--Great Books, Sleuth Mystery Book Club, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Group as well as a FM Staff Book Club which meets once a month for about an hour to discuss book, article, website, database, music, dvd etc...anything that you'd like to share.

Exercise Two
It seems most of them are fiction. I'd like a non-fiction/biography book club implented in the library.

#53 Finding Books Online ( Books, Readers and Beyond)

2009-02-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

Exercise One
Report on three booksellers that are closest to your branch-- All three has online presence:

1. Barnes & Noble Booksellers Baybrook 029 W Bay Area Blvd Webster, TX 77598

281-5544. Excellent website, easy to navigate, user friendly with the following categories:

Browse Books. Bestsellers New Releases, Coming Soon, Recommended,Audiobooks, Children's Books, Used & Out of Print, Bargain-Priced Books etc. New Features --Book Clubs, Book Reviews and Store Events etc. etc.

2. Border's Bookstore--Baybrook @ Webster--Layout is similar to above but with bolder colors. Easy to navigate and user friendly. You can sign for perks.

3. Half Price Book Store Clear Lake9 61 NASA Pkwy.Houston, TX 77058

Provides the following-- Special Promotions,,Our Stores,Community, Subscriber Savings, Locations, Half Pint Library, Free Shipping on Gift Cards, Cash for Books, Environmental Initiative, Featured Products, Testimonials, Family Literacy,

Recent News, Books by the Yard, Music By The Book, Educator Discount, Reading Tips
Reading Tips (Spanish), Bag Refusal Program

____________________________________________________________
Exercise Two
Fire is available online through Barnes & Nobles
The Fire by Katherine Neville
Hardcover
Details
Usually ships within 24 hours
ISBN-13: 9780345500670
Sales Rank: 1,429
Pub. Date: October 2008
Katherine Neville s groundbreaking novel, The Eight, dazzled audiences more than twenty years ago and set the literary stage for the epic thriller. A quest for a mystical ...
List Price: $26.00
Online Price: $20.80 (Save 20%)
Members Pay: $18.72
18 used from $6.53

Fire by Katherine Neville
Details AUDIO
Usually ships within 24 hours
ISBN-13: 9780739357088
Sales Rank: 117,368
Pub. Date: October 2008

Online Price: $29.95
Members Pay: $26.95
6 used from $14.00

Exercise Three
The process was simple and painless. I like the fact that you can navigate and maneuver easily from page to page and find key words within the text easily. I like that books are available electronically but for my leisure reading, my preference is still printed sources. I wear contacts and I find reading electronically dries my eyes and the glare can be irritating. Although my preference is print, I am thankful that ebooks are here. It makes books easily accessible to those who may not be able have the print source--access from home, class, business trip...anywhere.

Books, Readers and Beyond: #52 What to Read

2009-02-10T10:56:00.002-08:00

Exercises:
I enjoyed reading Eight and Calculated Risk from Katherine Neville. I went to Novel List only to find that she has a new book out called Fire. She has not written in awhile so I was very surprised to see her new book had come out. It has positive reviews on NovelList and I look forward to catching up. Similar auhtors like Katherine Neville are --Brown, Dan; Mosse, Kate, etc. I went to Allreader to compare sites as suggested on the module. I really like Allreader. It provided me with a list of books with similar plots. There is a book suggested--
which is a Female Profession/status: - business executive Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American) How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - very athletic. I went to all the sites on the module but today, I will go with Bookbitch review--Fire THE FIRE by Katherine Neville ....."The Fire shows that Neville is still at the top of her game, and reigns supreme as the master of literary puzzles." 10/08 by
Becky Lejeune. This reassures me that Fire will be worth reading.
_____________________________________________________

Books suitable for 4th grade girl interested in animals:
Used NovelList--higlighted older kids 9-12 (4th grade) went to recommended, animal stories and sorted it by popularity. Depending if the girl is interested in fiction or non-fiction
FICTION:
1.) Stories Told by Animals by Anderson, Laurie Both pets and wild animals narrate these exciting stories of adventure and mystery told from the animals' points of view.
2.) A mama for Owen Bauer, Marion Dane When the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami separates a young African hippopotamus from his mother, he finds a new snuggle partner in Mzee the giant tortoise. Based on a true story.
NONFICTION:
1.) The complete dog book for kids Provides information on all types of dogs, including size, breeds, facts, history, and what type of dog is right for you
2.) Everything cat Uses a question-and-answer format to present a variety of information about cats

Ghost stories for 13 yr old brother:
1.) The body of Christopher Creed Torey Adams, a high school junior with a seemingly perfect life, struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the class outcast.
2.) Shadowland Suze Simon can mediate between the living and the dead, and she hopes her move to California will be a fresh start, but a hot ghost named Jesse haunts her bedroom and another ghost is bent on vengeance at school
_______________________________________________________________
Dean Koontz Read A likes used Novelist:
1.) Greg Bear books--Darwin's Radio and Vitals, combine medical, scientific, and paranormal elements with Suspense to create compelling Thrillers with fast pacing and inviting characters.
2.) John Saul book--The Manhattan Hunt Club, Saul uses the caverns of the New York subway system as the chilling setting of this suspenseful adventure in which a young man, falsely accused of rape, fights for his life, as he finds himself the quarry in a horrific hunt.
3.)Robert McCammon'--Boy's Life offers a sometimes melodramatic story of a boy's coming of age that weaves magic and the fantastic into an everyday world, with sometimes horrifying results. Used What to Read Next--typed Dean Koonts and it provided me with a list of books suggested are as follows: Infernal A Repairman by Jack Novel, Privileged Information by Stephen White
______________________________________________________

Used NovelList for Song of the lioness series by Tamora Pierce

Alanna: the First Adventure
In the hand of the goddess
The woman who rides like a man
Lioness rampant

Used KDL What's Next in a Series: Song of the Lioness quartet
Book 1 Alanna: The first adventure
Book 2 In the hand of the goddess
Book 3 The woman who rides like a man
Book 4 Lioness rampant

Potluck #51: Holidays and Cooking and Recipes - Oh My!

2009-02-10T10:56:00.001-08:00

Discovery Exercise:1. Find a recipe using one of the websites listed above OR use your favorite recipe2. Covert the recipe either up or down (make it for 20 people or for two)3. Post the original recipe and the conversion to your blog (be sure to cite where you got the recipe).

Potluck #50: Global Nation

2009-02-10T10:55:00.001-08:00

Exercise:
I've played around orbitz, nileguide and 43 places and the other sites provided on the module. Interesting stuff. I've used travelzoo.com. http://www.travelzoo.com/ on many travels. When it was a start up company, they were giving free stocks. It combines all the travel search engines-- orbitz, travelocity, priceline, expedia, cheaptickets... this will help you find the best travel deals. I've been very content with their site. At one time, I booked a vacation to Orlando, Florida and a hurricane was coming to Clearwater area. I took the trip anyway only to find myself in akward position as the hurricane Charles headed to Orlando instead. I quickly tried to make adjustments and travelzoo was quick to respond. They were helpful and guided me quickly what I needed to do.
I enjoyed looking at photographs posted on 43 places. I went and looked at Oxfordshire, England--(spent the summer school). It brought nice memories. I looked at places I've never been to as well....hope to someday make it there. Nileguide was fun too. My dream vacation would be New Zealand's Auckland--Great Barrier Island ,Rangitoto Island, Whatipu etc. I've seen photos of relatives who have traveled there. Nature's Galore! It's beautiful... For patrons looking for travel sites....these would be a good place to browse.

Potluck #49: L'amore di lingue - Love of Languages

2009-02-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Discovery Exercise:
Learning languages--Live Mocha, Mango & Wikibooks
I like layout of Live Mocha. The neutral colors of cocoa, mocha is very calming to me. I enjoyed the practice sessions from reading, speaking,matching the illustrations, writing and recordings. I felt that I would be able to learn the language more with this session. It allowed more interaction and practice. The Mango was fun too. I like the audio recordings and then, it ask you for you to speak the words and their actual definition. I liked both online sources. My preferance-- Live Mocha. It fits my leaning style. I studied french for many years but I do not get to use it as often. I plan on traveling soon so this is a great way to brush up. As for work, there are many patrons who are interested in learning languages. These sources will be highly recommended for both novice and advance users. Sometimes our printed sources are checked out. These databases are free and available online....Sweet! For people just traveling to other countries and just need to brush up... This is perfect!
Wikibooks-- Like the idea of educational texbooks online. Available in many languages--french, italian, ducthm portugese, polish etc. They even have a Wikijunior...Nice!

#47 Video Challenge: Post Your Video to YouTube #48: Check it Out!

2008-10-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

For this extra-credit challenge, you'll upload the video you created in post #46 to YouTube and then post it to your blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1VyfWDo5vs

#46 Movie Maker Basics: You Oughta be in Pictures - or Making Them!

2008-10-28T07:25:00.002-07:00

Practice with Movie Maker and create a 30 second video from scratch and write about your experience in your blog. I used movie maker and it was simple--thanks to the practice videos. It's a good tool to use, I prefer animoto. Nice option with the storyline and time lines. You have control of the effects as well. Branches can use use this tool to come up with many clippings for programming, events, recommended book list or award list.... Neat stuff! Movie is posted on P drive second floor stuff-mt --movie ( Project Pumpkin 2008) :) or
http://animoto.com/play/IwADZeGpkiGt8kfhlXV0eQ?autostart=true
Book Reviews by Freeman Patrons--

#45: Making a Video: An Overview

2008-10-28T07:25:00.001-07:00

Animoto appeals to me the most. I've overcome the most challenging--that is to try it. It was simple and easy and so so fun! Fun library projects that you might do using one of these editing tools--visit the link below --2008 Project Pumpkin @ Freeman. It is a time when the Children's Department ask staff to paint pumpkins. The children and staff vote on their favorite pumpkin. Check it out--it was a blast doing this project and the community seem to really enjoy it.
http://animoto.com/play/IwADZeGpkiGt8kfhlXV0eQ (2008 PUMPKIN PROJECT)
.com/
After the first ihcpl, I was hooked on animoto. I went ahead and purchase the membership. I am able to download photos and share those with my many diverse family. The response from relatives and friends have been amazing. They think I have worked so hard to put the film together when all I really had to do is load pictures, add highlights and music and wow!!! It's amazing stuff. I have great time doing it and it was so so simple. The membership is worth it because it allows you to make as many videos as you want and longer than the freebie version.

Wellness #42: Staying Well

2008-08-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Activities:
I like this web page--Mayo Clinic for most common causes of symptoms. It provides simple self-treatment, diagnosis of more serious problems. (Still consult your Dr.) I like Medline Plus a lot and refer patrons for many user friendly up to date general information. I found all services for the Local Texas Gulf Coast linking Consumers to Health Services in the st region. It was really neat and simple.

PHR looks useful for collecting, tracking, and sharing information. Using a PHR can help you make better health decisions to access and use information needed to communicate effectively with others about your doctor. If you have a history of diseases on your family, this maybe life saving information.

Wellness #41 - Going Green - Part 2

2008-08-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Activity 3: From any of the other sites above, list one activity in your blog that you think would be quite easy to do to live a greener lifestyle. List a second that would take more commitment, but that you really would like to try
An easy one to do--swicth to compact flourecent bulbs. This was simple and easy to do for all the light inside and exterior of the house. (http://www.houstonpowertopeople.com/) Program the thermostat and fix drafty windows around the house. I would like to stop junk mail, flyers and brochures as well.

Probably the hardest would be to drive less and use less gas. I have cut down drastically but feel that it is not enough. Pick up and drop off with the kids and their activities. We can car pool with other kids.....I do admit I enjoy the freedom of being able move at your free will. This would take more commitment and change in ways. Recycling is another committment. The drop off is also a drive away. There should should be closer drop off center for much plastics and other recyclables.

Wellness #41: Going Green - Part 1

2008-08-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Green TeamActivity 1:
http://www.nwf.org/energy/tips.cfm I went on this site to check my carbon footprint. I was sad to see I'm not doing enough to cut down. The tips and suggestions for energy saving were helpful. I will be more aware of my environment and what I can do to save it more.

I went to http://www.foodnews.org/ EWG is a not-for-profit environmental research organization dedicated to improving public health and protecting the environment by reducing pollution in air, water and food. This was pretty shocking--highest pesticide is peaches and apples and the least amount of pesticide is onions. It seems that a good many of what I buy was high on the list. I will try to get to a local market. It seems many of them are downtown location. I will be more careful and to buy more locally. Before the hurricane Ike, I believe there was one close by around Nassau Bay. I will look into this more. It is very unsettling knowing the amount of pesticide that are used in today's foods....think of what chemicals and sickness and diseases that your body can absorb over long periods of time.

Wellness #40: Fitness

2008-08-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Activities: Take a look at the fitness calculators on ExRx.net.
Check BMI:
I went in NutitionData and created an account. I was asked gender, age, height an dweight and excercise. I provided me with a BMI and Daily Needs-- Daily Energy Expenditure, Recommended minimiums etc. It was very interesting and a lot of fun.

I was very surprised --It appears that I am 17.9 yrs of age and a life expectancy of 104.9 or 80 yrs. which is pretty good. Yes, I was certainly surprised because with being a full time worker, devoted mom....it sure can take a toll on you but hey!...more power, more motivation to do good. :)
I am motivated to change my eating habits and implement more exercise. Having kids who are very activite tends to do that to you....I will continue with the routine and add more to it.

Wellness #39: Nutrition

2008-08-14T18:15:00.001-07:00

1) Explore Nutrition Data, and write in your blog about features you would find useful. Include something surprising that you learned about the food you have been eating.
Looked up Corn Flakes-- Cereals ready-to-eat, corn flakes, low sodium
Serving size: 100 grams 1 ounce (28g) 1 cup (25g)
CALORIC RATIO PYRAMID and Nutritional Target Map
ESTIMATED GLYCEMIC LOAD and INFLAMMATION FACTOR) RATING
Another is Cranberries, dried, sweetened (26 g sugar)
The bad: A large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars. I usually snack on these but may opt out for something with less sugar.

2) Enter a favorite recipe into Recipes.Sparkpeople.com, and calculate its nutritional information. Post the recipe on your blog, along with its nutrition facts. If your recipe is high calorie, experiment with substituting lighter ingredients and see how the bottom line changes.
I really enjoyed sparkpeople.com. I will be using this site more. I like the top weekly recipes and the ratings. I liked the recipe calculator as well -- this specially helpful to monitor calorie intake and substitute for a better and healthier alternative.

Maps #34: Geocoding and Geocaching

2008-04-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Discovery Exercise:
1. On your blog, tell us the name of the location you chose to find and list the GPS coordinates for that location. Quick Geocoder

You entered: 429 east 64 street, nyc 10016
The Google geocoder found:
429 E 64th St
City
New York
State/Region
NY
Country
US [United States]
Full address
429 E 64th St, New York, NY 10065, USA
Latitude
40.762223
Longitude
-73.957508
Coordinates
40.762223, -73.957508
N40°45.73338, W073°57.45048

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=8621267d-bd92-4018-b00f-68a2ab5de872
This reminds me of a tour we took to Cozumel where we played this GPS game with other tourist. One that finds all wins a prize. Can't say I'm really into this. I just prefer to use my time on other projects.

Maps #33: Relocating with Online Maps

2008-04-18T11:53:00.001-07:00

ACTIVITY 1: APARTMENTS:
Used Apartment Guide by checking the box that pertain to the criterias desired -- I was able to find many appartments available at the amenities I wanted and the price range. Many of the sites provide virtual or floor plans and amenties. This is what we did for your move to Houston from the East Coast. We got our appartment online without actually step on the premise physically...
I enjoyed the variation options : street, aerial/satellite, bird’s eye, hybrid (combination satellite & street). I like aerial the most. I can see to my house and my neighbors etc.
HOUSES:
I went on Google maps marked my subdivision and looked for houses on sale for the price range desired. It marked the areas and provided listing on the left side along with links and realtor information. It provide all the necessary information that would allow me to determine if I should call this realtor and make an appointment for viewing. For someone purchasing the home, its information is helpful in determining if this neighborhood is one that would appropriate for me. It provided zone schooling for elementary to high school. Really neat!
ACTIVITY 2:
Used Discoverourtown.com-- It was useful. I like the link to the TX Dept of Tourism. Just click on any of the top tabs for areas of interest and it provided with links to explore further. Colors a bit bright for me.

Maps #32: Current Events

2008-04-18T11:52:00.001-07:00

Look through the list of "100 Things To Do With Google Maps". Jobs available many hotels with maps for point of reference...very helpful. I love google maps. By finding a general location, I can expand business around the area and it will map it out for you. If you are looking for italian restaurants, by asking to find that business, it will highlight and map those businesses for you. You can then highlight that link and it will bring you to the local homepage of the area along with address and menus etc. One stop shop at the tip of your fingers. Have you looked at Google 411? It's in experimetal stages but it is awesome. I enjoyed the trip planner. Explore Global Incident Map, Terra Server, or National Atlas. Find a map or image that interests you. Try http://globalincidentmap.com/home.php Going through this site was unsettling to me. Having experience 9/11, this was of interest. It shows global incidents of terrorism and suspicious events such as in Florida a radiaiton equipment is missing, TX bridge bombing of bridge was false...etc. So close to home!

Maps #31: Have Map, Will Travel

2008-04-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

DISCOVERY EXERCISES: Lots of fun-- enjoyed going on Google Maps and mapping different destinations, manipulating it the routes so you can get variations --gives you time to get there so you can compare--shorter or longer route. This is perfect for my trip to the Grand Canyon!

Spring Cleaning #30: Take a Load Off Our Drives

2008-04-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

Exercise:
No files on S drive. Deleted unneccessary files from P and Z drive.
Write an entry in your blog about what you found. What was the oldest file you were able to delete or move to another location? Too embarass to post....but the good news is that my files are organized and any unnecessary files have been deleted.

Spring Cleaning #29: Email

2008-04-18T11:43:00.001-07:00

Cleaned and updated my address book --working on update. Its amazing how many old addresses I had to delete. I realized as people moved from job to job--address changes. I think I had serverals for same --did not know which one works. Sparkling clean address book. Make daily cleaning on email accounts...

Spring Cleaning #28: Don’t Clutter Up Expensive Cyberspace

2008-04-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Finalized my spring cleaning.!!!!!!! Weee

Exercise:

David Allen "s GTD interesting concept. While I agree on some points, most time management books focus on prioritizing what is most urgent and accomplishing the task to mee the final goal. I still believe in keeping it simple--pen and paper will suffice and it requires less time typing, fidgeting with gadgets etc. Once fianlize--It's a done deal and move on the next project.
I liked the links from the general organizational tips from Zen Habits --motivational, finance, health, happiness and simplicity
Online calendars or to-do lists-- I used Google Calendar prior to this project. Its simple to use and both my husband and I keep it updated with our kids activities. We get email reminders..Cool features--quick add, add an event, US holidays and my home county's holidays as well etc.

Sound: #26: Making (or listening to) Music Together

2008-03-05T23:24:00.001-08:00

Discovery Exercises
Take a look around several of the music networking sites and compare notes on what they offer.
Either sign up for an account with one of the sites listed under "Sharing Musical Tastes" or create a song using JamStudio.
Write a blog post about your discoveries.

Sound: #25: Am I a music pirate? It's hard to know...

2008-03-05T23:13:00.001-08:00

Discovery Exercises
Burn a copy of your chosen song to CD . I downloaded some songs on overdrive. It was an smooth process. I believe that an artist should have control of their own products. Musicians benefit more from strict copyright protections online.

Sound: #24: The sound of music!

2008-03-05T23:09:00.001-08:00

Activities
Look at the different types of pay sites, comparing features and prices.
Download a song to your computer and transfer it to your branch MP3 player (or your MP3 player) from one of the free sites, which don't require software installation. NOTE: If you are at home, feel free to use whatever service you want. See if your favorite radio station offers listening through their website.
Pay for per song and download http://downloads.walmart.com/swap/
In the past, we used walmart downloads. The fee is about .94 cents per song. Since the library offers free downloads--we've look that more often. Its nice to hear the preview before you actually go and spend money on the product. Some albums can be expensive and it only has one decent song. I'd like to know I got my moneys worth and be a better consumer. This is awesome. I can listen to my favorite station on my pc.--http://www.godlistens.com/player_win.htm Wow! Inspirational station to gow ith my daily activities. Nice touch!