facebook revisited…

Ok. things that were expressed about facebook here are being revisited.

Facebook must have recently gone through an overhaul. One of the issues has either been resolved or is now easily fixed. So…

Over the past few weeks, I have found that facebook is a bit more fun than I originally thought. In fact, I’ve pretty much replaced twitter with facebook… well. to an extent. With twitter, i have unknown people following me, and that’s a bit creepy. With facebook, i’m only friending people I know in real life, so this isn’t too bad…

Thanks to a couple girlfriends, I’ve really expanded my slim horizon on facebook. Uploaded some photos, found more friends (family actually), and have taken those fun cheesy tests (my 80s movie is “The Goonies” I guess).

I’ve actually been checking my facebook page as often as my LJ friends list. That’s saying something.

Either all that or I’ve just been absorbing myself in “too much internet” for my own good…

–w

SD Library 2.0 Challenge: It’s a Wrap! (for me anyways…)

Well, this is my concluding post of the sd library 2.0 challenge (beta). I hope most of you found my posts on Web 2.0 tools informative and amusing.

Even though before this challenge I blogged, flickr’d and delicious’d, I now find that I’m using my google reader and docs on a frequent basis. I even started implementing the google calendar as well, especially as I embark on maternity leave in a few short weeks (AHHHH!!!!), so that I can keep up with certain events or projects that are ongoing here at the library.

This challenge was also a great way to get to know each other — our likes, dislikes, or whatever we were willing to expand upon within our blog posts.

I know that I will continue to utilize these tools on a both professional and personal basis for quite some time.

Links to remember from this challenge:

• http://sdlibrarychallenge.blogspot.com/: from whence this all started… Should be opening to public soon.
• http://www.commoncraft.com/: Some of the best tutorial vidi’s on the web…
• http://www.librarything.com/: your virtual library…
• http://www.voki.com/: the funny little talking avatar that many of us incorporated on our blogs
• http://www.shelfari.com/: another virtual library…

Some of the best things that I’ve learned lately that have to deal with this challenge that might be slightly out of the curriculum:

• writing my own rss feed (xml code! AHH!)
• logging that particular feed in feedburner
• subscribing to that feed in google reader (and it worked!)
• tweaking widgets to implement in websites

Clearly, these are the things that I, the web person, have gotten all excited over…

One thing that I’d like to do in the near future, is to create a series of video podcasts featuring the new sdsl website, when that is finished. The sdsl website is my goal to complete next year, so we’ll see how far we get.

I’ve also concluded that I get a bit “blabby” in my posts, but apparently I like to talk in some form. Another conclusion is that my 6 degrees game was a bit complicated.. poop. I must be a movie junkie or something…

I’m still going to use this blog for web/computer related schtuff. Whether it’s a tutorial, a review, a feature of a latest project that I’m currently working on, or whatnot, this is my work-related blog. Only periodically will there be something “off-topic”, just so you know.

So, it’s been fun. We’ll see you on the b-side or around the other side of the cubie wall…

–Wynn

lesson 9. wikis.

wiki wiki here wiki wiki there… wiki wiki wiki wiki everywhere… it’s like a Wiggles’ song. What’s the Wiggles? Sorry, couldn’t find the exact song, but here’s something for this friday morning…

Just for fun, let’s play 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon on Wikipedia. I’ll give you a start: Daniel Radcliffe. (Oh, she did NOT just say that!) The fun part (or should I say addicting) is that most entries on Wikipedia are linked together. So, comment below on your results, and we’ll see who can make the fewest connections… (ok, imdb might be of some help too…)

Speaking of imdb, as far as I’m concerned, this could have been one of the first wiki’s. Why do I state this? Wikipedia was created in 2001. Internet Movie Database was launched back in 1990, and anyone can sign up for an account and (oooo!!) submit reviews, biographies, trivia, or what have you. For example, this mini-biography was written back in 1996 — I know, because I haven’t used that email address since.

It was stated in a fellow blog post that people can “do destructive things” on a wiki. Very true. That’s why we should be careful trusting Wikipedia as a source — in fact I was reading Yoda’s listing, and it had some questionable statements in there — this was a few weeks ago. But I also want you to notice a couple other things about Wikipedia:

1. There is a notation at the top of the article where it states “sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations.”
2. Every statement has to have a reference. Ever wonder why there are those irritating [citation needed] tags all over some articles? Trust me, Big Brother is watching…
3. At the top of every article is a “discussion” tab. Read through these if you’re bored — people out there with either too much time on their hands or just succumbing to their know-it-all tendencies (Hermione would be ALL over this) discuss why “this” should be stated as “that” or even challenge other’s writing prose. “How can anything be both “distant” and “omnipresent”… that doesn’t make sense.“

Granted, what this tells me is that yes, people can post up inaccurate information, but also, there’s someone else that’s going to challenge or fix it as soon as they notice it.

Pathetic joke (because I just came up with it myself):

What’s the difference between a wikipedian and a wikipedist?
Only a Wikipediholic would know.

Discovery Exercise:

So. As many of you know, I created a wiki for the State Library staff to review our website. We need a new website, and I want to build it with ours and our patron’s interests first and foremost. I could have just created a discussion board or set up meetings, but I also wanted to incorporate “2.0″ in this because, this is where the internet is taking us these days. I was so inspired by Lee LeFever’s planning of a camping trip, that I thought that planning a new website would be just as good. Granted, I think our project is a bit more involved than who is bringing the radio, but it’s still important.

I created our wiki specially so that only members are allowed to view and post to the wiki. Members include our staff, because you are who I need opinions and information from. And many of you have noticed that when you sign up, you receive emails (by default) when changes are made. Now, it’s a personal preference if you like this feature — and what I like about the emails is that you can see exactly what was discussed without HAVING to log into the wiki every time — but there is a way to edit this setting if you really wanted to. I do want you (my collaborative staff) to know, that even though I could spend ALL DAY refining, editing, creating new notes and ideas, I do try to collect my thoughts together in one afternoon at a time so that I would not fill up your inboxes needlessly. But I still want you to contribute freely and when ideas strike you. That is the purpose of the wiki.

Am I pleased with how the wiki has turned out so far? Actually, yes, I am. We have 20 staff (including myself) who have signed up, and even though about half are lurkers, at least they were interested enough to sign up, and they know where to go to post a concern or a complaint. We’ve tried to make it painfully obvious the things that need (and will) be changed on our website. The evaluation stage is a collaborative staff effort, and I do need your input so that I don’t have to hear at any point next year “Well, I didn’t know that you were going to change this…” (insert wynn’s snide snarky response here.)

I have noticed that some users are more comfortable placing their notes in the comment boxes below — and that’s perfectly fine. If a note should be filed under a different page, I will copy and paste it accordingly and notate this as well. I want to make it easy for you all — any notes/comments is better than nothing at all.

But what if one of the staff posts something really stupid? As Mr. Garrison would say, “There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.” As the admin of the wiki, I do have the ability to see what changes were made, who made them, where, and even pull a page history comparison from today vs last week. If someone posts something off topic or “stupid”, well first off, this is a work related project. (I guess, if you want to say something stupid, go for it… but whatever) I trust we are adults here (even though I still like Harry Potter and Snoopy.) But if anything, I will attend to the issue personally. I might have to take away a sticker… however I’d rather give them away. Come to think of it, the next time some of our remote co-workers are in town, I do owe them a sticker or two…

So, I hope this was an interesting review of my take on wikis. Don’t forget to comment on your results with 6 degrees below!!

What Are You Reading Now

Due to popular demand (my audience of “one” ha ha), here is the “What Are You Reading Now” form just for you!! Also, note the new category to the side panel titled “fun forms”.

See your results HERE

lesson 8. social bookmarking and tagging… with a TUTORIAL!

This week’s lesson featured primarily in social bookmarking; one of the biggest examples out there is Delicious.

Imagine your favorites/bookmark list in your browser. Now imagine that you were at someone else’s computer (library, dad’s, whatever) and all you knew is that you had marked this one site for this one article or post or download, but you can’t remember it! It was probably written by Paul somebody or other and had something to do with his latest book. Well, no longer the case with social bookmarking. You can “take” your bookmarks anywhere — or, they are always “there” for you, wherever you are.

I actually have 2 delicious accounts. I use one for work, and the other for cheesy fun crap.  I will be featuring my eriwyn account here.

My job has various concepts of design and software, this is quite beneficial to me. CSS, Photoshop, Web Design, Graphic Design, and Layout are just some of the “things” I deal with every day. There are TONS of great resources out there on the web for me to browse through.

Now your favorites listing might be separated out in folders — but this is where tagging comes in extremely handy. I “could” have a folder for “Graphic Design” but what if that website or that article also has good information pertaining to “Layout”? I don’t want to put the same listing in there twice… So, tagging. One piece can be tagged in many different ways. Reference, tutorials, tools, postcard template… you name it. In Delicious, you can search for a multitude of tags relating to each other. That’s really sweet.

The whole point of this being a “social” concept, is that you can see who else bookmarked a particular website/page and browse their bookmarks as well. For example, I have a bookmark to a Photoshop Tutorial on realistic marble texture. 16 other people have also linked to this particular webpage. This is a network — I can see what those 16 people share in their links, and come up with tons of other great tutorials in photoshop or even better.

Also, if I’m researching something, and I find this great article that might really benefit my friend Darla, I can a: tag it with her name and direct her to my delicious account OR b: if she’s also a Delicious User and in my network, I can share it with her directly in Delicious. It’s all about who you know, baby.

And, fyi, you don’t have to share every url you find — you can keep some stuff private. (To each their own, you know.)

So, what about your old favorites list? Is it just buried in your old browser with nowhere to go? Never fear — import/export options are here!

Let’s focus on how to use Delicious though.

Installing your browser buttons.

This is geared to my fellow co-workers, who are sometimes aggravated by the limited locked down use of their computers at work.  You’re browsing the net, find a webpage that’s extremely work-related and useful, and you want to be able to go back. Just one click and it’s saved. Just like saving something into your favorites, but it’s in Delicious instead. Ideal, huh?

Installing the bookmarking buttons into my browser (link opens new page):

If you use Internet Explorer, you may be limited in the downloadable add-on’s you can do. Obviously the first thing to try is  to get those cool Delicious icon buttons onto your browser toolbar. This gives you three icon buttons: Delicious, Sidebar/Bookmarks, and Tag. (Firefox is similar in this concept as well.)

1. Delicious (the checked blue/white/black icon) is a direct link to your delicious account.
2. The Sidebar/Bookmarks (blue button with a white ribbon) opens up a panel to the side and you can see all your bookmarks and tags in your browser screen — just like if you were to review your history or favorites in your browser in the “old” days.
3. The Tag button (um, this is labeled tag ;D and looks like an old fashioned sales tag) is your magic button — you are reading your favorite new article, and you TAG it and it automatically pops open a window enabling you to add the url into your delicious account.
4. For the added optional bonus, you can also use the Delicious Toolbar, which features your most recent bookmarks, as well as the above mentioned options.

So, if you find that you cannot download the “Internet Explorer Add-On” there is an alternative.

Install the “Bookmarklets.” This will install two buttons in your links toolbar in your browser. One called “Bookmark on Delicious” and the other “My Delicious.” Obviously, “Bookmark” is to bookmark or tag, and “My Delicious” is the direct link to your account. Unfortunately, these aren’t as “cool” looking as the other buttons, but importantly, they are functional.

These pages are found within the help section on Delicious. And you know what? They are helpful. ;P

So, if there’s anyone out there that has questions on this little tutorial, please feel free to ask.

In the mean time, “TAG!!” You’re it!!