Dinogal’s Weblog

I have spent some time this week exploring the world of podcasting.  There’s a lot of interesting recorded information and entertainment out there.  Podcasting seems to have much more commercial “infiltration” than the other 2.0 features we’ve used.  I have not yet found that many library generated podcasts, but I’m not done looking (I have to spend more time on I-Tunes).  I have been thinking of library applications.  Perhaps the most obvious is as a suggested source of information for patrons.  Imagine doing an author study and being able to listen to the author discuss his/her work!  Podcasting with a video component (vodcasting?) could also be a useful tool to introduce patrons to library resources such as genealogy databases, or downloadable audio books, etc.  Libraries in multilingual communities could also provide podcasts in other languages.

I am lucky that I have the opportunity to search these databases on a regular basis.  I spent some time on the ones I use less frequently and I spent some time on TryItIllinois offerings.  Then, just for fun, I did look at the Historical New York Times for my birth-date.  It was not a big news day.  However, reports included reportage of Elizabeth Taylor’s first divorce (from Nick Hilton) and atomic bomb testing in Nevada. (Yes, they did test here.  This was intended to be a deterrent to the Soviet Union.)  Perhaps my favorite article was a report about the first demonstration of  the new desk sized (that is desk sized, not desk top) computer, Maddid, developed by Northrup for defense purposes.  It could be operated by one person!  With push buttons!  It could store 10,000 digits!  It could do the work of the usual warehouse sized computers!  Imagine.

Well, we were successful and have adopted this charming fellow to the right.  He is a two year old mixed breed.  The shelter claims he’s a shih tzu mix; I’m sure there’s some shih tzu in there but I suspect a fair amount of Havanese as well.  He’s a gentle lad and has no interest in chasing Mao.  She remains atop the piano till this is proved.  We’re waffling on a name:  Oreo (too common?), so perhaps Hydrox, or maybe Dixie Cup.  Any ideas?

Hours after reading the adventure, I picked my head up and realized I’d better post one to my blog.  It is very easy to get lost in YouTube.  I had hoped to find a Google video too, but I think I’ll let that wait for a day or two.  I think videos have great potential in libraries.  I saw a number of clever and innovative uses in YouTube.  Training and orientation videos seem to be the most popular.  One consideration is professional level of videos.  I saw quite a few that were unclear or amateurish.  When creating a video for a library it should be important to set the standards high.

Mao is miffed with me.  She has threatened to sit on all my black clothes and shed until I post a more glamorous photo.  Actually, she’s probably miffed because I’m having more fun with the computer than her.

Mao

We have always had animals in our home, mostly cats and dogs.  Currently we have one cat, Mao, who has been giving me the stink eye of late.  Perhaps she knows that we’re considering adding a dog to the household.  Next weekend we’re going to Howl-o-ween at Navy Pier to check out the adoptable dogs.

It’s hard to avoid knowing that it’s breast cancer awareness month.  I decided that I’d rather do something more personal than buy a pink lip gloss or mixer.  I just signed up to join the Army of Women.  Dr. Susan Love and the Avon Foundation have joined to create the Army.  They are trying to recruit 1,000,000 women of all ages, races and ethnicities; women in perfect health and those who have survived cancer.  The goal is to work towards breast cancer prevention by recruiting women willing to participate in research.  Those enlisted receive e-mails about research in their area, criteria for participation, and description of what is needed.  If it sounds like something the enlistee could do they respond to the e-mail.  If you want to learn more about this click on www.armyofwomen.org .

Since I began the Great8 pogram my awareness has been tweaked.  I am finding references to blogs everywhere.  Tina Brown’s Daily Beast has links to several fascinating (and often funny) blogs.  The most recent Booklist also had an article on Web 2.0 features including blogs.  I am off on a hunt through those.

It is beautiful outside today.  The sun is shining and the air is warm.  It’s depressing to think that this is probably the last hurrah before misery.  I digress.  My main goal for today is to see if I can work out how to change categories.