Wednesday, January 28, 2009
What the 23 things missed
Digital Goddess showed me this great site: pandora You can type in an artist or song and it will play similar songs or artists to that one. You can rate the songs to make your own radio playlist. Very cool!
mysapl continued
Looking better, shaping up. I still think it should say "Search" instead of "Find Things." Thanks for correcting the misspelling.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Final Thoughts on the 23 Things
Since my second favorite hobby is sleeping I will be lazy and answer these questions instead of thinking up my own thoughts on the 23 things.
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I really liked writing this blog. It's not often that a housecat like me gets to have my own blog. I also liked the various apps that went with this blog like goodreads and cat of the day (although I'm prettier than all of them). I didn't really know about goodreads until then and I think it's a fab way to keep up with all the kajillion of books Mom reads. She can also post it to her myspace account. Mom loves that Valerie was inspired to shoot a short film for YouTube although I don't know if that came from the 23 things or was inspired by the Night Fever video.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Um, well my life isn't that long so I just don't bother with goals. I do like to try new things at all times especially when there is a reward involved. I know you're thinking "learning is its own reward" but being rewarded, particularly with food, is a better reward.
Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Just what I mentioned in the first answer. But it has also inspired me to try to make my own YouTube video when I found out Mom's little camera can record video.
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Have less things with more exploration or as many things with more time. It was good you extended the time.
And last but not least…
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
Sure, if the discovery is sufficiently interesting and definitely if there is a reward :)
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I really liked writing this blog. It's not often that a housecat like me gets to have my own blog. I also liked the various apps that went with this blog like goodreads and cat of the day (although I'm prettier than all of them). I didn't really know about goodreads until then and I think it's a fab way to keep up with all the kajillion of books Mom reads. She can also post it to her myspace account. Mom loves that Valerie was inspired to shoot a short film for YouTube although I don't know if that came from the 23 things or was inspired by the Night Fever video.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Um, well my life isn't that long so I just don't bother with goals. I do like to try new things at all times especially when there is a reward involved. I know you're thinking "learning is its own reward" but being rewarded, particularly with food, is a better reward.
Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Just what I mentioned in the first answer. But it has also inspired me to try to make my own YouTube video when I found out Mom's little camera can record video.
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Have less things with more exploration or as many things with more time. It was good you extended the time.
And last but not least…
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
Sure, if the discovery is sufficiently interesting and definitely if there is a reward :)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Podcasting and Audio books
I get those aforementioned podcasts (NPR) from iTunes which is a wonderful and difficult to deal with service. Wonderful because it's great once you learn how to sync your iPod, but a pain learning how to sync and make playlists. Mom bought the Ricky Gervais podcast so it's great for ones you have to buy too although, I prefer free podcasts. The NPR ones just automatically feed into your iPod when you sync it which I try to do once a week. Very, very easy, especially for a smart cat like me.
As for the Audiobooks available from SAPL I've looked in the collection but I never find any books I WANT to download and for awhile they didn't have any you could download on an iPod so I have never done that. I have downloaded audiobooks another way onto my iPod. Mom says she's walked several people through the process over the phone so it doesn't sound too difficult.
So there. I'm finished. Can I have my treat now?
....oh yeah, I guess I've got to write more on my whole experience. I'll do that later....yawn!
As for the Audiobooks available from SAPL I've looked in the collection but I never find any books I WANT to download and for awhile they didn't have any you could download on an iPod so I have never done that. I have downloaded audiobooks another way onto my iPod. Mom says she's walked several people through the process over the phone so it doesn't sound too difficult.
So there. I'm finished. Can I have my treat now?
....oh yeah, I guess I've got to write more on my whole experience. I'll do that later....yawn!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Express Yourself
I love and use all the new tools for video and audio! YouTube is an excellent way to express yourself and provide comic fodder for others. I really like the rabbit vs. cat video but felt it was inappropriate to post for the 23 things. I also LOVE NPR podcasts. Sometimes I'm sleeping and I miss Fresh Air or This American Life, but with the podcasts I can listen anytime I want.
Here's a video of the way Mom says she feels about the wildly popular Twilight series. One of Mom's friends actually asked her if she should buy Twilight for her nine year old kid. I haven't read it personally because it has nothing to do with cats. But here it is:
Here's a video of the way Mom says she feels about the wildly popular Twilight series. One of Mom's friends actually asked her if she should buy Twilight for her nine year old kid. I haven't read it personally because it has nothing to do with cats. But here it is:
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
MYSAPL review
Happy New Year! In honor of the new year and sapl's new Web site, Mom has asked me to review it. Now I don't want any of you to think I am being unduly harsh or critical, I just want to put in my two cents so don't take it personally especially because I don't even exactly know who designed the site and having only left the house to go to the dreaded vets office, I've never even met any of the responsible parties.
First let me say I do like the clean format of the Web site in general and the use of a color scheme in particular.
My biggest and perhaps the most obvious problem I can see with the site is the search box. "Find Things" it says. What does this mean? What things? Any things? And where? The site, the internet, my house? "Find Things" seems, like Sarah Palin, unnecessarily folksy and unclear. Upon further investigation "find things" actually means "search the SAPL catalog" so say this or at least "search catalog". This way people know what they are searching and won't look for that missing sock there. But I do like that the search option is on every page of the site.
I do like the flash box but hopefully users will be able to click on the flashing pictures and be taken to the site it is advertising. Please fix the monomouse graphic to spell "television" correctly.
Personally I think the locations button on the top should be a drop down menu, but that's just me.
The teen blog is a little on the unprofessional side. There's a hand drawn picture with uncensored content. Now I like naughty words as much as the next cat, but I don't think it has a place on a Web site for the 8th largest city in the U.S.
I guess overall it is a good start, but I would like to see the site get more professional overall. The writing is somewhat wordy and vague. For instance: "The San Antonio Public Library is pleased to present a new website! Now it is even easier to find library material, see what you've got checked out on your library account and find out what's going on at your local library location." MIGHT be better as: "Welcome to our new Web site! Now it is even easier to find material, check your library account and see what's happening at your branch." But, I'm probably just splitting hairs from seeing Mom pour over her AP Style Book while writing for the newspaper. I have some more picky editorial issues, but I'll leave it right there.
On the whole, good job! I just say, keep the site dynamic and interesting. Update, update, update! The beauty of the Web is content can be kept fresh.
Time for my nap and then I will look into finishing the 23 things. I sure want a prize for all this work!
First let me say I do like the clean format of the Web site in general and the use of a color scheme in particular.
My biggest and perhaps the most obvious problem I can see with the site is the search box. "Find Things" it says. What does this mean? What things? Any things? And where? The site, the internet, my house? "Find Things" seems, like Sarah Palin, unnecessarily folksy and unclear. Upon further investigation "find things" actually means "search the SAPL catalog" so say this or at least "search catalog". This way people know what they are searching and won't look for that missing sock there. But I do like that the search option is on every page of the site.
I do like the flash box but hopefully users will be able to click on the flashing pictures and be taken to the site it is advertising. Please fix the monomouse graphic to spell "television" correctly.
Personally I think the locations button on the top should be a drop down menu, but that's just me.
The teen blog is a little on the unprofessional side. There's a hand drawn picture with uncensored content. Now I like naughty words as much as the next cat, but I don't think it has a place on a Web site for the 8th largest city in the U.S.
I guess overall it is a good start, but I would like to see the site get more professional overall. The writing is somewhat wordy and vague. For instance: "The San Antonio Public Library is pleased to present a new website! Now it is even easier to find library material, see what you've got checked out on your library account and find out what's going on at your local library location." MIGHT be better as: "Welcome to our new Web site! Now it is even easier to find material, check your library account and see what's happening at your branch." But, I'm probably just splitting hairs from seeing Mom pour over her AP Style Book while writing for the newspaper. I have some more picky editorial issues, but I'll leave it right there.
On the whole, good job! I just say, keep the site dynamic and interesting. Update, update, update! The beauty of the Web is content can be kept fresh.
Time for my nap and then I will look into finishing the 23 things. I sure want a prize for all this work!
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