Gnosis

Mobile Technology

2009-06-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

The extent of my mobile technology experience consists of asking my daughter to log onto the the library homepage and see if we have a particular title in our system so I can place a request on it. I am so tempted to get myself one of Verizon's phones that I can use for more than a phone, but every time I ponder such a purchase my daughter reminds me that so far Jitterbug has not make such a mobile device for the visually impared. As I age (gracefully or not) my eyesight has gone south, making it impossible for me to see the display on a regular cell phone. Thank God for special ringtones- or I would never answer my phone. So unfortunately, until these devices come with a magnifying screen, I will have to continue to be a dinosuar. ROAR...

Facebook and Linkedin

2009-05-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have a Facebook account and will visit there several times a week, mostly to keep current with my family on Prince Edward Island and in Boston. I really enjoy looking at their photo albums. I think for the most part I must be an old fart, because I don't get the logging on and telling people what I am doing or how I am feeling; but to each his own.
I have never used Linkedin, but will give it a try. Who knows, it might be worthwile in the long run.
Later...

2.5 and away we go...

2009-05-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

O.K. so here's the thing. I, like Tom, am not a SL citizen and can not imagine myself spending any time "exploring" at home. However, as a grandmother of a 9 year old who plays in virtual worlds, I can understand the value in libraries having a presence "in world." I can imagine a time when I will be using this technology as a function of my profession, but in no way will I patricipate in therse activities once I home. I do not consider myself a gamer and prefer more tactile activities such as spinning and knitting. But, I can appreciate how some people are naturally drawn to this type of world.

Where's my mouse?

2008-11-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

O.K. This type of thinking is right up my alley. Here are my thoughts: My mother (78) can not sit in any room of our house without the television on. My granddaughter is being homeschooled, so the television is not turned on in the living room at all during the day and only on certain nights (The Office, ER, Ghost Hunters and Most Haunted). Therefore, my mother is "forced" to perch on the corner of her bed watching a small screen most of the day. It would never occur to her, or others of her generation for that matter, to engage in another form of activity. I can remember a time (when I was in high school ,a century ago) that only hippie households were without television and we would make fun of them. I am thankful that we can now pull away from the idiot box for some part of the day and engage in more stimulating activities. I enjoy the challenge of devising educational and exciting uses for the cognitive surplus we now find at our homestead. So, here's to turning off the television and turning on!

Help!!

2008-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

I have somehow lost the Easter Eggs and don't know where to find them. I tried to leave them alone, but they did not come home. Help me, I falling and I can't get up.

Sir Ken Robinson

2008-11-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

If you have an extra 20 minutes, you must watch the YouTube video (on the left) of his address at the TED conference February 2006. I was completely blown away. Homeschooling rocks!

Changes

2008-11-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

After reading the DaVinci article, I can see we have on fingers on the pulse of the future. With the exception of the "creative spaces" (which I am hoping we are looking into-as these ideas rock) we seem to be getting it correct. Surverys, focus groups, new technology, and Orlando Memory. Go Us!!

Ubuntu

2008-10-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Let's just say that I am almost done with Windows at the McSween house. After our last purchase of a Mac, I am over the Windows World. We are stuck with two laptops with Vista loaded on them and what a nightmare that has turned out to be. We almost exclusively use the Mac now. I am dumping the hard drive on the old desk top and loading Ubuntu onto it so perhaps it will perform to full potential. Read my lips, no new Windows- EVER.

My lunch today

2008-09-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, my lunch was very easy to list. I am fasting with another staff member in rememberance of Ramadon for the month of September. I have lost several pounds but my granddaughter still doesn't trust me with her Wii Fit. What a bummer. Exercise under a ceiling fan- my kind of exercise. Maybe I should just buy my own, less than $100.00 from Amazon. I have to ask Santa for one, after all I've been a good girl this year.

Learn 2.1 and away we go

2008-09-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

Well it appears it's that time again. Another adventure with Capt. Tom at the helm. Thanks for not jumping ship and seeing us safely into port. How's the weather? Hope all is well. I look forward to the journey, once again. It's going to be a blast.

Week 10 Me and My MP3-Oh Yeah.

2007-06-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

As the only member of my family without an IPod, I am going to fill my MP3 with all my Deva Premal CD's and chill out over a great lunch meal of eggplant parmesan (my current favorite food). All those mantras will put me in a calm state of mind and my co-workers will thank you very much. Good times.
Sorry no podcast for me. OD time is a premium this week.

Week 9 - 'Bout time I get caught up

2007-06-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well, how do I feel about digital rights and all that staff. zzzzzzzzzzzzz, boring. I was going to say "Who gives a rat's @##" but Jen told me that was impolite. So unfortunately I will behave myself. No really, I think the issue will be with us for a long time with people on both sides of the fence. Royalities are a part of being a performer and I guess it is not right that some people can weeze the music for free with no regard to the artist. they have to eat too.
I loved the music applications as I mentioned in my previous post. Rock on.

This was hard, but lots of fun.

2007-06-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

I really had a good time working with this new toy. I can see that it has lots of applications. However, I have to be honest, I would probably not make much use of this account. I was able to add some new widgets on the page and deleted most of the original ones that were there. I have added the web page of my very favorite singer, Deva Premal. I listen to her for relaxation, meditation and to fall asleep if I am too wound up. You should really take the time to listen to some of her music. I will add pictures of the great miniature display we have a Herndon tomorrow when I get to work. Until then, Happy Blogging.

Check out my little pet family

2007-06-05T07:20:00.001-07:00

If you take a look at this blog don't forget to check out the pictures at the bottom of the blog.

Week 7

2007-06-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

OK was it really necessary to get us hooked on puzzles. What a great way to pass the time, if you can find any to squeeze out of our busy schedules. If I had to claim a hobby it would have to be cross stitching. I was able to find several blogs that referred to others love of the craft and also showed some of their creations. Who knew?

Week 6

2007-06-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed seeing all the library applications presented this week. Librarything is probably my favorite and I can hardly wait to further explore it and add my books lists. I thing I will really enjoy the recommendations offered up by other readers. I was really impressed also with del.icio.us. A co-worker and I were discussing the need to personalize our bookmarks at work. The problem seems to be that we are not always at the same terminal, so I can see that this would be the perfect way to keep our bookmarks available to us at whatever computer we find ourselves working on. Perhaps I will give it a whirl.

Check out my little meeze

2007-05-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

I choose one with spiky pink hair which really showed my "wild" side but unfortunately it cost money, so now you get to see my cheap side. I am really enjoying this... my thanks to the creator. I can't wait to see what is next. Thanks.

Week 4

2007-05-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

The award winning sites are really cool. I looked at yourminis.com and loved the layouts. I am inspired now to make some changes to my site. However, the site colorblender left me puzzled. I quess I am graphically inclined, but I'm not sure how a novice would actually use their service. Digg was really cool also. I love to read off the beaten path type news stories. Now you won't find those type of stories in the Sentinel. Also, I listed Thai House on the ToEat site and mentioned OCLS.

BBC all the way

2007-05-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

I am excited that I was able to receive the RSS feed from the BBC. If you really want to know what is happening in the world without censorship try looking outside the country. Other places have the nerve to tell it ilke it is. Also, I loved the visual map on Grokker. What a pleasure for all "us" visuals in the class. Thanks for sharing.

IRONY

2007-04-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

I was driving down Old Winter Garden Road yesterday and happened upon one of our new billboards facing the 408. Arnold Palmer is telling Orlando to take "know" as an answer. How ironic it is that I should find myself working for such an institution as I also am searching for the "know" in my life. How curious...

Heart of Gnosis

2007-04-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

Men and women are angels of light clothed in the cloth of self, but do not realize it. In not knowing this simple truth is the dark at the center of the soul. This is the heart of gnosis, in knowing this truth we shall all be set free. Let us all walk in love knowing we share this light.