Golden Egg

Look what I got!
It's a golden egg. It must be an egg filled with gold.
It was in my mail box from anonymous.
I must report to my boss in Washington D.C. about this peculiar incident.
And, I may ask for further investigation about the golden egg.

First of all, the egg is made out of gold, this is impossible phenomenon.
Eggs, in general, have to be edible. But, this egg isn't!
Also, it inscribed with my blog name.
As a undercover dog, I need to send this golden egg to the test lab, and prove the gold is real or imitation.
This is very important mission for me because I need to defend myself from revealing my true identity.
Obviously, I was under surveillance by another agency for the last 5 months.
I will report back later.

Reflections

Wow! I am almost done with this 23 things project. Yeah~! Now, I need to summarize my thoughts about this project. So, I decided to write a letter to Madame FC23things.

Dear Madame FC23things:

Thank you for educating me by showing those amazing online tools which I was not aware of. I think it is a big loss to remain ignorant. So, it is a good thing that you introduced me to those hot technologies. I truly appreciate you designing this project. I can feel that this was a huge job.

When you offered this 23 things project after the Spring convocation, you told me this is fun. I needed to have some fun, so I joined. Well, ... I had fun but it was a different kind of fun from what I was thinking about at the beginning. I thought I just need to write some comment on FC MySpace and meet some new virtual friends on the Internet. In fact, I had a great fun while I was going through this project.

As same as my girl friend, Olive, I appreciate the Del.icio.us software. Now, I can not live without it. The other thing I have noticed is that people are really getting into blogging. People really enjoy the technology and so we will see many more blog sites. As a result, pretty soon the Internet will be full of not-so-good blog sites. I am not sure if I am going to start my own blog because this is another time consuming task. But, collaborative blogging may work for me.

You really geared me up to web2.0 and guided me to Wikis and GoogleDoc. I think these are worth doing. I am sure this is the modern method of social networking, so we should carry on.

As an undercover watch dog, I will send my new technology plan to my boss in Washington, D.C. I am going to request an Internet Tablet which is very compact, easy to carry, and does everything that the latest PC does, including cell phone, I-pod, and digital/video camera. My boss should provide the best equipment, so I can do my work more efficiently.

Merci, encore, Madame FC23things. Vous êtes merveilleux.

My turn

Oh, wow! I felt so honor that I was actually showing some of the technologies I have learned from this 23 things project.

Well, ...

I showed Olive, my girl friend, each of the steps I was going through. Olive was my only audience. She did not say much, but she is one of the techie terriers who enjoys technology. So, it was easy to show her.

Olive really liked Del.icio.us with no doubt. She got very delighted when she figured out how this online bookmark works as much as I did. This is a major finding from this project. Thank you, Madame FC23things. Isn't it nice that you have your favorites sites or bookmarks wherever you go as long as you have Internet access?

Next thing I showed Olive is Flickr. Oh! This is wonderful. Again, this is somewhat the same as Del.icio.us, in that you don't have to carry your big photo album to show your pictures to your families or friends. You just need Internet access. How clever this thing is!

Then, I showed Olive Google image labeler. Do you suppose that I regret showing her? She just kept on doing it and did not stop. I had a hard time removing her from my PC. We almost had a serious fight because she did not appreciate my advise on tagging words and she said, "This is my game, not yours! I don't need your help!" So, I decided to leave her alone until she got tired playing it. Also, she did not like the fact that I had a higher score than her. Sorry, Olive.

Olive also liked Podcast and YouTube. But, she said she already knew about them, so I didn't have to show her that part. Olive said that she hadn't found an I-Pod that fits to her ears, either. But, she promised me she will keep looking, too.

I am looking forward to showing these technologies to my friends, Goofy and Snoopy.
I am sure they will get a kick out of it.

Social networking and libraries

Oh, boy! Internet technology has changed the life styles of so many people. That certainly is impressive.

The speed and simultaneousness that the Internet can provide is unbeatable. I agreed that is what most people want. Social networking electronically is possible on the Internet. So, many people and organizations start using it. I admit I am little behind.

I used to enjoy reading "Letters to the editor" or "Looking for pen pals" in the newspapers and weekly or monthly magazines. It was fun to know other people's thoughts and wanting to meet new friends. Also, that was the one of the motivations to read the next issue, although I needed to wait one week or month. Now, the world spins too fast, people can not wait that long anymore.

The Internet solved that problem. Everything is real time. Social networking is already happening whether you like it or not. It is your choice to join or not. Many are already participating. I think that is because they are not only natural computer users but also they really want to be connected to other people or groups, or they can get high by simply exposing themselves to the world. Whatever the reason, social networking is already expanding. I am sure that the younger generations appreciate it. "Thanks God for the Internet!"

I visited all the library sites from the FC 23 things list. I think they are doing nice job. FaceBook is much more clean than MySpace. The letter fonts on MySpace are too small and the display is too crummy. Well, I think FC Library can have both MySpace and FaceBook. Why not?

I am sure that many people will trust libraries as blog owners, so I can see more people joining as a "friend" and opening their page through the library blog. I guess in order to maintain a blog and providing virtual social networking, the library needs to keep the trust of the users. Therefore, it is important to maintain a clean site.

I have to come up with my new virtual name soon because I want to hide my identity.
Too bad, I can not be Jack at the FC MySpace.

Online Productivity tools

As I was instructed, I visited the following Web2.0 sites. Now, I am very exhausted because this section was too much for me. But, I am required to write comment before I move on. So, here I am.


Collaborative mind mapping: Mindmeister & Mind42
Note sharing: NoteMesh
Organizational tool: Backpackit
Project Management: Basecamp & Project2Manage
Web-based word processor & spreadsheet: Google Docs

At the beginning, I was discouraged by the quantity: 7 sites. I said, "What!? Why so many!?" But, I put kept my head up and challenged it.

When I visited Mindmeister and Mind42, I thought I was mentally challenged. I registered as a user, and I wanted to start. But, I even could not figure out how to start. Instead, I said, "What the heck is that?!" My mind got very confused. I am sorry, I still did not get it. It was too much for a dog brain. I am not sure how the library can utilized these two sites.

NoteMesh sounds good. Unfortunately, NoteMesh was experiencing unexpected downtime when I visited. But, I read the brief description. I am sure that students can make use of it.

Backpackit, Basecamp, and Project2Manage are specialized tools for organization and management. I may recommend them to my boss in Washington, D.C. Do the librarians want to offer specialized BI sessions for managers on the campus to introduce these sites? That will be fun!

Google Docs is pretty cool. I like it because it seems easier than other web2.0 and clean.

I figured that these are all somewhat like Wikis. I believe this is the direction we are heading. The idea that more than one person will write a Web page is good. That will save a tremendous amount of everybody's time. That is for sure! Instead of sending revisions after revisions through e-mail, just keep one web site and revise it! This will avoid confusion and people will see the most updated information at the same time. This YouTube site, Google docs in plain English, helped me to understand. Now, I have a better picture of web2.0 and Wikis.

The key is who will be the moderator. Umm~! I may have a new position because I am a professional watch dog!

Also, the contributors who write articles need to sign there names on the contract paper and should be required to give their thumb print with their blood as an oath to not write any fake information. In my case, I am not too good at signing my name, so I will just use my paw print.

Good luck!

By the way, does anyone want my carrot sticks? I am always ready to share with you.

Wikis (2)

I visited the "FC Library Staff Wiki" today. It already looks pretty good to me.
I left a comment for Madame FC23things. I hope she will kindly reply to me soon.
So, I may be able to start writing something for the staff Wiki.

However, what shall I write about?

Lately, I have noticed that there is a big gap between my value and humans' value. Therefore, I really need to think deeply in order to become a good contributer for the staff Wiki. I can see that the staff Wiki site is a very serious one. So, I feel pressure because I need to become a serious dog.

Sigh...

Oh, I feel big challenge waiting for me.

Wikis

Aloha!

I learned that Wiki is the simplest online database.
Online database!!! That sounds pretty cool.
Also, the definition says, "allows users to freely create and edit Web page content."
All right! I can smell it that is the reason millions of people love to use Wiki.

I looked at the University of Minnesota Library Staff Wiki and the St. Joseph County Public Library's subject guides. Both sites were very good. I can tell that St. Joseph County Public Library's subject guides has just started using Wiki. On the other hand, the University of Minnesota's Library Staff Wiki is very sophisticated.

I will look at Fullerton College Library Staff Wiki as soon as I get the password.
I am looking forward to contributing some information.

Then, I will be back and update this entry.

By the way, do you know that the meaning of Wiki-Wiki in the Hawaiian language is "quick" in English. What a co-incident this is. But, I interpreted it as a quick database.
Well, ... my imagination is not too bad for a dog.

Mahalo!

Podcast

Ummm...
I am overwhelmed by the Podcast. I am not sure if I can describe my thoughts toward the Podcast.

First of all, to be honest with you I did not know what a Podcast was.
Now, I have found out about Podcasts and the amazing audio sites.

I knew about "I-Pod." Lately, humans are crazy about I-Pod.
I have been watching humans and I noticed that they put the small devices called I-Pod to their ears. But, I did not know why they do that.

I finally figured out how the I-Pod works. The humans download "Sound" from one of the Podcast sites to their I-Pod. So, they can listen from the I-Pod anytime.

The great thing about this technology is that teachers can post their lectures. Then, the students can listen to their teacher more than once. They don't have to carry a tape recorder to the classroom. Well,... I did that when I was a student at the dog academy.

I like podcast.com and podscope.com and Jango.com. These are nice, but one thing I don't understand is why the music or news is free? I am not complaining. I am overwhelmed by the free of charge concept.

So, take it! Take it! It's free. It's given. Don't just walk away.
Humans! Wake up! (Wuf, wuf!)
I am going to buy an I-Pod if I can find one to fit my ears.

Video Sharing Websites

I visited YouTube. It was so much fun to browse all kinds of video clips. I am, again, so impressed with the technology. Posting video clip can be done so easily now.

I found many video clips of Jack Russell dogs at YouTube. That made me feel good.
I felt like I met all of my distant cousins, and they look exactly like me.
I am not lonely anymore, but it was a bit of a shock.

By the way, click my nose. You will see my girl friend, Olive.

I like the idea of sharing video clips. It is a good thing that people are so generously sharing their clips.

However, I don't think I will post a video clip by myself. First of all, I don't have a video camera. And my cell phone does not take video clips. Therefore, I will probably just remain a viewer of this wonderful and amazing tool.

Oh, Boy! I had a good time.

Flickr and Google Images

Again, I am very impressed with what I saw today. I even felt that I may need to reconsider being a undercover dog if it's possible, because I thought human beings are having more fun than dog beings. If I become a human, then, I can play Flicker and Google image labeler at least half a day rather than watching humans all day. So, I will upload my photographs, label them, and contribute to Google users.

I was very excited today.
I had a great time saving my photographs at the Flicker site and I scored cumulative total points of 3320 with Google image labeler. COOL!

Well, ...
Flicker is for personal online image storage and Google image labeler is a kind of game in which you come up with tagging vocabularies for photos or images. I wonder are we helping Google to index these photos? If so, they are so clever to have us doing it. That saves lots of time for everyone.

I can see myself becoming a big Flicker user. Thank you for introducing me to such a wonderful tool.

Book sharing websites

I felt like I was getting intoxicated by reading so many blog sites. There were endless links. I forgot to go to sleep. The Internet is addictive!

By the way, I took a tour and opened an account with LibraryThing while I was eating an apple. To be honest, I was very impressed with it. You can have your own online catalog of your book collection at home. The service provides call numbers and subject headings! Not only that, you can write reviews to share with others.

I looked at Goodreads, Shelfari, and Reader². I thought these sites are very similar in features and purposes. Probably, LibraryThing is the easiest to navigate. Great thing is people who have the same interest can exchange their literary thoughts at the virtual round table. I am sure the participants have lots to say and have a good time.

Another great thing is these are FREE. I am in tears. Oh, my God! It's FREE!
I am so overwhelmed with these generous tools.

Blogs

It took me a while to comprehend the concept of a Blog. Also, I had suffered from technical difficulties. That simply means that I didn't know how to add or subscribe to whatever blog site I was interested in. I went through some serious depression as I lost confidence in my ability to learn new human technologies. I was very sad, but I pushed myself. Eating fresh celery helped me.

And, finally. Hallelujah!

I was able to establish my account at Blogline, create two folders (animal interest and library), and collect seven blog sites.

I think blogging is a very modern way of posting information by any individual. This is a great benefit of Internet technology, I think.

There are many blogs, these are a mixture of good blogs and not-so-good blogs, just like the rest of the Internet. Therefore, finding a good blog with rich information is a major task for the user.

If I have great things to share with other people or other techie dogs, blogging is the way to do it. I really appreciate this new communication tool.

I like: AboutDogs.info and Information Research - ideas and debate

Social Bookmarking

Oh, my gosh!
I am so ashamed to be born as a dog. I am just a dog, how pathetic... I am sad.
Until I found out about del.icio.us, I was just a naive dog.
But, now, I need to re-evaluate my status as a dog.
After I learned about the amazing capability of del.icio.us, I am not just a dog.
(I need a raise! Now, I am an educated dog!)

This will be an important report to my boss in Washington, D.C., I am sure.
And, I am going to bragging about del.icio.us. How wonderful this thing is.

This is the definition of "del.icio.us" linked from fc23things:
"del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website -- the primary use of del.icio.us is to store your bookmarks online, which allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere, too."

I am even in tears to just think about how wonderful this thing is.
Now, I can always find the bones I buried!
I can create sub-catagories -- as many as I want. I can keep my favorite web-sites -- as many as I want. The key is to stick with GOOD taging language. Well, ... Although I am a dog, I am employed in the library, so I have some understanding about "controlled vocabulary", I hope.
So, I should be O.K. doing that.

Anyways,... I can not wait to do "Collaborative tagging" with everyone. So, my bookmarking will grow and grow. Thank God for this wonderful software: del.icio.us.

del.icio.us is just like a cucumber. It's COOL.

Web 2.0 or Library 2.0

My assignment is that I need to blog my thoughts about the two concepts of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. How can I see libraries using web 2.0 or library 2.0?

Humm...
I take it Web 2.0 vs. Library 2.0 is a serious matter for humans.
As a undercover dog, I can not overlook this technological advancement.
By evaluating how humans act toward innovations in the World Wide Web, I may contribute to the its future development, and this might be a serious report to my boss in Washington, D. C.

Here I am, eating a bunch of carrot sticks, and reading about Web 2.0.
Then, I got it!
Technologically, Web 2.0 is an enhanced version of World Wide Web.
Web 2.0 is not just read only, but it is writeable. The users or viewers can actually write their comments on the Web-site. You can see this feature in some product reviews, such as at Amazon.com, or movie reviews at Yahoo Movie. So, the free information on the Internet is not just read only. Now, everyone can write their thoughts. Supposedly, people help each other by providing or exchanging their thoughts or information. The key concept here, for humans, is social-networking.

At the Yahoo Movie review, I just posted how great Angelina Jolie was in the movie Beowulf.
Oh, she is my Goddess.
Wow! This capability was supported by Web 2.0 technology.
All right! COOL!

So, I was doing Social-networking with humans. Usually I do that with a frisbee!
I am going to report this interesting behavioral pattern of humans -- they want to talk, and talk, and more talk, and now they can talk all day on the Internet.

I guess most people are lonely. They need someone to talk to or want to be connected to some social group. In a way, how sad it is. But, may be this is a good thing. So, people don't need to feel lonely so much. Yeah!!!

Library 2.0 is basically the same as Web 2.0 technologically. However, Library 2.0 is created specifically for library functions. The library administrators always want to hear users' voices. They are always concerned with meeting users' needs and want to know what users want. I guess this is the way to do it. The article from Library Journal, 9-1-2006, by Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk, says this is "Customer-driven service opportunity."

But, are we ready to do this? Sure, we are.
Well, I think we don't have much choices, though. Because, the technology is here already.
We don't want to be left behind, do we? I don't.
Let's hear what patrons think about the library. Do they like us or do they hate us?
Sorry, humans. Now, you will suffer from the Library 2.0 created by one of your brilliant human friends. Take it, eat it, and cope with it.

By the way, I will be terribly sorry for whoever becomes a moderator.
It is going to be a notoriously huge job.

Well,...
I will go out and just sniff around and investigating what people really want.

So long!

Information Tent

Hi all.
Jack survived at the information tent today.
It was little nippy.
The hot chocolate was GOOD.
Does anyone know about Room 434B on campus?

Homework

I have too many unfinished homework from my math class.
Do you think this is fair?
I am a dog.
What is humans expecting me to do?
Does anybody have an answer?

What I eat for lunch

I am a vegetarian dog.
So, I eat broccoli and spinach for my lunch.