KCLS 27 Things Reflection

Looking back on the 27 things I realize that they have encouraged me to jump into making online accounts with a little more ease. Especially with social networking sites, before, even if I was curious I would not make an account just beacause I was too lazy ;) . So I am very happy to be more adventourous in making online accounts. In terms of goals though, I don't think it has really changed anything much for me. I will try to keep abreast of web 2.0 and other social networking crazes just to know what the youngins are getting into. And I've also decided to get more into second life as well. Actually though the activity that I enjoyed the most from the 27 things was learning about RSS feeds. They are really fun and informative. One thing that suprised me was that some libraries were building virtual libraries in Second Life and spending money to purchase virtual land. I never really needed any help when I was doing the 27 things, though I ended up helping some co workers out ;) . If you do this again, I would love to go more in depth into the online communities as sort of an KCLS staff group project to help promote the need of libraries to the public (especially on Second Life). I would love to see more training opportunities like these emerge, especially if we can do them while we are at work, and especially if there is some sort of reward for finishing all the tasks.

27 Things: YouTube

I have been aware of YouTube for a while now, my freinds and I always use it to look up old cartoons, or SNL segments (before NBC takes them down ;) ). Sometimes we find random comic peices or a Simpsons punchline clip. YouTube has been really great for that. I hope that YouTube will expand its ability to present grassroots news since its been hard to trust news from the media based on what does not get reported (like said Senator's bad remarks in the KCLS 27things Blog). Also now that Google owns YouTube it is providing a base to expand public domain use of copywrighted material which is a boon to libraries and Public Domain enthuiasts alike.

27 Things : Choose your own Adventure

Today we explored an aspect of web 2.0 that we have not experienced before. I went to 2006 web 2.0 awards page and chose a catogory that interested me, gaming ;) . I found an interesting site called multi-tap, where gamers can share screenshots they have taken in game. Its like flickr for gamers. It was a really interesting site, and I love what its trying to do because many PC games can end up being single player experiences, so its a nice way to take what you found in game and share it with a ton of interested folk.

27 Things : Google Labs

Google really seems to be attempting to expand their services. I really like all the potentially useful programs, and love again that they are free. I hope that google will not let success get to thier heads like so many other corporations that faced similar circumstances (TV, Cable, etc). I sincerely hope the nature of the web may just force things to remain public domain for a long time to come.

27 THINGS : ONLINE SOFTWARE

I really like the idea of online word processing and publication utilites. Not only is it more web freindly and colaboration friendly, but the microsoft word utilities are extremely expensive and most people are unable to afford them. Even with a student discount (which gives one a stripped down version of the software anyway), it is a costly purchase, and this often leads folks to pirating software. I really feel that public domain software like this is the best side of web 2.0.

27Things : Library 2.0

The most interesting aspect I find about Library 2.0 is the idea of going where people are. Creating a virtual library reference for people within online communities. I think I mentioned before but I really like the idea of virtual libraries in online games like Second Life. However I do think that the written word still has its place. Most everyone I know (26 and under) would rather read a book in hand than read text on a screen. Reading text on screen is so impersonal, and stressful for the eyes. It might be one thing to read a book on a device that could fit in your hand, but I don't know If I could ever read a book in *.PDF. I could see a future for animated books that would fit on a personal handheld device.

27 Things Custom Search Engines

Out of the two custom search engines, Rollyo, and Google Custom search engine, I found google to be the superior of the two. It was more user friendly and did not have the annoying advertising results tacked on in the front. Whats the point of a custom serch if you get ad results up at the top? Anyway, I made my own google custom search which looks through some of my favorite sites:


http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=000865933078350005589%3Aqfblz13tqpa&hl=en

27 Things : Playing Around With Image Makers

I used the Portriat Illustrator Maker http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml to make this cute little portrait. Its a fairly accurate depiction of myself. :)

Some Pop Culture Ramblings

All artists are or should be students of pop culture. The reason being is that art does not happen in vaccum, and our creations mirror the experiences and teachings that we have absorbed and our reaction to those teaching and experiences. The reason why pop culture is so important is because it is the now of the now, and represents, sometimes at a stretch, the most current influences that exist over the broadest part of a culture. It is the fuel of any artist or at least the product of one artist's contemporaries that are viewed by the widest possible audience.

You may hear folks say that art does not need to mean anything, that it can just exist. I say that's utter bunk; artists do not spend huge amounts of time on things that lack meaning (at least to the artist). Some artists claim that they create work for no-one but themsevles, but as soon as they show their work, it has an audience. Artists need to take responsibility to understand their audiences and should carefully meditate upon this as they mold thier works. That being said, most artists are able to do that unconciously as they create. After all, art is also a process that taps heavily into one's subconciuos, so when an artist is not actively trying to create a specific message, then that actually increases the chances that messages and meanings buried in the artist's psyche by thier specific culture will show up in the work they create.

27 Things: Wiki's

I was not aware of how easy it is to set up your own wiki, and I think its interesting that folks are using wikis for things as simple as grocery lists. I think that Libraries could easily benefit from making thier own wiki with information about library programs or use them to form book lists of read alikes. With a little effort one could make a good read alike list with interconnecting webs to similar genres or authors for each book (obviously one would have to start with popular books and work down to the less known ones). I really like the user freindlyness of wikis, and I read wikipedia every day myself.

27 THINGS : del.icio.us

I had never heard of del.icio.us before and I think it is a pretty cool idea. Often times I'm searching for something obscure and I just can't find the correct adjective or noun keyword to find that thing. Since del.icio.us shows like tags it makes it easier to access information that is similar to the search you are conducting. This might make it easier for librarians to find those hard to reach answers. The only thing I don't like about del.icio.us is its look and feel, it feels really clunky and imposing and that might actually prevent me from using it!

27 Things : Libraries and Social Networking Sites

I for one am really pleased that Libraries are becoming involved with social networking sites like Myspace, but I'm even more impressed with the libraries that have the vision to become involved with virtual communities like Second Life. Everyone Gen X down will have grown up with games, Gen Y and Millenium generation folks accept video games as valuable works of art without second thought. The Libraries that are becoming involved with Second Life are taking a giant leap towards bonding with younger generations. They are also greasing the way for the eventual inclusion of differing forms of interactive media to be included within the Library. I like the idea of virtual libraries within Second life, and I'd like to see more Library interaction with MMORPGs. Fantasy RPGs of all sorts tend to get players interested in mythology, and imagine how cool it would be if there were virtual libraries within MMORPGS that would offer access to real myths and legends of akin to the theme of the particular MMORPG.

27 Things: RSS Feeds Part II

We did a little activity on RSS feeds again today. This time it was more about how to locate sites with RSS feeds. We used different RSS Feed search engines like Feedster, Topixnet and Syndicat8. While it was nice to have a bunch of RSS feeds collected in one area, sometimes grouped by topic, it was not much more helpful than using a google search to find websites I like and then check to see if those specific websites had RSS feeds. It makes me feel like I have more controll that way :) .

27 Things : RSS Feeds

Seriously, I had no idea what RSS feeds were before today. I'm very glad for this exercise, because It'll save me a lot of time. Whenever I sign on to the net I'm always checking a few sites for news and then I realize how much time I've wasted! This tool is a very filter that hopefully will help people access more well rounded information. I think that libraries should help to make people aware about RSS feeds and help patrons set up RSS feed accounts.

27 Things - Flickr Mashups

I had no idea about all the different Flickr Mashups that exist. I think its a neat, if not gimmicky idea. I used the Retreivr program and discovered that I could manipulate the program to pull up portraits of folks in B&W by drawing a generic face. The trick was not to draw a smiley face but to use black to draw the shadows of the face.

Chun-Li Resin Model

Chun-Li
Originally uploaded by matimofanalda.

Here's my first upload to flicker. Its a model of one of my favorite video game heroines, Chun-Li from Street Fighter II. The statue itself is made of resin and mass produced. The owner of the hobby store where this is displayed had to piece the model together, sand down errors and inconsistencies and then carefully put on 7 layers of paint. Its quite an effort, and its an expensive hobby too. I believe the unassembled model costs around $300.

27 Things Flickr Experience

This is just a little post about creating a Flickr account. I have made internet accounts to share artwork before, and I've made a Myspace account before, but not an account specifically for photography. I'm not much of a photographer per se, but I like to take photo's of odd things I find on my rambling journeys.

About Me

I am a simple Library Technichal Assistant working for the King County Library System. I love Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Graphic Novels, anything Art related, and Feminist Philosophy. I am also an artist, and you can check out my stuff at matthew1981.deviantart.com.