Sound effects #76

http://www.presepioelettronico.it/downloads/audio/files/pecore.wav
http://www.eborg2.com/Sounds/Sounds-Animals/Cows.wav
http://www.horsepresence.com/shop/media/Sounds/22Loudsuckwhinny2000.wav


http://simplythebest.net/sounds/WAV/sound_effects_WAV/sound_effect_WAV_files/bubbles.wav
http://simplythebest.net/sounds/WAV/sound_effects_WAV/sound_effect_WAV_files/thunder_1.wav
http://simplythebest.net/sounds/WAV/sound_effects_WAV/sound_effect_WAV_files/ocean_waves.wav

#45 Making A Video, #46 Movie Maker Basics and #47 Video Challenge

I had experimented with Animoto on exercise #20 in the original iHCPL. The instructions on the site are easy to follow.

I was amazed at how versatile the Jump Cut site is. Remixing is lots of fun. I thought the editing tools were easy to use. I added color and spin to a video of 3 little kittens on the site to give it a more interesting look. The kittens had red circles floating around them.

I like the feature on Windows Movie maker that allows you to create a video greeting card. What a clever idea.

Using the editing tools in Windows Movie maker for library projects would be a great idea. We could create a video and put it online from an author event. Patrons will be more aware of what they have missed and want to attend the next time a similar event is held.

Being told to put on your seatbelts and hang on because this was a lengthy segment was such a true statement. This segment was very, very long. The voice and the mouse movements in the demo were not in sinc so that was challenging just to follow along.
But I did it. I finished it and I even made a short movie clip. I am so thrilled.

It can be seen at YouTube

#44 Consumer How to & Make

My topic of choice was: How to hang Drywall on walls and ceilings. Hummm!! Does that tell you anything about what’s happening in my life. Although I would not physically be able to complete such a large project on my own or even with help, the visuals and printed instructions were extremely well done on some of the sites. I will highly recommend these sites to my favorite handyman. A person could understand how to get the materials and necessary tools for their project with the information provided on these sites. At the very least, they would have an idea what a project of this magnitude would cost after researching these sites for information.

Instructables didn’t appeal to me. I was not impressed with this site; the search engine did not provide information specific to my project.

I thought eHow and WikkiHow were the best sites. They both have excellent search engines. HowStuffWorks includes illustrations with their printed instructions.

Quamat did not have a good search engine. It found results for Dry Wall such as “dry the wall with a clean dry cloth”.

Video Jug had incredible color and topics but not what I needed. The search engine found these results for dry wall “installing shelves on dry wall”.

Expert Village had pictures and audio that were amazingly clear on the videos, but like Video Jug did not have results for the topic I wanted.

For the do-it-yourself person, there is a wealth of great information on the internet today.

#43 Consumer's How to - Buying and Selling

I have used Ebay a lot and I love it. It is easy to navigate within the site. As a new buyer or seller, you have to build up your reputation. When you are quick to pay, you earn points for that. When you are quick to ship an item and it is received as advertised, you get points for that as well. The better your reputation is, the more others want to do business with you. Feedback is important because everyone sees it on the Ebay site. I have bought everything from shoes to DVDs.

It is a great resource for Christmas gifts and saves on shopping at the mall. Setting up a paypal account is the best way to purchase items and the fastest. The seller does not have to wait for payment through the mail and you do not have to wait longer for items to be shipped out.

I have used craigslist to a lesser degree, but have searched on it a lot to see what is available. I have been looking at materials in the Houston area to use in a personal home construction. I found flooring, light fixtures and kitchen cabinets. I can see the pictures of the items and then decide if it is worthwhile to go view and purchase them.

#42 Staying Well

The symptom checker seemed accurate for my purposes. I selected particular symptoms related to TMJ and to Ear Infections because these are disorders I am familiar with. It appeared to be right on target as to the diagnosis of the symptoms.

I was surprised there were numerous resources to assist with TMJ within 10 miles of my apartment. When I lived in West Houston, there was only one dental specialist who could assist with TMJ.

Connecting your medical profile with genealogy can show your predisposition for certain illnesses. When I found the cause of death for one of my mother's grandfathers(Pneumonia and Asthma), it showed me the origins of my past medical history of childhood asthma.

Documenting personal medical history and info is important for your family. My husband would not even know my doctor's name or who to contact in an emergency.

#41 Going Green Part 2

I have just recently begun to recycle aluminum cans again. The price varies but it sure feels good to know I am doing my little part. My daughter and her sons began recycling about the same time I did and use the money to buy special treats. We all feel it is a great way to teach children ...and ourselves to be more environmentally conscious.

When we lived up north, there was no trash pickup service unless you paid a hefty price for it. We had to recycle all our paper, plastic, cans, foil and sort it out when we got to the recycling center. If you had common kitchen trash, you had to buy special trash bags from the grocer to put it in. It would take a much bigger committment on my part to go back to total recycling, but I know I need to do it again and the world needs me to do it.

A great way to handle junk mail is to take it to a recyling center after it has been shredded, then they can sell it to businesses for packing purposes.

#41 Going Green Part 1

My green lifestyle numbers(carbon footprint)are:5.3 metro tons of CO2 per year and the usual is 9.44.(2.4 at home, 1.8 on the road and 1.2 in the air.)I do not drive very much and only fly twice per year on short trips. I am conservative with the heat and air as well as washing dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher.

One of the ways we save on electricity is very simple. We asked our apartment complex to install 2 light switches on the inside by the front door. If I am coming home late at night, I can switch an outside fluorescent bulb on but turn it off on the days when I come home in the daylight. The other switch is for a floor lamp so I can turn it on as soon as I walk in the front door so I do not have to stumble in the dark. That way I do not have to leave lights on all day just to assist my entrance into the apartment when I come home at night.

We changed all our light bulbs to the new green fluorescent bulbs not long ago. They are not only more efficient but do not burn out as often as regular bulbs so that takes fewer replacement bulbs.

It's the little things that count. GO GREEN!!!

As to greening my diet: When I was growing up, my family and I always went to the Farmers Market. We lived in the city and only grew a few tomato plants in our backyard. The fresh fruit and veggies were wonderful. Quite often we would take a weekend outing to pick peaches and berries right from the trees and vines. Those were some great family times as well as ways to get fresh items for our meals.

I have to admit I frequented the farmers market much more when we lived in the New England area. That was partly due to what a treat farm grown food was as opposed to buying at the grocers. It was also a way to celebrate the onset of warm weather and the absence of snow and the cold.

I have gotten away from visiting the farmers market because it is just easier to run to the grocer and be done with it, but I sure miss the fun and the taste of fresh veggies and fruit. Pennington Farms in East Texas are known for their fresh items, so I make sure to grab a watermelon at the Melon Shed when they are in season(June through September). They advertise themselves as having the freshest peanuts and melons around.

#40 Wellness - Fitness

I was not surprised at my BMI. I know it tends to be a bit high.

I enjoyed answering the life expectancy questionnaire. In spite of my tendency to be too sedentary,my health age is 20 years younger than my actual age since I have no diseases or health issues.

The articles that were particulary helpful were the Office Exercises and the Five quick exercises you can do at your desk including leg and arm lifts as well as stress relievers. Flexing the neck muscles is a real tension reliever and works well for me.

Combining these ideas with the nutritional ideas has me more willing than ever to move forward with my fitness goals.

#39 Wellness - Nutrition

I took some time to study many of the features at NutritionData.com, and I was very impressed. I have known for some time, I need to walk on a more regular basis. I have an indoor area where I can walk so the weather is no longer an excuse for not exercising. I was so motivated with this website, I ordered a Pedometer so I could measure all my steps. I even got free shipping. The SPORTLINE 340 GO WALKING model I chose had good reviews. It said I had to walk 10,000 steps per day for 4 weeks and I would be on my way to being a fitter person. That means about 1 1/2 hours per day. The suggestion was to walk 30 minutes at lunchtime and 30 minutes at dinner. The remaining 30 minutes of activity during the day could be using the stairs and walking whenever possible. I usually have to park far from the building at work anyway, so that will get in a few more steps. After the first week, I need to step up my walking plan to include hills, inclines and additional stair climbing. Another suggestion was to wear a backpack to add some weight as I walk so I burn more calories. So I will let you know in 4 weeks what is happening in Fitness Land.

One of the snacks I love are nuts of any kind, without salt added. On the website, it said they have 51 grams of fat for 1 cup but you have to analyze that further. They are very low in carbs and although high in fat, they are low in Saturated fat and have no trans fats. They are a relatively good source of protein and have a decent fullness factor. I discovered they are also a good source of some vitamins and minerals. So in moderation, nuts are not as bad as they are portrayed.

My recipe on Recipes.Sparkpeople.com,was guacamole. Here are the results for 4 servings using one avocado and fat free mayo: Calories 98.8 per serving
Total Fat 9.0 g
Saturated Fat 1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 5.6 g
Cholesterol 0.4 mg,Sodium 34.6 mg,Potassium 293.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 5.5 g,Dietary Fiber 4.0 g,Sugars 0.4 g
Highest in Vitamin B-6 8.3 %,Vitamin C 8.4 %,Folate 12.8 %
Pantothenic Acid 8.4 %

Games and Gaming # 38

Well, I have to say attempting to play Pacman with the arrow keys is not very productive. Using the keys is very limiting. I thought my prior experience in playing the game would give me an advantage over players who have never played before, but I was wrong. I prefer using joysticks in order to have any speed and dexterity while playing the game.

Since acquiring the Wii unit, more of the younger patrons seem to come to the library. Wii is apparently outselling Xbox and PS3, according to internet sales figures. It seems to be the best choice for a library setting not only based on sells, but based on the way it draws the kids into the library.

I do think the younger patrons come to the library just for the games, but in the process, are drawn to other offerings the library has for them. I think we have to look past any initial prejudice we have about gaming and realize this is a way for kids to socialize while playing Wii. It has been said that Wii increases mental agility, relieves stress and gives you a dose of healthy exercise.

One article said even a huge number of baby boomers are turning to video games to help the body and the minds. An occupational therapist said playing with Wii could help build body strength, balance, endurance and coordination.

Maybe we should have Senior Citizen Wii day at the library. I know at our branch, some of the staff would like to have a Staff Wii day.

Game and Gaming #37

I can remember going to my school library in the summer for “game days”; not the same games we are referring to here but it was the same concept. Kids from all over the neighborhood came out once a week to play games, to socialize, to get out of the house and out of the heat. It was always a special time because they had games many of us did not have at home. Then while we were there, we could check out a book to take home to read. There were occasionally other programs available if we were interested in more than just the games.

Game day brought kids out to socialize. It was a time when we could be more relaxed and just enjoy the day. Nobody had expectations of us except to behave appropriately. It created a positive atmosphere us because it was a less structured time.

We have Crafts for the younger children, Sit and Stitch for adults so why not gaming for the older kids. Just because we never imagined having an activity in the library does not mean we should not have it. Many people never imagined having self-check machines and DVD players in the library, but we do.

Just think how much the dance scene was altered years ago by disco dance flooring. Everyone loved the bright lights, the flashing colors, and the loud music. Attendance soared wherever disco was available. I think the library will continue to evolve into an even greater happening place as the years go by.

Regarding the game “Within Range”, the instructions tell the player to hover over the books that are to be moved, but did not say to double click to actually move the books. I guess I was just supposed to know that since double clicking is a commonly used method. The instructions are not very clear. Once I figured out how to move the books, I made a high score and even progressed to the higher levels.

Game and Gaming #36

This game was way out of my comfort zone.

I thought the manual was a great teaching tool to use before starting the game. The rules were clearly stated. However, 15 minutes was not long enough to absorb all the rules. It would take multiple sittings for me to understand how to manipulate my character and perform all the tasks. There is a search engine at the top right hand corner of the screen that I feel is more useful for learning specific action during the game.

My character has a Princess Leia hairstyle, wears a light green top with a bare midriff and dark green pants. She wears boots and has muscular arms.

Gaming is a great way to challenge my mind. Hey, I remember how folks laughed at the way I played Frogger. At least I can play Runescape in private.

Games and Gaming #35

I am a hands-on person; I often find myself thinking let’s do it not just talk about doing it (but that’s just my little secret, so don’t tell anybody). That’s what makes gaming so perfect for me. It lets me delve right in.

I think gaming helps to develop a person’s reasoning abilities and to increase their ability toward logical thought. Having analytical abilities is a positive attribute that is expected in many professions.

That being said, why does learning have to be boring; why can’t it be fun. If the old flashcard technique worked well, why can’t the new gaming techniques work equally as well to teach us facts and data.

I like what Marc Prensky says (http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/games/): There is no reason that a generation that can memorize over 100 Pokémon characters with all their characteristics, history and evolution can't learn the names, populations, capitals and relationships of all the 101 nations in the world.

So let's do it through gaming. There's nothing wrong with the idea.

As to our own assignment, I tried FreeRice and WordSplay. Either of these is very non-violent. FreeRice is a great vocabulary builder and quite a challenge even to someone who considers themselves to be good at guessing word meanings. I thought the rules were very simple.

WordSplay helps a person to become more mentally alert. It is a great way to compete in a positive and unpressured environment. The rules were easy to follow. However, I found WordSplay to be so addictive. It was not easy for me to walk away after 15 to 20 minutes. I WANT MORE!!!!!

Maps #34

I actually was first introduced to the idea of geocaching when a patron wanted a book to read on the subject. He seemed very content as he left the library with his copies of Geocaching for Dummies and the Essential Handbook of Geocaching.

For our discovery exercise, I searched within a 10 mile radius of an area close to work (77375) and found a location at Epps and Pine Street. It was called the "Tomball Museum Center". The coordinates were: N 30° 05.989 W 095° 37.170
UTM: 15R E 247564 N 3332741.

The URL is:
tomball museum center

The only additional clue was that the cache was in the courtyard by the cabin in a tree.

This looks like such a fun place to explore, so I plan to visit this place when I get a chance. It has a lot of historical and educational value about the area.

Maps #33

Activity 1:
I actually used these websites when I was planning to relocate in October of last year. Apartments.com is my favorite. I found the satellite and hybrid views very useful so I could determine how close I would be to shopping, work and restaurants. The virtual view option is a helpful tool to see the grounds and inside the apartment layout before ever visiting a facility. My apartment complex has disability access and allows pets so it appeals to a greater population than some complexes.

I also have used apartmentratings.com to read the evaluations other renters made about the apartments where they lived. I have found and lived in 2 apt complexes using this website. I found the information to be quite accurate.

Walk Score is an interesting website and accurate as to the location and distance of all that is available from my apartment. However, since I am on a highway and it is under construction right now, it is somewhat unrealistic to think I would actually be able to walk to all the sites that were mentioned.

Activity 2:

I found a new apartment on Apartment.com. I liked Apartment.com better than Apartment finder. Apartment Guide shows a more limited number of apts specific to my area than the other 2 sites.

Our Town does not have my specific location listed; it has only Houston in general. It is not as helpful as Walk Score. Walk Score has: 8 grocery stores, 8 restaurants and coffee shops, 8 movie theatres, 1 daycare, 1 junior high, 1 high school, 1 elementary, l Christian school, 1 private school, 4 parks, 6 branch libraries and 8 bookstores. Most important of all, it showed me 8 clothing and shoe stores. Can't live without those!!!

Maps #32

Activity #1: I loved the "100 things to do with Google Maps".
My search was in answer to the question: I need to know where all the libraries are close to my home. How do I find them? From the list, I chose Find a US or Canadian Library and searched by zip code. I found 20 libraries within a 50 mile radius from my home. I could really feed my reading habit with no challenge at all.


Activity #2: I have just finished reading a mystery that was about Buckingham Palace. I got really excited about the Terra Server website that allows aerial views of historic sights. I wanted to see Buckingham Palace via an aerial site, but either the site was down or not working well. It seems like a good idea, but was somewhat disappointing. For anyone interested, here is the website
Terra Server

Map #31

View Larger Map


I live in 3 places right now. I divide my time between the city, the country and out of state. When I look at this map, I see how diverse my life is. It satisfies my restless nature.

One of the suggestions in the exercise was to show places where our ancestors have lived. Although I did not use the map in this way,I thought it was an excellent idea. I am a genealogy buff so any tools to organize my ancestry search and display their migration patterns are very useful.

I would be lost(no pun intended) without Mapquest and Google Maps. I assist patrons daily in navigating around the city using mapping programs.

Spring Cleaning #30

DON'T GO THERE!!!!!

I have been with HCPL for less than one year, so I started right away to set up folders as I created documents. I have since taken the time to clean up my Z: drive a bit, but there really was not any file that was very old anyway. I must admit this training has also helped my organizational skills tremendously.

I think the P: drive and the S: drive are two of the greatest tool we have. They allow us the opportunity to share documents with each other, but also keep the original in our private Z: drive to protect it. The S: drive is one I use a lot since it is the method for having documents printed by administration.

Now if I can just find my grocery list...no, I promise it is not on my P: drive.

Spring Cleaning #29 - Email

I already have a personal email account. I agree that it is a great idea to not mix work with personal email. I keep it separated easily because I do not give my personal email address to work associates and I do not give my work email to friends.

I am going to start using the four action steps regarding my HCPL email, which are to reply immediately, delete the message, forward - when appropriate, or file in the appropriate folder. What a simple process if I keep up with it as I go.

For now in my email account, I have my folders set up, my address book in order and all the old emails either deleted or filed appropriately. It's like having all the laundry done, the house vacuumed and supper is on the table.

Whew!! what a good feeling. But now,I think I need a Starbucks and some chocolate, of course.

Spring Cleaning # 28

GTD sounds interesting and new ideas are always great. I think I will just keep writing my lists, creating my folders, taking notes in minutes and maybe someday I will try something new. It seems to work for me.

It’s all about being organized in my life, whether I am at home or at work. I appreciate the ability to “grab and run” so to speak. Grab the appropriate folder, notes, information, lists and run to the meeting. Click on the appropriate folder online and print out one or two items pertinent to the meeting I am attending or the project I am working on.

I make lots of to-do lists and love throwing them away when those tasks are complete. I have my grocery list in an Excel program with every possible item available just to be checked off as needed. I got the idea from my adult daughters who lead very hectic, busy lives.

I did branch out a bit and open a “Remember the milk” account. Now that’s progress, isn’t it?