Task 16:
I already have Open Office on one of my computers at home, and have used several of its component programs. I was introduced to it through work in a previous setting, and have found it to be very useful since it is compatible with Microsoft's programs. Its compatibility and being free make it an excellent source for work-related programs that you can be sure will be usable by most of the working world, when Office or its components aren't available.
Open-source products like Open Office do somewhat fit into the library's lending philosophy in that they get the product out where people can use it in the way that suits them best, without committing to financially supporting someone else by purchasing anything. It is essentially based on the honor system, just as the library is - it is hoped that users of open-source software will not abuse the software, just as we hope that our patrons will not abuse the items they check out.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Task 15:
Have to say, not terribly impressed with Clipmarks. Although the text clippings mostly worked ok, none of the images I tried clipping worked at all. Most images are easier to simply save to the computer & then place where you want them. With the lack of success on static images, I didn't even try any video clips. The instructions & video suggest that this is an easy 1-2-3 way to clip things but I didn't find it to be any easier than simply copying & pasting what I want. Ah well, nothing's perfect!!
Have to say, not terribly impressed with Clipmarks. Although the text clippings mostly worked ok, none of the images I tried clipping worked at all. Most images are easier to simply save to the computer & then place where you want them. With the lack of success on static images, I didn't even try any video clips. The instructions & video suggest that this is an easy 1-2-3 way to clip things but I didn't find it to be any easier than simply copying & pasting what I want. Ah well, nothing's perfect!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Task 14:
Don't have time to download right now, but after having looked at the two, I will probably go with Overdrive. It looks like the more preferable method for my tastes, and I've already looked up Phantoms by another of my favorite authors, Dean Koontz. Once I get time to try out the download, I will finish this....
ok, a few days later I have managed to get time to do the download. As I expected, the download took plenty of time - managed to finish the book I was reading while waiting for the download. I ended up downloading Watchers in order not to have to wait for a hold to come in. I have read it several times, as it's one of my favorite of Koontz's novels. What I didn't expect was for the narration to completely kill the writing! Perhaps it was simply the particular person doing this reading, or maybe my internal "voice" is overly augmented by my imagination - either way, I will not complete listening to this download, and am unlikely to do another. I enjoy reading far too much to have stories killed for me in this manner. I can see how useful audio books are for some situations, but in my case I will simply wait until I can literally pick the book up and digest it m'self! Watchers awaits me on my shelves at home when I wish to lay mine hands upon it and wring entertainment from it! ;P
Don't have time to download right now, but after having looked at the two, I will probably go with Overdrive. It looks like the more preferable method for my tastes, and I've already looked up Phantoms by another of my favorite authors, Dean Koontz. Once I get time to try out the download, I will finish this....
ok, a few days later I have managed to get time to do the download. As I expected, the download took plenty of time - managed to finish the book I was reading while waiting for the download. I ended up downloading Watchers in order not to have to wait for a hold to come in. I have read it several times, as it's one of my favorite of Koontz's novels. What I didn't expect was for the narration to completely kill the writing! Perhaps it was simply the particular person doing this reading, or maybe my internal "voice" is overly augmented by my imagination - either way, I will not complete listening to this download, and am unlikely to do another. I enjoy reading far too much to have stories killed for me in this manner. I can see how useful audio books are for some situations, but in my case I will simply wait until I can literally pick the book up and digest it m'self! Watchers awaits me on my shelves at home when I wish to lay mine hands upon it and wring entertainment from it! ;P
Task13 (parts 2&3):
Ok, I tried out both Jamendo & Last FM. In the limited time I had to try out new artists, I didn't find any that I liked - but was basically going hit & miss anyway. Of the 2 sites, I think I prefer Last FM's organization, and will probably make it back there sometime soon when I have a little more time to listen. For now, on to whatever comes next...........(some appropriate closing sound effect)
Ok, I tried out both Jamendo & Last FM. In the limited time I had to try out new artists, I didn't find any that I liked - but was basically going hit & miss anyway. Of the 2 sites, I think I prefer Last FM's organization, and will probably make it back there sometime soon when I have a little more time to listen. For now, on to whatever comes next...........(some appropriate closing sound effect)
Task 13:
Part1:
The sound I found is a deep snarl - I thought it might be useful attached to the message for a computer patron who has been caught going outside the permitted boundaries: message "YOUR SESSION HAS BEEN TERMINATED" (snarl)
Perhaps a little bit of audible discouragement might help prevent repeats. Probably not, but it's been theorized that messages that impact more than one sense make a larger impression. I tried to add the sound here, but there was apparently some error and it wouldn't work. It's under animals/dinosaurs/Monster or dinosaur growl. Deep snarl with heavy breath
I've already used sounds downloaded from other sources to enhance the theme we went with when we re-did my son's room. The eventual plan is to even include one when you switch the light on & another when it switches off. With regard to how sounds might enhance the Library's website - perhaps looking into particular genres might generate some standard, associated sound. For example, perhaps a Dracula-type laugh as you entered the search results in Horror, or an R2-D2-like set of beeps and whistles while entering Sci-Fi results. Obviously, users without sound would get nothing out of it, but it might help draw in those who do have it available - once they've experienced it. Some sort of printed key to the sounds could be placed on the early pages or opening page of a search - to tell people what they're hearing. Maybe useful, maybe not.
Part 2 next time...
Part1:
The sound I found is a deep snarl - I thought it might be useful attached to the message for a computer patron who has been caught going outside the permitted boundaries: message "YOUR SESSION HAS BEEN TERMINATED" (snarl)
Perhaps a little bit of audible discouragement might help prevent repeats. Probably not, but it's been theorized that messages that impact more than one sense make a larger impression. I tried to add the sound here, but there was apparently some error and it wouldn't work. It's under animals/dinosaurs/Monster or dinosaur growl. Deep snarl with heavy breath
I've already used sounds downloaded from other sources to enhance the theme we went with when we re-did my son's room. The eventual plan is to even include one when you switch the light on & another when it switches off. With regard to how sounds might enhance the Library's website - perhaps looking into particular genres might generate some standard, associated sound. For example, perhaps a Dracula-type laugh as you entered the search results in Horror, or an R2-D2-like set of beeps and whistles while entering Sci-Fi results. Obviously, users without sound would get nothing out of it, but it might help draw in those who do have it available - once they've experienced it. Some sort of printed key to the sounds could be placed on the early pages or opening page of a search - to tell people what they're hearing. Maybe useful, maybe not.
Part 2 next time...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
HI Pastrami!! LOL!
did you figure out who i is yet? other monikers I've worn include Tank, and Ogre, though not in this forum. I share some characteristics with a few of my fave superheroes as a kid: the Thing, the Hulk, and Wolverine. In fact, one of those characteristics links all 3 of those!
more later!!
did you figure out who i is yet? other monikers I've worn include Tank, and Ogre, though not in this forum. I share some characteristics with a few of my fave superheroes as a kid: the Thing, the Hulk, and Wolverine. In fact, one of those characteristics links all 3 of those!
more later!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Task 12:
I think there's a lot to like about Novelist, and had already used it several times both for myself and for patrons. I plan to continue, too! The fact that it will list out the whole series, in order has really been useful
As to Cinephile Femme's previous comment about waiting for the enjoyable content - if that's who I believe it to be - umm... been to busy doing tasks! ;) Here's some attempt at something at least (maybe) useful:
If anyone who chances to read this likes horror novels, a couple of authors to try out in that realm are Piers Anthony (yep, he does more than one genre) and Robert E. Howard. Piers' writing will always have something to add in terms of for-real edutainment, and Howard is the original author of Conan (among other stories). He got his start writing short horror stories for magazines like Wierd Tales. I'm currently reading a compilation of them which also includes a few that he left unfinished, as well as some of his horror-oriented poetry. Good stuff, if you don't mind creepy!!! Also, any fans of Stephen King who don't know his alter-ego Richard Bachman should check those out. He did some writing under that name early in his career, and has had them published anew with his more recent modifications. Just read one called "Blaze" which he says was the final Bachman book written during that period. Like he says in his intro, it's horror - sort of - but with a serious tear-jerker aspect as well. Let the reader beware!!
Toodles!
I think there's a lot to like about Novelist, and had already used it several times both for myself and for patrons. I plan to continue, too! The fact that it will list out the whole series, in order has really been useful
As to Cinephile Femme's previous comment about waiting for the enjoyable content - if that's who I believe it to be - umm... been to busy doing tasks! ;) Here's some attempt at something at least (maybe) useful:
If anyone who chances to read this likes horror novels, a couple of authors to try out in that realm are Piers Anthony (yep, he does more than one genre) and Robert E. Howard. Piers' writing will always have something to add in terms of for-real edutainment, and Howard is the original author of Conan (among other stories). He got his start writing short horror stories for magazines like Wierd Tales. I'm currently reading a compilation of them which also includes a few that he left unfinished, as well as some of his horror-oriented poetry. Good stuff, if you don't mind creepy!!! Also, any fans of Stephen King who don't know his alter-ego Richard Bachman should check those out. He did some writing under that name early in his career, and has had them published anew with his more recent modifications. Just read one called "Blaze" which he says was the final Bachman book written during that period. Like he says in his intro, it's horror - sort of - but with a serious tear-jerker aspect as well. Let the reader beware!!
Toodles!
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