Relief

Now all we have to do is wait, wait on grades and the start of the next semester. In the mean while, I’m going to continue to enjoy my summer (outdoor FREE concerts, wine & cheese affair, progressive dinner, etc.). I did watch some movies the other night. I stayed up too late and was tired the next morning. But that’s O.K. cause I pigged out in front of the TV. I may join a health club before the summer is out. I did pretty good this semester in keeping up with all my work assignments. PEACE OUT.

Movie night

I feel so relieved. I can breathe, stay up late just because, read a book, or watch dozens of movies. Graduation is next year. I look back over all the classes I took and say, “It was well worth it.” I told myself that this is it, no more school. But on the other hand, every day is an opportunity to learn something new. Just some thoughts…..I got my movies for tonight.

Saturday

I added some more information to my Thoreau 2 because I read on the db that we were to add annotations. I looked to see if anyone else was doing this and I didn’t see anyone listing annotations. Soooooo I’m wondering, did we need to add 10 links (websites) for this assignment? When the db is back up I’ll see if there has been anymore info posted on this.

Journal

I thought I was finished with Thoreau 2 days ago, but I learned there was more to it. Sooooo, now it is complete. I think that once you make a change in your document, that change will also appear on the server. I have learned soooo much this semester. There are a lot of FREE websites in cyberworld. Thanks to everybody. Some of the questions I had were answered on the db and it’s not so stressful when you know others feel the same as you about assignments. For those who are just starting this program, just know that, “This to shall pass.” You can make it.

Journal

It pays to read the db. Some of the questions I had about the assignments were answered by others, the professor, or TA. I’m glad I made it through. I just finished the second part of assignment 8. I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t view my assignment at unixs.cis.pitt.edu. Needless to say it was something minor. Fasttrack went fast. I stayed at the Marriott-Shadyside, again. I used Priceline.com to get a cheap rate. I was trying to get the hotel I stayed in when I first started this program. They offer FREE breakfast and it is good. I’m not exactly sure, but I think it’s called Holiday Inn Express. It’s on Bigelow and less than 1 mile from the Pitt. Well now I’m going to try and knock this last assignment out of the way.

CSS

HTML, what the heck am I doing! Somehow I turned my html page into a word doc trying to link some web pages. I was able to save it again as a web page but I don’t know how I managed to have made that mistake. I was able to link my web pages to my homepage, but I should have written down the steps. I’m sleepy so by tomorrow, this may be forgotten.

Thoreau

I did it. Once I understood the errors I made, and corrected them, I was able to finish the project. I didn’t really know where to begin to fix the problem. I felt there was too much going on at one time. In these moments, I just want to scream! But what I did was a type of rapid body shaking and stomping my feet. This body motion looks like a 2-year-old having a temper tantrum. I decided the only thing left to do was to go back over my notes, handouts and use the internet (YouTube). There were some links from the video that Dr. Tomer gave us. From these sites, I found other related YouTube videos, and I watched them over and over. Yes, I’m one of those people who can’t read it once, listen to it once, or watch it once to get the meaning of the material.

Holiday Over

I had a nice long holiday weekend but tomorrow it’s back to work. I accidently deleted my Jing project and I was having a problem with my webcam. I realized later that it was because I had deleted some icons from my desktop and I had also deleted the Jing (Zotero) icon from Screencast. My thought was to make my desktop not so cluttered. Didn’t know it but, by deleting the icon from Screencast, it also deleted it from my blog. Well everything has been restored. I’m ready for our next project.

Zotero

I somehow deleted my first Jing project so I did it again.

2009-07-06_1346

Journaling

I completed my Koha project and I’m ready to start working on the next one. I’m not comfortable with the idea of using html but the more I know about it the better I’ll feel about doing the assignment. I plan to rest and have fun this holiday weekend. I keep missing the dimdim chats. Hopefully I won’t miss the next one. I believe it’s scheduled for Sunday at 7pm.

O H I O

I hope Gov Strickland gets the message and leave our libraries alone. I got back today from the festival in Chicago, it was great. If you are looking for a cheap way to travel, try Megabus.com. Instead of using a regular hotel, try a hostel. These rooms are similar to dorm rooms. Did anybody see the video Farrah fawcett and her friend did before she died. I hope that people who normally don't bother to get check-ups, were paying attention.

Ohio Libraries

Strickland's Proposal Could Result in Widespread Public Library Closures. Take Action: The Ohio Library Council encourages all Ohioans to contact the Governor's office to express their opposition to his proposal to cut library funding, and to urge their legislators to reject the Governor's plan.

Governor Strickland's proposal to permit slot machines covered the front pages of Ohio's newspapers this past weekend. However, the real gamble he's taking is his drastic cuts to Ohio's public library funding that could force the closure of many of Ohio's public libraries and branches in neighborhoods and communities in every county in the state.

The Ohio Library Council (OLC) condemns a proposal by Governor Ted Strickland to balance the state's budget by raiding public library funding. His plan singled out the state's Public Library Fund for cuts far beyond the relative reductions in state revenues and is more than double the reductions projected by the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Analysis shows that the Strickland budget cuts would reduce library funding by at least 47% in fiscal year 2010 and 45% in fiscal year 2011 as compared to the fiscal year 2008 distributions. During the same 2010-2011 budget years, the state projects the General Revenue Fund will fall 18% and 16% respectively. The Governor is recommending cuts to public libraries that far exceed the state's drop in revenue.

"Our libraries have been slashing their budgets for months to find ways to maintain library services with a 20% reduction in state dollars," according to Scott Shafer, President of the Ohio Library Council and Director of the Lima Public Library. "Reductions of this magnitude will force libraries to close completely, close branches, and/or drastically cut hours and services - beginning July 1."

In the last biennium budget, the OLC supported the proposal to fund Ohio's libraries with 2.2% of taxes paid to the state. In the past eight years, these revenues have declined - most dramatically since January 2009. So far, since January 2009, public libraries have lost 20% of their state revenue. Governor Strickland's proposed 30% reduction is in addition to that loss.

The Governor's proposed funding cuts come at a time when Ohio's public libraries are experiencing unprecedented increases in demand for services. In every community throughout the state, Ohioans are turning to their public libraries for free high speed Internet to access information on employment opportunities, children and teens are beginning summer reading programs, and people of all ages are turning to the library for information and education.

The OLC encourages all Ohioans to contact the Governor's office to express their opposition to his proposal to cut library funding, and to urge their legislators to reject the Governor's plan.

Ohio Library Council - (614) 410-8092Doug Evans, Executive Director - (614) 216-0678 (cell)Lynda Murray, Director of Government and Legal Services - (614) 746-0895 (cell)Mackenzie Betts, Director of Communications - (614) 203-2656 (cell)

The mission of the Ohio Library Council is to serve as an advocate for Ohio's public libraries and to provide opportunities for education and growth to the library community. The Ohio Library Council represents the 251 public library systems in Ohio and more than 4,500 staff, Friends, and trustees who work or volunteer at Ohio public libraries.

Journaling

I was trying to use Jing for another class and I couldn’t hear my audio. I had to reinstall my webcam. I’m still waiting for it to install. I thought I was finished with my eprints3 assignment but I have to make some corrections on it. Boy am I ready for this weekend. ChicagoFest here I come!

Just Plain Tired

I’ve spent practically a whole day trying to figure out how to use eprints. Does anyone know if there is a video tutorial? I though this assignment would be a lot easier.

Journaling

I feel lazy. I’m going to blame it on the weather. This week I started using an exercise DVD called Walk Slim: 4 Fast Miles by Leslie Sansone. I borrowed some of her other DVDs from the library but I like this one the best. If you’re like me, there is just not enough time to go outside the home and exercise. I’m up at 6 in the morning doing my workout. Further news: My professor mentioned she liked my three minute presentation on Timberlands but she called me Linda. That’s not my name. Well it’s getting late, so I have to call it a night so as to get up early and do my 4-mile walk.

Monday

I just read the information on ScreenSteps, FileZilla, ePrints, and Suse Studio, I didn’t understand most of it. Maybe latter this stuff will make more sense to me. With all this downloading of software programs, soon I won’t be able to see my beautiful screensaver.

On to the next Challenge

I was too happy with myself. I was able to do a three minute audio narration for my other class. When I previewed it, I heard the noise from my TV in the background so I deleted it and started all over again. In our microwave society, I was trying to go the shortest instructional route to Zotero. We tend to want things now. We don't want to wait for anything.

Zotero

Fourth project

JING JING JINGALING

All I got to say is it worked on my end. My other class required me to do a three minute audio presentation. I decided to use Jing. I watched the Jing videos so much, that when I started to use it, I was just clicking links. Like I really knew what I was doing. Praise be to God, it worked on my end. I guess by Tuesday, I’ll know if the professor was able to hear the audio. I was frantic at first because I thought that my webcam would give me some indication that the audio was on. I had better be careful with this little thing, it looks to be fragile. I hope I didn’t damage it by trying to find a way to turn it on (At least I didn’t throw it on the floor and step on it).

Saturday Journal

Today is Saturday and it is beautiful outside. I have all I need to complete assignment number 4. I just don’t know where to start. I guess my problem is trying to explain how to configure Firefox extension for Zotero, when I don’t understand it myself. I’m going to go back over the readings and the audios and see if there is something that addresses this. Wish me luck.

Journaling

Well this week is almost over, hallelujah! I really like learning about new technology. Dimdim was fun to use. When Dr. Tomer asked if anyone had their webcam and speaker on, I was hoping someone said yes. Although she couldn’t get her webcam to operate, it was good to hear another student’s voice on the chat. I bought my webcam/microphone combo. The package that the webcam came in, made it appear that putting this together would be simple, wrong. The illustrations on the outside package said to put the mini-cam on the top of the computer and plug the cord into your USB port. I had to download software (Adobe) again, and again and again. Now I already had Adobe on my computer. I didn’t understand why I had to download more. After about an hour, I was able to see myself on the screen. I hope that no was able to see me. It was late and I looked awful. Maybe I needed more room light. Using Dimdim I wonder how we will be able to see each other? Will Dr. Tomer be able to put us all on the screen at the same time?

Dear Journal

I’m happy to say that I was able to view the Panopto video from my other class. Being able to see the video somehow makes me feel connected. I’m eager to get my webcam hooked up. It has a built in speaker. I have learned so much in this short span of time on the different ways people can communicate through the computer. I’m still working on how to use RSS feeds. Dr. Tomer feeds are interesting. Google is a site I use a lot to look up information; I never knew it was so powerful. Well I have a lot of reading to do, so talk to you later.

Access

What is going on? I’m still having a hard time connecting with Pitt’s library. I have been able to use the computers at work to access the library, but at home I’m waiting for up to almost an hour. I’ve been able to view the YouTube material but that’s it. I never had this many problems before. My other class has some videos and I have not been able to view them either. This blog is the only way I feel connected to Pitt right now. Surely in time this will get better.

RSS

I was able to view the YouTube video RSS in Plain English using a link from my other class. Now I have some idea how this RSS thing works. :) I feel really good about the assignments I completed so far for this class. My next thing to do is to buy the headset and webcam. I hope the people at Best Buy can demonstrate how these items work. This has been a busy week for me and I look forward to taking a looong nap Sunday. You notice I didn’t say Saturday.

Holiday over

I called the help desk because I was still unable to access the library databases. I need to go over the steps in assignment 2 again. I want to be confident in knowing how to create an RSS feed. I finished assignment 3 but my spreadsheet looks kinda funky. I noticed the Excel spreadsheets after I’d clicked send. Professor Tomer, if my second attempt looks better than my first, consider the first spreadsheet practice. Like in bowling, if you bowl a gutter ball, scream out loud, “That was only a practice roll!”

P.S.
I like this blue font

Determined

I assumed that the digital library system was too busy, as the reason why I could not access it until after midnight last night. I probably will just have to find the right time to use it. This assignment was frustrating in the beginning but as I got into it, it got easier. The frustration came mainly from not having access to my computer until 10p.m. last night. Importing references into RefWorks from Scopus was easier than Google Scholar. In Google Scholar, I could only select one reference at a time. Boy, I'm glad that is over with. Now on too the easy stuff. I never knew how much I depended on my electronic devices until they were not working.

P.S.
I’ve not been able to access information in Course Documents.

Still working on assignment 2

I was somewhat irritated tonight. My home phone wasn’t working and neither was my computer. My first thought was, did I pay the bill? I was relieved to learn that the phone company was outside trying to repair the lines. I asked the repair man if he would be finished by 9p.m. He shrugged and said, “Don’t know.” Needless to say they weren’t. I guess I’ll be up late tonight; I had some duplicate citations, so I have to add some more.

Anytime I start something new, I'm a little nervous. I won't have all the answers but I will have a lot of questions.