week 11 Images

Images...those elusive bits of film and chemical that fade with time, that get lost in the sotrms and the fires, that we never get around to mounting, to sending out to friends and relatives. Nut now, with electronic format, not only do you have instant satisfaction, you have instant dissemination to anyone that you care to.

But what if it was a lousy picture? Well, with the new photo editing software out there, its simple to take out the red eye, change the intesity of the sun, take out the shadow...with the right kind of software you can recolor that hideous seersucker jacket uncle earl was wearing...or after aunt bertha has been released from rehab and ran off with the chihuaha trainer...you can take her out of the picture completely!

You gotta love this new technology!!

week 10 youtube

I was never much of one to watch tv...but when I did watch, the funniest video shows always made me laugh. I've never owned a video camera, and when I would miss an episode, well, that was it. Unless I reprecorded the show. But with such tools as youytube and yahoo video and myspave video...there is absolutely nothing you can't watch, find or replay at your leisure! Pranks, instructions on how to cook chicken marsala, how to carve a heron, watch documentary's long lost to film archives...it truly is an amazing tool.

week 9 Photos and images

I can only think back and laugh about how easy it is today to manipulate images with the computer. Back in the day, one of my jobs was to provide ummm...alternative forms of ID to individuals...within the armed forces...and it was a laborious process. And you might fool the border guars, or the security forces. Now...today, with a flick of a button, a transfer of a file, you can have a drivers liscense from any state in the country...( I know,...you're not supposed to do that...but it out there!). But aside for the wrogful way to handle things...the right way is so much fun. Why should the beatles be the only one to have a psychadelic poster made of themselves? Why should donald trump be the only guy on Fortune Magazine?

I love the computer and if you're lucky enough to have photoshop...the world is in the palm of your hand!

week 8 tagging

tagging...now everyone can be thier own cataloguer! I'm, not certain that the professionals are thrilled about that, burt it sure does simplify life for a lot of folks. Perhaps my descriptiors are not the same as my neighbors, but isn't the idea of technology to make life easier for the individual?....

Just a thought....

I find myself adding my own tags to my music fils for my mp3 player, my own tags for my books, tags for information....I do this to simplify MY life. Standards are fine...for an industry wide application...but when it comes to personal information...let the free market reign!!

week 7 myspace

I do remember the wind up telephone in our old farm house...one long...2 short...that was our signal...but then everyone else could listen in also...if they were of a mind to. Then there was the telephone...beautiful, heavy black bakelite...nothing lite about it, that sucker was heavy! Now, whenever I wish to 'talk' to one of my kids...I just log on to my myspace account...or my facebook account...and leave a message.. or facebook...and if they are online, then they will respond back pretty quickly. The funny thing is...even though I have a cell phone, the message that I leave on a cell, seems to take a considerable amount of time to be transmitted, and sent. I sometimes get much faster service with myspace or facebook. A great way to stay in touch with friends...and to make new friends!

Week 5 - Instant Messaging

WIKI's??? I used to think a wiki was some kind of totem you picked up in java or the atolls in the south pacific...but wikis are a great way to disseminate information...hopefully in a good fashion. Sure, there is bound to be some abuse of the format, but as in all good research, check your sources!! A lot of good can be had with something like a wiki...there are no more sharper eyes out there than a dedicated fan when it comes to verifying information! Just post something about how the 125 windows on the death star were glazed over with a certain color film...and I can guarantee you...someone will write in and dispute your answer, because he was one of the workers. A grand thing it is!!

Week 5 - Instant Messaging

IM...who would have ever thought that the library would have IM? Back when we got our first computers, all the buzz was how to keep certain individuals (public) from spending all day on the computer messenging back and forth...tieing up the computers ...but here we are, a few years down the road and we're answering questions via IM...Life sure is funny isn't it??