Week 3, Thing 7: Create a blog post about anything technology related.

Oh technology! I guess I want to post about privacy issues and the library. If someone is making threats on My Space while using an OPAC, what role (if any) does the library play in helping law enforcement? Can we release info about an alleged threat maker? I do not think we can...I feel the hosting website (My Space) should investigate its members' behavior, and then decide if any wrong doing has taken place. If so, they could terminate the account or take other appropriate measures. I know the whole Patriot Act issue has been a hot topic; but if police have served a warrant, what then? Can they access patron info with that authority? The bottom line is accountability-personal responsibility. Folks need to police themselves and their actions, but given human nature, we know many who do not practice this. New issues for the new century I suppose.

A fellow co-worker pointed this out to me: this posted 2 July 2007:

USA Patriot Act Guidelines
For FCPL Staff

(Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept Terrorism)

In October 2001 President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law. The act is intended to assist in curbing terrorism in part by improving law enforcement agencies access to electronic information. The law particularly affects libraries because they offer patrons access to the Internet and electronic mail, tools terrorists are known to use.

Libraries are committed to the confidentiality of patron records. Before the USA Patriot Act became law officials were required to show due cause before they could get a court order to view patron records. The USA Patriot Act releases them from that requirement.

Staff Response to Law Enforcement Officers

If law enforcement officials approach you your response is simple. Verify that they are who they say they are by scrutinizing their identification. Call administration immediately or, if after hours, call the CBA LIC who can contact someone from administration. Ultimately the Library Director will be the person who interacts with the officers. It is important that you understand you are not allowed to discuss this interaction with anyone except your administration.

Read More At:

American Libraries Association:

www.ala.org/oif/usapatriotact.html

American Civil Liberties Union

http://forms.aclu.org/L/www.aclu.org/safeandfree/index.cfm?MX=491&H=O

Lawyer’s Committee on Human Rights

www.lchr.org/aftersept/loss/report.htm

Week 3, Thing 6: Flickr mashups & 3rd party sites

If you look above, you will see an attempt at mashup with Flick'r trading cards.
This is my blog post for this THING! John Carpenter's "The Thing" is one of the creepiest and most favourite of mine films.

Week 3, Thing 5: Explore Flickr

"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?...
Dave...
I really think I'm entitled to an answer to that question...
I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it's going to be alright again...
I feel much better now, I really do...
Look, Dave, I can see you're really upset about this...
I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over...
I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal...
I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission, and I want to help you...
Dave...
stop...
stop, will you
...stop, Dave...
will you stop, Dave...
stop, Dave...
I'm afraid...
I'm afraid, Dave...
Dave...
my mind is going...
I can feel it...
I can feel it...
my mind is going...
there is no question about it...
I can feel it...
I can feel it...
I can feel it...
(slows down) I'm afraid...
Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L. plant in Urbana, Illinois, on the 12th January 1992. My instructor was Mr Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it, I can sing it for you."

Mr. Kubrick at his finest!

Well, I was able to upload a Flick'r image, and post a little text to add to the flavor. Does this complete Thing 5?




Isn't Flickr a horse? As in "My Friend Flickr"...Oh nevermind, that was "Flicka"!

Week 2, Thing 4: Register your blog

I see that of this writing (11:25 a.m., 12 June 2007) that Group A has 13 registrants, and Group B has 7. Twenty in all so far out of eighty, or one quarter participation. Hmmm. Well, all seems to be going OK, not sure what else to post about registering my blog.

Week 2, Thing 3: Set up your own blog

Well that was quite easy. No more difficult than setting up an email account or registering to use some online service, etc. I still don't see the attraction to blogs, however. Daily work necessitates staring at a computer screen for long periods of time; I cannot see doing it willingly and freely of my own time. I'd rather be outside, or engaged in another activity. Plus, do I really have that much to say? Do I really care what others have to say?

Week 1, Thing 2: Pointers from Lifelong Learners

Since I don't own headphones I had to borrow a set from my son! I see people all the time plugged in staring vacuously at their computer screens, watching things like street fights or worse. I hate not being able to hear what is going on around me. Anyway on to the pointers from lifelong learners...I think the hardest point for me is "Beginning with the end in mind" Like trying to write a business or strategic plan or even a will. While not short sighted (I hope) it is difficult to see that far down the road, 'tis a joyless task. Perhaps what I like most is "teaching/mentoring others"...in an informal way. It is truly rewarding to impart information quickly and accurately to patrons (at work), and to others (family, friends and even strangers) in life. The simple act of giving someone accurate directions is fulfilling in some way. Because I would appreciate someone doing the same for me. I enjoy teaching my son about life, and retelling accurately for him events form the past. These are just a few examples of the teach/mentor philosophy. I hope these posts are what we are supposed to be doing.

Week 1, Thing 1: About this program

What was wrong with web 1.0? I know these numerical identifiers are needed to indicate "new" versions of something, but I always thought them impersonal. Like Adobe 7.0; why not call it something else, perhaps Adobe Update, or the Latest from Adobe? Anyway...
I am eager to learn more about new and emergent technologies. I am somewhat techno-phobic, so this will be a crash course for the new millennium. Let us see how I do.

First off...

...Bog is good, Bog is powerful! Bog has thoughts, Bogthoughts.