Games & Gaming # 38: Console Gaming

1.I loggged on to the free games arcade website to play Ms. Pacman. It was fun. I did not play these games when I was a kid so my skill level is elementary. I think all of these things are played by people with way too much time on their hands.
2. I think the WII with the motion sensor is the best console system for library use. I think the action is the way to go. My experience with console gaming is in purchasing these games for my kids who are now grown. Now they purchase their own console systems. Since I am a pack rat I still have all of these old systems: original Nintendo, Sega Genesis(I don't know which one), Play Station I, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and Sony Play Station. My sons both purchased the X Box and and now X Box 360. What a marketing ploy gaming is! I don't think gaming detracts from learning. It may help improve motor skills and brain function but mostly everyone does it for fun. I think gamers come to the library for the games and depending on the individual gamer they may stay for the books. But there are definitely strictly gamers.

Games and Gaming #37: Get Your Game On @ The Library

1. I read all the articles in this module.
2. I tried both games on the Carnigie Mellon University Libraries website. I am not much of a gamer. I didn't get, I'll Get It!. I managed to to turn the yellow smiley face red and angry. Within Range was not. I could not manage to shelve any of the books.
3. I think there is a place for gaming in the library. It seems to draw the Young Adults into the library. This is a safe and fun activity for them and they can learn what other services are available to them at the library for their future use. How will it evolve? Who knows how anything will evolve. But the library is evolving into the 21st century and gaming is a part of this.

Games & Gaming #36: The Wide World of Online Gaming

1. I spent fifteen minutes exploring the Runescape tutorial. I am not a regular gamer so this was not easy for me.
2.My Runescape character has pink hair,pink clothes, no shoes and wrist bands. She is hot.

Games and Gaming #35:Games in the Library

1. I played Free Rice and earned a few grains to help world hunger. I also played Sudoku. I can see how Sudoku could be a great brain exercise. I looked at some of the games for kids like Fun Brain and Cool Math 4 Kids. These are marvelous tools for learning.
2. All of the rules seemed simple enough for me. I did not realize you could access the games on the Houston Chronicle website. My husband will love that. I don't see yet the skills I will gain. That vision may come later with the more difficult games as I go through the rest of this module. The biggest benefit I see is that they are good exercises for the brain.

A Consumer's Houw To # 44:How To & Make

1. I enjoyed the How Stuff Works website. You can find all kinds of things on there. No, I didn't see any websites I did not care for.
2. I liked Video Jug. I am a visual learner. I watched How to Bathe Your Dog. My dog hates to take a bath. I thought I might get some pointers...but no. Get out your hairdryer. I don't think so. Sam would nerver stand for that.

Wellness #41 Going Green Part 1

1. I used the carbon footprint calculator on the National Wildlife Federation website. I was above the the national average but below the calculator's average. I guess I have work to do.
2. I have been to the farmer's market on Airline. They have everything under the sun. Lots of the local restaurants buy their fresh produce from there. I have been buying local all my life. They say that is the way to go, buy local rather than organic in the grocery store.

Consumer's How to #43:Buying and Selling Online

1. I have never sold anything on Ebay. I think it is a worthwhile service. Maybe one day.
2. I have used PayPal before. It seems to work well. There was a security scare once when they suspected everyone's personal information had been compromised. This seems to be a daily occurence these days.

Spring Cleaning # 30: Take a Load Off Our Drives

I never used the S:drive so I placed a file there and then deleted it. I only use a few files on the P: drive. I use these files daily so they did not need to be moved or deleted. I don't have any personal folders on the Z: drive, so wasn't much work to do there. Apparently, I was more organized than I thought.

Spring Cleaning #29: Email

I already had a personal email account. I already had folders set up on my personal and work email accounts. On a daily basis I try to reply, delete, forward, or file as mentioned in the Computer Tips article. My address book is up-to-date so didn't have to do much there. I always delete my emails and the deleted items folder right away so once again not much work to do there. I will send an email to my supervisor noting this.

Spring Cleaning #28: Don't Clutter Up Expensive Cyberspace

I had some experience with the Google Calendar at work. I use a hard copy calendar at home. I have folders for my emails at work and at home but must admit I probably need to weed them. I do keep up with permently deleteing my emails at home and at work. I'm a big list person so will try the GTD suggestion about reviewing them daily.

Sound #26: Making (or listening to Music Together)

I didn't realize that My Space had music beginnings. Mog seems a great site for finding people with the same music interests. If I was in to sharing my playlists with my friends I would connect with project Playlist or Phling. Splice would be an interesting way to jam with my fellow musicians. Online editing, what will they think of next? I added Qloud to my facebook page. Can't wait to see how many hits I get!

Sound: #25: Am I a music pirate? It's hard to know...

I burned a CD at home it was not that that difficult but the instructions were helpful. Yes, I still use CD's. I don't like the sound quality of listening to my music from an IPod. I like the big speakers hooked up to my turntable with subwoofers and all. I think its OK to burn a CD of a legal download. Copyright protection is beneficial to muscians but the online downloads are the future. It would not bother me one bit if the record industry was hurt monetarily by free music sharing. They have too much power and I don't like all of the so called music they promote. That is why there is such a strong indie movement in the music industry right now.

Sound # 24 The sound of music!

I checked out the different music sites to download from. I like the idea of one price and unlimited downloads such as Napster. I ended up using itunes (99 cents per song) to download a song to my home computer. I had my son show me how to load it on his IPod since I don't have one. He was not happy. It was a Dr. John song Sweet Home New Orleans from his new CD or as I prefer, album, Sippiana Hericane. I believe some of the funds from this album will help Hurricane Katrina victims. I found out one of my favorite stations(KKRW 93.7 The Arrow) is available online. I will have to try this at work. I will keep you posted. (Get it? HA!)