Finding RSS

I found the straight-forward search tools - like Bloglines search - easiest to use.

I like Topix' interactive graphs that let you see how often a topic was mentioned in the news over the year. You can see when the topic generated buzz. Then you can click on one of the bars in the graph and it shows you the stories that about it from that day.

I like Technorati's up-to-dateness, and the sheer number of blogs is overwhelming. Who knew? However, the overwhelmingness means, of course, that your more likely to find just the blog for you, as long as the search tech is any good, and theirs seems to be OK. Also, you can subscribe to the RSS of the search results in Technorati - in other words it sets up an alert for new blogs and posts that come up about your favorite topics. Cool.

Melissa.

RSS

I've set up a public Bloglines account.

I like RSS because it makes it much easier to keep on on whatever you're interested in. Most websites have jumped on the bandwagon; only rarely do I run into a website that does not have a way to RSS. I use RSS at work to keep up with my professional reading.

Melissa.

Downloadable Audiobooks

I found the downloadable audiobooks easy to work with. The download times varying so greatly from the times quoted on the NetLibrary is a little worrying, but I guess it's just a matter of being patient, and at least we know it so we can warn patrons.

I think patrons are going to like being able to check out audiobooks from home without having to come into the library and deal with possibly damaged discs or tapes.

I'm a little concerned about the downloadable audiobooks not working on iPods, but hopefully we'll have enough users who either don't have iPods or have a work-around that they'll get used extensively. I hope NetLibrary is working to change this situation.

Melissa.

Podcasts

I looked through Podcast.net, Podcastalley.com, and NPR, and found good content on each. There are a lot of library podcasts, including JJHill. I also searched under Science Fiction and found book reviews, old stories, a movie a week (vidcast), author interviews, etc.

You can use Bloglines to sign up for podcasts, and play them right from Bloglines.

I signed up for Nancy Pearl's weekly review show, and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. I've also sent myself the links to a number of interesting sounding Science Fiction podcasts to sample before I sign up. With the NPR stuff you pretty much know what you're getting.

Melissa.

YouTube Thoughts

I love that the content is so varied. Really bizarre amateur videos, National Archives and Records Administrations videos (including NASA, National Parks, and Newsreel footage), popular culture (Leonard Nimoy sings "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins"), music, and just a lot of random stuff.

Going to the Google Video homepage lets you search Google Video, YouTube and Crackle at the same time.

The Monty Python/Star Trek video in the post below really tickles my funny bone.

Features of YouTube that could be useful for library websites? Do you have a while? I'm just going to pick two:

Folksonomies - I really like the idea of patrons being able to tag services and books and other items we own, and building up a network of subject headings that, while subjective, are probably going to be of more use to more patrons than the very stilted language of the Library of Congress Subjects Headings. Don't get me wrong; I'm not advocating getting rid of the LCSH - they serve a very important purpose. They're just often not very accessible.

RSS - I would love to be able to have a list of authors on file in our catalog and get notified when we order something by one of them. Hit or miss is just so...hit or miss.

Melissa.

Monty Python has Trouble with Tribbles

A different kind of mashup.

Remastered Star Trek

Tomorrow we're going to see "The Menagerie" (an original Star Trek episode) on the big screen. This is a limited showing (two nights, three shows) of a remastered classic. "The Menagerie" originally aired in 1966, but includes lots of footage from the original Star Trek pilot "The Cage," which was filmed in 1964 (the 1966 footage acts as a framework for showing the bits of the original pilot). This gives you some idea of the quality of the technical aspects of the show, espeically the special effects; even though they did a pretty good job with what they had, lets just say you can occasionally see the wires suspending the spaceships.

So, for the 40th anniversary of Star Trek Paramount has decided to release remastered versions of the originals, both on TV and DVD in sets that include both regular and HD versions. (I don't plan on buying anything in HD until that whole mess is settled and everyone gets their act together, but that's another story entirely.) This includes new cgi special effects as well as upgrading the picture and sound quality.

Now, I've seen Star Trek episodes on TV that definitely include the new cgi effects, if nothing else (I couldn't see any other changes) and I have to say I'm not impressed. The effects are cool, but they really clash with the whole 1960s mystique of the rest of the episode; which of these things are not like the others?

I'm not sure about this whole remastering craze. I can see the point of just remastering the sound and the picture (making them clearer, etc.), especially with HD. But there's such a temptation to go beyond that as long as you're in there changing things. The Star Wars thing is a prime, if extreme, example. Actually rewriting? Please. That's just going too far. Especially if you decide to not release the old versions on DVD anymore.

One of the original Star Trek's hallmarks is what they did with very little budget and a lot of imagination. In "Spectre of the Gun" for instance, they didn't have a lot of money for sets, so they built very little set and used that to emphasize the dream-like quality of the story. If someone went back and "enhanced" the sets with cgi, it would change the character of the show drastically.

I'm interested to see what I know is a completely remastered episode, and not a regular ep with extra bits thrown in. For sure, I am excited to see the original Star Trek on the big screen. That I know will be worth the price of admission.

Melissa.

Clockr

For some reason I really like Clockr, one of the Flickr web apps. It is a clock that uses random number images from Flickr. http://www.quasimondo.com/clockr.php I'm not sure why it appeals to me so much; maybe just the concept of randomness being used to predict very accurate time (the clock has a second counter, so you can watch the numbers flick past). It may also have to do with my...interesting... relationship with time.

Melissa.

The Horror of Fang Rock as told by the Bayeaux Tapestry

More wackiness. This time from Calamity James at http://community.livejournal.com/doctorwho/2173923.html

This is fabulous!

For reference here are a couple of sites with information on the real Bayeux Tapestry:

Tapisserie de Bayeux (in French)
Britain's Bayeux Tapestry at the Museum of Reading
Bayeux Tapestry at Wikipedia

Melissa.

Star Trek meets Edward Gorey

By Shaenon K. Garrity

http://shaenon.livejournal.com/48834.html

Check it out - this is only a sample.

Shaenon has also done her Gorey research - I guess Gorey really did like Star Trek. Who knew?

Extermaknit!

Knitted Dalek, anyone?

http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/who/extermaknit.html

Cleverly designed by Penwiper.

I'm going to a semi-Science Fiction convention this weekend, and plan to attempt this. I'll let you know how it goes.

Melissa.

Jantar Mantar Astronomy Complex

Astronomy park 3,, originally uploaded by Netta Bank.

"Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or "Jantar Mantars" as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale, have captivated the attention of architects, artists, and art historians world wide, yet remain largely unknown to the general public."

Very cool, and very cool photos. Netta Bank has a whole set of photos devoted to this astronomy complex on Flickr.

The quote above is from this site: http://www.jantarmantar.org/ which has this to say about itself "Jantar Mantar presents the observatories through a variety of media and information sources, making it possible to explore and learn about these historic sites through interactive panoramic "VR" photographs, time lapse sequences, and 3D models as well as articles, drawings, and historic texts. It is a comprehensive resource for exploring the observatories in depth. A "VR tour" of the Jaipur Observatory, and current information about the project can be found by following the links below."

Check it out!

Melissa.