Week #10 The Dark Side

Come on over to the Dark Side...It'll be a Hoot!
Actually being hit by maleware is no fun. A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless and is banned from EVER touching my computer again) went to a bogus site. A blizzard of popups hit the screen and malware attacked my computer.

IF this should ever happen to you, IMMEDIATELY yank the ethernet plug from your modem if you are hardwired. If you are running wireless, disconnect the connection - FAST! This will stop more damaging software from downloading and you can then start the lengthy clean up process.

Unfortunately, I was not home at the time. When I did get home my screen still had popups running rampant and so was the malware. Really loooong story short. I have new spyware. After many days of clean up and repair, damage has been so extensive to windows that I'm going to have to rescue my files, reformat my hard drive, and start over. Nuf said!

Week #9 Lifelong Learning

If you are not learning and growing you are stagnating and die-ing.
I am a firm believer in learning throughout your life either formally or just for your own pleasure and knowledge. Learning is enriching. It keeps your mind functioning and making new paths. Keep old-timers at bay - learn something new every day, no matter how small.

Many useful links here. eCollege may be the way to my MLS! I'm all over the Wikiversity too. The others are below - again STRICTLY my opinion.

• LifeHacker is right up my alley.
• Positivity Blog - ehh ok.
• Business Balls - might have some use for this.
• Berklee Music Lessons - YES! just what I've needed.
• Nikon Photo School - not for me.
• Cnet Digital Home DIY -might have some use to me.
• Instructables - definitely a keeper. Lots of interesting how to's here.
• eHow - similar to How Stuff Works
• Expert Village - might have some use to me. Video is good.
• Extropia - Definitely usful to a techy like me!
• How Stuff Works - been using it for years! Great site!
• 5 Minute Lifopedia - Not sure, kind of amaturish, but might have some useful posts.

Week #8 Library 2.0

I am surprised you did not mention the library's Texting programs, alerts and questions like Qline. This is very 2.o! Interactive information - that's what it's all about right?

• Downloadable ebooks
• Online Tumblebooks
• Downloadable TV shows
• Online account access
• Online database access
• Online searchable catalogue
• Virtual classes
• Opinion Surveys
• But WAIT - There's More!!

OCLS has done a great job in keeping up with the technology curve. As a Techy I'm impressed, and that's saying something.

BTW - Can't wait to create and order a book from Flickr or Shutterfly for that impossible person on my Xmas list. Flickr has a downloadable software (Blurb Booksmart) that you can have full editing capabilities, Fantastic!

Week #7 Web 2.0 continues...

OK, taking the sites from the top down:
(Strictly my opinion.)

• Farecast, Love it-Love to travel. Searches other travel sites (orbitz, expedia, etc.) and compares them. Much like Dogpile searches 12 other search engines for info.
• Kayak, used it before. They have improved it. It's much better now. Equivalent to Farecast.
• Rentometer, no value for me. Good if you want to find cheaper rent or see if you're over Paying.
• Zillow, Great real estate site and easier than most of the actual realty sites.
• The 61, will be hiiting this more at home for music.
• Pan Images, no real value. Basicly searching google and flickr. I can do that myself.
• Upcoming, events from the grand to the minor.
• OCLS texting, it costs me extra to text. won't be using this.
• Im Cooked, Interesting, but I'd rather have the recipe. Good if you need the technique or have no clue on how to's.
• Big Brother - Utube, ok

Week #6 R&R

:) me, taking a break

Week #5 Change = Adapt or Die

(I love Darwin!)
I think the USB bracelet is awesome and a great marketing tool, not to mention ideally convenient portability! Movie magnates are finally getting wise offering downloadable movies. Look at huge Net Flix among others. It won't stop pirating, but it will help. As the technology develops it will also be the wise organization that stays on top of that cutting edge and offers inovative ways of using it/IT.

Darwin aside, the old business addage says - the company that is not growing or is stagnate is, or will begin soon, to die.

Week #4 Open Source is IT! (Pun intended)

I have been watching the Open Source Code/ Freeware/ Shareware wave for more than 10 years!

Here is acouple sites about CopyLeft rules, implementation, and use. CopyLeft seeks to KEEP open sourceware - open - and prevent anyone from locking it in.
http://www.copyleft.com/
http://www.copyleft.no/
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/ GNU = Lesser General Public License

Open source code and "copyleft" vs. copyright is the natural solution for software. Freeware and Shareware have been around for a loooong time. I expect it to expand exponentially from here on, especially with successes such as Linux OS, "OpenOffice" by Sun Microsystems, and many other large and small programs.

With the increase in masses of information, music, movies, pictures, art work, ad infinte item, it is going to be more and more difficult to "lock down" all those forms of creativity. It is natural for all these areas to follow the the freeware/shareware/pay-per-use concept including books, and music. Witness http://www.pagebypage.com/ and http://www.gutenberg.com/ and sites that let you buy a song for 99 cents. Watch it grow!