Open Source is the jam

Regarding the Open Source Information lesson, I have been using some Open Source technology, notably Wikipedia and Mozilla Firefox (which ought to be installed in all staff computers, by the way), for years, and I'm a big proponent for all things collective and free. I really found the Imagine 2020 video interesting, especially the Shibuya University concept. The university has an English language page, which is good because my Japanese is only a notch above nonexistant. I intend to investigate more, because I am that type of dork who loves to learn, and Shibuya is the coolest spot on the planet.

On Yahoo! Answers, I asked,"What is the most popular cookie in the United States?" It turns out, I wasn't the only one interested in the cookie preferences of Americans, as someone else has already posed the question. The answers generally list "chocolate chip" or "Oreo," but there is no answer based on any sort of study or fieldwork, sadly. Then again, this is a difficult question, reliant on opinion. An easier question example would be "Where can I buy Meiji products online?" and for that, you have a set answer.

For the record, my favourite cookie probably is the Snickerdoodle, although I also love lemon cookies. And orange cookies. Probably any cookie with a whole lot of butter. I love butter.

Speaking of butter, in Answerbag, I asked, "How is butter better than margarine?" The results were interesting (to see one of the entries, click here), although there were some entries that didn't really deal with the question I had, like the Peanut butter vs Nutella discussion, which, still, wasn't totally irrelevant, as someone interested in butter may also be keen to know more about peanut butter. Or Nutella.

For the final website, Askville (misspelt in the original blog entry), I stuck with the topic of food, naturally, by posing the question,"What spices are often used in Indian cuisine?" Someone asked a reasonably similar question here, and here's a quote from one of the answers:

There’s no one combination of spices used by absolutely every Indian restaurant everywhere, but a lot of what you’re smelling is the combination of turmeric, cardamom, coriander, cumin, and fenugreek. Those are found in nearly every curry powder recipe.

Yes, these websites were rather helpful, although I don't know if I can break myself into using these sites as opposed to running to Wikipedia or Google for life's urgent questions... "What's Montreal like?" "Where can I find Top Pot doughnuts in Seattle?" "How many dollars equal a British pound?" "What the heck ever happened to that guy from The Wonder Years?"

Since joining OCLS over four years ago, I am now a frequent library user and often check out books of non-fiction and memoir, as well as documentary DVDs. I'm currently watching Around the World in 80 Treasures, which is informative, although somewhat laughable because the host is so quintessentially British, especially when he refers to objects as "my treasure!" with a British accent. Well, I think it's funny.

I don't think I've been urged to use information technology differently, given my current position in the library, but books are still a solid source of information, and at times just as arbitrary as the internet or television. If the library were to provide as many sources of information as possible (books, media, internet, classes, seminars, etc), I think it would be beneficial to the evolution of the library and what learning environments are.

As far as Googling myself, I came up with three relevant hits, but nothing that I think is too revealing about myself, aside from my fondness for Jens Lekman, which, in turn, could lead to someone finding about my musical preferences, and possibly what shows I'm keen on going to. Okay, so it's potentially creepy. I think I don't have to worry about creepy stalkers at the moment (normally my stalkers prefer vis-a-vis interaction), I'm probably going to go back and take my name out of a few things to be a bit of a blank slate when plugging in my name on the Googles.

At least until the words "super genius" can appear after my name.

Health and Wellness on the Web

Okay, so I don't have a problem with obiesety, but I would like to be a little bit more active, so I liked the Google Map Pedometer very much. I was able to calculate a few different routes in my neighbourhood for me to walk around once the weather gets a little less hot. Walking is something I'd love to do more of, but the oppressive heat and humidity of our state often leaves me running back indoors where the a/c is. When I was in Seattle last month, I took a great pleasure in walking around because the weather was cool enough for me to putter around without getting too hot, plus I was walking uphill. In fact, it seemed everywhere I wanted to go was uphill...

Other sites in this week's OCLS Learn 2.1 lesson didn't exactly hit the mark with me. I signed up for an account with NutritionData, and when I attempted to plug in my lunch in the search field, a homemade salad with cut pears, well, the listings weren't quite what I wanted. Instead of a plain salad with, you know, lettuce and a mix of other leaves (dandelion, arugula, etc), I wound up with listings from all kinds of fast food places with their salad listings. The only thing homemade that I was able to look for by putting in "salad" was a homemade potato salad. I tried to plug in my dinner last night, vegetable makhani (leftovers from an Indian restaurant), and no results were found.

Finally, I was able to find something with the entry "pear," after scrolling past all sorts of canned options and others I can't conceive ("canned with heavy syrup, sulfered and stewed with added sugar"). A raw pear, which I have in my salad for lunch today, does have a listing. Apparently it is on the tip of the green point on the colourful triangle (ooh!), and according to the website: "This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin C, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber." However, "[a] large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars."

I figured I'd do a search for something I know might not be super-good, so I looked up "scones." Unfortunately, they don't have a homemade option for scones; instead, it comes up as Food from Starbucks. Well, since I do make blueberry scones at home, and often for the cafe I bake for, I took a look at the Nutrition Facts for Starbucks' version. I wish there was an ingredients listing along with all this nutritional data, so that way I can further compare it with what I make, since I don't know if Starbucks and I use the same ingredients. Attempts to look on Starbucks.com for ingredient listings were futile, as the two locations I clicked on in the Orlando area gave me a notice that the nutritional information was unavailable for the two stores.

Bugger.

I don't know, I think perhaps my eating style might be too unconventional for NutritionData. It's good for folks who eat out more, but I often eat stuff that's either homemade or from Mom & Pop restaurants that don't have a spot in the NutritionData listing. Or stuff that is utterly sublime, but is often met with weird looks, like my vegetarian take on the Guberburger, a hamburger topped with peanut butter. Seriously, it's good; get a tomato-basil Gardenburger patty topped with peanut butter (non-hydrogenated), and add some basil leaves, crunchy bean sprouts, lettuce or spinach, and a squeeze of lime, and sandwich it between two parts of a Martin's potato roll bun, and you've got yourself something wicked tasty!

All in all, I'm not too worried about my diet, although I would like to increase my B-vitamin intake. Currently, I am taking B-12 supplements perscribed by my regular doctor because we found out earlier this year that I have a deficiency, which is common among vegetarians. That's my main nutritional concern at the moment. As far as my protein and iron levels go, I'm meeting or exceeding my daily quota for those.

Atlhough I would love to take some tai chi or bellydancing classes, I'm a bit on the broke side. Okay, more like I'm over on the broke side, and I'm probably going to be kickin' it there for a while. Oh well. As long as I can keep my B-vitamin levels in good standing, and if I can move to a place that isn't so hot so I can do some walking (or get an air-conditioned bubble suit to walk around in Orlando), I think I'll be in good health, barring any sort of bizarre disease or getting hit by a car or something.

The Cupcake Tins are a Bit Rusty

Not from a lack of baking, but from blogging on this particular blog. It took me a moment to figure out what e-mail account I used, then what my password was.

It was... a trial.

So here it is, Commander Cupcake back on active duty, ready to undertake the Learn 2.1 mission. Pip, pip.