Book nerds, unite!

This week on our Learn 2.0 adventure, we travelled the internet seas to see the various library and book applications available. I already have a Library Thing account, but I don't use it too often. However, Shelfari seems better designed, so I'm torn.

Some of the applications we were asked to explore seemed like too much micromanaging. In other words, it seemed like a lot of work to catalogue everything on Guru Library. Wouldn't you rather just read more books rather than spend time cataloguing everything? I guess it would be handy if, say, you have uberrare copies of books or DVDs, or if you just really, really, really like to keep track of every possible thing you own.

But I don't have time for it. I'm too busy getting new stuff, trading in old stuff and generally using my stuff to keep track of everything.

Something interesting and book-related that wasn't mentioned on this list from OCLS Learn 2.0: Book Crossings. This website is part book-giving, part scavanger hunt where people log in books they own that they want to pass on, then leave them somewhere, then say where they left it online for others to go find it. Care to do a bit of hunting in Orlando?

In other news, I'm up to six recipes on my Open Source Food account, including the super-duper tasty treat, Glazed Orange Spice Cake. It's good like nobody's business.

Welcome, new obsession

Now that I've graduated (although I'm still waiting to receive my degree, ahem), I have a bit more time to putter around and get into things that I originally couldn't do. I was pretty distracted from my schoolwork at times because, by golly, I just had to make a batch of banana muffins or a gang of cookies.

Now, I can be distracted all I want, and there's a website out there that's encouraging my baking predilection: Open Source Food. It's a website where you can upload photos and recipes of your favourite tried-and-true masterpieces and tummy-fillers, browse other recipes from other members, create menus and rate recipes. Not only is it super-functional and fun, but it meets Hao's approval for site design. And that's saying a lot.

I have three recipes up, and be on the lookout for more. I made what I've now called my "Bachelorette Pasta Bake" last night for dinner, and wouldn't let anyone touch it until I had some photos on a borrowed digicam. I can see it now:

Someone: "Can we eat it yet?"
Me: "No, not yet. I have to get a picture for the website."
*click*
Someone: "Okay, now can we eat?"
Me: "Wait, I need better lighting. Maybe I should put a scoop of ice cream next to it."

It would be funny if this scenario hadn't already played itself out. Twice.

My username is my first name: doreen. You'll see the little recipe image slideshow on this blog as well. If that doesn't tempt you, what will?

Web 2.0: Menschenseele in Maschine

Earlier today, my fellow group members and I did this week's OCLS Learn 2.0 together. Fanya, Rita and I watched the Web 2.0 video, and I couldn't help noting the websites that were briefly featured, as they were websites dealing with anthropology. I've just completed my studies for a Bachelor's in Anthropology at Rollins College, so I was curious about the concept of a "digital ethnography" of YouTube, and fascinated with the possibilities of how humanity is creating a new international culture that is internet-based.

Culture 2.0, if you will.

I could continue to muse, theorise and get all po-mo, but instead, I'll talk about the presence of OCLS on MySpace and YouTube. I had known that the Library has been putting up videos and using a MySpace profile, but I hadn't gone online to see the work that's been done to reach out to the online community. I'm pretty impressed, especially at the 171 MySpace friends the Library has. Our group read some of the comments, and it's really intriguing to see the very positive comments the Library's gotten on MySpace from teens.

The other part of the exercise entailed going on to SEOmoz's website and exploring a few websites that gained their Web 2.0 awards. I was already familiar with Pandora, and it truly deserves accolades and more. It's a great way to find out about new music you might like, but not think to look for. We also looked at the website for PEERtrainer, which is a nice way to find like-minded individuals who are trying to live healthier lives, like the one who started the group 20 somethings who need to put down the martini and pick up the weights. Although I personally am normally at the other end of the spectrum, being a purveyor of baked goods, I think a website like this would really help those who need a little bit of motivation to be more active and to eat better. Our group also took a gander at Farecast.com, which is going to definitely get used when I take a trip this year to Seattle. It's another way to find cheap airfare online for domestic flights. They predict the fares and allow you to book online, and they provide refunds if the fares they predict are over the ticket price. The website also tells you when you should wait to buy tickets, and when you should buy now. Here's an example of low airfares coming out of Orlando just to give you an idea.

I also wanted to mention a website that was on the list of SEOmoz's: Etsy. I shop online through Etsy all the time, and I love the idea of supporting crafters and artists who work from home or a small studio, making unique clothes and items that really stand out. Some of my favourite Etsy shops include RunzwithScissors, the little stitch, Katrina Kaye, Kitty Empire, AhPeele and Run Amok. The shops are located all over; recently I ordered a few gifts on Etsy from an online shop all the way in Shanghai.

Okay, I got this through my feed from Fark.com from their "sappy" section: Students raise money for beloved elderly janitor's dream. I confess to getting a little misty after reading this story.

-doreen