cloudy competition

This is going to be short but important.

I had four winners for the Cloudy Competition I did here at the LT Library.

They were all girls, young ladies.

My winners were:

One teenager and three girls ages 12 and under.

I'm not going to name names because I want to be discreet. But I do want to say thank-you for participating and spending a few minutes on something that won you a pretty good prize.

I went out and bought four, $20 gift certificates to Borders so they could pick out whatever they wanted. I don't think they expected this prize, but it was good for them. We all need a little reward sometimes.

But one thing they may not realize yet. The reward for this competition will follow you through your studies and your life. It's worth way more than a gift card.

So, someday, when the LT library opens again. Maybe we'll do something else. I've already had some suggestions.

Or, who knows, we could always do it through the blog.

-a highly wired lady

a request

A young lady who has volunteered for our library in the past came in to say hi yesterday. I was happy to see her. I knew that she had been absent because of her load with school. I wish I had have been that dedicated to my school work when I was in high school. Actually, I wish I would have run x-country. That doesn't matter anymore.

She had a suggestion for me. A suggestion to write about a controversial topic. And I was like... what? Controversial topics are everywhere. But she had a hard time giving me an answer. So I told her to let me think about it and maybe something would pop up.

Music, the stuff that we listen to, the stuff that makes us dance (if you do that sort of thing, I do). Who doesn't like music and who doesn't have a preference for specific types of music?

Or, maybe you are someone who plays an instrument. I don't play an instrument, but I always wanted to learn how to play the drums and spin and scratch turntables. Now, I feel too old to play with turntables but maybe it will happen.

Any two people can get into a conversation about music. So... I thought it would be a good topic to bring up in regards to being controversial.

Where do I begin? I guess I can just tell you about my story and what I think and then if you want to argue or point something out, put it out there. Like what's your story?

I have been surrounded by music all my life. I used to watch my dad lay down beside his record player and listen to music. It was the way he relaxed and now I do the same thing.

Then, it was my older sisters who had a huge impact. Especially my oldest sister. She used to be into rap when it first started coming up and out... you probably don't know about these guys but they called themselves Run DMC. I can still remember some of those songs even though I was probably in kindergarten or first grade when she used to play it full blast in her Volkswagon bug. And yes, it was on a tape player. I used to get so mad when she played it that loud and now I do the same thing. Ha, ha, ha. There were other artists of that sort but I can't remember them off the top of my head right now.

My mom used to flip out that she would play "that kind of music", especially with younger siblings around. It just wasn't acceptable music, she would say. So what is acceptable music? Some of the best musicians were not considered "acceptable" when they came up.

I'll move on. Well "that sort" of music has stuck with me; the "type" that my sister played.

As I got older I remember listening to rap music and then it was eventually called hip hop. Okay, now I'm getting controversial.

I remember really getting into Cypress Hill, Naughty by Nature, Paperboy, Pharcyde, De La Soul, and then some of the R&B that went along with it. My parents hated it. They would get so mad that there was swearing in the music and sometimes offensive lyrics. But it never stopped me.

In high school, I found friends that listened to the same music and it was like I fell into this group of people; most of them were guys. We exchanged music and that's how I began to find underground hip-hop, that was when all those lyrics began to become poetry and the beats blew the speakers out. This is also around the same time that I took a creative writing class and began to learn how to rhyme myself or just write stuff down that I saw.

I never went to many parties, but when I did and I got to be the DJ, it was on. I swear, no lying. It was just an ironic thing because "girls" did not know or listen to this music. And so there was shock in many girls' faces that I played it. I got a lot of you know what from girls in high school. And, one reason was because I was different that way. Yeah, I listened to the radio, but then I had this whole other side that was like... "she's weird." All because of music.

A lot of the lyrics were stories, and very true ones. You just had to listen. I have had friends tell me that they liked this or that but then they said they never listened to the words. And I was like... what dude?

Or, even better, I used to dance classical ballet and remember that the beat of the music told me when to do what and one time I had a girlfriend that said... how do you know how to do that at that time. And I said... "can't you hear it?" And she looked at me like I was crazy. Umm yeah. Been called that a few times.

In college, I still listened to the same music and I was still dancing classical ballet (hmmm, that's an odd thing.) I remember it was like an extension from high school. I learned Wu-Tang Clan lyrics, Mos Def, Outkast way way way before they ever hit the scene like ten years later, Common, way way way before he had a middle-age crisis with the last album he put out. There was Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, Talib Kwali, Gangstarr, Das-EFX, Redman (saw him in concert, like the best concert ever.) And how could I ever forget Tribe Called Quest and Souls of Mischief. Not too long ago I bought a Del the Funky Homosapien album. You can laugh, but I couldn't believe that he was still at it. And I couldn't believe I bought it. But I have to admit, half of those lyrics I could so relate to.

There's too many awesome artists to name. I'm thinking of my CD collection (yes, I have one) and I can't even think of all the those CD's I have, that trashy, gangster music, as my mother and other people would say. But I'm not into gangster music, I never was.

I'm like... don't hate the game if you can't hear the rules.

My dad later admitted to me that he liked some of the music I played. He liked the beats, he just would never admit it. And once in awhile I would watch him dance around and I thought he was making fun of me but then I realized that he liked it.

I will admit, I really dislike where the mainstream hip-hop has gone... it's like do you have anything really interesting to say? And a lot of the artists sound the same. They use the auto-tron. A specific device that changes your voice when you sing into it; a device that was created to hear specific frequencies of animal sounds in the ocean. It's like, if you can't sing and you can't rhyme then what are you doing? Who signed you?

I'm 30-years-old and I still blow my ears out with this stuff sometimes. Now, just because I've

written an essay all about my b-boy hip-hop love doesn't mean that I don't feign for other genres. I love indie/folk, some r&b, crazy instrumental, Sublime, MGMT, old jazz like Etta James and Bo Didley, and I have even rocked a Miley Cyrus song. I'm a music junkie. I love making CD's for my friends and I love getting them from them. It's like one of the best gifts.

I'm sure that everyone has their opinion and favorites and stuff that they cannot handle.

But if I have to say one more thing... it's about selling out. The Black-Eyed Peas, who have taken over during the past five or more years... shoot, I remember when I graduated from high school and they put out their first album... sans Fergie. The song that I most remember is called "Falling Up".

I'll never forget some of their lyrics in this song and how they represent themselves now, look below...

"I see you try to diss our function by stating that we can't rap,

is it 'cause we don't wear Tommy Hilfiger or baseball caps,

We don't use dollars to represent,

We just use our inner sense and talent,

If you try to dis the Peas you'll get handled by Apple Beavy,

Alligator, numero uno creator,

Black Eyed Peas be more than a playa,

Don't gotta represent no set just so I could get some respect,

Ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, coooool,

A lot of feelings so I can get through,

Because the way that you did it I think you done corrupted the whole

Hip-hop sound so now I gotta follow up."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puQF3w9ZzX8&feature=PlayList&p=92A65138C681CA22&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

The video to this song is old so I couldn't find it on Youtube, but I did find the song. And if you want to hear how they have changed, listen. Remember, this was before Fergie.

I gotta go, this is too long.

But before I do... if you would like to hear a song that is old school, underground hip-hop that talks about selling out... take a look at this old "Roots" video. Remember, you have to listen to the words. And there may be some offensive scenes, but I'm a librarian, I don't censor and if you truly hear the words you'll see that those scenes are a parody. "Never do what they do."

So this blog, or essay is a shout to Nicole... my volunteer. And, I have to say... your teacher who told you your creative writing blog is to racey needs to be checked. Sorry. Your opinion is way more valuable.

I was once a staff writer for a newspaper when I was 20 or so. I'll never forget an editor telling me that if you never write anything that doesn't stir someone, you are not writing well.

Never sell out.

-a Highly Wired Lady

Clouds in the Sky

Remember the "Cloudy Competition" I did here at the LT Library? If you don't remember or you want to learn more, look at the previous posts.
The competition ended on January 29th and I looked over the answers for those who participated the following day.

here were two age groups. The Young Adult/Teen and the Juvenile or those ages 12 and younger. Of the two age groups, I have to say that the Juvenile group did really well. In fact, I had a three-winner tie. So, now I'm trying to figure out how to split this prize for this age group.
I did have one winner for the Young Adult/Teen group.

There were a little over ten entries altogether which is more than I expected. Everyone did well but there was something lacking. There was one rule: tell me where you found your answers. That disqualified a lot of good entries. I hated to do that but that was a rule and I don't really like rules but I had to follow this one because it is so important that when you find an answer to something or you discover new information, you need to be able to retrieve it or tell someone else where you found it.
This is a lame example but think of a situation where you and a friend are talking about something you learned and you're just passing it along. They are probably going to ask you where you heard that from or found that answer. If you don't know, or if you're not sure... well would you trust them. Think of it as gossip. Someone says this, someone says that, the chain moves on and the next thing you know... what was passed along is maybe 5% of the truth. That is why writers and researchers cite or create a bibliography of their sources (where they found their information.) Otherwise, it's like... who are you to say that and why should I believe you?
Maybe now you see why it is a little more important. Or maybe not.

I'll announce the winners on the blog after I have called them and picked out the prizes. I'm sort of struggling with this (the prize part.)

I had a friend that used to always say "Where is your scientific proof?" I'll never forget this.

-a highly wired lady

Wii's upcoming competition--Natal

When one new shiny piece of technology comes around, then there is always someone or some creators around the corner that are getting ready to pounce on it and create a newer and shinier piece, right. It's just the way it is.
I promised I would write about this but it's taken me awhile, longer than I hoped, to sit down and write it.
We all know about Wii and the remote sensor controllers they created. The best example is when playing Wii sports. The controller is not attached to the console and you're moving and working with the buttons on the controller at the same time.
Well, Xbox 360 (Microsoft), is definitely giving the Wii a run for it's technology.
Natal basically takes away the controller. So who is the controller? You are. Your body is the controller. Players will have the ability to manipulate on-screen characters via natural body movements. Think of the computer scientists and others that studied the actions of the body in order to create the sensors that this new game-playing technology uses.
Natal consists of a depth sensor that uses infrared signals to create a digital 3-D model of a player's body as it moves, a video camera that can pick fine details such as facial expressions and a microphone that can identify and locate individual voices.
Natal will be released towards the very end of 2010. Gee... I wonder how much it will cost.
I found this information in an article I read in this magazine called "the Scientific American".
If you want to see a short video clip of how Natal was designed and how it is intended to work, go to the following website http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=microsoft-project-natal
The name of the article: "Binary Body Double: Microsoft reveals the science behind project Natal for Xbox 360"

P.S. Don't ever get lazy with technology. You will be sorry. Just a heads up.

-a highly wired lady

Presenting, Interface, User-friendly

I've been thinking about this topic for awhile but just haven't sat down and wrote about it. And right now, I'm having a hard time explaining this... it's just one of those afternoons.

So... here we go. Computers. We all use them, hopefully. I'm not going to talk about the processing or the hard drives or how fast or slow or this or that... I'm going to talk a little about design.

Wether we realize it or not, computers drive our society. They are in every facet of our lives. I think something that bugs me is when someone says... "I don't like or use computers." Okay, so they don't like them but they can't ever say that they don't use them or they don't affect their lives.
I'll give you one example: a cell-phone. Cell phones today are micro-computers. So if you can use a cell phone somewhat, than you can use a computer. If you can drive a car, you can use a computer. If you can use a calculator, you can use a computer. I know this sounds weird but even today's sewing machines that make your awesome clothes that you want so badly, are programmed by a computer.
Back to the cell-phone. The interface of your phone. This means the face of your phone, the screen of your phone. The design is based on touch. This design has exploded. It's fun, it's easy to use, it's visual.
Notice that before they existed with cell phones, they were at check-in kiosks at the airport, and many restaurants had their staff enter your orders into a touch-screen based interface.
I'm not positive about this, but I think this really grew in popularity with the iphone.
If you check out books at the library, I'm sure you have noticed the self-check machines. These have a touch-based interface. You use the machine by touching a screen, not a keyboard.

What does this have to do with libraries, and whatever?
Think about it. Wouldn't it be nice if someone came along and redid our computer catalogs. Making them more user friendly by adding a touch-based screen with more icons and less jargon and words to get mixed up with. To me, this makes sense. Especially for younger audiences who really have a hard time typing out or correctly spelling the title of a book. And really, nowadays, I think the computer catalog would be less offensive if it were familiar to people of the public, not just academics.

I'm not going to lie. I think the computer catalog needs to be improved in a creative manner. Otherwise, it's just confusing. They are confusing to me and I'm a librarian.
And, with every library, the catalog changes (they way it looks from the outside), it's interface, changes. Making a trip to the library more like a learning session of how to use the computer catalog to find a book or the information you need.

Why hasn't it happened? Has it? Where does it exist? What do you think? Or, do you even think about it?

When I read about the sensitivity of these touch-based screens, there is a lot to be said about improvement. Improving the sensors. But don't ask me. I'm just reading about something.

-a highly wired lady

My next post, if you pay attention, has to do with the XBox and how it's going to dominate by the end of this year with a design called natal.

clouds in the sky competition

I made sort of a dorky competition here at the library.

It's called "Clouds in the Sky"

This is how it works.

At the library, in the young adult area, there is a box with cloudy things written on it. Below the box are entry forms. On top of the box are the instructions.

They are as follows:

Name all the different types of clouds that can be found in the sky.

Rule (of course there has to be one, even though I don't like rules): In order for you answers to be valid you have to cite where you found your answers/information. Basically, you tell me what sources you used to find the answers.

There is a Bonus Point: Which clouds indicate rain or snow?

Prize? Yes, there is a prize involved. It's a surprise prize. I'm not telling you what it is. That's because I'm waiting to see what kind of answers you give and where you found your resources.

So, you really are competing for your prize. And, the prize is worth the answer.

Why do I do this? Someday you will know why. Don't ask those questions now because you wouldn't be able to live the answers.

-A Highly Wired Lady

Bada-bing "Bing"

Google has been the major search engine for I think most of us when we surf the net. However, have you ever heard of Bing http://www.bing.com/ ? This is a newer search engine. I like it. I like it a lot. I think it is a product of MSN, but I'm not sure. It's definitely trying to give Google a run for their monopoly.
So, you know how you can use Google Images to search for pictures... well Bing has this same option however, it is way way better. Here's the link to a search I did for snowflake images: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=snowflakes&form=QBIR&qs=n#
Why is this better than Google's version? As you look through the image results and find one you like, the next page will show you how many versions of that picture are available (obviously from different websites.) When I say versions, I mean the same pic but you get to find the pic that is as big or as small as you want. Making an image bigger or smaller has to do with resolution size; like 500 by 500 or whatever. Sometimes when you copy and paste an image from the web and you try manipulate it yourself, like make it bigger or smaller, the image becomes distorted. The option of allowing you to pick what resolution size you need is a pretty awesome feature.
Check it out if you feel like it. I'm always looking for images. And I don't like manipulating them because it distorts the image usually.
Also, once you have selected and image that you are interested in, look to the left side of the computer screen.
-a highly wired lady