23 Things, #7: Write a blog about anything technology-related, you say? Why, sure!
Actually, this one is quite easy for me to decide on. As a fan of Joss Whedon (creator of the TV shows "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," and "Firefly" (and its spin-off movie, "Serenity") and occasional comic book writer, I was made aware of (although I don't quite remember how) his recent Internet project, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." It's a project borne of the Writers' Guild strike last TV season, when many TV creators had some time on their hands...when they weren't picketing, that is.
Whedon put up his own cashola to finance "Dr. Horrible," a three-part series that began streaming for free last week at the Dr. Horrible website. The free viewing has since expired, and it's now available exclusively on iTunes. Eventually, it will stop being available there, as well, in anticipation of a DVD release. It's all part of a larger marketing plan by Whedon, and it poses some interesting questions about the future of Web content. There are several links to articles and reactions on the Dr. Horrible site, but this one seems to take not only a "here's what it is" approach, but also looks at "here's what it could mean." Having taken part in creating original Web content before, when I co-created a pop culture podcast, the PopCast, when I worked at The Herald, I find it interesting to see what the future could hold for these creative endeavors.
Oh, and what exactly is "Dr. Horrible" about, you might ask? Well, rather than tell you, I'd encourage you to head to the Dr. Horrible site to find out. But to put it briefly, it's about love, loss, and supervillains. Starring Neil Patrick Harris. And it's a musical. Check it out!
Another week, another batch of exercises as I explore Al Gore's Interweb. In this installment of the 23 Things, I'm still exploring Flickr. Instead of just perusing the images, though, this time I've been instructed to look at some of the mashups and third-party apps available. I found a few that were sort of interesting - for example, this Trading Card Maker. That was pretty easy to find, since it was an example used in the 23 Things blog.
But it didn't take me long to find this gem: Bubblr. Take a look, and you'll see why it would appeal to me, given my love of comic books. You can search photos by tag and/or user name, then add speech and thought balloons to them. As an added bonus, given my additional love of snark and sarcasm, I found it quite easy to start adding my own biting touches to photos. For example: Laser Tag is Awesome. Not the greatest, I'll admit, but it's just an example. Plus, that's just one panel...you can string photos together to make whole comic strips out of them.
Sadly, my search for photos tagged "Jason Wheatley" turned up empty. So, no funny comic strips centered around me for now, I'm afraid.
Another find on my "Charlotte, NC" Flickr search. Just thought it was pretty wicked. That is all.
More of the 23 Things! Next up, Flickr. Now, I'm familiar with Flickr - I know people who post on it, and I've browsed through friends' albums on there before. I had not, however, set up my own account (at least, I don't remember having done it...wouldn't be the first time I've signed up at a website and forgotten about my account) and linked it to a blog.
Part of the Flickr "assignment" was to poke around and find an interesting image and blog about it. In a less-than-creative search, I typed in "Charlotte, NC" and came up with the image to the right. It's the Charlotte skyline, with the Bank of America building and Hearst Tower featured most prominently, and Bobcats Arena to the left. I think the colors and the shadows make this photo sharp and eye-catching. Obviously, the photo has been manipulated, and the photographer says he used some filters and Photoshop to acheive his desired effects on his Flickr page.
But yep, that's my city, that's my home. And I work up there, too...the library building is just across the street from Hearst Tower. Whatever you do, though, please don't get jealous that you don't have cool photos of your city, too. Or you could just search Flickr, because maybe you do.
In Week One of the 23 Things program, there's an introductory presentation that discusses lifelong learning. (Although it should be noted that even though the program's broken down into weeks, since I'm here years after the formal program ended, I'm taking these things at my own pace...as in days, not weeks.) Part of that discussion involves "7½ lifelong learning habits." They include:
Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning
Habit 3: View problems as challenges
Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox
Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage
Habit 7: Teach/mentor others
Habit 7½: Play
One of the first assignments of the program is setting up a blog and publishing a couple of entries, one of which explains which of the habits I find easiest and which I find hardest. To me, the easiest habit would have to be Habit 7½, "Play." I mean, seriously...who doesn't say that the easiest thing to do is have fun? But I figured that was the pretty obvious answer, so I picked a backup answer. Next easiest would be Habit 6, "Using technology to your advantage." I'd consider myself a fairly tech-savvy guy. Even if I don't immediately embrace all the up-to-the-minute technologies, I at least know about them. When I do take the plunge on something, you can be that I'll be well-informed. When it comes to learning new programs, I'll take the time to teach myself how to use them, if need be. And if there's some sort of gadget or program that will make my life easier, I'm all for it. I'm sort of like electricity in that regard - I take the path of least resistance.
Which brings me to which habit I find the hardest. That would be Habit 3, "View problems as challenges." When I'm working on something and a problem comes up, I tend to think, "Great, what now?" Very glass half-empty. Guess it's like that "path of least resistance" thing. When I'm working on something, I'd like for it to go smoothly and as planned. Of course, life isn't like that. Don't misunderstand - it's not that I can't deal with problems as they come. I've learned a lot of things by being forced to handle things I wasn't expecting or using new tools or techniques to get something done. I just do tend to view problems as, well, problems. Obstacles to be overcome.
Come to think of it, that's what challenges are...obstacles to be overcome. So maybe my view's not too far off, after all. But I'm guessing the "lifelong learner" shouldn't be quite so pessimistic about it. See, I'm learning already.
Welcome to the first edition of a new blog for Jason Wheatley! (That's me, by the way...the handsome devil whose picture you see off to the side.) This isn't my first blog, but this one is geared less toward my social life, pop culture goings-on, or just general goings-on in my life (like my other Blogger, MySpace, and Heraldonline blogs), and more toward my new job as a Public Information Specialist at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County.
Specifically, one of the programs PLCMC used a few years ago to introduce employees to what is known as "Web 2.0" tools is something called "23 Things." It's a series of blog entries that, as you follow along, introduces someone to, you guessed it, 23 things that can make someone Web 2.0-savvy. Since I'm the new kid on the block (although I refuse to sing "Hangin' Tough," but I might do "Please Don't Go, Girl" if I'm in a good mood), it's my turn to take a stab at the 23 Things.
So, come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination. In other, less Gene Wilder-esque words, should you keep reading this blog, you'll follow me as I learn more about all the crazy stuff available on the Internet. Some stuff will be old hat, like blogs, but I know there are tools out there that I haven't yet found a need for in my personal or previous professional lives and therefore know little or nothing about. I'll be updating this blog with my progress - that's part of the whole deal. And I promise some of them will be shorter than this "short introductory entry." What can I tell you, I'm a wordy kind of guy. Enjoy!
