Crafts and Hobbies #64 Zine!

I tried creating my own zine. It is harder than it looks. I have to admit that I messed up the page order when I put it together on the computer, but I was able to cut it and hand piece it together on other paper. Though that was a physical challenge I had to overcome, the worst was the nontangible decisions like what was I going to focus on. I decided that it would just be anything that interested me, including some of the short fiction and poems I've done, what I've been reading and the places I've been. But, the absolute hardest thing, is what do I call it????

I like the idea of zines in libraries. Being able to recognize local talent, and, yes, it takes talent to get a zine together, is a major plus for any library and writer. It opens the world up to students and other members of the community by allowing them to express their own experiences and opinions. I am looking forward to trying out a branch zine...maybe.

I do also see controversy in zines. I imagine that there would be some people who would be offended by some zines and some who would use their zine to hurt others. Zines could be a wondersul lesson in responsibility and ethics. There would also be issues of copyright and other legal issues that could arise.

Overall, though, I thik zines could be beneficial to libraries because they do encourage thinking and writing and expressing oneself which is something that is getting lost in today's easy-access, no thought information glut.

Crafts & Hobbies #62: Decoupage

I have actually decoupaged before and I was really nervous about it. It all began with a garage sale. My Aunt Janet, the garage sale queen, had recently found a small white table with a little bit of water damage on the corner. One edge had begun to layer and rise and thus warped the lines of the table. "That'll never sell," I thought. I had once picked up an apothecary end table that had had a little water damage on the top that I had camo'ed with a sponged layer of hunter green paint. I thought that I might be able to do the same thing with this table so I took it home with me. I bought some scrapbooking paper with those gaudy overblown pink shabby chic roses on it and a pink and white check ribbon about an inch and a quarter wide. I decoupaged the top of the table with the paper. (I don't mind saying that if you look really closely, you can see one spot where I had a little trouble. It was my first attempt after all.) I sprayed it with lacquer once the modgepodge dried so that it would be a little more protected. Finally, I hot glued the ribbon around the edge of the table to disguise the layered corner.

I like decoupage because you can apply it just about anything, with just about anything. I haven't found my next project yet, but I do have some modgepodge left over, so anything's still fair game.

Pot Luck #55: Getting the Most Out of Facebook

I like Facebook. I like being able to find my friends from high school. Even if I don't see them much, I enjoy seeing little bits of their lives. I found it easy to sign up and easy to find people I know. I wish more of my old friends were on Facebook. I have tried all sorts of applications from quizzes to trivia challenges to flair. I think I'll probably stick to Facebook better than Twitter.

My favorites applications are the trivia challenges and what 80s movies are you? Why, just because I love the silly results.

TXTING Pot Luck #56

I have sent texts before as responses to ones that I have received. Otherwise I haven't used them because it costs me money to send and receive on my phone. I don't believe in TXT lingo(It has created a whole generation who can't spell or punctuate to save their lives.) so I spell stuff out, just short.

The mere idea of trying to use my thumbs to send a message while I am also trying to steer my car blows my mind. But I am not surprised that there are people who try it. It is so easy to allow ourselves to be distracted thereby putting not only ourselves in danger but also those around us.

exercise 54

Books, Readers and Beyond: Exercise 54:  Social Networking Through Books

 

Exercise One

I am currently a member of the North Channel Book Club, which is an in-person book discussion group held at our county library branch on the fourth Wednesday of the month.  So far, it is the only experience that I have with a book club.  I enjoy the face-to-face discussions of the books that we read.  I am going to try out the online Teen Book Club this summer and plan to try out some more online book clubs.

Exercise Two

 

Since my library already has an active book club meeting here, I was thinking of starting a young adult book club.  I think it would be interesting to read and discuss the books that teens are reading these days.  I would like to have two versions of it: in person and bulletin board style available online.

 

As far as a book for the Book Club that meants now, I chose "the Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield.  (http://www.readinggroupguides.com/content/index.asp#)

 

For the teen club, I would like to start with "Shades of Simon Gray" by Joyce McDonald. (http://www.teenreads.com/guides/shades_of_simon_gray1.asp)

Exercise Three

The ratings for "The Thirteenth Tale" was similar on Shelfari and GoodReads.  Of course, the way that the ratings are presented are a little different, but overall similar.  There are good reviews and bad, and discussion.  I like the break down of information GoodReads provides. Shelfari shows the editions and whether or not "I should buy this." 

 

(But my favorite thing is the neverending literary quiz on goodreads.  It is soooooooo cool.)

exercise 54

Books, Readers and Beyond: Exercise 54:  Social Networking Through Books

 

Exercise One

I am currently a member of the North Channel Book Club, which is an in-person book discussion group held at our county library branch on the fourth Wednesday of the month.  So far, it is the only experience that I have with a book club.  I enjoy the face-to-face discussions of the books that we read.  I am going to try out the online Teen Book Club this summer and plan to try out some more online book clubs.

Exercise Two

 

Since my library already has an active book club meeting here, I was thinking of starting a young adult book club.  I think it would be interesting to read and discuss the books that teens are reading these days.  I would like to have two versions of it: in person and bulletin board style available online.

 

As far as a book for the Book Club that meants now, I chose "the Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield.  (http://www.readinggroupguides.com/content/index.asp#)

 

For the teen club, I would like to start with "Shades of Simon Gray" by Joyce McDonald. (http://www.teenreads.com/guides/shades_of_simon_gray1.asp)

Exercise Three

The ratings for "The Thirteenth Tale" was similar on Shelfari and GoodReads.  Of course, the way that the ratings are presented are a little different, but overall similar.  There are good reviews and bad, and discussion.  I like the break down of information GoodReads provides. Shelfari shows the editions and whether or not "I should buy this." 

 

(But my favorite thing is the neverending literary quiz on goodreads.  It is soooooooo cool.)

Books, Readers and Beyond #53 Finding Books Online

Exercise 1
WaldenBooks--yes- http://www.borders.com -A chain bookstore. Typical website, busy, cool "shelf" search. Colorful.
Family Christian Bookstore-yes- http://www.familychristian.com --A chain bookstore. Typical website, somewhat busy, easy to search for items.
Barnes and Noble-- yes- http://www.barnesandnoble.com -- A chain bookstore. Typical website. Busy, sectioned out, searchable.

Exercise 2

I chose Tamora Pierce's Woman who Rides Like A Man. It is available from Barnes and Noble's website (6.99 for a paperback, and 11.99 for a hardback) I found an audiobook version available at Hcpl.net


Exercise 3
I tried to download an eBook from the hcpl.net site, but it wanted me to download an Adobe edition. (I wound up just looking for an online edition of the book.) I found one copy of RObinson Crusoe at www.online.library.upenn.edu I chose one : HTML at Virginia. I have a hard time with reading materials on the computer screen. After a while my eyes are tired and I have trouble focusing on the screen. I find it also difficult to find a position where I am comfortable for long periods of time and I just can't shift around as easily while I am using my computer as I can with a printed book.

That's not to say that there aren't advatages to having a digital reader or eBook. The fact that you can store hundreds and thousands of books in a relatively small samout of space is a definite factor. Being able to access any book you have stored or can download to a portable device is wonderful. There are limited titles, however, though this won't be the case for long. Physical constraints are a minor drawback, as is the specialized software that may be called for with some formats. But the biggest concern for me, being in a part of the country where hurricanes can wipe out power for weeks, is that without electricity, you only have so long before you can't access your portable device.
Printed copies have their ups and downs too. Space and cost constraints can limit the storage and puchase of printed editions. Pages can tear, yellow or even burn. Printed copies are only as portable as what you can carry them in, so not as many can be carried at a time, thus limiting access to the titles you possess. There is something, though, to being able to turn the page, to go foward and back in the story that I prefer to reading online (where, yes, you can scroll up and down and back page.). I prefer to read where I am comfortable and sometimes that is too difficult when I have to consider my laptop. (I don't have one of those fancy readers.) I also like to read at the beach and the pool, so books have a definite advantage because I just can't bring myself to risk an expensive device to water or theft.
So while digitization has its benefits, I think I am going to stick to print.