From the Inside Out

Saturday was a fun and interesting class. I enjoyed looking at all the of the different parts that make up the computer. I see most of the outside stuff all the time, but I don't really break apart the computer and examine the insides. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. Going in I felt pretty confident on most of the parts especially the stuff on the outside, but the part that had me stressing out was whether it was input, output, etc... I knew where it fell in the chapters, but there were some that could be more than one. I do not know how we did on that part, but I feel we did well on the rest. I don't think I will miss a question on the system unit again though.

After Saturday's class I shut down for awhile. I have been working at Antioch High School with Stephanie and Stephanie and then doing some "me" things. I need to really buckle down tonight and tomorrow and finish up some things before our next class. I have always been a procrastinator, so hopefully it won't stress me out too bad. I tend to work well under pressure. I guess we'll see if that is still the case.

HTML = Help the mindless librarian

Wow! I thought I was going to be a permanent fixture at the downtown library before the second half of class Saturday. While we were going over all of the HTML language and creating the first web page all I could think of was that it would take me till next July to create a web page. I knew that there were other ways, but I was thinking we were going to have to do it by writing all the language. I kept thinking this is Technology I right? I was very relieved after lunch when we got to use Word. My web page is coming along, but as I looked at it today it looks very cheap and cheesy. I may have to scrap my pictures and keep looking. I do have some photographs that I think could work, but I will have to go out to school and scan them onto my flashdrive or take them to a kiosk and edit them. I don't even know if I can use actual photos without messing up what I have already done. AGHHH!! It will all work out I'm sure. I need to spend tomorrow at the library working on my mini-bibliography and finding some websites to use with my web page. I could work from home, but I find I'm less distracted and more motivated at the library.

Working Away

I am very proud of myself so far. If you look in the dictionary under the word procrastinator, you will see a picture of me next to the definition. I have always been a last minute Joe. I still have two days till class and I think I am done with my weekly assignments. I have read and posted about the Washington Post article, I have done my weekly e-scan and responded, and I am now doing my blog. I need to reread about the web pages though because I am totally confused. I read it late, so maybe if I read it during the daylight hours it will make more sense to me. I also have looked at some of my other assignments so I do not get too far behind. My mom would faint if she knew I was ahead of the game. I have many days planned for my practicum hours so I may soon get behind.

I am looking forward to class this weekend. I enjoyed working with Excel and creating the gradebook. I wish there was more time to study the program and do other types of calculations and projects. I know that my former principal used it frequently to create charts and keep track of the progress students were making with their yearly testing. Our new principal is not as data driven as my former principal, so I am having to do my own charts and tracking. I know Excel would be great for helping me do this. I may need to take a class specifically on Excel once the program is over. I assume from the reading that we are going to start working on our web pages this weekend. As much as this scares me, I am excited about seeing how to create one. We use Sharepoint in Williamson County, and I haven't really had the time to play around and become comfortable with it yet. I hope with this class, I will have the courage to go in and create a new and wonderful web page for my upcoming parents and students.

Response to Unready For This Attack Article

Wow! This article really makes you stop to think about the threat that is still out there. Before September 11, 2001, I never really thought too much about terrorism. I had heard stories of how there were drills in case the nuclear bomb hit, but never really thought that was a possible threat today with all of our intelligence and weapons. I can not wrap my mind around how easy the article made it sound to purchase a scud missile and detonate it over the United States, or any country for that matter. To think that Electrical impulses could wipe out our transformers and basically paralyze us for months or years is frightening.

I really stopped and thought about how much I use technology and electricity in my life. This past Saturday, there was a small storm in La Vergne and my power went out. It was late, I was up texting a friend, so I just laughed and continued on with what I was doing. My friend unfortunately was locked out of her house because her kids had the house keys and her garage door wouldn't open. She had church and work the next day so she was freaking out. She came over we set our alarms on our cell phones and went to bed. Without transformers and power though, we would not have even been able to set our cell phone alarms. My parents were in Missouri two winters ago when there was a huge ice storm and they had no power for ten days. They made it to the store to buy the last of the batteries and used them for their battery powered radio and TV to keep up on weather and conditions. They had to eat what was in the refrigerator and burned wood to stay warm. It was scary for me to think of my parents without food, heat, or a way to communicate. They only had cell phones and cordless phones. They really needed to conserve their supplies. Ten days seemed like an eternity to them and to me. I can not even imagine months or years.

As a librarian, I have valuable information for my patrons. Libraries have some of the references and books to help people study the ways of other cultures and the life and times of the 1800's. We are aware of this threat and we can do some things to prepare now. Right now we have Internet access and the use of our catalogs, but if we wait we could be without both. If we do not prepare, we would still have the ability to gather our sources and help educate our patrons. It would take time to adjust to such a change, but once the initial panic was over we could learn to survive.