Okay, I am truly not sure how to answer this…

I have helped many in the past use some of these resources including staff, friends and family. My family and friends I have introduced them to Flickr and shown them how to get set up, adding photos, adding keyword tags, creating a set and other features from within the site. A few of the patrons who have come into the library I have shown them Google Docs and Spreadsheets. I wish I would have shown more, but one thing I notice is that sometimes we forget that we could have  shown someone a great resource until they have already left. Various staffmembers  I have introduced or taught them how to use various Web 2.0 resources including blogs, Flickr, image generators and Bloglines. Various other tools or resources I have learned about I have even shared with staff. I have noticed that at times while moving through the 23 Things I have shared what I learned with other staffmembers.

It is good to teach others, to share what you know or have learned. You empower those around you with the knowledge you give them. Besides that you help build relationships with the people around you by being open to help, learn, teach and understand the needs and interests of the people you come across. By teaching someone something you have learned you potentially open doorways of new thoughts, ideas or paths for that person. I highly encourage everyone to share their knowledge and their expertise with someone even if it is one person. We each hold the potential of enriching the lives of others through a very simple exchange of information.

Okay, I hope I didn’t babble too much on this one or get too preachy or sound like a fortune cookie…

Ahh, one last one….

Okay, I’m ready to cross the finish line. No more 23 things. So, until the next post, see ya!

Came across an interesting site this weekend. It is the site for an artist, Hasan Elahi,  who the Feds wrongly assumed might be a terrorist. The guy had the brilliant idea of putting his whole life online. It is crazy, but pretty cool  He has a GPS device that constantly shows on his website where he currently is. He has a list of all of his purchases including where and the date. There are endless photos of places where he has gone including pictures of what he has eaten. Talk about courage. Completely exposing your life to the whole world. On the plus side, he hasn’t gone to jail since and he has good evidence about what he has been up to. Interestingly according to an interview I read his server shows hits from the Defense Department, so I guess the government is still watching him good thing he is living in the open. For the ultimate in living a life of transparency check out his website, trackingtransience.net.

I thought of adding this from another blog I use to have a year ago. It is about my favorite cartoonist, Bill Watterson and his run on Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin and Hobbes is by far my favorite comic strip and in my opinion was one of the best strips ever published.

There is a certain magic in that strip. Just reading a litte can make me think, laugh or just chase the blues away. You see whenever I really feel bad inside reading a little Calvin and Hobbes always brightens my day and gets me back into motion. If I am down, having the blues, nervous about something, upset or even afraid Calvin and Hobbes is the one thing that can really change my entire mood and outlook. It can cheer me up and get me to move on to whatever I need to face.

I really believe that Bill Watterson is one of the most brilliant cartoonists of all time. His run on that strip was remarkable, full of humor, sight gags, observations of daily life, philosophical musings and delvings into the world of a little boy full of imagination, mischievousness and possessed of an intelligent, independent streak. His strip could often operate on two levels. One level that even the average kid could laugh at, while at another level it could elicit thought in even the most learned adult. This allowed the strip to appeal to a diverse array of people. As a kid, Bill Watterson was always surprising me each time I sat down to read Calvin and Hobbes.

There was so much in that strip that I love. I love his work with the various snowmen Calvin would create and how these were often used to illustrate some grander point or observation. I loved the close camaraderie and love Calvin holds towards his imaginary tiger friend Hobbes. I love the frustration and love Calvin’s mom shows towards her son as she puts up with one problem after another from him. When he drifts off and daydreams in class it reminds me of myself in elementary school, how I would often out of boredom drift off into daydreams while the teacher continued with one more lesson. I love the skewed, dysfunctional crush between Calvin and Susie.

I could go and on, I’m sure, about how wonderful I think that strip is, but, hey, maybe if you get a chance you could pick up one of the numerous collections of the series run and take a look for yourself. There is a wonderful three volume compilation of the entire strip that I highly recommend, but I know it may be a bit pricey for some. No fear, there are plenty of other smaller collections of the strip and they are all wonderful.