Reading, Writing & Recreating

Rachel's Library & SCA stuff.

[myedol]

[im-simply-me]

I will never not reblog this. 

[lexingtoncherry]

And so the story goes…

[illumanu]

beginning of the 15th century (1403), French - Paris

Bibliothèque nationale de France

Français 598: De mulieribus claris by Giovanni Boccaccio

fol. 8r - Semiramis with her son

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84521932/f1.planchecontact.r=francais+598.langEN

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Lovely pink houppelande!

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 23 - The End!

I just completed my 23 Mobile Things and overall I am quite pleased with the apps I downloaded for this program. The best things I am taking away from it is some apps for websites & programs I have already been using on my computer. It's good to know & be reminded that there are apps for make it easy to take things like ELM, Quizlet & Spotify on the road!

I would participate again in a similar program. 

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 21 - Free For All - Relaxia

I use Relaxia to relax and to help me get to sleep - especially when I'm traveling. I ran across it with Apps Gone Free (WOOT!) although it is only $1.99 normally so not a big expense either. Relaxia plays natural sounds (rain, fire, whales, forest, etc) and you can mix & match them however you'd like.  It has a timer so you can set it & not worry about it playing all night long. I have been known to use this app when my hubby falls asleep before I do and he starts snoring, so this app is a marriage saver to boot! 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/relaxia-sleep-aid-relaxation/id725224246?mt=8

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 19 - Spotify

I just downloaded the Spotify app to my iPhone after using it on my computer for the last year or so.  I LOVE that it syncs the radio stations I've listened to without any additional work from me between the 2 devices. I also discovered some playlists I didn't know existed with the app since I've not done a whole lot of browsing on my desktop. This will definitely help me find new music & audio books too! 

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 18 - Quizlet

I love Quizlet! I've used it in the past online & I must admit that I LOVE that there is an app for it.  :)  My URL is http://quizlet.com/anplica if anyone is interested in finding out about the language of heraldry!

I can see using this tool for bibliographic instruction or other teaching moments in the library.  Maybe the Homework Helpers can have access to it for the students they help. Otherwise, using it to learn specific facts (like what rampant looks like) is great!

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 16 - Audio/SoundCloud

What a great resource for music & other sound recordings!  I just listened to a bit of Duran Duran's stream on SoundCloud. What a fun way for artists, musicians and others to connect to their fans!  DD has a slew of personal greetings where they wish their fans Happy Holidays or thank them for remembering their birthdays.  They also include interviews & other goodies!!  LOVE! I will definitely be keeping this app on my phone!

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 17 - Community

I downloaded RochesterNow for this app & after playing with it for just a short while I deleted it. It seems to me to be more of an app for visitors to use instead of Rochester residents. I looked at coupons, transportation & city info. These could be helpful for me if I didn't already know where to find this same information online &/or if I don't use my phone's data plan as much as others I know. 

[kishizuka]

"Advocacy for Animals Ignored by Children’s Books." Yes, the poster is available. #bea14 (via Fusenews: The Bear grumbleth “mum mum” — @fuseeight A Fuse #8 Production)

[thecardiganlibrarian]

I would like to see a book with a prickly urchin protagonist.

[lexingtoncherry]

I think “Q is for Quetzal” should be a title somewhere.

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And I would love to see more books about emus and aardvarks.

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Thing 22 - Apps Gone Free

I have used Apps Gone Free for a couple of months now, & it has helped me find many fun games for both me & my daughter AND it has also led me to a handful of productivity apps (like Weekly Calendar) that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.  I really like it as they are all free and they keep an archive so it's easy to catch up if I miss a day (if the app is free for more than 24 hrs).  

I probably keep about 50% of the apps I download after finding with Apps Gone Free, & I am perfectly okay with that since the apps were free - I am not out anything for trying them except a bit of time for the download & tinkering to see if I like them.  

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 15 - Infographics

I used Infographics Hub and while it was kind of fun to use, it seemed to me to be missing something.  I can't quite put my finger on what it was though.  For example, I felt like I was being sold a tuxedo by an online tuxedo vendor in one infographic that looked at why you should buy a tux instead of renting one (barf, wedding cake, other hard-to-wash out stains would probably be on the rental).  

I may have liked this app more if there was an easy way to see how these infographics were added to the lists. How could I add one? It would have also been nice if  I could take a template from this hub & make my own.  As is, I don't see much use in this for me professionally.  Personally either, when it comes down to it.

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Thing 20 - games

My first out of order post! I have played a lot of games on my iPhone and iPad: Despicable Me Minion Rush, SongPop, MoviePop and Farm Heroes are just a few. I find them a great way to stretch my mind and wake up in the morning. Especially SongPop. This is a name that tune kind of game with many, many different categories. I enjoy trying to beat my opponent and name songs I haven't heard in a long time. As much as I like playing games I come nowhere close to the fun my daughter has with mobile games. Her favorites are from Toca Boca and they are awesome! Toca Band lets her create her own band. Toca Builder lets her build little stages for her guys to run around on. Toca Fairy Tales lets her play dress-up on my iPhone. If you have a preschooler or even a young elementary student, I highly recommend these games!

[readwriterecreate-blog]

I used Vine a couple days ago whole waiting in line at Chipolte for thing #14. It was a fun tool that I am sure I will have fun playing with on the not so distant future. I really like the quick nature of the videos. I was most frustrated with the app just now when I wanted to share the video. No way I can see how to do so from Vine itself. I don’t like the lack of a link that I can use to share.

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 13 - Haiku

YAY! An app I won't be deleting! I really enjoyed this app as it is an easy way to create an app on my iDevices. I can see using this for library instruction - esp for Apple devices that are checked out by patrons. Haiku could be used to have a how-to presentation on it so patrons can have a place to start. Personally, I can see using this for teaching classes in the SCA. There have been times that I have really wanted to have a slide presentation to show images and ideas. All in all a good app!

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Thing 12 - iStorybook

My daughter loves to read, so I thought I'd give iStorybooks a shot for this things about reading. Meh. While it is great that there is a narrator and the kids can read along with the story, I am somewhat disappointed that the fiction books are pretty much all premium content that I have to pay to download & let her read. I have nothing against the science books that are available, it just seems that the "fun" reads are not free with the app.  Which  is actually a pretty smart business model.  Unless you have a lot of parents like me who will delete the app before she gets to play with my iPhone again...

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Thing 11 - ELM

YAY ELM!  

This thing is awesome because it reminds me of all the amazing electronic resources that are out there for research!  I do quite a bit of research on projects for the SCA and while I get a lot of books via ILL from around the state, I can't believe how often I forget about all the scholarly journals & articles available via ELM. When working on this thing I found a great article on belt decorations from the 14-15th century.  Awesome stuff (with pictures!) at my fingertips because I am a resident of Minnesota.  

[politicsprose]

Make That $2 Million

Reading Rainbow Update: LeVar Burton doubles his original funding goal. According to mashable, over $2 million in donations were collected Thursday. Not bad considering this Kickstarter campaign started the day before last! Here’s a teary, heartfelt thank you from Burton upon reaching his original goal yesterday.

[andersoncountylibrary-deactivat]

I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING.

[nprbooks]

Yes.

Yes, I am.

[readwriterecreate-blog]

Power of the people!!