Looking for a certain item that may not be available locally? Just type in what you're looking for and get a complete list of everything for sale.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Cool Tool: Search All Craig's
Here's a simple way to search all of the individual Craig's list postings from around the world.
Rural vs Urban in New Mexico
cross posted from Aguanomics, a water economics blog:
The New Mexico legislature is debating a bill [PDF] that will limit municipalities' ability to condemn water in rural areas, i.e., to claim water for urban use that is currently used for agriculture or the environment.
This prohibition makes sense to me, as I prefer voluntary transfers through markets to political grabs of resources in their traditional uses.
The Bill is under intense scrutiny this week, and there is probably going to be another vote next week. Here's the position of one group in favor:
The New Mexico legislature is debating a bill [PDF] that will limit municipalities' ability to condemn water in rural areas, i.e., to claim water for urban use that is currently used for agriculture or the environment.
This prohibition makes sense to me, as I prefer voluntary transfers through markets to political grabs of resources in their traditional uses.
The Bill is under intense scrutiny this week, and there is probably going to be another vote next week. Here's the position of one group in favor:
Please call all members of the committee and tell them you support HB40. Municipalities already have a 40 year planning period in which to obtain water rights for their needs; there is no specific water right "necessary" to a project; an active market exists for water rights, so there is no need to ever condemn; condemnation of water and water rights eliminates incentives for conservation by municipalities, as well as destroying any incentive for linking land use and water; condemnation of water means that the future opportunities for small towns and rural areas are completely driven by municipalities hundreds of miles away because of their power and money to take the water from unwilling owners.Bottom Line: Cities must first become water efficient (by charging MORE than cost for water!) before they look for more supplies. Even then, they should PAY (a lot!) for those supplies.
Gran Quivira Slideshow
Something to remind you about the Gran Quivira Centennial and this evening's lecture 7 pm at the Shaffer...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
2009 Xeriscape Expo
2009 Xeriscape Expo
at the Expo New Mexico - Fairgrounds,
Saturday, February 28, 8:30-4:30; Sunday, March 1, 10:00-4:00
at the Expo New Mexico - Fairgrounds,
Saturday, February 28, 8:30-4:30; Sunday, March 1, 10:00-4:00
- Exhibitors & Food Booths (but of course, healthy food)
- Free Seminars
- NO ENTRANCE FEE - (Parking Only $4.00).
• Nurseries
• Irrigation Companies
• Water Harvesting – Rain Barrels
• Gravel and Mulch Companies
• Landscape Architects and Designers
• Masonry, Stone, Retaining Wall Bricks
• Succulent Garden Planters
• Vintage Gardening Equipment
• Books – All Gardening, Xeriscaping Aspects
• Yard Art, Water Features
• Native Plants, Trees, Shrubs
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Computer Security: Browser Wars
cross posted from Learn the Net News newsletter. According to LLN's security tips columnist Sid Tash:
For the last several years, I have used both the Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox browsers. However, over the last few months, it has become clear that IE is risky and even dangerous. The two principal reasons for this are first, that IE is closely woven into Windows. A successful attack on IE could easily give a hacker complete access to your computer. Second, IE uses ActiveX controls, or mini programs, to add functionality to Web sites. But many of these controls have been compromised, and could allow an attacker to infiltrate or even seize control of your PC. So now I use Firefox almost exclusively, and so should you. But there are other browsers out there. So let us review the five most popular browsers, starting with a look at IE itself.
We start with Internet Explorer because it is probably the browser you are most familiar with. Most PCs come preinstalled with Windows and therefore IE, so it has become the default browser, so to speak. Users gain some experience with IE, before possibly moving on to other browsers. IE is still the most widely used browser in the world, although its market share is declining somewhat.
It came out of the gate in 1995 shortly after the appearance of Netscape Navigator. The two browsers duked it out in the late nineties and IE eventually won, at least partly because it was fre e. Netscape charged for its browser at first. The latest iteration of IE, version 7, has tabbed browsing and an RSS reader, but is not as easily customized as other browsers. Accessing your Favorites and History is simple, but overall, IE is considered the slowest browser.
The open source Firefox browser from Mozilla is descended from Netscape Navigator, and is the second most popular Web browser. The day Firefox 3 was released last year, it was downloaded 8 million times, a Guinness record. It has an almost endless list of extensions and plugins that allow you to do just about anything, and more come out every day. It is therefore easy to arrange Firefox to suit your needs. Click Tools, Add- ons to see the list. Some claim that plugins reduce the security and integrity of the browser. So be sure you get your plugins through Firefox itself, or other reputable sources.
There is even an IE plugin, where Firefox can pretend to be Internet Explorer, so you can update Windows. Firefox works on Windows, Mac OS X and many Linux versions. It is significantly faster and safer than IE, and does not use ActiveX controls.
Around the middle of last year, Google issued its own open source browser called Chrome. It is gaining a reputation of being simple and lightweight, hogging fewer computer resources than IE or Firefox. The initial End User License Agreement (EULA) required you to transfer to Google all your rights in any content you submit through Chrome, but this outrageous clause was soon removed. Chrome is not known to be especially speedy.
Opera is one of the oldest browsers. Like Netscape, Opera was originally not free. It was the first browser to have tabbed browsing, and offered plugins before Firefox did. Opera has many nice features such as widgets, which are feature-specific windows. They help you be more productive, unless you download a game. Then, perhaps not. Opera is not as efficient as some of the other browsers, but it is about the fastest. It has a small but loyal following.
Which brings us to the proprietary Safari browser from Apple. It is the browser most Mac users know and love, but it is the least-known browser among PC users. This is because the Windows version only came out in mid-2008, packaged with iTunes, which is a bit of an annoyance. Whenever Windows users update their iTunes software, they get Safari if they are not careful. Safari is simple and clear to use, and has its own plugins, most of which only work on the Mac. Safari is not bad in terms of speed and efficiency.
Whichever browser you use, keep it up to date, like any other program. Also, keep IE handy. You will need it to update Windows, and occasionally to view Web pages that do not display properly in other browsers.
Syd Tash is a longtime computer security consultant, author and founder of The Safer Surfing Project. He has been keeping Web surfers like you safe and secure since the last century. Find out how to keep yourself safe online; get his popular, free tips, fixes and news available at: http://MyPCSecurityBlog.com
Monday, February 23, 2009
National Pancake Day
Free pancakes at IHOP ... it's their annual Children's Miracle Network fundraiser. Here in town, expect to pay for your pancakes. Ancient Cities Cafe is your best bet for a short stack, no doubt also available at the Shaffer Dining Room.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Blogkeeping, part 2
Saturday's SEEDS meeting, Marketing committee plans, Jude's Taos adventure - all good news - catches me up. Jude's news is big so catch her full write up @ Notes from Straw Mountain. Here's a hint: Taos area galleries and visitors are about to discover Jude's fiber art and altered couture...
Jude's hand painted bags on display, Firenza Gallery, Arroyo Seco
Also in passing mention but, like the above, worthy of & scheduled for separate posts: Red Kingston reports that the Mountainair Gymkhana Rodeo Association got a lot done on their Feb 14 workday. Another workday is scheduled for Feb 28, all day & starting at 9 am. Feel free to don work clothes, pack a lunch and show up (to work, not gawk or loiter). Besides getting the grounds ready for the FIRST Gymkhana Rodeo of the season, March 8, MGRA is also helping Mountainair get ready for the RFD-Best of America by Horseback cross continental trail ride, which will overnight at the grounds on May 12. I'm assuming the TV camera crews won't be bedding down in stalls. That's national coverage. Don't we all want to be well turned out and at our best? Then show up for the workday and pitch in.
The annual Health Fair is Saturday March 7, the day before that first rodeo event of the season. At the high school I think - not much in the way of details sent my way yet Kay Stillion and I will table sitting for iCreate/SEEDS - sharing a table w/ B Street Market.
February seems to have been busier than usual. Don't know about the rest of you, but I am usually still hibernating. The extra activity (or facsimile thereof) is due to Salinas' program for the Gran Quivira Centennial, which kicked off this month with lectures through March, every Friday, 7 pm in the Shaffer Conference Room. There will be more throughout the year - so far April and May. Activities will coordinate with other community events and celebrations whenever possible, so bookmark the Schedule.
The rest, if memory serves, are meetings - many to plan spring and summer activities. The Chamber of Commerce's marketing committee is going gangbusters if I say so myself. We'll be unveiling plans for a Discover Mountainair campaign at the next chamber meeting ~ advertising, professional quality original graphics, portal page linking to member pages and local online resources.
pottery canteen from Gran Quivira:
Centennial & Discover Mountainair emblem
That focuses on tourism. Next up for the marketing committee: local business. Bear in mind that it's impossible to separate them - and the possibility a misrepresentation to boot. They are related, the local economy breathing in and breathing out. If the byword of tourism/visitor campaign is "Discover Mountainair," then that of the local campaign would be "the buck stays here."
Yet another February meeting, Dale Harris and I met last Saturday (at Alpine Alley & Shaffer) to go over plans for the 2009 Poets & Writers Picnic. Synergy is the byword here as plans coordinate efforts with and focus on both Sunflower Festival and Centennial. Not much in the way of details to share, but the Art Council had a February meeting as well. I only knew about it because members were drifting into the Turner Inn conference room as the Chamber marketing committee was trouping out. Serendipity is as good a source as any, even if, by definition, less reliable.
works in progress at Clayworks, photo by Jude Mowris
More March: March 20, Mountainair Clayworks Show, work from recent hands-on workshops, cooperative members & potter-in-chief Tomas Wolff. Here's hoping for a March entry from Cibola Arts to keep it company. An MMAC (art council) event and something from Arts, etc (oil painting group) would round out the month nicely - March winds blowing the arts our way.
Jude's hand painted bags on display, Firenza Gallery, Arroyo SecoThe annual Health Fair is Saturday March 7, the day before that first rodeo event of the season. At the high school I think - not much in the way of details sent my way yet Kay Stillion and I will table sitting for iCreate/SEEDS - sharing a table w/ B Street Market.
February seems to have been busier than usual. Don't know about the rest of you, but I am usually still hibernating. The extra activity (or facsimile thereof) is due to Salinas' program for the Gran Quivira Centennial, which kicked off this month with lectures through March, every Friday, 7 pm in the Shaffer Conference Room. There will be more throughout the year - so far April and May. Activities will coordinate with other community events and celebrations whenever possible, so bookmark the Schedule.
The rest, if memory serves, are meetings - many to plan spring and summer activities. The Chamber of Commerce's marketing committee is going gangbusters if I say so myself. We'll be unveiling plans for a Discover Mountainair campaign at the next chamber meeting ~ advertising, professional quality original graphics, portal page linking to member pages and local online resources.
pottery canteen from Gran Quivira:
Centennial & Discover Mountainair emblem
Yet another February meeting, Dale Harris and I met last Saturday (at Alpine Alley & Shaffer) to go over plans for the 2009 Poets & Writers Picnic. Synergy is the byword here as plans coordinate efforts with and focus on both Sunflower Festival and Centennial. Not much in the way of details to share, but the Art Council had a February meeting as well. I only knew about it because members were drifting into the Turner Inn conference room as the Chamber marketing committee was trouping out. Serendipity is as good a source as any, even if, by definition, less reliable.
works in progress at Clayworks, photo by Jude Mowris
Friday, February 20, 2009
Quarai: Near Mountainair
For the Gran Quivira Centennial, I'll be blogging pictures of the ruins and surrounding countryside as regularly as I can remind myself to. So far there are 209 images in a Flickr group pool of Salinas Pueblo Missions images. That should keep me going a while...
Thanks to Floyd Muad'Dib (remember Dune?) for taking the picture and sharing with us. See the rest of the West: take a look at the rest of his photo stream, which, in addition to other western states, includes a NM set. Not just photos either but scanned nature sketches too. (The spirit of Audubon lives...)
Thanks to Floyd Muad'Dib (remember Dune?) for taking the picture and sharing with us. See the rest of the West: take a look at the rest of his photo stream, which, in addition to other western states, includes a NM set. Not just photos either but scanned nature sketches too. (The spirit of Audubon lives...)
Blogkeeping, part 1
Today seems like the day for a housekeeping post, not necessarily housecleaning or spring cleaning, although I suppose related.
General blog policies (not to sound unduly formal): comments and guest posts welcome. I'd like to see more of both. You can comment anonymously but preferably with a nickname or pseudonym so we can tell one anonymous from another. Otherwise it's confusing. Original guest posts: posted as submitted with full credit/by-line, email to vcrary@yahoo.com. Pen name, pseudonym or "name withheld by request" are all OK. I don't have to know who posts comments but do require it for guest posting - confidentiality respected.
And a word or so about the difference between the blogs: this one, Mountainair Arts, is general - not even limited to the arts (unless defined very broadly). Mountainair Announcements is just that: local announcements. Whatever, including advertising, just as long as it's local: meetings, events, activities, sales, specials, reminders, etc. Nothing illegal or obviously spurious. Think of Announcements as the electronic equivalent of a privately maintained public bulletin board.
Poets & Writers Picnic started out as a supplement to pages for the annual poetry event of the same name. It also supplements the Sunflower pages, possibly Mountainair's oldest private, non-commercial website, up since 2001, weathering Sunflower event name and hosting changes, the title of first probably going to Salinas - but definitely my first Mountainair site. Wider ranging than even Arts, PWP, the plog (for short), is still a Mountainair blog too. Although focusing on the letters, especially poetry, category of arts, it actively promotes the Sunflower Festival, logical since PWP the event is and always has been part of Sunflower excepting its few years before there was a Sunflower event.
The blogs are separate but not without kinship. I cross post only rarely but cross link whenever possible and encourage cross over readership. Comments and suggestions invited for all three & always welcome. The more input and cooperation the better. Think synergy & its classic counterpart about the whole being greater than the sum of the parts...
It's the real backbone of planned Discover Mountainair & "the buck stays here " campaigns. H'uh? What are those? Stay tuned for part 2....
General blog policies (not to sound unduly formal): comments and guest posts welcome. I'd like to see more of both. You can comment anonymously but preferably with a nickname or pseudonym so we can tell one anonymous from another. Otherwise it's confusing. Original guest posts: posted as submitted with full credit/by-line, email to vcrary@yahoo.com. Pen name, pseudonym or "name withheld by request" are all OK. I don't have to know who posts comments but do require it for guest posting - confidentiality respected.
And a word or so about the difference between the blogs: this one, Mountainair Arts, is general - not even limited to the arts (unless defined very broadly). Mountainair Announcements is just that: local announcements. Whatever, including advertising, just as long as it's local: meetings, events, activities, sales, specials, reminders, etc. Nothing illegal or obviously spurious. Think of Announcements as the electronic equivalent of a privately maintained public bulletin board.
Poets & Writers Picnic started out as a supplement to pages for the annual poetry event of the same name. It also supplements the Sunflower pages, possibly Mountainair's oldest private, non-commercial website, up since 2001, weathering Sunflower event name and hosting changes, the title of first probably going to Salinas - but definitely my first Mountainair site. Wider ranging than even Arts, PWP, the plog (for short), is still a Mountainair blog too. Although focusing on the letters, especially poetry, category of arts, it actively promotes the Sunflower Festival, logical since PWP the event is and always has been part of Sunflower excepting its few years before there was a Sunflower event.
The blogs are separate but not without kinship. I cross post only rarely but cross link whenever possible and encourage cross over readership. Comments and suggestions invited for all three & always welcome. The more input and cooperation the better. Think synergy & its classic counterpart about the whole being greater than the sum of the parts...
It's the real backbone of planned Discover Mountainair & "the buck stays here " campaigns. H'uh? What are those? Stay tuned for part 2....
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
News About Arts & Culture
Cheerfully & unabashedly cribbed from The State of the Arts, the Arts Alliance's twice monthly newsletter with news about the arts and culture scene in Albuquerque and beyond (yes, there is a beyond, and it's not Santa Fe).
Arts Money Back in Stimulus Package
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by the House and Senate with $50 million designated to assist the nation's arts and cultural workforce through funding to the National Endowment for the Arts, which in turn will trickle down to the states. Click the headline for more.How The Arts Got Its Money Back
Tens of thousands of people called, wrote and emailed their legislators in Washington, DC to remind them that culture contributes 6 million jobs and $30 billion in tax revenue and $166 billion in annual economic impact. The result is the happy news in the above paragraph. Click the headline for more about who did what and how it made a huge difference.
Media Literacy Proposal at Legislature
This year in the New Mexico Legislature, lawmakers plan to introduce a “media literacy in schools” bill. Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, is the sponsor of House Bill 342, which states that all public middle and high schools must offer a media literacy elective. With the passage of such a bill, students can learn to think critically about the media they listen to, watch, read and create. Click the headline for more
Are We Programmed For Art?
Are we hardwired to make and appreciate art? A new book, The Art Instinct by Dennis Dutton, looks to the man of the moment, Charles Darwin, for an answer. Dutton suggests that because all humans make art, and people from many different cultures appreciate similar subjects in art, art is an evolutionary adaptation, helping humans survive as individuals and as a species. Eventually, over the millennia, art-making traits have been absorbed into the repertoire of human instinct. To read more, click the headline.If you found these articles of interest, subscribe because the newsletter contains more than I've posted here and there is no telling when or how often I will excerpt and post links. To subscribe to State of the Arts, click here.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Discover(ing) Mountainair
"Discovering Mountainair?" you ask - answering yourself, "I already know where it is."
Stumbled and fell down on 2009 blogging resolutions. Yesterday not a post on any blog. Email and Facebook don't count. Hope this does not count as all the way off the wagon. Since I did not set up any parameters, it doesn't unless I want it to. How's that for legislating and adjudicating NM style? Gaps are most likely when I get behind - a procrastination side effect. Putting off means that much more to cover and writing up a humongous post (not to mention naming one covering many topics), in turn tempting me into further procrastination.
Back to discovering and discoveries (think nostos - returning home and paraphrasing TS Eliot, seeing it again for the 1st time).
February Chamber Meeting - very briefly: 10 present, Scott Remmich presiding in Kevin Turner's absence. Minutes and treasurer's reports read and approved. Due to the Treasurer's absence making him unavailable to field questions, budget discussion and vote postponed again to next meeting.
Announcements: SEEDS meeting Feb 21; 1st Gran Quivira Centennial lecture of series (Feb-Mar); George's legislative transparency and web casting campaign (blogged).
Business: moved and approved to double Chamber scholarships, 2 scholarships, one designated as being for any NM post-secondary institution (degree or certificate); likewise sending flowers or donation to Kevin for his father.. Brief budget descussion including explanation about budget including 2 different FY s. NM Tourism's is July to June; whereas, ours follows the calendar year. Big chunks of Chamber budget come from Tourism grants and Lodger's Tax. Splingo (Spring Fling & Bingo) discussion. Clean up and community wide yard sale @ MAC, May 9. Bingo still TBA; discussion of & agreement about amping up emphasis on recycling. Pam Pettingill and Scott - aka splingo committee - meeting later to plan further.
This segueys into the Chamber Budget Committee (Dennis Fulfer, Scott Remmich and ?) meeting (notation not immediately at hand but major point is that we have tourism advertising grant money that has to be spent, out there marketing Mtair and receipts submitted to Tourism before the end of their FY (see note above) and Marketing Committee (Glenn Fulfer, Scott Remmich, Dorothy Cole, Vanessa Vaile, Kristine Lauritsen) meetings to decide where and how to spend it to get most bang for tourism advertising buck.
Moving on... stay with me folks, I'm almost there and to the "discover(ing)" punchline and post title.
Most of the marketing committee (Dorothy unavailable, Kristine still in San Diego) met week before last at Turner Inn and again last week at the Salinas NPS Visitors Center and District Office. Cutting to the chase, the Chamber will be purchasing advertising in New Mexico Magazine (June, July and August). We worked on preliminary Our campaign "slogan" (no one running for office though) is Discover Mountainair. Dennis offered us idle website with registered domain name, discovermountainairnm.com, for our portal page, which for the unfamiliar is a single page pointing visitors to another or other pages, . The committee agreed to put up a portal page and include the web address in our New Mexico Magazine ads.
The single page/ mini-site directing ad viewers to other Mountainair websites and resources, is a cooperative effort. Dennis, Murt (Salinas) and I are collaborating on content and design, with, of course, ongoing reporting to and input from the marketing committee. Members can expect a full report at March meeting - and the rest of the world as I get around to blogging it. Salinas Ranger Murt Sullivan has an impressive collection of pictures of Salinas locations and displays that he is sharing with us and has already sent stunning images of priceless ancient pottery on display at Gran Quivira.
Dennis recently put up a preliminary Discover Mountainair page for committee and participating Salinas staff to view and comment on. It goes without saying that wider feedback, Chamber members and beyond, is welcome and actively solicited. This should be a community effort.
There's much more too: coordinating campaign with events, spotlighting other attractions, supplementing advertising with internet and web presence strategies, cross linking sites, coordinating promotions for max synergy, involving groups and individuals, tracking ad effectiveness, building up an inventory of Discover Mountainair promotional items, etcetera. I'll do my best to get to it but this post is already long enough and then some.
Now let us know what YOU think....
Stumbled and fell down on 2009 blogging resolutions. Yesterday not a post on any blog. Email and Facebook don't count. Hope this does not count as all the way off the wagon. Since I did not set up any parameters, it doesn't unless I want it to. How's that for legislating and adjudicating NM style? Gaps are most likely when I get behind - a procrastination side effect. Putting off means that much more to cover and writing up a humongous post (not to mention naming one covering many topics), in turn tempting me into further procrastination.
Back to discovering and discoveries (think nostos - returning home and paraphrasing TS Eliot, seeing it again for the 1st time).
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T. S. Eliot, Four QuartetsDiscovery and subsequent procrastination started with the February Chamber meeting that I intended to blog / email report to AWOL members (usually outnumbering those in attendance) but never got around to. Read the following mini-account and discover a Mountainair most miss. Someday someone will deliver the long promised minutes to archive online and I can direct you there instead. For now, read on. What you may think about the Chamber having nothing to do with you or the rest of us is not so.
February Chamber Meeting - very briefly: 10 present, Scott Remmich presiding in Kevin Turner's absence. Minutes and treasurer's reports read and approved. Due to the Treasurer's absence making him unavailable to field questions, budget discussion and vote postponed again to next meeting.
Announcements: SEEDS meeting Feb 21; 1st Gran Quivira Centennial lecture of series (Feb-Mar); George's legislative transparency and web casting campaign (blogged).
Business: moved and approved to double Chamber scholarships, 2 scholarships, one designated as being for any NM post-secondary institution (degree or certificate); likewise sending flowers or donation to Kevin for his father.. Brief budget descussion including explanation about budget including 2 different FY s. NM Tourism's is July to June; whereas, ours follows the calendar year. Big chunks of Chamber budget come from Tourism grants and Lodger's Tax. Splingo (Spring Fling & Bingo) discussion. Clean up and community wide yard sale @ MAC, May 9. Bingo still TBA; discussion of & agreement about amping up emphasis on recycling. Pam Pettingill and Scott - aka splingo committee - meeting later to plan further.
Moving on... stay with me folks, I'm almost there and to the "discover(ing)" punchline and post title.
Most of the marketing committee (Dorothy unavailable, Kristine still in San Diego) met week before last at Turner Inn and again last week at the Salinas NPS Visitors Center and District Office. Cutting to the chase, the Chamber will be purchasing advertising in New Mexico Magazine (June, July and August). We worked on preliminary Our campaign "slogan" (no one running for office though) is Discover Mountainair. Dennis offered us idle website with registered domain name, discovermountainairnm.com, for our portal page, which for the unfamiliar is a single page pointing visitors to another or other pages, . The committee agreed to put up a portal page and include the web address in our New Mexico Magazine ads.
The single page/ mini-site directing ad viewers to other Mountainair websites and resources, is a cooperative effort. Dennis, Murt (Salinas) and I are collaborating on content and design, with, of course, ongoing reporting to and input from the marketing committee. Members can expect a full report at March meeting - and the rest of the world as I get around to blogging it. Salinas Ranger Murt Sullivan has an impressive collection of pictures of Salinas locations and displays that he is sharing with us and has already sent stunning images of priceless ancient pottery on display at Gran Quivira.
Dennis recently put up a preliminary Discover Mountainair page for committee and participating Salinas staff to view and comment on. It goes without saying that wider feedback, Chamber members and beyond, is welcome and actively solicited. This should be a community effort.
There's much more too: coordinating campaign with events, spotlighting other attractions, supplementing advertising with internet and web presence strategies, cross linking sites, coordinating promotions for max synergy, involving groups and individuals, tracking ad effectiveness, building up an inventory of Discover Mountainair promotional items, etcetera. I'll do my best to get to it but this post is already long enough and then some.
Now let us know what YOU think....
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Brain May Be Wired for Social Conformity
(from Health Day News)
Study in the Jan. 15 issue of Neuron claims 'error-monitoring' signals keep us from being too different from others
Your brain may be wired to go along with popular opinion in social situations, a new study suggests. Neuroimaging with functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that people whose opinion differed with that of a group of people experienced a neuronal response in the brain's rostral cingulate zone (RCZ) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) -- areas that seem to help monitor behavioral outcomes and anticipate and process rewards as well as social learning, respectively.
This signal appears to tell the brain a "prediction error" has occurred, which seems to cause an adjustment in the long-term to an individual's own opinion. The magnitude of the signal appears to correlate with differences in conforming behavior across subjects, according to the study on the biochemical reasons why it feels so good to go along with the consensus.
"The present study explains why we often automatically adjust our opinion in line with the majority opinion," study author Vasily Klucharev, from the F.C. Donders Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging in the Netherlands, said in a news release issued by the journal's publisher. "Our results also show that social conformity is based on mechanisms that comply with reinforcement learning and is reinforced by the neural error-monitoring activity which signals what is probably the most fundamental social mistake -- that of being too different from others."
The Lundbeck Institute has more about the functions of different areas of the brain.
Neuroimaging Links
Study in the Jan. 15 issue of Neuron claims 'error-monitoring' signals keep us from being too different from others
Your brain may be wired to go along with popular opinion in social situations, a new study suggests. Neuroimaging with functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that people whose opinion differed with that of a group of people experienced a neuronal response in the brain's rostral cingulate zone (RCZ) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) -- areas that seem to help monitor behavioral outcomes and anticipate and process rewards as well as social learning, respectively.
Translation: Agreeing with people makes you feel high.
This signal appears to tell the brain a "prediction error" has occurred, which seems to cause an adjustment in the long-term to an individual's own opinion. The magnitude of the signal appears to correlate with differences in conforming behavior across subjects, according to the study on the biochemical reasons why it feels so good to go along with the consensus.
The Lundbeck Institute has more about the functions of different areas of the brain.
Neuroimaging Links
Saturday, February 14, 2009
House Concert, Feb 28
I've been after Kathleen Clute for music news and now here it is.... Kathleen writes:
It’s finally all confirmed: I’m hosting a Whisperings house concert at my home, and will be joined by solo piano artists Jon Bongiorno from Seattle and Lee Bartley from Mancos, Colorado. And what is a Whisperings concert, you ask, and why is Kathleen so excited about that?
Whisperings (http://www.solopianoradio.com/) is an Internet radio program of solo piano music. Founded several years ago by David Nevue, Whisperings, “music to quiet your world”, is the #1 channel on Live365.com; is available free or by subscription, or on iTunes; and has a million listener hours a month.
David accepted me as a Whisperings artist a few summers ago, and I have been looking forward to being part of a Whisperings concert ever since. Well, now is when: the first New Mexico Whisperings concert is here on Saturday, February 28, at 7 pm. While we won’t charge admission per se, we will be passing the hat (in an extremely hopeful manner!). As you know from previous concerts here at my house, seating is quite limited. Reserve a seat by emailing me soon.
If you prefer to hear us in a concert hall setting, or want an excuse for an evening out in Albuquerque, we will also have a Whisperings concert on Sunday, March 1, 7 pm, at Charles Pianos, 5000 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite B. Tickets there will be $15 adults/$10 students, available at the door or in advance online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/56020.
(submitted by) Kathleen
It’s finally all confirmed: I’m hosting a Whisperings house concert at my home, and will be joined by solo piano artists Jon Bongiorno from Seattle and Lee Bartley from Mancos, Colorado. And what is a Whisperings concert, you ask, and why is Kathleen so excited about that?
Whisperings (http://www.solopianoradio.com/) is an Internet radio program of solo piano music. Founded several years ago by David Nevue, Whisperings, “music to quiet your world”, is the #1 channel on Live365.com; is available free or by subscription, or on iTunes; and has a million listener hours a month.
David accepted me as a Whisperings artist a few summers ago, and I have been looking forward to being part of a Whisperings concert ever since. Well, now is when: the first New Mexico Whisperings concert is here on Saturday, February 28, at 7 pm. While we won’t charge admission per se, we will be passing the hat (in an extremely hopeful manner!). As you know from previous concerts here at my house, seating is quite limited. Reserve a seat by emailing me soon.
If you prefer to hear us in a concert hall setting, or want an excuse for an evening out in Albuquerque, we will also have a Whisperings concert on Sunday, March 1, 7 pm, at Charles Pianos, 5000 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite B. Tickets there will be $15 adults/$10 students, available at the door or in advance online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/56020.
- Joe Bongiorno’s info & song samples: http://www.joebongiorno.com/index.php
- Lee Bartley’s info & song samples: http://www.leebartley.com/
- My page, for that matter: http://www.kathleenryan.com/
(submitted by) Kathleen
Friday, February 13, 2009
Valentine Miscellany
Valentine oddities & humor
Sweet Valentine treats from Cake wrecks Happy Woman Magazine (we think so you don't have to) Man-Bot 2007 - Valentine's Day robot brings world peace
That's Amore
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore.
When an eel bites your hand and that's not what you planned
That's a moray.
When our habits are strange and our customs deranged
That's our mores.
When your horse munches straw and the bales total four
That's some more hay.
When Othello's poor wife, she gets stabbed with a knife
That's a Moor, eh?
When a Japanese knight used a sword in a fight
That's Sa...mur...ai.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Roadside America, Feb Newsletter
RoadsideAmerica.com Sightings Newsletter - Feb. 11, 2009 Vol. 5, No. 2 - is a brief newsletter: our new gallery of America's Loopiest Lincoln Landmarks!
To mark Lincoln's 200th birthday on Feb. 12th, the editors at RoadsideAmerica.com have selected their favorite Lincoln tourist attractions and exhibits. From a much longer list, these 12 leapt onto the stage of infamy -- from the Lincoln Watermelon Monument to the bronzed foundation of Lincoln's Boyhood Home. There's even one unmentionable exhibit (which we've chosen to mention, of course).
Abraham Lincoln would have been 200 years old on Feb. 12, 2009. That gives pause to reflect. Not on his impact on the Union, his role in freeing slaves, his shrewd leadership and "team of rivals," or the continuing debate about who Lincoln really was. We know Abe by his landmarks -- by what Americans have chosen to display and visit along the highway.
Enjoy!
Doug, Ken, Mike (and the rest of the RoadsideAmerica.com Team)
To mark Lincoln's 200th birthday on Feb. 12th, the editors at RoadsideAmerica.com have selected their favorite Lincoln tourist attractions and exhibits. From a much longer list, these 12 leapt onto the stage of infamy -- from the Lincoln Watermelon Monument to the bronzed foundation of Lincoln's Boyhood Home. There's even one unmentionable exhibit (which we've chosen to mention, of course).
Abraham Lincoln would have been 200 years old on Feb. 12, 2009. That gives pause to reflect. Not on his impact on the Union, his role in freeing slaves, his shrewd leadership and "team of rivals," or the continuing debate about who Lincoln really was. We know Abe by his landmarks -- by what Americans have chosen to display and visit along the highway.
Enjoy!
Doug, Ken, Mike (and the rest of the RoadsideAmerica.com Team)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Gran Quivira Centennial
2009 is the Gran Quivira Centennial
The National Park Service Centennial is 2016. Don't be too confused! Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (a mouthful to be sure) was originally Gran Quivira National Monument, established 1909 and predating the National Park Service, which makes this Gran Quivira's centennial year, hence the calendar full of 2009 Centennial Events.It won't just be the Salinas District. Community partnerships with Salinas are in the making to make this year Gran Quivira's.
looking up at Gran Quivira from a distance
Last Friday was the first lecture in the Gran Quivira Centennial Lecture Series. Convening at 7 pm in the Shaffer Hotel Conference Room, turnout numbered 42, outstanding for anything short of bingo, free food, festivals or the more contentious town meetings.This Friday, February 13, will be the second, "Administrative History of Salinas: The Great Battle" (Jeanette Wolfe, Park Historian). Weekly lectures, 7 pm in the Shaffer Hotel Conference Room - same time, same place - continue through March.
Lecture Series Flyer to download and print out
pre-Interstate map, circa 1930
pre-Interstate map, circa 1930
More about Gran Quivira
- Gran Quivira: A Blending of Cultures in a Pueblo Indian Village
- Tabira—The Gran Quivira (excerpts from book)
- Glimpses of Our National Monuments (1930) GRAN QUIVIRA (excerpt below)
Long recognized as one of the most important of the earliest Spanish church or mission ruins in the Southwest, the Gran Quivira was set aside as a national monument November 1, 1909, with an area of 160 acres. On November 25, 1919, the monument reservation was increased to 423.77 acres to protect the numerous Indian pueblo ruins situated near by. The Gran Quivira stands upon an eminence of about 7,000 feet altitude, and commands a wide view of the surrounding country. The old church, of which only a few ruined walls remain, was established about the time the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock.
Coming Centennial attractions
These include a Spring Equinox rock-art tour coming together for March 20 at Abo; April focus on the schools; a May 2nd flint-knapping workshop at Gran Quivira; International Migratory Bird Day at Quarai on May 9th.... with still more being planned ...Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Small Step Forward - Transparency
Edwina / George updates us on her quest for legislative transparency:
A small forward step in New Mexico government transparency has begun. The New Mexico Legislature is providing AUDIO ONLY web casts of portions of their activity.
Below are links to this activity;
A small forward step in New Mexico government transparency has begun. The New Mexico Legislature is providing AUDIO ONLY web casts of portions of their activity.
Below are links to this activity;
- http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/webcast/house.aspx or if this link does not work
- http://www.nmlegis.gov and click on the link listed on the upper right hand corner with the speaker icon to get to the page - once on the page, click the play button the audio player.
Alternate options are;
- www.kunm.org very well noted on the site, just follow direction
- www.lawmakerslive.com links are on the right hand side of the page and indicate if the governing body is in session or not.
In a letter I have received from Legislative Council Service it is indicated that for now, audio broadcasts are for house and floor proceedings with a promise of senate access yet to come. In addition, I have received a message from Representative Ezzell who indicates that she will be broadcasting her committee meetings.
I have requested link(s) and permission to post links for all broadcasts of New Mexico Legislature activities on my web site and have suggested that links be added to the Legislatures web site. I will let everyone that is interested know the response and/or forward a link to the page of links.
My intention is not to irritate anyone so please, let me know if you have no interest as well as if you would prefer not to receive messages of this nature from me.
(submitted by) Edwina R. Hewett (George), Qualifying Broker
Whispering Range Realty, LLC
106 West Broadway ~ PO Box 125, Mountainair, NM 87036-0125
Office: 505-847-2300 Home 505-847-2220
Cell: 505-705-0732 Toll Free: 1-866-788-2220
Email: George@WhisperingRange.com
Editor's note: BRAVO! Go George!
ATC Trade Event
Saturday February 14, 2009, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: ATC Trade Event at Rhonda's Creative Crafting Center, 8214 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque 87114, (505) 899-6723
digital ATC, sunflower quilt pattern
The Albuquerque ATC (Artists Trading Cards) trading meet repeats every month on the second Saturday at this location. More about Rhonda's Creative Crafting Center. More about ATCs:
Montage of ATCs created by local artists, assembled by Jude Mowris,
presented by Town of Mountainair to visiting NM mayors
digital ATC, sunflower quilt pattern
- Art in your pocket: ATC basics
- How to Create, Trade & Collect ATCs
- ATCs for all: Online Artist Trading Card community
- Art Junction: ATCs in the classroom!
- ATC links (updated 8-08)
Montage of ATCs created by local artists, assembled by Jude Mowris,
presented by Town of Mountainair to visiting NM mayors
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday recap; random reflections
Did anyone catch the cognitive neuroimaging piece that appeared briefly and then disappeared (temporarily) into the ether (draft file section)? It occurred to me that the piece could be read as comment on surrounding posts, likewise the possible effect of having juxtaposed art critique generator with an art review/artist post. Accidentally I thought at the time, but there's no telling what mischief my subsconscious was up to.
I'll re-post the neuroimaging piece later. It's interesting and ties in with reading I've done on related studies mapping what subjects are processed (learned) in which part of the brain. For example, there is no "other language learning" part: different languages are processed in separate and different parts of the brain. For now, no reports but at least a brief recap sprinkled with random reflections - hence the title.
The Town Council Meeting part of Feb 3 report/recap made the blog thanks to Dennis. I have notes on Chamber meeting same day that I will post with a couple of brief but very relevant committee report (an excellent rationalization for not reporting sooner, doncha think?)
Also on Feb 3, the school board election returned incumbents PJ Lovato and Eric Anaya. Challengers Debbie Lopez and Jan Eschleman made good showings. All candidates participated in a Candidates Forum Friday Jan 31, answering questions from the audience, written down and selected by draw. The Parents Advisory Committee organized and presented the Forum - splendidly I might add. The Town of Mountainair should consider inviting them to organize debates for next town elections. The challengers argued for change; the incumbents for holding course. Time will tell which proves to be the wisest course.
Friday was Salinas Monument's first lecture in a series celebrating the Gran Quivira Centennial this year. More lecture and other activities are planned. Kristine Lauritsen suggests that the Chamber, arts council and other local groups getting behind this and collaborating with Salinas District to post a major centennial bash at Gran Quivira. The ruins are among our most (if not the most) impressive attractions and deserve more local attention and inclusion in local events. It's an idea too good not to follow up on. Let's go for it...
If you missed the first lecture, don't miss the rest - next one is Feb 13, same time, same place. Download and print out the Lecture Series Flyer
Feb 13 is also the date of the Jubilee Committee's Valentine Bingo, 6:30 pm at the MAC Building Concession Area, more to come on that... There is at least one maybe more Valentine's Day dinners on the 14th. I'm still sorting them out and checking information before posting.
Further down the road: the Mountainair Gymkhana Rodeo series starts next month, with its 1st event scheduled for March 8.
On a very different note: plans are afoot for the Annual Poets & Writers Picnic to go global, affiliating with an international poetry event. Although the arts council sponsors the picnic, this particular project is not, at this time, associated with the arts council.
I'll re-post the neuroimaging piece later. It's interesting and ties in with reading I've done on related studies mapping what subjects are processed (learned) in which part of the brain. For example, there is no "other language learning" part: different languages are processed in separate and different parts of the brain. For now, no reports but at least a brief recap sprinkled with random reflections - hence the title.
The Town Council Meeting part of Feb 3 report/recap made the blog thanks to Dennis. I have notes on Chamber meeting same day that I will post with a couple of brief but very relevant committee report (an excellent rationalization for not reporting sooner, doncha think?)
Also on Feb 3, the school board election returned incumbents PJ Lovato and Eric Anaya. Challengers Debbie Lopez and Jan Eschleman made good showings. All candidates participated in a Candidates Forum Friday Jan 31, answering questions from the audience, written down and selected by draw. The Parents Advisory Committee organized and presented the Forum - splendidly I might add. The Town of Mountainair should consider inviting them to organize debates for next town elections. The challengers argued for change; the incumbents for holding course. Time will tell which proves to be the wisest course.
Friday was Salinas Monument's first lecture in a series celebrating the Gran Quivira Centennial this year. More lecture and other activities are planned. Kristine Lauritsen suggests that the Chamber, arts council and other local groups getting behind this and collaborating with Salinas District to post a major centennial bash at Gran Quivira. The ruins are among our most (if not the most) impressive attractions and deserve more local attention and inclusion in local events. It's an idea too good not to follow up on. Let's go for it...
If you missed the first lecture, don't miss the rest - next one is Feb 13, same time, same place. Download and print out the Lecture Series Flyer
Feb 13 is also the date of the Jubilee Committee's Valentine Bingo, 6:30 pm at the MAC Building Concession Area, more to come on that... There is at least one maybe more Valentine's Day dinners on the 14th. I'm still sorting them out and checking information before posting.
Further down the road: the Mountainair Gymkhana Rodeo series starts next month, with its 1st event scheduled for March 8.
On a very different note: plans are afoot for the Annual Poets & Writers Picnic to go global, affiliating with an international poetry event. Although the arts council sponsors the picnic, this particular project is not, at this time, associated with the arts council.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Town Council meeting, Feb 3
Thanks to Dennis for sending these informal notes on the recent town council meeting - a more complete version will be available at the Town of Mountainair page
(submitted by Dennis Fulfer)
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Old business:
approval of zoning changes at Gran Quivera Estates from R-1 to SU. APPROVED.
New Business:
a. approval to raise city gas base rate from $15 to $25 for the first 1,000 cu ft. APPROVED.b. approval to increase fees for commercial dumpsters. APPROVEDc. approval to destroy documents dating from 1985 to 2005. APPROVED
From department reports:
Lodgers Tax: request for $6000 to go to Chamber for advertising and security at events. APPROVED.
That's about it. These are obviously unofficial...just notes I took at the meeting.
(submitted by Dennis Fulfer)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Legislative Alert: NM Arts Funding
Legislative update forwarded from Arts Alliance, cross posted Poets & Writers Picnic
The last Arts Alliance legislative update explained that the House Appropriations and Finance Committee had tabled the discussion of New Mexico Arts funding and established a subcommittee to review the situation. Please take a moment to call the two representatives on that subcommittee and other members of the HFAC.
The message is simple:
Please restore full funding to New Mexico Arts.
Subcommittee
Brian Egolf, Jr. (D-SF) --986-4211
Kathy McCoy (R-Cedar Crest) -- 986-4214
Other HFAC members:
Kiki Saavedra, chair, (D-ABQ) -- 986-986-4316
Lucky Varela, deputy chair (D-SF) -- 986-4318
Danice Picraux, vicechair (D-ABQ) -- 986-4438
Ray Begaye (D-Shiprock) -- 986-4436
Richard J. Berry (R-ABQ) -- 986-4452
Donald Bratton (R-Hobbs) -- 986-4227
Joni Marie Gutierrez (D-Mesilla) -- 986-4234
John Heaton (D-Carlsbad) -- 986-4432
Rhonda King (D-Stanley) -- 986 4438
Larry Larranaga (R-ABQ) -- 986-4215
Antonio Lujan (D-LasCruces) -- 986-4436
Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup) -- 986-4435
Nick Salazar (D-OhkayOwingeh) -- 986-4433
Don Tripp (R-Socorro) -- 986-4220
Richard Vigil (D-Ribera) -- 986-4242
Jeannette Wallace (R-LosAlamos) -- 986-4452
Thank you!
Cricket Appel, Executive Director
Arts Alliance, Inc.
PO Box 27657, Albuquerque, NM 87125
505/268-1920; 505/232-5383 (fax)
The last Arts Alliance legislative update explained that the House Appropriations and Finance Committee had tabled the discussion of New Mexico Arts funding and established a subcommittee to review the situation. Please take a moment to call the two representatives on that subcommittee and other members of the HFAC.
The message is simple:
Please restore full funding to New Mexico Arts.
Subcommittee
Brian Egolf, Jr. (D-SF) --986-4211
Kathy McCoy (R-Cedar Crest) -- 986-4214
Other HFAC members:
Kiki Saavedra, chair, (D-ABQ) -- 986-986-4316
Lucky Varela, deputy chair (D-SF) -- 986-4318
Danice Picraux, vicechair (D-ABQ) -- 986-4438
Ray Begaye (D-Shiprock) -- 986-4436
Richard J. Berry (R-ABQ) -- 986-4452
Donald Bratton (R-Hobbs) -- 986-4227
Joni Marie Gutierrez (D-Mesilla) -- 986-4234
John Heaton (D-Carlsbad) -- 986-4432
Rhonda King (D-Stanley) -- 986 4438
Larry Larranaga (R-ABQ) -- 986-4215
Antonio Lujan (D-LasCruces) -- 986-4436
Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup) -- 986-4435
Nick Salazar (D-OhkayOwingeh) -- 986-4433
Don Tripp (R-Socorro) -- 986-4220
Richard Vigil (D-Ribera) -- 986-4242
Jeannette Wallace (R-LosAlamos) -- 986-4452
Thank you!
Cricket Appel, Executive Director
Arts Alliance, Inc.
PO Box 27657, Albuquerque, NM 87125
505/268-1920; 505/232-5383 (fax)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Economics 'R US
- More cosmic wisdom from Savage Chickens (bookmark & subscribe to daily chicken wisdom
- Village Voice, "What cooked the world's economy?"
- CNN Money - Economic News and Job Reports
- NPR on the Economy
- Economics 101
- Economics 101, the cows version updated for 2008
How not to deal with it...
Monday, February 2, 2009
Is Legislative webcasting too costly? Let's help
please read & heed this message from Edwina (George) Hewett
Submitted by:
Hey Everyone:
If I have already sent this message to you, please, accept my apologize - I have been working this idea for the last 4 days. For those of you who have not seen this yet here goes. The New Mexico Legislature has tabled the funding for live streaming web casts of their activities. The excuses were ridiculous at best and they finally settled on one that sounded really good, the cost of web casting is "excessive".
The Legislature has already spent $30,000.00 on set up: additional funds would be required to remove the cameras. According to several different articles, a mere $7,000.00 more dollars would get the project operational. The Legislature's refusal to complete the web casting project is a direct slap in the face of every citizen in New Mexico, continuing the long tradition of our elected officials' closed session meetings and back door dealings. That is why I have started a statement donation campaign to shame the New Mexico Legislature to begin live web casts of their activities so that the citizens of New Mexico can realize more transparency in state government.
If the New Mexico Legislature, under the guise of "budget crunch", claims that a mere $7,000.00 from their massive operating budget is what is holding them back, then I, as a private citizen, am willing to help my legislature by sending a donation for web casting.
In an effort to shame the New Mexico Legislature into web casting, I would like to suggest what I call "statement donations" be made to the New Mexico Legislature to aid them in getting web casting up and running.
A suggested minimum $5.00 donation is small enough to not be burdensome and more cost effective than taking a day off work plus travel costs for a trip to Santa Fe. For the statement donations to have an impact, volume is the key. Volume will help our legislature take notice not only financially but in considering potential future votes.
I have already spoken with Representative Janice E Arnold Jones (the legislator who has been web casting her meetings much to the discomfort of the rest of the legislature) regarding statement donations, and she thought this was a great idea. I have cut and pasted her response from my email activity with her (in blue below);
Listening to our citizens is our job. Speaking with your check book is mighty powerful! Thank you so much for your interest and support. Go for it.
How to send a statement donation:
Make Checks to: NM Legislative Council ServiceMemo: For Legislative WebCams/WebCastingMail To: NM Legislative Web Cam Fund
State Capitol
Legislative Council
Service Room 411
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
When asked what would happen to the statement donations should web casting be put into place or denied, Representative Arnold Jones said:
If the money could not be applied it would be returned to the donor by the Legislative Council Service. I also checked to make sure there would be enough postage available to return the checks if necessary. If money truly is the issue, and the cameras are approved, I believe the donations can be applied to providing webcasting. After we are up and running, I would ask for a credit to be listed such as:
"Webcasting brought to you by the taxpayers of NM and the 5321 citizens of NM who provided individual contributions to this project".
I have already sent this idea to several internet blog sites, radio stations, news papers, and would like to forward on to who ever else can help spread the word. If you think this idea has any merit, please make a donation and pass the idea along.
Submitted by:
Edwina R. Hewett (George)
Mountainair, NM 87036-0125
Office: 505-847-2300 Home 505-847-2220
Cell: 505-705-0732 Email: George@WhisperingRange.com
Mountainair, NM 87036-0125
Office: 505-847-2300 Home 505-847-2220
Cell: 505-705-0732 Email: George@WhisperingRange.com
Sunday, February 1, 2009
virtually so: bookmarking
The dark side of online social networks - one of them at any rate - is the ease of address surrender to a social networking application. You may think you have checked boxes to send invitations or a link to no more than a few or even just add names to another address book. Wrong wrong wrong. It is far too easy to click the WRONG button inadvertently.Out goes an unintended invitation to your entire address book.
I don't know about you, but I (and no doubt others) have a whole gaggle addresses that are not personal - work, service, volunteer, organization, event notifications, announcements and so on. It's happened before and now again. I promised then not to let it happen another time. Ooops it did. I can only hope for a large % of no-reply delete w/o opening recipients - and a minimum of cranky replies, which I will feel oblige to process more kindly than is my wont. This time no grousing about not getting replies.
Apologies to readers among the inadvertent invited. I'd email apologies but that would just be more unsolicited email. "Read the blog" reminders are overdue and were on the menu, but I'd better hold off a while on serving up that one.
On positive note, despite unfortunate start, the Web 2.0 app, StumbleUpon, is turning out useful, informative and even a source of random fun. Maybe some recipients will feel the same. Besides, in case you haven't already noticed, I'm already thinking how to turn this into blog fodder. Even a series...
So what do you know or need to know about social bookmarking? You already know what bookmarks and favorites are - the browser feature that lets you save and organize links. With social bookmarking, you save them online, organized not in folders but by tagging. and can share them with either designated friends and groups or the the entire browsing public. How many times a site has been bookmarked is a measure of its popularity.
I'd been using Del.icio.us sporadically; however, this last computer mishap was a slap up the side of the head reminder. There are other bookmarking applications: Diig, Digg, Furl, Faves, Reddit, Buzka, StumbleUpon and more. The now if not defunct then nearly so BackFlip was an early social bookmarking app, folder rather than tag based. Aggregated, social bookmarks generate metadata and yield "folksomonies" or user generated taxonomies. The paper, "Folksonomies - Cooperative Classification and Communication Through Shared Metadata," analyzes the grassroots classification of folksomonies for organizing and sharing digital information and media. This goes into crowdsourcing, but I'll leave that for another time.
StumbleUpon is not quite just a social bookmarking site like Delicious, Diig and others. It is also an Internet community for users discovering, rating and sharing Web pages, photos, and videos. It is a personalized recommendation engine which uses peer and social-networking principles. The stumble feature is rather fun: you ckick interests from a long list when you register: clicking "stumble" takes you to random sites matching your interests. Speed dating as applied to surfing the intenet. I get a lot of books, writing, poetry, words, art, culture and just plain quirky sites. For example, check out Kaleidoscope Painter, the applet that makes it easy for anyone to be a painter. Just drag the mouse and watch what happens.
So what are these sites good for? Sharing and communication aside. You can save your favorite link, annotate them and not lose them. That's information management. There is also a good deal of not ink but electronic typeface spilled over using social bookmarking for promotion and marketing. Even political campaigning.
I don't know about you, but I (and no doubt others) have a whole gaggle addresses that are not personal - work, service, volunteer, organization, event notifications, announcements and so on. It's happened before and now again. I promised then not to let it happen another time. Ooops it did. I can only hope for a large % of no-reply delete w/o opening recipients - and a minimum of cranky replies, which I will feel oblige to process more kindly than is my wont. This time no grousing about not getting replies.
Apologies to readers among the inadvertent invited. I'd email apologies but that would just be more unsolicited email. "Read the blog" reminders are overdue and were on the menu, but I'd better hold off a while on serving up that one.
On positive note, despite unfortunate start, the Web 2.0 app, StumbleUpon, is turning out useful, informative and even a source of random fun. Maybe some recipients will feel the same. Besides, in case you haven't already noticed, I'm already thinking how to turn this into blog fodder. Even a series...
So what do you know or need to know about social bookmarking? You already know what bookmarks and favorites are - the browser feature that lets you save and organize links. With social bookmarking, you save them online, organized not in folders but by tagging. and can share them with either designated friends and groups or the the entire browsing public. How many times a site has been bookmarked is a measure of its popularity.
I'd been using Del.icio.us sporadically; however, this last computer mishap was a slap up the side of the head reminder. There are other bookmarking applications: Diig, Digg, Furl, Faves, Reddit, Buzka, StumbleUpon and more. The now if not defunct then nearly so BackFlip was an early social bookmarking app, folder rather than tag based. Aggregated, social bookmarks generate metadata and yield "folksomonies" or user generated taxonomies. The paper, "Folksonomies - Cooperative Classification and Communication Through Shared Metadata," analyzes the grassroots classification of folksomonies for organizing and sharing digital information and media. This goes into crowdsourcing, but I'll leave that for another time.
StumbleUpon is not quite just a social bookmarking site like Delicious, Diig and others. It is also an Internet community for users discovering, rating and sharing Web pages, photos, and videos. It is a personalized recommendation engine which uses peer and social-networking principles. The stumble feature is rather fun: you ckick interests from a long list when you register: clicking "stumble" takes you to random sites matching your interests. Speed dating as applied to surfing the intenet. I get a lot of books, writing, poetry, words, art, culture and just plain quirky sites. For example, check out Kaleidoscope Painter, the applet that makes it easy for anyone to be a painter. Just drag the mouse and watch what happens.
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