Searchology

In honor of spring arriving, here’s a link to the WWF’s Time for Change site, where you can tell them what commitment you can make to help the environment.   Earth Day is in 22 days! 

I just finished reading Around the Bloc, and started Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. Reading Lolita is a challenging book, but it’s fascinating to read about the author’s experiences living in Iran when the country began changing and cracking down on intellectual freedom. 

Around the Bloc is the account of an American (and Austin) college student who lived in Russia, China and Cuba a few years ago.  She talks to young students there to see how they feel about human rights and opportunities in their countries, and it’s interesting to read about her experiences.

What’s on your bookshelf?

Want to be on the cover of Wired Magazine?  Create your own cover here!

This video about how the web is changing was created by a professor at Kansas State University for a course called Digital Ethnography  and is a very cool demonstration of how web 2.0 is changing our world.   What thoughts does it bring up for you?

I was lucky enough to win free wristbands to SXSW music this week!(very lucky!)   We heard several bands  last night, and I was thinking how cool it was because it is so global.

We saw bands from Liverpool, and a Texan living in Liverpool, L.A., and South Africa.  And now, with all the great internet tools, we can easily listen to their music, watch videos of performances, hear podcasts of interviews, visit their websites, etc.   I was also reading how SXSW is using software called Twitter which allows people to have instantaneous updates of what their friends are doing, which at SXSW, lets people meet up with their friends easily.  (If you want to read more about it, check out my post on my technology blog).

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with too much information or do you like having all this easily available?  Or both?? (put me in the last category–I like it but sometimes it’s too much!)

Add your favorite word to the Wall of Words and help a children’s charity! 

   The Wall of Words is a British website where they are trying to make a “wall of words” that is two miles long by the end of March.  You can add your own favorite word or see what other people’s favorite words are.

Did you know the library has audio books you can download or check out?

    We have a service called Netlibrary, which allows you to download audiobooks to listen to on your computer or mp3 player(unfortunately it doesn’t work on an iPod).   If you email the librarians or come by, we can give you an “e-ticket” which allows you to download the book for free.

Another site is Librivox, where volunteers record books and put the mp3 files online for free downloading!  There are many titles there (and you can even volunteer to read one!)

  We also have Playaways, which are similar to little iPods, but each one has its own book installed in it.   Those can be checked out from the library and we even have the earbuds for them!

    Check out this new contest–It gives you the chance to redesign your school!

You can submit an iMovie, collage, book–any media you want–to explain what your school could look like!   How can your school be ready for the 21st century?  How could it be more environmental?   How will schools of the future look?  Here is your chance to have your say!

First step is to register here.  Check out extra resources here.

And thanks to my blog pal at think:lab for the recommendation!