Finished!

Week 10 came and went many weeks ago, but I'm going to address the final 5 things now--with one full day to go until the deadline.

23. The website isn't all that new anymore--I've been using it awhile now and I'm finally getting the hang of it. I recently had a meeting with Gary in Communications that made me realize just how thought out the new website is. Although I've been using the website, I haven't really thought about it much--other people have been doing that for me, clearly. Gary told us a bit about how the webpage is meant to represent all of our users and showed us a few ways segments of the page are designed for their targeted users--such as the TXT4NSWRS--which I read without thinking but would be gibberish for many library customers. It was an enlightening conversation, actually--it made me like the page more.

24. Learn a new language using Mango.

I love Mango. I love showing customers how easy it is to use, and all the languages available, and that you don't have to wait a week or more to get a Spanish instruction CD. However, I am a bit hopeless at language learning. I tried the Spanish lessons (they brought back a lot of memories from college and high school Spanish)--but my accent is dreadful. If you think I sound like I'm from Tennessee when I speak English, you should hear me mangling "Mi llamo es Lori Easterwood, y tu?" Embarrassing.

I'll keep at it though--it would help if I ever get to do one of our English conversation groups...

25. Twitter.

I have had a Twitter account for a long time--I pretty much ignore it. I get the occassional "X is following you on Twitter" message, but those people will always be disappointed because I rarely post. My closest friends are not big mobile users, so I've never really gotten into Twitter. I tried again when the 27 Things started, but it still just didn't take for me.

26. Thingfo.

I'm at risk of sounding really negative here, but because I am not incredibly active on either my Twitter or Facebook pages (I'm more of a lurker)--Thingfo is not a terribly useful widget for me. I really like the idea of it, however.

27. Summary.

Okay, my last two things may make you wonder why I did this at all (much less helped organize it) if those are my opinions of web 2.0 technologies. Well, I think the most important part of this project is the trying out of new technologies and widgets--all of us aren't going to love every little thing. I have tried everything which is the most valuable part of this to me. Now I know what Thingfo is--I can help people install it, tell them what it does, etc. I know why it isn't the most useful technology for my personal life, but I am thrilled to know about it for my professional life.

Most of all, I have loved reading my co-worker's blogs and seeing how everyone else has responded to this project. The ideas being tossed about on the blogs have often been even more exciting than the "things" that prompted them. I hope this continues in some new incarnation.