Tuesday, June 25, 2002

Library Chat Greeter Roll Your Own IM-bot "WiredBots: simple toolkits for making AIM and MSN Messenger IM bots." [Boing Boing] This is too damn cool! If I was only a programmer, I would play around with it and create a library bot that patrons could query for bestseller lists, library hours, and eventually OPAC & database queries. Anybody else want to try until that day when pigs fly? Alternatively, maybe Andy B. could provide some assistance on this one.... 2:13:27 PM    comment []

Resume Online I've wanted to post something about .... Resume Online I've wanted to post something about myself to satisfy those curious about such things. However, Blogspace does not allow for such Web pages. While reading The Information Professional's Guide to Career Development Online I got the idea of posting my resume at one of the free services. I picked the one at SLA. This seems to be working just fine. There is an "About me" link in the left column. Please let me know if there is any problem. If you are in the job market, the SLA job center would be a good place to visit, if only to post your resume. It's free and easy. get_comment_link(78178677) Add a comment [Catalogablog] 2:11:18 PM    comment []

GILS & Dublin Core This is a note I recently recei .... GILS & Dublin Core This is a note I recently received. "Colleagues, I am gratified to report the Web Metadata Standard for Minnesota has been approved by the MN Information Policy Council. This Dublin Core-based standard (ANSI/NISO Z39.85) has been in use by many agencies, beginning with the Foundations Project in 1998. The standard is integrated into the new North Star Portal content management templates, and the state search engine is tuned to use the DC elements in results ranking. It is part of the Enterprise Architecture, along with the GIS metadata standard and the recordkeeping metadata standard. Located at http://bridges.state.mn.us/bestprac/mn_dc_standard.pdf Eileen Quam Information Architect Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources eileen.quam@dnr.state.mn.us 651.297.2341 651.297.4946 FAX" get_comment_link(78184423) Add a comment [Catalogablog] 2:10:51 PM    comment []

Roll your own IM-bot. WiredBots: simple toolkits for making AIM and MSN Messenger IM bots. Link Discuss [bOing bOing] 2:08:30 PM    comment []

"Poor" fire policy major contributor to US wildfires. Heavy logging, insufficient brush clearance and a policy of suppressing small wildfires are behind the devastating blazes, say fire experts [New Scientist] 2:04:48 PM    comment []

Human Demand Exceeds Earth's Sustainable Supply [Scientific American] 2:04:28 PM    comment []

Take my cash, please. Wi-Fi in the Media Center. Toshiba's wireless network file server could be the hub of all data and entertainment communications in the home... the question is, who's going to buy it? [allNetDevices Wireless News] Um, not me. The price point on this is far too high ($1440.00 US) for the basic unit, which, while it does have wireless access and 7 ethernet ports, also comes with only a 15 GB 4200 RPM hard drive. Personally, I'd rather convert one of my old boxes or build new rather than use this, just to learn how to do it. [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog] 2:03:32 PM    comment []

Fun with 'bots. Library Chat Greeter. Roll Your Own IM-bot "WiredBots: simple toolkits for making AIM and MSN Messenger IM bots." [Boing Boing] This is too damn cool! If I was only a programmer, I would play around with it and create a library bot that patrons could query for bestseller lists, library hours, and eventually OPAC & database queries. Anybody else want to try until that day when pigs fly? Alternatively, maybe Andy B. could provide some assistance on this one.... [The Shifted Librarian] Given that they reccomend doing the programming in perl, it could probably also be done in python as well. I know with python it is supposed to be fairly easy to build in a GUI, which in turn would allow you to create the forms and fields to generate answers from. I know that perl has that capability as well, but I have books on python here, and it is already on my machine... Now I have a reason to start learning it. Thought: Set the bot with security such that it will only give certain answers to people that you have on a list. For example, you would have it set to tell a close friend where you were, or give out your cell number in case they had lost it, but it would not hand this out to complete strangers. It could also pester you with reminders form your appointment book, or to do list, or even take short messages from your friends (if they knew the keywords to get it started). Example: Friend: hey! Where is Jane? AIMbot: (checks name against list of trusted folks) Jane is on her way to work. Friend: Leave Message? AIMbot: Handjive? (checking for the password to allow this functionality) Friend: Annabobanna AIMbot: Go ahead. Friend: Meet you at Phil's restaurant after work, 6ish, k? AIMbot:... AIMbot:... AImbot:... Will that be all? Friend: Yup, later! AIMbot:Goodbye Then, when the user goes online later, the bot lets them know that there are messages waiting. Since AIMbot only records messages from people that you allow, and if you want, only from those who know the password (as above). [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog] 2:01:56 PM    comment []

Instant Messaging And Outlook. Fun With 'bots "Thought: Set the bot with security such that it will only give certain answers to people that you have on a list. For example, you would have it set to tell a close friend where you were, or give out your cell number in case they had lost it, but it would not hand this out to complete strangers. It could also pester you with reminders form your appointment book, or to do list, or even take short messages from your friends (if they knew the keywords to get it started). Example: Friend: hey! Where is Jane? AIMbot: (checks name against list of trusted folks) Jane is on her way to work. Friend: Leave Message? AIMbot: Handjive? (checking for the password to alow this functionality) Friend: Annabobanna AIMbot: Go ahead. Friend: Meet you at Phil's restaurant after work, 6ish, k? AIMbot:... AIMbot:... AImbot:... Will that be all? Friend: Yup, later! AIMbot:Goodbye Then, when the user goes online later, the bot lets them know that there are messages waiting. Since AIMbot only records messages from people that you allow, and if you want, only form those who know the password (as above)." [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog] Ryan pushes back on my post about rolling our own library bots. His scenario would be particularly interesting if the bot could interact with the copy of Outlook running on your PC. Then it could tell your friend that you're already busy that night but could suggest tomorrow night. For libraries, it'd be great if a patron could query a registration database for programs, especially those with limited seating. For example, a person could register this way, find out if they're registered, get an IM reminder, or cancel a registration. You should be able to query the calendar for specific events, too (for example, type in "book club" and find out when the next discussion is and what title they're reading). If you could send vCalendar entries through IM, one click would add an event to your calendar. [The Shifted Librarian] 1:57:57 PM    comment []

Survey Sample: Development of an ASP.NET Web Form. Summary: Describes the steps taken to implement the design of a survey Web Form sample and includes a code sample. (8 printed pages) [Sam Gentile's Radio Weblog] 1:51:55 PM    comment []

How Long Until Someone Hacks The Barcodes?.... Disney Mug Holders, Beware "The new system of computerized monitoring of fountain refills being experimented with at Typhoon Lagoon could tighten a rather loose policy at Disney's resorts. They sell 16-ounce souvenir mugs for $9.99. Guests may refill them at resort snack bars unlimited times with soda, coffee or tea for the length of their stay. Cashiers sell the mugs and then are supposed to keep a watchful eye as guests get their own refills. But some Disney World employees and regular guests say they take the mugs on repeat visits to the snack bars and fill up -- basically a lifetime of free drinks for one purchase. They are occasionally offered on eBay and at garage sales, testimony to their timeless value. Cashiers say the mugs' designs aren't changed enough for them to spot old ones. But the new system being tried at Typhoon Lagoon employs a bar code that's read electronically at the drink dispenser and recognizes old mugs." [Orlando Sentinel, via Boing Boing] [The Shifted Librarian] 7:33:10 AM    comment []

Another Blogging Term. "CyberJournalist.net has a nice listing of journalists' weblogs (aka J-Blogs). Too bad it's not annotated, although the media source is noted where appropriate." [Blogroots] A nice list, even if they are counting Matt Drudge as a J-blog. How about a separate list of G-logs - gossip-logs? Better yet, why don't we call them flogs? [The Shifted Librarian] 7:31:45 AM    comment []

[Dave's Handsome Radio Blog!] 7:30:45 AM    comment []

Do You Know Where His Keys Are?. One man's attempt to learn how to use a Web server turned into a giant, obsessive Web project: He has documented and photographed the entire contents of his house for all the Web's surfers to see. By Leander Kahney. [Wired News] 7:24:58 AM    comment []

Warchalking Runes 1.0. Matt Jones, inventor of "war-chalking" -- hobo-runes that WiFi activists chalk on the sidewalk when they encouter a wireless netwok -- proposes a set of simple symbols. I'd like to point out that while I haven't invented anything quite so fabulous as war-chalking, I did come up with the blogger gang-sign. Hold out your left hand, palm up, then grab your left forearm and make a moue of pain as you massage away invisible RSI cramps -- dude, you're throwing signs! Link Discuss (Thanks, Matt!) [bOing bOing] 7:21:20 AM    comment []

I missed the apparent hoopla over the pulling of an 'offensive' starbucks advertisement [via smoel] [Adam Curry: Adam Curry's Weblog] Isn't STarbucks owned by the bank of islam?  Maybe there is something there. 7:17:40 AM    comment []

More Like Chomsky. Prentiss Riddle comments on Phillip Winn's and my blog conversation about Noam Chomsky: I do think there's something to the "Manufacturing Consent" thesis, as I understand it: that our media, universities and other institutions are subject to a lot more groupthin [More Like This WebLog] 7:11:04 AM    comment []

Escape From the Planet of the Linguists. I neglected to link Phillip Winn's extended comments on my response to his discussion of Chomsky, and my tirade on the response to Megnut's article on Blog structure. He raises a question, which I'm still thinking through, about my politics. [More Like This WebLog] 7:10:49 AM    comment []