Thing 18: Web 2.0 Tools

I just went right to the award winners list. That was distracting enough. I could have spent hours looking at some of the tools here. Some I was very familiar with--like Facebook and Twitter and all the other things we have already looked at. Some were new and exciting. Of course I went right to the "Food" section!

My favorite in the Food section was called Urbanspoon. Although I love cooking, I also love to go out to eat and have someone else do all the work. What can I say? I like to be pampered. This site introduced me to all kinds of restaurants here in town. Some how Urbanspoon psychically knew that I was in Columbus. Big Brother knows my location! In addition to reviews of the restaurant, you will also find a link if the restaurant has a website. And my favorite part is the menu section. If the restaurant doesn't have a menu section, you might still luck out here. Sometimes a lovely diner will have taken a picture of the menu and posted it here. So for all those behind-the-times places that don't even have a presence on the web, it may be possible that some foodie had posted a menu pic. And back to those reviews.... These aren't just reviews from some Joe off the street. Although hearing what the average person thinks of a place is often helpful and insightful, it's not very authoritative. Urbanspoon will have your average Joe reviews AND reviews from the newspapers.

Now even though Big Brother told Urbanspoon that I was in Columbus, I still have the option of looking at other cities. This is a great way to find restaurants when you are going out of town. There are quick links for the top restaurants in the larger cities in the US and Canada. Fortunately Columbus was considered large enough. But let's say I was heading over to Ashtabula. With a few more clicks I can see many other cities all across the U.S.

What a fun site!

Thing 12: Twitter

Yeah, I last did Thing 7. And now I'm on Thing 12 because I've had to set up a Twitter account. After this I'm off to explore delicious and wikis because I need to use those with my job. Like right now. So let's get these Things under control! My mind is just not linear, so let's jump around.

First things first--my twitter name is @2slappy. Someday I might explain the whole Slappy nickname thing my husband and I have going. Really all you need to know is that somehow Slappy White is involved. And isn't Slappy a really cool name?

I'm still trying to figure out how some of Twitter works. I just need to focus a little more and try not to multi-task too much while learning. I could see myself getting sucked into Twitter and getting very distracted with it. It's wonderful for quickie updates.

CML could have used Twitter the other day. COSI was using the Auditorium for a program. It wasn't a library program, but it was open to the public. COSI and CML could have sent out tweets letting our customers know it was happening.

One of the things I really like about Twitter (and the blogs and some of the other Things) is that I have been able to reconnect with some friends. I've been catching up with Jim and Annette. (Hmmm, maybe I should have linked their Twitter accounts.) I can see my daughters and I using this a bunch. Especially my daughter who is off at Otterbein. Beck kind of uses her Facebook like Twitter at times. I would like to seek out other people on Twitter more. But every time I try to search out new people, Twitter tells me that the feature is "temporarily disabled." HA!

I think I might ramble too much for Twitter to become my favorite way to communicate. Only 140 characters!? I laugh at their restrictions. I was so excited when I learned I could text to other Verizon customers for waaaay more than 160 characters. Now my texts go on and on and on. Just like the Energizer Bunny! (OMG! I so want those for Christmas!)