Noticed by Kevin Wong.

An email I received recently, redirected from the wiki.

How are you? I hope you are well. My name is Kevin Wong, and I am the author of the book Heroes of Destiny. I just saw on the front page of the hpllearning wiki that someone rated my Heroes of Destiny book as being the 10th best book of all time, which I found truly humbling and amusing all at once. Who was it that rated my book so immeasurably (and probably undeservingly) highly, and what criteria did he or she use to create the list? In any event, I wanted to thank whoever it was (and if it was you, the wiki's owner, then "thank you") who thought so highly of my book, and to say that it brought a smile (and a great, humble laugh) to my face. :-)

Sincerely,

Kevin Wong
Author of the Heroes of Destiny Trilogy of Books
www.kevinwong.ca
www.heroesofdestiny.ca

This is one thing I've discovered about the blogosphere (the world of blogs out there). Writers are very interested in hearing what people say (positive or negative) about their books and often respond to blogs about their works.

In short, our tongue-in-cheek resource has become a resource, just like that! And now it's noticed by a local resource. Lots of big projects, probably even Wikipedia, started off just like that.

What is Podcasting?

In quick terms, a podcast is like an "on demand" radio show.

A radio show (like the CBC) may choose to put out the sound files for the show onto the internet. That's great, but it's not podcasting quite yet. But, using RSS, they can have their radio show sent automatically to people who subscribe it.

The Podcast is a Blog with Sound

But let's just explain this in terms of something you already know (or ought to know): the blog. Think of the podcast as a blog, except it uses sound files (MP3s, for instance) instead of words. In fact, you can use a plain old blogger blog to do a podcast. All you need to do is provide a link to a sound file on your blog and there is, you have a podcast.

Subscribe to a Podcast using RSS

If a podcast is a blog with sound, then you subscribe to a podcast the same way as you do with a blog: using bloglines or Google Reader.

The Podcast Advantage: MP3 players and Podcasting

There is a bonus way to subscribe to a podcast as well (which is not required as part of thing #12): through an MP3 downloading service such as iTunes. I find this way easier (you just search for the podcast in iTunes and hit "subscribe" and things are taken care of for you).

This creates a larger advantage. If you are "subscribed" to a podcast via an MP3 downloading service, then your MP3 will have the podcast pre-installed whenever you charge it. That means the podcast is right there for you to listen to when you turn on your MP3 player. I have had many great walks to work with my iPod because I discovered a fun new podcast waiting for me.

Conclusion

In the end, Thing #12, is just a review of RSS but it doesn't tell the whole podcasting story. The problem with demonstrating the true power of podcasting is that I'd have to ask you all to have MP3 players to do it properly.

That said, I hear that branches are getting MP3 players to test out overdrive. . . maybe you would want to try subscribing to a podcast as well?

Thing # 12: Subscribe to a Podcast

Description:

A podcast is just an RSS feed with digital sound for content instead of text. The procedure for subscribing to a podcast is the same as for subscribing to any RSS feed.

Hints:

• Try thing #9 first (subscribe to the hpllearning blog's feed), then duplicate the procedure for the podcast.
• Here are some that I like:
  
• Any of the cbc podcasts, particularly The Best of Ideas.
• Uncontrolled Vocabulary, which is a library discussion call-in show. They also have a blog.
• LibVibe is another podcast related to libraries (and it uses blogger to do it).
• Since knitting seems to be my theme today, here's a knitting podcast.
  
• You may have trouble listening to the podcast, depending on what computer you use and whether you have speakers. That's why listening to the podcast is not required for this "thing" (although it would be a shame if you didn't at least try to listen).

Resources:

• Lansing Public Library podcast FAQ.
  

Thing # 10: Add an RSS feed to your Blog

Description:

You can add an RSS feed to your blog as a service to keep your readers up-to-date on the latest goings on as well. Some people call these things "widgets," "modules" or "gadgets" -- though RSS feeds are only one of many things you can add to a blog via a widget.

You can choose any blog or news service you want.

Hints:

• I added the RSS feeds of some Learning 2.0 participants on this blog -- scroll down to the bottom!
  
• In Blogger, click dashboard -> Template Layout -> Page Elements if you are not already logged in. (UPDATE: If you are already logged in and you are visiting your site, you can click New Post -> Template -> Page Elements).
• Click Add a Page Element on the blog outline you see on the page.
• Choose "feed" as the thing you want to add.
• Enter the web address of your feed (what shows in the address bar after you click the ) into the box.
• The RSS feed will show up where you told it to go.
• In Wordpress, click "My Dashboard -> Presentation -> Widgets.
• Scroll down to the bottom and tell Wordpress "how many RSS feeds widgets would you like." Make sure the number is more than zero.
• Drag one of the RSS widgets to where it says "sidebar."
• Click the "configure button." It looks like this:
• Copy the web address of your RSS feed and include a title if you want. You can also choose how many items you'd like to display.
• The RSS feed will show up where you told it to go.

Resources:

• Some Bling for Your Blog -- Scott Kirshner, New York Times.
• 10 RSS Hacks - Micropersuasion Blog
  

Death, Taxes and . . . SPAM!

Just a few words on blogs and spam.

Just like email, blogs can get spammed.

There are two general ways that spam on blogs works.

1. they put ads directly on your blog (to sell viagra for instance) or
   
2. they create a "splog" or spamblog with ads for un-tech-savy visitors to click on.

The first one is fairly easy to recognize. The comments usually have lots of links, are off-topic or pointless ("great post!"), or downright shameless in what they are trying to promote.

Splogs are more tricky. The way they work is by linking to your blog. This creates a "pingback" (a comment on the blog that tells people another blog linked here), which in turn links to their blog where they hope people will click on ads and make the owner money.

Having people link to your blog is often flattering (particularly when someone has something interesting to add to your discussion) and it's the way you can increase your "authority" ranking in a service like Technorati. Splogs play to this need, so you will want to use some of those website evaluation skills to figure out if your pingback is legit or if it's a splog. Here are some ways to tell if a blog is a splog:

• There are lots of advertisements, and nothing much else of value.
• All of the posts appear to do nothing but link to other blogs.
• The posts contain lots of gibberish.
• There is no "about this blog" page, or the page does not have a whole lot of information about the author of the blog.
  

AVOIDING SPAM

In the end, -- avoiding spam on your blog is pretty easy. Here are some Dos and Don'ts.

• DO set up your blog so that you get to moderate your comments before they go up.
  
• In Wordpress, you do this by clicking "Options," then "Discussion" from your dashboard.
  
• In Blogger, it's "Settings" then "Comments."

• DO mark any spam you moderate as "spam." This will help your service eliminate the spam from the system.
  
• DONT allow anonymous comments. Spammers tend to be anonymous.
  
• DONT leave a blog unattended for long periods of time. If you are done with a blog, delete it. "Ghosttown" blogs are prime for spam.
• DO use the built in spam filters from your blog company. Wordpress uses Akismet spam blocking, which I really like.
  
• DONT click any ads or links on a spam blog.
• DO report any splogs to your service. Most bloggings services do not allow spam blogs to exist on their servers.
• DO let a blogger know when you have encountered a spam comment or pingback on their blog. They will thank you for it.
  

Blogs, blogs, blogs!

So we are entering section #2 of the ever illustrious Learning 2.0 challenge! The next two weeks are going to be about blogs.

Chances are, you've already encountered blogs as you went along your daily business of finding information. This section is focussed a little bit more on how to create a blog and why they are so popular. However, there are a few more things that might be of interest to you.

Searching for a blog is a little bit more challenging than your average website. That's why there are search engines like Technorati and Google Blog search that specialize in searching for them. The main difference between a regular search and a blog search is that a regular search will tend to focus in on *particular* blog posts. Blog searches will get you the particular posts and then provide links to the entire blog, in case you want continue reading the authors thoughts about your favorite subject.

Technorati also provides authority rankings for blogs, based on the number of people who link to the blog. This is a helpful (though not perfect) way to see if a blog is worth the page it's written on.

Later on, we will be doing some "things" related to RSS. RSS is a great way to read blogs (among other things). In my view, RSS is *the* most important subject area for libraries to know right now. Itsa little bit tricky for beginners, so you'll find that I will be offering as much help as I can on the subject. Once you know how to use it though, I think you'll find that it can really help keep information overload under control.

Thing #5: Write a 50-100 word Post (on your blog) About Your Article from Thing #2

Description:

Write a post on your brand new blog, describing the article you read as part of thing #2.

Hints:

• You can be longer than 100 words if you want, but try to reach 50 if you can.
• Answering these three questions should get you to 50 words pretty quickly:
• What was the title of the article?
• Who was the author of the article and how did you find it?
• What did you think of the article? Was the writing clear enough that you "got" what he/she was saying? Did you agree? Disagree?
• This is not mandatory, but try and play around a little bit when you write your blog post.
  
• See if you can figure out how to add images, movies, or hyperlinks to your post (remember copyright, though -- don't use someone else's stuff without their permission!).
  
• You can change the colour of your text, provide bullet points, add italics and bold print and so on.
  
• Chances are, the compose box is very much like Word or Wordperfect. Geeks call this a "WYSIWYG" editor. It makes doing web pages a lot easier.

Resources:

• What do all the icons mean? -- Wordpress help
• All about Blogger's Post Editor -- Blogger help
  

Thing #4: Write a comment on the Learning 2.0 campaign blog or any other blog

Description:

Most blogs offer the ability for readers to comment on specific posts. This blog is one example (and yes, you can do this anonymously). Just comment on one of the posts on this blog or another blog of your choosing. Did you like doing one of the things? Did you dislike it? Want to learn more? Have a tip that can help others do it? One line or ten, it's up to you!

Hints:

• You can do this at any time from now to March 31st.
• Look for "[x] comments" at the bottom of the blog post. It is located between the posting time and the "email to a friend" icon that looks like an envelop. Update: If you do not see the comments link, look for "Post a Comment" at the bottom of all the other comments you see.
  
• Remember netiquette? That applies to blog comments too.
• Blogs have different policies on how you are allowed to comment. You may be required to:
  
• 1. Include your real name.
  
• 2. Have an account with blogging service (Google/Blogger is what this blog uses).
  
• 3. Enter special code words (called captchas) before you submit your comment.
  
• 4. Provide an email address (that does not get posted with your comment).
• 5. Wait a little while after you post before you can see your comment so a moderator can see it first.
• This blog applies #s 3 & 5 to prevent spam and/or abuse of the blog.
• To be anonymous (on this blog) you have to choose "anonymous" as your identity, or you can make up a name for yourself (or, as they say, be "pseudonymous" ).
  
• Blogs may also ask you to add the address of your personal website or blog. This is usually optional and is a good way to promote your blog, provided you are offering something useful to the blog discussion.
  
• You are permitted to break the "add something to the conversation" rule on this blog. "Good idea" or "I agree/disagree" is fine. I just want you to have tried commenting. Of course, if you really have something to say. . ..

Hype:

• People who advocate Library 2.0 often talk about the blog as a way to engage in a conversation with your users, particularly online users, via comments. It's an interesting theme that will rear its head again as we learn about other tools.
  
• Ann Arbor Public Library is known for its attempt to develop conversations with its blog-style website.
• Hennepin County Library even offers comments on their catalogue!
  

Resources:

• How to comment like a King (or Queen!) -- Cool Cat Teacher Blog
• How to Blog for Fun and Profit -- Blog Commenting Etiquette? -- T. L. Pakii Pierce