So I trekked up and down through hard drives and cleaned what I could. I saw files it was nice to rediscover, and some I never cared much for in the first place and wiped them without mercy.
I 'scraped' wallpaper pictures from my C: drive. I'd accumulated a bunch from the web on spur of the moment and came to realize, like clothes in the back of the closet, there were a lot I always skipped past in order to get to my favorites.
And I copied-and-pasted text files into e-mail and sent home. Not just to save space on hard drives, but because [no offense], I'll be updated with Microsoft Suite Office software soon. [over the years I've learned that personal files and pictures can be forfeited when I'm issued a new computer CPU, operating system or major programs update].
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Spring Cleaning #29: Email
Well I gained some storage space back weeding my email. I had half a dozen documents in a "humor" folder where I file things once in a great while. One was quite large, which surprised me, but I was able to move the contents into Word and downsize it even more. [It was strange finding old mail that still had names of deliverees who haven't worked for HCPL in a long time though].
That seems to be a danger of making such sub-folders in the first place, dumping mail in them and forgetting them.
But I think deleting mail goes smoothly for me. I keep a certain number of recent supervisor 'announcements' in stock for awhile, since I might have to refer to them, or send them again to branches who deleted-without-reading them in the first place.
And we have to monitor deleted messages in my department. For some reason, our e-mail calendars generate half a dozen blank meeting appointments per day for each of us. There's no source person identified, and nothing is ever actually scheduled, they just appear in our deleted mail folder. The source can't be found, and it can't be turned off. We each just have to delete 30 blank meeting appointment messages per week from our deleted mail folders. Sheesh.
And when I create messages and want to select receivers, I have to switch the automatic Microsoft Outlook Address Book over every time from the 'mail.hcpl.net' default to my personal Contacts directory. A setting, I'm told, that can't be fixed. So I switch my address book over every time I use it. Sheesh.
And problems occur when I receive "HTML" messages that I need to reply to. Part of the message changes or screws up fonts and settings, or won't change when I need to add or edit the message. Sheesh.
Which are the kinds of thing that make me afraid to even check Outlook features. Sometimes I can find and fix settings that keep causing me headaches. But I never know what damage I'll initiate either. Many of the tools and settings don't seem to explain what they do till you click them.
So I'm good with the e-mail things I can control. I can only imagine what the Microsoft Office Suite upgrade contains, or what the new version of Outlook has in store for me. What will it start doing, or stop doing, to settings I have working at the moment? Sheesh.
That seems to be a danger of making such sub-folders in the first place, dumping mail in them and forgetting them.
But I think deleting mail goes smoothly for me. I keep a certain number of recent supervisor 'announcements' in stock for awhile, since I might have to refer to them, or send them again to branches who deleted-without-reading them in the first place.
And we have to monitor deleted messages in my department. For some reason, our e-mail calendars generate half a dozen blank meeting appointments per day for each of us. There's no source person identified, and nothing is ever actually scheduled, they just appear in our deleted mail folder. The source can't be found, and it can't be turned off. We each just have to delete 30 blank meeting appointment messages per week from our deleted mail folders. Sheesh.
And when I create messages and want to select receivers, I have to switch the automatic Microsoft Outlook Address Book over every time from the 'mail.hcpl.net' default to my personal Contacts directory. A setting, I'm told, that can't be fixed. So I switch my address book over every time I use it. Sheesh.
And problems occur when I receive "HTML" messages that I need to reply to. Part of the message changes or screws up fonts and settings, or won't change when I need to add or edit the message. Sheesh.
Which are the kinds of thing that make me afraid to even check Outlook features. Sometimes I can find and fix settings that keep causing me headaches. But I never know what damage I'll initiate either. Many of the tools and settings don't seem to explain what they do till you click them.
So I'm good with the e-mail things I can control. I can only imagine what the Microsoft Office Suite upgrade contains, or what the new version of Outlook has in store for me. What will it start doing, or stop doing, to settings I have working at the moment? Sheesh.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Spring Cleaning #28
Getting Things Done - I can't say I found this "new" organizational philosophy all that exciting. It sounds like all the others. "Main priorities first," "touch things only once," "stay focused and undistracted," "develop a routine and stick to it,"
And lots of business buzzwords: "paradigm," "8 levels," "maximize with a simplified systemology" etc.
But I suppose hearing the basics reiterated is always useful. As is knowing lots of ways to have yourself reminded of tasks on your list; e-mail, voicemail, text messages, on-line sites & calendars...
I myself like to use printed lists and calendars that I update in Word or Publisher. I can add to them in an instant with a pen without "disconnecting" totally from my work flow. I can scratch down notes even during meetings without turning on, silencing, logging on, accessing charging[or accidentally dropping] any devices. And I get to chew on my pen as a bonus.
But I find the on-line organizational tools interesting and will keep them in mind for possible use in the future. They may wind up being useful to me now that I've been made aware of them.
But let's face it, deleting a reminder note is never as satisfying as scratching through it with a pen. And every time you read through the list you get to rediscover the items you've been victorious against and enjoy the smug satisfaction all over again. I can get a sense of progress and momentum with a scratched off list.
And as Mel Brooks once said about writing by typing vs. pencil and paper, "it's easier to tell if an idea is crap and needs to be erased if it's written by hand in pencil. Typing makes it look too 'official' and already accepted, even if it's stupid."
And lots of business buzzwords: "paradigm," "8 levels," "maximize with a simplified systemology" etc.
But I suppose hearing the basics reiterated is always useful. As is knowing lots of ways to have yourself reminded of tasks on your list; e-mail, voicemail, text messages, on-line sites & calendars...
I myself like to use printed lists and calendars that I update in Word or Publisher. I can add to them in an instant with a pen without "disconnecting" totally from my work flow. I can scratch down notes even during meetings without turning on, silencing, logging on, accessing charging[or accidentally dropping] any devices. And I get to chew on my pen as a bonus.
But I find the on-line organizational tools interesting and will keep them in mind for possible use in the future. They may wind up being useful to me now that I've been made aware of them.
But let's face it, deleting a reminder note is never as satisfying as scratching through it with a pen. And every time you read through the list you get to rediscover the items you've been victorious against and enjoy the smug satisfaction all over again. I can get a sense of progress and momentum with a scratched off list.
And as Mel Brooks once said about writing by typing vs. pencil and paper, "it's easier to tell if an idea is crap and needs to be erased if it's written by hand in pencil. Typing makes it look too 'official' and already accepted, even if it's stupid."
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Week 10: #23 I Am... Complete!
They say it's harder to open up and learn new things as you get older.
But despite some griping, and doing exercises on some topics I wasn't interested in, this was the best training exercise I've ever been involved with at HCPL!
I know I was exposed to a ton of technological tools and ideas that I wouldn't have been otherwise. Some I cared for, some I didn't. But I'm still grateful to have been introduced to them all.
I couldn't estimate the enormous effort involved in preparing and running the program for us, monitoring those involved, and helping out the totally clueless folks. But I sincerely appreciate the effort in our behalf, and the fun things I got to learn [or finally play with on work time].
FAVORITES
YouTube - a great video collection site! I could get very addicted.
Downloadable Media - lots of audio fun for this big fan of music, books-on-audio, and old-time radio.
Flickr - it's a lot of fun, but it can eat enormous amounts of time digging through this huge "shoebox" full of photos.
LibraryThing - I like to make lists and picture catalogs. I'd love to make my DVD collection on this sometime.
LESS FAVORITES [only because of what suits me personally]:
Blogs - I'm not the kind of person who enjoys maintaining a blog, or surfing to read other peoples. Maybe a celebrity's on-line journal, but even that's a lot to keep up with for me.
RSS Newsreaders - would love to have the time to surf my favorite feeds with these. But I have to get up from the computer and walk around sometime.
Avatars - a necessary visual, I suppose, to show some personality, yet maintain some on-line privacy. But awkward for me, since I've never been all that comfortable dressing up as a character in a costume in real life.
Social Networking - my life is so very full and enjoyable as it is that I don't have much desire to reach out and network with even more people on-line. I know I wouldn't have the time to maintain those additional relationships anyway.
Passwords for everything - sheesh!
Podcasts - too much like listening to the damn radio for my taste.
Thanks!!!
But despite some griping, and doing exercises on some topics I wasn't interested in, this was the best training exercise I've ever been involved with at HCPL!
I know I was exposed to a ton of technological tools and ideas that I wouldn't have been otherwise. Some I cared for, some I didn't. But I'm still grateful to have been introduced to them all.
I couldn't estimate the enormous effort involved in preparing and running the program for us, monitoring those involved, and helping out the totally clueless folks. But I sincerely appreciate the effort in our behalf, and the fun things I got to learn [or finally play with on work time].
FAVORITES
YouTube - a great video collection site! I could get very addicted.
Downloadable Media - lots of audio fun for this big fan of music, books-on-audio, and old-time radio.
Flickr - it's a lot of fun, but it can eat enormous amounts of time digging through this huge "shoebox" full of photos.
LibraryThing - I like to make lists and picture catalogs. I'd love to make my DVD collection on this sometime.
LESS FAVORITES [only because of what suits me personally]:
Blogs - I'm not the kind of person who enjoys maintaining a blog, or surfing to read other peoples. Maybe a celebrity's on-line journal, but even that's a lot to keep up with for me.
RSS Newsreaders - would love to have the time to surf my favorite feeds with these. But I have to get up from the computer and walk around sometime.
Avatars - a necessary visual, I suppose, to show some personality, yet maintain some on-line privacy. But awkward for me, since I've never been all that comfortable dressing up as a character in a costume in real life.
Social Networking - my life is so very full and enjoyable as it is that I don't have much desire to reach out and network with even more people on-line. I know I wouldn't have the time to maintain those additional relationships anyway.
Passwords for everything - sheesh!
Podcasts - too much like listening to the damn radio for my taste.
Thanks!!!
Week 9: #22 Downloadable Media - Deal Me In!
I think I could really enjoy this. I found lots of down-loadable audio to interest me in HCPL's collection. And some video too, [although my video-watching plate is pretty darn full these days so I don't think I'll be downloading even more].
But audio I can download to a CD, and listen to in my car during commutes to and from work is very desirable to me. Because it's only in my car that I have the time to listen for enjoyment without being restricted to headphones.
I found various New Age music titles I want to hear, and a lot of Jack Benny radio shows.
As to mystery books I found the original Sherlock Holmes short stories, and Rex Stout "Nero Wolfe" novels. In the classic novels there's "Journey To the Center of the Earth," "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," and "Walden."
In comedy books I found "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This," Bob Newhart's autobiography.
So I found lots of audio that I want to listen to. I'm just limited by my available free time!
But audio I can download to a CD, and listen to in my car during commutes to and from work is very desirable to me. Because it's only in my car that I have the time to listen for enjoyment without being restricted to headphones.
I found various New Age music titles I want to hear, and a lot of Jack Benny radio shows.
As to mystery books I found the original Sherlock Holmes short stories, and Rex Stout "Nero Wolfe" novels. In the classic novels there's "Journey To the Center of the Earth," "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," and "Walden."
In comedy books I found "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This," Bob Newhart's autobiography.
So I found lots of audio that I want to listen to. I'm just limited by my available free time!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Week 9: #21 Podcasts Were Pointless
I'm not just trying to be a wet blanket here, but podcasts wound up being pointless for me. I'm saying that despite the fact that I feel very positively about the iHCPL training topics and exercises.
But I'm a music fan and audio collector, and I've had years now to build a great collection. So I'm used to listening to exactly what I want to hear when I want it. I avoid listening to the radio almost entirely, [except when the radio plays while I'm in the process of popping CDs or audiotapes into my car player]. Even satellite radio is of absolutely no interest to me.
But I realize that podcasts could be useful, informative and fun if you find exactly what you're looking for, but I spent hours searching found almost nothing. It was like scanning back and forth through a hundred radio stations trying to find favorite songs and never catching any.
I tried podcast directories, topics, genres and keyword search combinations. I tried favorite TV show websites that I though had related podcasts and updates. The directories all seemed to either be very wide in topic and take a lot of browsing to narrow down, or were all by two-bit radio "discjockeys."
I added the RSS feed to my Bloglines for NPR's "Performing Arts" topic, but that's as close to a feed for actual podcasts as I could get and still find one on a topic I cared about in the slightest.
So I consider podcasting useful, but didn't find any to suit me whatsoever.
But I'm a music fan and audio collector, and I've had years now to build a great collection. So I'm used to listening to exactly what I want to hear when I want it. I avoid listening to the radio almost entirely, [except when the radio plays while I'm in the process of popping CDs or audiotapes into my car player]. Even satellite radio is of absolutely no interest to me.
But I realize that podcasts could be useful, informative and fun if you find exactly what you're looking for, but I spent hours searching found almost nothing. It was like scanning back and forth through a hundred radio stations trying to find favorite songs and never catching any.
I tried podcast directories, topics, genres and keyword search combinations. I tried favorite TV show websites that I though had related podcasts and updates. The directories all seemed to either be very wide in topic and take a lot of browsing to narrow down, or were all by two-bit radio "discjockeys."
I added the RSS feed to my Bloglines for NPR's "Performing Arts" topic, but that's as close to a feed for actual podcasts as I could get and still find one on a topic I cared about in the slightest.
So I consider podcasting useful, but didn't find any to suit me whatsoever.
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