Final Post - I would like to thank the creator(s) of the 16 Things assignment. I have learned sooo much via this tool. I intend to start a personal blog from this experience. The world is my oyster (need a better metaphore - I don't like oysters) and I intend to continue this amazing journey.

Now look at this photo and SMILE!

Photo by Justin Pets http://www.flickr.com/photos/11586994@N00/360305678/

THing 16 - This is a link to a very cool picture of the Minneapolis skyline. Found it on Flickr World Map.

http://www.flickr.com/map?&fLat=46.4419&fLon=-92.7506&zl=12&map_type=sat

Thing 15 - I am already a podcast fan. I like to listen to MPR programs when I have the time. I have added MPR to my Google Reader list. Again, this is a challenge for me in figuring out how to bring all these things together and remember to look at them. Is there such a thing as a virtual post-it note? Regarding I-Tunes... yeah, I hate to think how much money my kids have spent downloading to their I-Pods (or as I like to call them "Mom, I can't hear you when you ask me to load the dishwasher because I have music blaring in my ears - devices." I actually have an early generation i-pod loaded with music I enjoy. (Yes, I had my kids download it for me). Every time they get a new-fangled i-pod, I get the old one. Same thing goes for my phone. It's practically an antique.

Hard to say if Walt Whitman would listen to podcast. I think he would have taken advantage of technology where ever possible (with his parent's permission). Photo: Walt Whitman, c. 1867, Albumen silver print by Mathew B. Brady

"I accept reality and dare not question it." Walt Whitman

Typographic Logos

Check out this SlideShare Presentation: I found this on Slideshare. SO cool. I know this goes back a few "Things" but I was interested in the site and I found this slide show of logos. Wanted to share it because I thought it was neat. And was pretty proud of myself for actually getting it on my blog!

Typographic Logos

View more documents from gerson.abe.

Thing 14 - I am pretty diligent when it comes to staying on top of projects. Comes with age I guess. How am I doing the these 16 Things? They are due next Tuesday, November 10th, and I have two left after this one. See - I am on top of things. I will, however, share these sites with my kids in college (3). They can definitely use these calculators to help them stay on task. Just for kicks, I plugged in the date of an assignment I have in Public Speaking and it really broke down the steps I need to complete on each day to turn in a first class work. Where was this 30 years ago when I was sluffing off in college? All I had then to keep me on task was Perkins coffee ( all-nighters) and a guilty conscience. Times have changed.

Thing 13 - I googled "on line productivity tools" and can you say "overwhelmed?" My challenge is to begin using the computer as I currently my Franklin Planner. I am very tactile and I like to hold things like calendars, book, newspapers, etc. But I can see by looking at some of these sites, there are many ways to utilize the computer to become very organized and eliminate the paper chase. And I am a habitual list maker. Post-it notes abound in my work spaces. Can this truly be eliminated? I will give it a try. I have joined Ta-Da-list and made a list of things I have to do. I had it e-mailed to myself. I must learn how to interface (right word) all these neat apps to make my life easier.

Now, can someone tell me how to make a cup of tea and curl up in a big comfy chair with my...computer? I guess I need a laptop.

Thing 12 - I have a Del.icio.us account now and I have tagged two of my favorite URLs - The USA Today and the Los Angeles Times daily crossword puzzles. I do these every day and now I can just click and they will come up. Super.

I can see how some of the sites I have recently used like Picture Trail, Flickr, and BookLovers Wiki, will be soon added to my Delicious bookmarks. Fun and very expedicious. I will definitely use this site in my professional life - (when that begins). I NEED A JOB! Sorry about the blurt!

Thing 11 - Check out my garden on the revolving cube! I did this in Picture Trail. How neat is that! I will continue to have fun with these creations at home with my own computer where I can put my photos on my Facebook in these fun and interesting ways!

Thing 10 - I took the image of my lake and did some neat things with it in Big Huge Labs. Made a jigsaw puzzle - what a great Christmas gift. I may just have to do this for family members who love the Lake. There are so many neat things I can do with this web site. I will just have to keep fooling around with buttons and such. As long as I don't pirate anything or give them a credit card number, I should be safe. Ha!

Bad Medicine Lake by Greg Hefner

Wow! Thank you Ashley in Academic Achievement or helping me accomplish this "Thing." What I have spent hours trying to do, she did in about 1 minute. I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN!

Lesson learned? Go to AAC if you are frustrated and go sooner than later!

I found this amazing photograph on Flickr. Mr. Hefner took this after getting out of the sauna on Bad Medicine Lake - a regular pastime for lake residents. Our cabin is closed up for the winter and I miss it so. Bad Medicine is truly good medicine! It is where I find peace and someday I hope to be practicing my vocation on the deck overlooking the lake, listening to the loons and thanking God for the amazing opportunities life has afforded me. The URL for this photo is http://www.flickr.com/photos/greghefner/2261892749/

Thing 9 - Okay, I am really struggling with this one. Feeling like a total computer idiot because after repeated attempts to upload a picture from Flikr to this blog, I continue to fail. I found the most amazing sunset photo taken by someone on my lake, Bad Medicine in northern Minnesota. I would love to have this pic on my blog because Bad Med. Lake is my favorite place on earth having spent every summer of my (fill in the blank but be gentle) years up there. So where is the picture. Every time I hit upload, it says done but I don't know where it went. HELP PLEASE!

Thing 8

Okay - Wikis - I am using this tool (should have done this Thing last week when I was looking for a "How To" on photoshop for same class. When I went to wiki, I found a bunch of easy to understand tutorials on doing special effects on Photoshop. Very cool. I will be using this from now on to find information and how tos. Want to be careful about sources, but I see you can look at comments and know if people responded favorably to the wiki.

Also, definitely going to share Booklover's Wiki with my book club. Some of the selections have been real doozies if you know what I mean. This is an easy way to look at reviews and reactions from real readers. Yeah. Where have all these web sites been all my life??????? Note: Do NOT read Secrets in the Cellar. It's nightmare producing...and true. Ugh! Where was Booklover's Wiki when this garbage got selectec by a member?????

Waiting on request to do edit on "Ultimate Dream Supply Kit" so will move on to Thing 9 and then come back.

Side note: I just finished reading Dan Brown's latest book The Lost Symbol and in the second to the last page he writes "Technology is linking us in ways we never imagined possible: Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and others - all blend to create a web of interconnected minds." How true, how true. And I am learning about this connectedness via The 16 Things. For that, I thank you, whoever you are who came up with this assignment. I Tweet, therefore, I am.

Thing 7

I am very excited about Google Doc. My daughter is in school up in Duluth and she has a Macbook Pro. When she wants me to edit something for her (yes, I help her sometimes with her homework - can you say enabling mom?), we can do this on Google Doc and we won't have problems with the different computers. I have a PC. Previously, we have had trouble opening each others docs. I really could have used this when I was writing a corporate newsletter and asking for articles written by many people - some at home - some at work. I will definitely be utilizing this THING.

THing 6

Hey, even the Cat in the Hat only made it to Thing 2 - Ha. I found an article in the NYTimes re. the Evil Empire aka the NY Yankees. I shared it via Digg. I then typed in "getting started in Graphic Design" and wow, did I get a plethora of stuff to read. I can see where you could build a reputation by commenting on germane articles and sharing your thoughts about certain topics with others in your field. I will add this to my Facebook to increase the impact of my comments with friends and acquaintances who may be able to help be begin my career in design.

As to credibility, can you look at the comments of others to see if the post is legit? Also, look at who posted the article. If it's UPI.com, it's probably legit.

As far as Jon and Kate, WHO CARES!!!!!!!

Today I signed up for Plurk. Aren't Twitter and Plurk the same type of social networking? I hope I am doing this correctly! Anyone out there have a preference between Twitter and Plurk? Seems to me with Ashton Kutcher and Oprah tweeting, Twitter wins hands down. - Ha.

Holy cow - I now have a Twitter account. I'm a tweeter. And I have new friends tweeting me. This is so fun. I am not going to get any laundry done and the house is going to fall apart - but hey, I'm tweeting, blogging, linking...This has opened up a whole new avenue of communication for me. Look out world, here I come! I have learned so much in the last two weeks. Too Cool,

Yes, I now have a Facebook. Here's is a direct quote from my oldest daughter, also a Facebook user. "One word-WHY? oh and i'm denying your friend request cuz my mom should not be on facebook its weird hahahahah! love you." There is so much to see on these social networking sites. I'm trying not to get too sucked in, but I must admit it is addicting. I can see where, down the road, this type of "gathering space" will take the place of the networking meetings/cocktail hours that took place in the old days. I look forward to increasing my circle of friends on Facebook. I have signed up for Linkedin, but it doesn't support my e-mail service

at this time. I would be interested to know how others are using this service. Anyone?

On to Thing 3. I do use my AI Resources a lot. It's a great way to stay connected with what's going on here at AI. Loved the e-mail reminder about Cafe 350. I have messed around with all the tabs and I am sure that as I get more involved and further into my schooling, this site will become invaluable. Looking forward to registering on line too.

Okay, Thing 2 is really confusing me. I sure could use some help on this RSS thing. I have signed up for a number of magazines on graphic design. But I am not sure how to utilize this site to its full extent. Any suggestions would be helpful. I'm guessing teachers use this service to compile useful articles and newsletters into one spot so they can browse through their favorite "periodicals" on a daily basis and stay current. If anyone out there is using this site, I would love to talk to you!

There is a survey on my blog and I would be very interested to find out how others are doing with this "16 things" thing. So go ahead and take my survey today!

Ooh, I just added a site meter to my blog so now I can see how many people are looking at my blog. Obviously, no one has looked yet so I better make this blog more interesting. Ha.

Okay, I have added sitemeter to my blog. I am still unsure how this all works and comes together. I feel like I have opened so many internet accounts, something I am not comfortable with. I will keep an open mind and continue to add these things to my blog in the knowledge it will be a rewarding experience.

Thing 1 - Wow - Look at me in the 21st century. I actually have my own blog. I found this first step relatively easy, once I had read all the instructions. So far, I think I am doing pretty good for someone who has never, and I do mean never, had any experience with social networking or blogging, etc. I am really excited/nervous about learning so many new things - brain overload. I will now try some of the challenges within Thing 1.