B-Thing #3: Learn about Web 3.0 and/or "The Semantic Web"

Well, the Wikipedia definition of Web 3.0 is:

Web 3.0 is a term used to describe the future of the World Wide Web. Following the introduction of the phrase "Web 2.0" as a description of the recent evolution of the Web, many technologists, journalists, and industry leaders have used the term "Web 3.0" to hypothesize about a future wave of Internet innovation.

Views on the next stage of the World Wide Web's evolution vary greatly. Some believe that emerging technologies such as the Semantic Web will transform the way the Web is used, and lead to new possibilities in artificial intelligence. Other visionaries suggest that increases in Internet connection speeds, modular web applications, or advances in computer graphics will play the key role in the evolution of the World Wide Web.

And there are many different definitions.

I found this explanation of the Semantic Web at http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/

"The Semantic Web is a web of data. There is lots of data we all use every day, and its not part of the web. I can see my bank statements on the web, and my photographs, and I can see my appointments in a calendar. But can I see my photos in a calendar to see what I was doing when I took them? Can I see bank statement lines in a calendar?

Why not? Because we don't have a web of data. Because data is controlled by applications, and each application keeps it to itself.

The Semantic Web is about two things. It is about common formats for integration and combination of data drawn from diverse sources, where on the original Web mainly concentrated on the interchange of documents. It is also about language for recording how the data relates to real world objects. That allows a person, or a machine, to start off in one database, and then move through an unending set of databases which are connected not by wires but by being about the same thing."

This actually makes sense.
Again, very interesting and I can see it will be very useful and possibly addictive...
I quite often am searching for information on a specific topic and an hour later, and many clicks of the mouse later, I am on a totally different topic. So, I wonder what can be done to stay focused on the original topic that I was searching for?
I guess people are so curious and always wanting to learn more, or see more, or do more, this may always be a challenge, at least for me, anyway.

I also checked out Freebase and watched the "Introduction to Freebase" video.
Very cool.

B-Thing #2: Check Out Kiva.org

Very interesting site.

Somehow, I think it would be better to invest and directly help entrepreneurs in developing countries with their businesses to help them succeed; then just send money through Canadian organizations and not really know where your money is being spent... or just donating or handing out money and not knowing where it's going. Not only that, but a loan has the potential to be repaid.. so you can have your money repaid to you and then pick another entrepreneur to support... very cool.

This is very cool. I will share this info.

What is that Chinese proverb... "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

I agree that this is a very good example of how a lending organization should operate.
I also agree that the more detailed the information given about how an organization works, and all the ins and outs of it, then the more apt it is to be trustworthy.

Amazing.
Thanks for sharing.

B-Thing#1:Check Out Zamzar!

I checked out Zamzar! Very interesting how files can be converted to different formats. I converted my favorite GBS video into an MP3 file and after it was converted they e-mailed it back to me so i could play it on my windows media player.

I can see how this can be used for many applications... I should probably look up some old word files and convert them to the newer word perfect version and such.

Technology is so mind boggling...

Thing #23: Learn About Microblogging by Trying out Twitter

So, this is the last of the 23 Things! Yeah! I did it.

I checked out Twitter and read about microblogging and found out that technically I've been microblogging on my facebook account. I daily change my status to what's been happening or what I'm up to... interesting.. guess there is a technical name for everything - who knew?

so now I guess it's time to check out the bonus questions and do the "test"... gee, I haven't heard that word in a very long time... almost makes me think I should pull an all-nighter studying... ;-)

Thing # 22: Try Out the Halifax Public Libraries' Meebo Room

I tried out the HPL Meebo Room and left a message.

Thing#14 Help someone do one the the things

Finally.
It took quite a while, but I finally just helped one of my coworkers to embed a video into their blog, Thing# 13.
There for a while everyone was ahead of me and with my part time hours it was difficult to find someone available on a shift... but the main thing is that I did it!

Thing #21: Take a Look at Meebo

So Meebo is a program that lets you use/access instant messaging from any computer without downloading a program. It is compatible with many IM services like Google, Yahoo, MSN etc.. Apparently some people in schools and at work can not access their IM service and they can go through Meebo to access it.
Initially I was thinking that it would also let someone on MSN service chat with someone on Yahoo, but according to Seth Sternberg co-founder of Meebo, that is not the case.

The creators of Meebo also created Meebo Me, the website states "it is designed for anyone with a home on the web. If you've got a web page where you'd like to communicate with your visitors, Meebo Me allows you to see the people who are visiting your web page and chat with them!" By creating a widget on your webpage you can see people as they check out your page and you can type text into the widget to have a conversation with them, you can also open and IM window with any visitor and start chatting there also.