To RSS or Not to RSS?

I sent an email out to a few of my friends to poll them on their use of RSS feeds. It was an assignment for one of my classes this semester. My instructor guessed that although RSS subscriptions are very useful and can seem very popular since so many websites have them now, the number of users is quite lower than one would expect. She asked us to poll our friends and see what we find. Here are my poll results:

Are you familiar with RSS feeds? ...
(1) Yes, and I use them.
(2) Yes, but I'd never used them.
(3) No, not a clue.

The Outcome.

(1) IIIII 5
(2) IIIII IIIII 10
(3) IIIII IIII 9

Total: 24 responses.

Note that those who chose 2 or 3 (a total of 19 out of the 24) do not use RSS feeds. Thus, a majority of my friends do not subscribe to RSS feeds, though at least half them are familiar with RSS (in some way).

If you are curious what is the deal with RSS, I have included a video to help out with your quandary. (I wanted to embed it but there is no embedding code at YouTube--which I find odd--, so you'll just have to follow the link. I think it is well worth it.)
RSS in Plain English


For those of you who participated - Thank You!!!!

Still Entertained

Sad but true, I am still very entertained by the squirrels when they play in the dead walnut tree and other wild growth trees in the background (I've really got a great view, in fact I just took a picture with my iPhone and I'll post that below). They chase each, fall off, and just jump around like the crazy animals they are. See how desperately I need to get out and have fun?

Also, if you plan to buy healthy whole wheat tortillas made with olive oil, beware!!! They do not taste the same, quite disappointed I am. And the package only came with 6 tortillas. I was trying to be a healthy buyer rather than a sell out for the cheapest items (I also bought cage-free eggs instead of the on-sale safeway brand).

Some other photos I like that I caught on my iPhone.

Jeffra Voki

Still playing with LIBR 246 Web 2.0 apps. This is a Voki I created to represent myself. Unfortunately I couldn't get my mike to sync so I had to use one of their voices.




Get a Voki now!

Lady Friends for Dinner & Games

Last Tuesday, I had some friends from church over to make our own pizzas and then play some games. Thus, we ate delicious pizza and laughed through some silly game playing. Good times.


I was told, "Of course, Jeffra's pizza looks the best." I'm not sure if this is compliment, or of it just goes to show that I am a crazy control-freak. (And you can't really see mine because it is mostly in the oven - on the left.)

Final Animoto - Friends

Well, while the location of the videos is better, some of the pictures are kind of dark. I guess for a quickie, it's not too shabby.

2nd Attempt Animoto

It's better but my head is still cut off. If they had a way for you to select the impt part of a photo, it would be better.

First Animoto Attempt

It's not perfect but it is not bad either.

Friday Visit with the Haradas

After laboring in the Math Dept, I hopped in my zippy but very dirty Mazda5 and drove to Karen's parents' house. As I walked up the pathway to their house, I remembered the first time I visited Karen at was then home. We were in 8th grade, I think, so we would have been 13 years old since it would have been Fall. Shane was having little league baseball games at the park near her house (about 1/2 a block away). When we discovered this fact, she told me that I could stop by any time. At this point in my life, I didn't just go to a friend's house. Arrangements had to be made in advance and parents had to be contacted and in approval. When I made the bold move to walk to Karen's home before one of Shane's games, I hadn't called first (and no, there were no cellphones back then so I couldn't just call on my way over) and wasn't even sure she was home. Also, I was worried that her parents might be upset with an unexpected guest at the front door. Thus, I paced in front of the house, debating whether or not to start down the path to the door. I think I may have even headed back to the park a few times. Finally, I plucked up the courage and rang the doorbell. I'd like to say that we've been best friends ever since.

Anyway, on Friday night, I ate dinner with Karen's parents (Mary and Hideo) and her sister (Liza) and Liza's husband (Randy) and their son (Tyler). Tyler is about 20 months or so. He can count to 10 (sometimes skipping seven). He can drink from a regular cup (apparently he skipped sippy cups) and eat with an almost adult sized metal fork. And he even gave me a hug when he left (this is only the third time he's met me, and the other times he wasn't even a year old yet). So basically, lots of cuteness.

This One's for Elizabeth

And I'm off to start my busy day (with a veggie sandwich - yum yum, well, and a piece of cake). Hmmm, I think I still have sleepy eyes in this picture...

The Utah Trip

Well, early August I flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, to visit my brother, Shane, and his girlfriend, Tiffany, in their new home. I was also there to be free labor. Nah, really, I am so glad that I was there in perfect time to help them get settled in because I know that is not an easy process. So there isn't anything too exciting to report about it. I cleaned walls, taped walls, primed walls, painted walls, and removed tape from walls. Predominately, that is about it. I also ate some delicious veggie sandwiches (brie cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, and lettuce) with Shane. He made tofu-onaise to put on them that was quite tasty (even though thus far I have intensely disliked tofu). He also made a vegetarian carrot-corn quesadilla filling that last us for the six days that I was there. Finally, on Sunday, Shane and I went to see The Dark Knight. It was his first and my second. Oddly, I didn't enjoy it as much the second time but I think I was trying to be extra critical plus I knew when all the scary parts were going to happen. I still look forward to seeing it on DVD and catching on the behind-the-scenes extras, like how did they make it so that Batman's head can turn? You know it has never been done in the movies before, big stuff. Anyhoo, here are some photos from the trip:

My brother in the doorway to their downstairs 1/2 bathroom (it's very short).

The dinning room (nice and blue). Shane's working on his computer in the kitchen.

The Hallway/Stairway - nearly all done.

And this is the only people photo (it's Shane in the kitchen).

Well, so that is that. It was a great trip and I am so glad that I was there to help. I'm looking forward to visiting again when it is all set-up and when there is snow for me to play in. Whoo hoo!
*HUGS* for Shane and Tiffany!

I guess I could add...

... that my mom and I got our iPhones, finally! Some pictures:




Later I'll post information about my trip to visit Shane and Tiffany in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I was told that...

... I need to update my blog. So here it is: Hello my viewers.

Gilroy Gardens

Formally known as Bonfante Gardens, Jonathan, Jamie, Jenn, and I (wow, all J-names) made a little trip to the southern bay area theme park. Gilroy Gardens is the perfect young family theme park. Lots of little kiddie rides and attractions. As I have thought about it, I saw few teens or adults unaccompanied by little kiddies. There are plenty of plants, trees, and flowers to make the park far more attractive than Great America. It was a good day but also a hot day. We went in the water areas at least five times. Our shoes would become soggy and drippy, our clothes sticky and heavy. Anyway here are a few pictures [I forgot my camera -so annoying and disappointing, I would have made a video clip or two-these pictures are from Jenn's camera].

TP ... really?

So some unknown persons TP-ed my parents's house last night. For what reason, we are clueless. Perhaps they had the wrong address? It is so weird.

Yesterday's Excitement

The day started with my car covered in ash. Regrettably, Santa Cruz mountains are still having fires. The night before, the smoke has so much reached San Jose skies, that the evening was a burning yellow-orange-red one. It was very eerie.

Next, Karen and I went to Target to buy needed items for the new incoming refugees (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant, address book, flashlight, San Jose street map, backpack, etc.). I really appreciated her company and her willingness to help out in this endeavor. The refugees, when they finally are brought to the US, are given nothing more than $400. This backpack is sort of a beginning survival kit for them. (In case you are wondering, Refugees are persons fleeing the chaos of war and persecution; they cannot return to their homelands. Most are women and children. All have lost family, jobs, homes and support systems. Refugees entering the US are persons who were individually selected by the US government for permanent resettlement here. Catholic Charities then welcomes and resettles them.)

After watching an adorable children's production of Alice in Wonderland with Karen, I went home to watch the US Open (golf, duh!) with my dad. It was quite the thrill. So much happened in the last 6 holes of the last two groups. Despite Tiger Woods being in incredible pain (he had knee surgery only two months earlier), he ended the round with 2 eagles and a birdie to put him in the lead. It was truly awesome to watch. The first eagle was a 65-foot putt that cause him to do a two fisted pump for joy. The birdie at the 17th was a spectacular bounce from a shot from the bunker into the hole that left him saying, "You've got to be kidding!" And at the final 18th hole, he made a 40-ft putt that put his score to 3 under par. Go Tiger, go! I have to wonder how he will do today because he was limping so bad at the end yesterday, and it was obvious that he was in extreme pain after his full swings. Maybe he'll dope up on drugs. Regardless, I am looking forward to watching the last round today.

Final word: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!!!

The Run Down Shack

Our adventure at the "run down shack" as we called it.

Mysterious Booth

Our thoughts about the Lick Observatory booth.

Trip to James Lick Observatory

This is part of the windy road we took up to the observatory. I would say I was driving somewhere between 10 and 25 mph, nice and slow (lots of hairpin turns).

My car, enjoying the visit.

The oldest observatory there.

A view to the bay area.

The mysterious booth. What do you think it was used for? We have a video clip to come on our guesses. Shane - do you know???

An old boarded-up house that peeked our curiosity as well. I wanted to crawl in through the basement but then one of the local workers warned us about rattle snakes (I think he was just trying to keep us away from the house).

Cousins-together at last

A view of a few observatories, I think there are nine in total.

Boring Video Blog

But since I made it, why not post it?

It's Been Ages

Okay, really, barely a month since I last posted. I just got busy with school, and then visitors, and then laziness. So whenever this happens, I seem to favors lists, so here we go:

• Did excelente in my two LIS classes, even enjoyed writing the term paper, which at first thought was terrible but turned out to be better than I expected
• Finished up my reference and instruction internship, it was needed practical experience
• Still have plenty to learn about working in SJSU Special Collections
  
• Had some cavities filled at the dentist
• Traveled with my awesome friends to Alcatraz Island (love spending time with them)
  
• Kent ladies, their husbands, and their daughters were all in town for their dad's wedding. Whoo hoo! I got to spend the evening with them at their aunt and uncle's house, trying to keep up with their daughters.
• My cousin, Rachel, made a stop-over in CA on her way back from Kentucky to WA (I'll be posting pictures and videos of our escapades later)
• Discovered that with on and off freeway driving, my car gets about 26.6 mpg, not bad I guess
  
• Saw Iron Man (twice) and Prince Caspian in the theatres
• Watched season finales for Smallville (disappointed), Bones (crushed), and Lost (still confused)

I think that's it. I'll try to be more regular but no guarantees. Here's a couple of pictures from the Alcatraz Trip (taken by Jenn Wu since I forgot my camera):

Alcatraz Island from the ferry

C Cell Block

Alcatraz Island Lighthouse (oldest on the West Coast, I think)

Nice Group Photo with San Francisco in the background

The Ladies (Jamie, Megan, Gina, and Jenn)

The View from the island

The Silly Photo