iHCPL - Next Gen Spring Cleaning #28 - Ack! Clutter

In our first exercise for Spring Cleaning - #28 - we're learning about general organization. I actually use some of the GTD principles already, especially with email. In email, I use my Inbox as a to-do list, I know not the best idea, but it works for me. I triage my email by doing quick replies when I can and flagging items I need to work on or need to get back to later. Things I need to keep go into folders.

As for to-do lists, I actually prefer the old fashioned note. I've recently started using a 3x5 card system, which works for me. I need to have my to-do items smack in front of me, which is why online systems haven't worked. I have fiddled around with some group online systems, but even those I don't really like.

Overall, I'm pretty organized electronically and in paper format. I do welcome this module, as it gives me an excuse to go through everything.

iHCPL - Next Gen Sound #27 - Be Your Own Radio Station

I actually helped test this, so my Gabcast recordings are up on the right hand side of my blog. I found Gabcast extremely easy to use! Once my account was set up, all I had to do was phone it in. Now if I could just be interesting. I don't see myself getting into podcasting, it just doesn't interest me to do this. I don't subscribe to podcasts either. I'm a much more visual person, which is why I'm surprised at how much I like audio books.

Even though I am not a podcast fan, it doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people who are and I'm excited about some of the things we're going to try for the eBranch. One branch has already started podcasting and I hope more will try it. There are other things on the horizon with podcasting as well, which we'll hopefully reveal in the next few weeks.

iHCPL - Next Gen Sound #26 - To Make Sweet Music

Could I compose music, exercise 26 challenged me to see if I could. I first tried out Splice and just couldn't figure it out, so I gave up. Next, I went on to JamStudio and had a blast. My creation, based on Beethoven's Ode to Joy can be found here. I was initially surprised that it was chords, although that makes sense, so what I bang out on the piano as single notes, became chords, but it actually sounds pretty nifty, if I do say so. I found JamStudio really easy to use, although it would probably help to have some music knowledge to use it.

I also looked at Qloud, which integrates with and creates a playlist for your Facebook page. I'll have to play with this a bit more as I didn't see many artists I liked in the first perusal, but it's an interesting concept.