Stick 23: Final Thoughts

Thoughts
I feel much more informed about the Web 2.0 tools - not just head knowledge but also practical knowledge from hands-on experience.

I start to understand that these tools cannot be ignored. They are the tools of the future in some way, shape or form. Where before I thought I could stay oblivious to many of these tools - not any more.

Favorites
Making the blog and posting on the blog was a great experience. Making the avatar was not something I enjoyed initially but now I see its use and would probably spend more time making another one someday. YouTube is something I wasn’t all that familiar with and now see great potential for its use in an educational setting.

Connecting
I told a lot of people I was doing this “23 things” thing. Everyone was so impressed with what I was learning - and awed by the amount of time I spent participating in this tutorial.

It was good for me to be forced to join some of the social networking sites. I am by nature not needing to socialize much, but I can see its importance in keeping up professionally in this new era of Internet sharing.

Unexpected outcomes
I am amazed at the depth of activity going on on the Internet. It is truly the way people get together and share EVERYTHING! Not to keep up would be social and professional suicide.

Do differently
These have been great exercises - just too many in a short amount of time. Having this tutorial in my life has taken over everything else. How about one a month? :-)

Future participation
Yes, for sure - but see above comment!

Short description of my learning experience with the 23 things
Hooray for me, I did it! - because it was such a huge personal challenge!


I liked Meredith Farkas' ideas on her post "If I had just 15 minutes a day " to keep up...
Fifteen minutes seems doable. I can visit one of the blogs mentioned in her post.
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2007/04/26/if-i-just-had-15-minutes-each-day/

Stick 22: What did I learn today?

Keeping Up
I have learned many new things. They have been challenging and exciting. There have been many trials and tribulations as I have tried to learn theses new tools. I have struggled a lot – to the point of wanting to scream or cry or just give up. But so many times I just persisted and what do you know – I figured it out. Miraculously. I think I do have more confidence with new technologies and less fear, but it has come with a cost - a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

I do admit I can see educational uses for many of these tools. Yes, Web 2.0 is not a static environment. I am glad for the initial exposure to many of these tools and I hope I will use and enjoy these tools as they are continually changed and enhanced. I know I need to stay informed about what people, kids specifically, are using, talking about and asking for help with. I feel a strong desire to be a guide in their lives when it comes to using these new tools.

I RESOLVE TO KEEP ON LEARNING. I RESOLVE TO GIVE EACH NEW TOOL A CHANCE – TO SPEND THE TIME TO LEARN IT AND APPLY IT. I RESOLVE TO BE A LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST WHO IS WILLING TO TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW AND SHARE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.

My blog will be a good place to keep “journal entries” for whatever new tool I am investigating and sharing. I definitely have the blogging part down!

Practical Ways of Keeping Up
I already had Doug Johnson’s Blue Skunk Blog in my aggregator. I have streamed several College of DuPage teleconferences on library trends. I am signed up for a Minitex webinar in May to continue learning more about Web 2.0 tools. I read School Library Journal cover to cover each month. I will keep my eyes and ears open for new opportunities to keep up…

Thing 21: Other Social Networks

I spent some time on Gather and read each feature as the yellow tab moved across the top of the home page from one “Gather Essential” to another (i.e.. food, health, politics). I found a great lamb recipe and printed it! There is a lot going on here!

Minnesota Reader is a “groupspace” where you can “chat about what you are reading” or join the Midmorning Book Club. Maybe this summer…
I looked at some of the nature images on Minnesota Life. Nice “groupspace” to share all things Minnesota. There were a lot of members (139) in the “Back to the Basics” group – those who want to get back to the basics in everyday life. I should join to find out what that really means??

I have wondered what WebJunction is. Now I know – it’s a national online community for library staff for resources and courses. I thought it was just a Minnesota thing! I went to the Minnesota partner page and looked up the difference between Metronet and Minitex.
Metronet – “Metronet serves all types of libraries in the 7-county Twin Cities metro area. As a multitype library system Metronet does more than facilitate discussion around news and events—they actively engage librarians by advancing professional issues, highlighting best practices, and advocating for libraries.”
Minitex – “The MINITEX Library Information Network (MINITEX) is a publicly supported network of academic, public, state government, and special libraries working cooperatively to improve library service for their users. The MINITEX program is funded by the Minnesota Legislature."


Ning is an online service where you can create, customize, and share your own social network.

I joined the "23 things on a stick" group on Ning. I finally figured out how to get my avatar from Yahoo! to my picture setting in the "23 things" group. That was quite an accomplishment!
I left a comment on Randi Madisen's wall.

I visited the other social networking sites: yelp.com, linkedin.com, mashable.com, dogster.com (and catster.com!), grouprecipes.com and the 50plus digital.com site. Take your pick!

I tried to use the EBSCO Researcher Database to find the article, “Myspace for book,” in “Publisher’s Weekly.” I couldn’t find it - I am embarrassed to say. I tried many different ways of searching for it??
I read “Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library,” by Steve Campion at the WebJunction website.
http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=17981
I like his reminder that “the social web is much richer than MySpace alone… it represents a cultural shift towards expression, collaboration, and interaction. Internet users are not satisfied with simply reading web pages. They are beginning to expect the opportunity to interact online with their bank, retailer, and (why not?) their library.”

I am impressed with the potential to involve the people in and even outside one’s library community in so many activities initiating from the library. There is time involved in the set up and the maintaining of these online forums of communication but it is becoming more and more where people “live.” Like Campion said, “The library is already a community space. Let's make the social web a new meeting room…”

The “43 Things” network looks like a good place for people to get encouragement to get going on things they keep putting off.

Thing 20: Social Networking and Libraries

I looked at both MySpace and Facebook to see how they compared. Facebook was a more simple interface with no advertising! MySpace had several flashy, colorful ads going on - just a busier interface than FaceBook. The initial interface of Facebook was a more "get down to business" and start networking page.

I joined Facebook with a short profile. I also made a library fan club for my library – “CCS Library Fan Club.” I will think about how I might be able to use that in the future. I made this “club” under the group app but now I see I could have done it under “places.” The trouble is I cannot find the “places” app??

I looked at several FaceBook applications, Books iRead and the MN Twins Fan Clubs – but did not join any at this time. I think joining up with Scrabulous players sounds fun. It is cool to see people designing their own apps.

Believe it or not, I set up my whole Facebook account and profile before I watched the "How to use Facebook" video series. Dumb. Now I know what the wall is. It's where people post notes and messages to each other - you can write on each other's wall. Like unwanted grafitti it's a good thing there is a delete button handy at the wall.

I really liked the Denver Public Library Teens profile. It was a really fun place to visit with lots of great things to join and play with. The YouTube video for last summer’s reading promotion was super cute and well done. I think I will play it for my students right before summer vacation!

Thing 19: Podcasts

I have listened to all the MEMO podcasts out of St. Cloud University. They have been a bit poor in audio quality but I have managed to understand and get something out of each one.

I listened to part of the Minnesota Public Radio podcast called “Musicheads” from April 1 ’08. They were reviewing a band called “The Kills” which I would also agreed with one of the podcast panelist was pretty poor….

Podcast Directories
I had a hard time using the Podcast.com directory. I couldn’t get the “Family” folder to open. Finally I clicked in the right place somehow and I got to choose a PetDoctor podcast. I chose one on cat care and listened for awhile. There were several minutes of commercials which was annoying.

Podcastalley.com had no directory so I didn’t stay.

When I used Yahoo Podcasts I typed in “kids and pets” and it took me to a YouTube video??

I found the Education Podcast Network easy to use. I wanted to share a podcast with my students at school this week. I found a great one at the faithcomesbyhearing.com website. I listened to Episode 140 of the Kidz Audio Bible on “Jesus enters Jerusalem.” It was fantastic!

I want to try to do a podcast with my students next week!

Thing 18: YouTube

YouTube definition: Internet video-sharing which enables a two minute clip to be viewed millions of times. YouTube is a free service that hosts videos posted by users.

I watched the three videos recommended from the list of YouTube “Award Winners from 2007.” I commented on “A vision of students” video a coupe of “things” ago.

I read Christopher Conway’s article, “YouTube and the Cultural Studies Classroom,” which was about the value video clips can serve in the educational setting (his being the university).

I certainly can see a place for using YouTube video clips in the classroom to bring in “video realia” to accompany the students’ textbooks.

I wish I could have accessed the “Seven things you should know about YouTube.” I just couldn’t get the list no matter what I clicked on!

The MakeUseOf.com website is huge with its lists, recommendation and tips. I liked the documentaries recommendations and the support that gives to using YouTube in the classroom, too.

It is cool how the public libraries are using YouTube to get people in the door and promote themselves!

Thing 17: ELM Productivity Tools

I have used and taught ELM to my students since the year it came out (1999 or 2000?). I just taught it to my 2nd-5th graders about a month ago – modeling a pretend search in a curricular area where they were currently studying (i.e. 5th grade, Civil War – battles).

Gale/InfoTrac
I managed to set an RSS feed to my Google Reader from the Student Edition of InfoTrac on the topic of “youth smoking.” I tried several times to get the Minitex instructional video to play but it just wouldn’t load.

I like the multimedia aspect of the ELM databases. I usually show my students an example of some multimedia on the topic at hand, such as a video or sound byte – many of which I found in Kids InfoBits.

EBSCO
I created a webpage using the “Page composer” tool and utilities. I finally learned I had to click on the “Preview” button to see what the page looked like. Pretty slick – but someone please tell me when I would use such a page??

Proquest Newsstand
O.K. I just went to Proquest and found 3 articles on “social networking” in the Washington Post in 2007 and emailed them to myself. It is interesting that Proquest is creating an html file (a web page) to be emailed.

BY THE WAY, THIS “STICK” IS HARD WORK!!

NetLibrary (eBooks)
“NetLibrary provides access to your library’s eContent collection. eContent is the digital version of books, journals, and database content. You can access your library’s eContent 24 hours a days, seven days a week.”
From the homepage of NewLibrary website, http://www.netlibrary.com.

I created an account in NetLibrary.

I did the search on the book, 101 ways to promote your web site, and used the utility to find out about branding and made a few notes for later reference. This is a very rich site for ebook information! I had never used it before.

BY THE WAY, NONE OF THE MINITEX VIDEOS LOADED!! I learned this stuff all by myself!

ELM – "Authentic, valid information at your fingertips!"

Thing 16: Student Web 2.0 Tools

I discovered the Research Project Calculator last year. I played around with it some then- created a pretend project for myself and had emails sent to remind me of due dates. I do not teach big independent research units in my K-5 program but I did inform our middle school staff and principal about it with access information. It is a wonderful tool!

So much to think about - so much to learn!
I watched the YouTube video, “A Vision of K-12 Students Today,” and I was impressed with how fast the old ways are going out and the new ways are taking over. Kids today truly are digital learners – their teachers can’t forget that and need to do their best to keep up.

The YouTube video, “(Re)Visions of Students Today” was unsettling. Kids are being educated under very different conditions today than just 5 years ago! The pace of change is so fast – the diversity in the changes is so great – and so many young people are being left behind. The comment, “I’m one of the lucky ones,” really got me. I want all kids to be the “lucky ones.”

I read the article written by Josh Catone, “The Web 2.0 Backpack.” He agrees with me that face to face learning is best, but the host of web apps available to students today can really facilitate their learning. Web apps that sub for Microsoft Office, web apps that help for note-taking, charting, researching, bookmarking and collaboration are all at students’ fingertips and are constantly “evolving in amazing ways.”

Using wikis as a study tool or note-taking tool is a fascinating concept.

I typed in a question on Yahoo! Answers, “How much Vitamin A is dangerous?” and was sent out to several good websites to find the answer. That was cool how it worked.


Comments
This “23 things on a stick” tutorial has really been a challenge for me, but have been really glad for it. I hate to say it, but I think we need one of these every year – for at least the rest of our professional lives.

I do want to help and encourage my students living in the Web 2.0 world. Something I have wanted for many years is a web-based library automation system with a homepage interface where I could post links to their school curricular needs – a “one-stop shop” page that would have many of the tools/links they would find handy for their school work.

I like the idea of encouraging the use of their friend – the library media teacher.

Thing 15: Online Games

What is Second Life (SL)?
SL is a 3-D multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) gaining popularity among educators. It is becoming a venue for online learning, collaborating, and networking.

I did not load Second Life at this time, but I did...
read Doug Johnson’s article called, “The One-Afternoon SecondLife Tour” at Education World.com and visited ISTE’s SL website but I did not join in.

What is Puzzle Pirates?
Puzzle Pirates is another massively multi-player online roleplaying game. Gamers create and customize their own pirate, collect booty and join player-run crews. In this social online world players engage in commanding fleets of warships, swordfights and card games, among endless other activities. Puzzle games are launched during these activities that can result in victories and the accruing of great fortunes to the gamer and his/her fellow pirates.

I did not create a pirate...but I did spend a lot of time navigating around the puzzlepirate.com website.

My comments on MUVE gaming
Games used to be where you sat down after dinner for a few hours and played something - with or against important people in your life. You finished the game and got up and did something else.

These new virtual games don’t end. They are played with strangers - not face to face, the old way - but with a SCREEN inbetween. They build and build on themselves into infinity and addiction, in many cases.

To what avail? for all the wasted hours and wasted creativity? Who is REALLY benefitting? I feel society is losing.

What is the Wii?
I like the Wii - it gathers people together in the same room.

The Wii is a social gaming experience using a remote and nunchuk and gaming console to play. According to the Nintendo ad, “You just don’t play Wii, you experience it.”

I went to the Official Wii Website and watched 3 videos.
One with friends enjoying wii scuba diving, one with two girls who sang and danced to boogie, and one with a couple playing Super Mario Galaxy.

Fun. I want to play!

Thing 14: LibraryThing

I think I could make good use of this website - and recommend it to others.
http://www.librarything.com

I have been keeping a list for several years, as a Word document, of all the books I read. I can now enter them here, write a quick personal review - and check out what other people said about the book. Cool.

I found my LibraryThing Local, looked around the page - but cannot find the "save" button anywhere!! Someone tell me where it is - so I don't have to keep reloading my location. There were no member in the two location I looked up.

"Zeitgeist" (tab) is interesting. Lots of stuff to click on. I like to see what tags other people are using.

With LibraryThing (GuruLib is another) I can look at other people’s personal catalogs and interact with them based on their shared items. This type of sharing has lots of positive effects. For example, if you liked a book that someone else liked too, then you probably will like other things they have read – which you can check out.

It’s interesting how public libraries use “tagging” from LibraryThing’s social data to include in their online catalogs’ book records; i.e. Danbury CT Public Library – like searching Amazon for a book. These tags are: “folksonomies, crowd-sourcing, a populist concern for authority, and a cooperative method for constructing it.” http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6535083.html

I did make a title entry today. Added a tag and short review. I am glad to know about this library social cataloging application.

Other social networking applications include interests in music, movies. For music: Discogs, Rate Your Music. For movies: Flixster

Thing 13: Online Productivity Tools

iGoogle
I had set up my iGoogle homepage when I set up my Google Reader a few weeks ago. Today I added some nice gadgets to the page including a daily Bible verse and a picture of somewhere in the world that your must see "before you die!"

I clicked on "Add stuff" and found lots of gadgets/widgets I would like to play with - but why tempt myself? I want to guard the time I spend in front of the computer. Many of these gadgets can serve to maximize productivity, but many, many of them will serve as distractions that will have the opposite effect.

Miscellaneous
I spent some time looking at a couple of short uTube videos with Easter themes. One was a "how-to" video on how to dye Easter eggs with naturally occurring colors (i.e. red cabbage).
I start to see how uTube can be used in the classroom. uTube can be searched for quick instructional segments for use in specific curricular areas.

Thing 12: Do you Digg?

Social media sites like Digg, Reddit, Mixx and Newsvine invite users to add content as a response to what they have found on the Web. Readers are invited to vote on the content and leave comments about what others have added. Something like writing a letter to the editor that all the world can see - if anyone is interested??

It is interesting that "newpapers" like the New York Times have added credibility to this new social media by adding buttons that direct to the above websites to their Web sites. This is a new way for the newspaper to encourage people to share and promote their stories, thereby generating more readers.


A few responses to these newsy social websites

Newsvine
“Gives an instant reflection about what the world is talking about at any given moment.” So much to read, so little time. In the end, is the time spent at these sites really worth it? People are venting, but then what....?

Reddit
I had a hard time wading through the crass language on this one.

Diggit
I didn’t sign in "to Digg a story" but I did read one – paying bills online saves 24 sq. ft. of forest per person per year!

Mixx
All these news comments sites say they have the the links to the web sites that really matter. Who has time to read all this news and then make a comment? I read a quick article on swimming with dolphins to become a better swimmer.

Thing 11: Tagging & Del.icio.us

I just set up my own Del.icio.us account - and I tagged my first bookmark.

Del.icio.us is a tool that uses tags to help me keep track of my web bookmarks. By tagging the bookmarks with terms that make sense to me, I should be able to find my bookmarks easily with a simple click on my tag list.

I will also be able to find my bookmarks on any computer via my Del.icio.us account. I do use more than one computer so this is a real perk!
I have added the De.li.cious buttons to my browser which will make tagging and accessing my account simpler.

Thing 9 and Thing 10: Online Collaboration Tools

Before I started on Thing 9 I accepted the fact that I needed to set up a Flickr account. So I did. I added two photos.

Then I proceeded to "play" at Big Huge Labs and made a "trading card." I emailed it to my husband. Too bad it wasn't the usual sports trading card he would have loved - it was a flower trading card with the picture of a pretty orchid on it :-)

Thing 9: Google Docs
After spending almost an hour reading through the links and pdf crib sheets offered in the Stick #9 email lesson, I think I have a good idea how Google Docs work. It is simply Web word processing! I can see the usefulness of them when people/students want to work together on the same project anytime and from anywhere - in real time. I like this feature quoted from one of the links, "The system may facilitate collaboration at a distance, but it supercharges collaboration in person." http://future.iftf.org/2006/10/the_experience_.html

I can see that using this tool would be fun and exciting for kids who can learn to write together and revise their writing together. The peer review process will help create higher quality products in the end. Like a wiki, everyone can pull up the "edit history" to know when and what and by who things were revised.

Teachers, when included as part of the writing team, can monitor student work from anywhere - including while class is happening, identifying and intervening with students who are having problems.

It is cool to be easily able to publish the collaborative writing straight to the web (i.e. website, blog) - to a real audience!


Thing 10: Wikis
Wikis are are great collaboration tools! I know first hand. Last year my library media classes used a wiki from wikispaces.com as a "research notebook" where we collected our notes on different areas of Ancient Egyptian culture.

Students in grades 2-5 were given the same username and password to gain access to the wiki and there was a lot of participation from students (and their parents!) from home.

Thing 8: Share Your Creations

Slide.com
The “23 Things Mosaic” by Ann Walker on her blog is cool, but for me it seems like a waste of time. Graphics arts professionals – not me - can do stuff on slide.com – it’s a cool tool. I have so many other things I want to do and need to do – than play, create and share my creations on the Internet.

Picturetrail.com
According to their website, PictureTrail says they offer "several services that enable you to express yourself." They say they offer the biggest selection of slide shows on the web.

Ugh! I guess all this photo sharing to "enhance your online community experience" is really starting to get to me. I feel sorry for our kids/students who are learning to spend so much time on things that are "all about me" (the whole social networking scene) versus spending time serving others - which is the ultimate way of enhancing one's community's experience.

Thing 7: Online Communication Tools

I did use the free Doodle tool to create a little poll of my family about what their favorite vacation destination is. That was quick and fun. I can see using something like that in the future for polling family, friends or school staff about different things. I can teach students and staff about it for the times when they want to use primary research. The calender feature would be nice for planning any event where you wanted to maximize attendance.

I did skim through the 6 blogs at the top of the email. I am feeling a bit left out of the craze to create online - I do not identify (yet!)

WEBINARS
I have participated in a few webinars, the latest one through MINITEX which made available the College of DuPage's Soaring to Excellence teleconference called “People Watching With a Purpose: Meeting Needs Before They Need It."

CREATIVE COMMONS
I learned about a website this week that would be a good source for students and staff to find images for their lessons or projects. It is called Creative Commons. http://search.creativecommons.org

Thing 6: Online Image Generator

I added The Generator Blog to my RSS account, although I do not know when or why I would use such a tool. (I looked at all the links that were included with the Thing 6 email).

I also did some more reading about how to set up my RSS feeds so that I can see them instantaneously when I am using the web. I ended up making a personalized iGoogle home page where my Google Reader now shows up. That took some doing.

I also used the settings in Google Reader to pare down the 1000+ feeds I originally had to just a few. That certainly feels more under control.

Thing 5: More Flickr Fun and Mashups

I understand that Flickr is an online photo storing and sharing application. However...

I do not want to play with my personal photos on the web. I do not want to, or have the time to, create original artwork on the web using photos from here, there and everywhere.

Here is a quote from a Flickr Q&A website about what an API is (because I didn't know and was glad when I finally found the answer). This seems to me how mashups work:

"Question: I am not a programmer- what exactly is the Flickr API and what does it mean to me?

Answer: API stands for Application Programming Interface which allows outside ("third party") applications or websites to communicate with Flickr and exchange information. This exchange allows developers to create cool programs or services that make use of data from Flickr. That might mean allowing you to use your photos to make a calendar, introducing new ways or presenting public photos or enhancing your Flickr experience with tools or features which Flickr doesn't offer directly.

There are many popular third party applications built by clever developers, and Flickr's open API allows them to create these. Some developers create games, screen savers, photo albums, and lots more. For some samples, you can start on the "do more" page or our services page."

I visited all the links mentioned in the Thing 5 description.

Thing 4: What is not fun about Flickr?

(I eventually did set up a Flickr account. I did upload ONE photo. I will, no doubt, use this photo sharing in future. I just don't have a strong need for it at the moment.

In all honesty, I did write this originally....)

IMO, just about everything. I am choosing not to set up a Flickr account at this time. I do not wish to store, share, sort and search for photos in Flickr.

I just spent a half hour reading about Flickr. I read through a lot of FAQs and blog comments. Despite the ability to mark your photos as "private" I still feel that storing my personal photos on the the Internet is undesirable.

Maybe there will come a time that I will think differently.

Thing 3: Set up an RSS account and add feeds

I set up a feed with Google Reader.

I can understand the beauty of an aggregator like this for specific areas of interest at specific times of need. I just don't have the inclination at the present time to read, read, read so many words! I am reading all day long professionally and personally. It is overwhelming to me to be on the receiving end of so many words. I feel that if I want to know something I would rather initiate the search to find out that information specifically - and not be deluged by the incessant chatter of throngs of know-it-alls.

If I could find a good professional site which had information I could really use day to day I would be inclined to check that out.

I used the search box in Google Reader to find a blog I wanted and I copied and pasted a news website into the Google Reader subscription box.

I personally have a great need to get away from so much "screen time." The addictiveness of reading news, opinions and gossip that is changing and being added every minute to online information sources only serves to glue me ever tighter to my chair in front of the computer screen.

Perhaps my blog name is very appropriate for how I feel - I am "stuck" to technology that I feel is more imprisoning than it is freeing.

Thing 2: Response to "What is Library 2.0?"

Where will I find the time to explore the 23 things?
It is true, as Abram stated in the audio clip, that you find time for things that are important to you. This is important to me so I will commit to it and do it.

Why am I choosing to participate in this "exercise?"
I want to understand and learn the tools that people, especially young people are using to communicate with each other. We all can benefit from the giant social network provided for us by the web and the tools that keep being invented for it. It would be easier (lazier) to not participate now but in the long term that choice would result in being way out of touch with the culture, personally and professionally.

How has the Internet and all its resources affected my life?
Life truly has become an "open-book test." Everything I want to know I can easily search for on the Internet. It may be a recipe - or a quick check on an author's background. I am always "in-the-know." It makes me a valuable asset to those I work with and for as well as to those I live with!

What's my knowledge of the Web 2.0 tools?
I have a little knowledge and experience, but confess I am at the beginning of the learning curve. I have participated in a blog and have created a wiki for my students to share their research information on.

What do I look forward to with 23 things on a stick?
I look forward to the hands-on experience of working with the tools. Nothing breeds confidence like experience. I would like it if I could share what I am learning with my students and fellow staff in my library lessons this spring.

Setting up my avatar

I found the process of setting up the avatar way too time consuming. Perhaps my lack of "playfulness" is showing through here?? However, I do think that people are being encourage to put in way too much "screen time" to "create" just such things.

Thing 1: Setting up this blog

It has taken me over an hour to set up this blog. My first many names and URLs were not accepted. I almost gave up. But voila! here I am.

Let's continue!