Walking/Running Apps for My 3G iPhone

I’ve wanted to write an entry on my blog about these apps since I use them quite often to deal with my stress with the library cutbacks. In the wake of Steve Job’s passing, I can not find myself without using my iPhone throughout the day both personally and professionally. Hell, I’ve even used my iPhone to edit some of this blog while on the road today. With that, now that I am on the fast track of being laid off, it makes sense for me to stay productive and share my knowledge via this electronic medium that is my library blog. So, the librarian in me will continue to live on even without a library to call home. Let’s begin!

I started to walk back in 2008. I did so not because of the obvious health reasons but rather to protest the high cost of gas. Back then, we were looking at the rate of $4+ per gallon and I was just fed up. I mapped out, with my iPhone, what the distance was from my house to my library branch. I was looking at a 6 mile walk. Since I never tried this before, I played a safe bet to leave at least 2 hours before my actual shift. I was able to make it even with my laptop backpack plus change of clothes. I was in pain and sore even before my day started so I did my little protest only a couple of times a month. From there, I became a walker. Not a Skywalker just a true regular walker. From there, I tried many free apps from iTunes which did track my movements, speed, and place but nothing really that worked for me. I did come across two that I like to use depending on how well my iPhone is working: RunKeeper and Nike+.

RunKeeper

Pros: There is a deal of whiz-bang features even in the free version but I opted to pay the $9.99 to get the complete package. I love the camera app in RunKeeper that marks the point along the path of where I took that picture for later reference. Another feature is being to post my activity on to my Facebook profile. I can also post to Twitter but since I have my Facebook to set up to post something on to Twitter, it’s not really needed. There’s lots of tweaking to play with from the audio cues to the type of distance unit I want to record. By far, I love being able to see the activity history online and track my progress. While I can see it on my iPhone, the user experience is better through the RunKeeper’s website where you are see the different charts of your progress.

Cons: The GPS on this app has not been the most effective. To be fair, I can’t say if it’s the app or the iPhone. I’ve restarted and re-installed several times both but still have the occasional glitches. In addition, there were times where I have to stop the program to go into a store or when I get a call, I have to restart the program. For some reason, the GPS does not locate or marks me in a different site. It does realign itself after some time but if you are tracking your progress from day-to-day and so on, this can be quite frustrating.

Next, there are no audio controls to change the music. I set my tastes on shuffle to mix things up but since I have a mix of pop songs, techno and soundtrack pieces, my walking needs are not being met properly.

Nike+

Pros: I opted from paying anymore for these types of apps but this free version of Nike+ simply blows RunKeeper away. After my walk, just like RunKeeper, I can look on a map to see the route I took but I can switch from Distance to Pace and there I get this great piece of visual eye candy let me know my fastest to the slowest parts of my walking. The Setting are great to use and my favorite to set it to time or distance. The audio cue does it’s job by notifying you at mile markers but it also encourages you not to give up. Also, you can post on to Facebook your results but you can let your friends know when you’re starting and send you Cheers while you’re walking. Not that it has happened yet but I can only imagine to hear this while during your routine. Best of all which has two parts, when you start the walk, there are audio controls to pause, go to previous song or go to next song. The other part has to do with getting calls. When the iPhone receives a call, the app resumes right where it left off and not having to start the program all over again.

Cons: The main problem has to do with the battery consumption when running this app. While I use the screen saver, the most I can get it maybe 4+ miles or 1 hour+ of running time. Since I try to decrease the amount of stuff to carry with walking, it makes no sense to stop somewhere to recharge my iPhone battery, having to wait, and then starting the process all over again.

Overall Winner: I would have to say that there was no clear winner between the two apps. The biggest issue I had been the battery life. Recently, I found something to help resolve this dilemma. However, this only works while using RunKeeper. First, I start my music separate from the app via the iPod. I then start the RunKeeper app until it is ready to start. Once I click on the Start Activity button, I click on the Sleep/Power button on the top of the iPhone. This will lock the iPhone but I can still access the music control. If you press the Home button, you will see the lock screen. If you press the Home button twice, the audio controls appear on the top part of the screen. Just like the Nike+ app, I have the same audio controls and the bonus, the battery life is extended. I’ve gone walking 2+ hours with about 1/2 of the battery life gone and this has allowed me to walk even farther without worries to have to get a re-charge along the way – RunKeeper is the winner.

Please let me know your experience with these apps or with other you can recommend others for me to try. I am interested in jogging in the future and C25K is something I’m planning on trying to use. Hope you found this piece helpful. Drop me a comment below or email me: monsterscifishow@gmail.com

I Got My Sign Ready.

After an unexplained delay yesterday, I received my separation letter from the library this morning. Needless to say, I left work early. Those who have followed my library blog will know that this was something not totally unexpected. Regardless of how much one prepares, it still hurt to get this letter.

Yesterday, I received text messages, emails and updates on Facebook from those around the library system. I kept waiting for my news to arrive until closing. When that didn’t happen I felt… left behind. As if those who got cut were raptured and while I was told that it would happen to me as well but it didn’t happen…. until today.

With my sign ready to go, I’m still planning on keeping this library blog. I still have three classes to take to complete my degree. From there, I will feel a bit more secure about continuing my library career. Again, this is just a small part of my overall work experience. I am still planning to go forward with my doctorate with the goal to teach. I don’t consider this as a set back but rather a hiccup along the way.

 

The Line Has Been Drawn… OK, Not Until Monday!

Four days from now, all library staff will know their fate whether they will have a job or not have a job. This image from Battlestar Galactica’s fourth season series finale Daybreak. We find the crew gearing up for battle on last time. Admiral Adama, with Mose like abilities, parted the crowd down the middle. What he asked were two groups to form. One side to rescue Hera from the Cylons and the other have to continue with Galactica. Use the same metaphor on the library staff and we too will look like the picture above very soon. The difference between the two is: choice. The crew of Galactica were asked which side of line they wanted to be and the decision was their own. For the library staff, the choice was never ours but by someone’s process to decide which side to be on.

Honestly, I knew since the beginning of January when Mayor Alvarez was ousted that who ever would be coming in behind him would have to make the cuts that people wanted. I knew my place was not safe but I was of the mind that I would get recalled as time passed. However, I know now, that will not be the case. There will be no recall list for my name to be on. What I will be getting is a one way ticket out.

Yes, it is not official till some time Monday, October 3 but the line has been already drawn.

Jury finds mom guilty in Decatur library case | ajc.com By Marcus K. Garner

Yesterday at my branch, there was a complaint to the branch manager about the library being very loud. Normally, this branch is quite but on our late night, we had two library events plus kids doing homework. So, yes we were louder than normal but we were no less than a library. We are a community center whereby people meet up and use our facilities many reasons.

After reading the article below, I was struck by the last sentence, “Library officials had Foster tossed out Oct. 11. after her son Savon laughed as she used a computer.” Laughed?!? Really?!? There are plenty of bad parents who use the library by getting on the computer and paying no mind to their screaming and/or upset child. Those are the type of patrons that ruin the library experience for everyone. 

Having read over my Library Rules of Conduct & Eviction Procedure, I would not have let the situation below to have reached the levels it achieved. Yes, hindsight is 20/20 but given the nature of the mother using the computer to look for work while having the baby her side, there should have been some leeway from the librarian. The Library serves the needs of the community and in the case of Donetta Foster she was using the library to look for work. If she had used Facebook or doing something else recreational, I would have sided with the librarian. Not to say that librarians have to judge the worthiness of your time being in the library but we need to be flexible. Do we not give extra time to patrons who used up there alloted time when looking for work or doing homework? Do we not improvise when things simply don’t go as planned? I’m just sorry to see how this situation had manifested to the point where law enforcement and courts became involved. There is no reason this could not have been handled better on all accounts involved.

After deliberating for 90 minutes, a DeKalb County jury Wednesday night found the mother arrested in a fracas over her baby at the Decatur public library guilty of obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Christopher Seward, cseward@ajc.com

Donnetta Foster, 20, is on trial after being charged last fall with disorderly conduct after a clash with library staff and Decatur police at the Decatur library on Sycamore Street. 
 

Donnetta Foster was sentenced to 12 months: Two days in jail with credit for two days already served, and the remainder of the sentence on probation.

Judge Janis C. Gordon told Foster she also would have to perform 40 hours of community service and attend three parenting classes, three child impact classes, three “Alternative Path for Women” classes, and a day-long intensive anger management class.

Foster could have gotten up to a year in jail.

In a statement issued Wednesday night, DeKalb Solicitor-General Sherry Boston said, “The bottom line is that this defendant was given a simple, lawful command to leave the library more than a dozen times by a police sergeant who was using a clear and calm voice.”

Foster, in response, “ranted, vented, complained and cursed” for 48 minutes and refused to obey the officer, leaving him “no choice but to arrest the defendant,” Boston said.

In a statement issued after the verdict, Foster’s attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis, said, “As 20-year-old college student, (Foster) did not want a criminal conviction, she had to fight. She will still move forward and make a better life for her and her son.

“She thanks all the people that have supported her,” Davis said. “It is truly unfortunate that this even went this far.”

The confrontation with library staff and police began when the woman’s 14-month-old son made noises.

“I was loud,” Foster told the jury during testimony at her trial Wednesday afternoon. “I said a few [curse words]. I’m embarrassed. But I felt like I had been wronged by the library and wanted the officer to help.”

Library officials had Foster tossed out Oct. 11. after her son Savon laughed as she used a computer.

Jury finds mom guilty in Decatur library case  | ajc.com

Stress, it kill you if you let it!

Ok, I have a cat on me as I am typing this entry on my iPhone. He is keeping me down from going to the refrigerator and getting out my pint of my favorite ice cream as pictured above. This got me thinking about stress.

I was texted by one of my co-workers from a previous branch assignment last night. We texted about the stress about the pending library layoffs. I mentioned about the upcoming web comic and podcast/blog to help me get through the rough times that are coming for me. Not that I am feeling this now but I can’t let the stress bring me down; not this time. Why?

When the Miami office for Cunard was closing my stress levels were really high. As such, I gained weight because I was and still am a stress eater. During my time there, I was able to get down to 170. When I left, I was nearing 200.

Today, there was an email from our Main library which posted the library schedule system wide once the new budget has been finalized. The end is coming very soon as of September 22; the final county budget meeting. I have been dealing with headaches and sleepless nights in addition to the stresses of parenting and finances. Surprisingly, I weighed myself this morning and I was at 184.

I think the difference this time around is that I don’t want to lose control of myself. How I handle myself now was due to hard lessons learned from the past. Since April, I’ve been walking more aggressively whereby I average about 60 miles a day. Now, I still love eating crap but I have great restraint. My hope is that I continue this well past October. My hope for my fellow librarians is for them to find a creative outlet to deal with the gloom and doom. But I will say this, we all still have a job to do today and still need to do it well. When we are let go, that’s when we quit.

U Fired. No U Fired. Laughing At Being Fired.

Now comes the month of September where the proverbial shit the proverbial fan. Counting down the days till September 22, the new budget county has to be finalized. Those who follow this blog will note the certainty I feel about losing my position with the library. There is no upside or a hint of possibilities that there will be a reprisal. There is none and for that matter, it can only get worse; I pray for the former not the latter.

This past week, hitting an extra nail on the coffin, I attended what might be my last network meeting with the current Intern and Trainees for the Librarian 1 position. The first thing mentioned from someone from the admin department, we will not only be the first to be let go but we will not even be on a recall list. This really deflated me. I felt like Luke Skywalker after he discovered the remains of his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Luke told Ben, “There’s nothing here for me now.” I was willing to wait this out until the end with the benefit to be called back from that recall list. Now, there is nothing for me. Except for one more outreach, I am here unmotivated to do more at my job. I have to start my disconnection from what I do and the people I work with. I need to start looking for work much sooner than later. With the latest news of zero jobs growth, what is left to do? Laugh of course because it is better than crying or getting mad.

On the way to work, NPR had a piece that talked about humor after 9/11. Now, by all means, I am not saying that 9/11 is on the same level as being let go during this downturn economy. Rather, there needs to be moments of levity to help ease the burden of what dealing with tough situation and of what is coming ahead. Rather than brooding until the end of October, I need to remember my end days with Cunard Cruise Lines.

Shortly after the birth of my daughter, I worked for Cunard here in Miami. I had worked for them for almost four years. When the merger between Carnival Cruises, which owns Cunard, and P&O Cruises happened, there was a realignment of the different brands. Cunard moved under P&O’s umbrella and so did our base of operation. What we did not know, until months later, that we would lose all of our jobs. Being in that situation was worse than what I am going through now because the rumor mill was completely out of control. However, once things were confirmed and the time frames in place, I realized that I was sad but it wasn’t the end. As the calls became less, due to being diverted to the new call center in L.A., the mood was surprisingly upbeat up and until the last day. As the final paycheck was being handed out, we were greeted with “U Fired!” Of course, it was done in good nature like the two woodlice – Tuck and Roll from A Bug’s Life. Yes, people were missed and hearts broken but we had our time together. I will move on as well as with everyone else here at the library. I just need to remember that for every action there is an opposite reaction. When I quit or get laid off, I just need to laugh.

(Below is a pic from my last day with Cunard.) 

Reassignment: Enterprise

This is an overdue post but seems appropriate to do this now. In the past, I’ve used various Star Trek ships to convey the changes I had experienced as I was transferred from one library branch to another. For the past five + months, I’ve been stationed at a store front library branch. The reason I picked the NX-01 starship is because it fits my particular situation. Enterprise itself was the 4 spinoff series from the original Trek series bringing it to the total of five not including the animated series or the movies. Since I started with the library back in 2006, I have now worked in five different branches. Now having said this, I carry this connection forward,  the series was heading for cancellation by the end of the fourth season and nearly killed off the franchise forever. As I’ve mentioned before, I am facing a possible separation from the library is the next couple of months. Could this move kill off my career as a librarian forever?

As I am writing this, almost 1am Monday, I just finished a pint of ice cream and watching an Enterprise episode called Mauraders. To sum it up, think of this episode as a retelling of A Bug’s Life with the Klingons as the Locust. As I groan in pain from the late night dessert and tv watching, I am reminded that someone wrote this crap. Someone got paid to write this crap. I too want to write and get paid for writing crap. Several years ago, make that more than a decade ago, I wrote a spec script for the then upcoming Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series. I recently found it again which led me to believe, I need to write again and fail again. Yes, I did say fail again.

The original script was worked on with my mentor which we knew it could never be produced but wanted to showcase our passion for Trek. While the script was registered with the Writer’s Guild, nothing further happened until I moved down to Miami. When I started to work for Borders Book Shop, rest in peace, I met someone who helped me revise the script into a story where it could be considered for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Again, the script was registered and then submitted to Paramount. I waited for weeks to be notified that I failed and I was ecstatic. Before you think  I was nuts, allow me to explain.

I achieved great failure by getting my first rejection notice. Okay, I didn’t get my story bought or was asked to pitch other stories but I took a chance to fail. I need to fail some more. I need more rejection letters. Again, this is not a bad thing but without those rejection letters, this tells me that I have not taken more chances in life. I have not done serious writing since I have Borders for good back in 2000. Granted, there were some letters that I wrote to the Star Trek Communicator which made me happy to see my name in print but that was long ago. As I face the possibility of losing my position as a librarian in the coming months, I have sick time that I need to use up. I am hoping that the time off from work, I will be able to find my voice again and get my thoughts down on paper and make something happen.

Just like the Enterprise series which seemed to go through the emotions halfheartedly, I don’t want my last days as a librarian to be devoid of passion and zest. Yes, I am still holding out for hope to have a job but in the meantime, I need to fill my spirit with something that made me happy once. While I may not be able to make a living at writing at least I’ll know that I failed.

 

 

Watch as the boy falls from the sky.

As time progresses ever so slowly till the next public hearing for the county’s budget, I have come to the realization that I will get the axe from the library. I am not saying this to be mean to myself or a real Debbie Downer but after speaking with someone from the Admin office during the last Adult Services meeting, my situation as well as other, the outlook is more than saying  it does not look good. It is downright inevitable and I am coming to grips with this.

As mentioned in the earlier entry, the library millage rate has been set and can not be raised. Having said that, if nothing changes between now and September 22, the last public hearing, the cutbacks will go forward. Since I don’t have any right to my L1 position, the bumping process from the higher classification will make it impossible to retain my status as an Intern/Trainee. So, watch this boy as he falls from the sky.

As the Spiderman song goes from the Broadway show, Parker sings about single thread to cross the sky.  Thinking in the same vein, I too will fall but I will not let this destroy me or end my career. I’ve spent the last decade plus acquiring almost three degrees: BSBM, MBA /Marketing and MLIS (almost 3 more classses). When I’m done with the MLIS degree, I will pursue my Doctorate. I made a promise to myself that would happen regardless of my employment situation. Until then, I will spin my web to catch myself from falling. Then I’ll point my web shooter at another site and then start swing back towards my goal. Yes, the metaphor may not work but I will fall with style and I will recover.

Towards the end of the song, Parker is singing, “Believe” over and over again. I know who I am and what I can offer to employers. I’ve been down this road before and managed to become better than before. 

Why do I say this?

Because I believe.

Do Less With Less; Not More.

The perceptions and beliefs of today’s information consumer will shape the use, value and impact of libraries in 2011 and beyond. As libraries’ budgets get tighter, expectations of the information consumer will only continue to expand. How can libraries balance the budget while balancing increased demand and new expectations? How will libraries fund the strategic investment that will be required to take the long view in difficult times? What library strategies, alternative services and advocacy activities will be required to best serve tomorrow’s information consumer?

Source: OCLC Preceptions of Libraries, 2010

Do less with less; not more. Is this the key to our library woes? My library system as well as many others nationwide and even around the world are all feeling the same pinch. This current economic downturn does not appear that it will go away any time soon. My library’s budget has been cut from year to year due to less and less revenue from property taxes. The project budget for 2011-2012 is about 1/3 of what it was in 2008. There is no way the library can run to its full capacity and keep all branches open in Miami. So what is being planned to close the gap?

There are proposals to lengthen the workday to 10 hours, shorten operating days to just 4 days a week in the smaller storefront branches, and reduce regionals to 1 shift. All pages will be gone by September 30 which means all remaining full time library staffers will have to pick up this slack and work longer days. That is until the end of October and then the real fun begins. Full time staff will also be on the chopping block with 114 positions to be cut; for now. The library in the near future will be operating with about the same number of staff members they had back in 1999. Back then, there were only 30 branches. Zoom a decade later, we have 48 branches with another one about to open. Do the math! I can not say 100% that all of this will not happen but I am about 99.9% certain that this will happen; there is always room for error.

Having said all this, why have I come to this conclusion? The county millage has been set for all county departments. Once set, the millage can not go up; it can only go down. There are two options here, it will get worse in the coming months if nothing happens or it will get worser if the library’s millage goes down further. With that, patrons will have to deal with less as the library has less to  deliver. Residents voted for lower property, this will have to reflect in the service they get from the top down. I’m not saying this to be mean but they should expect the type of government they voted for and not get more bang for the buck. There is nothing more we can give and there’s nothing further to cut other than the staff that makes up the library system. In my opinion, a library with less staff becomes a building with just books; no more, no less.

Welcome to your new library.

More on this in the coming days, weeks, and a couple of months.

The Needs of the Many….

Driving into work, wondering what will be the official word from the Branch Manager’s meeting, a certain phrase popped into my head, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.” Those who know this famous phrase will remember watching Spock saving the Enterprise from certain doom from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And to boot, another phrase from the same movie, “How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn’t you say?” This was the line delivered by then Admiral Kirk to a young hottie Lt. Saavik played Kirstie Alley earlier in the same movie. Just as those who follow the bible or some other religious text, they use these principles to help guide themselves through life’s more challenging times. I use  scifi references which has no less merit.

As you may or may not know, Miami is facing a $400 million budget gap. For the past several years, this gap has existed and somehow, the library has managed to stay pretty much intact. However, the ex-mayor Carlos Alvarez was voted out of office for his raising of property taxes earlier this fiscal year. The new mayor would not only have to repeal those increases but issue further saving measures; this is exactly what is taking places. Of course, this will have to go the commissioners to be voted as well as several public hearings before the final vote.

In my past entry, I noted that on the proverbial chopping block, 13 public libraries will be closed including mine. There will be no Sunday hours, no S.M.A.R.T. (free tutoring) and reduction in bookmobile services.  In addition, 191 positions will also be eliminated. This year, the threat will become an actuality; in my opinion. So, how does the two scifi quotes fit in?

When dealing with the needs of the many, I saw this as two-fold. First, there are many staff members that are close to retirement. If their benefits remain the same or is slightly less, I would say to those few…leave. Leave your position now to help save those who need long term employment. This is not to say so long and don’t let the door hit you on the way out but they exodus will help lower the number of other staff members being let go overall. It’s not as if, we are going to make those who retire or take early retirement into Soylent Green; right?

What I just talked about was an internal need of the many; now there is an external need of the many. In the face of the budget gap, as much as I believe that library services are as important as other higher county priorities, the library needs to take a hit. There needs to be closures of libraries in order to preserve critical services such as fire, police and health services. In the face of losing my position, I say this, just as Spock sacrificed himself, so will I. Spock the saw the larger picture. As a business major in college, I see the big picture and closing some branches is better than closing all the branches.

On to the last quote, “How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn’t you say?” It is important to note that we never want to be in a situation where our thoughts and fears of losing a job should promote one to act negatively or be harsh to others. For example, I am writing on this blog to express myself in a rash and calm demeanor. Plus it is an outlet for my thoughts to live some place else instead of my mind only where it can fester. If I were to write or say the first thing that comes to mind about this issue, there would be more, as Spock would say, colorful metaphors to convey those feelings. I don’t want to tread down that avenue.

What if I blogged the fact that I did not like the fact that administrators get paid more than I do by two – three times? I freakin’ hate it but that is not the issue. Yet, some attacks on them are taking place on local news article because of that point. There is plenty of blame to go around but I would rather argue that based on their salaries, if there were to be cuts, one admin salary would help save two – three position in the library. I would STRONGLY support that point in my blog. Again, this goes back to the needs of the many points I mentioned earlier. And until the final vote has passed, as much as I feel demotivated right now, I have to continue to press forward as a librarian who continues to show his passions and the service to his community as if I my library was still here tomorrow. This is how I will choose to act in the face of potential personal doom. How about you?