Scribrarian Tools

Alright. So a MASSIVE shift in life goals has been undertaken. I'm divorcing my wife of... well, let's just say a LONG damn time. And part of this process is I have to remember exactly what I want?! What "I" want, not what I want to make her happy or to deal with weird emotional issues that were cropping up because of my unhappiness in my marriage. So, I'm re-evaluating this whole Scribrarian thing. Really looking that part of me in the eyes. I'm fairly certain it's a BIG part of who I am. But how... and why... and what does that mean? I'm starting to think through the process for properly Scribrarianizing everything. How do I digitally organize in a way that is: 1) Easily Adaptable by the common man. - Wondering if I'm going to have to build some software to assist / aid the common man? Hmmmmmm.... 2) Makes sense and logically fits. - No sense in developing a process that is just as easily confused as what we have now. I've been considering tags? If I came up with a way to tag everyfile that every is created on a computer, then I would just need a tag organizer. This would replace the current file retrieval system on most computers tho. And who wants that? So... I've started thinking through this process. I've decided I want to start with my Movie collection. Well, the re-creation of my Movie Collection. I need a series of DVD's that are PRINTABLE. I think these would work: Diskmakers Ultra DVD I need a DVD Printer to PRINT on those discs. I think these are some good possibilities: 1) DYMO Disk Printer 2) Medley 440 InkJet Printer I need a storage medium for the movies and this is where I hit my glitch. The most common storage medium for discs are these: DVD Cases - Black However, when you have over 300 movies? That REALLY cuts into your storage space?! Now there's always the standard Jewel cases? But those things are the bane of MY existence. I can't stand them, I end up breaking them everytime I remove the disc. Here's a couple of interesting links for storage ideas... 1) Boltz 2) Racks and Stands It's all going to depend on cashflow of course, and I have to get my system in place before I figure out how much storage I'm gonna need. Here's a couple interesting ideas for clearing the DVD clutter. 1) Lifehacker : How To Clear Your DVD Clutter 2) Lifehacker : Turn Your Defunct Speaker Into A DVD Case I've let this post simmer for a few days thinking I would find more to add, but I've been distracted from my Scribrarian studies.

Temporary On Hold

So life went crazy over the last 3 months. I'm in-between computers that work. I'm in-between suitable living arrangements. I'm in-between a good headspace. So The Scribrarian is on hold. Not forgotten. Not abandoned. Just on hold...

Authors, Artists and Musicians... oh my! [Part 1.1]

So we have our My Multimedia setup. We have a location set aside for ALL Multimedia. Well geez. Doesn't that cover everything? Well, let's look at the word Multimedia.

mul·ti·me·di·a /ˌmʌltiˈmidiə, ˌmʌltaɪ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[muhl-tee-mee-dee-uh, muhl-tahy-]

–noun (used with a singular verb)

1. the combined use of several media, as sound and full-motion video in computer applications.

-adjective

1. of, pertaining to, or involving the use of multimedia.
2. having or offering the use of various communications or promotional media: a multimedia corporation that owns TV stations and newspapers

[Origin: 1960–65; multi- + media¹]

So multimedia has to do with 'several' media (with an example of sound and full-motion video). So we can include our digital camera albums, those clip art images we grabbed off of some site, those banners we created for our forum postings on somesite.com, and the list CAN go on, and on... The thing to remember, we want things to make sense. We want something that JUST MAKES SENSE. When you have found that perfect image you wanna use as your avatar on http://www.dressupgames.com/avatars.html and you don't know where to save it on your computer (so you don't lose it), it should go to: My Multimedia\My Avatars\dressupgames.com\ But make sure to name it appropriately. Because... if you get several avatars from that site, you don't wanna spend ALOT of time searching for 'That' one... You wanna find and click quickly as you are navigating that UPLOAD dialog for wherever you are trying to upload that avatar to. So you can see that I'm using the "MY" nomenclature alot. This is because I'm trying to trigger the memetic connections. Inside the My Avatars folder, you could have folders with variable names:

1. My Avatars\downloaded\websitename.com\user_usernameOfPersonWithAvatar.ext
2. My Avatars\personal\imagename.ext
3. My Avatars\self\imagename.ext

Naming a folder "self" should seem rather obvious. It denotes that the files in here were created by me. This gives you a connection. It also allows you to use a search program to look for the word "self" and find EVERY file you have created. EVERY one. But only the ones that YOU created. Anyway... What about those camping trip pictures?! Where do they go?! My Multimedia\My Photos Simple enough? Ah, we'll get into more details tomorrow. You should be catching on... I know I am. The self label just crystalized for me as I was writing... I gotta put it into use now. Man I wish tonight was going to be an easier night for me... more time for working on stuff... Alas, the fates don't seem to be running that direction. Peace, Love and Harmony everyone...

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My References

Authors, Artists and Musicians... oh my! [Part I]

When developing a digital directory structure for the average virtual citizen probably the first thing that comes to mind is MP3's, PDF's, GIF's, Word Docs, JPG's, and Text Files. Sure, there are more... *.lit, *.html, *.prc, *.etc, *.ad nauseum But my point is. People have files created by Musicians, Artists and Authors. Books... Music... and Art. A good directory structure takes this into consideration. Let's start with our containing folder: My Multimedia The root folder for our Multimedia collection should be stored in a folder that just makes sense. My Multimedia fits in with the lingo. MySpace, My Documents, My Music, etc... Now let's stop for a quick moment. This isn't a preacher, preaching on high. I'm not trying to declare for the world exactly how you should organize your files. Do whatever the hell you want... seriously, it's ok with me. I'm trying to dig through the morass of memetic waste that is my experiences, my thrill ride through anally retentive storage factors that have worked and failed for me. Some of them rang true and survived multiple cleansing of multiple hard-drive and compact disc / dvd storage sets. I've tried to store books and music and images this way... and that way. I believe that I have an answer. Since no one else is even trying to present an idea like this (well, not that I've found at least), then I have to assume that everyone else is having the EXACT SAME problem I have had. The problem I believe I have solved. SO... before you get all uppity, and try to tell me how you have figured out EXACTLY how you store your images, music or authors... keep this in mind. I store them all too. And more. You could dare to say that I probably store most file types know... in fact, I've made some up along the way. I am a programmer, well a hobbyist one anyway! My point is... This grand design... directory structure of the gods... is presented here as an idea for you. If you have a better way? Please tell me. That's what the comments are for. However, since I haven't seen anyone attempt to offer ME a better way. This is ME offering YOU a better way. So take it or leave it. But do us all a favor and grasp it before you critique it. SO. We start with My Multimedia. On MY system, My Multimedia contains roughly 15-20 folders. My Multimedia My Multimeda\Artists My Multimeda\Authors My Multimeda\Compilations and Soundtracks My Multimeda\Musicians and Bands These 4 folders are the ones I want to discuss. Excluding the [ Compilation and Soundtracks ] folder, the other 3 have then have folders per each letter of the alphabet and one for[ _Num ] Kinda like so. My Multimedia\Artists My Multimedia\Artists\_Num My Multimedia\Artists\A My Multimedia\Artists\B My Multimedia\Artists\C My Multimedia\Artists\etc... First off, I should start out with why I created the [ _Num ] folder like I did?

1. I don't PERSONALLY know of an artist with a number for their name. BUT... who knows. It could happen.
2. Musicians and Bands has [ 3 Doors Down ]. And that's just the first one to come to mind.
3. In your average operating system, the symbol "_" comes before the letter A. So rather than have the numerically named files go into a folder that is listed between the letter "N" and the letter "M", I went with "_Num".

If you have a better idea, that makes sense... tell me. This starts out the process for setting up a foundation wherein you can create the structure to being to store your 'Mainstream' Multimedia. - "Mainstream?" you say. Yeah. These folders are not where you would store those pics you took at Jacks Beer party last weekend with that Hot Chick from HR. That'll come... just you wait. My Multimedia is an endless storage location. ( well, depending on how much money you can afford for hard-drives ) For now... I'm running dry. It's been a long day making maps, my computer is running SLOW while it's cranking out a Geo-Referenced PDF for work, and either it's going to finish here in a second or else 4:30 is gonna get here and I'm beginning the shut down process to head home to the missus. Have a great day either way... I doubt I'll be posting any more today. Peace, Love and Harmony...

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My References

The Scribrarian Has Arrived

Well, Here is day one. I've been waiting to set up a blog until I could get the username I've used for the last 15 years. randomblink But apparently, fate would keep that gem just outside of my realm of possibility. However, I have recently acquired the nom-de-guerre of Digital Scribrarian, for a personal project of mine... and, well... the rest is history. Ok, so the rest is actually this blog... but you get the point. A Scribrarian is a mixture of a Scribe and a Librarian.

scribe /skraɪb/ Pronunciation Key [skrahyb] noun, verb, scribed, scrib·ing. –noun

1. a person who serves as a professional copyist, esp. one who made copies of manuscripts before the invention of printing.
2. a public clerk or writer, usually one having official status.
3. Also called sopher, sofer. Judaism. one of the group of Palestinian scholars and teachers of Jewish law and tradition, active from the 5th century b.c. to the 1st century a.d., who transcribed, edited, and interpreted the Bible.
4. a writer or author, esp. a journalist.

–verb (used without object)

5. to act as a scribe; write.

–verb (used with object)

6. to write down.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME <> li·brar·i·an /laɪˈbrɛəriən/ [lahy-brair-ee-uhn] –noun

1. a person trained in library science and engaged in library service.
2. a person in charge of a library, esp. the chief administrative officer of a library.
3. a person who is in charge of any specialized body of literature, as a collection of musical scores.

[Origin: 1660–70; libr(ary) + -arian]

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Now a DIGITAL Scribrarian is someone who digitally duplicates files (or has no problem doing so) then categorically places that file in a location that makes sense. For those still not grasping? I take the files I have (made from copies generally) and I put them in a folder where it not only makes sense to find it, but is easy to find and makes sense to have saved it there. The goal of the Scribrarian project is to create a directory structure that makes sense. So that when you have a file that you need to save, whether you downloaded it, created, copied it from a disc, or it just appeared magically... there should either already be a folder that that file OBVIOUSLY belongs in... or it should be OBVIOUS as to where you need to create one AND what it should be named. Now then. I'm sure you have comments or questions... shall we begin?

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My References