Sunday, February 28, 2010
"Advertising - Lowe’s Puts New Emphasis on Customer’s Wants" - NYTimes.com
Is this how Lowe's customers feel here in Chapelboroham where we have at least two if not three Lowe's stores.....?
"Join us for big name speakers performers other notables" - Herald-Sun
I hope UNC will reach out even more aggressively to invite the rest of us in Chapelboroham to attend events and participate in activities on the campus.
"Generation B - Independent Drugstores Seek Own Rx for Survival?" - NYTimes.com
Someone needs to do a really good story on chain drug stores v. independents in Chapelboroham. We don't know what we don't know.
Downtown Chapel HIll lighting
I guess there have been a lot of discussions about better downtwon lighting in Chapel Hill. Last night, when we attended a concert at Memorial Hall, I was reminded of how dimly lit so much of the heart of downtown is.
Surely, there ought to be a way to capture more of the Carolina sunshine to power more lighting all over downtown with solar lights? I wonder what the status of research might be on that idea as opposed to ideas that involve using a lot of energy or require purchasing very expensive low electricity-eating lights.
Has the Town sought proposals on this?
Surely, there ought to be a way to capture more of the Carolina sunshine to power more lighting all over downtown with solar lights? I wonder what the status of research might be on that idea as opposed to ideas that involve using a lot of energy or require purchasing very expensive low electricity-eating lights.
Has the Town sought proposals on this?
Jazz concert at UNC
We attended a fabulous jazz concert last night at UNC's Memorial Hall. Very few other people joined us.
Can't we work harder, somehow, to make this more of a success? Surely there ought to have been a way to bring more people to this event - possbly for less money each - but to expose a much larger audience to superb local talent in the UNC Jazz Band and other performers, including Jason MARSALIS.
Can't we work harder, somehow, to make this more of a success? Surely there ought to have been a way to bring more people to this event - possbly for less money each - but to expose a much larger audience to superb local talent in the UNC Jazz Band and other performers, including Jason MARSALIS.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
"Lowe’s Results Beat Expectations" - NYTimes.com
It sure would be nice to be able to bring this down to the Chapelboroham level. That's a problem with all of the chain operations, whether they be big box, or not. We never know how the place in our "neighborhood" is really doing.
"One-Third of U.S. Without Broadband, F.C.C. Finds" - NYTimes.com
How are we doing in Chapelboroham?
How do people here really make use of their internet connections - of all speeds?
How do people here really make use of their internet connections - of all speeds?
Monday, February 22, 2010
"Stories From Around The World..." - CBS News Video
Imagine all of the stories to be told here in Chapelboroham. Everyone does have a story to tell, and we do a really poor job of giving everyone a chance to tell theirs.
"Colorado State University Embroiled In Concealed Carry Dispute" - NPR
What are the rules at UNC?
If this is correct, and if there are no rules in place.....? It seems to be correct.
I have sent an e-mail to the public safety department at UNC to ask them how the law is applied on campus.
If this is correct, and if there are no rules in place.....? It seems to be correct.
I have sent an e-mail to the public safety department at UNC to ask them how the law is applied on campus.
"Fixing Footwear" - American Profile
We have at least one great story to tell in Chapel Hill about this line of business - Lacock's, and perhaps others in Chapelboroham.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
"Thief Takes Greyhound Bus From Maintenance Garage" - NYTimes.com
Couldn't hjappen in Chapelboroham, could it?
"Simon Property Group in Bid for General Growth Properties" - NYTimes.com
Is Southpoint the only shopping center in Chapelboroham potentially affected by this?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
"The McClatchy Company - McClatchy Announces 10 President's Awards for Journalism Excellence in 2009"
The N&O coverage is as valuable in Chapelboroham as anywhere in the state!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
"Wi-Fi Turns Arizona Bus Ride Into a Rolling Study Hall" - NYTimes.com
What do students in Chapelboroham do with their portable computers? Where? What do they access? Homework? I doubt it. Prove me wrong!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Potholes on 15-501/54
Why, exactly, are there so many potholes on 15-501/54 in Chapel Hill? That road was relatively recently resurfaced. Who or what is responsible and who pays to fix them all? How much?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"Do School Libraries Need Books?" - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
This sure raises a huge issues affecting our libraries, both in schools and in the community.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Time Warner Cable
They are running some compelling television ads for people or actors who say they work for Time Warner Cable. It's impressive.
Today I called - 1-888-890-7515 - to ask about the cost of converting to digital cable. We get just the basic service that includes the news cable channels.
The first problem was that the agent could not find out account. It took almost five minutes for him to track it down.
Then he wanted to answer a separate question, but finally answered my query. What I wanted to know was simply what it would cost - because after promotions expire, this is where we may be - to upgrade to digital cable (instead of 57/mo, it would be 76.95) . If we added HBO? Another 11/month.
Then I asked what it would cost to get Universal Sports. He asked two people, spent time searching and said he could find nothing about that channel. While he did this, I searched for Universal Sports and on their site found the search for where carried. It told me that we could get Universal Sports on channel 218. It is not marked as such on Time Warner's website and this was new to the agent who could not verify what I found.
Finally, I asked about any French channels. He said he was half French and was sure there was none. I asked how we put in a request to add it. He did not know. He switched me to customer service. He did not know either, but started checking. He came back and said I should start a peittion and send it with signatures to Time Warner! No guidelines or procedures. I hung up.
There sure is a huge gap between their commercials and my experience. I'd take some of that money now going to those commercials and invest it in dealing with issues like these.
--
I called back the next day to learn more. This time, the system seemed to recognize me.
My first question was about HBO. Apparently there are 18 HBO channels. If you add HBO to digital cable for 11/mo, you are able to look at any of them, although an HD television may be needed in some cases. I was assured that the 3 listed in the daily TV listings - HBO, HBO Family, HBO2 - would all be available to us without any new television sets.
Then I asked the most important question. What happens to the promotional rates they offer at the end of the promotion term, which seems to be either 12 or 24 months? The answer is that they go to whatever the current regular rates are at the time. What this approach seems to do is to soften the blow of the increase - as noted above from 57/month to 88/month over a one or two year period. That's not to say that it is not worthwhile, but that's how it works.
Of course, the agent on the line wanted to press me for more, and I ticked him off by insisting that I get answers to my questions and not his sales pitch.
Today I called - 1-888-890-7515 - to ask about the cost of converting to digital cable. We get just the basic service that includes the news cable channels.
The first problem was that the agent could not find out account. It took almost five minutes for him to track it down.
Then he wanted to answer a separate question, but finally answered my query. What I wanted to know was simply what it would cost - because after promotions expire, this is where we may be - to upgrade to digital cable (instead of 57/mo, it would be 76.95) . If we added HBO? Another 11/month.
Then I asked what it would cost to get Universal Sports. He asked two people, spent time searching and said he could find nothing about that channel. While he did this, I searched for Universal Sports and on their site found the search for where carried. It told me that we could get Universal Sports on channel 218. It is not marked as such on Time Warner's website and this was new to the agent who could not verify what I found.
Finally, I asked about any French channels. He said he was half French and was sure there was none. I asked how we put in a request to add it. He did not know. He switched me to customer service. He did not know either, but started checking. He came back and said I should start a peittion and send it with signatures to Time Warner! No guidelines or procedures. I hung up.
There sure is a huge gap between their commercials and my experience. I'd take some of that money now going to those commercials and invest it in dealing with issues like these.
--
I called back the next day to learn more. This time, the system seemed to recognize me.
My first question was about HBO. Apparently there are 18 HBO channels. If you add HBO to digital cable for 11/mo, you are able to look at any of them, although an HD television may be needed in some cases. I was assured that the 3 listed in the daily TV listings - HBO, HBO Family, HBO2 - would all be available to us without any new television sets.
Then I asked the most important question. What happens to the promotional rates they offer at the end of the promotion term, which seems to be either 12 or 24 months? The answer is that they go to whatever the current regular rates are at the time. What this approach seems to do is to soften the blow of the increase - as noted above from 57/month to 88/month over a one or two year period. That's not to say that it is not worthwhile, but that's how it works.
Of course, the agent on the line wanted to press me for more, and I ticked him off by insisting that I get answers to my questions and not his sales pitch.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Starbucks Coffee Company
It appears that there is no local page for Starbucks. I had never looked before, but apparently this is operated like a giant machine that spits out only a few items, all the same, regardless - in this case, of where the item lands.....except, I am sure, for price.
"For Students at Risk, Early College Proves a Draw" - NYTimes.com
How does this program relate to Chapelboroham?
"CVS Profit Rises on Increased Pharmacy Sales" - NYTimes.com
I wonder where we rank in the CVS world - are the stores and services they provide here especially profitable, not so, inbetween? With all the "pharmacy" competition we see here, one could reasonably assume that this is a good place to do that sort of business.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Nowell's - About Us
I'll add some of the "About Us" pages for Chapelboroham institutions from time to time. Every one of them has a story to tell about itself and some do it far better than others.
Friday, February 5, 2010
School closings
I think something is very wrong with school management and policy when a storm such as last weekend's leads to the closing of schools for a week (in the case of Orange County schools). Not only do the students lose out but the rest of us do as well since we foot the bill through our taxes to make up the days lost. What does this teach students?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
"Cary, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex - Bicycles and Service - The Bicycle Chain"
It's odd to me that they have a Facebook page and this website and yet nowhere do I find a link to this article.
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