Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
60 Minutes story on state finances
Tonight's 60 Minutes story raises all sorts of questions for which we should have answers throughout Chapelboroham. One of them is how indebdted is Chapel Hill and every other jurisdiction? The second is how dependent Chapel Hill and the other jurisdictions are on the state?
"MALL Y'ALL?" - Chapel Hill Library potential move to University Mall
I just submitted this comment on the linked page:
"Perhaps these projections exist, and I will try to make time to search for them on the library's site and/or to ask the library.....
Here is the point I wish to raise:
With the strong growth in "e-books" of all kinds, combined with all of the growth that has occurred in online access to library-type resources, I hope that someone has created some projections on what the use of the library is expected/assumed to be in 5/10, perhaps 20 years? How does present use breakdown and what do experts (and we have so many at the library and informations sciences school at UNC) think will change in the years ahead.
Before getting to the very challenging question of the possible move to University Mall, I think we need to understand really well what a day in the life of the library is today, and what knowledgeable people project it to look like 5/10, perhaps 20 years from now.
Further, I'd like to see the views of knowledgeable people about what the future is for bookstores in Chapel Hill, along with other information/library resources, and the role that the Chapel Hill Library plays and expects to play in the evolution of all of that complex marketplace. This analysis would take into account trends in the use of home, business and other organizations' computers and telecommunications devices to do what the library might otherwise do."
"Perhaps these projections exist, and I will try to make time to search for them on the library's site and/or to ask the library.....
Here is the point I wish to raise:
With the strong growth in "e-books" of all kinds, combined with all of the growth that has occurred in online access to library-type resources, I hope that someone has created some projections on what the use of the library is expected/assumed to be in 5/10, perhaps 20 years? How does present use breakdown and what do experts (and we have so many at the library and informations sciences school at UNC) think will change in the years ahead.
Before getting to the very challenging question of the possible move to University Mall, I think we need to understand really well what a day in the life of the library is today, and what knowledgeable people project it to look like 5/10, perhaps 20 years from now.
Further, I'd like to see the views of knowledgeable people about what the future is for bookstores in Chapel Hill, along with other information/library resources, and the role that the Chapel Hill Library plays and expects to play in the evolution of all of that complex marketplace. This analysis would take into account trends in the use of home, business and other organizations' computers and telecommunications devices to do what the library might otherwise do."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Fearrington
From 2000 til 2009, the Census Bureau reports today that the population 65+ in Fearrington has gone from 72% to 61%.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
"megabus US"
About 5 hours to get to Washington, DC from Durham on this bus. They claim free wi-fi and power outlets. Only $5 each way with this offer - ILUVDC.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
"Using Waste, Swedish City Shrinks Its Fossil Fuel Use" - NYTimes.com
Why not for all of Chapelboroham?
Friday, December 10, 2010
"Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Home" - Staples®
I was familiar with this software and had made a note that I wanted to buy it at some point.
Yesterday, I saw a commercial on MSNBC promoting the normally $100 product for about 75. I went to the website - givedragon.com - and started to order it, only to learn that I could not download the software and would have to pay 10 to have it delivered. That made 85.
While trying to do that, I checked on the web and found that it was available on Amazon for 65 with free shipping.
I called the first vendor - seemingly the manufacturer - and she could not give me any compelling reason to buy through them. They offered a free something in addition they claimed was worth 30 but I did not see real advantage for me even with that freebie. There was also a promise of support, but I was not convinced. She did not try to make a strong case, and I thought that a signal that I should go with the cheaper option for the same product.
So I bought it from Amazon.
Just now, I see a tweet from Staples offering me the same version et al for 50! Only for two days, today and tomorrow. I could get it for that price delivered to the store. I imagine that with tax it would be 55 there.
That was enough to consider canceling the Amazon order, but when I checked, I was told that it was being prepared for shipping and could not be changed.
I post it here because it's a great example of how, if you work at it, you can buy locally for the best price. I missed that chance.
Yesterday, I saw a commercial on MSNBC promoting the normally $100 product for about 75. I went to the website - givedragon.com - and started to order it, only to learn that I could not download the software and would have to pay 10 to have it delivered. That made 85.
While trying to do that, I checked on the web and found that it was available on Amazon for 65 with free shipping.
I called the first vendor - seemingly the manufacturer - and she could not give me any compelling reason to buy through them. They offered a free something in addition they claimed was worth 30 but I did not see real advantage for me even with that freebie. There was also a promise of support, but I was not convinced. She did not try to make a strong case, and I thought that a signal that I should go with the cheaper option for the same product.
So I bought it from Amazon.
Just now, I see a tweet from Staples offering me the same version et al for 50! Only for two days, today and tomorrow. I could get it for that price delivered to the store. I imagine that with tax it would be 55 there.
That was enough to consider canceling the Amazon order, but when I checked, I was told that it was being prepared for shipping and could not be changed.
I post it here because it's a great example of how, if you work at it, you can buy locally for the best price. I missed that chance.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
"In PISA Test, Top Scores From Shanghai Stun Experts" - NYTimes.com
It seems to me that we ought to know exactly where students in our Chapelboroham schools are ranking compared to China and why and what would be needed to decrease the expected gap.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Made in America
The President today, speaking in Winston-Salem, said that we need to work toward a lot more products that bear "three words....Made in America".
Exactly what products and services do we make in Chapelboroham today and what are the prospects for growth? That's not limited to industrial production; it's any product or service. Surely, someone has done a list?
Exactly what products and services do we make in Chapelboroham today and what are the prospects for growth? That's not limited to industrial production; it's any product or service. Surely, someone has done a list?
"In Kentucky, Noah’s Ark Theme Park Is Planned" - NYTimes.com
In Chapelboroham, what could we add that would bring us a lot more visitors? Surely, creative minds and good business planning could produce something that is consistent with the diversity of the area, its heritage, etc. It would have to be fun, too. A technology theme park? An educational theme park?
Friday, December 3, 2010
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