Lowell, MA. Local vandals try their hand at infrastructure disruption (proto global guerrillas just miles from where I live?). 3 attacks (a saw) since November cut phone lines in area. Verizon posts a $50,000 reward for information. It also makes the case for a fiber upgrade. The older copper wires are more difficult to fix… Continue reading Lowell
Trade deficit by nation
Trade deficit by nation. Deficits we run with major trading partners. Here's the major problem areas (per month!): China. $16.63 billion. Down slightly. Japan. $7.29 billion. Up big. EU. $7.72 billion. Up big. Canada. $7.3 billion. Up big. Mexico. $3.89 billion. Down. [John Robb's Weblog]
WSJ
WSJ. The US trade deficit rose to $60.3 billion in November (is there a link to the elections?). A new record. Despite a sinking dollar, the sale of US goods abroad dropped (down 2.3%). This is terrible news. The relative performance of the US vs. all other nations is on a slippery downward slope. While… Continue reading WSJ
RFE
RFE. The ongoing process of state delegitimization due to system disruption in process in Iraq. Iraqi Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadban has come under fire in the Iraqi media in recent weeks for the burgeoning fuel crisis that is plaguing the country. Commentaries in the media have widely criticized the minister, as well as Electricity Minister… Continue reading RFE
Eric Kriss at MSC about Open Formats and Microsoft
Eric Kriss at MSC about Open Formats and Microsoft. This morning was a long Massachusetts Software Council meeting. I don't have time to cover it now, but there is one part I want to get out right away. Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance, Eric Kriss, gave a short speech. I've mentioned him here multiple… Continue reading Eric Kriss at MSC about Open Formats and Microsoft
Feed: protocol
Feed: protocol. In Really Simple Subscription, FeedDemon developer Nick Bradbury suggests using the feed: protocol to make subscribing to RSS and Atom feeds easier. I agree. Nick also says that the solution is not perfect, and I agree with that too. But it does work and it has broad support in existing aggregators. It’s just… Continue reading Feed: protocol
Tech Librarians Need to Know
Tech Librarians Need to Know. Michael Stephens has posted a great list of Twelve Techie Things for Librarians 2005. I can’t pick out a small excerpt because it’s all good. Go read. Related: Karen Schneider is soliciting feedback on her blog and on WEB4LIB about “top tech trends” she should highlight at the annual ALA… Continue reading Tech Librarians Need to Know
Best Use of Outlook Ever
Best Use of Outlook Ever. Kate scheduled a meeting in Outlook to go to Starbucks today for a free sample of their new Chantico hot chocolate drink. Wow, is it good… thick and heavy like Spanish hot chocolate. I’ve managed to stay away from Starbucks for the most part. Until now. Major, major, major marketing… Continue reading Best Use of Outlook Ever
How Well Is Your Library Serving these Kids?
How Well Is Your Library Serving these Kids?. Millennials & Libraries “…When asked how frequently they used their local public libraries, most reported that they didn't read books for leisure that much (but they do read lots of magazines!) and don't use their libraries that often (there were two notable exceptions — both young women… Continue reading How Well Is Your Library Serving these Kids?
The Thomas Jefferson Papers
The Thomas Jefferson Papers. He was admitted to the bar in 1765 and went on to shape a nation's laws as no other lawyer before him or since. Thomas Jefferson the statesman is well known, but Jefferson the lawyer is abundantly evident in The Thomas Jefferson Papers, a collection of some 27,000 original Jefferson documents… Continue reading The Thomas Jefferson Papers