Saturday, October 8, 2011
Dang! No Subject-Verb Agreement
Otherwise we'd have a new conspiracy theory, one stirred up by a ragtag group of crazies known as the cloners.
Shaila, not sure if you want to use this guy to buttress an argument to eliminate unemployment benefits
Some Unemployed Find Fault in Extension of Jobless Benefits, by Shaila Dewan. (The New York Times, 10/6/2011)
Excerpt: Dan Tolleson, a researcher and writer with a Ph.D. in politics, has been out of work since 2009, except for brief stints as a driver. Still, he opposes President Obama’s call for Congress to renew extensions on unemployment benefits.
Excerpt: Dan Tolleson, a researcher and writer with a Ph.D. in politics, has been out of work since 2009, except for brief stints as a driver. Still, he opposes President Obama’s call for Congress to renew extensions on unemployment benefits.
Wonder Why Erin Burnett Doesn't Get "Occupy Wall Street"?
Forbes (no less), 10/5/2011.
Excerpt: Indeed, NBC has an Erin Burnett problem. Watch and see for yourself how Burnett consistently serves as an apologist for Wall Street's worst practices: [Emphasis added.]
Library Salaries Focus of Debate at Libson-Sussex Budget Discussion
Library salaries debated. (Sussex Sun, 10/4/2011)
Excerpt: Debate over salary increases for Pauline Haass Library employees dominated discussions last week between the Lisbon Town Board and Sussex Village Board regarding the proposed $1.3 million 2012 library budget.
Village President Greg Goetz disagreed with Town Chairman Matt Gehrke's argument that a 3 percent pay increase was too high considering hard economic times that taxpayers in the communities are facing.
However, both Gehrke and Goetz have indicated they anticipate their respective governing boards will approve their community's contributions to the library budget.
As part of a joint municipal operating agreement, the communities share the cost of retiring building bonds and most of the operating costs based on the community's respective tax bases.
The town's share of the library cost will be included in the Town Board's proposed 2012 tax levy that must be approved by town residents at the annual town budget meeting.
The library budget calls for Sussex to contribute $561,813 to debt retirement and operations and Lisbon to contribute $530,752.
Lisbon's share of the debt retirement is $2,167 higher than 2011 and Sussex's will pay $1,803 more for debt service in 2012 than 2011.
Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
City of Delavan administrator requests all department reduce operating budgets by 8%. (10/8/2011)
Village of Waterford looks at across-the-board cuts. (10/8/2011)
Ripon city administrator on 2012 municipal budget. (10/8/2011)
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget. (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget. (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget. (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget. (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog. (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget. (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding. (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012. (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library. (9/26/2011)
Janesville: Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget. (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit. (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget.. (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments. (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway. (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million. (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees. (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing. (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets. (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800. (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012. (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services. (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator: "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County". (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past. (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development. (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase. (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard. (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget. (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development. (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget: "Every service we rely on is vulnerable". (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase. (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like. (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined. (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit. (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library. (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions. (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley. (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input. (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall. (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process. (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts. (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts. &nbs
Community Library's Twin Lakes/Randall Renovation Underway
Community Library prepares for new chapter in Twin Lakes. (mykenoshacounty.com, 9/28/2011)
Excerpt: It’s on the first week of the Twin Lakes/Randall Community Library renovation project and as of Monday library employees had almost everything packed up.
There are five storage pods in front of the library, at 110 South Lake Avenue in Twin Lakes, filled to the gills with boxes of books and reference materials. The library shares a parking lot with the Subway restaurant.
The library was cramped into 3,800 sq. ft. The renovation will expand that useable space to 6,300 sq. ft. Some walls will be knocked out, opening up the space. There will be more room for public access computers, programs, shelves for materials, and general seating areas. New carpet, paint and other items will give the heavily used library a new look.
Related post:
Ebooks, Netflix, and library building projects, part 103. (8/28/2011)
Delavan City Administrator Requests All Departments Reduce Operating Budgets by 8%
Excerpt: City of Delavan Administrator Denise Pieroni expected to submit a draft of the 2012 budget to the city's Finance Committee in mid-September. Each city department was asked to reduce its operating budget by 8 percent, Pieroni said.
She said reductions are necessary in part because of lower revenues including hotel and motel tax that did not meet its budgeted revenue because of the temporary closing of Lake Lawn Resort and certificates of deposit that earned lower-than-expected interest.
The goal of reducing budgets by 8 percent is to attempt to maintain the city's property tax levy at its current level without using surplus funds like the city did last year, Pieroni said.
Some of the cost reductions will be picked up by employees' contributions to their pension plan, Pieroni said.
Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
Village of Waterford looks at across-the-board cuts. (10/8/2011)
Ripon city administrator on 2012 municipal budget. (10/8/2011)
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget. (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget. (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget. (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget. (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog. (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget. (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding. (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012. (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library. (9/26/2011)
Janesville: Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget. (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit. (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget.. (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments. (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway. (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million. (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees. (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing. (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets. (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800. (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012. (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services. (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator: "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County". (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past. (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development. (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase. (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard. (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget. (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development. (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget: "Every service we rely on is vulnerable". (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase. (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like. (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined. (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit. (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library. (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions. (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley. (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input. (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall. (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process. (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts. (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts. &nbs
Village of Waterford Looks at Across-the-Board Cuts
Village set to cut costs across the board. (myracinecounty.com, 9/28/2011)
Excerpt: The board talked at length about library funding as well, as the library tries to keep its funding steady so as not to cause issues with funding from Racine County.
The operations expenditures at the library are expected to drop, as there will be decreases in wages and benefits, as well in technology consulting costs, telephone, postage and supply costs.
Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
Ripon city administrator on 2012 municipal budget. (10/8/2011)
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget. (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget. (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget. (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget. (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog. (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget. (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding. (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012. (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library. (9/26/2011)
Janesville: Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget. (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit. (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget.. (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments. (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway. (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million. (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees. (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing. (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets. (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800. (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012. (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services. (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator: "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County". (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past. (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development. (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase. (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard. (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget. (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development. (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget: "Every service we rely on is vulnerable". (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase. (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like. (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined. (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit. (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library. (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions. (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley. (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input. (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall. (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process. (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts. (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts. (
Ripon City Administrator on 2012 Municipal Budget: City in "Dire Situation"
On the Block: City considering cutting, reducing several existing services. (Ripon Press, 9/28/2011)
Excerpt: No decisions have been made, but come Thursday, Oct. 6 — when aldermen hold their first budget hearing — city leaders will take their first steps toward reducing services significantly for the first time in a long time.
Though Rich did not offer any preface to the budget proposal at Monday’s Common Council meeting, she explained in writing the dire situation the city finds itself in going into 2012 as part of the proposal.
“... The negatives outweigh the positives for 2012 (by over $131,000),” Rich wrote. “To complicate things further, the proposed Additional Items list adds an additional $129,000 needed for 2012, for a total of over $260,000 that was needed to balance the 2012 budget. This meant some serious evaluation of programs and services.”
Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
4% cut to library funding in Appleton mayor's 2012 proposed budget. (10/8/2011)
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget. (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget. (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget. (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog. (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget. (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding. (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012. (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library. (9/26/2011)
Janesville: Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget. (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit. (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget.. (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments. (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway. (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million. (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees. (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing. (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets. (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800. (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012. (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services. (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator: "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County". (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past. (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development. (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase. (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard. (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget. (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development. (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget: "Every service we rely on is vulnerable". (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase. (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like. (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined. (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit. (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library. (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions. (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley. (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input. (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall. (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process. (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts. (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts. (
Governor Walker: "Wisconsin is broke"
"Wisconsin is broke, and it's time to start paying our bills today so our kids are not stuck with even bigger bills tomorrow," Walker said earlier this year.
But one state agency may not have gotten the message.
The newly created Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has dropped a little more than $43,000 to buy 73 iPads for everyone on the staff, including secretaries and other support employees.
She'll take a $25,000 pay cut in moving to the Department of Children and Families, but the nearly $100,000 she'll be making is tens of thousands of dollars more than the pay of others who have had the job. [Emphasis added.]
4% Cut to Library Funding in Appleton Mayor's Proposed 2012 Budget
Excerpt: Library (8 percent of general fund spending): Funding for the library department would fall 4 percent to $4.2 million.
Most of that decrease stems from staffing changes at the administrative level and in children's services. Next year the department will continue to study options for a new or remodeled library and push digital efforts.
Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
McMillan library staff reorganization saves Wisconsin Rapids $45,075. (10/5/2011)
Budget reduction forces cuts in hours, positions @ the La Crosse Public Library. (10/3/2011)
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget. (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget. (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget. (10/1/2011)
1.2% of Janesville residents get to wag the dog. (9/30/2011)
Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget. (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding. (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012. (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library. (9/26/2011)
Janesville: Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget. (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit. (9/23/2011)
McFarland wrestles with 2012 budget.. (9/22/2011)
Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments. (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway. (9/22/2011)
Oshkosh 2012 budget deficit projected to balloon to as much as $2.3 million. (9/20/2011)
Facing $2.5 million shortfall, La Crosse considers a variety of fees. (9/14/2011)
100 show up at Dodgeville budget hearing. (9/12/2011)
Zero percent increase for Prairie du Sac department budgets. (9/7/2011)
City of Ashland looks at projected shortfall of $329,000 in 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Dodgeville city council to hold listening session on 2012 budget. (8/26/2011)
Shawano budget deficit at $504,800. (8/25/2011)
City of Ripon facing $110,000 budget deficit for 2012. (8/25/2011)
Long list of cuts on table for Racine city services. (8/25/2011)
Dodge County Administrator: "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County". (8/25/2011)
Longevity bonuses in Portage might become a thing of the past. (8/24/2011)
Declining property values pose a challenge to Columbus budget development. (8/24/2011)
Whitewater council looks at 0% tax levy increase. (8/24/2011)
Janesville residents asked to make tough choices in online budget scorecard. (8/24/2011)
Village of Darien officials ask for input on 2012 budget. (8/24/2011)
City of Marshfield has some wiggle room in its 2012 budget development. (8/24/2011)
Soglin on 2012 Madison budget: "Every service we rely on is vulnerable". (8/23/2011)
With a ballooning budget deficit, Marathon County considers a tax increase. (8/23/2011)
Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to determine what city will look like. (8/19/2011)
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined. (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit. (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library. (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions. (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley. (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input. (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall. (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process. (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts. (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts. (
Friday, October 7, 2011
A Tour of Dublin's Libraries
In its libraries, Dublin’s literary reputation shines. (Washington Post, 10/2/2011)
Excerpt: We Dubliners take a lot of pride in our city’s reputation as a literary capital (not least because it lends our loquaciousness a certain gravitas, as if every quip were something more exalted than mere banter). Walk into any genuine pub in town, and you’re bound to see that famous poster of Irish literary heroes on the wall. It’s not idle boastfulness: Dublin can claim four Nobel laureates — George Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney. Moreover, the names Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, Flann O’Brien and of course James Joyce are synonymous with the town.
So when literary-minded visitors to the Irish capital inquire about suitably bookish activities, there’s plenty to point them toward: literary walking tours, regular poetry and storytelling events, numerous literary festivals and a writers’ museum.
No popcorn ejection if you invite 12 or so of your closest friends
A return to the shtick that got him there.
Universal, Comcast to test out releasing ‘Tower Heist’ to home market 3 weeks after release. (Washington Post, 10/5/2011)
Excerpt: Movie studio Universal Pictures and its new parent, cable TV giant Comcast Corp., will try giving film buffs a chance to watch a movie that’s still in theaters from the comfort of their living rooms. But the price tag for a single movie could have consumers spitting out their popcorn: $60.
The test involves “Tower Heist,” a PG-13 rated comedy caper starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller due out Nov. 4.
Casual vs. Hardcore Social Gamers
The Demographics of Social Gamers, at Home and On the Go. (eMarketer, 10/6/2011)
Excerpt: About four in 10 US internet users play social games, according to May 2011 research from Kabam, a publisher of massively multiplayer social games. And for at least some of those gamers, spending on gaming content is on the upswing.
The Kabam survey, conducted by Information Solutions Group, found that there was a demographic and behavioral split in the social gaming population, depending on whether gamers limited themselves to casual games, like Bejeweled Blitz and FarmVille, or also played strategy, role-playing or similar hardcore social games.
Hardcore social gamers were more likely to be male and under age 40, while casual social gamers tended to be women, with more than 40 percent of this group over age 50.
Ebooks, Netflix, and Library Building Projects (Part 111, Belvedere-Tiburon Library)
Tiburon library expansion advances, but size remains undecided. (San Jose Mercury News, 10/6/2011)
Excerpt: The Tiburon Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday to certify an environmental report and approve zoning changes for a major public library expansion. But it stopped short of deciding on the size or design of the proposed 17,000-square-foot project.
The privately funded, $10 million project would create a library nearly two and-half times larger than the existing 10,500-square-foot building, which opened in 1997. Library officials have sought an expansion for several years amid greater-than-expected use of the building.
"We're no longer just a place for books," library director Deborah Mazzolini said Wednesday at the council meeting, describing overflow crowds, particularly in the children and teen areas.
More than 100 members of the public attended the council meeting in the Del Mar Middle School gym; about 25 people spoke, almost all in favor of the project.
Is There a Library Version of This?
Study Shows Correlation Between Social Buzz and TV Ratings. (Mashable, 10/6/2011)
Excerpt: A major undercurrent of the 2011 Fall TV season is the increasing role that social and digital media have on how consumers consume, discover and discuss TV shows. A longstanding question in the social TV space, however, is what impact social media buzz has on traditional television ratings.
Those Fumes You Smell is the Stink of Lost Jobs
Thermo Fisher closing Two Rivers plant. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 10/6/2011)
Excerpt: A Two Rivers company that makes laboratory equipment is closing one of its two plants in the city and transferring at least some of the work to Mexico, resulting in the loss of up to 140 jobs, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development said Thursday.
Thermo Fisher Scientific, in Two Rivers more than 130 years, is closing its factory that makes exhaust fume hoods. Job losses are scheduled to begin Dec. 5 and will be completed in about two months, according to a layoff notice.
Most of the affected employees are represented by Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1533. Other employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 10, in Milwaukee.
Retiring Guy Not Affected by This Legislative Proposal
Pension 'double-dipping' could come to an end. (Racine Journal-Times, 10/6/2011)
Excerpt: State Rep. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, has proposed a law that would end the practice of retired government employees receiving a pension through the Wisconsin Retirement System while working a full-time job with a government employer that participates in the same pension system. His proposal doesn't affect employees such as Wahlen who are already retired or future retirees who want to get private sector or part-time government jobs. But it would affect future retirees wanting to go back to work for more than 1,044 hours per year, which is 26.1 weeks.
Not sure what all the fuss is about, though. A pension is an earned benefit.
Telcos Continue to Get in the Way of Longmont's Future
Longmont Fiber Ring Referendum. (Community Broadband Networks, 10/3/2011)
Excerpt: Residents in Longmont, Colorado are preparing for a municipal referendum to utilize an existing fiber optic network.
The referendum is set for Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
At issue is how the city can use a ring of fiber-optic cables it built around the city in the late 90's as part of its electrical infrastructure. Much of the capacity on the ring remains unused but the city requires approval of the voters in a referendum before it can offer services to local businesses -- which will encourage economic development by creating more telecommunications choices in the community for businesses and residents.
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