No, Not That Dewey

The New York Times, 2/28/2013

Sort of related posts.
The move away from Dewey at the Pauline Haass Public Library. (1/16/2012)
Dewey or not Dewey.  (2/22/2011)
End of Dewey Decimal classification a source of puns.  (10/22/2009)
Dewey vs. BISAC.  (10/2/2009)
The Dewey drop report.  (6/8/2009)
Another Dewey rebellion.  (9/22/2008)

Here's a Comforting Headline

Bloomberg Businessweek, 3/7/2013

"Cleantech"?  Proactive approaches?   Fuggedaboutit!   It's got no appeal anymore.

Let's get reactive, say investors, and put our money in businesses and assets that will thrive, and boost our profit margins, as the earth heats up.

Such as....

• Water treatment companies
• Water rights  ( “Climate change for us is a driver.” sez Marc Robert, Chief Operating Officer of Water Asset Management, a New York hedge fund.)
• Australian farmland
• Mosquito engineering (including ones that can't reproduce)
• Mineral exploration

Higher temperatures?  Increased humidity?  Rising sea levels?  Disappearing glaciers?  

Hey, business is good!!

And promises to get better.

But not for much of the world's population.

Bringing Up the Rear on Jobs Growth

No matter how you spin job numbers, Wisconsin near bottom compared to other states. (Capital Times, 3/7/2013)

Screenshot from the Capital Times jobs database

Photo credit:  Arizona State University

Merriam-Webster defines "trite" as "hackneyed or boring from much use: not fresh or original": Part 3

I suppose the cliche can be excused if executed in such a clever manner as this video.

Chicago Tribune, 9/11/2012

Wilmette Beacon, 8/13/2012

  Lawrence Journal World, 1/22/2012

NBC 10 Philadelphia, 9/14/2009

Related posts:

Last/end of/next chapter.  (3/7/2013)

Library turns page.  (3/5/2013)

Teleoperation: The Answer to Mining's Efficiency, Productivity, and Profitability

So sez Dr. Mike McWilliams.

In the introduction, Dr. Mike McWilliams: Chief, CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering, notes that the....

ambitious drive for automation is aimed at solving two fundamental problems that have dogged the exploration and mining industry for decades:

• How to remove people from hazardous and inhospitable working environments
• How to increase efficiency, productivity and profitability in mining.

The answer?

Teleoperation, which is defined as "remote control at a distance".

As Dr. McWilliams goes on to describe, Skilled operators can teleoperate more than one machine while remaining in a quiet environment. A future miner might well work in a comfortable office in street clothes instead of underground in coveralls, steelcapped boots and a hard hat.  

And a skilled operator teleoperating multiple machines eliminates how many coveralled workers?

Related posts:
Mining robotics.  (3/7/2013)

Looking for a job in mining?  (3/2/2013)

In the News: Mining Robotics

From the description: Using his knowledge and experience, he hopes to make legged/humanoid robots more capable of operating in rough and uncertain environments.  (Such as mines?)

Mining Robotics. Anglo American to Develop Robotic Technology. (Wealth Daily, 1/11/2013)

Excerpt:    The Technology Development Group of London miner Anglo American (LON: AAL) and Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute have reached a five-year agreement to explore and develop robotic technologies for mining applications. 

CMU’s National Robotics Engineering Center and Field Robotics Center, both part of the Robotics Institute, will design, construct, and test-drive various robotic mining systems alongside Anglo American.

Some possible applications:

• Robotic mining equipment
• Mine mapping systems
• Automated inspection technologies

Related post:

Looking for a job in mining?  (3/2/2013)

Where Does He Get His Ideas?

This oughta get you started. 

Scott Walker may be open to changes in criticized land ownership proposal.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/8/2013)

From Alex Jones' Infowars, 7/9/2012

Merriam-Webster defines "trite" as "hackneyed or boring from much use: not fresh or original": The sequel

The Berkshire Eagle, 1/13/2013

Imperial Valley Press, 9/5/2012

San Francisco Chronicle, 10/16/2012

San Francisco Chronicle, 7/11/2012

Related posts:

Library turns page.  (3/5/2013)

"It's Deja Vu All Over Again"

The librarian strikes back.  (Kingman Daily Miner, 3/6/2013)

Krol's letter to the editor references a dead scorpion placed in her in-box.

Mohave County Public Library

Retiring Guy presents a fictionalized conversation.

"You're fired!" sez the Mohave County Board of Supervisors to Mohave County Library Director Danielle Krol.

"I'm overflowing with sadness," Krol responds.

She should have seen it coming.

Library director put on leave amid probe. (Mohave Valley Daily News, 2/24/2013)

"You're a bully!"  Some employees were heard to say.

Seven months after being hired as director.  

Morale hits rock bottom with new library boss, some say.  (Kingman Daily Miner, 12/16/2012)

Time out for a musical interlude.



They forgot to mention her baggage.

New library director brings experience, enthusiasm.  (Kingman Daily Miner, 6/22/2012)

They made the right decision.

Two candidates for library director being interviewed.  (Bismarck Tribune, 3/28/2011)

The candidates: Kristi Harms of Jefferson, Ind., and Danielle Krol, of Tucson, Ariz.

As Yogi would say, "It's deja vu all over again."

Library Board Terminates Executive Director.  (Mid-Columbia Libraries, 5/18/2010)

"This was not a decision made lightly."

Writing on the wall

Library discussion heats up at council.  The Othello Outlook, 3/17/2005.

"We, as a board, feel we've been totally cut out of everything that's going on".

Cheerios Break at the Library

Not part of the rising crime rate at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana.

From "Our Behavioral Rules".

Food is allowed in the library. Drink containers must have secure lids; leftover food and containers must be disposed of promptly and properly. The library has designated specific areas for food and drink.

Is the area of the library shown in the video a designated area for food and drink?

Is there a cap on that milk bottle?

What's your favorite cereal?

Nampa Idaho's $23,000,000 Library Square Project Begins Construction in May

Office of Economic Development, .City of Nampa, Idaho

Library Square will come to life soon in Nampa. (Idaho Statesman, 3/6/2013)

The 60,000-square-foot multiuse development includes

• New public library
• 3-story parking garage
• office and retail space
• Public plaza with water feature, landscaping, public art and seating

Nampa Public Library timeline

1900.  The determined women of Nampa, Idaho.   The Woman’s Century Club organized in Nampa with a goal of establishing a library.

1904. Nampa City Council voted to budget tax funds to help support a public library.

1907.  Library service begins.

1908 Nampa’s Carnegie building opened in March, the result of funding received through the Carnegie Foundation by the Women's Century Club.

1966.  The Library moved into the 1919 First Security Bank building, which was deeded to the city.  (Pictured above)

1984-85.  The Library doubles in size with an expansion into the former E. H. Dewey Department Store.

Photo credit:  Wikimedia Commons

Planning study for the Nampa Public Library.  Final draft:  March 29, 2012.

Making Fox News-Inspired Jokes About Climate Change? Consider Australia

Australia's "Angry Summer" in 8 Images. (Discover, 3/5/2013)

Report Blames Climate Change for Extremes in Australia. (The New York Times, 3/4/2013)

What's been goin' on?
123 new weather records set in a 90-day period.

• Hottest summer on record
• Hottest day 
• Hottest seven consecutive days

Australia has been keeping weather records for 102 years.  Of the 21 days that the continent of Australia has averaged a high of 102 degrees, 8 of them occurred in 2013.

102 years  = 37,320 days.

Merriam-Webster defines "trite" as "hackneyed or boring from much use: not fresh or original"

Exhibits A, B, C, and D.

Portland (ME) Tribune, 3/1/2013

Stowe Reporter, 2/14/2013

The Spectator, 1/16/2013

mywasbashvalley.com, 12/17/2013

Library Wars: This Series Slipped Under My Radar

But then, I'm a John Updike and Flannery O'Connor kind of Retiring Guy.

Copies in LINKcat

Library Wars: Romantic Comedy That Kicks Ass. (Wired, 3/5/2013)

Excerpt:   When I told my two teens that I could get one manga by using my awesome powers at GeekMom, they both said, “Library Wars! Library Wars! Library Wars!” We had been checking them out from the library before, but it’s a popular series and we often had to wait.

Newt Gingrich Offers His Perspective on the 2012 Election

“In the real world we were kidding ourselves”. (Salon, 3/3/2013)

Photo credit:  Wikipedia

Yes, Newt is correct; there was an 87% turnout in the City of Milwaukee.

Not quite good enough to beat Waukesha County's 89%.

2013 Assembly Bill 54 Hall of Shame

Lead sponsor:  Rep. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville, Ozaukee County)

Assembly co-sponsors:

• Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay)
• David Craig (R-Big Bend)
• Daniel LaMahieu (R-Cascade)
• Thomas Larson (R-Colfax)
• Steve Nass (R-Whitewater)
• Al Ott (R-Forest Junction)
• Keith Ripp (R-Lodi)
• John Spiros (R-Marshfield)
• Pat Strachota (R-West Bend)
• Thomas Weatherson (R-Racine)

Republican's bill would limit hours for in-person absentee balloting.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/4/2013)

Excerpt: A Republican lawmaker is proposing limits on the hours and days voters can cast in-person absentee ballots even as such voting increases in popularity in the state. The bill would have a heavy impact in Madison, one of several municipalities that have held extended hours on nights and weekends to accommodate in-person absentee voters.

Bill referred to Assembly Conmittee on Campaigns and Elections.

Chair, Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls)

VIce Chair, Don Pridemore (R-Deep Space)

These groups agree that the bill is a bad idea.  (Eye on Lobbying   Government Accountability Board.)

Hey, I didn't say that; he did!

Photo credit:  Wisconsin State Legislature

As if to say, who needs those freeloadin'  public sector jobs.

Uh, Robin, what about this salary and benefits list?

Vos edges away from Walker's 250,000 jobs pledge. (Milwaukee Business Journal, 3/4/2013)

Road to Hoe.  Everything Language and Grammar, 2/10/2009)

Excerpt: If there is anything worse than using a cliche, it’s trying to use a cliche and getting it wrong. You would think we wouldn't get something wrong that’s been repeated so often!  I like to call these instances Close but no cigarette.

Wisconsin Budget Project Notes Structural Deficits A' Comin'

The Other Side of the Coin for Income Tax Cuts: Structural Deficit Reopens. (Wisconsin Budget Project, 3/4/2013)

Still to be determined:  The effects of the sequester.

For some, that means good times won't be a' comin'.

Manitowoc-Calumet and Eastern Shores Continue Library Systems Merger Investigation

Merger Investigation to Continue. "The Library Connection", the monthly newsletter of the Eastern Shores Library System (ESLS).

January 28.  (From January 28, 2013, board meeting minutes, not yet approved.)  ESLS Board approves a recommendation from the Public Library Advisory Committee to investigate a merger with the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System (MCLS).

February 6.  The Manitowoc Calumet Library System (MCLS) Board agreed to pursue the formal investigation of a merger with ESLS.

Next step;  Setting up a facilitated meeting attended by librarians from both systems.

Related post.
Eastern Shores Library System explores merger possibilities.  (10/18/2012)

DeKalb Public Library "The Goal": Raise $6,000,000 by June 2013

The visuals
0:00 - 0:21.   Spelling it out
0:22 - 0:24.   Adult and child with shelves of books in background.
0:25 - 0:29.   Two girls browsing for books.
0:30 - 0:31.   Close-up of young girl wearing "kitty" headphones.
0:32 - 0:35.   Young boy playing with toy trucks with shelves of books in background.
0:36 - 0:40.   Older man shelving books.
0:41 - 0:46.   Boy, in foreground, browsing in the book stacks,
                      with someone dusting the tops of books  in the background.

Related post:
DeKalb, it's time to expand your library.  (2/25/2013)

Do the Harlem Shake, Then Use the Library's Self Check-Out at the Sacramento Public Library

City/County/Technical College Collaboration Leads Library Card to Eligibility Snafu

County/City Public Library East at Western Dakota Technical Institute

WDTI students cry foul over extra library fee. (Rapid City Journal, 3/3/2013)

Western Dakota Technical Institute (WDTI) students who live outside of Pennington County are, so far, on the hook to pay an annual $75 fee to check out library materials at the college in which they are enrolled.   (A 9-month card costs $55, a 3-month card $25.

Well, not quite, clarifies Steve Buchholz, WDTI marketing director.  Students may check out the school's resource materials with a student ID, but they need a public library card to check out materials owned by the city, which at this point they can only use onsite.

An "unfortunate conundrum", sez library supervisor Jason Walker.

I'd say!

The library is looking for a long-range solution, something other than an institutional library card, which is the current Band-aid approach.  Another idea.  A scholarship program to help students buy a card.

Rapid City Public Libraries

• Rapid City Public Library Downtown
• Rapid City Public Library North
• County/City Public Library East (at WDTI)

Wealth Inequality in America: Far from What People Think, So Far from Their Ideal