It occurs to me that if one were to download to a Kindle application on a computer and then copy to a Kindle (I suppose other e-readers work the same way), only the copy on the Kindle would be deleted by the library after three weeks. Maybe I will carry out the experiment.
Illustrations of the effects of gutting manufacturing capability in the US; it has been observed that no country can remain powerful if it does not maintain its manufacturing infrastructure.
The know-it-all modern capitalists and economists were saying just a few years ago that by concentrating on manufacturing capability (notably including small companies) Germany was foolish. Ha.
So what conclusion are we supposed to draw from these articles? The US isn't training enough engineers? Or that there is no mechanism to allow trained engineers to continually update their skills? Or is the problem a perception that people -- engineers at least -- only learn in college and skills *can't* be undated?
That governmental and industrial fascination with the "high end" "innovative" "ideas" end of manufacturing as the next wave is unrealistic; that maintenance of actual manufacturing capacity is critical, and failure to direct resources to that end is debilitating, perhaps even fatal.
That questions I was trying to ask were, "What are the crucial resources? How can we best supply them? Are they different for different industrial segments?" You'll notice that the reason we have lost electronics manufacturing jobs is that we have quite conspicuously failed to provide the resources these industries need. If we simply wipe these jobs off the board -- I think I hear you agreeing with Steve Jobs that they are gone forever -- how can we do better for the next big thing? Without necessarily having a clue at this point what that will be.
Maybe it's not engineers, of course. Maybe we need better top managers. Certainly the US lost its steel industry because top managers blundered. But how do we get better top managers?
Hmm. Meaning that current tax policy encourages investors to focus on short-term rather than long-term returns? And this is turn gives top managers the wrong incentives? Yeah, I guess I can see that.
Well, at least Beau hasn't made it back under the porch. But no weather to make him work at it either. Yet. We're supposed to get ice pellets tonight, but he's coming in in a bit, and will miss the incentive. . . .
Well, the Goobey's in and asleep in front of the door. I'm about to wake him up so we can go to bed. Going to try making it through the night w/o pain meds. Days have been fine for more than a week. The night's keep falling through the hole.
My own, and surely a product of watching so much British television lately, and reading my Great Great Great Grandfather's well-written journal! I wrote the words, stopped and reread them, decided they made sense, and even mused that you'd like the turn of phrase, puddle; then posted! :-)
It goes by the honour system, Alan. It is left to your conscience. It's one thing to have to face a librarian's level gaze. Another to never see the beings hidden behind the Amazon facade. Hmmm.
So, I just perused your link. It seems to work the same as ours, and we have two-weeks checkouts. You cannot renew a title, but you can "put it back" and check it out again immediately if no one is waiting for it.
Better yet, we now offer Universal Class through our state library system! It's over 500 online courses, from Belly Dancing to Accounting to Computer courses, Music, Art, Effective Communication, Mathematics, Caring for Seniors, everything you can imagine. There's even a new class in Dog Psychology! Anyone can access Universal Class online, but it costs money for the courses. Unless, that is, you take them through your library! They are community college level and completely FREE! You only pay a small fee if you'd like a fancy copy of the certificate you get for completing a course. You not only have units of study and quizzes and tests, but you can email with a professor and blog with others taking the same course. You go at your own pace and have 6 months to complete a course. Worth a look!
A way to get top managers is to honour the wisdom of older, more experienced, members of the workforce, not only those folks just getting out of college with the newest skill set.
It does still happen. Mah*Sweetie got his new job as a Software Engineer in part because he has a wealth of experience as well as skill in particular areas.
Indeed Alan! Our system won't accept old cards after February 1st. BUT! WRITE DOWN the bar code on the back of your current library card and keep it in a safe place!! Be alert as your card is being updated. If ~ as with our system ~ you find you are being given a brand new bar code with your new library card, you will be glad to have kept the old one near to hand....because once you switch over to the new bar code so that you can check out books, you will no longer be able to see what you used to have on Hold in the system! To see that you will need your old bar code number. I understand that you WILL still get email notices telling you when your old Hold choices have become available, though. It might be easier to at least write down what books you have on the old Hold system, before you switch officially to the new card number.
Good luck! Let me know if you hit any snags, as I'm sure you won't be the only one.
Gallant of you, puddle, but don't work too awfully hard at getting off the meds too early. Maybe aim to get weaned from them before they 'd run out, with a little reserve in case of a future emergency?
This discussion would be encouraging if I thought anybody with influence was listening. So often you just hear people saying we need more manufacturing without attempting to engage on what sort of policies might actually encourage that. I suspect a lot of people look at the textile industry and simply attribute it all to low wages in Asia. But the NYT article makes it clear that wages have almost nothing to do with the electronics industry moving overseas.
Howard continues to have my heart. Whatta guy!
ReplyDeletelistener, glad you're home safe and sound. *Love* the phrase: "brief to the ground" ~~ is that your own, or a New Englandism like wicked?
listener--thought you might be interested in this story about e-books at our local library:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/20/2691241/fresno-library-sees-upswing-in.html
It occurs to me that if one were to download to a Kindle application on a computer and then copy to a Kindle (I suppose other e-readers work the same way), only the copy on the Kindle would be deleted by the library after three weeks. Maybe I will carry out the experiment.
What puddle said.
ReplyDeleteIllustrations of the effects of gutting manufacturing capability in the US; it has been observed that no country can remain powerful if it does not maintain its manufacturing infrastructure.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html?_r=2
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/17/2687179/study-one-quarter-of-high-tech.html
The know-it-all modern capitalists and economists were saying just a few years ago that by concentrating on manufacturing capability (notably including small companies) Germany was foolish. Ha.
Comes under the heading of "none so blind as those who *will* not see. . . ."
ReplyDeleteSo what conclusion are we supposed to draw from these articles? The US isn't training enough engineers? Or that there is no mechanism to allow trained engineers to continually update their skills? Or is the problem a perception that people -- engineers at least -- only learn in college and skills *can't* be undated?
ReplyDeleteThat governmental and industrial fascination with the "high end" "innovative" "ideas" end of manufacturing as the next wave is unrealistic; that maintenance of actual manufacturing capacity is critical, and failure to direct resources to that end is debilitating, perhaps even fatal.
ReplyDeleteThat questions I was trying to ask were, "What are the crucial resources? How can we best supply them? Are they different for different industrial segments?" You'll notice that the reason we have lost electronics manufacturing jobs is that we have quite conspicuously failed to provide the resources these industries need. If we simply wipe these jobs off the board -- I think I hear you agreeing with Steve Jobs that they are gone forever -- how can we do better for the next big thing? Without necessarily having a clue at this point what that will be.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's not engineers, of course. Maybe we need better top managers. Certainly the US lost its steel industry because top managers blundered. But how do we get better top managers?
Tax policy is probably important.
ReplyDeleteCan't test the local library e-book system; it won't accept my old library card. Will get a new one and try again sometime.
ReplyDeleteHmm. Meaning that current tax policy encourages investors to focus on short-term rather than long-term returns? And this is turn gives top managers the wrong incentives? Yeah, I guess I can see that.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least Beau hasn't made it back under the porch. But no weather to make him work at it either. Yet. We're supposed to get ice pellets tonight, but he's coming in in a bit, and will miss the incentive. . . .
ReplyDeleteWell, the Goobey's in and asleep in front of the door. I'm about to wake him up so we can go to bed. Going to try making it through the night w/o pain meds. Days have been fine for more than a week. The night's keep falling through the hole.
ReplyDeleteUnder the wing, all. . . .
My own, and surely a product of watching so much British television lately, and reading my Great Great Great Grandfather's well-written journal! I wrote the words, stopped and reread them, decided they made sense, and even mused that you'd like the turn of phrase, puddle; then posted! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's true. Shhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteIt goes by the honour system, Alan. It is left to your conscience. It's one thing to have to face a librarian's level gaze. Another to never see the beings hidden behind the Amazon facade. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteSo, I just perused your link. It seems to work the same as ours, and we have two-weeks checkouts. You cannot renew a title, but you can "put it back" and check it out again immediately if no one is waiting for it.
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, we now offer Universal Class through our state library system! It's over 500 online courses, from Belly Dancing to Accounting to Computer courses, Music, Art, Effective Communication, Mathematics, Caring for Seniors, everything you can imagine. There's even a new class in Dog Psychology! Anyone can access Universal Class online, but it costs money for the courses. Unless, that is, you take them through your library! They are community college level and completely FREE! You only pay a small fee if you'd like a fancy copy of the certificate you get for completing a course. You not only have units of study and quizzes and tests, but you can email with a professor and blog with others taking the same course. You go at your own pace and have 6 months to complete a course. Worth a look!
http://www.universalclass.com/index.htm
A way to get top managers is to honour the wisdom of older, more experienced, members of the workforce, not only those folks just getting out of college with the newest skill set.
ReplyDeleteIt does still happen. Mah*Sweetie got his new job as a Software Engineer in part because he has a wealth of experience as well as skill in particular areas.
Indeed Alan! Our system won't accept old cards after February 1st. BUT! WRITE DOWN the bar code on the back of your current library card and keep it in a safe place!! Be alert as your card is being updated. If ~ as with our system ~ you find you are being given a brand new bar code with your new library card, you will be glad to have kept the old one near to hand....because once you switch over to the new bar code so that you can check out books, you will no longer be able to see what you used to have on Hold in the system! To see that you will need your old bar code number. I understand that you WILL still get email notices telling you when your old Hold choices have become available, though. It might be easier to at least write down what books you have on the old Hold system, before you switch officially to the new card number.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Let me know if you hit any snags, as I'm sure you won't be the only one.
Who would have thunk it? A thunderstorm in January! Morticia kitty-kat is at the window looking out at the display.
ReplyDeleteGallant of you, puddle, but don't work too awfully hard at getting off the meds too early. Maybe aim to get weaned from them before they 'd run out, with a little reserve in case of a future emergency?
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear that's still happening in places.
ReplyDeleteThis discussion would be encouraging if I thought anybody with influence was listening. So often you just hear people saying we need more manufacturing without attempting to engage on what sort of policies might actually encourage that. I suspect a lot of people look at the textile industry and simply attribute it all to low wages in Asia. But the NYT article makes it clear that wages have almost nothing to do with the electronics industry moving overseas.
So *nice* we know each other so well! A joy, 'tis.
ReplyDelete