I’m not endorsing the outgoing governor of Ohio, but its good to see my state onboard the 25×25′ proposal during a speech Governor Taft delivered to the Ohio Renewable Energy Summit. Energy is something all of us need and want and working towards goals is something all of us need to do in achieve a better energy balance. The governor commented that it is important to our state to participate in clean energy production and helping strengthen national security by tapping renewable sources of energy. He stated that “we are moving closer to our goal of curtailing dangerous dependence on foreign oil and developing our own clean, affordable, renewable sources of energy that will secure a better future for the families, businesses and farms of Ohio for many years to come.”
The 25 x ’25 Vision organizers advocate using renewable energy from farms, forests and ranches to provide 25 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption by 2025. Our state is one of 12 states joining the 25 x ’25 effort and Ohio is continuing to advances the farm based renewable fuels and striving to attract innovative companies researching and producing energy producing and saving equipment. (See Canton Repository article)
Here’s a two part answer … downloading is growing, but time spent listening is questionable. An interesting article on American listening habits as they relate to podcasts reviews a few tidbits of data collected by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The Associated Press Newsvine article on the subject reveals that although the number of Internet users downloading “podcasts” have increased from 7 percent earlier this year to 12 percent, but that only about 1 percent download on an average day. The survey of 972 adult Internet users concluded that podcasting is still an emerging technology and that it is “primarily enjoyed by early adopters” of technology. Less is known about how many files are actually listened too.
Podcasts, or the generic term Netcasts, both which can include video …typically are files played on personal computers, TiVo DVRs (see link to a previous post) and Apple iPods or MP3 music players. Most podcast downloads are received automatically using software set up by users to catch their favorite podcasts, but it is difficult to know how many of these downloaded files are actually listened too. Personally speaking, I download far more podcasts through iTunes than I actually listen too … I suspect I am in the norm?
Although I doubt the reinstatement of the draft proposal by Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) will go anywhere, the idea of national service to country does make some sense. Most Americans appreciate the freedom and privilege we have of living in the United States, but besides paying taxes, many haven’t really had to serve in any capacity. Although I realized that not everyone is qualified or desires to perform their service in the armed forces, there are other ways that service to country could be offered. Perhaps the a national service corp would benefit to those performing the service (reeling back selfish behavior … the “what’s in it for me” attitude) as much as it would the sharing of the duties with every citizen privileged to live in this country? What better place to start than on border security, be it unarmed surveillance patrols, fence building or national guard armed interdiction — I’m sure we could all come up with suitable service options besides the military. I found Laura Ingraham’s interview last night to be balance and thoughtful on this subject and will include it below.
From a public relation perspective, News Corporation (NWS) is at least a company that listens to its customers and shareholders. They are obviously listening to the many outraged broadcast viewers (and shareholders) who are upset with the latest book deal and television program featuring OJ Simpson. Simpson worked a book deal with the Newscorp owned subsidiary, publisher Harper Collins, and was interviewed for a two part television “If I did it” special. The program was to be shown on Fox affiliate stations on November 27 and 29 in coordination with the book release. The fiasco was considered by most to be in extraordinarily poor taste, particularly for the families of the murdered Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman. Newscorps CEO, Rupert Murdoch made a statement today while pulling the plug on the book and program, “I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project. We are sorry for any pain this has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown-Simpson.”
Many affiliates had already said they would not be running the special due to public outcry and even employees from Newscorp owned FoxNews “blasted” their own management in regard to this project. High profile personalities like Bill O’Reilly and Geraldo Rivera made strong statements directed at advertisers and solicited the public to call and write their employer. O’Reilly vowed to boycott any company that advertised during the airing … “If any company sponsors the TV program, I will not buy anything that company sells–ever.” Rivera made similar statements including that he would “bash this project every minute I have the opportunity to bash this project.” From a business perspective, the huge publishing and broadcasting company has performed well over past year, but had a slightly negative move even though the stock market has continued to move up. (see DJI vs NWS graph) How much is related to negative PR???
According to New Zealand news reports, an iceberg was spotted from shore yesterday for the first time in 75 years. Some of the giant blocks of Antarctic ice were visible from Dunedin on the South Island, but all have recently moved away being driven by wind and current. The 100 plus ‘bergs’ in New Zealand waters have become tourist attractions prompting entrepreneurs to market helicopter and airplane flights. The trips take passengers close to the beautiful blue and white ice … some even landing on the huge floating islands.
Although icebergs have been spotted in the waters surrounding New Zealand before, this years icebergs are farther north than in previous years. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research indicated that a series of southern storms probably pushed icebergs north farther than usual; scientists have been reluctant to blame global warming.
Since I’m relatively new to my Series 2 TiVo branded DVR and have recently networked it rather than use the phone line connections, I though I would play with a few of the less used features today. One of them is to access Internet content in the form of ‘netcasts’ … previously known as ‘podcasts’ until Apple Computer decided to defend its claim to the name? Anyway, here is a YouTube clip that I’ve uploaded that demonstrates how TiVo handles podcasts.
The clip is from the TWIT technology discussions talking about Microsoft’s restrictive reviewers agreement for its “iPod” like device called the “Zune.” (BTW, as for the Zune device itself, even Bill Gates exercises caution when bragging about the device.)
The Big Game you ask??? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you just don’t know college football.
😀 Ohio State and Michigan have always been big rivals … in the biggest of way. This year the level of pressure, excitement and emotion has been taken to a whole new level as the undefeated Michigan Wolverines ranked #2 in the country head to Columbus Ohio to attempt to knock off the #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Many in the news media are hyping it as the “Biggest college football game ever” … and it is a big one.
As the news came in on Friday from Michigan about the sad passing of Bo Schembechler, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many years of toe to toe football he was able to bring against Ohio State. He was quoted just yesterday that this game was “about as big as it gets” as he was interview about the 3:30 EST game. “I see this game as being a great classic,” he said. What a fantastic coach … and that coming from a Buckeye fan; he was a quality leader, coach and caring man.
The winner of this game not only capture the Big Ten title but a trip to the national-championship game on January 8th in Glendale, Arizona. The loser, if the game is close could still be considered for the Bowl Championship Series to and possibly rematch … but most believe the loser will gain a berth to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day — some would almost say the preferred game?
These two historic powerhouse football schools have met 103 times, but Saturday is the first time the teams have been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the major polls. The rivalry is one of the sport’s best because of its competitiveness since during the past 50 years, the series record is 24-24-2. Incredible.
Unfortunately the down side to this game has been the violence of fans … most accuse locals and not students for most of the bad behavior, but it is a real blackeye for the buckeyes. (Ohioians) This year the Michigan Police will be attending the game along with some of the Wolverine fans … to protect them we’ve been told. Personally I think it might just aggravate an already tense situation? Hopefully all of the pleading from city officials and university will keep misconduct to a minimum and fans will just experience a great football game … with OSU winning of course.
Our neighbor (West Chester, Ohio) and local representative John Boehner (R-OH) will continue to lead the Republicans in congress, although not as the Majority Leader – his current position. He was elected to the position of Minority Leader and accepted the vote of his colleagues in his leadership role after Democrats took majority control of congress in November’s midterm election. Boehner and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) will have a challenging job in keeping disgruntled Republicans united, but not as challenging as corralling the diverse views of Democrats by newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
Most Americans are compassionate people and want to do the right thing. We see immigrates as hardworking, family oriented and necessary to fill many unskilled jobs in America … just as they have in past generations. Unfortunately few of us have the insight or background to fully understand what our current immigration policies are doing to our country and how effectively they help population growth world wide. Hint — our current relaxed policies do little for either … in fact they may make the situation worse in just a generation or two.
Even if you are not politically savvy, do yourself a favor and watch the 13+ minute clip below before solidifying your position on United States Immigration policies. Roy Beck illustrates the problem with clarity and stresses the importance in dealing with it ‘now’ rather than when it become unmanageable. Hopefully after watching the google video clip, a few more Americans will encourage congress to put the issue on the front burner. (a petition available at NumbersUSA.org)
I’m not endorsing the outgoing governor of Ohio, but its good to see my state onboard the 25×25′ proposal during a speech Governor Taft delivered to the Ohio Renewable Energy Summit. Energy is something all of us need and want and working towards goals is something all of us need to do in achieve a better energy balance. The governor commented that it is important to our state to participate in clean energy production and helping strengthen national security by tapping renewable sources of energy. He stated that “we are moving closer to our goal of curtailing dangerous dependence on foreign oil and developing our own clean, affordable, renewable sources of energy that will secure a better future for the families, businesses and farms of Ohio for many years to come.”
habits as they relate to podcasts reviews a few 
appreciate the freedom and privilege we have of living in the United States, but besides paying taxes, many haven’t really had to serve in any capacity. Although I realized that not everyone is qualified or desires to perform their service in the armed forces, there are other ways that service to country could be offered. Perhaps the a national service corp would benefit to those performing the service (reeling back selfish behavior … the “what’s in it for me” attitude) as much as it would the sharing of the duties with every citizen privileged to live in this country? What better place to start than on border security, be it unarmed surveillance patrols, fence building or national guard armed interdiction — I’m sure we could all come up with suitable service options besides the military. I found Laura Ingraham’s interview last night to be balance and thoughtful on this subject and will include it below.
From a business perspective, the huge publishing and broadcasting company has performed well over past year, but had a slightly negative move even though the stock market has continued to move up. (see 
According to New Zealand news reports, an iceberg was spotted from shore yesterday for the first time in 75 years. Some of the giant blocks of Antarctic ice were visible from Dunedin on the South Island, but all have recently moved away being driven by wind and current. The 100 plus ‘bergs’ in New Zealand waters have become tourist attractions prompting entrepreneurs to market helicopter and airplane flights. The trips take passengers close to the beautiful blue and white ice … some even landing on the huge floating islands. 
Since I’m relatively new to my Series 2 
The Big Game you ask??? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you just don’t know college football.
Our neighbor (West Chester, Ohio) and local representative John Boehner (R-OH) will continue to lead the Republicans in congress, although not as the Majority Leader – his 