Thinking Out Loud

Just when I thought I'd stop this silliness . . .

Having nurtured my little hobby for a couple of years, I've thought occasionally it was time to retire www.HighStreetBeat.com and be a more passive Internet participant . . .  and move to the forest . . . or something.

Then, like the odometer on the 2000 Toyota Camry, the Page View count rolled to 100,000 . . . and I paused. 

New tires, and I think I'm OK for another 100,000 or so. 

Thanks to all who have endured my 700 posts, especially those who have commented. And thanks to Peggy, George and Steve for the initial and ongoing support. It's all quite fascinating for someone who listened to the Cardinals on radio before televisions arrived, and whose first telephone calls were on a party line. 

Former IBM President Grew Up in JCMO

John Opel passed away on November 3. He grew up in Jefferson City and attended Westminister. His family owned a hardware store. According to TechEye.net, Opel was at the helm when Big Blue entered the PC market. 

 

Very Old and Very New: Dead Sea Scrolls Online

The Dead Sea Scrolls were only discovered recently, but they are some of our earliest written texts, preceding even Bob Priddy.

It's noteworthy that the scrolls have now become available on line. The authors would be proud.  

Oxymoron? "Internet" & "Civility"?

This Article in the Art of Manliness is a voice in the wilderness. Spread the word. Defeat the barbarians.

Steve Jobs' Legacy Alive & Well @JCMO

This JCTV interview with Tom Piper and Geroge Kopp from Jefferson City's AppleJAC club is required viewing for anyone buying, thinking about buying, or envious about those who own --- an Apple / MacIntosh product. Very timely with Steve Jobs' announcement that he's stepping down. 

Maybe They'd Like to Join the Big 12

Ivy League Colleges and Universities come across a little stuffy and (oddly) are inclined to depart from their religious and fundamental backgrounds. But an announcement from Yale's Office of Public Affairs and Communications advises that a very robust, and somewhat private, collection of art is now available to the world. The Slideshow  provides a hint of the treasures. 

Do they play football out there?

 

 

 

New Map Product Combines Present & Past Photos

Check out HistoryPin --- It could add a  large new dimension to how we research / remember.

Thanks, Rebecca L., for the headsup.

D.H. Lawrence 1928 analysis valid for 2011.

This review of a 1928 D.H. Lawrence article points out how superficial lots of our current "knowledge" has become. Not saying we give up our smart phones and abandon the Internet. Just saying that technology can provide a false sense of security. 

 

County Budgets & Meetings Should be Posted & Streamed

The Cole County Commission is entertaining the  2011 Proposed Cole County Budget submitted by Auditor Jim Lepage. It's a lot of public money ($50+ million) without a lot of public discussion. The proposed budget is posted on Jefferson City's Web Page.

Here's a question that's been asked before: Why don't we spend just a few hundred dollars and: (1) post this information immediately on the Cole County Web Page; and (2) post videos of commission meetings? 

Technology has taken away all the excuses. Our rural neighbors like Osage County do a better job than we do. 

 

Highstreetbeat Reaches 75K Milestone

Yesterday www.highstreetbeat.com was viewed for the 75,000th time. Thanks to all our regular friends, occasional visitors, accidental late night geeks, and my mom for her 25,000 views. It's been fun.