today’s news and information gleanings from here and there! 

• Today’s Weather! 
• Today in History!
• Traffic Cam Rts. 30 & 441
• The Official Time! - Population Clock (U.S. and World)

Quote for today… “April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” - T.S. Eliot

• REMINDER: “You may miss out on important information if you do not attend the scheduled borough council meetings and the collection of other announced or unannounced meetings” – The monthly Columbia Borough Council meeting is scheduled for tonight.

• “Patrick Patrone of Columbia was elected recently to membership in Phi Beta Kappa at Rutgers University, where he is majoring in music. Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest college academic honor society in the United States, honors students who have done distinguished work in a liberal arts curriculum throughout their undergraduate years. Seniors elected to Phi Beta Kappa must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.5; juniors a GPA of 3.8 or better.” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• “Nothing is sacred about your religion when it comes to getting a state identification card without a photo. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offers ID cards for those with religious objections to being photographed. The Amish and certain sects of the Mennonite community are among those who object to having their photos taken because of their faith.” – Harrisburg Patriot News

• “Two men and a teenager were arrested early Saturday after a fight in the 300 block of south Third Street in Columbia.” – MyColumbiaNews

• “If only” Flashback: “LANCASTER’S BELTWAY?: County planners recommended the construction of a ‘circumferential highway’ around Lancaster’s metropolitan area, according to the Intelligencer Journal. The planners proposed constructing the highway in segments, beginning with a piece designed to serve the western suburbs, including Millersville and East Petersburg boroughs and Manor, East Hempfield and West Hempfield townships. The highway was proposed Read the rest of this entry »

Kim Komando – “On target and in-depth, Kim’s Columns provide you with what you need to know to buy smart; keep safe and stay informed.“

We think Kim Komando is just the right advice resource for the average person who uses twenty-first century technologies. Here are Kim’s observations on 4G:

“If you’re confused about 4G, welcome to the fastest-growing club! AT&T claims to have the nation’s largest 4G network. Verizon touts America’s fastest 4G LTE network with ‘a higher standard of coverage.’ The advertising war is on.

“AT&T recently befuddled millions of iPhone 4S customers. After upgrading to iOS 5.1, users discovered that the 3G network indicator next to the signal bar had mysteriously changed to 4G. Many thought, ‘Lucky me!’ Not so fast.

“Since the carriers and gadget makers won’t call the whole thing off, it’s time to take a fresh look at the state of 4G.

“The term 4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless technology. It all began in the 1980s with those 1G analog wonders that were the size – and weight – of a brick. Late, digital networks allowed users of 2G cellular phones to send text and email. 3G networks, of course, ushered in the age of smartphones and data.

“With 4G technology, the distinction between voice and data goes away. It essentially turns a cellular phone into a Voice-over-IP system. That means faster, clearer communication.

“How fast? The International Telecommunication Union defines 4G as the ability to download data at speeds of 100 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second. The 1Gbps standard is for home and low-mobility situations, such as someone walking around with a phone. The 100Mbps standard is the theoretical maximum download speed that a user traveling in a car or train would experience.”

To continue reading this Kim Komando column, click here.