17512 Columbia

Archive for April 21st, 2012|Daily archive page

today’s news … Saturday, April 21, 2012

In Uncategorized on April 21, 2012 at 6:00 am

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

Quote for today… “Most adults, unlike most children, understand the difference between a book that will hold them spellbound for a rainy Sunday afternoon and a book that will put them in touch with a part of themselves they didn’t even know existed.” – Mark Haddon

  • “The Columbia Education Foundation awarded the Columbia school board Thursday with $25,000 for the replacement and upgrade of computers and software in all four schools. The district cut its technology replacement fund in the 2011-12 budget. Wayne Hershey, CEF member, said that the foundation has donated more than $150,000 to the district the past five years.” – MyColumbiaNews
  • “A former supports coordinator in Lancaster County’s Mental Health/Mental Retardation program has been arrested on child sexual abuse charges, but Lancaster police say there is no indication he victimized children he met through his employment.” – WHTM-TV (Channel 27)
  • REMINDER: Tuesday is Election Day. In today’s Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era a full page ad reminds voters of voting place changes. In Columbia, voters are reminded that 1st Ward voters no do not vote at the Fire Police Building; the voting place has been changed to The Columbia Historic Market House. Here are all of the voting places: “COLUMBIA BORO First Ward — Columbia Historic Market House, 15 South 3rd St.; Fourth Ward — Columbia School District Admin. Center, 200 N. 5th St.; Fifth Ward — St. Peter Apartment Complex, 400 Union Street; Sixth Ward — Read the rest of this entry »

Women in combat units … in the USMC! U-u-u-u-rah!

In History and Heritage, Opportunities on April 21, 2012 at 5:26 am

Julie Jacobson/AP

This article from Government Executive claims: “The Marine Corps will allow women to enroll in its infantry course for the first time in its more than 200-year history, according to news reports.

“The service is accepting female students this year into the school that trains officers to serve and lead troops in combat, according to a report Wednesday in The Marine Corps Times. Gen. Joseph Dunford, the Corps’ assistant commandant, told the newspaper that Marine Corps is recruiting volunteers. Prior to the announcement, women were not allowed to participate in the infantry training program.

“Also, the Corps in May will begin considering women for 400 positions in six battalions, including amphibious assault, artillery and combat assault.

“The Marine Corps is devising new physical fitness tests as a result of the change and is striving for “gender-neutral” standards, the news report said. It’s not yet clear how many women will participate, or the trajectory for those who successfully complete the program.

“The changes are part of a Defense Department review of the military’s policies on assigning women to combat roles. The initiatives are part of a ‘research effort in order to provide the commandant with meaningful data so that he can make a fact-based recommendation to the senior leadership of DoD and Congress,’ said Corps’ spokesman Capt. Kevin Shultz, in an email.

“‘This is an important issue, which will lead to a lot of debate; therefore, these experiences and opinions will be invaluable to our senior leaders,’ Shultz said. ‘We owe it to the Corps and to the American people to have a rational, open-minded, and, most importantly, fact-based discussion on this issue.  Finally, the commandant expects all leaders to be fully committed to providing every Marine the opportunity to compete and excel.’

“In February, Defense removed restrictions preventing women from Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s what the “Facebook generation” is not buying

In Everyday Living, Lists, Opinions on April 21, 2012 at 4:45 am

Here’s an interesting report from Wall St. 24/7; if you sell any of these items start planning now.

“Consumer tastes are changing at a greater rate than ever before. Not surprisingly, the purchasing habits of the youngest generation present the most dramatic shifts — a reflection of what they find important. 24/7 Wall St. has identified eight popular products that the “Facebook generation” is not buying.

This generation is likely to shy away from these products.

“Generation Y, generally defined as those born between 1980 and 1999, have lost interest in many of the services and products their parents found important. For example, younger Americans are less interested in cars. In 1998, 64.4% of potential drivers 19-years old and younger had drivers licenses. By 2008, that rate had dropped to 46.3%, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

“What young adults care about has shifted. A recent study by Gartner research revealed that, if forced to choose, 46% of all 18-to-24-year-old drivers in the United States would choose access to the Internet over access to a car.

“However, many products that have declined in popularity among the youth are more a result of the changing tastes across all ages than a generational shift. Examples include lower sales in traditional cell phones, maps and CDs. In 2002, compact discs had a more than 95% market share of music sales. In 2010, they had less than half. Various reports suggest this decline is the result of all age groups moving away from CD sales toward digital sales.

“24/7 Wall St. has identified eight of the country’s most popular products that are losing favor, either solely among young adults or at a significantly higher rate among that group. To demonstrate these products’ waning popularity, 24/7 reviewed data from a number of major research firms and government agencies. We looked at products in every major sector, including transportation, digital electronics, food, beverages and other miscellaneous consumer goods.

“1. Email … In 2010, at the launch of Read the rest of this entry »

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