Saturday, September 26, 2009
Twelve Commandments?
Apparently different religions split them up differently to make 10. I don't want to sound flip because there is wisdom to be found in all of mankind's ancient texts but I can't help thinking there just has to be a joke about a Rabbi, a Priest, and a Reverend in this somewhere...
Friday, September 25, 2009
New CP Center
Yesterday was a good day for the North-East side.
Mayor Schmitt, Alderman Dan Piton, Police Chief Jim Arts, and neighborhood association presidents joined to announce the third community policing center in Green Bay. This center is located at 807 N. Irwin Avenue in the Olde North Neighborhood. It is expected to be ready for operations in May of 2010. The Mayor also announced a 3.65% drop in violent crimes from August to August and during that same timeframe a drop in property crime of 7.26%. The Mayor sited the importance of neighborhoods in keeping the city safe.
It'll be great to have officers walking the neighborhood next summer. We need to maintain the progress toward safe and healthy neighborhoods made over these last few years and keep improving.
Mayor Schmitt, Alderman Dan Piton, Police Chief Jim Arts, and neighborhood association presidents joined to announce the third community policing center in Green Bay. This center is located at 807 N. Irwin Avenue in the Olde North Neighborhood. It is expected to be ready for operations in May of 2010. The Mayor also announced a 3.65% drop in violent crimes from August to August and during that same timeframe a drop in property crime of 7.26%. The Mayor sited the importance of neighborhoods in keeping the city safe.
It'll be great to have officers walking the neighborhood next summer. We need to maintain the progress toward safe and healthy neighborhoods made over these last few years and keep improving.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
New Computer People
Like many people, I tend to have a go to guy (go to person really, but that doesn't sound as good) for most things I need. If not a particular person I usually have a go to organization.
Since moving back to Green Bay, I have gone to Cyberworks for my computer needs. It was the closest place to my old office and I was often in a hurry got in the habit of running there. I was never fully comfortable with the place but it the options here are limited. (Why was I uncomfortable? Well, one example is the time I was WAY over charged for a 20G SCSI hard drive they sold as new that I quickly realized was used when there were files on it.)
The closest place to my new office is Camera Corner/Connecting Point. A few weeks ago I walked in for the first time. What I needed wasn't on the floor so the sales guy checked the back room. He found it but it wasn't on the price list so he just made up a reasonable price on the spot and charged me that.
Tonight I had a minor emergency when I kicked an external drive and it fell two feet. It didn't work anymore and windows reclassified it as an "Unknown USB Device". I could hear something rattling around in there but the only screwdriver I had on hand wasn't small enough to deal with the screws on the enclosure. I called CCCP at 5:03, they told me to come down but they close at 5:30. When I walked up to the service counter 5 minutes later, I said I needed a screwdriver that fits this thing. The young lady staffing the service counter told me that all the technicians were gone and got me an appropriate screwdriver. Once I had the (Cyberworks provided) drive enclosure open I realized that a small bit of it's electronics had busted loose and that the hard drive itself was likely intact. I said I needed a drive enclosure. The poor service counter person-- who clearly thought i was mad scientist crazy or worse after I'd turned her counter in to my workbench-- calmly called a sales guy over and told him my request. He asked IDE or serial ATA? I told him SATA. The thing was in front of me in like 45 seconds. After asking how much it was, I kept on with the mad computer scientist theme and tore in to the box and started transferring the drive in to the new enclosure. The service counter lady asked me if I'd paid for it yet-- all the parts were out of the box at this point covering most of the rest of her counter-- and I said, "I'll take it". While I was putting the whole thing together, the sales guy and I did the business transaction. I apologized to the service counter clerk for taking up her counter and thanked her for the screwdriver. Her response was polite enough but she managed to include that I had 8 minutes left before they closed at 5:30. Five minutes later I handed the screwdriver back to her and was out the door. The drive is again working and (luckily) my data intact.
My sincere thank you Camera Corner/Connecting Point and especially the two folks who dealt professionally with a harried software developer who was in a near panic. I think I have a new go to organization.
Since moving back to Green Bay, I have gone to Cyberworks for my computer needs. It was the closest place to my old office and I was often in a hurry got in the habit of running there. I was never fully comfortable with the place but it the options here are limited. (Why was I uncomfortable? Well, one example is the time I was WAY over charged for a 20G SCSI hard drive they sold as new that I quickly realized was used when there were files on it.)
The closest place to my new office is Camera Corner/Connecting Point. A few weeks ago I walked in for the first time. What I needed wasn't on the floor so the sales guy checked the back room. He found it but it wasn't on the price list so he just made up a reasonable price on the spot and charged me that.
Tonight I had a minor emergency when I kicked an external drive and it fell two feet. It didn't work anymore and windows reclassified it as an "Unknown USB Device". I could hear something rattling around in there but the only screwdriver I had on hand wasn't small enough to deal with the screws on the enclosure. I called CCCP at 5:03, they told me to come down but they close at 5:30. When I walked up to the service counter 5 minutes later, I said I needed a screwdriver that fits this thing. The young lady staffing the service counter told me that all the technicians were gone and got me an appropriate screwdriver. Once I had the (Cyberworks provided) drive enclosure open I realized that a small bit of it's electronics had busted loose and that the hard drive itself was likely intact. I said I needed a drive enclosure. The poor service counter person-- who clearly thought i was mad scientist crazy or worse after I'd turned her counter in to my workbench-- calmly called a sales guy over and told him my request. He asked IDE or serial ATA? I told him SATA. The thing was in front of me in like 45 seconds. After asking how much it was, I kept on with the mad computer scientist theme and tore in to the box and started transferring the drive in to the new enclosure. The service counter lady asked me if I'd paid for it yet-- all the parts were out of the box at this point covering most of the rest of her counter-- and I said, "I'll take it". While I was putting the whole thing together, the sales guy and I did the business transaction. I apologized to the service counter clerk for taking up her counter and thanked her for the screwdriver. Her response was polite enough but she managed to include that I had 8 minutes left before they closed at 5:30. Five minutes later I handed the screwdriver back to her and was out the door. The drive is again working and (luckily) my data intact.
My sincere thank you Camera Corner/Connecting Point and especially the two folks who dealt professionally with a harried software developer who was in a near panic. I think I have a new go to organization.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New Green Bay Recycling Guidelines
In anticipation of the coming single stream recycling and carts, Green Bay stopped enforcing the "city container only" rule. It wouldn't have been fair to make someone buy a bin and then charge them again for a cart.
Now that both bins and carts are available, Green Bay Public Works has started to again enforce the recycle bin requirements. You must have one city bin or cart. The 18 gallon bins are $15, the carts are $48. Call 448-3100 for directions on how to get yours. Here is the new policy recently passed unanimously by the Common Council:
a) Continue to work with City residents, to make sure they substantially comply with City recycling ordinances.
b) Maintain the option of City-issued 65-gallon recycling carts and City issued 18-gallon recycling bins, with no other recycling container size options offered by the city.
c) Allow the use of multiple recycling bins. Residents can use non-City issued recycling bins for overflow recycling as long as they first fill one (1) 18-gallon City-issued recycling bin.
d) Allow the use of paper bags as recycling overflow containers for paper and cardboard recycling, when used in conjunction with 18-gallon recycling bins.
e) Prohibit the use of paper bags as overflow containers for co-mingled recyclables (i.e. – aluminum, glass, tin, plastic, etc.) under all circumstances.
f) Allow the use of multiple City-issued recycling tipper carts at the same residence. Residents can only use City-issued recycling tipper carts for the cart option, due to durability concerns of store-bought cars.
g) Prohibit the use of laundry baskets and trash cans as recycling containers.
h) Conduct a review of the solid waste collection ordinance and propose changes to make it consistent with the current recycling program.
I have a cart and it's great to just break down boxes and throw them in with the cans and bottles. If you are interested in getting a larger cart, you can order it online here.
Now that both bins and carts are available, Green Bay Public Works has started to again enforce the recycle bin requirements. You must have one city bin or cart. The 18 gallon bins are $15, the carts are $48. Call 448-3100 for directions on how to get yours. Here is the new policy recently passed unanimously by the Common Council:
a) Continue to work with City residents, to make sure they substantially comply with City recycling ordinances.
b) Maintain the option of City-issued 65-gallon recycling carts and City issued 18-gallon recycling bins, with no other recycling container size options offered by the city.
c) Allow the use of multiple recycling bins. Residents can use non-City issued recycling bins for overflow recycling as long as they first fill one (1) 18-gallon City-issued recycling bin.
d) Allow the use of paper bags as recycling overflow containers for paper and cardboard recycling, when used in conjunction with 18-gallon recycling bins.
e) Prohibit the use of paper bags as overflow containers for co-mingled recyclables (i.e. – aluminum, glass, tin, plastic, etc.) under all circumstances.
f) Allow the use of multiple City-issued recycling tipper carts at the same residence. Residents can only use City-issued recycling tipper carts for the cart option, due to durability concerns of store-bought cars.
g) Prohibit the use of laundry baskets and trash cans as recycling containers.
h) Conduct a review of the solid waste collection ordinance and propose changes to make it consistent with the current recycling program.
I have a cart and it's great to just break down boxes and throw them in with the cans and bottles. If you are interested in getting a larger cart, you can order it online here.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Downtown Events
The Hispanic Festival at Leicht is back and the Broadway Farmers Market is still on.
"The Farmer’s Market On Broadway and the 6th Annual Hispanic Festival will coincide Wednesday.
That will require drivers to be mindful of designated parking areas.
The farmer’s market runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Hispanic festival will be held in Leicht Memorial Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
...
Bicycling to the sites is encouraged. BayCare Clinic is sponsoring a bike storage area in front of Beernsten’s Candies."
The bike idea is a good one. Let hope this year that we don't have another weather event that drops sound on people's heads.
"The Farmer’s Market On Broadway and the 6th Annual Hispanic Festival will coincide Wednesday.
That will require drivers to be mindful of designated parking areas.
The farmer’s market runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Hispanic festival will be held in Leicht Memorial Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
...
Bicycling to the sites is encouraged. BayCare Clinic is sponsoring a bike storage area in front of Beernsten’s Candies."
The bike idea is a good one. Let hope this year that we don't have another weather event that drops sound on people's heads.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Hmong in Green Bay
"I had a man tell me he has never been a citizen of a country," Lee said. "America has given them the opportunity to develop as persons, live here and be with their family and not be persecuted. They don't have to think about anything in the past."
Nice job, Press Gannett. If you fight on our side in a war, the US shouldn't abandon you to refugee camps.
Nice job, Press Gannett. If you fight on our side in a war, the US shouldn't abandon you to refugee camps.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
City's Final Offer Public Record
I gather this info has been getting out in dribs and drabs. I'm wary of violating closed session when I'm not sure something is public record yet. It's been public record since the 8th:
"Ms. Swanson stated that the City did send out what the City believes to be their final offer of the 0%, 1% and 2.5% wage increase over three years. Ms. Swanson stated that the City is waiting to hear a response from the unions. Ms. Swanson stated that a few unions want to bring the proposal to their memberships."
Agree, disagree, whatever. Knowledge is power and I believe all stakeholders should know the facts. We can agree to disagree but we should also have honest discussions and make sure we keep the people we work for and with in the loop.
http://danslotd.blogspot.com
"Ms. Swanson stated that the City did send out what the City believes to be their final offer of the 0%, 1% and 2.5% wage increase over three years. Ms. Swanson stated that the City is waiting to hear a response from the unions. Ms. Swanson stated that a few unions want to bring the proposal to their memberships."
Agree, disagree, whatever. Knowledge is power and I believe all stakeholders should know the facts. We can agree to disagree but we should also have honest discussions and make sure we keep the people we work for and with in the loop.
http://danslotd.blogspot.com
Unrelated Catchup Posts
The Honourable John Walker makes a point I've made repeatedly over the years. He talks about Respectfulness vs. Civility. What I've always said is, "Respect is earned, courtesy is free." That courtesy is critical when talking to folks with whom you disagree. Without those conversations, there is no way to find common ground and make improvements.
Boycotting the census is a bad move for everyone and an ineffective protest. Besides, if you don't fill out the form then they could send someone by to see who lives there. Stand and be counted so we receive our fair share of monies given out by the federal govt. They are going to spend it somewhere.
I know I just put this on my wall, but it bears repeating. Privacy should be the default setting. You shouldn't have to opt out or go change a default setting to get privacy. But lets face it, privacy isn't as profitable.
Boycotting the census is a bad move for everyone and an ineffective protest. Besides, if you don't fill out the form then they could send someone by to see who lives there. Stand and be counted so we receive our fair share of monies given out by the federal govt. They are going to spend it somewhere.
I know I just put this on my wall, but it bears repeating. Privacy should be the default setting. You shouldn't have to opt out or go change a default setting to get privacy. But lets face it, privacy isn't as profitable.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
15K for the Childrens Museum
Go here and vote for the pack. If we win the vote, it's 15,000 for the Green Bay Children's Museum project.
Looks like our Mayor traded Peterson. Interesting move, sure hopes it pans out. I haven't even heard of the other guys.
Looks like our Mayor traded Peterson. Interesting move, sure hopes it pans out. I haven't even heard of the other guys.
Housing Deals
There seem to be some amazing home values in the Green Bay right now. This four bedroom foreclosure is right behind the bus depot, kitty corner from a green space and listed at $33,000. Looks like it includes appliances but needs new carpets.
http://danslotd.blogspot.com
http://danslotd.blogspot.com
Roundabouts and Art
Here's one interesting example. Controversy on top of controversy anyone?
http://danslotd.blogspot.com
http://danslotd.blogspot.com
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