There's nothing like a good library

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 27 January 2009 14:15

“As a child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school. I actually believed all those books belonged to her.”

—Erma Bombeck



There aren’t many places a person can walk into and get everything for free. Without a police escort back out, anyway. As I write this, I can only think of one. The library.

Some people have never stepped foot in one. Some were forced to in high school and then forgot they existed. Others may accidently wander in from time to time looking for a public restroom. These people may not need the library and that’s OK with me. I prefer a shorter checkout line anyway and if I am looking for a certain movie, I want it to be in stock. Fewer people in the library make it easier for me to...

Read more: There's nothing like a good library

Forget the Joneses, keep up with you

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 13 January 2009 14:09

“How’s being broke working for you?” —Jon Hanson, financial writer and speaker



All those who got a Christ­mas bonus, raise your hand. All those who hit the holiday sales with your Christmas cash, raise your new iPod, Blackberry or Wii console. OK, then…. All those who stuck that extra money into savings, raise your hand.

Wow, surface visibility on the ground just shot way up. Nary a hand in sight.

Maybe a couple. I’m sure there are a few of you disciplined enough to have saved your bonus or Grandma’s yearly $10 bill. You’re smart but not necessarily popular. If only we could all be like you!

But most of us aren’t. We like things. Lots of things. And we’d like those things NOW, thank you very much...

Read more: Forget the Joneses, keep up with you

Google is the Kleenex of today

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 23 December 2008 16:03

“Google’s culture is unlike any in corporate America, and it’s not because of the whimsical lava lamps and large rubber balls, or the fact that one of the company’s chefs used to cook for the Grateful Dead.” —Google corporate Web site

 

If you Google top search engines, you’ll Google itself, meaning you’ll hit on Google, which just re-emphasizes its No. 1 position.

Make sense?

I can’t technically explain that beyond saying most Internet users find stuff with Google.

They are the Kleenex of the new millennium. Nobody reaches for a box of tissues; they reach for a box of Kleenex. And nobody “searches” for recipes, jobs and old classmates, they “google” them.

CNN had a short report on Google Inc.—the...

Read more: Google is the Kleenex of today

Change can be visible or internal

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 09 December 2008 14:10

“I’ve been thinking ’bout catching a train. Leave my phone machine by the radar range. Hello it’s me, I’m not at home. If you’d like to reach me, leave me alone.” —“A Change (Will Do You Good)” by Sheryl Crow



Change can save gas—or a random beating: The historical purpose of Black Friday is to save money, to find the deal of the season, to get that adrenaline rush, that shopper’s high. (Some of you know what I’m talking about.)

But in the past several years, it’s taken on a whole new meaning. Now it’s more about survival than deals. Literally survival if you’re in the right Wal-Mart at the right time.

I don’t know the specifics of Wal-Mart’s benefits package but they might consider upping their...

Read more: Change can be visible or internal