Apologies to The Atlantic but I borrowed my post title from their July/August cover article of the same name. Interestisng read as it explores the impact of the web on our ability to focus and understand information in any more then byte size pieces as we are driven by google searches and condensed web information.
With Air Canada’s announcement today of staff layoffs and route reductions due to escalating fuel costs, North America’s dependency on oil and gas continues to be underscored. On CBC Radio this morning one analyst said, “it impacts all our stuff”. In other words anything to do with “stuff” is reeling from higher barrel costs - meaning everything. The interview went on to touch on what it that could possibly mean in the longer term as fuel costs become a profound economic and social culture disruption - collapse of suburbs, fewer trips but of longer duration, living “smaller” rising food costs etc… When historians look at tipping points in the 21st century this will obviously be one and interesting to ponder how it will impact how we will live and the decisions we make.
Last Thursday 50 needy kids received computers and free dial up internet connections from Little Geeks, a not for profit organization started by tech journalist Andy Walker and friend Lisa Shishis. GCI has been a proud supporter of Andy’s and Lisa’s efforts from the beginning of the idea last year. Little Geeks is a great organization and I would encourage everyone to visit their site www.littlegeeks.org and help support them. As a society, the technology divide will be one of the great challenges facing all of us in the future and it is important that we all work to ensure everyone has access.
We’ve launched a second GCI Canada blog this week http://blogs.gcigroup.com/fineprint/ to give a platform to all the great professionals on the GCI team. Check it out and thanks to John, Stephanie and Larissa for starting us off!
Today, 40 per cent of Canadian college and university students graduate with debt. In fact, I know one graduate who is starting their post-education life with $150,000 worth of debt. It’s a little tough to get going when you have that level of debt to service with your pay cheque. The Firkin Group of Pubs has launched an “Un-Scholarship” program whereby graduate applicants can make their case to receive one of five $5,000 “un-scholarships”. Check it out at www.firkinuniversity.com or the Facebook Group “Say F.U. to Student Debt”.
