My regular readers may recall that one of the topics I follow is internet access for rural counties in Ohio. And not just access, but high speed connectivity at an affordable price. I have tried to be an advocate for them wherever possible. There is no way Ohio can move forward as a collective unit, for every business, especially those small and medium size ones in lower populated areas, unless and until they have high speed internet at an affordable price.
I was reminded of this when I saw a few sentences of the current global situation with internet access in Fortune Magazine's February 6, 2012 issue. According to International Telecommunication Union (a part of the United Nations, see: http://www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx), 35% of the world's people have access to the internet. I was a bit surprised because I thought developed countries would have more of an impact. I also noticed the word "access" was used. To me that doesn't mean the internet (computer) is in people's homes, just that one has a computer available to get to the internet. So again, I thought the number would be higher.
This lead me to think that it was time to review Ohio and its high speed status. I used this website: http://connectohio.org/ to look at their maps. If you scroll down on their home page there are 4 maps to choose from. From my vantage point, there does seem to be progress. More people do have internet. More people have high speed internet. At what price? That I am not sure of. Are there spots with no access? Yes, I know that myself as I traveled around Appalachia and lost my connections all the time.
I am glad there are local advocates working for their communities and surrounding areas. I also believe providers of high speed internet are coming along in figuring out how to provide such a service at an affordable price. Not all the answers have been found, but the maps show that there are those who understand the importance of this situation. Thank you for your efforts.
Panoramic View
Monday, February 6, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Random Facts Friday: February 3, 2012
Another week for the history books.
You can give yourself a little break by looking at these random facts:
1. John Eisenhower is the oldest living presidential child. He is 89 years old.
2. Consumption of food fried in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or premature death, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). This research was conducted in Spain which has a Mediterranean diet (very important) and only fries in olive and sunflower oil. See:
You can give yourself a little break by looking at these random facts:
1. John Eisenhower is the oldest living presidential child. He is 89 years old.
2. Consumption of food fried in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or premature death, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). This research was conducted in Spain which has a Mediterranean diet (very important) and only fries in olive and sunflower oil. See:
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Frying-with-healthy-oil-not-linked-to-heart-disease-research-finds
3. The "i" in Apple's products stands for: internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire.
4. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Community but maintain their own currencies.
5. Recipe: Egg Sauce. Especially good over toast or cooked broccoli.
2 tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons of butter, melted
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup diced Velvetta cheese
3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
Blend flour and butter in saucepan. Add milk and salt. Cook and stir until smooth and thick. Add cheese.
When melted add eggs. Serve hot.
3. The "i" in Apple's products stands for: internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire.
4. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Community but maintain their own currencies.
5. Recipe: Egg Sauce. Especially good over toast or cooked broccoli.
2 tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons of butter, melted
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup diced Velvetta cheese
3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
Blend flour and butter in saucepan. Add milk and salt. Cook and stir until smooth and thick. Add cheese.
When melted add eggs. Serve hot.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Working Wednesday: The Exxon Mobil Example
Recently, Exxon Mobil Corporation announced they would be selling their Japanese refining and marketing business to partner TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. in a $3.9 billion deal. Exxon Mobil has looked at its overall operations and decided to concentrate on exploration and production, leaving refining to others, though they are publicly saying they are still committed to refining. Said Sherman Glass of Exxon Mobil, "What we continue to do is try to restructure — in some cases invest, in some cases divest and in some cases restructure — to make it a strong group of operations in our downstream (refining)" business." See: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700220299/Exxon-selling-Japan-unit-for-39B-to-cut-refining.html
I thought this is a good example of The Panoramic View. I write about The Panoramic View in my blog, but here is an actual example! The company revisited the largest view of their world ( I think of the Grand Canyon, the ocean, the top of the mountain as analogies), then took a slice of that view which pertains to their business sector, then again took a slice within their sector to be experts of. Of course profit margins, etc. etc. enter in to the decision.
The economy such as it is, Exxon Mobile decided to sell off Japanese refineries. Now in the future, when they evaluate the world economy and their slice again, who knows maybe they will bring refineries back to one of their top priorities. This is what you do. You have a business plan, you act on that plan, re-evaulate it every 3 years or so, and if necessary change it. You have a focus. You make decisions based against that focus. If it doesn't fit, the answer is "no". Stay the course, don't weaken your expertise.
Did you go to the top and look at the great expanse and see the largest view? And when was that? Do you need to market your expertise, not depending upon one source of income, like many small businesses learned the hard way during the Great Recession? Do you need to research additional business sectors to see if you match better now to another sector? Do you know what you want to be an expert of and take actions every day to get there, improve, or stay at the top? How strong are you? Have you kept to your focus?
If you weaken, you could become like water which always flow to the lowest level it can find.
If you stay within your focus, your confidence grows and may be the strongest tool in your toolbox as you build your company.
I thought this is a good example of The Panoramic View. I write about The Panoramic View in my blog, but here is an actual example! The company revisited the largest view of their world ( I think of the Grand Canyon, the ocean, the top of the mountain as analogies), then took a slice of that view which pertains to their business sector, then again took a slice within their sector to be experts of. Of course profit margins, etc. etc. enter in to the decision.
The economy such as it is, Exxon Mobile decided to sell off Japanese refineries. Now in the future, when they evaluate the world economy and their slice again, who knows maybe they will bring refineries back to one of their top priorities. This is what you do. You have a business plan, you act on that plan, re-evaulate it every 3 years or so, and if necessary change it. You have a focus. You make decisions based against that focus. If it doesn't fit, the answer is "no". Stay the course, don't weaken your expertise.
Did you go to the top and look at the great expanse and see the largest view? And when was that? Do you need to market your expertise, not depending upon one source of income, like many small businesses learned the hard way during the Great Recession? Do you need to research additional business sectors to see if you match better now to another sector? Do you know what you want to be an expert of and take actions every day to get there, improve, or stay at the top? How strong are you? Have you kept to your focus?
If you weaken, you could become like water which always flow to the lowest level it can find.
If you stay within your focus, your confidence grows and may be the strongest tool in your toolbox as you build your company.
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