Take a byte out of agriculture

Land continues to hold value for people in the business of farming crops and housing data for cloud computing. Yahoo, Microsoft, Google, and Ask.com already have data centers, not in urban sprawls but in rural areas in  the Northwest, and now Facebook wants to claim its territory too.

Facebook, Inc. plans to build a 145,000 square foot data farm in Prineville, Oregon, a town that has had its share of economic heartache. High unemployment and the loss of five sawmills have burdened the town of about 10,000. Facebook’s expenditure of $175 million over the next three years will create much needed jobs and cash flow for residents.

So why Prineville? City Manager Steve Forrester says it’s a combination of “low cost land…and high voltage power lines nearby.” And of course, the weather. “The critical thing was our climate: low humidity and cool nights.”

Check out more details on the story, “Where Clouds Displace Forests: Oregon Town Is Latest in Northwest to Leverage Cheap Electric Power to Lure Data Farm,” in The Wall Street Journal.

Librarian — Going extinct or new info superhero?

Libraries are depositories of information, and librarians are the navigators. A degree in information science certifies these professionals in the study of the classification, storage, and retrieval of huge amounts of data. These days, that data comes by way of books and bytes.

If you haven’t visited your local library in a while, you might be surprised to see DVD’s displayed front and center of the building. In fact, DVD’s are one of the most frequently borrowed library resource. If the local video store is going out of business, the library is a fine alternative; the selection may be slimmer, but borrowing is free.

In this age of information explosion on the internet, some have questioned the necessity of libraries. In her new book, “This Book Is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All,” Marilyn Johnson offers her view of the superhero librarian who “create(s) order out of the confusion of the past, even as she enables us to blast into the future.” The librarian is the new Google Master, helping all citizens make meaning of the information we read and experience. “In tough times, a librarian is a terrible thing to waste,” writes Johnson.

Librarian — Going extinct or new info superhero?

Libraries are depositories of information, and librarians are the navigators. A degree in information science certifies these professionals in the study of the classification, storage, and retrieval of huge amounts of data. These days, that data comes by way of books and bytes.

If you haven’t visited your local library in a while, you might be surprised to see DVD’s displayed front and center of the building. In fact, DVD’s are one of the most frequently borrowed library resource. If the local video store is going out of business, the library is a fine alternative; the selection may be slimmer, but borrowing is free.

In this age of information explosion on the internet, some have questioned the necessity of libraries. In her new book, “This Book Is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All,” Marilyn Johnson offers her view of the superhero librarian who “create(s) order out of the confusion of the past, even as she enables us to blast into the future.” The librarian is the new Google Master, helping all citizens make meaning of the information we read and experience. “In tough times, a librarian is a terrible thing to waste,” writes Johnson.

The New Hub of the Home

2010’s new technological trend in housing is the 3-D television set, which is likely to become the new hub of the home (WSJ’s Market Watch). Imagine a t.v. that not only brings entertainment but is the central command station for communications, social media, and the home’s security and energy systems.

We will soon have the ability to talk with friends and family around the globe. (Skype-enabled TVs should come out this spring.) And the zero net energy house already exists; it’s only a matter of time that its price tag diminishes. Technology will continue to expand its control on energy consumption, making homeowners “greener” in the process.

The demand for technology is moving at an exponential rate. T.V. reached 50 million homes in a 38 year period; radio reached 50 million listeners in 13 years; and the internet hit 50 million servers in 4 years. Can TV better connect us with the people we care about and reduce our carbon footprint on the environment? The sheer possibility is fascinating.

“What about…?”

In the blog section of Harvard Business Review is Scott Anthony’s post, “How to Kill Innovation: Keep Asking Questions.” Anthony proposes that two seemingly beneficial words become one double-edged sword.

“What about…?” Anyone seeking to grow a business or career ought to ask this question many times over. However, the pursuit of answers can be endless and exhausting, leading to inaction. So how much questioning is appropriate? Anthony suggests that we keep in mind that the future is not perfectly created in the present. We need to ask important questions but also be able and willing to make quick decisions in favor of cost-efficient methods.

“The future can’t be analytically derived. Of course it’s almost always valuable to think comprehensively about a new idea. But maintain a healthy balance between analysis and action. If you get stuck in ‘What about…’ loops, you’ll never get the results you seek.”

Ideas are organic, and though innovation may not be the final result every time, it’s what we pursue.

The truth about the new credit card law

Next week, a new federal credit-card law goes into effect that could significantly decrease the amount of fees and interest paid by card holders. WSJ’s article, “Credit-Card Fees: the New Traps,” highlights how the law may affect consumers.

The biggest change is transparency. Credit card companies must publish the hard truth — how long it will take to pay off the full balance with minimum monthly payments. Additionally, the cardholder can only exceed the credit maximum by first acknowledging a penalty fee, and he or she need only pay interest rate increases on new purchases (provided that the account is no more than 60 days late).

But buyer beware — with the new law may come new tricks. Credit card companies may lose up to 12 billion in annual revenue, and they are quickly maneuvering to recover some of this loss by hiking interest rates and adding or increasing other fees (e.g. overseas transactions, annual card fees), which they can legally do as long as they give consumers a 45 day notice. The smartest move by the cardholder will be to stay proactive by learning the rules of the game and avoiding the penalties.

Adding value to client services

Forrester Research predicts that businesses will spend about $11 billion this year on Customer Relationship Management strategies, or tactics used to gain customers and retain them by nurturing an ongoing relationship. Businesses, small and large, are always asking the question — how do we stay on the minds of our customers? Big corporations may advertise on network TV, flashing images of product in front of consumers’ eyes. But if your marketing and advertising budget is tight, there’s no need to moan.

Consider a tactic like the Lowe’s Program for Realtors that offers personal marketing tools for real estate agents. According to a recent RISMedia article, South Carolina-based realtor Maria Tascon relies on the program as one way to take care of her clients.

“Between the coupons, information and gift card discounts, the Lowe’s Program for REALTORS® really helps you differentiate yourself…After closing, a lot of [agents] disappear from people’s lives. Offering something like a gift card or discount coupon is so useful. When you move into a new house, whether you need to buy appliances or just some paint, especially now, every little bit of savings helps.”

Want a new way to add value to your services? Help clients save money, not just once, but on a recurring basis.