Skip to main content

Paperless billing, online security, etc.

OK, here is my Andy Rooney moment. What is it about all these banks, credit card and utility companies encouraging their customers to “save a stamp and help save a tree by switching to paperless”, they never say you will be helping them save a buck on printing and mailing expenses. I received what I consider the epitome of this spin: a large cable provider is terming their online billing as "Eco-Billing", come on give us a break. My family and I recycle and reuse as much or more as the next family, and I work at an institution that has a prevalent sustainability mission, which I think is great. However, why should customers be made to feel guilty about sending a few pieces of paper a month through the mail? Oh yeah I almost forgot, online billing is supposed to be so much safer than the U.S. Mail; I'm sure that there are many more potential eyes for what I send though the USPS vs. what I do online... Oh yeah, what is it about urinals and toilets not being flushed at public places? If that is considered green you can consider me blue. Choices are good.

07/10/19 - Interesting related update from the Two Sides network.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes My rating: 5 of 5 stars A very immersive and thought-provoking story Why did I give this book 5 stars? What can I write about it? Well, I floated between 4 and 5 stars. What made me tip the scale was my immediate feeling that I was an observer in the story, not solely a reader. I found the transformation of the protagonist, Charlie Gordon - as illustrated by his writing in his progress reports - to be an especially effective narrative device. The story was so organic and straight-forward, that I felt transported to another time and place. Perhaps that result was also due to my empathy with the protagonist Charlie Gordon and my identification with the academic environment, where most of the narrative took place. Some members of my extended family are mentally challenged. I couldn't help but think of them when I read about Charlie. Also, my dad worked with mentally challenged young adults at a clinic when he was...

To not fear fear itself

I always enjoy an opportunity for some creative output; I have been thinking about something post reflections on, maybe the recent death of Irvin Kershner and memories of the Star Wars saga, my love for 1970's and 1980's sci-fi movies and TV, or something else about pop culture. However, perhaps something more personal is fitting. As I have crossed into the early stages of middle age, I have reflected on how my attitudes about things have changed over the years, namely fear. Probably many of us have an (inborn?) aversion to public speaking (I still can't believe that it is rated higher than death on some surveys ). Speaking of death, I recall being scared to such while speaking in front of the class in high school. As I recall it was American Literature with Mrs. Brimmer and I may have read the Robert Frost Poem "The Road Less Taken" . Man, I was just so nervous with all of the classic symptoms: racing heart beat, sweaty palms, etc. Looking back at it I can...

Reflections on Libraries

It has been brewing in my head to write down some reflections of library memories. What aspects of various libraries have stayed in my mind over the past forty years, and some aspects that perhaps led me to become what I am today, an academic librarian.🎓🖳📚 I tend to focus on libraries as place and materials, but that is not intended to be a slight of any librarians who may have helped me in the past. Mid to late 1970's Halstead Kansas Public Library - As with many children, dinosaurs were a favorite of mine. I recall this library having a good collection of children's books on dinosaurs, and my family and I going to a slide presentation on fossils by an area high school teacher (very cool!). I remember stating in first grade that I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up, and repeatedly asking my dad all kinds of questions of the winners of hypothetical dinosaur fights. My dad was patient but even he grew tired of my questions (thanks and sorry, Dad!). Newton Kan...