Andy Crank on Go Set a Watchman
L.A. Review of Books – Sept. 2
WHEN NELLE HARPER Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird on July 11, 1960, she simply hoped the novel would receive a “quick and merciful death at the hands of reviewers.” For over two years, the first-time author had labored on a manuscript, revising and editing until what was left was vastly different from the story she had begun. Unsure of the value of the final draft, she kept her expectations low. She mostly wished for some small form of critical recognition that might encourage her to continue writing, but Lee and her editors remained pragmatically pessimistic about the book’s chances. Instead of fizzling into obscurity the book set the literary world on fire: it opened to near universal acclaim and was soon on multiple best-seller lists. Less than a year later, Harper Lee had won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and optioned her novel to Robert Mulligan and Alan J. Pakula, who turned it into an award-winning Hollywood blockbuster in its own right. Since the day it was published, To Kill a Mockingbird has never been out of print, and in 1999, readers of the Library Journal voted it “Best Novel of the 20th Century.”
Incentives necessary, appropriate to lure Alabama jobs
Al.com – Sept. 2
Since the 1930s, incentives have been a part of the U.S. site selection equation. While incentives are only one component of a company’s location decision, the subject has caused much debate about whether a government should be using incentives and inducements to attract major employers to their state. Based on the economic, social and moral impact of new quality jobs and taxes, the resounding answer is “yes.” Over the years, the process of determining incentives for companies has become fairly sophisticated – involving wage levels, number of jobs, return on investment and company performance. When done right, it is very appropriate for governments to be involved in the process because it means more taxes for government coffers, higher wage jobs for the community and a ripple effect that helps the local businesses and suppliers flourish. When it’s all said and done, it’s about new jobs for our citizens and the rule of thumb should be “a good deal for the taxpayer AND the company.” Without responsible and competitive incentives, Alabama would not have the thousands of high quality workers at Mercedes, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Boeing, Airbus, Google, Austal and hundreds of other industries and businesses across Alabama. (By Neal Wade, former director of the state’s development office (now the Department of Commerce) and director of The University of Alabama Economic Development Academy)
Even as Baldwin County school’s enrollment grows, superintendent pay lags behind other systems in Alabama
Al.com – Sept. 2
Baldwin County School System has the fourth highest enrollment among public school systems in the state, but it lags behind more than two dozen systems in superintendent pay. The school system, which could vote on its new superintendent Thursday, is offering a pay range of $145,000 to $165,000 a year for a new school chief who will oversee a system expected to exceed 30,000 students for the first time. Only Mobile County (approximately 59,000, according to school officials), Jefferson County (36,000, according to state figures) and Montgomery Public Schools (31,529 students) boast higher enrollments. “We advertise a salary range and all those people who applied understood the salary range,” board member Cecil Christenberry said. “Considering the finances of our system, I am comfortable with that range.” … Phillip Westbrook, associate professor in educational leadership at the University of Alabama, said that no matter the salary, Baldwin County “needs the best they can find.” He said often from a political standpoint, applicants for positions within volatile school environments are typically not “mid-career people,” but are administrators who are approaching retirement or have recently left another school system for a variety of reasons.
Role of apps in the Always-On business
Tech Financials – Sept. 3
We live in a world where the app is king. Born in the cloud, they are deeply integrated into all aspects of our business and personal lives. And thanks to the consumerisation of technology, many people only care that it works with very little thought given to the back-end systems involved. With many apps available on multiple platforms, it does not matter what underlying platform you are running, you should expect that there is support across these operating environments thereby creating an even more fluid and efficient user experience. This means that apps are one of the pillars of the Always-On business. Companies expect their employees to be connected and access data irrespective of location, time, or device. It has led to an increased focus on business continuity to ensure operations run smoothly even in the event of a disaster. Research conducted by the University of Alabama looking at the future of mobile app development shows that the average user spends more than 30 hours a month on more than two dozen apps. It also indicates that advances in wearable technology will further positively impact adoption (and usage) rates.
Tech Smart – Sept. 3
Standridge meets with Rural Scholars
The Blount Countian – Sept. 2
District 34 Rep. David Standridge, chairman of the Rural Caucus in the sate House of Representatives, is shown standing above with Dr. John Wheat, Professor of Community and Rural Medicine and Director of the Rural Medical Scholars Program. Standridge met in July with Rural Medical Scholars and others at the College of Community Health Sciences at the University of Alabama.
Reading College Textbooks
Crimson White – Sept. 2
The transition from high school to college is difficult enough, but the workload tends to be a struggle for both freshmen and upperclassmen alike. Typical challenges can be changing your study habits and the amount of usage from
your textbook. Richard Livingston, assistant director for the Center for Academic Success, holds a workshop every year to help students make that adjustment. “Students learn how reading college textbooks is different from what they were used to in high school,” Livingston said. “Making appropriate use of textbooks in college is often more important than it was in
high school.” Many students learn that just because you have the textbook doesn’t mean you will always use it, though there are
many exceptions. Scott Parrott, assistant professor of journalism, said he doesn’t require students to buy their textbook unless he’s going to use it often. He said he tries to give students advice when he notices they aren’t getting the most out of assigned readings. “Actually doing the reading and sticking to it can be a challenge for students coming in from high school,” Parrott said. “Many students procrastinate and put it off. I try to tell students to do their work gradually by day. It won’t be as stressful, and it’ll actually benefit you more because you’re taking it day by day and reading snippets instead of cramming it all in one night.”