Category: Milwaukee

Will printed books remain relevant in the future?

Post author By Don Kasprzak
Post date May 8, 2012

Milwaukee radio station 620am WTMJ broadcast a segment regarding ebooks last week. I finally got around to blogging about it today. The segment was titled: Will printed books remain relevant in the future? Book/library aficionado/blogger Paul Everett Nelson joins WAN at 4:34pm.

While the discussion was simple and well targeted to their audience there is certainly more to this story. I understand the limited time allocated to radio segments — its Milwaukee’s WTMJ – not NPR.

My own experience and love of reading drew me to think deeper about the discussion of the publishing industry and their new demand to charge libraries unbeliveable fees.Some believe the publishing industry has been decimated in the internet age like the music industry. Not sure that I completely agree with this statement. A well run publishing business should be able to make significantly more profit from selling ebooks. But in order to be successful the publishing industry must cannibalize itself.

One of the points of discussion is a rather draconian sales policy ebook publishers have demanded. They are changing their Terms by actually charging libraries to repurchase (at full price no less) any ebook checked out more than 25 times. Yes you read that correctly – publishers plan to force every library that checks out an ebook 25 times to re-purchase the ebook at full price.

When exactly did those same publishers force those same libraries to purchase additional hardback copies of their books at full price after they were checked out 25 times? Never, since the idea is just asinine.

Imaging a cable company requiring you to purchase a new cable package after watching 25 TV shows. Yep – now you know how stupid — or simply greed — is driving this decision.

Ever see a stack of 500 books on a shipping pallet? Consider all the costs for print, assembly and shipping. Add costs to distribute those books to bookstores and big box resellers….that is an expensive and time consuming process. Oh yea…want it fast? — then pay extra for overnight shipping. Remember those books are only available during business hours.

Tags 620am, amazon, business model, change, cost of ownership, download, ebook, ebook publishers, ebook reader, library, Milwaukee, Reading, Tablet, torrent, wtmj

Education Milwaukee

9/11 blunder by Alverno College President

Post author By Don Kasprzak
Post date September 11, 2011
1 Comment on 9/11 blunder by Alverno College President

A humiliating 9/11 blunder tonight by Alverno’s College President. As the featured speaker at Alverno’s 9/11 Remembrance Service marking the ten year anniversary Dr. Mary Meehan made a terrible mistake. Sponsored by Alverno’s Civility Project her address was publicized as An opportunity to hear her compelling, first-hand experience of the day that touched us all. Milwaukee’s Fox6 television affiliate recorded her address. In fact, Fox6 interviewed Dr. Meehan and several parents after the event.

Shockingly, Dr. Meehan was not even in New York City on 9/11. She “watched” events unfold more than 15 miles away from South Orange New Jersey on the campus of Seton Hall University.

9/11 blunder by Alverno College President — Seton Hall University to Ground Zero as the crow flies.

Dr. Meehan’s fake attempt to share a “compelling, first-hand experience” is a humiliation to Alverno College and damages her reputation.

Her address could have described fuselage debris from United 175 scattered on the grounds of the World Trade Center Complex.
But you could not see the debris from Seton Hall.

Her address could have described how within seconds of United 175 impacting the South Tower a human leg fell onto Liberty Street in-front of the Deutsche Bank Building.
But you could not hear the screams from from Seton Hall.

She could have described how the impact of United 175 physically shook the entrance to the Deutsche Bank Building across the street from the South Tower.
But you could not feel the impact from Seton Hall.

If only Dr. Meehan was standing across the street from the South Tower the exact moment United 175 struck at 9:03am.
You would have stood next to my wife.

Tags 9/11, Alverno, alverno college, Dr. Mary Meehan, South Tower, WTC

BMW Design Education Innovation Milwaukee Technology

The BMWi electric Car and SUV

Post author By Don Kasprzak
Post date July 29, 2011

Although Chicago is included in this video teaser I’m still confident the PR campaign by BMWi for their new Efficient Dynamics Concept series of electric vehicles i3 and the i8 will include Milwaukee again.