Archive for the 'Research' Category

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Heading to London? Give Qype a Look.

Published on June 18, 2009 in Empty Nesters, Research, Shopping and Technology. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Browsing the web looking for stuff to do in Boston lead me to London.
Not actually to visit London, but to this website that seems to have everything you need to know about the city and it’s offerings.
I wish Boston would have had such a comprehensive site. Many sites try to give a complete overview of a city, but hardly any are as complete as Qype.

This is an amazing site.

At first glance you might feel overwhelmed by how busy the page is. But take a deep breath and dive in because everything is easily organized.

I’m not planning a trip to London in the near future, but I have bookmarked this site.

For example, if you want to know about restaurants, you’ll find a very in depth listing of restaurants. You can browse your choices by neighborhood, cuisine, or do a search of restaurants London and get a complete rundown on the restaurant, where it is located, what other people think, etc.

Are there other places that offer this type of information? Yes. Do they marry this London restaurant information with loads of other information a tourist would find appealing? No.

Prefer a pub crawl? Qype.co.uk has that too. Use the keywords pubs London in the search box .

Do a Google search on U.S. cities and you’ll be overwhelmed by the sheer number of results. All seem to be exactly what you are looking for until you click through and find out that the site is just a bunch of average content surrounded by ads.

Tourism spam blogs are rampant.

That’s why I was so surprised to find this site the site that gives information about London Restaurants, Bars, Hotels, Events and more, all in one location. Qype.co.uk also covers shopping, eating / drinking, arts, entertainment, or anything else that you are interested in.

Do you have an idea of the area of London you want to explore in depth. Look at this listing of London boroughs. It’s amazing. (You have to register.)

I’m not a hater of ads. Even the ads on Qype seem to be high quality.

I needed a second opinion in Qype, so I asked my London blogging friend Cakehead to take a look from an insiders perspective and I think she gave it a rave review. I’m never quite sure, because of the language barrier.

Quickie Quiz: Which Answer Would a Man Give?

Published on June 5, 2009 in Dogs, Empty Nesters, Family, Food and Research. 1 Comment Tags: .

Pick the one answer a man would give in answer to this question:

Do you want me to go get dog food?

  1. I’ll be going out later.
  2. I can get it.
  3. There is enough until tomorrow.
  4. It’s OK.
  5. Are you going by there?
  6. Do you have money?
  7. Yes.

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I Knew It, I Just Knew It. She’s Important.

Published on June 4, 2009 in Health, Money, Politics, Research and Technology. 0 Comments Tags: .


I knew she was on a covert, undercover mission and had to return home because of the new administration and the extreme danger she faced if she remained at her assignment.

Otherwise, why would she be so mysterious? Other than the fact that she is a single boomer woman writing stuff on the internet?

Now that her mission is over (obviously she accepted) and she has safely returned, she is beginning to carefully integrate herself back into a routine life until she is needed again.

Choosing to live the polar opposite of the life she left, she decided to accept the offer of residence in a small quiet village.  She needed that cone of silence and solitude.

Slowly, she reached the decision that her cover had held. It took time and a lot of reassurance by her handlers.  She even returned to the site of her assignment for a period to reconnoiter her former warm home and the cold streets.

Surprising those who knew her career, she began to make limited appearances at family functions to practice returning to a more open way of living.

Satisfied of her safety, but with some reluctance, she agreed to make the short trip to the nation’s capital to quietly accept the accolades for her service to her adopted homeland.

It’s not that she was living the life of avoiding contact with law enforcement, she just had to be careful. She might be called to perform a service of great national importance on a moment’s notice.

Certainly she had a code name.  Something like Hannah Vanna Montana! Which of course, sounds much better in the native language where she was stationed. As knowledgeable as I am on the ways of covert living, I would also know that when challenged she would need a response phrase, which normally takes the form of noun, participle phrase, verb, adjective, noun. Peter, while waiting at the bus stop, jumps the coffee barista. Rose, sitting in her office, erased audiotape.

She pretended to live a simple life in a foreign country, all the while living with the haunting feeling that in the coolness of an evening, the call would come.

Sometimes that feeling still washes over her unexpectedly and she is startled. (I read that on her Facebook page.)

Generally her life was easy. If you call never knowing what is around the next corner easy. She was a student of life and her surroundings. This is what she wrote. This is all she could write with a modicum of calm.

Nevertheless,  she revealed little about herself through her writing, preferring to talk about the wonderful and mysterious surroundings that were her world.

On the other hand, maybe her employment contract expired, she moved home, and she just has a hot date in D.C.

The truth is out there. Trust no one. I want to believe.

Huffington Post Fails At Crowdsoucing GM Dealer Closing List

Published on May 20, 2009 in Cars, Research and Technology. 10 Comments Tags: , , , , .


The GM dealer closing list is remains a hot topic. Since GM has not released the dealer closing List, Huffington Post is trying to crowdsource the list.

Crowdsourcing is supposed to be the new wave of journalism, according to yahoos like Jeff Jarvis.

Here’s how it is supposed to work. GM has a list of dealer closings. They don’t release the list to the general public. No matter, a giant blog like Huffington Post just asks their millions of readers to submit what they know to Huffington Post and a list of GM dealer closings appears.

Except when it doesn’t.

This is exactly why local newspapers and the AP still have a role in gathering news. They are close to the market and can put a couple reporters on the phone and start calling around. Or they have sources inside GM, and the GM dealer closing list is leaked.

Oh, and BTW, the Huffington Post won’t just take your word that you are sending them facts. No siree Bobbie. They want you to link with a “confirmed source.” Which I’m guessing means, they want you to link to a newspaper or television station report.

We are only posting confirmed closures of GM dealerships, so please include a link to a news report in your email.

Here’s the list of GM Dealer Closing compiled through crowdsourcing so far…

    1. Tom Sparks Buick in Dekalb, Illinois.
    2. Reichert Automotive Group, which has locations in Crystal Lake and Woodstock, Illinois.
    3. Two dealerships owned by the Asbury Automotive Group in Kissimmee, Florida.
    4. Fox Pontiac Buick GMC in Alpine Township, Michigan.
    5. Chuck Clancy Chevrolet dealership in Cartersville, Georgia.
    6. Nourse Interstate Automall in Richburg, South Carolina.
    7. Matthews Chevy of Brilliant, Ohio; and Glen Dale Motors and Bell Chevrolet of Sistersville, West Virginia.
    8. Merle Snider Motors in Winfield, Kansas
    9. Adams Chevrolet in Belton, Missouri.
    10. Eisenhower Motor Sales in Pemberville, Ohio.
    11. Stokes Hodges GM in Thomson, Georgia.
    12. Fox Motors in Charlevoix, Michigan.
    13. Roseland Auto Sales in Chicago.
    14. Williams Auto Group, Sayre, Pennsylvania.
    15. AutoServ of Laconia, in Belmont, New Hampshire.
    16. At least 18 dealerships in Minnesota.
    17. Johnson Motor Company of South Carolina and Henna Chevrolet of Aiken, South Carolina.
    18. Mendenhall-Roy Chevrolet in Grabill, Indiana
    19. J.L. Freed and Sons of Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
    20. Jones Chevrolet in Corvallis, Oregon.
    21. La Roche Buick Pontiac GMC in Brenham, Texas.
    22. McCombs Superior Pontiac GMC in San Antonio, Texas.
    23. Hatfield Buick/GMC, Redlands, California.
    24. Dick Bigelow Chevrolet, Parma, Ohio.
    25. Moore Pontiac Buick GMC, Canton, Georgia.
    26. Don Ayres Pontiac-GMC, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
    27. Preferred Chevrolet-Pontiac, Lagrange, Indiana.
    28. Tom’s Chevrolet, Cornell, Wisconsin.
    29. Frank Andrews Chevrolet, Dublin, Georgia.
    30. Bob Wysong Chevrolet-Pontiac, Cromwell, Indiana
    31. Meyer GMC Trucks, North Manchester, Indiana
    32. Rea Buick, Port Jervis, New York
    33. Firebaugh Chevrolet, Firebaugh, California
    34. Wile Motors, Columbia, Connecticut
    35. Raceway Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC, Lake City, South Carolina
    36. Servco Auto Windward, Kaneohe, Hawaii
    37. R.L. Reising Sales Inc., Beecher, Illinois
    38. Bruckerts Chevrolet, Bunker Hill, Illinois
    39. Patire Chevrolet Buick, Hoosick Falls, New York
    40. Olesen Chevrolet, Avoca, Iowa
    41. Courtesy Chevrolet, Morgan Hill, California
    42. Mazzei’s GMC in Pittsburgh, California
    43. Colonial Chevrolet-Buick, Talladega, Alabama
    44. Ricky Smith GMC, Weymouth, Massachusetts
    45. Johnson Sales, Arlington, Wisconsin
    46. Boyd Chevrolet, South Hill Virginia
    47. Larry Millier Pontiac Buick GMC, Caldwell, Idaho
    48. Brackeen Motors in Shawnee, Oklahoma
    49. City Chevrolet, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    50. Charlie Roberts Chevrolet – Buick, Rensselaer, Indiana
    51. Daniels Chevyland, Colorado Springs, Colorado
    52. Bill Cross of Performance Auto Group, Wooster, Ohio
    53. Moomaw Chevrolet, Sugarcreek, Ohio
    54. Crown Automotive, Lawrence, Kansas
    55. Epps Motors Middlesboro, Kentucky
    56. Spencer Auto Group, Spencer, West Virginia.
    57. Pat Fischer Chevrolet, Titusville, Florida
    58. Boyles Motors in Maryville, Missouri
    59. Olsen’s Implement, Huron, South Dakota.
    60. Salisbury Chevrolet, Glenville, New York
    61. Rose Buick Pontiac GMC, Gloversville, New York
    62. Videon Chevrolet in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
    63. Hubler Chevrolet Center, Shelbyville, Indiana
    64. Broadway Automotive, Pulaski, Wisconsin
    65. Lewis River Motor Co., Woodland, Washington
    66. Tri Pontiac Buick, Hemet, California
    67. Courtesy Chevrolet, Ontonagon, Michigan
    68. Alex Montgomery Chevrolet- Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep, Mount Washington, Kentucky
    69. Don’s Chevrolet, Ida Grove, Iowa
    70. Wells River Chevrolet, Wells River, Vermont
    71. Brighton Garage Chevrolet, Island Pond, Vermont
    72. Wagner Buick Pontiac GMC, Belleville, Illionis
    73. Krueger Auto & Truck Villa GMC, Waverly, Iowa

    Out of an estimate 1,100 dealers on the GM dealer closing list, Huffington Post has only gotten 73 names. An Epic Fail in crowdsourcing.

    But you won’t read Jeff Jarvis spewing any venom toward Huffington Post and the failure of crowd sourcing. He says newspapers blew it, and he’s sticking to it, even when the evidence clearly demonstrates that crowdsourcing isn’t working on a simple story like the GM dealer closing list.

    Jarvis writes for Huffington Post. He teaches. He doesn’t work at a newspaper.

    Stand by for the General Motors dealer closing list. It will be here as soon as GM releases it.

    UPDATE: If you’re visiting from RapidCityJournal.com, I’m not usually as rude as I was to Jeff Jarvis in the comments. He’s just such a blow hard that I lost control. If you comment, I’ll be nice. Promise.

    Attention Boomers: Don’t Fall Down and Break an Ear

    Published on May 20, 2009 in Baby Boomer, Health, Research and Technology. 0 Comments Tags: , , .


    May is Don’t Break a Hip Month.

    It’s also “Things Get Eary When You’re a Boomer” Month.

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    I use Energizer batteries in my hearing aid (when I wear them.) They sent me some propaganda that came from study they did on how not hearing affects adult kids.

    No surprises here, unless you have a hearing loss and won’t admit it.

    The survey found that nearly half of adult children surveyed (45 percent) said a parent’s hearing loss has had an effect on the relationship they have with that parent.

    Here’s what they found:

    1. Hearing loss hinders relationships. Nearly half of adult children surveyed (45 percent) said a parent’s hearing loss has had an effect on the relationship they have with that parent. One in three (36 percent) said their parent misses important details about their lives; while nearly one in ten (9 percent) said they don’t communicate or share information with their parent as much as they would like to because hearing loss gets in the way.
    2. Putting appearance before family? Although 72 percent of boomers said their hearing loss has affected the relationship they have with their adult children, only 11 percent choose to wear a hearing aid. Reasons for NOT wearing a hearing aid? One in three boomers said they don’t like the way hearing aids look or feel and they believe the device will make them look or feel older than they really are.
    3. Do as I say, not as I do. More than 80 percent of boomers said it was extremely or very important for their adult child to have their hearing checked; however less than half (42 percent) of boomers surveyed had their own hearing screened within the past two years.
    4. Dad, can you hear me now? More than four out of ten adult children (44 percent) said their parent needs a hearing aid.
    5. You’ve got to see it to believe it. When it comes to having a visual impairment, nearly all of the boomers polled (99 percent) said they wear glasses/contacts all the time or for specific tasks; whereas only 11 percent wear a hearing aid to correct their hearing impairment.

    Here’s what I’ve found:

    #1. True. Except I’m never around them, and when we are, we just tolerate each other’s quirks and health problems until they (or we) go home. And friends never would ever bring up something so personal.

    #2. If you can afford the really tiny hearing aids, people really don’t know you are wearing them until they look closely.

    #3. Yeah, Boomers are famous for thinking more about others than they do themselves. But younger boomers have been exposed (and are exposed to more dangerous sound levels over a longer period of time — hello iPod!)

    #4. In my case, since my hearing lose is from Tinnitus there really isn’t any gain from wearing hearing aids. It was just a shot that by increasing desirable sounds, the undesirable sound may seem less intrusive.

    #5. It’s like snoring. Boomers can’t hear themselves snore so they don’t admit it.  AND — this is a biggie, it’s a helluva lot more expensive to wear hearing aids than it is eyeglasses. I can buy a fairly fashionable pair of frames for $150.  The hearing aids I wear set me back six grand. That was a huge waste.  Comparing eyeglasses to hearing aids is like comparing crutches to a Hoveround.

    So there it is. Get your hearing checked. You never know what’s being said behind your back.