Thoughts At The End Of The Year
TechByter normally takes off one day at the end of the year, but both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve are on Friday this year. Last week there was no podcast and this week's will be short because I've been working on changes that you'll hear on 2022's first podcast on 7 January.
- Thanks for listening to the podcast, reading the blog, or (if you're a glutton for punishment) doing both.
- It looks like we're in for another variant of covid-19. One that seems to spread faster but results in fewer hospitalizations, particularly among those who have been fully vaccinated, including the booster. Keep avoiding it like the plague.
- Whether or not you subscribe to Wired, you can read Move Over Amazon. Other Retailers Are Catching Up on the web because everyone has access to a few online articles each month. Amazon hurt sales at traditional retailers and particularly at small, hometown shops. The article in Wired doesn't mention small shops, but it does explain how traditional retailers and online stores that aren't Amazon are fighting back and, in some cases, winning.
- I mentioned an update to the podcast. The open and close have been the same for several years, and this seemed to be a good time to make some changes. The intro is shorter than before, so we'll get to the interesting stuff faster.
- If you're a blood donor, you may have encountered problems with the Red Cross canceling appointments at the last minute. Apparently, it's a staffing problem. There's another option for people in central Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Versiti has been around since the 1940s in Illinois and Wisconsin, since the 1950s in Michigan and Indiana, and since 2019 in Ohio. They're currently building out their system, starting in Columbus. I've donated blood to the Red Cross for more than 40 years, and have now made my first donation at Versiti. If you are able to donate blood, please do. It's important. It takes less than an hour. And it doesn't hurt. Whether you choose Versiti or the Red Cross, donating blood is one of the most important things you can do.
- An uncommonly high number of people quit their jobs in 2021, some permanently and others in the expectation of being able to find a position with a higher salary, better benefits, or both. Some jobs have no work-from-home possibilities: Auto mechanics, restaurant employees, nurses, and construction workers are among those who have to show up, but a large number of office jobs can be performed at home either full time or part time. Working from home reduces the time and cost of commuting and can be good for employers and employees. Companies that ignore this will see more resignations according to a study that Microsoft conducted in the UK. Would this apply in the US? I don't see why it wouldn't.
Best wishes to you and your family and here's hoping that 2022 will be a year of improvements.
