My job is to train teachers how to best use computers in their classrooms. I train them in computer basics, webpage design, opperating SMART Boards, etc. My organization is a national leader in such professional development.

So, when a story concerning access to technology close to home comes across my Google Reader, I pay close attention.

Our rather creative city council thinks it might be a good idea to offer free wi-fi on city buses. Although there is a recession going on, some council members think free wi-fi is just the ticket to get more riders on city buses in order to raise the bus system’s revenue.

Now, I realize that none of you are all that familiar with the bus lines in Columbia, MO. What you should know is that it does not run very often or to very many parts of the town. I would ride the bus downtown almost daily if it stopped anywhere near my house – just over a mile away. That and the buses never run. I lived here for six months before I actually saw a bus.

Here’s an idea: Schedule the buses more often and to travel to more parts of town and maybe more people will use them…especially with a recession in effect.

Over at living in misery, I have been counting down my top 32 albums of 2008. Last year, I counted down 31 – one for each day of December, but this year I’m going all the way to 32. For each record, I wrote a 32-word review, the moment when I knew it was a good album, and the killer-to-filler ratio.

With ten days left in Decmeber, I am down to my top ten. For those who missed the first 22, here’s a recap…

32. Brendan Canning
31. Crooked Fingers
30. Tapes ‘n Tapes
29. Calexico
28. The Black Keys
27. Mason Jennings
26. Police Tokyo Club
25. Conor Oberst
24. Beck
23. Joan of Arc
22. Bonnie “Prince” Billy
21. Sun Kil Moon/Beach House
20. No Age
19.Flight of the Conchords
18. Plants & Animals
17. Emergency Umbrella Records
16. Times New Viking
15. Grand Archives
14. Silver Jews
13. TV on the Radio
12. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
11. Vampire Weekend
To be continued…