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Story Archives of 'Workplace'
The Return of Fine Cider
By Avishay Artsy on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.
Thanksgiving is just over a week away. A day when many of the grateful wash down turkey and stuffing with a glass of wine, or celebrate visits from old friends over a cold beer, or two.
One New Hampshire farmer hopes we’ll try sipping on artisanal cider instead. Hard cider is a New England tradition that dates back to the Founding Fathers, and as falling apple prices leave orchard owners struggling to stay afloat, a cider revival could provide a lifeline to New Hampshire growers.
Word of Mouth producer Avishay Artsy went to taste for himself.
(Photos by Scott McIntyre)
Some Companies Declare a "No Layoff" Zone
By Jon Greenberg on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.Friday we get the national unemployment rate and it’s expected to go up. Layoffs remain a reality of this economy. But a few firms as a matter of policy refuse to lay off a single employee.
New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jon Greenberg reports they’re sticking to their guns through the worst downturn in decades.
May The Hologram Be With You
By Virginia Prescott on Monday, November 2, 2009.Think back to that iconic Star Wars scene when R2D2 beams in a hologram of Princess Leia to deliver an urgent message to Obi-Wan Kenobi. A tiny image of Princess Leia flickers before Obi Wan’s eyes, a technological marvel when the film came out in 1977. Audiences were equally entranced when a hologram of Yoda was transported through space and time to a Jedi Council Meeting.
Now researchers are taking a cue from star wars and developing 3D technology that can beam anyone – Jedi or mere mortal – to a meeting far, far away. If a 3D image isn’t tactile enough, maybe an animatronics robot would do the trick. These life-like avatars move their mouths and eyes, mirroring a person’s expression in real time.
Universities are now considering these avatars and holograms as high-tech updates to old school speaker phone and video conference technologies.
We’ve beamed in Jeffrey Young, so to speak, to tell us more. He’s senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education and writes for their College 2.0 blog.
The Chrinicle of Higher Education: Beam Me to the Faculty Senate
(Photo by Chris Hildreth for The Chronicle of Higher Education)
The Impact of Unemployment
By Laura Knoy on Thursday, October 29, 2009.As many Granite Staters reach the end of their unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies, we’ll look at what help might be on the way and what it would mean for New Hampshire.
Guests
- Jon Greenberg, NHPR Executive Editor and curator of Working It Out
- Tara Reardon, New Hampshire Commissioner of Employment Security
- Christine, a Granite State resident affected by the recession who depends on the Cobra subsidy for her health insurance
We'll also hear from
- Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic US Senator from New Hampshire and advocate for extending unemployment benefits
- Tad DeHaven, Budget Policy Analyst for the Cato Institute in Washington, DC
Despite Bankruptcy, Fairpoint Customers Shouldn't Notice a Difference
By Mark Bevis on Monday, October 26, 2009.Fairpoint Communications has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
If a US Bankruptcy Judge agrees, Fairpoint will reorganize in a deal with its lenders and reduce its debt by 1 point 7 billion dollars.
State officials are expected to be at the hearing in New York on Tuesday to make sure resident's interests are protected.
In the meantime, New Hampshire Consumer Advocate Meredith Hatfield tells NHPR's Mark Bevis that Fairpoint customers should not see any difference in service.
Refusing to Join Facebook
By Virginia Prescott on Monday, October 26, 2009.
While it seems like everyone and your grandma is on Facebook at this point, there are some holdouts. Even people in their 20s and 30s are refusing to join the ranks of the social networking site’s 300 million members. As the Washington Post reports, these so-called Facebook refuseniks cite privacy and data ownership among their concerns, but avoiding Facebook can lead to real social alienation.
We're joined by Washington Post staff writer Ian Shapira, and by Mary Flanagan, the chair of digital humanities at Dartmouth College.
The Washington Post: In a Generation That Friends and Tweets, They Don't
(Photo by Laughing Squid via Flickr/Creative Commons)
Spooky World Is a Bright Spot in the Scarey Economy
By Sheryl Rich-Kern on Friday, October 23, 2009.During the month of October, the haunted house industry will scare up close to half a billion dollars in ticket sales.
Some of that retail change will land at Spooky World in southern New Hampshire.
It’s one of the largest Halloween attractions in the country.
New Hampshire Public Radio Reporter Sheryl Rich-Kern has the story.
Highbrow Times At The New Yorker Fest
By Virginia Prescott on Monday, October 19, 2009.
Malcolm Gladwell, Rachel Maddow and Woody Allen were just a few of the headliners this weekend at the 10th annual New Yorker Festival.
Panelists spoke on the state of the music biz, truth in advertising, and Obama’s first year to date, among dozens of other topics. The artist Chuck Close showed off his studio. Calvin Trillin led an eating tour. Legendary cartoon editor Robert Mankoff taught a class on the tricks of his trade.
For the New Yorker fans, this festival is a mecca. And not just for New Yorkers. People traveled from out-of-state, even out of the country to attend. Writer and independent producer Sarah Baker was there and she joins us in the studio to tell us what all the hooplah is about.
(Photo courtesy Sarah Baker)
No Deal For the Governor and State Workers
By Laura Knoy on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.After months of negotiations, the state employees union has rejected a proposed contract, which included nineteen furlough days. Now the governor says hundreds of workers will be laid off. We’ll find out how the state reached this point, why the bargaining process broke down, and whether this outcome could have been avoided.
Guests
- Josh Rogers, NHPR statehouse reporter
- Thomas Manning, Assistant Secretary of State and former director of the Division of Personnel; he leads the negotiating efforts on behalf of the state
- Diana Lacey, First Vice President of the State Employees Association of New Hampahire and chairwoman of the SEA bargaining team
We'll also hear from
- Ian Donnis, political reporter for Rhode Island Public Radio
Concord Company Complains About Project Labor Agreements
By Mark Bevis on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.A Concord, New Hampshire construction company is challenging White House labor policy.
President Barack Obama has signed an executive order encouraging federal agencies sign what are called Project Labor Agreements. But North Branch Construction has filed a complaint, calling those agreements illegal and discriminatory.
NHPR's Mark Bevis has the story.
