How To Lower Your Cost Of Textbooks

For cheaper college textbooks...I'd walk a mile.

Less expensive textbooks for your college classes exist. To find them is a process of outlining and prioritizing resources. This task will require diligence as well as patience. And some moxie.

The staff at the LBCC Bookstore are always cheery and helpful. LBCC students can appreciate the convenience of on-site textbooks. Business Administration student Dana Wikner said "I bought 2 used textbooks and rented another, saving money instead of paying retail." Wikner added that he would have rented all three if they would have been available. But some just cannot afford the prices, even non-retail options. Some students have to find other avenues for access to textbooks.

The key here is to be assertive. Just by Googling(is that even a word?), we find two used bookstores in the area. Fine, I didn't search, I just know that No Garbage Books downtown is close-by, and about one mile from my house is Browsers. But the best has been Jan's Books in Lebanon. That bookstore has been entirely adept at finding books for myself. And finding those books at great prices.

Jan's Books / David's Sports Cards 678 Main St. in downtown Lebanon.

In fact, owner Jan Kern can get just about anything in the way of books. Often at the best price available, here or on the web. Ordering books, if it is not on the shelves, involves shipping- and that can be up to 10 days sometimes. The customer service at Jan's Books is 2nd-to-none, and the thoroughness at which the best books and prices are chosen, is impressive. Kern's network of book clubs, retailers and sellers, and personal contacts make for a pleasant and efficient transaction. Yes, most of the sales at the downtown Lebanon bookstore are for standard bookstore fare, paperback fiction and the latest best-seller. But college textbooks are accessible via Jan's search prowess and awesome prices. "We can find the best option," said Kern.

Be prepared for delays in shipping, older editions, and material differences by utilizing student resources. The Learning Center at LBCC offers a basketful of helpful resources and personnel. The Computer Lab has desktop and printer access. The Math Lab has tutors and textbooks. The Writing Center has tutors, textbooks, MLA handbooks, proofreading, and workshop style tutoring. Use these valuable resources.

Link to the LBCC Library Home Page.

The most important resource may be the campus library where the staff is extremely helpful. Most textbooks are available for the resourceful student, from 2 hour checkouts to 2 day checkouts. Some older textbooks have been "shelved", library lingo for an outdated edition that is available for the standard 3 week checkout. Most of the time, similar titles have very similar content. Outdated editions for say, Political Science, do not change much. The library also has copiers for printing pages of textbooks.

Fellow students, study groups, and labs may also be good opportunities to access valuable textbook information. Being able to organize a study group is of enormous importance. The value of a good study group is immeasurable. Oregon State University has a student website called Beaversnest, which also has a classified section for textbooks.

The two public libraries in Albany may also have some textbooks. Especially in cases where textbooks consist of paperback novels like Edna Buchanan's The Corpse Had A Familiar Face and American classics such as Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.

Amazon and Ebay. With today's instant worldwide connectivity, one can order textbooks online relatively inexpensively and conveniently. Fermentation Science Major Katie Clennan told me "I bought all 3 of my books on Amazon for less than $20 each and got free shipping." But shipping is not a certainty for time... The web has a number of outlets for textbooks, and of course Facebook has pages for textbook relief. The age of social networking is upon us, and the future should bring better coordination to the "textbook club", and an awareness about textbook resources.

As we race into the future, gadgets are everywhere. Devices like the Kindle, Sony E Reader, and the Nook, are bringing books together with technology.

Generally speaking, having a textbook at your disposal at all times is the essence of convenience. But the thrifty student has a grocery cart of options to be successful at college, without paying retail prices for textbooks. Use those sources to lower your learning costs, and enhance your education.

Solving The BCS

First, the complaints were that college football never had a "real" champion. Along came the BCS- the Bowl Championship Series. Complaints remain.

A playoff is the only true way to declare a champion. Pitting the top college football teams in America, against each other, is better than any poll or any system seen up until now. To ease debate about "Who is best?", let the best play the best.

In the dozen or so years of BCS anxiety, much good has happened to post-season NCAA football. Traditions remain intact, with bowls like The Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl retaining their regional and elite status. Computer rankings, various media, and sportswriters account for better accuracy than ever. But problems exist.

In those same twelve years, an unprecedented log of complaints has inevitably made the case for a better system. Discrepancies in opinions for rankings of elite teams has created a possibility of a better system.

A three or four week, 8 team playoff, would create a champion in relatively short time, and if needed- eliminate a pancake opponent in the early part of the season. Most often college football seasons end in the first week of December with Conference Championships. This would leave a month-long window in which to crown a NCAA Football Tournament BCS Champion, with the top 8 BCS teams competing for the title.

The Fiesta Bowl(AP)

The validity of those arguments that rail the BCS have some merit. This year is a good example as the University of Oregon Ducks have fallen from #2  down to #4, without a loss or any real disturbance in performance. Much of this has to do with computer assessment of strength of schedule, and particular opponent during the week. The opinion of many AP writers is that Oregon is #2, and just as many see an Oregon Duck team playing for the National Title. In 2009, a number of undefeateds were ranked in the top 6, including Boise State(13-0,#6) and Texas Christian University(12-0,#4), who would play each other in the BCS Fiesta Bowl. A game Boise St. won. After that game, the only undefeated teams left were #1 Alabama and Boise St. A playoff would answer any questions regarding these kinds of scenarios, and in my opinion, an 8 team playoff eliminates any bias.

The strength of schedule and strength of conference has been at the forefront of some arguments. Some argue that inferior teams have played for elite bowls because of record, or status. A playoff would eliminate this.

Generally, many arguments exist about who is #1 and #2. Strangely, there is not much disagreement about which 8 teams are in fact the best 8 teams. This particular fact is the best reason why a playoff solves the problem. In 2014 the BCS is scheduled for a four team playoff. Hopefully that solution is enough.

Indeed this is simple. A playoff for the top 8 would determine a champion, without scheduling or safety conflicts.

End of story.

Walmart: Good v. Bad, Small Town USA

I shop at Walmart and I have friends that hate my going there, the friends who see the southern retailer as a threat to Bi-Mart, and I shop at Bi-Mart as well. But Walmart is the new guy and Bi-Mart is an employee owned local company, and you know how that is going to play out.

Is Walmart a threat? Or is the company a community asset? And what does that mean for the consumer- me and you?

These are questions that I have been asked, and more importantly, they are questions that we all should seek out- whether there are defined answers or not. And whether or not we even get an accurate answer is not of great importance(it is). The idea is to seek out relevance and a real perspective.

Why are both retailers so tempting? To myself, the cost is a factor as is quality. Affordable goods like raingear, vacuums, and groceries all make both sellers an attractive destination for everyday shopping. The amount of choices in these goods is a positive for the buyer, as a comfort zone of price and quality is achieved. The fact that this can be accomplished with an incredible number of items in a "one-stop" shopping store is of course, the main attraction.

Walmart however, is a "super-center" specializing in stocking essentially everything a person needs in daily life. The selection is far more than Bi-Mart, or any other similar retailer here(such as Fred Meyer) in Oregon. And that fact has given rise to a theory of Walmart generally crushing small community businesses of many different varieties, due to factors like convenience and selection- and of course, prices.

Because of the attractive one-stop shopping offered at Walmart, it has to be assumed that numbers from an existing market will inevitably end up in Walmart's column of statistics. Economic theory dictates that unless there is population or wage growth in a market, the market then has a spending ceiling, meaning the market can only see a set amount of spending on goods. And if any retailer takes an amount of profit from the market, it disappears from whom? Of course some stores will be affected in a negative way by Walmart, that is just fact.

Walmart super-centers include grocery, and that is a huge chunk of the overall consumer market pie. As one can see, it is truly "one stop shopping", and the effects are felt by grocery stores and chains as well.

This only contributes to the suffocating of local business as Walmart has saturated some market areas.

Other factors influence this negative impact as well. Higher per item costs to the smaller retailer and less taxes to the corporate retailer are two obvious ones. Some less obvious may include lower per capita wages, infrastructure stress, and environmental irresponsibility.

The wage factor influences long-term savings and general health care, but possibly not any more than what previously existed. The stress on infrastructure can vary from place to place depending on municipal and state requirements. Generally speaking, a variety of areas influence infrastructure, but in this case the total cost is managable if good policy is in place. Good policy would be municipal upgrades, maintenance requirements(roads...), and employee health care, all in the face of  a new store. The environmental distress of a large retailer is avoidable if the retailer takes extra steps to ensure awareness and active participation. Recycling all that retail packaging, well known for waste, should be considered. The impact of shipping all those goods may not be critical, but it should be minimized. Here in Oregon I wonder about the environmental cost of Arkansas milk, and I believe a more localized grocery is beneficial to everyone involved.

The issue of taxes in this writing, is of interest. Taxes are a core part of supply side economics, being that business gets tax breaks in exchange for community benefit(trickle down...), but that theory is assuming the benefit without considering all the evidence. Often, the taxes that are deferred for the sake of business are detrimental to the local government. The impact of a new Walmart closes some businesses, and that is a loss in tax revenue. Meanwhile, the super-center gets a tax break. In contrast, if Walmart was in another town, like Lebanon OR ten miles from my town of Albany, revenue may be lost as well. The out of town shopping costs the government  in lost sales taxes, income taxes, and lost local property taxes(on assumed dead businesses)- neither a welcome proposition.

The facts are this, as I see it:
Walmart is not going away, nor is the idea of a super-center. The public likes the concept and will use the super-center. As long as everyone involved experiences Walmart responsibly, the idea is a good one for society.
The retailer should be on the cutting edge of recycling. An enormous amount of material in this equation...
Local government along with the public should seek a balance of taxes and spending associated with a new super-center. Proper infrastructure upgrades and maintenance should be discussed. As well as taxes and municipal revenue. And even philanthropy.

And in my opinion, the consumer can encourage these things as well;
A link to contact your Congressperson: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
A link to Walmart Corporate: http://corporate.walmart.com/

I like Walmart, and I approve of my hometown super-center. The municipal improvements, additional local economy, and budget conscious prices are worth it for me- although recycling would be awesome!

Albany Public Works: Expertly Upgrading and Innovating

At A Glance:
WHO-      Albany Public Works
WHAT-    Water and Sewer Projects
WHEN-    Currently Happening
WHERE-  In Albany

There are a couple projects going on in Albany that will affect citizens for generations to follow. Both projects involve water, and both are on the forefront of technology.

The Albany Public Works Water Dept. is nearing completion of Phase 1 of a mainline upgrade that will access the 8 million gallon Broadway Reservoir in North Albany. The 30 inch pipe is being installed underneath both the Calapooia and Willamette Rivers, and will help the city distribute water more efficiently. I chatted with Civil Engineer Chris Cerklewski about the process and goals of the project.

The initial phase of analysis began in July 2010 with Mr. Cerklewski, surveyors, City of Albany, CH2M Hill, and contractors Kerr and Brotherton assessing the drilling process. Albany's existing mainline to North Albany is a 24 inch pipe that is attached to the Lyon Street Bridge. Cerklewski explained the high tech new line as a 30 inch HDPE- a "High Density Poly-Ethylene", a petroleum thermo plastic that has a very high density and specific strength, a pipe that will connect the area at 5th and Elm to Hickory and North Albany Road. The new line runs through a 46 inch hole underneath the two rivers.

The new line being installed.

The bore work and drilling was done successfully by Brotherton Pipe. The pipe was installed at the beginning of October with the new line to be on service by the end of November. The high tech flexible plastic pipe is a watertight, jointless, extremely durable, recyclable, and continuous pipe that will lay 50 feet below the bottom of the Willamette River. The crew from Brotherton and the main contractor, Kerr Construction, are busy now connecting that pipe at both ends and testing the connections, line, and structural integrity(pressure). The south end connects at SW 5th and Elm St., while the north side ties in at Hickory St. and North Albany Road.

Workers from Brotherton Pipe disconnect fittings.

 

Prepping a water-hose, Kerr Construction

 

The engineer talked about city growth and the need for the new line and future benefits such as relief for pressure problems, better service and safety, and an accessible back-up plan in the event of an emergency. Cerklewski expanded on that to also say "City reservoirs have already received seismic upgrades, and technological advancements." The reservoir at North Albany holds 8 million gallons of water that now will be on line at all times, an obvious benefit to Albany. Cerklewski also informed me of another upgrade in 2 years where that line will be directly tied in to the reservoir on Broadway at the roundabout, further adding convenience to supply and service.

The project was funded within the budget with money from water-bill revenue. The city has 8 storage reservoirs and strives to efficiently supply its customers with quality. The "edge of technology", continuing upgrades,  and commitment to service attest to that.

The Reclamation Dept. is also using technology to provide cutting edge service to Albany Citizens.

The Reclamation(wastewater) Plant process actually begins at the home, as the water leaves the residential line and enters the city sewer line. All the 220 miles of Albany sewer line is "gravity flow", meaning the system runs on gravity with an assist from "lift stations" that lift and add pressure to maintain flow. As the wastewater reaches the plant, it enters a wet well, where it receives pressure and continues into the plant to be treated.

The Control Room, Awesome Safety Job!

The plant is a 4 year old marvel of intellect and innovation. It is called a "Cannibal System", and employs biological and mechanical processess to reduce the biosolid waste. In conventional systems, anaerobic(no free oxygen) and aerobic(pumps air in) have been the status quo. This new technology is aimed at reducing solids that are part of the water treatment process. Richard Johnson, Reclamation Plant Supervisor, explained the process as exciting and thought provoking, with the plant workers helping to design continuing new protocol.

The new system and the plant's goal, is designed to reduce the biosolids that are the result of the wastewater treatment, and to completely re-use the material as a Class A Biosolid. It is also designed to treat the wastewater above a federally mandated clean level. Johnson informs me "The water leaving the plant is 99% clean, and that the plant has treated 70 million gallons in a day during peak rain." One of his goals in the continuing innovation, he told me, is to reduce the amount of solids in the treatment, and this fact is obvious in his enthusiasm and expertise in the field.

Bio-solids being loaded for transport.

When the water leaves the plant, it doesn't go directly to the Willamette River, but rather into Talking Water Gardens Park. The following is the city's link to the park website: http://twg.cityofalbany.net/

The park is designed as part of the process, and serves to further clean the already treated water and to cool the water as it enters the river. The cooling process helps to cool the Willamette, a crucial step in restoring salmon to habitat.

Ducks at Talking Water Gardens.

Reclamations Operations Manager Chris Bailey explained even more Talking Water Gardens features that help with cooling the clean, treated water such as riparian projects. The trees and shrubbery help by shading the water. The placement of these projects was thought out and meticulous, helping in years to come as shade envelopes the beautiful park landscape and continues the cooling process. Location of planting was to accomplish riparian growth and cool the water more efficiently. As the water moves, that flow itself also helps to cool the water. The Director spoke of goals for water temperature as it leaves the plant, being lower, and the fact that temperature stats are slowly creeping down, as being encouraging. The current discharge temp. is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, not a bad number considering September as being the warmest water month, due to a summer of constant warming and lowered flow.

The cooling park has 2 miles of trails, many observation points, and an outdoor classroom. The views are spectacular.

The Weeping Wall at Talking Water Gardens, a re-used loading dock from the old log mill.

Two current projects being performed by Albany Public Works. The citizens in Albany are well off in this regard, as the approach from everyone in this story, from the guys laying the water pipe under the Willamette to the city workers and operators, the approach is dedication and commitment to excellence.

As a final note, there has been some speculation about practices by the manufacturer of the new Reclamation Cannibal System, and concerns over the value of the system. Any doubt in the treatment plant or the manufacturer of the Cannibal System, which is Siemans, is in reality a non-issue. The facts are that most of these systems work very well and the only drawback to this operation is the solids reduction is not what engineers had hoped. According to both the plant manager and operations manager, Siemans was helpful in the process to achieve a solids reduction goal. The company also reimbursed the city in a amicable settlement. The goal of super-efficiency, environmental awareness, and customer satisfaction are the plant objectives.

Links:

Siemans Cannibal System,
http://www.water.siemens.com/en/products/sludge_biosolids_processing/solids_reduction_process/Pages/envirex_products_cannibal.aspx

HDPE- High Density Poly Ethylene,
http://www.hdpe.com/

City of Albany, Public Works Dept.,
http://www.cityofalbany.net/departments/public-works