Last chance today; Census Forms, IBM and Hollerith.
If you have not mailed in your 2010 census form, today is your last chance to do so (I’m sure that they will still take it if you mail it tomorrow).The task of processing the huge amount of census-data has an interesting story.
Back in 1890 the census data was first counted and analyzed utilizing “modern” data processing. Ten years earlier, Herman Hollerith worked on the 1880 US census to make a few dollars. He just received a degree in Mine Engineering and could not find employment in his line of work. The counting of the date was a laborious and error-prone operation that cried out for mechanization.
For the next 10 years, Hollerith worked on his invention and won the competition for best machine to process the census-data to be collected in 1890.
His machine utilized punch cards, measuring 3.25 by 7.375 inches, the same size as the dollar bills at the time. (US banknotes were reduced in 1929 to their present size.)
This was the first wholly successful information processing system to replace pen and paper, and reduced a seven-year job to three months. Yes, that’s how long it took in 1880, and for 1890 it was projected to take 13 years!
Hollerith is considered the father of digital data collecting and processing. Hollerith’s machine saved the 1890 taxpayers five million dollars, and earned him an 1890 Columbia PhD.
Hollerith started his own business in 1896, the Tabulating Machine Company, which was also in charge of tabulating the date for the 1900 census. In 1900 Hollerith’s automatic mechanism to feed the cards allowed an even faster processing of the data. In 1911 the Tabulating Machine Company merged with three other companies and formed the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation, or CTR. In 1924, CTR was renamed and became International Business Machines, or our familiar IBM.
Hollerith can also be looked at the founder of IBM.
Peter Frei
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Congratulations, Geri-Jean and Michael!
Geri-Jean Twining and Michael LaMountain became mother and father of a healthy 6 pounds and 1 once baby boy. They already have a name for the newborn; they call him Michael James LaMountain Jr.
Little Michael James measures already 18 inches and was born yesterday April 13, at 5:08 p.m.
The couple had a good reason not to be at the caucus last night.
Peter Frei
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2010 Town Caucus Report
Last night, app. 56 voters attended the 2010 town caucus at the Holland Elementary School. Candidates for a total of 15 positions were proposed to be put on the ballot for the annual town elections to be held Monday June 7, 2010, from 10:00 hours to 20:00 hours, read more»1 Comment - Edit - Delete
Senior Housing Hearing postponed.
THE SENIOR HOUSING HEARING WILL BE ON APRIL 21, 2010 AT 7:30pm AT THE TOWN HALL. THE ORIGINAL DATE WAS APRIL 6, 2010.Peter Frei
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Speak out Holland! (no.13)
As every 6th of the month, everybody is invited to go of topic here. Do you have any questions or suggestions? Comment about anything that is amusing you or about anything that is bothering you, but do it in a civilized manner! I will delete obvious lies and offensive comments. To read previous comments under this category, click on “Speak Out Holland” on the left of this blog under the heading “Categories.”Peter Frei
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Earl Johnson must be laughing his head off..
When I started fighting corruption at the town hall, I had this idea that it would be difficult to find my way through the maze of all the different rules and laws, there are so many; local bylaws, Mass. General Law, United States Code, the Constitution of the USA, the Constitution of the Commonwealth, rules of civil procedure, court Rules, Rules of appeallate procedure, rules of evidence, standing orders, etc, etc..I thought it would be difficult but I thought if I really try hard I could get justice. I thought that judges would know the law, read complaints and other pleadings, and at the end would get it right and serve justice. After all, that is what they do, right? They are judges..
I was wrong, very wrong.. If you think that this great nation is still following the rule of law, think again, or better; read my latest court document, my petition for a rehearing of the Johnson Landgate case.
I mailed this petition today to the Appeals Court and also a copy to the three law firms that represent the defendants in this case.
The next step will be the petition for further appellate review (FAR) to the Supreme Judicial Court..
Click here, to read the petition.
Read also:
Holland Selectman Earl Johnson and Family Profit from Illegal Land Use.Appeals Court affirmed Superior Court Judge's dismissial in the Johsnon-LandGate case.
Earl Johnson, Mr. Grinch or Santa Clause?
Peter Frei filed Notice of Appeal.
Superior Court Judge Dismisses Johnson LandGate Suit.
Homes built by the Johnson's, illegal!
Peter Frei
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The Town Clerk just released the NOTICE OF CAUCUS.
To read the notice, click here!Peter Frei
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Iraq war in it’s 8th year.
In case you missed these photos in the NY Times Sunday Magazine... That’s the results of seven years of madness. The Iraq War began its 8th year this weekend.Peter Frei
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Appeals Court affirmed Superior Court Judge's dismissial in the Johsnon-LandGate case.
More frustrating incompetence by the judiciary.. Read more»Leave a comment - Edit - Delete
Selectboard Meeting of March 16, 2010.
Last Tuesday the selectboard met the second time this month, read more»Leave a comment - Edit - Delete
Community uproar about the proposed low-income senior housing project.
Selectmen Earl Johnson seemed to be surprised about the turnout and resistance of concerned residents at the March 9th public hearing of the Zoning Board of Appeals. HAP’s request for 16 exemptions of the zoning bylaws was heard by the ZBA and residents recognized the dim-witted nature of Earl Johnson’s idea to jam the proposed structure into the tight spot right next to the senior citizens center.
Towards the end of the hearing, Johnson even insinuated that he believed that HAP was not required to obey the town’s zoning bylaws.
The Holland Blog is offering its readers the complete audio recording of the hearing during which HAP Inc. presented its preliminary plans for the $5,280,000.00 senior low income housing project, read more»
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