Nine Shift

Young People Driving Less

We broke the story two years ago that young people are driving less.

First Advertising Age interviewed us, then Kiplinger, and then the story ran all over the place: Yahoo, The Atlantic, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, on and on.

This spring there has been a spate of publicity coverage on the same story, only without naming or quoting or referencing us at NineShift.  I am not bitter.  Corect that - - I am bitter.

All the stories seem to reference the same database we discovered. None of them seem to have new info, or other researchers on the topic.  So am thinking this is a replay of our story.

So this week it was nice to have a journalism student at Northwestern University call and interview me, noting that "your name popped up in several stories" on the issue.  Thank you Mary.

New Non-Political Progressive Organization Created

Here in River Falls, Wisc., my brilliant co-author Julie Coates has started a new grassroots organization, progressive but not partisan politically.

It is called The Awareness Project, or TAP, and they have a huge office and meeting rooms downtown where people gather for poetry readings, potlucks, organizing rallies, holding community group meetings and more.  Check out their web site. Below, poster party for the rally for women's rights. 

Has NineShift Changed Elections?

Has NineShift changed elections? 

Union organizer Miles Campbell read NineShift.  Then he talked with my brilliant co-author Julie Coates about it.  Then based on the NineShift analysis of networks, he went and created a new campaign strategy, which he has named Relational Voter Plan (RVP).

Instead of calling strangers or knocking on doors, with RVP campaigners only contact 20 friends. And those friends contact 20 others.  Miles found that RVP was 16 times more effective than calling people one doesn't know or knocking on doors.  Miles is talking about the new strategy all over Wisconsin, which is at the center of both the Recall elections and also the Presidential Election this year.

Future of Suburban Colleges

What is the future of suburban colleges, especially community colleges?

Suburbs are in decline.  Colleges are currently taking advantage of empty malls by getting cheap rent for classrooms.  But that won't last.

Soon students won't want to travel out to the suburbs for college.  And most won't be able to travel to the suburbs - - they don't and won't have a car.

What do you think will happen?  

Me leading a reception for college administrators last month in Tucson.  The prickly pear Margaritas are wonderful.  And with the higher education model being totally broken right now, I need two margaritas to be able to talk about it.

Wal Martians test new store

With suburbs going into decline, Walmart is testing a small store suitable for dense neighborhoods.

We have a friend who lives in Bentonville, Ark, the HQ of Walmart, formerly Wal-Mart.

When the ever faithful Walmart employees gather there, they are referred to by the locals as Wal Martians for their fanatical faith in Walmart. But here's the real story:

On the campus of the university there, Walmart is testing a very small store, the kind that would make sense in dense neighborhoods (the housing of the present-future).  They survey all the students coming and going about what they wanted, didn't find, etc. 

All part of the big huge move from the suburbs into dense communities. (This post intentionally devoid of a photo of Walmart)

 

We did it again! Another big Prediction Comes True!

We nailed it!  This time we got the exact year right! 

Two years ago we predicted in writing that suburbs would go into decline in 2012. Last month the government came out with statistics showing that suburbs are now starting to retreat. In a New York TImes story on it, a leading housing expert said that indeed suburbs are now in decline.

Of course, Nine Shift predicted this well over 10 years in our book.  Right now we are just celebrating. Say goodbye:

Fighting the Tea Party

NineShift brilliant co-author Julie Coates organizes a rally of women against the anti-women campaign by the far right.

In our little town, Julie got 90 women out in 39 degrees with sleet last week to demonstrate for women's rights. The State of Wisconsin just passed a law saying women do not have to be paid the same as men for the same job. 

Here's Julie, dressed as a suffragette, with Tawni Kind, the wife of our Congressman Ron Kind. Mrs. Kind also addressed the rally.

The Best Titanic Story You'll Ever Hear

Thanks! More than 400 people viewed our YouTube video on The Best Titanic Story You'll Ever Hear.

On the 100th anniversary of the event.  As told to us by a 102 year old man who knew someone on the Titanic.

 

Nine Shift Apologizes

We apologize for the lack of posts the past month. So much going on. So much news happening. We will update you on all the excitement.

More verification suburbs in decline

From NineShifter Guy Felder of Houston, here's a story more verification suburbs and cars in decline, trains and dense neighborhoods on the rise:

"This year's Kinder Houston Area Survey found strong support for mass transit and a growing number of people who say they want to live within walking distance of work and shopping, reflecting what survey founder Stephen Klineberg predicts will become a fundamental shift in one of the nation's most car-centric cities.

It's not just $4-a-gallon gas, he said.

"The suburbs were beautiful when only a few of us were living out there," he said. "The romance with the automobile is fading."

The survey has tracked the attitudes of Houstonians for more than 30 years.

NineShift picture of train while riding another train.