KILKENNY -- Ernie the Attorney got me thinking about what makes a technology hellhole. I think one hallmark is community resistance to mobile communications technology. I think another indicator is long queues at community welfare collection points.
If a community doesn't want a mobile phone mast, you can bet there's spotty mobile phone coverage in the area. There's no way phone companies erect extraneous masts. If lots of people are falling over one another for government handouts, there is strong evidence for a pattern of long-term unemployment in the area. It's hard to instill a sense of hard work and to set down a requirement to meet tight deadlines with people used to seeing breadwinners foraging for the dole more than working to learn and find another job.
Ernest Svenson -- "Proud to be a laggard in business"
Times Picayune -- "LA held ground in economic quake"
x_ref19
