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ERMUSR MISC MEMO 01-15-2008~j Elk River -~ Municipal Utilities 13069 Orono Parkway • PO. Box 430 Elk River, MN 55330-0430 January 10, 2008 To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Jerry Takle Jerry Gumphrey Jim Tralle From: Bryan Adams Subject: Miscellaneous Issues Phone: 763.441.2020 Fax: 763.441.8099 Enclosed is the packet for Tuesday, January 15, 2008 commission meeting at 4:00 p.m. Year end water and electric usage remain well above last year at 7.5% and 9.8% respectively. The Waco Substation is energized and load was placed on it in late December. On January 15, 2008 United Health Group will start energizing their internal equipment. Traut Well has completed the drilling and steel casing stage of construction for Well #9. On January 10, 2008 the well development state began. Traut Well has started the maintenance on Well #7. It initially appears the loss of production is due to excessive iron and manganese build- up on the screen. Hopefully acid cleaning and high pressure water jetting will solve the issue. Scott Thoreson, lead lineman, and I had an opportunity to do a pre-paint inspection on the new line truck ordered last summer. This will be Scott's truck so it is good to have him inspect it and suggest any minor changes. We should have this truck by the end of the month. On January 14, 2008 your staff will be pleading its case to the Otsego City Council concerning upgrading the distribution line west on Co. Rd. 39. City ordinance requires underground construction where we desire overhead until the future plans of Co. Rd. 39 are known. Upgrading this line overhead is $50,000 vs. $500,000 if it is done underground. Attached is the following information for your review. 1) Article titled, "County Growth Rate to Remain High" from the Sherburne County Tribune. 2) Update from Mike Nolan, our MMUA Washington D.C. lobbyist on the 110`" Congress. 3) AWWA Public Affairs Advisory on "Forthcoming news package on pharmaceuticals/personal care products in drinking water and the environment." 4) December 28, 2007 issue of The Kiplinger Letter addressing, "This letter invites you to imagine life 10-15 years from now." County growth rate to remain high BY KEN FRANCIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER ` Despite a slowdown in the real estate market, Sherburne County is expected to see a big increase in the number of new households over the next 10 tc 25 years. Minnesota State Demographic Center projec- tions show 161,700 new house- holds will be added in the 11 counties of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro area by 2015. That is about two-thirds of the state's total projected increase and represents a 14% increase in the area. Scott County tops the list in projected growth at 58% with Sherburne County next at 48%, followed by Wright and Chisago counties. Household types will also change. While the number of households with children is expected, to rise slightly in Sherburne County each year, households without children are expected to triple by 2030. In 2005, over 35% of house- holds in the county were mar- ried couples with children. By 2030, those households will make up just 26% of the total, although that total is still high- er than the projected state average of 18%. At the same time, single family households in the county are expected to increase from 4,570 to 13,770 and the number of senior households will jump from 3,307 to 15,330. The changes reflect both the aging popula- tion and changes in social cus- toms and lifestyles. A study completed this summer by students at St. Cloud State shows the median age in the county has increased from 24.9 years to 31.1 years between 1960 and 2006. The county had 84,966 people in County Population by Age 7% 21°, 43% ^ 0-19 ^ 20-44 ^ 45-65 ®6S+ 2006, of which 23,870 were under the age of 19. There were 5,800 people over the age of 65 compared to 1,427 in 1960. The majority of the pop- ulation, 43%, was between the ages of 20 and 44. Diversity Although the number of foreign-born people is increas- ing in the Twin Cities area, the trend towards increasing diversity has not followed at the same pace in Sherburne County. In 1960, 98.36% of the county's population was white. That number was 96.4%in 2005, and 95.7% of the population spoke English at home. Only 1.5% of the population in the county was foreign-born. Two percent of the popula- tion reports speaking Spanish as their other language. Spanish and Russian were the two languages most frequently asked to be translated. Income Although the median household income in 2000 was $65,650, Sherburne County still had its share of people liv- ing in poverty. In 1999, 2.3% of families were considered at or below poverty level. That number was 15% when the female was head of household and no hus- band was present. In 2005, 4.9% of all indi- viduals were in poverty and 3.5% were under the age of 18. For seniors living alone, 10.1% were at or below the poverty level. Overall Numbers The county's population has increased 516% since 1940, and every city has seen an increase in population. The biggest percentage increase (692%) has occurred in Becker, where the population jumped from 601 in 1940 to 4,164 in 2006. Zimmerman was next at 508% (1,074 to 5,465), followed by Big Lake at 415% (2,210 to 9,194) and Elk River at 326% (6,785 to , 22,125.) In addition, and more interestingly, the omnibus spending bill contains a provision ordering EPA to develop and publish a rule on creating a mandatory greenhouse gas registry. Frankly, several Members and staff did not know about this provision and it has caused some confusion and heartburn -and will cause more when Congress returns in January. The language gives $3.5 million to EPA to craft a rule that requires "mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions above appropriate thresholds in all sectors of the economy of the US." A draft rule must be completed in 9 months, a final rule 9 months after that. This will inevitably lead to claims that climate change provisions should not have been included in the spending bill, and other claims that appropriators are now deciding policy, rather than the authorizing committees. The language is not totally new -Rep. Norm Dicks of WA, chairman of the House interior approps subcommittee (which has jurisdiction over EPA), discussed this back in June, and I understand that Sen. Dianne Feinstein of CA, who chairs the same panel in the Senate, is taking credit for its inclusion. As you know, Sen. Amy Klobuchar has pushed similar language calling for a new, national mandatory ghg registry for all industries. This is similar, but her language remains part of the Lieberman-Warner climate bill recently approved by the Senate EPW committee. Finally, the Senate passed its own version of a farm bill, something the House did this past summer. The two bills, with some major differences, now go to conference, which should start next month. For our purposes there are three issues worth watching: service territory, rural bonds, and "parity." First, the Senate farm bill, like the House version, contains no service territory language -but this will need to be watched through conference. Second, there is language calling for rural renaissance bonds in the Senate bill, a provision that continues to be pushed by Sen. Norm Coleman. While the language has improved and looks to accommodate some of our concerns, this issue will be decided in conference. And third, the Senate bill now contains language that clarifies public power entities are often eligible for several USDA programs, a boost for APPA; the House bill does not contain similar language and this will also be rectified in conference. The House is expected to return January 15 and the Senate comes back a week later. Until then, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. Michael Nolan MJN Consulting LLC 202.359.4496 Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play Chicktionary! Check it out! Adams, Bryan rom: michael nolan [mjnolan4827@hotmail.coml Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2007 11:22 AM To: Greg T. Oxley; David W. Niles; acrowser@rea-alp.com; dvoss@ci.anoka.mn.us; jerrym@austinutilities.com; Bill Black; theoldsalt29@msn.com; Joseph.steffel@cityofbuffalomn.org; cpunt@lakesnet.net; dboyce@ci.east-grand-forks.mn.us; Adams, Bryan; jimk@hpuc.com; Hutchinson -Mike Kum; Jack Kegel; Marshall-Brad Roos; dmc@mcgrannshea.com; Mike Nitchals; bschwandt@gomoorhead.com; bjagusch@cityofmora.com; dbirgen@mrenergy.com; billy@mrenergy.com; MRES--Joe Sullivan; tomh@mrenergy.com; dalene@mncable.net; NMPA-Darryl Tveitbakk; Owatonna - Steve Shurts; Ikoshire@rpu.org; Shakopee-LouVanHout (E-mail); Iw.johnston@smmpa.org; Steve Downer; Susan Coe; Iheitke@ci.willmar.mn.us Subject: At last, Congress goes home They're gone -finally. The first session of the 110"Congress has come to a close, sort o£ The House is gone sine die but technically the Senate didn't adjourn; they remain in pro forma session, same thing they did during the Thanksgiving break, for one reason: staying in session prohibits the White House from making recess appointments to top administration jobs, something they've done in the past. Unable to make a final deal on appointments, Majority Leader Harry Reid decided to keep the place running, barely. By the way, most appointments were successfully completed, including the re-naming of two FERC commissioners (Chairman Joe Kelliher and Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff). For the most part the final week went according to plan: Congress passed a slimmed down version of the energy bill, approved acatch-all spending package, and the Senate passed its version of the farm bill, which now heads to conference with the House. ;ome thought the energy bill would never see a "successful" conclusion despite the much-ballyhooed deal on CAFE standards for autos, which meant a 40 percent increase in fuel economy standards for the first time since 1975. In fact, the CAFE issue drove the bill, despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's insistence on passing legislation with a controversial renewable energy portfolio standard and a large, even more controversial tax title. For public power, the House RPS language remained unchanged from an earlier provision passed August 4, exempting munis and coops from the mandatory 15 percent renewable standard. But this would never fly in the Senate, and everyone knew it (Senate Republicans, particularly from the southeast -read Southern Company -protested loudly). The tax title, however, included new and improved language on CREBs, the Clean Renewable Energy Bond program first approved under EPAct in 2005. But here, too, the tax provisions, mostly for reasons related to tax breaks and subsidies for the oil and gas industry, seemed doomed from the start. It all happened quickly. Technically called the Senate amendments to the House amendments to the Senate amendments to the House bill (I'm not kidding), the fix was in: the Senate stripped the RPS and the tax title from the bill and the deal was done -the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill, 86-8. Despite several White House veto threats, this was a bill the administration could live with; indeed, they signed it and largely took credit for it. In the end, the bill contained 18 titles and included a major renewable fuels standard (ethanol), R&D for carbon capture technologies, key changes on energy efficiency (lighting, appliances, and buildings), and the landmark CAFE increases, but no RPS and no tax title. Rest assured, both these issues will be revisited next year. Congress also approved a final omnibus spending measure, consisting of all the appropriations bills (except defense), plus some war spending. A few energy provisions were included: the requisite spending figures for PMAs (without any controversial anti-PMA proposals); LIHEAP funding (but below earlier budget requests); and the annual funding for the public power REPI program at less than $5 million. It hasn't happened yet, but the omnibus will be signed by the president soon; just yesterday he signed another CR that keeps the federal government running until Dec. 31. ~~ Elk River Municipal Utility Mr. Bryan C. Adams American Water Works Association The Authoritative Resource on Safe Water Public Affairs Advisory TO: AWWA Leadership All Utilities FROM: Jack W. Hoffbuhr DATE; December 20, 2007 Utility Member Benefit Govsmmsnt Afralrc Cfflce 13D0 Eye Street NW Suite 701 W Wa6hington, DC 20005 T 2D2.82B.B303 F 202.t32B.264t) Hsadquartsr6 8888 West Quincy Avenue Denver, CO 80235.3098 Wa6hington, DC 20005 T 303.794.7711 F 303.795.1989 www.awwa.org Who: Associated Press What: Forthcoming news package on pharmaceuticals/personal care products In drinking water and the environment When; Most likely In first part of January Water utilities should be aware of a national investigative news story being compiled by the Associated Press which will focus on pharmaceuticals/personal care products in drinking water and in the environment. A tcam of AI' rcportcra is oontaoting a numbcr of utilitica aoroa3 the Unitcd Etatc3 rand waiting a series of questions related to their populations served, their treatment practices, the occurrence of pharmaceuticals/personal care products in source water, the location of source water intakes in relationahit~ to waatawater Manta, anti whether they have teateJ for pharmaceuticals in finished water. AWWA believes this story will be crafted for maximum impact and may spawn public conversation and concern among consumers. It may also spur follow-up stories in local newspapers and television and radio media. Utilities should be prepared to talk about the issue of pharmaceuticals in water and to bring an informed voice to the public debate. To help you prepare to address the issue, AWWA is providing the attached talking points and a consumer sheet on the subject. AVWVA also provides consumer information to which you may link at its www.drinktap.orta site at ~nrNnnr rlrinktan nrnlr•nnci~mPrrlnn/HnmP/1/UatPrlnfnrms~tinnM/s~tPr[~iiality/Pharmar•PiitiralcPPC'Pc/tahi d/73/Default.asbx (763) 441-8099 From: AWWA Assn (303) 347-0804 12/20/07 04:04PM For more information, please contact AWWA's Public Affairs Office at 303-347-6140. ### ~~ Elk River Municipal Utility Nlr. Bryan C. Adams 1il.G i l l~"~ ~'~",f~,~ '~' ~ ~ ~,"' ~ ~~ {~:; ~„ { ,~ ~, ~o mh~w,~ -~~~~~ ~+u~aWr ~,~,. ~~ ~ u ~~,i t~ u~nwm~ ~ 3 Disposing of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Cane Products What You Need to Know Today's advanced water monitoring technology allows researchers to detect compounds from pharmaceuticals and personal care products in very small amounts in waterways and, in some cases, drinking water supplies, While research hasn't demonstrafed human health impacts at these levels, the water community continues to pay close attention to scientific developments in this area, Just the Facts... Because water professionals have the technology today to detect more substances - at lower levels -than ever before, pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products are being found at very low levels in some of our nation's lakes, rivers and streams. The fact that a substance is detectable does not mean the substance is harmful to humans. To date, research throughout the world has not demonstrated an impact on human health from pharmaceuticals atthe low levels found in some drinking water supplies. However... • While pharmaceuticals and personal care products are rarely found even in very low levels in drinking water, some scientists are concerned about the possible cumulative effects of long-term exposure. • While most pharmaceuticals and personal care products are known compounds, they may react in ways that are different from their intended purpose once they are introduced into the environment. How should /dispose of unused medicines? The best and most cost-effective way to ensure safe water at the tap is to keep our source waters clean. As a society, we should encourage policies that protect source water from contaminants introduced by human activity. You can help by refraining from flushing unused medications down toilet or sink. Instead, find out if your pharmacy accepts medications for disposal, or contact the local health department for information about proper disposal of medications, cleaning products, pesticides, and automotive products. For more information on this and all water quality issues, contact your local utility. (763) 441-8099 From' AWWAAssn (303) 347-0804 12/20/07 04~04PM ~~ Elk River I~4unieipal Utility Mr. Bryan C. Adams (763) 441-8099 From' AWWA Assn (303) 347-0804 12/20/07 04~04PM Suggest Utility Talking Points on Pharmaceutical Comcounds and Personal Care Products • The water community is committed to protecting public health. Water profcaaionala arc rcaearching the occurrence of pcraonal cart products and pharmaceutical compounds in drinking water supplies and are paying close attention to health effects research in this area. • Water professionals have the technology today to detect more substances - at lower levels -than ever before. As analytical methods improve, pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products are being found at very low levels in many of our nation's lakes, rivers and streams. • The fact that a substance is detectable does not mean the substance is harmful to humans. To date, research throughout the world has not demonstrated an impact on human health from pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water. While these compo~inds may be detected at very low levels in source waters, people regularly consume or expose themselves to products containing these compounds in much higher concentrations through medicines, food and beverage and other sources. The level in which they are found in source waters is very small in comparison. • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains an active program called the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) to identify contaminants in public drinking water that warrant detailed study. The CCL does not currently include any personal care products or pharmaceuticals. ~ While research has not demonstrated human health impacts from these compounds, the ongoing conversation should remind us of how precious our source waters are and the need to protect there from harmful substances. As a society, we should encourage policies that protect source water from contaminants introduced by pesticides, gasoline or industrial products. The best and most cost-effective way to ensure safe water at the tap is to keep our source waters clean. • The federal Office of National Drug Control Policy recommends not flushing prescription drugs down the toilet unless the accompanying patient information apcoifioally in3truota it is soft to do 30. For more information on this and other water quality issues, contact your local water utility. ### ^ ^ e i in er etter FORECASTS FOR MANAGEMENT DECISIONMAKING 1729 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006-3938 • kiplingerbiz.com • Vol. 84, No. 51 Dear Client: Washington, Dec. 28, 2007 This Letter invites you to imagine life 10-15 years from now... your daily routine and how it will be different as technology evolves. iGr file baby boomers aTioiig llS, Slime filings Wlii take getting llsed t0. But younger, more tech-savvy generations will take changes in stride, with an eager eye toward even bigger innovations in the decades to come. Picture yourself waking up in a highly energy efficient home that you bought in a suburb of a major metro area. The dwelling uses half the energy consumed by a similar-size house in 2007. Government regulations are enforcing energy saving home construction. Prominent features of your new digs: Passive solar design included in the home's layout. Windows and walls that let in more sunshine in cold months and insulate against it in warmer months, saving you money. Sensors to control everythin~...windows that dim and brighten, depending on information they receive from temperature gauging sensors. And a green roof to help control temperatures. Made of what? Grass, mostly. Genetic tweaking is likely to eliminate the. need to mow, not only your "lawn" up top, but also the larger one at ground level. Scientists have already found the molecular path of a key growth hormone. Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, illuminate the home and grounds. LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescents or fluorescents. They're powered by solar cells that line the edges of the roof. Photovoltaics are becoming much better at pulling power from the sun, and in 10 years or so, will be cost competitive with the electricity grid. Smart power meters guide major appliance use, tipping you off on when to run your dishwasher, clothes washer and other machines, based on real-time price information showing when electricity is cheapest. Ready for that first cup of -java7FJust say "coffeemaker on," and your home's voice activation system will start it brewing. Other voice commands will trigger lights, video and sound systems, etc. On to the bathroom to interface with your medicine cabinet. This device uses face recognition to identify who's in the mirror. It's you and not your spouse, so the cabinet, knowing of your allergies, tells you the day's pollen count and reminds you to take your medication. It's a nice day out, so why not opt for the outdoor shower, shielded behind a wood partition adjacent to the master bathroom. You got the idea for the alfresco facility from your last spa vacation... adapting the pleasures of resort life to the home is all the rage. OK, time to ge_t dressed and face the day. What to wear? Pick a shirt and the tag's voice prompt will suggest what matches. Clothing tags are also programmed to give washing instructions. Oh, and since that health scare last year, don't leave home without your wireless health monitor so the doctor can keep tabs on you. The Kiplinger Lefler (ISSN 1528-7130) is published weekly for $117/one year, $199/two years, $263/three years SubSClipti0n inGUiries: B00-644~0156orsubservices@k~p6ngeccom by The Kiphnger Washington Editors, 1729 H SL, NW, Washington, DC 20006-3938. EdifOriel inlOrRlBfion: Tel., 202887-6462; Fax, 202-776-8976; POSTMASTEH~ Send address changes to The Kiplinger Letter, P0. Boa 3295, Harlan, IA 51593. 6mai1, letters@Mplinger.rnm; or Web sfe, kiplingerbiz.com Personal communicator in hand, you're ready to take on the world. The device is practically part of you now: It's your ID, phone, text messager, Internet connection, camera, credit card and much more. As an ID, it clears you for entry into your home, car, office, clubs... and even gets you through airport security checkpoints. The communicator also remotely controls household and workplace electronics and robots. With it, you can command machines to perform tasks at arranged times. The communicator's digital display window also shows merchants' ads and tailored sales pitches: "Hey look, your favorite yogurt is on sale." Job No. 1: Check up on mom, who has had some health troubles. A webcam connection shows that she's up and preparing a cup of tea. Your communicator can also tell you whether she has taken her pills. Breakfast is a chance for virtual quality time with sis, as well. Though both live in other states, that's no barrier to communication. Pop-up screens built into dining tables allow everyone to see each other as they talk. You also use the screens for other types of conferences. Connections are Web based, but they don't require any computer know-how. So what's for breakfast? Typically, it's already prepared at the store and just needs reheating. Grocery outlets take online orders and customize the meals to suit your dietary needs and preferences. The food can be delivered to your home or held for you to pick up. Tedious and laborious grocery shopping is largely a thing of the past. Time to hit the road: What color car do you want to drive today? Materials embedded in the paint let you change colors on a whim. The same option is available on a number of other consumer products. It works by sending a low-voltage electric current through tiny wires in the paint, which contains chemicals that react to the charges. You're among the 25% of motorists sporting a hybrid model. It's not a plug-in, though. Those have only just begun to catch on. The car is nearly 100% recyclable, vs. 50%-60% around 2007. But alas, STILL no flying cars. They're in the works, though. Driving is safer, with fewer hassles, thanks to computers. One warns you, via a windshield display, that a pedestrian, an animal or other obstacle is coming up. Another wired gadget is programmed to provide real-time information on roadblocks or accidents up ahead. A sobriety sensor keeps your car from starting if you've had too many. Insurers will give you a break if you agree to use it regularly.. And voice commands to your personal communicator, now docked in the car and connected to speakers, let you hold conversations more safely. Road traffic is under tight control by monitoring agencies, thanks to global positioning data coming in from all cars on the road. Managers adjust traffic lights and take other steps to ease bottlenecks. Time lost to backups is down a third from what it was a decade or so ago. Few people drive downtown to work anymore. It costs a fortune. High fees to access roads and bridges deter a lot of private commuting. It's easier on the wallet to drive partway to a convenient bus station. Buses that burn clean fuel are a maior transportation option. They travel in bus-only lanes...a much more cost-effective alternative to building rail lines. Plus bus schedules and stops are easier to change as ridership evolves. So you grab your personal communicator and hop on for the ride. More buses also spell less gridlock in metro areas. Remember, your subscription includes The Kiplinger Letter online -- Welcome to the office, for those who still go to one. Thanks to instant wireless communications and encryption technology, remote working...from home or anywhere else on Earth...is the norm now. But an office in the traditional sense still comes in handy for working on team projects as well as for meeting clients and suppliers. Electronic wallpaper covers the walls. When you're not using it to show charts, graphs and other business presentations, you can switch to displaying pictures of the kids or some other pleasing images. Office chairs have built-in sensors to detect your stress level. They can then gently suggest a brief nap or exercises to help decompress. The "office computer" is lust a wide, high-def laptop screen with a wireless connection to a central server. If a keyboard is needed, the screen can project one on the desk or a soft pad for virtual typing. But, as at home, you'll typically bark out voice commands to the machine. Say "Pull up the Perkins account," and the computer will oblige. Besides the usual financial numbers, you'll get a detailed display of a client's past orders, a video of your last meeting together, information the client has posted recently on the Internet and more. Robot assistants will handle menial or logistical needs. Robotics programming is sophisticated enough to allow mechanical helpers to maneuver with ease through human spaces, using optical guidance. Sensor-laden robots provide security services for the company, particularly in its far-flung factories, warehouses and branch offices. They can detect intruders, malfunctions, etc., and alert authorities. Your 2 p.m. interoffice meeting is coming up in the video room, where wall-to-wall projection screens provide a 270-degree sweep. Videoconferencing is crystal clear, allowing easy eye contact and reading of every participant's body language and facial expressions. Sales managers love videoconferencing...they can give live demonstrations for potential customers located anywhere. It's popular in homes as well, not only as a communications device, but also as an entertainment medium. The technology saves the company a bundle on travel costs, too. When you do fly, you usually take the company's VLJ, or very light jet. It was cheap to buy, and it can land at less crowded secondary airports. Clients in China want a better read on your firm's new product. No problem...zip them a scale model of it via a 3-D printer, which rapidly prints layer upon layer until it builds up a 3-D image. This contraption transforms the product specs stored on a computer into an actual model made from plastic or a similarly malleable material. Holographic images are another option. But they're still rough... years from being perfected. Businesses are eager to use them, though. Showing charts and products in three dimensions creates a bigger impact. Next up: A visit to a building site for a trash-to-energy plant that your company is involved with. Waste products are a growing frontier in the search for energy sources. This plant will abut a city dump and use enzymes to turn trash into natural gas for powering generators. Then there's a speech to give, with help from your cyber coach. While talking before an industry group, you sport a small earpiece that communicates with your computer, feeding you information as needed. Market prospects in Iraq? The computer whispers the numbers in your ear. For instant online access and searchable archives, go to kiplingerbiz.com/start ~ '~ With the workday winding down, it's time to do some shopping. Buying on the Web is common...not dominant. Internet purchases are close to 15% of total commerce, about double a decade or so earlier. But the link between "bricks" and "clicks" is lar ely seamless. Traditional stores have morphed into showrooms visited by shoppers to check out and "feel" the merchandise. Goods are then ordered online and shipped from warehouses directly to the customer's home. As a result, the stores don't need to stock a lot of inventory. Today you're looking for a jacket, so you use your communicator to connect to a mobile service that cross-references items of interest, your personal tastes and nieasurements plus info about your location. The service instantly directs you to stores that offer what you seek. At the store, "magic mirrors" speed the trying-on process. Instead of your having to schlep a pile of clothes into a dressing room, a mirror makes a cyber image of you, using data from your communicator. Clothes are then displayed on your virtual image for a look-see. Payment is by thumb at many store locations. You put your digit on a machine that scans your fingerprint to verify your identity. The device also checks credit or bank account info to approve the sale. Last stop before going home: Italian take-out. Your order, sent earlier in the day via your communicator, could have been delivered to your home, but the nice weather puts you in the mood to pick it up. Many retailers have added outdoor patios and other gathering places that are welcomed by retired baby boomers looking for places to hang out. Ah...home. Your robot home assistant knows you're coming, having received an electronic ping from you on your approach. It starts setting the table and lets the dog inside from the backyard. Feel like going to a movie? There's that great new flick at the digital theater down the road. Digital is such an improvement over 35mm film...the picture is sharper and the sound way better. Oh, wait...New York is playing Guadalajara in baseball tonight, a budding rivalry well worth checking out on your home video system. Soccer is another viewing option...the sport is really taking off in the U.S., particularly with the Hispanic population expanding. Tired now, you crawl under the sheets with your e-book... a flexible, foldable tablet that can dowr)load any reading material. As you nod off, sensors dim the light and adjust the temperature. So what do you think? Do you welcome such options or abhor them, worried about the loss of privacy fostered by all this fancy gadgetry? It may depend on your impression of privacy. Younger generations are far less hung up on what their elders may view as intrusions. Posting everything about themselves on the Web seems natural to them. But note that regulators will insist on safeguards against ID theft and protections for financial and medical data. However, cybercriminals will keep trying to outwit them...a perennial game of cat and mouse. t Your very t y, Happy New Year ~' Dec. 28, 2007 THE K INGER ASH GTON ITORS J Copyright 2007. The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. quotation for political or commercial use is not permitted. Duplicating an entire issue for sharing with others, by any means, is illegal. Photocopying of individual items for internal use is permitted for registrants with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923. For details, call 978-750-8400 or visit www.copyright.com.