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Triad's on the move

Shouting "we're number 33" might sound like a hollow boast, but holding that ranking as a national transportation and logistics center is noteworthy.

A recently commissioned study reveals that the Greensboro-High Point area has 14,000 jobs in trucking, support for air transportation and warehousing.

Along the heavily traveled North Carolina-to-Georgia Interstate 85 corridor, that puts us third in line behind much larger Atlanta and Charlotte.

And such success comes even before the planned 2009 FedEx hub opening near PTIA and its hundreds of new transportation-related jobs.

Time will tell if they turn out to be as recession-proof as experts predict. But a fast-growing transportation sector creating welcome new jobs can play a vital role in a sputtering economy.

Spending in state helps

With the Christmas shopping season upon us, the High Point Chamber of Commerce is pushing a simple plan to make the most of challenging times. It starts with: Buy local.

"While we operate in a global economy, your decision to stay off the Internet, to put down those national catalogs, and to spend your dollars here can make an amazing difference in the health of our economy," a chamber press release stated last week.

There's no arguing that point. Certainly, consumers are looking for good deals and convenience, but there are benefits to checking out nearby retailers first. Much of the money spent locally circulates throughout the community.

Ideally, shoppers would find plenty of made-in-North Carolina products, but that's not as easy as it was once.

One idea: Check out attractions through www.visitnc.com. A travel package at an in-state resort or tickets to a popular tourist destination would make a great holiday gift for friends and family, and keep the money in North Carolina where it can do the most good for all of us.

We're feeling the chill already

We've begun "Winter Weather Awareness Week," according to a proclamation by Gov. Mike Easley.

That's telling us old news. Winter awareness set in Nov. 21, when a dusting of snow forced schools in Guilford County to open two hours late. And then the next day, when Greensboro recorded a bone-chilling low of 19 degrees.

Ready or not, it feels a lot like winter.

A season for tragic fires

The fire last week at a house near South Holden Road that seriously burned a 4-year-old girl underscores the dangers of carelessly using alternative heating sources as freezing temperatures grip the Triad.

Fire officials say the intense flames originated from an electric space heater in a laundry room, causing severe damage to the modest rental home.

Placing plug-in heaters or kerosene warming devices too close to flammable materials or leaving fireplaces unattended can end in tragedy, particularly at night when smoke and flames trap unsuspecting sleeping families.

An ounce of prevention can save precious lives and valued property.

Good will to all

It's actually good news that the most common form of discrimination identified in Greensboro is disrespect.

A survey led by UNCG researcher Ruth DeHoog found that people with low incomes and little education often feel slighted by others.

No one should be proud of that, but at least the problem can be alleviated without new laws or government programs.

People just have to extend more common courtesies to one another, putting the Golden Rule into everyday practice.

The holidays ought to be the perfect time to start. Good will to all, and all that.