Mexico more obese than the US?

Posted on by

This was a surprise to me at first.  After reading further in the article you will note the involvement of agribusiness and lobbyists.  No longer a surprise.  Sacrifice the health of the 99% so the 1% can increase their wealth.

Food is another major front on the battle of the 99% vs the 1%.  It may be the most important front.  With a poor diet comes poor health.  With poor health comes medical expenses. So, in the end, those who buy junk food transfer wealth to big companies.  Then those who get sick transfer wealth to big pharma and doctor co-conspirators (yes, I said it!).

Try to eat healthy my friends.  Try to buy from local farmers.  In so doing you may live a healthier life and do your part in reducing the wealth gap.  Circulate money within your community and minimize doctor office visits.  Win-win.

http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?catid=57592714&feed_id=null&videofeed=null

BBC News – Late nights ‘sap children’s brain power’

Posted on by

It appears beneficial to establish routine and early bedtimes for the young ones.  Let’s put those future bankers to sleep early so their well developed math skills keep the economy rolling when I retire.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23223751

Improving 3-D Printing by Copying Nature

Posted on by

The articles on 3D printing keep coming in.  As I said before, this has the potential to be the productivity enhancing technological progress that leads to economic growth.  If done correctly, it can be positive for the environment.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130707-3d-printing-biomimicry-green-design-science/

$350 million renovation of NYPL’s Fifth Avenue branch will endanger iconic Rose Reading Room: suit  – Daily News

Posted on by

Renovations to the New York public library’s 5’th avenue location will result in the removal of 2 million books.  Is that a problem?  Possibly, given there was no mention of making those books available in digital format at that location.

I must admit I am a late adopter to e-books.  But after my recent move, where I carried countless boxes of books, I could not help but wonder “what if I had all my books in my iPad?”  No more dragging books around from state to state.

Nevertheless, I am concerned about the state of libraries as centers for learning.  For example, while at the University of Memphis I watched the administration fund a $50M university “center” complete with a donut shop.  Meanwhile, the library was underfunded and losing subscriptions to resources.  Why isn’t the library the “center” of a university?

I suspect the goal has shifted from educating young people to drawing them in with a social “center,” capturing and raising their tuition, and funding faculty research on topics that won’t help the students at the school where they “teach.”

So, NYPL plans to remove up to 2 million books from the 5th avenue location without making them available digitally.  The University of Memphis chose to fund a party center over a learning center.  How many out there have seen similar patterns in their respective locales?

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1390241

P.S.  Don’t get me started on questioning who decides which books go and which books stay…

Paid via Card, Workers Feel Sting of Fees – NYTimes.com

Posted on by

Yet another way for big banks to extract wealth from the poor masses and ultimately give it to the few wealthy executives by way of bonuses.  The sad thing in this case is that employers are in on the deal.  As an employer I will force you, my low wage worker, to incur fees to access your paycheck so I can save on my payroll administration costs and perhaps even get a kickback from the big banks.

Everyone: get a checking account at a credit union and demand that your employer direct deposit there.  If the employer will not, quickly find one that will.  Sooner or later the boss will realize they can’t hire anybody while forcing workers to incur fees to access their paycheck.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/business/as-pay-cards-replace-paychecks-bank-fees-hurt-workers.html?pagewanted=all&

The Boom that Wasn’t – How the Bush tax cuts didn’t work

Posted on by

The notion of tax cuts came up in casual conversation a few days ago. While unpacking from my recent move I stumbled across an Economic Policy Institute article from 2005/2006 (Price2005_No_Boom). Long story short, tax cuts can boost an economy if directed at the middle class. However, the Bush tax cuts benefited Bill Gates much more. $860B+ in tax cuts but no economic growth to show for it. Please read the article for yourself and reach your own conclusions.

However, remember, do not cling to what you “know” because if you do, when understanding comes knocking at your door you will not answer. Then what are you clinging to? Continually update your understanding my friends…