That aspirin tablet- NOT so fast!!!

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When I turned 50, my friend told me to consider taking an aspirin tablet every day.  (Before you react crazily, I should remind you that my friend IS my doctor.) He suggested this routine because aspirin tends to ‘thin the blood’, rendering it more difficult for blood to clot and, therefore, block blood flow to the heart or brain. (Aspirin inactivates platelet cyclooxygenase; this precludes them from producing thomboxane A2. Thromboxane,  in turn, is a vasoconstrictor and promotes platelet aggregation.  Aspirin also has anti-inflamatory and vasodilation effects.)

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Deficit Reduction…

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The question of what to do about the economy is foremost in our minds.  Greece must slash its deficit and increase its tax revenue.  (Oh, I know, if it increases its tax revenue, the deficit will decrease- but in Greece’s case, that is not what is being discussed.)  In America, the Republicans want spending decreased, the Democrats want taxes increased on the ‘rich’- those whose taxable income exceeds $250K or $ 1 million.  The Democratic position is that we are still not growing enough jobs- and while private industry is hiring, our states are slashing jobs at an enormous rate.  The Republicans feel that tax increases on the rich will stop them from hiring.

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American Manufacturers…

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I wrote about Milliken & Company the other day- a great American company,  which managed to grow and innovate due in a large part to its CEO.  There are other companies like that.  Corning under the Houghton’s – that managed to convert itself from a glass company- with the ubiquitous Corningware- into a high tech powerhouse that specializes in medical equipment and fibre-optics, among others.  (Thanks for the opportunity, Corning.)  But today, I will discuss another company, one that has been having a race with the mythical phoenix.

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Whither R and D? Or, is it wither R &D?

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We know that manufacturing jobs are being exported.  But, now the R&D is being exported, too.  Not only because the US is not producing fantastic scientific and engineering talent, but to afford corporations the ability to tailor their products to the overseas markets…plus, this curries favor with foreign governments by opening R&D centers in their lands. US innovation- high tech, manufacturing and non-manufacturing The US National Science Board (part of the National Science Foundation) reported that US multinationals have grown their R&D employment tallies overseas- with 85% of all new jobs being located outside the US.  Right now, the total employment in US R&D activities is 73% of the total overall (down from 84% in 2004). Before you jump up and down, consider this fact- more than ½ of the engineering degrees being awarded are from Asia (56% in 2008) and only 4% graduate from the US- and that does not include the fact that more than ½ the PhD degrees granted in the US are awarded to foreign students (57%).

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Whither Manufacturing? Wither?

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We’ve already discussed why employment is in trouble in the US.  But, there are other facts- forgetting the politics- that really tell the story.   Many are angry that the US bailed out the banks.  Given how the banks have acted since that effort, one would be hard pressed to not feel that same way.  But, many are annoyed that the US bailed out the auto industry.  Given how that effort has turned out, one is hard pressed to understand those thoughts.

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Stand up and Cheer

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I get very annoyed when folks keep saying that we are in the post-industrial age.  I consider that the industrial period has changed- as I have written here, agreeing with Dr. Neal Spence that we are in the third century of the industrial era.  And, the news of late has shown this to be true- America is getting back to work again, due to its large manufacturing sector; still the largest one in the world.

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What are YOU thinking?

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So, I’ve been writing for a while about brain research. And, how some (a lot?) is being used to determine criminal behavior. Lie detection (here and here, among others- check out lie detect on the index) and legal/criminal thought and action are among the most insidious applications. Today, I will talk about one that has a benign application- except for what it really means. I guess that means you have to read this post to the end.

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The perception of causality

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We have been speaking of causation and correlation this week.  We, as humans, believe that our determination of causation is solved by accumulating facts.  Which is why I read voraciously and catalogue my knowledge.  So, that I can have all the data I need at my fingertips- now.  And, still I am not infallible.

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