A real walk about.
This week Der Spiegel has an article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the introduction of pedestrian Don’t Walk/Walk signals to East Germany…
Continue reading… “Pedestrian signals from around the world”
Fewer people having babies amid weak economy
The U.S. birth rate has fallen sharply since hitting a high in 2007.
There is further evidence to add to the theory that the nation’s economic hard times have caused some families to delay having kids, according to a new report.
Continue reading… “Fewer people having babies amid weak economy”
As health premiums rise even the insured are spending less on care
More money is spent on health insurance but less money is spent on care.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers show more money is being spent on health insurance but less on care. Americans are spending more money on insurance premiums, and they’re spending less out of pocket on health services. The trend doesn’t reflect patients getting more health coverage for their insurance money, experts say. It reflects patients, even those with insurance, avoiding spending cash on health care they think can be put off.
Continue reading… “As health premiums rise even the insured are spending less on care”
Vitamins and dietary supplements offer little benefit, may be harmful: Study
The study found a small increase in the risk of death among older women who took dietary supplements.
Most people receive little benefit from taking multivitamins and many other dietary supplements and they may even be harmful, according to researchers behind a large new study.
Continue reading… “Vitamins and dietary supplements offer little benefit, may be harmful: Study”
Top 10 biggest landowners in the U.S.
No. 1: John Malone
2.2 million acres in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Maine and New Hampshire.
With its up-and-down fortunes and constant threat of being outflanked by the next iPad-delivered Internet service the media business can be very nerve-wracking. Maybe that’s why Liberty Media’s John Malone pours so much of his extra cash into land.
The U.S. now uses more corn for fuel than feed!
Using corn as fuel is Madness! And not the British band…
The corn ethanol supporters are probably not very familiar with the concept of opportunity cost. Either that, or the subsidies and high corn prices are just to juicy to give up. Only about 20% of all the corn grown in the U.S. now goes to feed humans directly, and more than half of what remains is now being turned into ethanol fuel while the other half goes to feed livestock. The problem is that life-cycle studies show that corn ethanol ranges from barely better than fossil-fuel gasoline to significantly worse, especially if you take into account land use issues and the impact of higher food prices on the poor. Many would agree that corn ethanol is a net loss for society, yet this industry keeps growing…
Continue reading… “The U.S. now uses more corn for fuel than feed!”
AshPoopie cremates your pet’s indiscretions
Pick it up then burn it up.
An Israel-based company called Paulee CleanTec has taken a page from your local funeral home when it comes to dealing with your pet’s unwanted business.
Instead of picking it up in a plastic baggie—which is just about the worst thing humans have ever lowered themselves to do doing—the AshPoopie simply scoops and cremates the whole mess. Turning it into odorless, 100 percent sterile ash that you can just dump and let the wind carry away. That is until your local laws are updated, requiring you to scoop and bag the ash as well…
Continue reading… “AshPoopie cremates your pet’s indiscretions”
Kickstarter surpasses $100 million in pledges
Taking off like a rocket.
Popular crowd funding platform Kickstarter has announced that more than 1 million people have backed at least one project, resulting in more than $100 million dollars in pledges.
Kickstarter allows users to post their projects and find funding for them from the Kickstarter community. Everything from the iPod nano watch to indie films have gotten their start on the crowd funding website.
It took Kickstarter just under two-and-a-half years to reach the 1 million backers milestone, according to a plethora of stats the company published on its blog…
Continue reading… “Kickstarter surpasses $100 million in pledges”
Post-Employment Era: Humans need not apply
Perhaps comedian Steven Wright said it best:
“I lost my job the other day. Well, I didn’t really lose it. I know where it’s at, it’s just when I go there someone else is doing it.”
They say that the truest comedy is the funniest, and there is nothing truer than the statement above. Steven’s old job didn’t go anywhere… his employer just found someone more qualified, more efficient, or less costly to do it. In today’s economy where layoffs and a bleak job market are the norm, the joke has lost a great deal of it’s humor. But a good look at the data proves Steven’s point — all those jobs are still there, it’s just that employers are finding more qualified, more efficient, and more cost-effective help.
Continue reading… “Post-Employment Era: Humans need not apply”
Nissan creates 10-minute electric car charger
Nissan says it has developed a 10-minute charge for electric cars.
Current charge times take up to eight hours for most electric vehicles. But charging an electric car may soon be as quick and easy as refueling at the pump.
Continue reading… “Nissan creates 10-minute electric car charger”
Chocolate linked to fewer strokes in women: study
Chocolate lovers have fewer strokes.
Having a sweet tooth for chocolate may not necessarily be bad for your health, hints a new study.
Continue reading… “Chocolate linked to fewer strokes in women: study”
Promise of 5 million green jobs falls short
The program was supposed to train 125,000 workers, but only 53,000 have been “trained” so far.
The story of the green jobs subisdy gets more embarrassing by the day. President Obama promised three years ago that by the end of the decade America would have five million green jobs, but so far some $90 billion in government spending has delivered very few.
Continue reading… “Promise of 5 million green jobs falls short”