kao

Name That Tune DVD Board Game - 80s Edition
$39.99
I would use thwe seller again it was neatly packed and came in on time.

Innovation Nation: How America Is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back
$26.00
Some assorted background facts contained in "Innovation Nation:"

U.S. students rank 24th in math literacy and 26th in problem-solving ability. In 2005-06, 30,000 highly trained technology professionals left the U.S. to return to India; similar trends involve the brightest of other nations.

By 2010 experts estimate that Beijing will have the world's largest nanotech research infrastructure, with 10X as many researchers in one location as any comparable U.S. facility; the second largest will be in Shanghai.

The U.S. ranks 16th out of 17 nations in the proportion of 24-year-olds with degrees in natural science vs. other majors, according to the National Math and Science Initiative.

Intel's Barrett says a chip-making facility in Singapore is worth $1 billion more over ten years than an identical one in the U.S., largely because of more favorable tax policies.

In 2006 the Dept. of Defense identified 42 leading-edge technologies it was interested in - 20 were based outside the U.S.

Foreigners represent half of all U.S. graduate students in engineering and 40% of those in physical sciences. However, their numbers are dropping due to increasing alternatives (eg. Australia, China), increased difficulty getting visas, and rising costs in the U.S.

These are all good points to help raise awareness of the need for change. However, Kao's recommendations are too much more of the same - eg. spend more money on education. We already spend 5.3% of GDP, vs. 1.9% for China, 3.5% Japan, 4.6% South Korea and Germany, 5.6% U.K., 7.2% Norway, and have doubled our inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending in the last 35 years - w/o improving either our drop-out rate or NAEP scores for 17-year-olds. Thus, more money for education is not the answer. Innovation in how it is spent, however, would probably be productive - eg. longer school day and year, higher expectations.

Tax policy changes would also probably help. However, the biggest factor is the much lower labor costs overseas - eg. $200/month for factory workers laboring 80 hour-weeks in China. Outsourcing production work quickly takes with it the need and opportunity for factory management and engineering positions as well. Finally, skills in current areas often provide the gateway to mastering new technology - eg. TV tubes -> LCD, plasma, and OECLD flat-panel displays -> nanotubes (?), etc.

High U.S. government expenditures (taxes) for defense and health care, as well as American industry's tradition of funding worker and family health care also detract from our international competitiveness.

Another major problem is the U.S.'s phobia about government intervention. China, Japan, and South Korea have all had strong government leadership shaping their economic direction; the U.S., however, has not, and we have ended up outsourcing so many capabilities that we are becoming a service economy, dominated by the finance industry (about 40% of our GNP), unable to supply our own military or even flu vaccine needs!

Specifically, 75% of the 1,500 companies listed as domestic stocks on China's exchange are state-owned; all corporations in sectors that make up the core of China's economy are required to be owned or controlled by the state. Control over most of the rest is via China's banks - the state owns all of them and sets priorities. (FA, May 2009)

John Frieda Radiant Red Color Magnifying Daily Conditioner with Light Enhancers 8.45 fl oz (250 ml)
$6.68
Red hair is so hard to keep up. I can't get this product in any of the stores I have tried. They only have John Frieda for brunette and blond.
Reds are the ones who really need it. This product also really conditions well. My hair is so soft. I love running my fingers through my own hair.

IOGear HDmi V1.3B CAT-2 Series 1000 Cable - 16.4ft
$29.71
IOGEAR's HDMI cable provides both high-definition video and multi-channel audio connection between any digital HDTV/ displays and digital source devices such as DVD players, DVRs, digital set-top boxes (cable/ satellite), A/V receivers, game consoles and many more.IOGEAR's HDMI cable is engineered to deliver the best in class digital video and audio connectivity.