Thursday, January 17, 2013

Oddly Relevant Jan-17-2013


Next made-in-China boom: college graduates: China is making a $250 billion-a-year investment/subsidy to educate millions of young people as they move from farms to cities. Amidst formidable difficulties in dealing with widespread corruption, a sclerotic political system, severe environmental damage, inefficient state-owned monopolies and other problems, China is also growing a more educated middle class that demands change. [Note: A change much welcomed]…Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/business/chinas-ambitious-goal-for-boom-in-college-graduates.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0

3 long-term problems that should be on Obama’s agenda: if he were to be remembered as a great president: (1) Balance the books, (2) bridge international agreements, and (3) solve the Turkey region’s problems. [Note: These are opinions. Just do the best job for the good of the greatest number, and one can walk away knowing he did his best]…Source: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21569711-if-barack-obama-wants-be-remembered-great-president-he-should-focus-three-long-term

Gobank arrives: mobile-first, no fees, very easy to use, and built by Real Internet People. It is part of Green Dot with free cash deposits, and it is actually a bank with the bank account superior and cheaper in all respects. [Note: as tech slowly eats into the finance industry, could we see the next wave of tech+finance startups being potentially revolutionary?]…Source: http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2013/01/16/gobank-arrives/

2012 Kickstarter statistics: >18,000 projects, total of $320mm by 2.2mm people. In all 44% of projects launched get funded and 17 projects raised > $1mm a piece. All in all a 200% in total amount raised compared to 2011. Top 3 in money raised are games, film & video, and design; top 3 in success rate are dance, theater, and music. [Note: Fascinating, but fitting. Perhaps more consumer and entertainment driven]…Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/01/daily-chart-12

Best Microscope Videos of 2012: I found a few amusing: (1) immune response to lymph nodes, (2) growth of complexity in kidney, (3) action of the heart, and (4) the making of the brain. Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/01/nikon-small-world-video-winners/?pid=6015

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