Here are some recent news articles and some of my observations on them. August is usually one of the slowest news months of the year with many individuals and families taking vacations. This year the political conventions for both major parties are being conducted much later than they have historically, with the GOP convention occuring after Labor Day. The positive of this will mean the Autumn campaign season will be just a little shorter. This is something we can all be tremendously thankful for, considering the leadup to the primary season started over a year before the actual first caucus and primary, a process which left virtually everyone burned out with politics even more so than usual. Onto to other items:A. Over-the-Air Television Misses Out Being on Cellular Telephones
Unlike places such as in Asia, American consumers do not get over -the-air analog television broadcasts over cellular telephones. This may change in the coming few years. With the changeover to digital broadcasting next February, an opportunity exists to link together the two communication mediums. Look for cellular phones to enter the marketplace by 2010 that are capable of receiving over the air television transmissions. With the digital product a superior one to the soon to end analog broadcasts, it makes sense to add this feature. Phones must be designed and manufactured that can handle the digital telecast signal while still being able to utilize the primary cellular signal. This is not a serious engineering challenge. Soon we will have replacements for all those mini-televisions that are soon going to be largely useless.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26225196
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B. American Medical Association Universal Health Insurance Plan
Health care is not the highest priority for Americans as an issue at the moment, but it is among the issues that is of great concern. Several competing plans have emerged and Congress as well as the next President will need to come to an agreement to enact legislation to address this serious growing social problem. The AMA proposal will likely be among the plans given the greatest consideration. Hopefully a single-payer plan will become reality with a small payroll tax deduction of 1.5 to 2.0 percent to fund the program with the fullscale elimination of most insurance programs except for the wealthy elite and those choosing a more comprehensive exclusive plan.
http://www.voicefortheuninsured.org/
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C. Added Controversies Concerning CFL Bulbs
Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) bulbs have been mandated by federal law to replace the venerable incandescent bulb in a phased transition over the next five years. While CFLs have some advantages, there are concerns environmentally with these products and concerns are valid with some particular safety factors. Now this report has been made discussing the likelihood these CFL bulbs will result in greater electricity expenses for consumers due to the bulbs' inherent design. Hopefully LED bulbs will come into the mainstream faster than is being envisioned, and at a cost that makes them the fully sensible alternative to the troubled CFL bulbs.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Are-CFL-s-Designed-to-Make-by-Steve-Windisch-ji-080814-42.html
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D. A Savant Observation of the American and Global Economy
Nouriel Roubini is an esteemed economist and one of the few voices in the wilderness who foresaw the downturn now underway nationally and globally economically. His outlook is one that is even more downcast, as the future is one he believes will be considerably and noticeably different in many ways from what Americans and others have known over the past decades. Dr Doom believes the worst is yet to come and we will all feel it in a number of ways.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/magazine/17pessimist-t.html?_r=2&em=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
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E. Kingman - The Next Arizona Metropolis ?
Kingman, AZ, is a relatively small community stradling I-40 about three and a half hours northwest of downtown Phoenix and about an hour and a half southeast of Las Vegas. Currently it is estimated about 40,000 people live in the area. But a big change may be looming. Developers have convinced government officials in the surrounding area of Mohave County that adequate groundwater resources exist to support a tenfold increase in the population, particularly along US Highway 93 in the Sacramento north of Kingman on the way to Las Vegas. Widescale land is available for development along this corridor and it is relatively inexpensive and easier to develop as compared to Clark County and Las Vegas. Whether or not the water resources do exist is a legitimate question and one that has yet to be answered conclusively. The Kingman area has a good climate overall and is located in a scenic environment in every direction. Growth will continue to occur but it is hard to imagine growth of that magnitude within a generation. Then again, the Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas areas exploded almost unimaginably in the last several decades, particularly after 1970. But it would be a shame to see it happen in now largely unpopulated northwest Arizona. Southern Arizona has already been largely lost and a repeat up the road would be a mistake.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/us/10kingman.html?ei=5070&en=66b7ce2d76bc78f0&ex=1219118400&emc=eta1&pagewanted=all
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F. Outlook for Future Employment - What and Where
This report on what careers and professions are still in demand and where opportunities currently exist relative to other locales is a snapshot in time. Reports like this are constantly in a state of flux and future reports may be largely different. Still, the information provided here can be a framework and guide for those trying to prepare for the future and making important choices.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/16/earlyshow/living/money/main4355285.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4355285
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G. One - Eighth of All American Homeowners to be Foreclosed
The grim news on the collapsing housing market continues unabated as record increases in the numbers of homes facing or in foreclosure continues. Nevada is ground zero, as by the time all is said and done, more than one - quarter of all homes will have been foreclosed. Florida, California, and Arizona are also states where the numbers far exceed the national average. With so many houses sitting empty, the pressure only increases on homeowners as home values continue a strong downward trend. It can be expected by 2011 that home values will probably drop by 50 - 70 percent in some areas from their peaks in 2005 and 2006. Most areas will experience at a minimum a one - third decline in value from their peak in the next two to three years.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLY_H8XQz_iM&refer=worldwide
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