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September 30, 2011
currency
Wow. With the news today that China's manufacturing has shrunk for the third quarter.
Could the US economy be the impetus for a Chinese financial correction?
Posted by azileretsis at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2011
amazon
If you haven't heard already, Amazon Tablet is coming out tomorrow. It's a fascinating business/technology story. I wouldn't be surprised to see it show up as a business case in a few years. The main question is does Amazon have enough momentum to take a significant market share of the tablet industry? Whatever price is revealed tomorrow, it will most likely be the the best elastic price on predicted demand (prediction is $250 but I wonder if it might be lower). The product's estimated manufacturing cost is $300. As a side note, Apple is currently selling 9.7-in iPad2 for $599 and Apple is rumored to have better vertical channel control which makes me wonder how much is brand markup.
My reason for a price lower than $250 is just a glance in my purchase history on Amazon. My first Amazon purchase was in 2002 and it was two books and a magazine. I will not go into the details of this years' purchases other than to say, it's extensive and diverse. And, I'm currently waiting on another Amazon shipment. It is quite possible that Amazon may have enough leverage in content and services to tip the scales in its favor. The big question is will the techies be pleased? As a techie, I'm eyeing the Samsung Galaxy 7.7.
Posted by azileretsis at 01:05 AM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2011
communication
One lesson my Technical and Scientific communications professor taught me in college was that a little communication can go a long way. She had studied the communication problems that led up to Tailhook scandal. She was good at deciphering every communication problem that led up to major crises: what was being communicated from the top, the message people were hearing, and communication breakdown that lead to major problems. Sometimes, one doesn't have to look very far to see them. I advocate for better communication.
Posted by azileretsis at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2011
safety
So, today, in my latest Google search on a topic discussed by my professor and me about the best way to use EtBr (ethidium bromide, used in DNA gels, not used in most places but still used in my lab), I came across a message thread on the topic from 2004. One comment cracked me up. The author basically stated that other toxic chemicals were being tossed down the sink anyways. Unfortunately, this author forgot it is easy to tell his university which was Cambridge. He left his name and phone number on the message too. Just a reminder that the Internet is relentless about the information that it keeps.
I love this aspect of the Net since it means that my creations (websites) live on even if they are not the current designs.
Posted by azileretsis at 03:35 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2011
contagion
I just wanted to post up a short reflection on Contagion, a new apocalyptic movie about a subject close to my heart. First of all, the movie isn't just about the biological vector that decimates the world's population but also the one of the social vector (social networking sites etc.) that spreads bad information. Second, the science of the movie isn't bad though greatly accelerated. Bad news is now an expectation has been developed of how such an event would be resolved. I did appreciate the attempt at getting the science right. However, like any good story, this movie needed villains and heroes. Though I didn't have any problems with the villains, I did have a problem with the movie portraying individual researchers and scientists as heroes. Just as the medical doctors were befuddled, in reality, researchers and scientists may work very hard to resolve the crisis but not be able to come quickly to a resolution. Part of the problem is that there isn't just one bureaucrat, two researchers, and two epidemiologists. We are talking about teams of people that number into the hundreds with each their way of thinking. People who care very much about protocols and plans. The ability to work together will be tested and may be the key to any true problem-solving.
Also, I'm of the mindset that the chances that researchers and scientists can resolve a world-wide pandemic even in this age is smaller than the ability of our immune system to resolve the pandemic on its own. And, keep in mind that in our current arsenal, there is only about 30 antivirals. So, our chances aren't that great.
Posted by azileretsis at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2011
work
So, when I worked in IT, sometimes it was really good and sometimes it could be really bad. In this article about most hated jobs, the comments about the director of IT are very true about the bad: Nepotism, cronyism, disrespect for workers. Now I know it's not just true about IT, it's also true in Science, not necessarily the first but the last two. I have to conclude that these problems can exist in all fields. Only when we work to break out of these modes can we exhibit professionalism in our respective fields. Why can't we all try to achieve professionalism while maintaining our expertise? My current theories for the Science world for lack of professionalism are boredom or arrogance.
For example, gossip. I try to warn young people that those who talk to you about juicy gossip are the same people who talk about you. Also, it's a matter of self-preservation, do you really want those same rumors being spread about you? Do you really believe there is none on you? Another example is cronyism, do you really believe in this age that you and your two friends who look like you and act like you have all the information you need to be successful now and in the future? Stepping off my soapbox.
Having worked as web developer and a business analyst, I can sympathize with employers' or clients' lack of coherent communication and understanding of technology but that's also what makes the good developers and analysts great.
Posted by azileretsis at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)
September 15, 2011
cost
So, this morning's headline news included the UBS trader that cost his company $2 billion and may have cost his CEO his job. Ouch. Buttonwood's response.
As for the bankers, they remind me of the post-1815 Bourbon monarchs who had "learned nothing and forgotten nothing". They still see themselves as masters of the universe rather than as servants of the taxpayer as a result of their previous mistakes. Of course, the crisis wasn't all the fault of the banks but there were still plenty of errors of judgment that cast extreme doubt on whether they deserve their high salaries. Investment bankers claim to be in favour of free markets so let them prove it by cutting themselves off from the public purse.
Ouch. Here, the issue is with management and the high-risk, selfish behavior they advocate and those individuals who play their games.
Open your eyes and smell the stink.
More information in the census report. The change in median income after a recession has been greatest for the last year than any other period since 1967 (-2.3%).
Onto tech, yesterday on Yahoo, you would have found an article about coolest tech toys of 2011 on its front page. Among them, you would have found the Galaxy 7.7. I looked up this product since I'm shopping for a tablet and did not want a HP product. I was impressed with the Super AMOELED screen since I discovered recently that the Amazon tablet will go with a regular LCD screen. Then, there were rumors that Galaxy 7.7 might not be sold in the US which has now been clarified. From the first reviews, Galaxy 7.7 is a good blend between the tablet and phone. When did introducing a technology in the US become an afterthought? I want to be an early adopter of good products that won't break my budget!
Posted by azileretsis at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2011
remembering
International remembrance of 9/11. The day the whole world mourned with us.
Posted by azileretsis at 09:43 PM | Comments (0)
September 08, 2011
balance
Learning alot about obesity lately. Recently, I heard Dr. Jeffrey Friedman speak about obesity. Among the thoughts I had at the end of listening to him for two hours were that I wonder if scientists tend to dwell on the exceptions rather than rule. Even he proposed that maybe up to 14% of obese people may have neural pathways that are dysfunctional. Yet, his most interesting hypothesis was that the body attempts to maintain homeostasis and we enter a losing battle when we try to attempt to change the balance. So, for those dieters out there, love not hate your body.
On another topic, I came across a Stanford researcher today who patented his product three years after his paper was published. I'm a little curious to know why it took him so long to patent since I have to say it's definitely innovative.
Posted by azileretsis at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)
September 07, 2011
virus
Poliovirus reported in China near the border to Pakistan. Did you know that paralytic poliomyelitis occurs in less than 1% of poliovirus infections?
Posted by azileretsis at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
September 06, 2011
company
Love Edgar. I have definitely missed you.
The time required to reach profitability is highly uncertain, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve profitability on a sustained basis, if at all.
On another financial report, it's frustrating to see a statement of operations with growing expenses when the report states that they may not have funds to continue to operate into 2012.
For those Brazilians who think I feed bacteria, a comic introducing synthetic biology.
Posted by azileretsis at 12:06 PM | Comments (0)
September 02, 2011
prospects
I hope that someone had told President Obama his economic prospects in 2008. Because, it would stink to find out this news now.
It shows the unemployment rate averaging 9% through 2012, compared to 8.3% in the pre-revision forecast, and real GDP rising 2.9% through the fourth quarter, compared to 3.2%.
I would have liked this information in 2002.
Posted by azileretsis at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)