70 Words

Back is Best

10/15/2012

While being in the front has its appeal, when it comes to surviving plane crashes, the back is best. In a recent deliberate plane crash designed to mimic the real thing, dummy-passengers in the front experiences 12 times the force…

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Happy Birthday

10/12/2012

The Friday File: In 2011, more newborns were born in August, 360,000, than any other month. July and September were next with 346,000 each. The least most popular month was February with 299,000. In ’11, the most popular names for…

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Hold the Phone

10/11/2012

After steadily falling for decades, nonfatal injuries to kids under five rose 12% between ’07 and ’10, based on hospital admissions data. Increases have been across-the-board, ranging from swimming pools to playground equipment to falls from chairs and sofas. Child…

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No More Taxing

10/10/2012

Romney’s proposal works. Cutting tax rates by 20% costs $181 billion. Eliminating the AMT and taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains for couples with incomes below $200,000, and singles below $100,000, costs $38 billion. Filers with AGIs over $100,000…

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Surprising Survey

10/09/2012

Despite 114,000 jobs being created in September the unemployment rate plummeted to 7.8% from 8.1%. The unemployment rate is based on a tiny survey of 66,000 households that has a margin of error of 400,000! Moreover, the survey is especially…

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Columbus’ Consequences

10/05/2012

The Friday File: As we celebrate Christopher Columbus, note his was a voyage of economics. He was seeking a trade route to transport high value-to-weight items to Europe. Instead, he found the New World and precious metals. Those metals caused…

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Carrier Consolidation

10/04/2012

Unlike the AT&T/T-Mobile merger which regulators rejected, the proposed T-Mobile/Metro PCS merger will get quick DOJ and FTC approval. Why? While the AT&T merger would have eliminated the largest low-priced competitor from the marketplace and increased industry concentration at the…

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Power Diplomacy

10/03/2012

In ’05, the US imported 60% of its oil; now it’s 42% and falling. This has had profound geopolitical impacts. The rise in US oil production since ’05 is roughly equal to what Iran was exporting prior to UN sanctions.…

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Downtown Domicile

10/02/2012

Between ‘00 and ‘10, Chicago had the largest numerical increase in its downtown population (defined as areas within two miles of City Hall) at 48,288, NYC was next at 37,422, Philadelphia at 20,769, Salt Lake at 19,712, and DC with…

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Pain in Spain

10/01/2012

In an effort to avoid a sovereign bailout and curry favor with the ECB, Spain will cut spending by $51 billion in ’13, almost 3% of GDP! Amazingly, this belt tightening is occurring during a recession! As a result, the…

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