WSJ on GM Janesville

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Wisconsin State Journal Editorial pens a useful, cautious note:

There are no guarantees that GM will succeed with its turnaround plant. That means there are no long-term guarantees for the Janesville plant.

But in today’s rapidly changing economy, there are few guarantees for anyone.

The lesson for Wisconsin is that knowledge is vital. The knowledge-based economy is transforming all industries, from auto makers to software developers to genetic engineers. The state should invest in its knowledge assets its schools, colleges and universities. They will not only produce the educated work force we will depend upon but also the research that will generate many new businesses.

Families should also invest in knowledge the education and re-education that will be required to prepare for the changing job market.

The Demise of IP

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Melanie Wyne:

More than two years ago, Massachusetts embarked on an “open standards, open source” policy, ostensibly working to guide its executive agencies toward a more citizen-accessible, cost-effective management of state IT assets. The state finally settled on the mandated use of OASIS’ OpenDocument Format, plus Adobe’s PDF schema, for its executive agencies’ office suites by January 2007. This policy has pitted those in favor of government mandates to meet “larger considerations” against others in the industry who favor a more market-oriented approach.
One editorial labeled Massachusetts’ OpenDocument Format plan as the “domino” that will cause other governments and private parties to follow suit, fostering more choice. Others believe that it represents a mandate for a single type of software model, one purposely imposed to limit competition, not strengthen it.

Tankless Hot Water Heaters via Microwave

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Pulsar Advanced Technologies will next week launch its lead product, the Vulcanus MK4, a water heater USING microwave technology to heat water on demand.
Powered by electricity and unaffected by the volatile gas markets, the Vulcanus MK4 can heat water from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can source multiple applications at once: showers, dishwasher, sink usages and more. The Vulcanus MK4 is the size of a stereo speaker with a sleek modern look, making it ideal for condos and apartments, while powerful enough to serve the needs of any size family. via Zawodny

WebSudoku

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Sudoku (??) is the number placing game taking the world by storm – see Wikipedia.
The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3×3 square.
Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.

Frontline on Katrina

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Frontline:

While much is still being investigated nearly three months after Katrina lashed through the Gulf Coast, government officials and experts on preparedness and national security say they’ve already learned some lessons from the catastrophe. They say it’s a wake-up call for other disasters ahead. Will we be ready?
Commenting here are: Warren Rudman, co-chair, National Security Commission; Tom Ridge, secretary, Department of Homeland Security (2002-2005); Michael Brown, FEMA director (2003-2005); Richard Clarke, National Security Council (1992-2003); Richard Falkenrath, Homeland Security adviser (2001-2005); and Leo Bosner, FEMA National Response and Coordination Center.

Local Taxes: Accounting Rule Changes on Retiree Health Care Costs

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Deborah Solomon:

A looming accounting change is forcing state and local governments to fess up to something that’s been lurking on their books for years: Many have made costly retirement health-care promises without planning how to pay for them.

Under a new accounting rule, governments soon must start recognizing their long-term obligations to pay for retirees’ health benefits — and, for the first time, publicly disclose what it would cost each year to fund that liability.

For many governments, the promised amount is likely to be sizeable enough to prompt big changes such as cutting retiree benefits, borrowing money and diverting tax dollars from other spending priorities — or risk a credit-rating downgrade that could significantly boost borrowing costs. Estimates of obligations for some states range from $500 million to as much as $40 billion.