Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The Booming Bottled Water Business Represents Everything That's Wrong With Government Regulation In China

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-water-story-shows-government-power-2013-11

China Pollution

The bottled water business has boomed in China as concerns about contaminated water sources persist.

Sales of bottled water are expected to surge to $16 billion by 2017, from $9 billion last year, according to Euromonitor International.

"This water story illustrates how much China's economy is distorted by unhealthy government power," writes Andy Xie, independent economist and former Morgan Stanley chief Asia-Pacific economist, in Caixin Online.

Environmental pollution has caused people to eschew tap water for bottled water. Xie attributes the pollution to the local governments' desire to draw in investment, as turning a blind eye to the pollution lowers production costs. From Xie:

"As demand for bottled water grows, of course, it is an investment opportunity, too. Hence, the safety of bottled water becomes an issue. If one is willing to sacrifice the environment to attract investment, why not lower the standards for bottled water? That is indeed a serious issue. Consumers have to guess which bottled water is safe.

"A further story is how bottled water has become a source of revenue. As some suppliers have become successful in the market, governments find it more profitable to tax them. Hence, the price of bottled water is rising."

This additional revenue also goes toward investment, as local governments have thus far focused on feeding the beast and meeting GDP targets.

The bottom line according to Xie, is that all of this is done to "satisfy the government," and the real reform that China needs is limited government control.

SEE ALSO: 7 Experts Identify The Best And Worst Things About China's Latest String Of Reforms

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Chrome OS 32 beta makes it easier to find the right window

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/19/chrome-os-32-beta/

Acer Chromebook C720

Windowing has been a familiar sight in Chrome OS for a while now, but it hasn't always been easy to find the window you're looking for. That search should be much quicker if you're running the just-launched Chrome OS 32 beta, though. The test release brings Vista-style window thumbnails when using Alt-Tab to switch tasks, and the overview button now shows an organized view of all those panes. Early adopters can get the beta today, although it's not currently available for either the original Acer C7 or the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook.

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Source: Chrome Releases

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Apple TV update adds Yahoo Screen and PBS apps

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/19/apple-tv-yahoo-screen-pbs-apps/

Yahoo's been working hard to include support for Apple services in its Screen iOS app, now it's gone one better and launched its video-discovery app on Apple TV. With an emphasis on comedy, Yahoo Screen has been designed to collate the best of web video, including clips from Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show, as well as live news, events and music. You'll also be able to browse trending videos and watch Yahoo Originals programming, which are delivered direct to your Apple TV without the need to AirPlay them across. AllThingsD reports that PBS has also quietly pushed a new app, letting users get their Nova, Frontline or Antiques Roadshow fix (older episodes of Downton Abbey will be available shortly after PBS begins re-airing seasons early next year). Today's update may only available to US users but Apple isn't being shy about broadening the number of Apple TV apps available across the globe.

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Source: Yahoo Screen (Tumblr)

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A Virginia Tech Survivor Created An App To Help Others Thwart Campus Crime

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-virginia-tech-survivor-created-an-app-to-help-others-thwart-campus-crime-2013-11

Kristina Anderson VA Tech

On April 16, 2007, a gunman entered Kristina Anderson's French class on the Virginia Tech campus and opened fire, killing 11 of her classmates and her professor. Thirty-two people died that day in total.

Anderson survived three gunshot wounds — two to her back and one to her foot. Since that horrific day, she has been a dedicated advocate for college safety, the Washington Post reports.

Part of her advocacy was the creation of LiveSafe, a smartphone app aimed at stopping campus crime.

Here's how it works:

Users can report non-emergency incidents, such as theft, car accidents, harassment, vandalism or mental health concerns, with the tap of a finger.

Users can also send photos, audio or video to police through the app, or chat directly with a member of the campus police department.

Public safety officials collect all of the tips to get a more comprehensive view of what’s happening on campus and interact with students who send in tips.

According to the Post, LiveSafe is already being used at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of New Hampsh! ire, amo ng other schools.

You can watch Anderson talk about her experience on that day in April below:

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This 13-Year-Old Teaches MIT Graduates About Technology

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/13-year-old-teaches-technology-at-mit-2013-11

Quin Etnyre

Quin Etnyre, a 13-year-old tech expert, teaches graduate students at MIT all about Arduino, an open source platform for controlling electronics.

We first saw the news on BBC

Etnyre is also the CEO at Qtechknow, a startup that sells starter kits for Arduino.

The 13-year-old has created numerous projects, but one especially notable one is the FuzzBot.

The FuzzBot is an Arduino-based robot platform. Etnyre programmed the FuzzBot to detect walls, hands, and has a swiffer duster attached to the back for cleaning. 

But when he's not running his company, Entyre teaches an Arduino class at MIT. Some say he's one of MIT's most in-demand teachers

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