June 20, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Leader: Despite perceptions that the nation is losing its competitive edge, the United States remains the dominant leader in science and technology worldwide, according to a RAND Corporation study issued a last week. The United States, says RAND, accounts for 40% of the total world's spending on scientific research and development, employs 70% of the world's Nobel Prize winners, and is home to three-quarters of the world's top 40 universities. Two questions here... 1. Do you care where the U.S. ranks in science and technology; and... 2. Does it feel to you like the U.S. leads the world in these two categories?
Q2 - Advertising: Some of the companies advertising on television encourage viewers to visit a specific website or URL for an extended version of their commercial. When you see such prompts, do you go to the advertiser's website or do you generally ignore such goading?
Q3 - Internet Traffic: Some people use the Internet just to check e-mail and look up phone numbers. Others are online all day, uploading and downloading large files. For years, both kinds of Web surfers have paid the same price for access. But now three of the nation's largest Internet service providers are threatening to clamp down on subscribers by placing limits on their online activity. One of them, Time Warner Cable, began a trial of "Internet metering" in one Texas city early this month, asking customers to select a monthly plan and pay surcharges when they exceed their bandwidth limit. The idea is that those of us who use the Internet more heavily should pay more, the way we do for water or electricity. How do you feel about this? Would you be willing to pay a metered rate for Internet access?
Q4 - Dissection: Like all medical schools, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine requires its students to study and work on cadavers. In addition, the OU College of Medicine requires its student to attend its annual Anatomical Donor Memorial Luncheon, where they meet in person with family members of the specific donor they're charged with working on. Do you think you could stomach working on a cadaver?
Posted by Mikal at June 20, 2008 6:23 PM
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Q1 - Leader: 1. Yes. Ever since I found out we were first to the moon (yeah, I didn't learn that until like 1982), it's a disappointment to me anytime I discover some other country leads in any scientific area. 2. Umm... never really thought about the universities, but there are a lot here, and if we lead the world in science, it makes sense that our universities are pretty good too.
Q2 - Advertising: I sometimes try to remember to visit, but usually forget.
Q3 - Internet Traffic: There was a time when I would download several gigabytes of data each day. But now that my software pirating and midget-porn surfing days are behind me, I probably wouldn't mind too much.
Q4 - Dissection: NO WAY! Well, maybe. I just don't think I'd really want to, ya know? It's like... I know I can handle a certain level of pain, but I don't like pain!
Q1: Yes, I care. Yes, I believe it to be true. And I am proud of the fact. I believe we lead for several reasons: 1) We attract the best and the brightest from around the world - it's not just people born in the U.S.A who contribute to the U.S. superiority in this category. 2) The U.S. provides plenty of opportunities for smart, talented people from other countries who do not have similar opportunities in their countries. 3) We have great colleges and universities and stress a multidisciplinary approach that I believe leads to greater creativity - students are not simply encouraged to regurgitate what they've "learned." (I do believe that the U.S. needs to raise more disciplined students, however - with a coordinated effort at both home and in school.)
Q2: I rarely visit a product's web site to view an extended version of a commercial, but if a product or service catches my interest, I will go to the web site to find more information.
Q3: I already have somewhat of a metered rate through my satellite service - WildBlue. They have three or four different tiers for uploads and downloads. When you exceed your limit, they drop your connection speed until you drop back within your monthly limit.
Q4: When I was younger, I majored in biology, and none of this stuff really bothered me. Now that I've been away from dissection and such for nearly 30 years, I'm pretty squeamish. I'd probably faint. That Memorial Luncheon seems pretty morbid. Who thought that one up, David Lynch? Bleah!
1) Yes, to both, BUT being the leader in these categories means nothing unless the new technologies are implemented, and on that score I'd say that we're no more than equal to if not behind some countries.
2) I may visit the url if the product interests me but for the most part, no.
3) could do it, but I wouldnt' I'd imagine that the people who consume the bandwidth are already paying extra for faster connections as Joe mentioned, so the extra fee is kinda superfluous.
4) I could do it, but it wouldn't be on my top 1,000 list of things to do before I die. And I kind of like the idea of the luncheon. A cadaver is just so much meat, but if the students have to meet the doner's families, it may prompt them to treat the corpse with a bit more respect.
1. I do care that the U.S. is a leader. I think the U.S. has a good edge, but Japan seems to be pretty smart, too.
2. I ignore commercials in general.
3. No, I don't think there should be a limit. Leave it the way it is. The majority of people aren't using tons of bandwitdth.
4. No way. That's just too creepy. It would freak me out.
1- I think a technological edge is important, and generally I do think the US is there. There are some specific areas of focus that I feel like we lag, but the overall picture seems advanced.
2- TV is about least possible effort, no way I'm going to follow up.
3- Its an interesting quandary. I think information should be more readily available, and as such that internet access ought to be moving toward free. On the other hand, as long as I have to pay, I think I'd prefer to pay for actual use, hence if my price goes down as a mid to low level user, I'd be happy to switch over.
4- Not a problem, done it before and hope to do it again.
Hello FBs (Fellow Bloggers)!
I am working backwards on the posts.
Great post on the death/getting on a flight/Tim Russert realization, Mike. I thought about your post last night after I responded... Need to also say that when our number is up, it is up. The best thing we can do for ourselves and those around us is to celebrate life, faith and all that is good in this world. Way to go in making another person's day and perhaps an equal personal 'Ah-Hah' moment.
Q1. Technological edge is important. We as a nation need to stop consuming excessively and whining and get back to the fundamental USA principle of self-reliance so that we do not lose our edge, period.
Q2. Only look at commercials on the internet if they are extremely funny. Case in point, the Careerbuilder 'create your personal monkey' site. Who can forget the office line-backer?? That's classic!
Q3. Don't download info - try to avoid it. Only use it now for secured bank sites for work reasons.
Q4. No. I rely on the professionals for this task as I would very certainly hit the deck if I had to work on a cadaver.
Hello FBs (Fellow Bloggers)!
I am working backwards on the posts.
Great post on the death/getting on a flight/Tim Russert realization, Mike. I thought about your post last night after I responded... Need to also say that when our number is up, it is up. The best thing we can do for ourselves and those around us is to celebrate life, faith and all that is good in this world. Way to go in making another person's day and perhaps an equal personal 'Ah-Hah' moment.
Q1. Technological edge is important. We as a nation need to stop consuming excessively and whining and get back to the fundamental USA principle of self-reliance so that we do not lose our edge, period.
Q2. Only look at commercials on the internet if they are extremely funny. Case in point, the Careerbuilder 'create your personal monkey' site. Who can forget the office line-backer?? That's classic!
Q3. Don't download info - try to avoid it. Only use it now for secured bank sites for work reasons.
Q4. No. I rely on the professionals for this task as I would very certainly hit the deck if I had to work on a cadaver.
Q4: I'm viewing this late, so I'll skip to question #4. I actually ran into Mikal in Chicago at eBay Live and we were talking about my upcoming medical school journey at the University of Oklahoma. I have to admit, I am way excited to work on the cadavers. Apparently, we start at the skin and disect until there is nothing left but bones. I just hope I can stomach the smell.
The thing I'm not sure if I can handle however is meeting the family of the cadaver I will be working on. Everyone I have talked to who has done it in the past have all had great things to say about it. They say they really got to know the person, what they did and what they enjoyed throughout their life.
If nothing else, at least that will give me something to chat about as I disect: "So Bill, I know you don't get around much now, but your wife tells me you were quite the charmer!"
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