Alabama Businesses Cautiously Optimistic in First Quarter 2014
Al.com – Feb. 10
UA CBER’s Alabama Business Confidence Index™ (ABCI) registered a cautiously optimistic 51.2 on the first quarter 2014 survey. Although down 0.7 points from the fourth quarter 2013 reading, sentiment is positive overall for the third consecutive quarter. That’s a much better outlook than the pessimistic 45.4 recorded for first quarter 2013. Concerns about the U.S. economy continue to constrain business expectations, particularly in the Huntsville metro area. The national economy index is down 2.6 points to 47.8, indicating that growth will be weaker than in the fourth quarter. At 53.8, the Alabama economic outlook is 6.0 points above the outlook for the U.S. economy. Almost 80 percent of executives completing the first quarter survey expect the state’s economy to grow at the same or a stronger pace than last quarter.
Former student develops new app
Daily Reveille (LSU student newspaper) – Feb. 10
With mobile games constantly growing in popularity, one former University student has developed his own piece of the pie. Hakeem Hasan, former University student and CEO of Nasah Apps, created MoWo. Hasan said it took him about three weeks to complete the app, which came out in early January. “Phones are more mainstream now, and I wanted to contribute to that environment,” Hasan said. … Hasan said MoWo is for people looking for a fresh take on word games like Scrabble or Words With Friends … Hasan said an iPhone version may be available by summer at the earliest. Hasan is currently completing his electrical engineering degree at the University of Alabama, where he transferred in fall 2011.
POV: Antismoking Movement Has Been Co-Opted
BU Today (Boston University publication) – Feb. 10
On January 11, 1964—50 years ago—Surgeon General Luther Terry released his landmark report on smoking and health, concluding that smoking causes lung cancer and chronic bronchitis and may also cause heart disease and other forms of cancer. Since that time, smoking prevalence among adults has dropped from 42 percent to 19 percent, tobacco companies have been found guilty of fraud and racketeering, and the Food and Drug Administration has assumed jurisdiction over tobacco products, all contributing towards the public perception that the tobacco problem has largely been solved. While most of the national tobacco control organizations are boasting about the amazing progress since the 1964 Surgeon General’s report on smoking—progress that they claim has continued to this day—there is another side to this story, one that the public doesn’t readily see … On the 50th anniversary of the 1964 report, Alan Blum, director of the Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society at the University of Alabama, released a documentary that highlights what he calls “the persistent foot-dragging, fear, and squandering of funds by public health agencies, universities, and medical associations alike in ending the smoking pandemic.”
OPINION: Amnesty: Suicide for conservative movement
WND.com – Feb. 10
The Congressional Budget Office just reported that Obamacare will shrink the U.S. workforce by 2.5 million full-time jobs. … The job loss is caused by businesses reducing their employees’ hours in order to avoid paying the employee mandate to buy insurance. … As the New York Times wrote, it will be “more possible” to leave jobs (or reduce hours for less pay) because “new government subsidies will help pay premiums.” Fifty million Americans of working-age (18 to 65) are not employed, and this number has held constant throughout the Obama presidential years. That’s an awesome 31 percent, a devastating blow to families’ livelihood, self-respect and belief in America as the land of opportunity … The New York Times Washington bureau chief admitted that “The two fastest-growing ethnic groups – Latinos and Asian-Americans – are decidedly liberal.” University of Alabama political scientist George Hawley observed, “Immigrants are well to the left of the American public on a number of key issues.”
Creators.com – Feb. 10
Dr. Keith Gilyard Speaks at UA
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 11
The University of Alabama is celebrating African-American heritage and history during the month of February. The university hosted guest speaker Dr. Keith Gilyard. Gilyard is a professor of English and African-American studies at Penn State. He focused on racial diversity in literature. He spoke about civil rights activist Louise Thompson-Patterson and her often overlooked role in African-American History. Gilyard says that looking at the past can help us make better decisions now.
University of Alabama Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to discuss bonds, fixed income Tuesday
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 10
The University of Alabama’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will host a discussion tonight about economic development in the bond and fixed income markets. The discussion will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today at the Bryant Conference Center, 240 Paul W. Bryant Drive. Kris Moreton, vice president of fixed income management at Columbia Management, will lead the discussion. The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.