Today’s Links: January 30, 2012

OPINION

MARK P. MILLS & JULIO M. OTTINO: “The Coming Tech-Led Boom
“In January 1912, the United States emerged from a two-year recession. Nineteen more followed—along with a century of phenomenal economic growth. Americans in real terms are 700% wealthier today. […] In January 2012, we sit again on the cusp of three grand technological transformations with the potential to rival that of the past century. All find their epicenters in America: big data, smart manufacturing and the wireless revolution.”

NICK GILLESPIE & MATT WELCH: “Learning From Kodak’s Demise
“The human brain is capable of memorizing 67,890 digits of pi, composing side two of Exile on Main Street, and inventing a dog-to-human translation device called the Bowlingual. Yet, we often-brilliant, always-innovating bipeds find it impossible to imagine changing the trajectory of the world we think we live in by more than a few degrees at any given moment. Whatever dominates today we assume will dominate tomorrow. This is true for our private lives, this is true for commerce, and this is especially true for politics.”

ALICE G. WALTON: “Cell Phones Are More Annoying Than They Are Dangerous
“With increased use come questions concerning the safety of these mobile devices. Many have been concerned, or even panicked, over the possibility of cell phones increasing one’s risk for brain cancer. Also disturbing is the fact that people are talking — or perhaps worse, texting (DOC) — while driving, and getting into accidents because of it. And then there’s sexting, which has a ‘reputation as a teenage pastime,’ according to the New York Times. Brain tumors, car accidents, and virtual sex contact: Cell phones seem to carry a wealth of hazards. However — and there may still be some lingering questions — more studies are coming in to suggest that cell phones aren’t as strongly connected with any of these phenomena as we once thought. ”

NEWS

ZERO TOLERANCE – Hercules Family Battles Sex Assault Claim Against Six-Year-Old
“An East Bay dad claims a game of tag on the playground resulted in his 6-year-old son being accused of sexual assault – a decision he said was an overreaction by school officials.”

LAW ENFORCEMENT – Cop in Quota Fight
“A cop assigned to the Upper West Side is claiming he suffered retaliation for not writing enough summonses and doing too few stop-and-frisks under a quota system the NYPD insists doesn’t exist.”

ACTIVISM – Critics of Capitalism Call Global Protest in June
“Thousands of critics of capitalism meeting in Brazil called Sunday for a worldwide protest in June to press for concrete steps to tackle the global economic crisis.”