Highlights
•It is possible to decode specific episodic memory traces from fMRI activity
•Individual memories can be decoded from fMRI activity in the human hippocampus (HC)
•The HC contains significantly more episodic information than adjacent brain areas
•Episodic information is localized to bilateral anterior and right posterior HC
Most economists are not worried about the report as it’s most likely factored into the markets already. When a slow February hits, a good March usually follows. The dollar was lower vs. the euro, but higher against other currencies.
]]>The movement has gotten the media attention. The defining moments for the Tea Party has been done on the fly with puzzling results. Take Ron Paul for example. So much for being left on the shelf to collect dust. Recently he has gained more support which lacks a political party foundation. His supporters seen to want it that way. Well and good, however can Paul’s support continue to lift him to the White House? Most likely no, because there is too much fragmentation. Is Paul the candidate to bond that support together and keep it together? I’ll let you answer that.
Republican PAC’s are getting money to the Tea Party movement. This shows that a party structure is waiting on the sidelines to jump right in. That’s fine, however buyer beware. The very core of the movement are form those who are turned off by the political party system and feel it’s time for change. When more party people step in they might get a rude awakening. We’ll have to see what transpires after the Tea Party Tour ends later this spring.
Sara Robinson wrote an interesting article on ourfuture.org that plainly “populist” might be a wrong term to use in describing the Tea Party. When you read it be aware that politics has a tendency to work in orbits that can spin seemingly out of control; if not “tamed” for a forward movement.
]]>The Commerce Department’s home sales report had unexpectedly reported new home sales falling 11.2% in January. Germany’s economic recovery came to a halt. Ben Bernanke told lawmakers that flat oil prices will keep inflation in check. He went on to say that an increase in goods and services in the private sector only can aid further sustained growth in the U.S. economy.
The dollar is looking better technically against the euro.
]]>Consumer optimism is improving according to the oil traders and they brought that into play. Expect a pullback before prices continue higher. The key is $76.70 as a price below could spark a sell-off as the bears would pay attention again.
]]>One example is bagged salad. Customers just didn’t want the packaging of their lettuce changed. They wanted the salad made for them. What started out as a novelty is now a mainstay business in most areas of the United States. This might be simple, but I can hear you (and me) say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
The goal is to bridge gaps rather than create them. One store that brought in this concept was Best Buy. They did some customer research and found that 55 percent of their shoppers were men. The research went another step and asked women why they didn’t shop at Best Buy more. The answer was that Best Buy was a store for men designed by men and manned by men. When the women shoppers were asked what a big turn-off was, they responded that they were given too much technical information about a product rather than how to operate a product and its function.
Best Buy had to shrink the core customer base rather than expand it. Store were redesigned and store floor employees were trained more on the function and operation of store products. This allowed for a new connection with the customer. Align the tasks and information around the customer.
Most important, they must also guarantee precisely the reverse: that the line of sight from the customer into the organization is equally unimpeded, and in a final twist that the companies see themselves from the outside, with their customers, so that they can help wherever their customers are, in their hours of greatest need.
]]>The news wasn’t exactly a surprise, but President Obama’s timing is interesting in that he seems to be putting forth an effort of reconciliation with the Republicans. Will this work? The President will most likely want more clean energy tax credits and he could use Republican help, even if it only looks good.
]]>Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the trouble asset relief program (TARP) sent the quarterly report to Congress that was released Sunday. He said banks still have incentive to take on risk because the mindset is that the government will bail us out if we get into trouble. About 90% of home loans are backed by government controlled entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He said the two entities need to be reformed soon and loan underwriting needs to be improved.
]]>The President hasn’t proposed anything to boost overall demand. Reich wrote that The President needs to get the second stimulus going and explain why.
]]>Economic growth numbers for Q4 of 2009 went way up. However inventory reductions are still underway by major corporations. The GDP growth number to watch for 2010 is 3.6%, as the “growth baton” will be passed from the government stimulus package. The big question is if the U.S. government plan will stimulate the economy as President Obama and the mostly Democrat U.S. House has said it will. Watch for numbers in March. If numbers are improving the 3.6% growth in GDP could happen. But this would be tough if unemployment gets to 8.5% in March.
The stock market took another hit today as the Dow fell below 10,000. Seems Wall Street wants results instead of words. Go figure!
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