US NEWSProductivity strong, factory orders upBy Tim Ahmann (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - U.S. business productivity
grew swiftly in the third quarter and factory
orders rebounded in October, the government
said on Tuesday, suggesting a robust economy
with little price pressure outside of energy costs.
Separate reports showed some softening in retail
sales after a strong kickoff to the holiday sales season
and a drop in pending home sales, the latest sign of
moderation in a housing market after a red-hot five-year run.
The Labor Department said nonfarm business productivity
advanced at a 4.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter,
the swiftest increase in two years.
The strong productivity gain pushed unit labor costs --
a key gauge of profit and price pressure -- down at a
1 percent pace despite a solid 3.7 percent rise in
hourly compensation.
California Teen Wins Science CompetitionBy JUAN-CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A 16-year-old California boy
won a premier high school science competition
Monday for his innovative approach to an old
math problem that could help in the design of
airplane wings.
Michael Viscardi, a senior from San Diego, won
a $100,000 college scholarship, the top individual
prize in the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in
Math, Science and Technology.
Viscardi said he's been homeschooled since fifth grade,
although he does take math classes at the University
of California at San Diego three days a week.
His father is a software engineer and his mother,
who stays at home, has a Ph.D. in neuroscience,
he said."It's unbelievable," Viscardi said of his win.
"It's so incredible that I'm in shock right now."
Viscardi tackled a 19th century math problem known
as the Dirichlet problem, formulated by the mathematician
Lejeune Dirichlet.
The theorem Viscardi created to solve it has potential
applications in the fields of engineering and physics,
including airplane wing design.
He said he worked on it for about six months with a
professor at UCSD."He is a super-duper mathematics
student," said lead judge Constance Atwell, a consultant
and former research director at the National Institutes
of Health.
"It was almost impossible for our judges to figure out the
limits of his understanding during our questioning. And
he's only 16 years old," she said.
Anne Lee, 17, a senior at Phoenix Country Day School
in Paradise Valley, Ariz. and Albert Shieh, 16, a junior
at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., shared
the $100,000 top prize in the team category.
They improved computer technology that could help locate
the genetic roots of some inherited diseases like Alzheimer's,
autism and bipolar disorder.
Lee and Sheih met at the gene research center at which
they both have internships. They were assisted on their
project by members of the institute."I would have been
happy with anything," Sheih said.
Lee said dissecting a cow's eyeball early in her academic
career inspired and encouraged her to study science.
As part of the winners' celebration, they will get to ring
the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange at the
end of the business day Monday.
The Siemens Foundation, founded in 1998, aims to increase
access to higher education among gifted students studying
math, science and technology.
The foundation distributes nearly $2 million annually
in scholarships and awards. Nineteen students competed
in the national finals — six individuals and six teams.
Besides the winners' prizes, finalists won scholarships
ranging from $50,000 to $10,000. Team members
share awards.
On the Net:Siemens Foundation: .
http://www.siemens-foundation.orgToo often we hear about teens involved in drugs, crime
and violence it's nice to hear positive information
about a group of successful teens. -Ed
Postal Service Climbs Out of Debt By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The Postal Service is in a
position not many Americans can claim: debt free.
But even a projected surplus won't stop next month's
postal rate increase, which the service says is needed
to cover a congressionally mandated expense.
Once $11 billion in the red, the post office paid off the
remaining $1.8 billion of its debt in 2005, postal Chief
Financial Officer Richard Strasser said Tuesday.
It's the first time the Postal Service has been without
debt since it was organized from the old post office
in the 1970s.
On the Net:
U.S. Postal Service:
http://www.usps.comINTERNATIONAL NEWSBill Gates, pledges to train teachers in Bangladesh in computer skills.
DHAKA (AFP) - Bill Gates, billionaire
philanthropist and chairman of software
giant Microsoft, pledged to train teachers
in impoverished Bangladesh in computer skills.
Gates, who met Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
amid tight security after a series of deadly
blasts by Islamic extremists in recent months,
told the agency he intended to sign an agreement
that would result in new IT training courses for teachers.
Microsoft has also said it wants to work with the
Bangladesh government to expand the use of
computers in education and modernise the
country's banking and telephone sectors.
Last year, Microsoft announced an expansion of
programs in Asia as part of its international
campaign to improve access to computers.
Gates, who was in Bangladesh on a one-day visit
with wife Melinda Gates, is recognised as one of
the world's leading philanthropists.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, founded
in 1995, works to improve public health and
education in developing countries.
Many times people bash Bill Gates and his
Microsoft company and overlook all the good
he has brought to our world.
Bill Positive News loves you and we are
grateful for all you do each day.
