Tuesday, February 21, 2012

CHINA: Cracks In The Great Wall?

The recent global recession has forced China to “slowly decouple” its dependence upon American and European markets and bolster its domestic market share.  China also realizes with the “reality of technological convergence” Western firms are helping lands with even cheaper labor costs than China to produce goods that compete with China.

China has internal problems that will slow down its economic boom.  With more than 150 cities with over one million people, selling more cars and appliances to the Chinese people causes massive pollution problems, in a land already with a weak environmental record.  The lack of media transparency promotes China’s political and economic corruption and its huge bureaucracy can add costs and time.

China’s social experimenting with population growth since 1980 has backfired.  It’s population growth has shrunk to 0.5% and its work population is aging faster than the USA. It has ugly demographics (118 boys born per 100 girls, meaning some 30 million “lost” women.).   Despite our serious problem with illegal immigration, our immigration growth assures the USA of a workforce and customer base for the next thirty years.

The Best Coupon SItes of 2012

Coupon websites mainly offer downloadable coupon discounts while freebie websites will mainly send you samples and gifts.  These are choices for the best selection of coupons without any additional hassles.  (Don’t print in color ink.)

COUPONS.COM always has a shopping list of products and codes - not always my favorite brands.

RETAILMENOT.COM is a coupon code center that allows users to give feedback on whether the discount was worthwhile.  Hooray!

COUPONCABIN.COM  does a great job of consolidating all the coupons for many large department and household stores.

COUPONMOM.COM has a more community feel as they help people select a coupon strategy.

SMARTSOURCE.COM has a lot of localized coupons although I dislike downloading software to print out coupons.

Operate A Mobile Party Park

I was sick and tired at the stupid bouncing blowup devices until I discovered there is a whole new assortment of great activities for small kids (under 7 years) in the form of mazes and fun houses.