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This article reveals that the population of the United States will soon exceed 300 million. Since 2000 alone, the U.S. has added some 20 million people. It now has the third-largest population in the world, after China and India. It took 139 years for the U.S. population to reach 100 million. However, it has taken just 39 years for the population to increase from 200 to 300 million. The author discusses issues impacted by the rapid growth, such as Social Security and Medicare.

The article discusses Tim Brown, chief executive officer of IDEO product designers in Palo Alto, California. The principles of designing are noted including getting out of the office and into the field, prototyping initial ideas, and storytelling. Invention and functionality are combined in IDEO designs.

The article focuses on America's image problem. A survey from 2006, which was conducted by Pew Global Attitudes Project in 15 countries, found that the global perceptions of the United States continue to worsen. The number of Britons who view America favorably dropped to 56% from 83%. In Germany, the number dropped to 37% from 78%. Drops have also been seen in India and Indonesia. International opposition to U.S. foreign policy and dislike of U.S. President George W. Bush are cited as reasons.

The article discusses the low public approval ratings of United States President George W. Bush despite the fact that the economy is growing at a rapid rate in 2006 and the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in five years. The low ratings are the result of the mismanagement of the Iraq War and high gasoline prices in the U.S.

This article focuses on Kellogg Co. and its W. K. Kellogg Institute, where new products are researched and developed. Chris Keller, operations manager at the cereal and snack giant's research institute, is responsible for giving VIP tours through the 9,000-sq.-ft. process lab. But VIPs don't get to see quite everything; Kellogg's has a long tradition of secrecy regarding its products.

The article discusses how baby boomers are rewriting the rules of retirement. A growing number of them are leaving their current jobs and starting a new chapter in their working lives, where they are finally the boss. Statistics on self-employed baby boomers are offered, as well as profiles of baby boomers who changed careers and started their own businesses. Advice is offered on becoming an entrepreneur. INSET: ESSENTIALS FOR ENTREPRENEURS..

Discusses how space entrepreneurs are spending tens of millions of dollars to build a new aerospace industry from the ground up. British billionaire Richard Branson, head of Virgin Group travel, who signed a deal to license technology behind SpaceShipOne, designed by aviation maverick Burt Rutan and financed by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen; Plans of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos to build a research-testing site and spaceport for suborbital vehicles; Hopes of the space pioneers to build private spacecraft sturdy enough and fast enough to allow passengers to orbit the Earth like space shuttle astronauts.

Discusses investment, in light of President Bush's agenda for Social Security and tax reform. Idea that the "ownership society" with private investment accounts will bring cutbacks in promised benefits to younger workers; How the Social Security changes will affect markets; The reason 2006 might be the year for reform; The President's legacy with investors; Suggestion for investment in oil-related stocks; Outlook for economic growth on Wall Street and the continuation of the bull market; Comments of analysts Greg Valliere, Alfred Goldman, Henry McVey, and others; Pessimism concerning the post-presidential-election year.

Reports on President George W. Bush's campaign for re-election in November 2004. Reference to Bush's optimism in the face of the terrorist threat; Sharp division among voters concerning the president's controversial policies; Comments from President Bush about his chances to win; Reference to winning the war on terrorism as his main mission; Arguments from Bush supporters that Bush has a clear record of success in dealing with evil; Vision for foreign policy based on increasing freedom for oppressed peoples; Reaction from presidential candidate John Kerry and his allies; Discussion of the president's strategy in various areas, including the economy and education; Reference to the Christian faith of the president. INSET: 'I'VE GOT A PLAN AND A STRATEGY'.

Offers a look at the job market of the United States as of March 2004. Availability of job opportunities in fields such as education, entertainment and healthcare; Jobs in homeland security; Jobs available in computer animation and video-game design; Training needed for these fields including formal courses on computer graphics; Salary available for animators; Positions available for contract nurses; Need for physical therapists in the United States; Jobs in manufacturing such as maintenance electrician; Availability of jobs in the government such as intelligence analyst; Discussion of the training and pay for software designers; Need for auditors; Demand for special education teachers.

Offers a look at business and economic indicators for 2004 in the United States. Report that unemployment is down while corporate profits and economic growth is up; Claim that stocks are generally good in election years such as 2004; Explanation for the economic upturn; Comment made by Stuart Schweitzer, a global strategist at JP Morgan Fleming Asset Management; Impact of elections on market psychology; Discussion of Democratic presidential candidates' economic policies; Study of presidential politics and market performance by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; Study conducted by Ned Davis Research; Advice for investing in individual stocks or mutual funds.

Focuses on college investment plans which allow families to set aside money for college tuition. The 529 Savings Plan which allows parents to set aside money; Benefits; Prepaid tuition plans; Brokerage accounts; Uniform transfers to minors act accounts.

Discusses the U.S. economy and the possible effects that a war with Iraq will have on it. Reasons that financial markets worry, specifically with the terrorist threats and conflict between the United States and the United Nations; Fear of a war with Iraq that prevents the economy from moving into its next phase; Industries that are suffering from collateral damage; Economy that is posed to absorb shocks from a war in the Middle East; Concern that federal borrowing could be damaging; Role of Alan Greenspan; Evaluation of the U.S. dollar; Comparison to the Gulf War.

Prosecutors have filed major criminal cases against figures at Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, and elsewhere, and more will surely come. Former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow has pledged four properties and a $5 million cash bond to guarantee he will appear in court to face charges that he engineered the complex accounting frauds that drove the firm into bankruptcy. The federal government has frozen $37 million of Fastow family assets as ill-gotten gains, and a federal marshal took custody of proceeds from the $3.9 million sale of the 11,000-square-foot dream mansion Fastow had been building in Houston: six fireplaces, Italian blue flagstone flooring, and museum-quality lighting for his art collection. When he goes to trial early next year, his lawyer says Fastow will argue that his actions at Enron were carried out with the full knowledge and support of Lay, Skilling, and the board of directors. For the tens of thousands of workers and investors burned by Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, and other troubled corporations, it is difficult to watch those they see as the perpetrators of their misery still enjoying the good life. These cases got a major boost this fall when the Department of Labor's general counsel, Eugene Scalia (son of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia), filed a brief on behalf of Enron workers. Experts are waiting to see if the Labor Department will weigh in on similar cases at Tyco, Dynegy, and other firms that have seen less political scrutiny. But in all of these cases, major legal battles lie ahead, as employees and shareholders fight for recovery from finite insurance funds, struggling corporations, and former executives who simply spent the money, sold off assets, or shielded them with help from generous homestead laws in states like Florida and Texas.

Focuses on the arrest of John Rigas, the former chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Adelphia Communications. Idea that the arrest of Rigas promoted a rally in the stock market; Feelings of investors toward corrupt CEOs; Need of retribution by investors.

Presents an analysis of career tracks that are expected to be secure. Information on forensic accountants, speech pathologists, traffic engineers, and truck drivers; Description of average salaries and training involved; Positive aspects of each career.

Discusses the outlook for the recovery of the United States economy. Effects of war and the threat of terrorism on the U.S. economy; Consumer confidence in the U.S.; Discussion of interest rates and tax cuts in the U.S.; Discussion of large business enterprises, including General Electric; Outlook for the stock market.

Examines the United States economy following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Example of Richmond, Virginia; Question of how deep and long the recession will be; The issue of consumer confidence; How the economic slump differs from previous ones; Effects of the attacks on tourism and insurance; Concerns of investors regarding deficits and inflation. INSETS: Holding on to a personal vision;Home plans put on hold for now, by Pamela Sherrid.

Reports on stock market activity following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Reasons for Wall Street's falling markets, including the likelihood of recession and war; Comments of strategists; Efforts to restore consumer confidence; Impact of the attacks on airlines, crude oil prices, retailing, the media, entertainment, and insurance.

Anticipates the retirement of people in the so-called baby boom generation of the United States. Demography of this diverse generation, including health and income; Examples of baby boomers who have chosen early retirement or second careers; Social and psychological implications of aging; How advances in medicine and fitness may allow people to work beyond the traditional retirement age; Marketing strategy of retirement developers such as Del Webb Corp.; Patterns in retiree living.

Offers charted information about mutual funds and other investments as of early 2001. Data on the performance of funds, including growth, small and mid cap, financial services, health/biotechnology, real estate, municipal bonds, general mortgage and others; Returns on equity funds and bonds.

Reviews several Web sites related to audio and video as of December 4, 2000. Details of adcritic.com which features television advertisements; Details of memory.loc.gov; Downloadable music at napster.com; Others.

Focuses on online investing as of spring 2000 and the need for real-time information. Use of Web sites by investors for guidance during the uncertainty of a volatile stock market; Example of James Hayden's online investing experience; Trend in financial Web sites to cater to long-term investors; Financial-news Web sites; Portfolio tracking; Investment tips; Retirement planning; Stock games.

Reports on the performance of the stock market in the United States as of April 24, 2000. Fall in the price of stocks on the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Dow Jones; Cause of the fall in prices of the high technology stocks; Speculation by market strategists and investors that the worst is over and it will not be a bear market; Good economic conditions despite the erratic stock market. INSETS: Who will buy all those..., by Steven Butler with Joellen Perry;Is redemption near for the bears?, by Anne Kates Smith.

Focuses on five mutual funds expected to profit from the trends in the new economy, proliferation of technology, the aging of the population, and shrinking geographic barriers as of January 2000. Northern Technology; IPS Millennium; Invesco Health Sciences; Oppenheimer Global A; Eaton Vance Greater India.

Discusses the America Online's (AOL) decision to acquire Time Warner (TW). Investor reaction to the deal; Negotiations by AOL chief executive Steve Case and TW executive Gerald Levin; How the merger redefines business in the Internet era; Effect of the merger on marketing broadband technology and interactive content to consumers; Outlook for the telecommunications industry. INSET: Will Web stocks fall to Earth?.