The Monday Blog Alert from IEN Connects features direct links to items of interest or concern to the greater manufacturing and industrial community, written by IEN's editors. The Blog Alert is designed to raise issues, introduce technological advancements, invite reader comment, establish community dialogue and, at times, even generate a few laughs! New this week...

National Manufacturing Week: R.I.P.
By Mike Botta, IEN Staff
Shame on the U.S. manufacturing community for letting National Manufacturing Week fade from the landscape...

Top 4 Reasons People Call In Sick
By Mary O'Hara Smith, IEN Staff
Hint: it’s usually not because they’re sick -- but that doesn't necessarily mean they're slackers...

World’s First Commercial Tidal Turbines in NYC
By Debbie Maskin, IEN Staff
Bolted 8 ft below the surface of New York City’s East River, a grid-connected array of tidal turbines is harnessing the water's ebb and flow to generate electricity for a nearby supermarket and garage...

IEN Exclusive: Sensing a New Bridge
By Mark Devlin, IEN Staff
Last week’s opening of the new I-35W bridge in Minneapolis made national headlines and showed the world how the U.S. can handle tragedy: proudly, efficiently, innovatively -- and ahead of schedule...

IEN at National Manufacturing Week...
By Jennifer Hooker and Mike Botta, IEN Staff
Here's a day-by-day recap of activity at the final national show, to be repaced next year by Design & Manufacturing Midwest:
Day 1: Top 10 Mistakes Companies Make
Day 2: Concern Over China
Day 3: Mixed Reviews, Lonely Chinese
NMW Ends for Good; To Go Regional in '09

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