I've worn glasses since I was in the second grade. I have very poor eyesight. Indeed, I was the only 7-year-old with bifocals in my class. I'm so fortunate that my teachers and parents realized at an early age that I needed help seeing the world around me. Without the visual aide of glasses, I surely would have fallen behind in school and life.

We recently revealed our findings from the 2012 Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey. As many folks know, a good job is much more than the money. Being proud of the work you do is equally rewarding.

In today’s economy, people and businesses alike are uber conscious about where they spend their hard-earned money. I’m no exception to that. Nowadays, any purchase I make, whether it be a baby stroller or a high-definition TV, I make sure I get the most “bang for my buck.” I factor in whether the company I purchase from is reputable, I consider the quality and responsiveness of customer service, and I scour the web for product reviews.

I love Reader's Digest. There, I said it. I love a digest magazine that attracts an older demographic. I've loved it for a long time. For as long as I can remember my mother has had a subscription and as a gift several years ago, she ordered me my own subscription. I read every single page of the magazine, but never in order. I poke around and find something that piques my interest at any given moment. I can read about 50 secrets my vet, waitress, carpenter, or dentist won't tell me. I can read about Life In These United States. I can test my word power.

As if right on cue, a press release touting heart health crossed my desk the same day my mother-in-law had a heart attack. If you are wondering why I'm discussing heart health in the confines of the Chemical Reaction blog, bear with me -- there is method to my madness.

As part of the global celebration of industrial pumps, ITT Goulds Pumps is focusing on another very important pump -- the human heart. The White Plains, N.Y.-based company will begin an ongoing commitment to promoting heart health.

Call me Cleveland proud. My city may not have winning sports teams and we still have to deal with jokes about our lake catching on fire, but there is a lot to love about Cleveland. It's the home of many great manufacturers – pillars of industry that have pushed the nation forward in technology and innovation.

Despite the University of Notre Dame being bested by Xavier University during 2012 NCAA March Madness basketball, the Indiana institution still scores well when it comes to research aimed at producing cleaner energy.

Yet another tournament I wasn't invited to. . . it's OK, I'm used to it. In this case, it was probably for the best. I certainly wouldn't want to embarrass myself in front of math geniuses. The competition of which I speak was the first-ever MoMath Masters Tournament held on February 28 in New York. It was a fundraising event for the New York-based Museum of Mathematics.

You won't find this table at Ikea. . . or anywhere else. This one-of-a-kind table houses samples of almost every chemical element. Each sample is nested in a square cubby with a wooden lid that is carved with the element symbol, name and number.

Who is the master craftsman behind the table? Theodore W. Gray, winner of The American Chemical Society (ACS) 2011 James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public.

I'm a fan of lists. I'm an even bigger fan of lists that can help me achieve goals. Throw in a numbered list, and I am in heaven. A numbered list tells me I will be able to better myself or my work in just a few steps.

For folks in the industrial automation industry who have done battle with cyber attackers (think Stuxnet, Night Dragon and Duqu), the list I am about to toss on your desk will make you dizzy with delight.