Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Info on food blogs in Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 28 JULY 2011)

Here are some links on food blogs (and it not always about Italian food) in Italy:

ITALIAN FOOD BLOGS
LISTS OF ITALIAN FOOD BLOGS
BLOG ENTRIES
  • New! Italian Food Blogs – April 05, 2005 – blogger has moved to Scotland – Source: Il Forno – "Eating, Drinking, Baking ... mostly side effect free"
  • LISTS
    • Italian – "Search Posts By Keyword: Italian" – Source: foodblogs™ – "discover . learn . share ."
IT'S NOT ALWAYS ITALIAN – FOOD BLOGS AND ENTRIES
RELATED
  • Simple Italy – "Feeding Your Inner Italian ... Body and Soul" – bloggers: Sharon and Walter Sanders – Source: web site
  • Parla Food – "Travel writer Katie Parla chases down the best food in Italy and elsewhere." – blogger: Katie Parla – Source: web site
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.

Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or request any further information by email, please include your email address in a separate comment. I will NOT publish any comments with an email address in it.

NOTE: If you want to leave a comment, please leave it in ENGLISH.

Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 300+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for government jobs, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

That's it for Wednesday, 30 June 2010: mercoledì, 30 giugno 2010

Ciao, Ben

government jobs – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is an Italian proverb/saying, author unknown but it appear in the About section of the blog, italian food forever.

"Chi Mangia Bene, Mangia Italiano"
"Those Who Eat Well, Eat Italian"

Please read my wife's blog about our life in Italy with photographs:

Friends and Family in Italy

Going to Spain, read my new blog:

Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 28 JULY 2011)

© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 8:49 PM 0 comments
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A Career with the Social Security Administration in Washington State

What do you think of when you hear Social Security Administration? Chances are you don’t think of an exciting job, but I do. My name is Shandee; I work for the Social Security Administration’s Auburn Teleservice Center and I want to give you a little insight to the career waiting for you.
I am a Teleservice Representative or TSR; I answer calls coming into SSA’s national 800#. This is not your typical call center job, it is mentally challenging and extremely rewarding! I help people from all walks of life, in all the various stages of living. In a typical day I help people solve problems with their benefits; missing checks, changing direct deposit, understanding Medicare Premium Billings. I explain the requirements for Social Security Cards, as well as screen individuals to see if they are eligible for benefits and set up appointments at their local office. I answer medical insurance questions, explain how work or other income affects benefits, and schedule repayment plans. I also advise people of their legal rights and help them to file appeals. As you can see, I have to be able to wear many different hats to do my job well. I have to have good listening and communication skills to be effective. I need to be able to think on my feet and put the pieces of the puzzle together- often people don’t know what to ask for or what they need, they just know what their problem is and it is up to me to help them solve it.

When I started this job, I had no idea just how large Social Security was or how many programs it was involved in. I didn’t realize just how far it would push me, how much I would learn, or the differences I would be making in peoples’ lives. I can tell you, without a doubt, that I have saved lives just by answering the phone and doing my job. I love where I work and the people I work with; they create a supportive environment. SSA promotes internally and has many programs that let you try out new positions to find out where you want your career to go. I recently received a JEP as a Program Analyst in Recruiting. A JEP is a 4 month promotion that allows you to expand your knowledge in another position. I get the pay rate and workload of a Program Analyst, and it has allowed me to reach out to you and show you what an opportunity awaits you here.

Perhaps you are wondering what type of degree is required to start here, the answer is none. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in any field you can start as a GS-5 ($33,414), my degree is in English Literature, old English Literature. With related experience you can hire as a GS-6 ($37,246) or even a GS-7 ($41,390). This is an entry level position with a Career Ladder to GS-8 ($45,383); promotions are usually given every year. After a probationary period is satisfied, you can apply for internal job openings. Being a Federal position we have job security, 10 Federal holidays, paid Vacation and Sick Leave, Retirement, Thrift Savings Plan, Health and Life Insurance.

So what happens after you start? Do we expect you to know all of Social Security overnight? No, we provide 13 weeks paid classroom training, on the job training and mentorship so that you can understand, explain and feel comfortable assisting individuals with all the various programs we administer. There is no end to learning here at Social Security; we continue to receive training even after reaching Journey Level.

We are looking for the next generation of Social Security Leaders, are you ready to answer the call?

If you have questions or want more information e-mail me at wa.fo.atsc.recruiting at ssa dot gov.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 3:08 PM 0 comments

Monday, June 28, 2010

Foreign Service Oral Assessment Prep Session

On Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 3:30 p.m., Mr. Ed Ed Kulakowski, the State Department Diplomat-In-Residence for the West Coast, will be on campus to give tips on taking the Foreign Service Oral Assessment. If you have recently passed the FSOT or are on your way to the FSOA, please join us. It will run for about two hours, so you can join us a little late.

WHO: Candidates who have passed the Foreign Service Officer's Test
WHAT: Diplomat-in-Residence FSOA prep
WHEN: July 13, 3:30 to 5:40 p.m.
WHERE: University of Washington-Seattle, Savery Hall 131, (visit http://www.washington.edu/maps/?l=SAV for a map)

The Oral Assessment is an assessment for selection as an entry level Foreign Service Officer. Oral Assessment exercises: are based on a job analysis of the work of the Foreign Service, reflect the skills, abilities and personal qualities deemed essential to the performance of that work, and are not an adversarial process: you do not compete against other candidates but instead are judged on your capacity to demonstrate the skills and abilities necessary to be an effective Foreign Service Officer.

Edward Kulakowski

Diplomat-in-Residence

Ed Kulakowski, a Senior Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State, currently is the Counselor for Press and Culture at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. He previously served as Cultural Attaché in Moscow, Russia (two tours); Public Affairs Officer in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; America House Director in Yerevan, Armenia; and with the U.S. Information Agency's (USIA) Voice of America and Exhibits Service in Washington D.C. Mr. Kulakowski was initially recruited from Honolulu, Hawaii by USIA in 1978 to serve as an Exhibit Guide on a U.S. exhibition in the Soviet Union. He received BA (1971) and MA (1973) degrees in Russian and Russian/Soviet Areas Studies from the University of Hawaii and was an exchange student at Leningrad State University in 1973-74.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 9:42 AM 0 comments

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Financial Underhaul

The Yahoo! News headline "Bank stocks soar on financial regulation agreement" pretty much says it all. We are a corporate state. Reclaiming the power of the people over the corporate state is the next major multi-generational struggle on par with overcoming slavery, child labor standards and women's suffrage.

"They come out of this big-time winners," Bob Froehlich, senior managing director at Hartford Financial Services, said of financial companies. "Two years later, people will look back and say 'My gosh, nothing really changed.'"

Democrats in charge... Republicans in charge... "My gosh, there's really no difference."

gdaeman_scroll_small
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 10:27 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Info for maps of Roma/Rome, Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 June 2011)

Here are some links for maps of Roma/Rome, Italy:

ROMA/ROME
RELATED
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.

Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or request any further information by email, please include your email address in a separate comment. I will NOT publish any comments with an email address in it.

NOTE: If you want to leave a comment, please leave it in ENGLISH.

Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 300+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for government jobs, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

That's it for Wednesday, 23 June 2010: mercoledì, 23 giugno 2010

Ciao, Ben

government jobs – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is an Italian proverb, author unknown.
"Roma non fu fatta in un giorno."
"Rome was not built in a day."

When you have a free moment or two, please read my wife's interesting and entertaining blog about our life in Italy with photographs:

Friends and Family in Italy

Going to Spain, read my new blog:

Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 June 2011)

© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 8:52 PM 0 comments
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Careers with the US Department of State

Two UW alumni speakers will discuss careers with the US Department of State and answer your questions. This event is sponsored by the Department of Economics and the Jackson School of International Studies, in partnership with the Evans School of Public Affairs. This is a FREE event.


THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010
3:30 PM
PARRINGTON COMMONS


Jeff Anders

Jeff Anders earned his BA in Economics from the University of Washington in 1997. After, Mr. Anders joined Milgard Manufacturing of Tacoma, WA as the Central and South American Sales Manager. In 1999 Mr. Anders received his securities license and began working as a financial planner specializing in estate planning for GE Capital. The U.S. Department of State offered Mr. Anders a position as a Diplomatic Courier in January of 2008. For the past two and a half years Mr. Anders' responsibilities have involved moving diplomatic material throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. During this time Mr. Anders developed an algorithm for measuring the efficiency of diplomatic courier trips which has yielded significant savings to the U.S. Government. For this effort, Mr. Anders has been nominated for Diplomatic Security Specialist of the Year.


Philip Wall

Philip Wall earned his MA in East Asian Studies in 1975. He also received an MBA in Finance from UW in 1978. Over the course of his 26-year career with the U.S. Department of State, he served in Washington, D.C. and overseas in China, Taiwan, Pakistan, France, New Zealand, and the Bahamas. He was, at various times, Deputy Chief of Mission in Wellington, Director of East Asian Economic Policy in the State Department, and Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Mayor of San Francisco. Mr. Wall retired in 2005, having attained the senior rank of Minister Counselor. Mr. Wall has extensive experience as a foreign affairs analyst, on issues as varied as human rights in Taiwan, trade relations with China, World Bank development goals, and the origins of the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. As a negotiator, he helped remove trade barriers to US agricultural products, create new regional trade agreements, set development priorities in the Asian-Pacific Economic (APEC) forum, and shape the policy research agenda at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As a senior diplomat, he directed staff and resources, and shaped foreign policy goals, in several State Department units and at an important overseas mission. Mr. Wall completed his early education at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a BA in History. During his career, he earned professional-level ratings in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese and French.

For more information about this event, please contact Zoe Williams at zlw at uw dot edu or by phone at 206  543  5945.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 10:10 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Info on expat web sites for Italy and elsewhere

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 May 2011)

Here are some links for expat web sites for Italy and elsewhere:

EXPAT WEB SITES FOR ITALY
OTHER WEB SITES FOR ITALY
  • The American – " . . . is an independent general interest online monthly magazine produced in Rome." – Source: web site
  • The Florentine – "Bi-weekly free newspaper printed in english covering italian news, events, culture, tuscany travel and food, in and around the Florence area." – Source: web site
  • ITALIA! – " . . . website for everyone who loves Italy." – Source: web site
  • Italy – Source: Taking Up Residence – "MOVING & RELOCATION GUIDES" – "Living abroad or relocating to another country to study, work or retire ?" – "Taking Up Residence offers concise and practical country information guides on a wide range of expat topics that can guide you through your move."
  • ITALY Magazine – "THE NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR LOVERS OF ALL THINGS ITALIAN" – " . . . is published monthly and is available in newsagents throughout the UK or through subscription for worldwide delivery."
  • The Informer – "The Online Gide to Living in Italy" – Source: web site
  • The Little Blue What-To-Do: The Stranger’s Guide to Perugia – Source: published by Green Door Publishing – In English, Italian
  • UmbriaOnline® – "Tour Umbria with Umbria OnLine - Tourist information, hotels, restaurants, farmhouse, residences, homes for sale or for rent. Updated news and events." – Source: web site – In English, Italian
  • Wanted in Rome – "Everything you need to know about living in Rome." – Source: web site
WEB SITES FOR EXPATS
  • Allo' Expat – "Connecting Expats Worldwide - Expatriates Resources" – Source: web site
  • EasyExpat.com – "Guide for expatriates" – Source: web site – In multiple languages
  • Expat Arrivals – "local info for global expats"
  • The Expat Directory – "The Expat Directory" – Source: web site
  • ExpatExchange – "A World of Friends Abroad" – Source: web site
  • Expat Expert – Robin Pascoe – Source: web site
  • ExpatForum.com – Choice of multiple countries – Source: web site
  • Expat Women – "Helping Women Living Overseas" – Source: web site
  • ExpatClic,com - Women’s Expatrication – "Main goal of the website is to assist women from all countries and nationalities in the daily management of their expat lives as well as to facilitate their move and relocation in a new foreign country (when not in their own country of origin)." – Source: web site – In multiple languages
  • EXPATICA.COM – "NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" – Source: web site
  • EXPATS.ORG.UK – "is a free source of information for British expatriates, contracting or living overseas, almost a UK expats yellow pages, also with an overseas recruiter database, country information with links relevant to British expats (and any other English speaking ex-pats)" – Source: web site
  • Expats Reunite – "Reuniting friends and families all over the world" – Source: web site
  • Expatriates.com – "... the community web site created for and by expatriates and internationally minded people everywhere." – Source: web site
  • Expatify.com – "Inspiring Expatriatism" – Source: web site
  • Newcomer's Guide – "Private Tours, Neighborhood Scouting and Coaching for Newcomers" – Alan Epstein – Source: As the Romans Do – "Private Tours . Photo Excursions . Photography / Creative Retreats in Italy. Italian Cooking Courses "
  • A Portable Identity – "Essential Guidebook and Coaching Services for Accompanying Spouses" – Source: web site
  • LISTS
WEB SITES FOR EXPAT SERVICES
  • Clements International – "... is the leading provider of insurance solutions for expatriates and international organizations. Founded in 1947, Clements offers worldwide auto, property, health, life and commercial insurance with superior customer service and claims response to customers in more than 170 countries." – Source: web site
  • Expat Financial – "We Offer Global Health Insurance Plans Which Can Cover You While Traveling or Living Abroad" – Source: web site – "Global Financial Security"
  • Expat Offshore – "OFFSHORE SERVICE FOR EXPATS" – Source: web site
RELATED
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.

Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or request any further information by email, please include your email address in a separate comment. I will NOT publish any comments with an email address in it.

NOTE: If you want to leave a comment, please leave it in ENGLISH.

Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 300+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for government jobs, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

That's it for Wednesday, 16 June 2010: mercoledì, 16 giugno 2010

Ciao, Ben

government jobs – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is an Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Giugno tonante, raccolto abbondante."
"Thundering June, abundant harvest."

When you have a free moment or two, please read my wife's interesting and entertaining blog about our life in Italy with photographs:

Friends and Family in Italy

Going to Spain, read my new blog:

Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 May 2011)

© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 9:33 PM 0 comments
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Revoke BP's Corporate Charter

Surely you've heard about British Petroleum's track record from the British colonial days through a litany of felony crimes. Being a "corporation" a privilege, not a right.

By now you also know about corporations being defined as "persons" by a corrupt robber baron era US Supreme Court. So, if a person is a serial felon, including negligent homicide, they "go away," usually to prison. They can no long do business, or anything else in society for that matter.

It's time to seriously consider taking the corporate privilege away from BP. And, in these days of internet activism, there is a Facebook campaign to revoke BP America's corporate charter.

Details here: http://bit.ly/9djBTb

Join the "Revoke BP's corporate charter" (facebook) group .

Sources:

The Punk Patriot.

gdaeman_scroll_small
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 5:22 PM 0 comments
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Monday, June 14, 2010

Ambassador Profile: Amye Hoerner - Social Security Administration

I am a University of Washington political science major from Bremerton, WA. I have been interning for the SSA since December 2009. I started out in the volunteer intern program and received 15 credits from POLS 496. I am now a paid intern and accumulating leave for every pay period. I love the benefits of working for Social Security.

Outside of work I enjoy traveling, snowboarding, and running. I want to get my Masters in Public Administration and perhaps a J.D.

I started at Social Security with an average GPA, little work experience, and no clue about my future. They promised me a valuable experience to put on my resume. However, this internship has turned out to be more than just an application booster. My supervisor is now my mentor. He has provided me with the best resources and advice. I’ve started networking within Social Security and now have no doubt in my mind that I would love to end up here someday.

Amye Hoerner is a new ambassador joining us this summer and into the next school year. If you have any questions about working for the Social Security Administration, feel free to email amyerae at uw dot edu.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 9:18 AM 0 comments
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Public Service Career and Internship Fair on July 14!

If you are going to be in DC this summer, don't miss out on the opportunity to network with representatives from more than 75 federal agencies at the Eighth Annual Public Service Career and Internship Fair, hosted by the Partnership for Public Service. This year’s event will take place on July 14 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Admission is FREE and open to the public!
Agencies will be recruiting for a variety of internships and entry-level jobs including:

* Special Agents
* Engineers
* Program Analysts
* Financial Specialists
* Environmental Scientists
* IT Specialists
* Economists
* Contract Specialists
* And more!

The Public Service Career and Internship Fair is a one of a kind event. No other fair connects so many federal agencies with students and recent graduates eager to pursue government work. At the fair, your students and interns will have the chance to meet and interact with government employees, and learn more about their agencies, missions and available positions.


What You Need to Know:
2010 Public Service Career and Internship Fair
July 14, 2010
3:00-7:00 p.m.
National Building Museum
Washington, D.C.

Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 3:46 PM 0 comments

Info about Expat agreements for an international assignment to Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 29 June 2010)

Here are some links and information to consider for Expat agreements for an international assignment (e.g., company/corporate/international agency) to Italy from the USA:

NOTE: While it is nice to be considered for an international assignment, you should be aware of the consequences of taking an international assignment. Yes, it is or maybe a step up the corporate ladder for possible promotions or career development, however you do not want to come up short financially or having the international assignment adversely affect your relationship with your spouse/companion or family.

EXPAT/EXPATRIATE AGREEMENTS
ARTICLES
BLOG ENTRIES/FORUM DISCUSSIONS
EXPAT WEB SITES FOR ITALY
WEB SITES FOR EXPATS
RELATED
RELOCATION PACKAGE – SOME PRACTICAL COMPONENTS TO BE CONSIDER FOR THE EXPAT/EXPATRIATE AGREEMENT
  • Housing allowance: temporary and for the length of your international assignment
  • New electrical appliances allowance – including washing machine and clothes dryer
  • Language lessons for you and your family
  • Payment of real estate agent/realtor fees for house/apartment hunting
  • Payment for yearly tax preparation by an individual or a company knowledgeable and experienced in preparation and filing of taxes for expatriates
  • Car allowance including insurance – usually only 1 car
  • Payment of all moving expenses to and from your international assignment location including storage of any and all items left in your home city of record
  • Payment of any local taxes including tax equalization and/or "hypothetical taxes" if offered or is in your package. Please read Totalization Agreements and review section labeled "TAXES" above.
  • Payment for annual trip to home city for all family members
  • Payment of local school expenses for dependent children living with you
  • Medical coverage for you and your family members
  • Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) especially if you are moving to a high cost city or area than where you worked and lived in the States
  • Termination and contingencies clauses due to mergers, being laid off, downsizing, early return, civil unrest, evacuations due to rioting, weather, terrorism, etc. – what will happen next to you, your family and your possessions
  • Assistance in setting up utilities – gas, electric, internet access, cable, etc., local bank account, driver's license, visas, work permits, residence permits, identity documents, etc.
  • Payment of local dues/fees for social or professional organizations in the country of your international assignment
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.

Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or request any further information by email, please include your email address in a separate comment. I will NOT publish any comments with an email address in it.

NOTE: If you want to leave a comment, please leave it in ENGLISH.

Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 300+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for government jobs, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

I have been very fortunate in my career. I have had two international assignments: one in Germany as an employee and the second as an IT consultant in Kuwait plus other short term assignments in the States or in Brazil. Other individuals or Expats from other countries that I have met in my travels have not been as fortunate. Some companies are very well organized and prepared to support their employees on an international assignment. Other companies are not as knowledgeable. It is imperative for the employee going on an international assignment to become as knowledgeable as possible before accepting the assignment and to be aware of the consequences of his or her decision to go abroad.

There is much to be said about an international assignment. After your work day/week, you can travel around the country or to other countries, go sightseeing, eat exotic or different foods, take in various cultural/social events and pretty much enjoy whatever life has to offer.

I look back on my State-side and foreign travels with fond memories of people, places and various cuisines and foods that I had eaten or tasted. I have wonderful experiences and memories of places that I have visited and of meeting people that I would not of met if I had stayed in the USA or in just one place. It has been and continues to be a wonderful experience for me since I now live and reside in Italy with my wife, Martha.

Yes, and you know that there's a "but" coming – it not for everyone! I can tell you of people that I met that have gone on an international assignment and hated every single moment of their time in the foreign country that they resided in at the time. I am not going to dwell on those individuals or situations.

I am writing this blog posting to assist individuals that look at their international assignment as a new chapter in their respective life and are open to challenges, new places and things to see and do. For a majority of those individuals that have been on an international assignment with ot without dependents with their company or an international agency, most of these individuals enjoyed their time in whatever country they were located in. For the most part, they benefited from the experience. I am not saying that they enjoyed everyday or there were times they wished they were back in the States with family, friends and loved ones.

Anyway, I hope that I provided enough links and information for individuals to make an intelligent decision about their international assignment. It is very important to have the right components in an Expatriate Agreement for you and your family and to have them included in their respective international assignment relocation package.

If anyone has any suggestions for anything else, please let me know and leave a comment or two.

That's it for Wednesday, 23 June 2010: mercoledì, 23 giugno 2010

Ciao, Ben

government jobs – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is an Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Chi vuol vivere senza pene, prenda il mondo come viene."
"He who wants to live without pain, accepts the world as it comes."

Please read my wife's blog about our life in Italy with photographs:

Friends and Family in Italy

Going to Spain, read my new blog:

Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 29 June 2010)
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 12:47 AM 0 comments
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Friday, June 4, 2010

More on the Left & Right Joining Forces

The following are talking points that I recently used when calling in to the radio show "WakeUp AM" on Portsmouth, NH Community Radio.

Fostering people on the left and right to work together on common interests....

It's a strategy of recognizing the power in numbers that is within grasp of "principled" people on the Left and on the right to challenge the power of the minority establishment to bring about a more perfect democracy.

This is NOT about political party politics, creating a third party, or seeking more "bi-partisanship" in Washington, which we know is hopeless. This is about populist-level advocacy, a true grass-roots demand for the ideals of democracy, ideal that are common to principled people the left and the right.

Tea Party is generally NOT where you find these principled people; they too often follow the lead of corporate-funded groups like American for Prosperity. They too often parrot the message of "government is bad," rather than the message of "Make the 'government of the people' work FOR the people" and not for the get-rich-quick crowd of Wall Street, and so-called "corporate America," with their corporate headquarters located off-shore in the Bahamas showing no allegiance to the Country.

There are exceptions in the Tea Party, of course, like the woman interviewed at a tea party rally who said she feels the government should help the less fortunate and not to cut the salaries of teachers.

There is common ground on Important subjects like protection of our privacy and civil liberties in general, solving the "too big to fail" problem that leads to tax payer bailouts of banks and insurance corporations... concerns about the excessive power of the Federal Reserve and the fiat money banking system in general... concerns about politicians and regulatory agencies that are effectively controlled by lobbyists who steer policies and campaign money while making big bucks as Washington lobbyists.

We can cite real examples of this union between populist left & right working:

- the 2003 push back against the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, attempting to allow more consolidation of media ownership among the monolithic corporations.

- the recent Senate unanimous vote for Bernie Sanders' amendment to audit the Federal Reserve Bank.

- And recently, on your last show, you mentioned the conservative bloggers, military guys I think, who are supporting the repeal of don't ask, don't tell policies regarding gays in the military.

So, this isn't simply strategic theory...

gdaeman_scroll_small
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 4:10 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Info on.travel guides and travel information for Abruzzo, Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 13 December 2010)

Here are some links for travel guides and travel information for Abruzzo, Italy:

TRAVEL GUIDES
TRAVEL INFORMATION
RELATED
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.

Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or request any further information by email, please include your email address in a separate comment. I will NOT publish any comments with an email address in it.

NOTE: If you want to leave a comment, please leave it in ENGLISH.

Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 300+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for government jobs, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

That's it for Wednesday, 2 June 2010: mercoledì, 2 giugno 2010

Ciao, Ben

government jobs – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is an Italian proverb from the Abruzzo region (dialect), author unknown.
"Chi lascjie la via vecchjie pe' queli nove sa quell che lascjie, ma nen sza' quell che trov."
"He who leaves his old life behind, knows what he left behind, but does not know what he will find."

When you have a free moment or two, please read my wife's interesting and entertaining blog about our life in Italy with photographs:

Friends and Family in Italy

Going to Spain, read my new blog:

Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 13 December 2010)

© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2010, All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Iffah Syarifah at 7:59 PM 0 comments
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