Obama Health-Care Ruled Unconstitutional

From Bloomberg News, "Obama Health-Care Reform Act Ruled Unconstitutionalby Florida U.S. Judge" by By Andrew M. Harris:

President Barack Obama’s health care law, assailed as an abuse of federal power in a 26-state lawsuit, was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. judge who said Congress overstepped its authority to regulate commerce.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola, Florida, declared the law unconstitutional today in a 78-page opinion.

Read Judge Vinson's complete decision, via The Wall Street Journal, here.

Given Many Choices, Consumers Will Pay More For High Quality And Less For Low Quality

From Columbia Business School Ideas at Work "The Discriminating Consumer: Product Proliferation and Willingness to Pay for Quality" by Sheena Iyengar, Marco Bertini, and Luc Wathieu:

In a series of experiments, the researchers showed that consumers do become more sensitive to quality when facing a dense field of choices — one in which there are a large number of products within a given range of qualities. Shoppers presented with 21 types of chocolate were prepared to pay 33 percent less for a low quality chocolate and 40 percent more for a high quality chocolate relative to those presented with only five different types. The results of further experiments where consumers chose from an assortment of wines or astronomical binoculars revealed that manipulating the perceived density of a choice set could similarly affect shoppers’ sensitivity to quality. The researchers also analyzed sales data from hundreds of lots sold through an auction house over a two-year period, finding that the same phenomenon holds true in the field.

In all cases, consumers were consistently willing to pay more for higher quality products and less for lower quality products. And, when given fewer choices, consumers were far less willing to pay for quality and gravitated toward lower quality, less costly items. They also reported weighting quality as more important when facing larger choice sets.

Read the complete Ideas at Work article here.

A PDF of the researchers' paper is available here.

A Forgotten Freight Transport Method Rediscovered, Aerial Ropeways

From "Aerial ropeways: automatic cargo transport for a bargain" in Low-tech Magazine:

These days, we use them [aerial ropeways] almost exclusively to transport skiers and snowboarders up snow slopes, but before the 1940s, aerial ropeways were a common means of cargo transport, not only in mountainous regions but also on flat terrain, with large-scale systems already built during the Middle Ages.***

***The advantages of aerial cargo ropeways are so numerous that it is no surprise that they are - slowly - being rediscovered. Worries about global warming, peak oil and environmental degradation have made the technology even more appealling. This does not only concern energy use: contrary to a road or a railroad track, a cargo ropeway can be built straight through nature without harming animal and plant life (or, potentially, straight through a city without harming human life). Traffic congestion also plays into the hands of cableways, because the service is entirely free from interference with surface traffic.

Video: Real Mark Zuckerberg On SNL Or Was That Adam Samberg Or Jesse Eisenberg

Interestingly, Mark Zuckerberg has more stage presence and charisma than the actors. While I would be at a loss for words if I met a famous actor, Jesse Eisenberg is at at a loss for words when meeting Mark Zuckerberg for the first time.

At least $50 billion (the valuation of Facebook) can get you on SNL for a few minutes.

To really understand Zuckerberg's power in today's business world, you need to know that IBM and Microsoft fear Google's competitive threat and Google fears Facebook's competitive threat. With a well played hand, Facebook can become the dominate software computer company. Zuckerberg knows how to play bridge. The next two or three years will be very interesting to watch as the four companies compete with each other. IBM's and Google's market capitalizations are just shy of $200 billion and Microsoft's market capitalization is just shy of $240 billion. Facebook is David against the Goliaths.

Higher Bank Capital Amounts Comment

A comment I posted on The Wall Street Journal article, "Number of the Week: Banks Should Hold More Capital" by Mark Whitehouse:

There is no contradiction. Modigliani and Miller wrote about an ideal situation with no bankruptcy (insolvency) and no taxes. It is a solid foundation to build upon and incorporate real world dynamics.

M-M did not incorporate into their research government backed deposit insurance and too big too fail government intervention. Government intervention through deposit insurance and too big to fail undoes much of Modigliani and Millers arguments. Their main arguments rely on market pricing and risk adjusted pricing of equity and debt. Government intervention, in any sector or industry including banking, interferes with risk adjusted pricing of equity and debt.

Fifty years ago, researchers realized that the addition of tax deductibility of interest expense would push firms to increase their debt levels. Similarly, the increasing risk of bankruptcy with increasing debt levels would push firms away from more debt financing. Whether the two forces offset each other or one dominates if at all is an open research question and much has been written on the topic.

Even at 52 percent capital, banks will go insolvent because banks face not only a valuation insolvency risk, debt value greater than asset value, they face liquidity and cash flow insolvency risk.

A bank with 52 percent capital can face a 'run on the bank' and if its loans and investments are illiquid, cannot be sold quickly in the market and converted into cash at face (par) value prices, it will not have adequate funds to pay withdrawals. If too many depositors withdraw their funds, the bank will face a run, and the government will step in to help with needed funds, or operate the bank, or force a takeover or close the bank and pay depositors from the insurance fund.

Banks face several different forms of insolvency risks and high capital amounts do not solve all the potential solvency problems banks face.

Regulators like capital because it is computable and measurable by a formula, easy to observe and fill in on a form, can be set at a precise level and avoids the appearance that the government acted arbitrarily against a particular bank. High capital amounts are not the end to future bank problems, and a low amount of capital amount is not the cause of bank problems.

The Best Companies to Build New Career

Turns out there is such thing as a free lunch … if you work at Google. Free laundry, too. And a rock climbing wall, in case you overindulged at that free lunch and want to work it off before heading back to your desk.
If it sounds like Google is the place to be then you’re in luck, because they’re hiring.
But before you go and fill out your application, you might want to do a little more research, because there are plenty more perks where Google’s came from (and plenty of companies hiring, too) in Fortune’s annual list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
Just to give you an overview: Fourteen of the companies on the list pay 100 percent of their employees’ health care benefits. Fifteen of them have never had a layoff. Ever. Forty-two count women as more than half of their workforce. When asked how much they paid the workers who hold the most common job function at the company, 42 said more than $100,000 per year. And perhaps best of all, 25 of the top-100 employers have more than 700 job openings right now, totaling nearly 137,000 jobs
More details:-
http://www.theworkbuzz.com/employment/best-companies-to-work-for/

Advance 4th Quarter GDP Number, 3,2 Percent, Subject To Big Later Revisions

The US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis released the advance GDP number for the fourth quarter 2010. Real GDP increased by 3.2 percent, annualized from the third quarter of 2010.

The advance number is an early estimate of final GDP annualized percent change from the previous quarter and it is often later substantially revised. Check out the recent huge differences between the advance GDP annualized 4th quarter percent change numbers and the final revised GDP annualized 4th quarter percent change numbers in the following table:

Quarter							Advance							Final							Change
2007q4							0.6							2.9							2.3
2008q4							-3.8							-6.8							-3.0
2009q4							5.7							5.0							-0.7
2010q4							3.2							?							?

As you can see from the above table, final 4th quarter 2010 GDP annualized percent change from the 3rd quarter can be significantly different than the initial estimated advance number of 3.2 percent.

I chuckle when I see all the news articles and blogs comparing the latest advance GDP number with previous final GDP numbers. It is an apples and oranges comparison. Advance numbers should be compared against advance numbers and final numbers should be compared against final numbers.

Poor Italy!

I had to dig up some data on the relative performance of GDP growth in various large (and large-ish) economies over the past few years, and here is the result:





Who knew that Italy was hit so hard in 2008?

Jobs in New Zealand

Jobs in New Zealand offer Brits a new opinion
by: Sachin Desai
Jobs in New Zealand offer Brits who are fed up of a life revolving around nothing but work, an opportunity to get their life/work balance looking a lot healthier. New Zealand, like Australia, is known for its laid back culture. And pursuing jobs in New Zealand gives Brits access to some of the most spectacular scenery and inspiring outdoor living. Taking jobs in New Zealand means rather than being stuck in the crammed commute home, you could be firing up the barbecue
, indulging in outdoor sports from parachuting out of an aeroplane to paddling down high speed rapids.

Jobs in New Zealand: A Laid Back Life
The combination of open spaces, beautiful nature and an outdoor lifestyle is a massive allure for stressed out Brits who are seeking out jobs in New Zealand in their droves. The jobs in New Zealand not only provide emigrants with an amazing country to live in, but professionals can expect good remuneration and challenging roles for career progression. Record numbers of British people are quitting UK shores, and the reasons why so many are turning to jobs in New Zealand are clear: crime, bad weather, miserable commutes, unaffordable housing, crammed cities and lack of opportunity in the regions are often cited as reasons to look for jobs in New Zealand.
More Brits Looking for Jobs in New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand, where Brits once sent their criminals, are now the top destinations of choice to emigrate to. And it's not hard to see why, with the sun shining every day, low crime rates, beautiful beaches and scenery, outdoor lifestyle and adventure and activity; it's little wonder jobs in New Zealand are so sought after. As well as salaries approaching UK ones, housing is affordable with plenty of space. Brits are turning to jobs in New Zealand in search of a better life and better opportunities, accounting for the fact that around a third of UK emigrants head down under to Australia and New Zealand.

Looking for Jobs in New Zealand? The Emigration Group can Help
The Emigration Group is a UK company that works to help people achieve a new life overseas, dealing primarily with British and other English speaking migrants wishing to emigrate to Australia and New Zealand. All the work involved with preparing your residence application is done in the UK, making for easy communication with clients.
Together with their in house Australasian based specialists in migrant resettlement and employment search, we provide an effective and total emigration service. They have successfully linked together employers and job seekers, providing the fast track way to a new job, at a level of remuneration which fully reflects your skills and experience. For expert advice and a free info pack call 0845 230 4390.

for more details:-http://www.articleslash.net/Travel-and-Leisure/572238__Jobs-in-New-Zealand-offer-Brits-a-new-opinion.html

Jobs For Teen Agers

If you are teen and looking for a job?
These are some tips which will help you get going on your search for jobs.

Teen Jobsguides
Information on jobs for teens, including how to find a job, where to get working papers, where teens can work, what to wear for an interview, and how to obtain references.


Child Labor Laws
There are laws restricting when you can work and what you can do. Teens hired for non agricultural employment (which is just about everything other than farm work) must be at least fourteen.


Other restrictions also apply:

*

Ages 14 and 15: During the school year, hours are limited to 3 hours a day and 18 hours a week. On days when there's no school and in the summer, working hours increase to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. There are limits on when you can work, too - no later than 7 p.m. during the school year and no later than 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day.
*

Ages 16 and 17: There's no limit on hours, but, if you're under 18 you can't work in a job that the Labor Department considers hazardous.

Working Papers (Employment / Age Certificates)
In some states, if you're under eighteen, you may need to obtain working papers (officially called Employment/Age Certificates) in order to legally be able to work. You may be able to get the form at school. Otherwise, you can get one at your state Department of Labor. Check the Employment/Age Certification list to see which guidelines apply to you. If it's school, check with your Guidance Office. If it's the Department of Labor, check with your state office. Some states, like New York, for example, have special sections of their web sites on Youth Jobs, which will give you the information you need.

Dream Jobs - or Not!
Once you've got the paperwork in order, consider what you would like to do. Are you interested in working with little kids? Take a look at after-school programs, child care centers, or summer camp jobs. How about working on the beach or the ski slopes, at a park, in the mountains, or at another outdoor job? Consider a job at a museum, a hospital, at a zoo, or at some other organization related to your career aspirations. Here is a list of teen job options. The jobs you have during high school will give you some idea of what you might want to do later on. They also might give you an idea about some jobs you absolutely don't want to do!

Finding a Job
Check with your high school Guidance Office and ask how they can assist with your job search. They may have postings for local businesses, for babysitting or for other part-time positions.

Next, tell everyone you know that you're looking for work. Speak with teachers, family, coaches, friends, parents of friends - anyone and everyone you can think of - and ask for help. Most jobs are found through referrals and people you know are often happy to assist.

How about starting your own business? Consider your own skills and interests as well as the needs of the local economy where you will be spending your summer. Possible ventures include babysitting, lawn mowing, house painting, designing and marketing T-shirts, caring for pets while people are on vacation, car detailing, etc.

Here are some more teen job search tips that will help you find a job - fast!

Online Job Searching
Start your online job search by visiting the sites that focus on teen job opportunities. Searching Snagajob.com, for example, by type of position and location will generate a list of openings. There's also a list of national employers that hire part-time workers. Check the part-time job sites as well. That way, you will review a broad spectrum of potential opportunities and you'll be able to decide what sounds most interesting to you.

Employers in fields like retail and hospitality often are very interested in hiring teens and are willing to provide training. Search by the category of employment you're interested in. This will generate some more leads.These types of employers often don't advertise, so check with the stores or restaurants in your town to see if they have openings.

Don't forget to check the local jobs sites for your city or state, as well as the Employment Services job listings and the Help Wanted ads in your newspaper. Small local papers like The Penny saver usually have listings too.

Teen Job Interviews
Next, make sure you dress appropriately, are ready to complete an application, and are prepared for an on-the-spot interview.

for more details:-
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/justforstudents/a/teenjobs.htm

The Basis Salary packages

Following are Some Important career salary packages.

If you are in searching a new career, check out this list of careers and their salaries before you make your next move. Checking out various careers and what they can actually pay can make a big impact on what you think you want to do in your life.


An RN or staff nurse starts out at about $59,000 a year. You have to become a certified registered nurse and preferably have an associate's degree. It is work to achieve that but worth it in the end.


This career is a hot choice on the list of salaries for careers simply because there will always be an abundance of sick or hurt people. Doctors will always have to have nurses to help them. Also, there is great job security in this field, like with many medical careers. A paralegal for an attorney starts at $54,000 a year. You will need to earn an associate's degree. Your job will be assisting the attorneys with legal documents.

A financial adviser starts at $66,000 a year. You will only have to earn a Bachelor's degree. This career will also have staying power. People with money will always need help in managing it. Pharmaceutical sales starts at $90,000 a year. You will need to get an associate's degree. This is a great job because people will always need pharmaceuticals and you will get to rub shoulders with lots of doctors, which can become a good perk.

An investment specialist starts at $54,000. In this career, the more degrees you have the higher your pay will go up each year.please give your feedback so that we can upgrade our publ for future.
thanks




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_Wise
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Base-Salary-List-For-Careers&id=1627165.

How to Get a Career in Police Force

By Charles Nash

I wanted to talk to you about how to pass the police exam. This is not like a traditional exam that you would of taken while you were in high school. Those exams were designed to measure aptitude and how well you could memorize things. Society, as a whole, isn't exactly looking for police officers that can memorize a lot of things.
They want people that really understand what it means to be a police officer and will behave accordingly. Since you're expected to be held to a much higher standard than other people,
that means the exam has a much different purpose than you may be used to. This is why I want to show you how to pass the police exam.

The exam is designed to really figure out if you get it. That's what it wants to know. The best way to know if you're getting it is to put you in odd situations that have never been seen or discussed before. You've probably went over how to properly handle pulling someone over for speeding, so they give you a curve ball. Maybe they'll ask what you'd do in a domestic abuse case or maybe how you'd approach a person that committed a certain crime. They want to see that you get it, not that you can regurgitate memorized facts.

Another important part on how to pass the police exam is to watch your spelling and grammar. Police officers write a lot of reports that are often passed off to government officials and lawyers. You have to be able to produce things that are not only readable, but reflect well on the police force. Make sure you're writing in complete sentences and using proper spelling.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Nash

Gladys Horton of the Marvellettes Died: Lead Singer On "Please Mr. Postman"

Gladys Horton of the Marvellettes died Wednesday. She was the lead singer and co-founder of the group. In 1961, "Please Mr Postman" was the first Motown song to reach the number one position on the pop charts.

The New York Times obituary is available here.

Cleveland Fed Predicts 1 Percent Yearly GDP Growth And 1.5 Percent Chance Of Recession

From "Yield Curve and Predicted GDP Growth: January 2011" Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland:

Projecting forward using past values of the spread and GDP growth suggests that real GDP will grow at about a 1.0 percent rate over the next year, the same projection as in November and December.

Using the yield curve to predict whether or not the economy will be in recession in the future, we estimate that the expected chance of the economy being in a recession next January at 1.2 percent, a slight drop from December’s 1.5 percent and November’s 2.3 percent.

Read the complete Cleveland Fed article and prediction here.

Financial Crisis Inquiry Final Report Available

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission released its Final Report on the Causes of the Financial Crisis.

The 660 plus page report with dissenting commissioners' views is available free;
from the Commission here;
from GPO here;
and from my upload on Scribd here.

My personal biases are towards the scientific method, i.e. reproducibility. Since whatever causes presented in the report as an explanation for the financial crisis are not testable, I do not put much faith in the explanations in the report. Our state of financial, banking and economic knowledge has not changed since before the crisis. We did not understand the warning signs of a impending financial crisis before and we do not understand them any better now after the crisis.

The report is more a finger pointing, conventional wisdom, political document about the crisis than scientific inquiry into causes. The conclusions are based on observations without a reliable theory to explain any of the conclusions or causalities. The report fills a human and political need to find causes and blame even when the state of our knowledge does not lend itself to the task.

These types of inquiries remind me of the old beliefs that life could spontaneously occur in meats because maggots would suddenly appear on meat as it was left out in the open. It was later discovered that flies laid their eggs on the meat and the new born flies became larvae, maggots, before they matured into flies. When meat was placed in jars, covered with cloth, etc., no maggots appeared.

The report mentions many banking, financial, and regulatory things that existed before the crisis. Prior existence does not mean it caused the crisis, even if the logical connection exists in the minds of the report commission.

The report is more about closure than it is about finding causes. Unfortunately, it will be used as the basis to propose ineffective new regulations and laws.

CBO's 2011 - 2021 US Budget Deficit Projections

From the CBO summary, "The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2011 to 2021":

sharply lower revenues and elevated spending deriving from the financial turmoil and severe drop in economic activity—combined with the costs of various policies implemented in response to those conditions and an imbalance between revenues and spending that predated the recession—have caused budget deficits to surge in the past two years. The deficits of $1.4 trillion in 2009 and $1.3 trillion in 2010 are, when measured as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), the largest since 1945—representing 10.0 percent and 8.9 percent of the nation’s output, respectively.

For 2011, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that if current laws remain unchanged, the federal budget will show a deficit of close to $1.5 trillion, or 9.8 percent of GDP. The deficits in CBO’s baseline projections drop markedly over the next few years as a share of output and average 3.1 percent of GDP from 2014 to 2021. Those projections, however, are based on the assumption that tax and spending policies unfold as specified in current law. Consequently, they understate the budget deficits that would occur if many policies currently in place were continued, rather than allowed to expire as scheduled under current law.

Read the complete CBO summary here.

Read the complete 172 page CBO report here.

Negative Equity Homeowners Are More Likely To Move Than Positive Equity Homeowners

From a recent research paper, "Negative Equity Does Not Reduce Homeowners' Mobility" by Sam Schulhofer-Wohl, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Research Department, Working Paper 682, December 2010:

negative-equity homeowners are more rather than less likely to move.***homeowners with negative equity are at least as mobile as those with positive equity, holding other characteristics constant. Homeowners with extremely negative equity are especially mobile.

The paper's complete abstract:

Some commentators have argued that the housing crisis may harm labor markets because homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth are less likely to move to places that have productive job opportunities. I show that, in the available data, negative equity does not make homeowners less mobile. In fact, homeowners who have negative equity are slightly more likely to move than homeowners who have positive equity. Ferreira, Gyourko, and Tracy's (2010) contrasting result that negative equity reduces mobility arises because they systematically drop some negative-equity homeowners' moves from the data.

Read the full research paper here.

Uniform Fiduciary Standard For Retail Investment Advisers And Broker-Dealers Is Unworkable

From the SEC "Study on Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealer" as required by Section 913 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act:

The Staff [of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission] therefore recommends establishing a uniform fiduciary standard for investment advisers and broker-dealers when providing investment advice about securities to retail customers that is consistent with the standard that currently applies to investment advisers. The recommendations also include suggestions for considering harmonization of the broker-dealer and investment adviser regulatory regimes, with a view toward enhancing their effectiveness in the retail marketplace.

The full staff report is available here.

Fiduciary Standards Are A Pandora's Box Of Legal Problems For Retail Stock Brokers

Investment advisers perform a different function than retail stock brokers.

Investment advisers have specific investment objectives, an investment style, that they use to identify the way they invest or that their clients asked them to follow. For example, an investment adviser may be told by his client, or may identify his investment style in his promotional literature, as one that maximizes dividends and income while preserving capital. Another may identify himself, or be asked by a client, as seeking to maximize capital appreciation; an aggressive investor in small drug and biotech companies with the greatest potential for developing a blockbuster drug; for finding companies with extraordinary gains in profitability over the previous year, or for investing and trading in foreign currencies.

Fiduciary duty compliance for an investment adviser requires fair dealings without conflicts, with transparency and adherence to investment objectives.

Investment advisers and their clients have a mutual, agreed to understanding of investment goals and objectives for the money under advisement. Even if investment policy is never discussed, there is tacit acceptance of the policy by the customer just by going to an adviser who holds himself out to be a particular type of investor manager or adviser.

A retail stock broker, who does not currently by law, regulation or industry practice, have a fiduciary duty to a customer, is a salesperson. Salespeople in all other walks of life generally do not have fiduciary relationships with buyers. Does you supermarket have an obligation to tell you that their store brand is made by the same company you are buying and costs a few cents less? or that you should buy a few more cans of soup this week because prices are going up tomorrow?

Brokers can only sell to a retail customer investments, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc., that are on the brokerage firm's approved list. Is a retail broker with a fiduciary obligation required to tell you that the fees or transactions costs for the same investment are lower at another firm?

Are retail brokers with a fiduciary obligation obligated to tell a customer for a mutual fund that mutual fund managers cannot consistently beat an index fund? or that their firm's stock analyst cannot pick winning stocks any better than a someone who randomly picks a stock?

Will brokers be forbidden from selling commodities such as gold and silver to clients because they have a zero correlation with a market investment portfolio and therefore will not over time increase the value of the portfolio?

The functional difference between an investment adviser and a retail broker makes the application of a fiduciary standard impossible to implement effectively.

Imposition of a common fiduciary standard on advisers and brokers will lead to an enormous increase in lawsuits and arbitration claims against retail stock brokers and their firms. It will force the SEC to enact a very limited definition of fiduciary and that will create unmet retail broker client expectations, untold customer confusion and resentment by retail customers.

Let the lawsuits begin.

Overwhelming Lack Of Trust For US Government's Ability To Create Jobs

From "60% Trust Business Leaders More Than Government To Create Jobs" in January 26, 2011 Rasmussen Reports:

60% of Adults think decisions made by U.S. business leaders to help their own businesses grow will do more to help create jobs in America than decisions made by government officials. Just 24% say decisions made by government officials to help the economy grow will do more.

Read the complete report here.

How to Get A Job In Air Lines A Flight To Success

By: swati kapoor

The airline industry has boomeranged as flights have become a viable option for people with so many new airline companies offering affordable tickets. Liberalization of air policy has increased the frequency of flights and brought many private companies in the field. The industry is expanding fast and the demand for skilled and qualified personnel is also rising.
Today, airhostess and pilot jobs have become the hottest aviation jobs for those interested in taking their career sky high.
Pilots are the central figures and end operators heading the team of highly trained aviation professionals. Pilot jobs are very demanding as they are responsible for the safety of the flight and the passengers. The job can be equally rewarding as they are the most visible of all the crew members. The boom in the aviation sector has created lots of openings for pilots. Air cargo services can also be a good option for those interested in adding wings to their career. For being an airline pilot the foremost requirement is to get a commercial pilot license and minimum 150 flying hours. To become a pilot, individuals having science background can pursue a course after Class 12 offered by government and private institutes.

Just as a pilot is the focal point of air crew, air hostesses and flight attendants are the face of the airlines. They are responsible for the hospitality and comfort of the passengers. Airhostess jobs require skills to handle different kinds of people and to take care of their needs. A graduate in any discipline with an additional degree/diploma in Hotel Management or Tourism and the zeal for visiting different places or working at odd hours are certain characteristics associated with this profession. No doubt it is a very promising career option with attractive pay package.

To keep pace with the increase in operation of air services, many new and larger airports are being constructed. This has created immense job opportunities for people interested in pursuing ground duties. Airport jobs associated with ticketing, cargo handling, custom clearance etc too are up for grabs. A diploma/degree in Tourism or Ticketing and even a basic understanding of the aviation sector can help to get airport jobs with good salary.

Closely related to aviation is the aerospace sector that deals with the design, development, manufacturing and maintenance of all types of flying vehicles be it aircrafts, helicopters, spacecrafts, rockets and more. Aerospace is a very advance and high tech industry and the need for expert O&M aerospace manpower is also increasing. Airline jobs are becoming popular and highly lucrative for people with a Science or Engineering background. So if you also want to add wings to your career be a part of the aviation and aerospace industry and take the flight to success.

Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Airline-Jobs-A-Flight-To-Success/1800094#ixzz4xA1DQSww
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

Find a Banking Job

HOW?

By an eHow Contributor

Whether you are looking for a job as a bank teller, bank manager, loan officer, commercial underwriter or business analyst, there are plenty of opportunities to find a banking job. But experienced banking executives and newbies trying to break into the banking field alike should follow a few tips and guidelines to find a banking job.


1. Make sure you have the proper skills and necessary degrees and certifications. Figure out what types of positions you are qualified for. Some banking jobs may require that you are a CPA, while others might be entry-level positions, requiring little experience.

2. Write a resume. If you do not have any experience in writing a resume, consider hiring someone to write it for you. Accentuate your banking and finance background. If you are looking for a lower level position, highlight any cashier jobs or other work experience handling money.


3. Post your resume to several online job sites. Job banks and other Web sites have listings for local and national bank jobs, and you can get advice on writing your resume, search their database for jobs and apply right online.


4. Scour the classified ads. Look in the classifieds of your local paper and any college newspapers in your area. Check under the categories of banking, finance and accounting to find banking jobs.

5. Interview with an employment agency. Several employment services hire only for banking and finance jobs. Find such an agency by looking in your local phone book, and call the agency to set up an appointment. You will likely have to fill out
6. Apply directly with banks in your neighborhood. Banks will usually take applications even if they do not have a position currently open. Go directly to the bank and ask if it's possible for you to fill out an application. They can keep it on file, in case a position opens up that meets your needs and qualifications.


6. Network with friends and relatives. One of the best ways to get a job is through word of mouth, so keep feelers out with friends and family for any open banking jobs.


Read more: How to Find a Banking Job /www.ehow.com/how_2045213_find-banking-job.html#ixzz4xA4spKUO

Get yourself in Banking Job

Baking is a well loved past time. Baking is also one delicious hobby that can turn into a profession and career. Over the years, many bakers who used to just make goodies as a hobby made their own bakery or store. A lot of bakers also pursued careers in restaurants, hotels and other places where baking is done. If you think you are a good enough baker and you still do not have enough courage to set up your own business, why not try to look for baking jobs. There are various baking jobs available for people across the world and a few of them will be discussed in this article.



The first type of baking job is to set up your own business and create your own bake shop. Many people pursue this kind of business because everyone loves baked goodies. If you think you have a cake that can compete with others or a cookie recipe that is to die for, why not create your own shop? A lot of bakers do this to shift their hobby and passion into a good money earning business. You can start small by just putting pictures online and accepting orders via mobile phone or email. You can then progress to joining bake fairs and giving out brochures and price-lists. If you feel that you still want to go up another level then create your own physical store.

Another type of baking job is that of a baker in a restaurant or hotel. Every hotel and restaurant needs bakers to make breads and desserts and these places are always on the lookout for fresh new talent. Many hotels have a handful of restaurants and usually one of them specializes in baked goods and desserts. You can immerse yourself in this type of baking job before moving on and going solo. This will give you the proper know how in running a bakeshop and handling people. This baking job will train you and will show you the ins and outs of the baking business. Baking in a restaurant will teach you many skills. One of the important skills you will learn in restaurants is how to handle pressure and time pressure. This will make you a great baker because you will be able to send food out on time.

There are probably many more baking jobs in the market and all you have to do is look for them and select one that suits you.

source:-

http://in45.com/different-types-of-baking-jobs-get-jorself-a-baking-job/

Info about 2011 carnevale events in Toscana/Tuscany, Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 5 May 2011)

Here are some links for 2011 carnevale events in Toscana/Tuscany, Italy:

TOSCANA/TUSCANY – BY PROVINCE

• AREZZO
  
• Carnevale Aretino dell'Orciolaia – In Italian Only – Dates: 31 January and 7, 14 and 16 February – Location: Piazza Guido Monaco and Via Petrarca, Arezzo (AR) – Source: web site
• Carnevale dei Figli di Bocco – In English, Italian – Dates: 31 January and 7 February – Location: Castiglion Fibocchi (AR) – NOTE: Admittance fee – Source: web site
• Carnevale di Foiano – In Italian Only – Dates: 31 January and 7, 14 and 21 February – Location: Foiano della Chiana (AR) – NOTE: Admittance fee – Source: web site
• Carnevale Savinese 2010 – Dates: TBA – Location: Monte San Savino (AR)
  
• Carnevale di Stia – In Italian Only – Dates: TBA, at this time, only 2010 infomation available – Location: Stia (AR) – Source: Comune di Stia – In Italian Only
• FIRENZE/FLORENCE
  
• Carnevale Mugellano – Event: In Italian Only – Dates: 24 and 31 January and 7 and 14 February – Location: Borgo San Lorenzo (FI) – Source: Saimicadove.it – "Getting the most out of Tuscany" – In English, Italian – Please note: The Italian version provides more detail and events.
• GROSETTO
  
• Carnevale Follonichese 2010 – In Italian Only – Dates: TBA – Location: Follonica (GR) – Source: Comune di Follonica
• LUCCA
• Carnevale Puccini di Torre del Lago – In Italian Only – Dates: 30 - 31 January – Location: Torre del Lago Puccini (LU) – Source: web site
• Carnevale delle Scuole – In Italian Only – Date: 1 February Location: Torre del Lago Puccini (LU) – Source: web site
• Viareggio Carnevale – In Italian Only – Dates: 31 January and 7, 14, 16 and 21 February – Location: Viareggio (LU) – NOTE: Admittance fee – Source: web site – In Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
  
• PISA
  
• Carnevale d'Autore – In Italian Only – Dates: 24 and 31 January and 7, 14 and 16 February – Location: Santa Croce sull'Arno (PI) – Source: gonews.it – "Il quotidiano on-line dell’Empolese Valdelsa e oltre"
  

LISTS OF CARNEVALE EVENTS IN TOSCANA/TUSCANY

• Carnevale in Toscana – "Tutte le feste e le sfilate in Toscana" – In Italian Only – Source: Toscana e Tirreno – "This site will be the meeting point for all people who want to come to visit this beautiful region, that is Tuscany." – In English, Italian – Please note: Not all events or sections on this web site are in English
• From this page, you can click on specific carnevale events for each Toscana/Tuscany province
  

VIDEOS OF CARNEVALE EVENTS IN TOSCANA/TUSCANY

• Carnevale dei Figli di Bocco 2009 – In Italian Only – Posted by smagvideo on March 16, 2009 – Source: YouTube – "Broadcast yourself™" – In multiple languages
• Carnevale di Foiano (Ar) 2009 – In Italian Only – Posted by Elisheha on February 17, 2009 – Source: YouTube – "Broadcast yourself™" – In multiple languages
• Carnevale di Viareggio 2009 - L'isola misteriosa – In Italian Only – Posted by grinnokres on February 16, 2009 – Source: YouTube – "Broadcast yourself™" – In multiple languages
• carnevale di viareggio – In Italian Only – Posted by telenovaweb on January 28, 2008 – Source: YouTube – "Broadcast yourself™" – In multiple languages
  
• Carnevale di Viareggio 2007 – Source: Tuscany.tv – "Share your Tuscany holidays videos"

ARTICLES

• TELEVISION EPISODE AND ARTICLE
• Carnevale: A Tuscan Festival – Source: Lost in Italy series found in the "On Television" section of FINE LIVING
  

INFORMATION

• Carnevale Dates - Italian Carnival Festival Dates 2010 - 2020 – "When is Carnival Celebrated in Italy?" – By Martha Bakerjian – Source: Italy Travel section of About.com

SOME CARNEVALE EVENTS OUTSIDE THE REGION OF TOSCANA/TUSCANY IN ITALIA/ITALY

• REGIONS
• EMILA-ROMAGNA
• Cento Carnevale d'Europa – "il Carnevale Faraonico!" – In Italian Only – Dates: 31 January and 7, 14, 16, 21 and 28 February – Location: Cervia (RA) – Source: web site
• MARCHE
• Carnevale di Fano – In Italian Only – Dates: 31 January and 7, 14 and 21 February – Location: Fano (PU) – Source: web site
• VENETO
• Carnevale di Venezia 2010 – "Sensation: 6 sensi per 6 sestieri" – Dates: 6 - 7 and 9 - 16 February – Location: Venezia (VE)/Venice – Source: Portale di Venezia® – In English, Italian
• LISTS
• Carnevale in Italia – In Italian Only – Source: Regioni Italiane – "Il fascino del bel paese"
• From this page, you can click on specific carnevale events for each region of Italy including the islands of Sicilia/Sicily and Sardegna/Sardinia
• Carnevale – Source: madaboutitaly.com – "...dedicated to all those who are...Mad About Italy...!"

MISCELLANEOUS

• SEE ALSO
• Info on 2011 Events and Festivals (feste or sagre) in Toscana/Tuscany *, dated Wednesday, January 05, 2011
• Info on some of my blog entries (URLs) for Tuscany/Toscana, Italy *, dated Wednesday, July 22, 2009
• Info about 2009 carnevale in Italy *, dated Tuesday, January 20, 2009
  

* = Blog entry has been updated.

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

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 that 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.

That's it for Wednesday, 26 January 2011: mercoledì, 26 gennaio 2011

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.

"L'apparenza inganna."
"Appearances can be deceiving."

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

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.

© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 5 May 2011)

Child's Self Control Is Second Only To IQ In Predicting Adult Success And Health

From "Stage set early for success, or failure: Good self-management by age 3 predicts adult health and wealth" by Bruce Bower in ScienceNews:

Intelligence, as measured by IQ tests, has long held sway as the prime mental influence on health and achievement. But self-control’s close link to adult health and accomplishment remained after researchers accounted for children’s IQ scores and family income. “Self-control and intelligence are both valuable for life success, but after years of effort, IQ has proven difficult to change through interventions,” [Duke University psychologist Terrie] Moffitt says.

Read the complete ScienceNews article here.

Jobs for Captains

Welcome Captains
By Capt. Juraj Boroš,
the Director of Tatra Marine Ltd.

Lots of young people dream about working at sea and especially on cruise ships, but few can imagine what cruise jobs are really like. The reality is that candidates for cruise ship employment have to realise that they are applying for a job, not a holiday!


If they are accepted at their interview with a representative of a particular cruise line they cannot choose the cruise ship or the trading area but must strictly comply with the requirements of the Cruise Line which hired them.

New crew members on a cruise ship have to undergo some degree of training after joining the ship, and must accept discipline and various restrictions (e.g. not to enter the passenger area when not on duty). Their supervisors will expect them to work hard with a permanent smile on their face. On the other hand, cruise ship work gives young people a good income and the chance to visit a variety of beautiful and exotic places.

If you wish to know the sea, its beauty, colours and aromas, and to get a job on a cruise liner, all you have to do is to contact your nearest crewing (recruitment) agent and they will inform you about the opportunities, requirements and your chances of getting a cruise job.

After a phone call, if the agent thinks your chances are really good, they will invite you to a personal pre-interview at the recruitment agency. If you meet all the criteria and speak good English, you will be offered a registration and later you will be invited to specific interviews with representatives of the cruise lines.

At the end of the whole process is your embarkation on the designated cruise ship. You will work at sea with a good (but hard!) job on board the cruise liner. Of course, the sea is not always smooth and beautiful, it can be also dangerous and tough. You will have to deal with your ship rolling and pitching on the ocean waves, and with passengers who will be seasick and whom you will have to look after (or clean up after).

Interested? Then don't hesitate and contact your nearest crewing/recruitment agent to get a dream cruise job!
source:-
http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com/captains-welcome/

New Cruise Ship jobs on the Horizon for 2011

German cruise line AIDA will launch their eighth ship, the colorful AIDAsol, in April of 2011. Featuring 1,097 passenger cabins, seven restaurants, and twelve bars, the AIDAsol will sail an itinerary across Northern Europe from its home port in Kiel, Germany.
AMAWaterways: AMAKatarina and AMALotus


Popular luxury European river cruise line, AMAWaterways, is set to launch two new ships in 2011: AMAKatarina, 212-passenger ship based out of Moscow sailing Russian Rivers; and the AMALotus, sailing the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Avalon Waterways: Panorama

Avalon Waterways is launching its European river cruise ship, Panorama, in May 2011. Offering only 66 all-suite cabins, there’s also room for 47 crew members on board as the Panorama sails from its home base of Amsterdam, Holland, to Budapest, Hungary, following a 14-day itinerary.
Carnival Cruise Lines: Magic

The latest vessel in the Fun Ship series, Carnival Magic, will set sail on May 1, 2011, for its summer in the Mediterranean; Carnival Magic will reposition to the Caribbean for the winter season starting November 14. With a total passenger capacity of 6,000 people, the ship features 1,845 cabins for guests along with an additional 746 cabins for crew.
Celebrity Cruises: Silhouette

As part of their Solstice Class series, the Silhouette is the latest addition in the Celebrity fleet. The Silhouette will carry almost 2,900 passengers with reported crew numbers varying from 999 to 1,227. The Silhouette will sail July 23, 2011, on its inaugural Mediterranean itinerary transitioning to the Caribbean in November.
Compagnie du Ponant: L’Austral

The French company Compagnie du Ponant is known for its luxurious mega yachts which cater to an upscale clientele. L’Austral is the latest edition to this elite fleet; it features a 264 passenger capacity along with 139 crew members. L’Austral will sail its first Mediterranean itinerary out of its home port of Venice, Italy, on April 27, 2011.

Costa Favolosa
Costa Cruises: Favolosa

This ever growing Italian cruise line is introducing the 15th addition to its fleet, the Costa Favolosa featuring a passenger capacity of 3,780 along with 1,068 crew members. The Grand Inaugural Cruise sees the Costa Favolosa sailing roundtrip from its Venice home port to the Mediterranean on July 7, 2011.
Disney Cruise Line: Dream

Their first new ship in ten years, the Disney Dream offers cabins for over 4,000 passengers with an additional 1,458 crew members to keep everything running smoothly. The Disney Dream sets sail on its maiden voyage January 26, 2011, to the Bahamas out of its home port in Port Canaveral, FL.
Oceana Cruises: Marina

The Marina is a mid-size ship featuring room for 1,250 passengers plus an additional 800 crew members. The Marina will set sail on January 22, 2011, from Barcelona, Spain, to Miami, FL; she’ll then sail onto San Francisco, the Caribbean, and then back to Barcelona on March 28.

Seabourn Quest
Seabourn: Quest

The Seabourn Quest is a luxury 225-suite ship whose pre-inaugural cruise takes place June 9, 2011, in the Mediterranean. After a summer in Europe, the Quest and her 330 crew members will reposition to the Caribbean on November 23.
Uniworld: River Antoinette

Known as the ‘world’s only boutique cruise line’, Uniworld is launching their newest fleet addition, the River Antoinette, on March 27, 2011. This 164-passenger ship will be based out of Basel, Germany, as it sails itineraries along the Rhine River.

For details:-
http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com/new-cruise-ships-2011/

2011: The most new jobs since '1995?

One economist is predicting as many as 3.9 million new jobs in the year ahead, pushing the unemployment rate down to 7.3%. It's optimistic, but there are signs the change has already begun.

[Related content: economy, Europe, Anthony Mirhaydari, Federal Reserve, jobs]

By Anthony Mirhaydari

MSN Money

Early in 2010, the U.S. economy seemed to be on the sure path to recovery. Nearly a million jobs were created from March through May. Stocks, which entered the year on a tear, soared to new highs in April. Gross domestic product growth averaged 4.4% in the six months to March. All was right in the world.

So what happened?
Simply put, we hit a string of icebergs. The European debt crisis. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The government's case against Goldman Sachs (GS, news, msgs), which put the financial world on edge. Now the economy is again struggling to stay afloat. Some 55,000 jobs have been lost in the last six months. The unemployment rate just jumped to 9.8%.
The housing market remains moribund. Consumer confidence has stalled. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has even warned that the economic growth rate may not be self-sustaining.
All of this makes the question even more critical: What will we see in 2011?
As we close in on the new year, the situation remains fragile. But new evidence suggests the recovery, now more than a year and a half old, not only is still on, but is picking up speed again.
The index of leading economic indicators, maintained by the Conference Board, has reaccelerated -- a sign the economy is regaining its vigor. The Europeans have bailed out Greece and Ireland and nationalized troubled banks. They have also been forced to prop up their government debt market. The Fed is printing a fresh $600 billion to inject into the financial system -- adding to the $1.7 trillion it has already spent.
President Barack Obama has apparently struck a deal with Republicans in Congress to extend emergency unemployment benefits along with the Bush tax cuts.

Big Jobs Bet

Go to CNBC

Now consumer spending is poised to replace inventory restocking and government stimulus as the main driver of economic growth. And that means that the biggest job gains in years, along with stock market advances and higher home prices, should be just around the corner.
Here's why:

The jobs squeeze

While it's hard to believe, the economy is growing. In fact, it's been growing for more than five consecutive quarters. But all the benefits seem to have been funneled to denizens of corporate suites and Wall Street trading floors instead of the average Joe.
While corporate profitability has soared to record highs, fewer and fewer people are participating in the work force. This has padded profit margins and boosted share prices. Because of the scarcity of jobs, the employment-to-population ratio has fallen to levels not seen since 1983.
At the same time, to simply survive, households have become increasingly reliant on government transfer payments -- such as unemployment benefits and Social Security checks. According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch calculations, these transfers account for more than 9% of overall personal income, up from less than 2% in 2007.
Because of this, productivity, defined as output per worker, has surged at a rate not seen since the 1960s as companies have squeezed more and more out of their staffs. Those with a job don't complain for fear of joining the army of the unemployed. New hiring hasn't been necessary.
But this is changing now. Productivity is beginning to fall. And with economic activity continuing to increase, companies have to turn to alternatives.
There was a surge of temporary hiring in November, the largest since January, in what is a precursor to permanent job creation. And the average workweek increased at a 1.1% annual rate in the third quarter, the fastest rate in 25 years, as existing employees worked longer hours. It can't increase much more: The average length of the workweek from 2001 to 2007 was 33.8 hours, just three-tenths of an hour above the current level.
The next step, according to Deutsche Bank economist Carl Riccadonna, is clear: "(E)mployers have stretched the workweek for existing workers pretty much to its limit and now must add additional employees in order to further expand output."

2.5 million new jobs -- or maybe even 3.9 million

So, how many new jobs are we talking here?
Assuming productivity slows to levels consistent with the last four recoveries, Riccadonna estimates the economy will create 2.5 million new jobs in the New Year. Under a more optimistic scenario, in which productivity growth falls to zero, as it did most recently in the 1970s and 1980s, he suggests the economy could create as many as 3.9 million new jobs by the end of 2011.
To put that in perspective, through November the economy had created just 950,000 jobs in 2010. The last time 3.9 million or more jobs were created in a 12-month span was in 1995. For 2.5 million jobs, it was 2006.
That addition of 3.9 million jobs would be enough to push the unemployment rate down to 7.3% -- which is close to the economy's "natural" unemployment rate. This concept was the subject of one of my recent columns and formed part of my criticism of the Fed's $600 billion money-pumping initiative announced in November.
Yes, the most recent jobs report was terrible: Just 39,000 jobs were created last month, compared with 172,000 in October. The 50,000 private sector jobs that were created was the worst showing since January. Hourly earnings were flat. And the retail sector, which carried high hopes heading into the holiday shopping season, lost 28,000 jobs.
Yet there is plenty of evidence to suggest an improvement in the labor market is already under way.

Article Sopurce;-
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/2011-the-most-new-jobs-since-95-mirhaydari.aspx