Pages

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Five things Obama will do at the UN


Five things Obama will do at the UN

President Obama hasn’t had much time lately for anything other than the economy, jobs, and maybe a little worrying about the midterm elections. But he’ll focus a good chunk of this week on foreign affairs when he decamps Washington for the United Nations in New York, spending the better part of three days – from Wednesday afternoon to Friday evening – on many of the bigger issues on his international plate.
Here are five things Mr. Obama will do while in New York.
- Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer
Zimbabwean children attend a ceremony where South Korea Ambassador Vae-hack Oh handed over a donation of thousands of library books and computers to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare on August 23. Zimbabwe has the lowest per capita GDP in the world. (AP/File)

5. Call for an overhaul of the UN campaign to improve living conditions for the world’s poorest

Obama will participate Wednesday in the closing session of a two-day summit on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, the eight-point strategy adopted by world leaders in 2000 for lifting the standard of living of the world’s poorest by 2015. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the summit both to take stock of progress and to prod the international community to renewed action, pressing participants from more than 145 countries to do better on everything from reducing hunger to tackling maternal and infant mortality to raising access to primary education
Obama will remind attendees that the US, the world’s largest provider of development assistance, is at the forefront of efforts. But he will also encourage both wealthy and developing countries to rethink their strategies for reducing poverty, putting greater emphasis on local economic development programs and plans that reach more of the world’s least-accessible rural poor. He is also expected to say more attention must be paid to accountability and weeding out corruption.
A controversial indicator to watch for: how much importance Obama places on the role family-planning services play in economic development. Conservatives who suspect the administration of opening the door to abortion will be ready to pounce.

source:http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2010/0920/Five-things-Obama-will-do-at-the-UN/Call-for-an-overhaul-of-the-UN-campaign-to-improve-living-conditions-for-the-world-s-poorest

Frankenfish - modified salmon - considered for approval in US

WASHINGTON
U.S. government food regulators pondered Monday whether to say, for the first time, that it's OK to market a genetically engineered animal as safe for Americans people to eat.

The Food and Drug Administration is holding two days of hearings on a request to market genetically modified salmon. Ron Stotish, chief executive of AquaBounty, the company that made the marketing request, said at the meeting that his company's fish product is safe and environmentally sustainable.
Critics, however, call the modified salmon "frankenfish" that could cause the eventual decimation of the wild salmon population. An FDA advisory committee is reviewing the science of the genetically engineered fish this week and hearing such criticisms as the agency ponders approval.

IN PICTURES: The 20 weirdest fish in the ocean
The FDA has already said that the salmon, which grows twice as fast as conventional ones, is as safe to eat as the traditional variety.
Whether the American public will have an appetite for it is another matter. Genetic engineering is already widely used for crops, but the government until now has not considered allowing the consumption of modified animals. Although the potential benefits — and profits — are huge, many individuals have qualms about manipulating the genetic code of other living creatures.
Part of the two-day hearing will focus on labeling of the fish. It is possible that if the modified salmon is approved, consumers would not even know they were eating it. Current FDA regulations only require modified foods to be labeled as such if the food is substantially different than the conventional version, and the agency has said that the modified salmon is essentially the same as the Atlantic salmon.
Approval of the salmon would open the door for a variety of other genetically engineered animals, including an environmentally friendly pig that is being developed in Canada or cattle that are resistant to mad cow disease.
"For future applications out there the sky's the limit," said David Edwards of the Biotechnology Industry Association. "If you can imagine it, scientists can try to do it."
AquaBounty says it would be the first in the world to market genetically engineered fish.The company submitted its first application for FDA approval in 1995, but the agency did not decide until two years ago to consider applications for genetically engineered animals — a move seen as a breakthrough by the biotechnology industry.
Genetically engineered — or GE — animals are not clones, which the FDA has already said are safe to eat. Clones are copies of an animal. With GE animals, their DNA has been altered to produce a desirable characteristic.
In the case of the salmon, AquaBounty has added a growth hormone from a Chinook salmon that allows the fish to produce their growth hormone all year long. The engineers were able to keep the hormone active by using another gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout that acts like an on switch for the hormone, according to the company. Conventional salmon only produce the growth hormone some of the time.


source:http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2010/0920/Frankenfish-modified-salmon-considered-for-approval-in-US

US notches world's highest incarceration rate

More than 5.6 million Americans are in prison or have served time there, according to a new report by the Justice Department released Sunday. That's 1 in 37 adults living in the United States, the highest incarceration level in the world.
It's the first time the US government has released estimates of the extent of imprisonment, and the report's statistics have broad implications for everything from state fiscal crises to how other nations view the American experience.
If current trends continue, it means that a black male in the United States would have about a 1 in 3 chance of going to prison during his lifetime. For a Hispanic male, it's 1 in 6; for a white male, 1 in 17.
The numbers come after many years of get-tough policies - and years when violent-crime rates have generally fallen. But to some observers, they point to broader failures in US society, particularly in regard to racial minorities and others who are economically disadvantaged.




By Gail Russell Chaddock, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor / August 18, 2003

Monday, September 20, 2010

BigTable-The database used by "GOOGLE"

BigTable:
A Distributed Storage System for Structured Data
Bigtable is a distributed storage system (built by Google) for managing structured data that is designed to scale to a very large size: petabytes of data across thousands of commodity servers.
Many projects at Google store data in Bigtable, including web indexing, Google Earth, and Google Finance. These applications place very different demands on Bigtable, both in terms of data size (from URLs to web pages to satellite imagery) and latency requirements (from backend bulk processing to real-time data serving).
Despite these varied demands, Bigtable has successfully provided a flexible, high-performance solution for all of these Google products.
Some features
  • fast and extremely large-scale DBMS
  • a sparse, distributed multi-dimensional sorted map, sharing characteristics of both row-oriented and column-oriented databases.
  • designed to scale into the petabyte range
  • it works across hundreds or thousands of machines
  • it is easy to add more machines to the system and automatically start taking advantage of those resources without any reconfiguration
  • each table has multiple dimensions (one of which is a field for time, allowing versioning)
  • tables are optimized for GFS (Google File System) by being split into multiple tablets - segments of the table as split along a row chosen such that the tablet will be ~200 megabytes in size.
For more Info:click here



Here is the link to the PDF of the research paper.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week September 20 - 26

We know that your job search can get quite frustrating these days with more people trying to find a job and less employment opportunities available.

To ease the burden, we've tracked down 10 top companies with the most job openings this week from sales jobs to finance jobs, full-time jobs to part-time jobs. We hope you find a job that's perfect for you.

Good luck job hunting!

01. rue 21


rue21 is a leading specialty retailer offering the latest fashion for girls and guys. We continue to strive for the best selections while offering a competitive pricing strategy. As new goods arrive daily, our choices of style are always fun and affordable for that fashion-conscious customer.

Top Job Categories:


02. Aegis Therapies


From proven clinical capabilities and professional staffing - to compliance management and exclusive rehabilitative programs - Aegis fulfills our company's mission: To improve the lives of the people we serve through compassion and innovation in healthcare.

Top Job Categories:

03. Colors on Parade


Founded by Robert Lowery in 1987, Colors on Parade began with a vision to provide the automotive industry with body shop quality repairs from a mobile unit, thus allowing services to be conducted on the customer's own site; all while maintaining cost-effective pricing.

Top Job Categories:

04. United States Army


The Army can strengthen you for tomorrow in many ways. In addition to the unique training and salary you'll receive, the Army also offers money for education, comprehensive health care, generous vacation time, special pay for special duties, cash allowances to cover the cost of living, family services and support groups.

Top Job Categories:

05. Brookdale Senior Living


Brookdale Senior Living has provided exceptional service and care to seniors since 1981. Throughout out years of operation, we have remained a leading provider of senior living by focusing on one goal and one goal only - serving our residents.

Top Job Categories:

06. Sears


Sears Hometown Stores were developed sixteen years ago to serve our customers in locations outside of major metroploitan cities. There are currently about 900 Hometown Stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. These stores carry all of the top home appliance brands, consumer electronics, tools and lawn and garden equipment.

Top Job Categories:

07. Firestone


Since 1926, drivers have trusted Firestone Complete Auto Care to keep their vehicles running well. As America's auto care needs have grown, so have we. We're the leading provider of maintenance, repairs and tires for a reason: because we believe in offering a total auto care experience that perfectly meets your needs.

Top Job Categories:


08. Farmers Insurance


Today, the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, is the country's third-largest writer of both private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance. Our agents, independent contractors and independent agents, along with Farmers employees, are responsible for servicing more than 15 million customers.

Top Job Categories:

9. Waste Management


Waste Management, Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. The company is strongly committed to a foundation of financial strength, operating excellence and professionalism.

Top Job Categories:

10. Conklin


Conklin Company Inc. is celebrating over forty years in the network marketing business. At the core of the Conklin opportunity lie our quality products - more than 130 across six major product divisions: Agronomics, Animal Products, Building Products, Health, Home and Vehicle Products. Our products are marketed through a vast network of Independent Business Owners. The diversity in our product lines offers unlimited opportunities for sales to a variety of customers.


By AOL Jobs

obama and his wife Michelle in coffee shop!!!

 This is Women brain!!!!

US: Students losing their sensitive side

Are college students as nice as they used to be? Apparently not, and modern technology may be partly to blame, reports The Washington Post. A new University of Michigan study has found that since 2000, college students in the US have become less empathetic.

The meta-analysis was led by Sara Konrath, a researcher at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, and was presented in Boston at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science. She analysed data on empathy among almost 14,000 college students over the past 30 years.

"We found the biggest drop in empathy after the year 2000," said Konrath. "College kids today are about 40% lower in empathy than their counterparts of 20 or 30 years ago, as measured by standard tests of this personality trait."
Full report on The Washington Post site 

Hormones in U.S. Beef Linked to Cancer Risk

Beef produced in the United States contains dangerously high levels of natural and synthetic hormones, warns Dr. Samuel S. Epstein of the Cancer Prevention Coalition.

According to Epstein, more than half of all beef cows slaughtered in the United States each year have been treated with either the natural hormones estrogen, progesterone or testosterone, or the synthetic hormones melengesterol, trenbolone or zeranol. Hormone-emitting pellets are implanted under each cow's ear when it enters the feedlot, then again 50 days later. After another 50 days, the cow is slaughtered.

The hormones cause the cows to rapidly put on weight, leading to approximately $80 more profit per animal.

"Not surprisingly, but contrary to longstanding claims by the [FDA] and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), residues of these hormones in meat are up to 20-fold higher than normal," Epstein said in a press release. "Still higher residues result from the not uncommon illegal practice of implantation directly into muscle. Furthermore, contrary to misleading assurances, meat is still not monitored for hormone residues."

The FDA insists that hormone levels in U.S. beef are safe and normal, but does not require any testing to back up this claim.

According to Epstein, however, tests reveal that an eight-year-old boy eating two hamburgers in one day would be exposed to enough estradiol to increase his body's levels of the hormone by 10 percent.

Exposure to external hormones is well known to increase the risk of cancer, reproductive dysfunction and other health problems.

"Increased levels of sex hormones are linked to the escalating incidence of reproductive cancers in the United States since 1975 - 60 percent for prostate, 59 percent for testis and 10 percent for breast," Epstein said.

Women in the United States are five times more likely to get breast cancer than women in the European Community or other countries that have banned the production or importation of hormonal beef.

Sources for this story include: www.organicconsumers.org.

CHART OF THE DAY: Google's Search Share Flatlines (GOOG, MSFT, AOL, YHOO)

One of Google's biggest growth engines is stuck in netural. As you can see in this chart, Google's share of the U.S. search market has flatlined, hovering around 65%.

True, Google isn't losing much ground to Microsoft Bing (or anyone else). But most Google bulls thought Google would march towards total domination of the search market, eventually grabbing 80%-90% share. That's clearly not going to happen.

chart of the day search share google

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Best Tips for doing a Home Manicure

It is possible to have a great home manicure and save money from going to the salon. Another option is to give yourself a home manicure in between trips to the salon, which can make a salon-quality manicure last longer. The most important tips are to take your time when giving yourself a manicure, and to make sure you have all the tools you need ahead of time.
There are a few tools that are necessary to give yourself a great manicure at home. You will want a nail file, a cuticle stick, cuticle scissors, cuticle cream, nail polish remover, and of course, nail polish. Some also use a nail buffer to make the nails extra smooth before applying polish.
The first steps when giving yourself a home manicure are to gently remove any old polish with a cotton ball, and then to file and shape your nails. If you need to trim the nails with nail clippers, do this first. Then, file the nails with the nail file in one direction only. Do not see-saw back and forth with the nail file, which can cause the nail to become fragile and to crack. You may file the nails in a square or oval shape, but a square shape gives a more modern look.

Next, experts advise soaking the nails in warm water to soften the cuticles for a few minutes. You may add liquid soap to the water. When you take your hands out, apply a cuticle cream to your cuticles, and use the cuticle stick to press the cuticles back. At this point, some choose to clip their cuticles, while others advise against it because of potentially injuring the cuticle or damaging the nail. The cuticle scissors may also be used to trim painful hangnails from the sides of your fingers. If you need to, you can now buff out any rough spots on the nails.

After this, you can thoroughly wash and moisturize your hands. Some recommend using an exfoliating scrub to remove any dead skin and to make the skin on your hands more receptive to moisturizer. When your hands and nails are clean and dry, you can begin applying nail polish. Apply the polish in three smooth strokes, using as little polish as you need to get the color. Apply a base coat and one to two coats of polish. To make your home manicure last longer, you could also apply a clear top coat. It is a good idea to let your manicure

How to argue with your boss and win ... may be

Do your homework and try not to be confrontational when disagreeing

Apple's people told Steve Jobs the new iPhone had antenna problems that needed fixing. They didn't get through, though, and as a result Apple brought a faulty product to market. It's hard to disagree with the boss, especially a hard-driving, charismatic one like Jobs. But it's part of a manager's responsibility to push back against a decision, a plan or a directive that's faulty. Here's how you can argue successfully with the boss and live to tell about it. Take these three steps.

1. Get all the facts. Is the boss's decision really boneheaded? Maybe there are reasons for it that you don't understand. The company's strategy could be shifting in response to competitors' moves, a pending cash crunch, a regulatory problem, M&A activity, or other conditions not yet apparent to you. It's possible that the boss understands there will be problems but feels that from a big-picture perspective the plan makes sense.

You'll encourage an open discussion about the decision if you listen respectfully as the boss announces it rather than reflexively arguing against it or, worse, disagreeing in public or losing your temper. Ask for "background" about the plan, not a "rationale" for it, which can sound confrontational. Learn what it's meant to achieve. Learn in what ways the decision is based on solid evidence, and in what ways on assumptions. Ask open-ended questions about the effect it will have on staff, the supply chain, finances, the company's reputation and so on.

Tell the boss you agree with his objectives, or you agree that change is needed, or that there are parts of the plan that sound really good to you. Ask for permission to study it and discuss it later. Schedule a meeting.

Gather all the intelligence that's available so you can develop an alternate plan that achieves the original decision's objectives but avoids its problems.

2. Develop your plan. Don't let your disappointment about the decision make you feel you have to start from scratch. Identify what's good about the boss's plan. Try to retain those parts, not only because they're right but also to give the boss some ownership of your version. Get creative. Think about all the other ways the expected goals could be reached. You can begin by picturing an ideal solution and thinking forward to see what would be needed to make it work.

Mine your network for ideas. Ask people across the company how they can add value to your proposition. Suppliers can be especially useful to talk with, since they may have processes that can help. As you talk with others, make it clear that you're looking for the best way to make the boss's plan work, not trying to supplant it with your own.

Test your plan with trusted advisors. They may identify flaws you don't see. Maybe your plan won't generate revenue quickly enough. Maybe it relies on resources that are no longer available. Your advisors can help you make the process you're proposing faster, cheaper and even more effective. They also can tell you if it will threaten someone who might try to block it. Working with them, you can find ways to get that person's support.

Think about the boss's personal motivators as well. Maybe he's playing it safe because of a pending retirement, or maybe he's accepting some risk to earn a huge bonus. You can't get into someone else's mind, but you can try to get into the boss's shoes, to look at the plan from his perspective. (While you're at it, examine your own motives: Are you against the plan because it hurts you in some way? Because you weren't consulted? Because the boss is a dork who couldn't have any good ideas?)

3. Present your plan. Anticipate what questions the boss may ask about your plan, and prepare concise, persuasive answers to them. Prepare a written summary that you'll leave behind. Present your plan with confidence and enthusiasm, because if you don't show you believe in it, the boss won't either.

Begin by describing the plan's payoffs, and then go into details of its implementation. Don't burden the boss with too much detail, though, unless you're asked for it. Once the boss is satisfied with your answer to a question, stop explaining and move on with your presentation. Avoid digressing from your main message or mentioning other people's criticisms of the boss's plan.

Choose your words carefully. When discussing the original plan, never use the word "disagree." That might get the boss's back up. Even a "but" might infer you're negating what the boss says. Present "recommendations" or "suggestions," not the "conclusion" you reached about what's needed, which would sound pompous.

Despite your best efforts, the boss may insist that you carry out the original plan. If that happens, the best solution may be to get approval to do so on a test basis. Be sure you make it an honest test, not one intended to showcase the plan's weaknesses. Document every step. Let staff members who don't have an interest in the results help you make your evaluation. Cite their participation when you report the results.

What can you do if the boss remains unpersuaded? Come to the meeting prepared for that possibility. If the plan violates law or compromises ethics, you may choose to refuse and accept the consequences. Absent those kinds of problems, though, you can agree to move ahead and feel good about it because you've met your obligation to make a strong case against the decision. Be sure the boss understands that you're ready to move forward with dedication and enthusiasm.

At some point every manager has to argue with the boss. Whether or not you're successful, the challenge can provide a payoff. You get to demonstrate leadership, creativity, an ability to negotiate and deep concern for the well being of both your boss and the company.
----------------------
By Bill Rosenthal

Moonlighting in America: Strategies for Managing Working Multiple Jobs

Are you one of us? Are you thinking of joining us? By us, I am referring to the one in 17 Americans who are working more than one job. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 7 to 8 million of us about 5+ percent of all workers work multiple jobs (which is often referred to as moonlighting and dual or multiple jobholding). Interestingly, after years of decline, the number of workers holding multiple jobs again appears on the rise. And as we listen to various workplace futurists, there is a sense that we will become more increasingly a workforce of independent contractors working for multiple employers.

Who are we? Why do we do it? What are some strategies for finding and surviving a second job or a third? You'll find the answers to these questions i n this article on moonlighting in America.

Moonlighting Statistics

People working multiple jobs come from just about every demographic group across all ages, races, genders, marital statuses, geographic locations, and education levels from the very young to the highly educated. More men moonlight, though the number of women doing so has risen dramatically over the last decade. The majority of moonlighters are married, most in their late 30s or early 40s… and the vast majority (at least of reported moonlighters) are white. And interestingly, the highest percentage of people working multiple jobs are located in Midwestern states, such as Nebraska and North Dakota, while some of the lowest are in the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama.

Here are some statistics:

Demographic Characteristic

Percent of all Multiple Job-Holders
Age 16-24

14.6
Age 25-34

23.5
Age 35-44

29.8
Age 45-54

22.7
Age 55+

9.5

Men

53.9
Women

46.1

White (Caucasian)

86.5
Black

10.0
Hispanic

6.4

Single

27.2
Married

55.4
Widowed, divorced, separated

17.4

While not listed in these Labor Department statistics, most moonlighters come from low-income and medium-income households. Those workers at the bottom of the wage scale (barely earning a so-called living wage) do so to sustain a basic standard of living, while those in the middle-class range often moonlight to achieve a higher standard of living. Higher-income workers hold multiple jobs more often for professional growth or enjoyment.


Why Moonlighting?

People have all sorts of reasons for taking a second job. Some do it as the beginning of a career-change move, gaining experience in a new career field before making the full switch. Others work multiple jobs to simply meet living expenses. Still others do it (usually on a temporary basis) to earn extra money. Finally, others do it because they simply enjoy the second job.

While the reasons vary somewhat by demographic profile, here are the overall numbers for why they work more than one job:

Reason for Multiple Jobs

Percent of all Multiple Job-Holders
Meet expenses; pay off debt

27.8
Earn extra money

35.4
Get new experience; build up a business

4.6
Enjoys work of second job

17.4
Other reasons

12.5

Although not listed as a reason in the Labor Department statistics, another reason cited for working multiple jobs is the need for a flexible or non-traditional work schedule.


Strategies for Finding and Surviving a Second Job

There is no question that holding down multiple jobs is stressful. A moonlighter needs excellent time management skills, otherwise job burnout is quite likely. Considerable anecdotal evidence reveals that marriages and relationships suffer for those working multiple jobs. Expect to spend much less time with your family and friends. Some moonlighters work up to 75 hours per week.


On the other hand, some of us need to work multiple jobs simply to survive. And there is no question that having multiple income streams provides you with more money. Of course, there can be other rewards from working multiple jobs.

Here are some strategies for finding and surviving a second job:

1. Check your main employer's policies. Before you even consider looking for a second job, take the time to check your current employer's policies about holding outside employment.
2. Understand your reasons for taking a second job. If your reasons are purely monetary, you may be able to talk to your current employer to pick up extra shifts rather than take a second job.
3. Consider a trial basis. Moonlighting in short doses to accomplish some short-term goals usually works better than working multiple jobs for long stretches of time. (The majority of moonlighters are short-termers.)
4. Find a job that interests you. Perhaps your main job is a boring office job. Try something fun like being a tour guide or other more unusual job for your second one. Or start your own business.
5. Consider second jobs that are less stressful. If your first job is a pressure-cooker, find a second one that is relaxing to you, such as pet-sitting or tutoring.
6. Find jobs that are geographically close to each other or to your home. Your time will be limited enough without adding a long commute to your second job.
7. Seek out new opportunities with new employers. If you are contemplating a career change, but are not sure of your next career, use second jobs to test out some of your career ideas.
8. Reduce your load. If you are working multiple jobs, it's probably time to cut some of those extracurricular activities.
9. Carve out time for significant others. You must find a way to schedule some time with your family and friends or those relationships will suffer… and if you have a partner, be sure s/he is okay with your plans.
10. Know when it's time to quit. Whether it's when you reach your financial goal or when you are beginning to mentally or physically break down, you must reduce your load... though that does not necessarily mean quitting your second job (if it has become your new career passion).


Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, a certain group of American workers will always need to work multiple jobs just to sustain some basic standard of living, but whatever your reasons for moonlighting, just be sure to go into it with your eyes open to the benefits and risks. Second jobs can be professionally and financially rewarding, but if you are weak on time management, be sure to brush up on those skills before tackling the multitasking involved in multiple jobs.


by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

How the U.S. Engages the World with Social Media

The perception of the U.S. abroad varies widely, and is subject to many forces, including world events, media coverage, policy changes, and presidential administrations. In response, the U.S. State Department, America’s public relations branch, has been charged with the difficult task of engaging in the dialogue surrounding the controversial policies discussed in almost every corner of the world.

Social media has proven to be a valuable tool in this regard, and the State Department has made impressive gains in their mission to turn conflict into conversation. Cabinet officials, foreign dignitaries, and embassies are experimenting with ways to inject America’s voice into the global chatter. Some of their experiments are paying dividends that few expected. Here’s a look at some of these efforts.

Social Media Can Bridge the “Last Three Feet”
President Barack Obama garners an enormous response when he solicits the country’s opinion online, as when he circumvented the White House press corps with YouTube-submitted questions this past February an effort that received over 11,000 responses.

But when Obama fields Internet questions from local residents during an overseas trip, the numbers are staggering a whopping 17,000 responses during a visit to Ghana, and an astounding 250,000 in South Africa (though some responses did come from outside Africa). Given the relatively smaller population and shallow Internet penetration, these numbers speak volumes about the world’s web-based engagement with U.S. leaders.

Obama’s responses alone, just out of sheer publicity, may have some positive impact on foreign attitudes. But, for Bill May, Director of the State Department’s Office of Innovative Engagement (i.e. social media), being at the epicenter of online chatter is what he thinks of as the “new version of the last three feet.”

May was invoking Edward R. Murrow’s famous public diplomacy strategy where he wrote, “The real crucial link in the international exchange is the last three feet, which is bridged by personal contact, one person talking to another.” In public diplomacy, there are a latent number of people throughout the world who will befriend America’s vision after a thorough conversation. The reverberation of Obama’s message, coupled with the hyper-local follow-ups from America’s Embassies, can reach more of those hidden friends than ever before.

Indeed, when Elizabeth Tradeau of the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria tweeted, “South Africa, what’s the impact of new media in your view of America?” there was a mix of negative and positive comments. But, one in particular seemed to prove May’s point:

@USembPretoria: for one, the US seems much friendlier than I imagine and accessible.

America is Fun
For every serious news or political blog, there are likely twice as many dedicated to sex, drugs, or rock n’ roll. And when Bill Clinton pioneered a youth outreach strategy answering questions from MTV fans, it was the infamous “boxers or briefs” question that garnered him the most attention. In the end, entertainment is just so much more appealing.

Seizing on this strategy, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia has seen Facebook fan growth of jaw-dropping proportions, an increase from 36,000 to 120,000 in roughly one month. On a single Facebook post, the embassy often receives between 700 to 1,000 comments (that’s about 10 times more comments than The Huffington Post). This is especially astonishing when you consider that less than 10% of Indonesia’s population even uses Facebook.

So, what’s their winning strategy? Simple social games, where users can dress up Barack Obama in local garb and share the creation with friends, or suggest what Obama should eat during his next visit.

While the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia does delve into some culturally thorny issues, foreign diplomat Tristram Perry admits that Facebook is “not a good venue for hard policy topics.” Instead, he says “we make our Facebook fun. Jazz, technology, tourism we have a fascinating history. There’s lots about it that people admire.”

The embassy saw huge traffic from an essay contest to win a trip to “Barack Obama’s America” (Hawaii and Chicago), where winners will blog about their tour for what will surely be a stadium’s worth of jealous peers back home.

Education
Many of the messages texted to President Obama plead for “not a hand out, but a hand up,” says Trudeau of the South Africans she speaks with. Centuries of colonization, war, and resource scarcity have paralyzed innovation in many parts of the world. To jump-start the economy, the U.S. helps plant what is seen as the seed of technological innovation: Education.

For instance, in the humble rural township of Mamelodi, just outside Pretoria, the Embassy provides technological and scientific literacy to disadvantaged children. In the Mae Jemison reading room, which is named after the first female African-American astronaut, children are “introduced to the Internet,” says Trudeau. She tells them, “This is how you use Google this is how you get an e-mail account,” and my personal favorite as a writing teacher, “don’t use Wikipedia as a source.” The students’ curiosity is limitless. During class, Trudeau observes that students bunch up by computers “six-deep” in line “looking, exploring,” and are eager to learn more.

The current business culture in South Africa points to some promising returns on this educational investment. “It’s like being in Silicon [Valley] or San Francisco in 2004 with Biz Stone and all of his friends,” said one visiting American at a local technology conference, as recounted by Trudeau. “It’s journalists, it’s editors, it’s tech entrepreneurs … they all use Twitter to connect. It’s a very interconnected, very engaged community,” Trudeau notes.

Media Outreach
The State Department has taken to providing timely information on crises and policy via social networks. During an attempted coup in Madagascar, a rumor began circulating that the threatened president was seeking refuge in the U.S. Embassy. After refuting the rumors themselves, the State Department tweeted out the correct information, “and immediately we started getting retweets and people saying ‘thanks for the correction,’” notes Daniel Schaub, Director of Digital Communications for the State Department. “And, then within probably an hour or so, the traditional media had caught it,” helping to blanket the spreading fire of a rumor that “could potentially put embassy staff at risk.”

Moreover, Schaub’s department manages Secretary Hillary Clinton’s blog, Dipnote, which provides rich context for otherwise curt policy pronouncements. Dipnote is now cited by news organizations such as the Associated Press and The New York Times for detailed explanations of Department policy and procedure.

The importance of this supplementary information should not be underestimated. A recent study suggests that the clarity of White House rhetoric can impact the political world. “If the president is able to define an intervention in simple, compelling terms, he is likely to get considerably more support from the public,” says Associate Professor Cooper Drury, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy Analysis.

Conclusion
Every single Department official I spoke with admitted that the era of one-way broadcasting is dying. The ubiquity of mobile and social technologies means the U.S. must now have an ear as well as a voice. It seems like an unprecedented opportunity to open a dialogue with people and communities all over the world who would otherwise be isolated.

It should be noted that members of the State Department often disagree with their bosses on best practices. But, they also understand that conversation, even in 140 characters, may one day mean the difference between conflict and peace.

By Greg Ferenstein

Where the Jobs Are: Growing States (Like Michigan -- 27,800 jobs, Columbia 17,800 jobs, New York 10,500 jobs …….) and Booming Industries

If you're looking for something, anything that might indicate a recovery, the latest US Department of Labor Statistics might give you a little hope. In essence, last month more states showed unemployment decreases than increases. To be exact, eighteen states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate declines, while 14 states registered rate upswings. Eighteen states had no change at all. A full twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while only 20 states posted increases, and 3 states had no change.

But wait...there's more good news: Initial unemployment claims decreased by 31,000 last week, and in July, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 37 states and the District of Columbia and only declined in 13 states. The states that added the most jobs in July will probably surprise you.

Where the Jobs Are

1. Michigan -- added 27,800 jobs
2. The District of Columbia -- added 17,800 jobs
3. Massachusetts -- added 13,200 jobs
4. New York -- added 10,500 jobs
5. Minnesota -- added 9,800 jobs

North Dakota continued to register the lowest jobless rate at 3.6 percent, followed by South Dakota and Nebraska, 4.4 and 4.7 percent, respectively.

Where the Jobs Are NOT

1. The states that lost the most jobs are:
2. North Carolina -- lost 29,800 jobs
3. New Jersey -- lost 21,200 jobs
4. Illinois -- lost 20,200 jobs
5. California -- lost 9,400 jobs
6. Kentucky -- lost 8,000 jobs

But the state with the absolute worst unemployment rate is Nevada which reached 14.3 percent in July. That rate also set a new series high. The states with the next highest rates were Michigan at 13.1 percent, and California at 12.3 percent.

Should You Move?
If it looks to you like you're living in the worst possible state to find a job right now, don't go packing your bags just yet. "You can search for a job anywhere online these days," says employment expert Doug Arms, SVP and Chief Talent Officer of Ajilon, a specialty staffing firm owned by Adecco. He notes that at certain levels, companies are still paying for recruiting and interview trips, and they still have budgets to help you relocate.

But even if you're not at that lofty level, Arms advises against permanently moving. "A lot of people moved out the California during the Gold Rush, and to work on the Hoover Dam, when it was being built. When they got there, they found things were not what they expected."

Booming Industries
Rather than basing your job search on geographic indicators, Arms suggests searching within the professional sectors that are flourishing. For example, if you're an accountant, bookkeeper, IT expert or transportation worker, instead of looking at traditional accounting, high tech or public transportation companies, try looking for a job in the private education sector (trade schools and private institutions) and in ambulatory health care (the baby boomers are aging, and increasingly need health care specialists to come to them). Both these industries need accountants, bookkeepers, IT specialists and transportation workers, in addition to educators and health care practitioners.

So, whether you're living in a state like Michigan, which is finally adding jobs again, or North Carolina, which continues to lose them en masse, consider widening your job search to cover the industries that are flourishing everywhere. It's estimated that there are more than three million jobs open right now, and someone's got to get them, so why not you?
----------------------------------
By Lisa Johnson Mandell

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

US Gov't Makes a Mess of Classifying Sensitive Data

"Protecting and classifying sensitive information such as social security numbers shouldn't be that hard, but (perhaps not surprisingly) the US government has elevated complicating that task to an art form. It seems that designating, safeguarding, and disseminating such important information involves over 100 unique markings and at least 130 different labeling or handling routines, reflecting a disjointed, inconsistent, and unpredictable system for protecting, sharing, and disclosing sensitive information." This was the conclusion of a recent report (PDF) by the Government Accountability Office, which also "found areas where sensitive information is not fully safeguarded and thus may remain at risk of unauthorized disclosure or misuse."

UK Teen Banned From US Over Obscene Obama Email

British teenager Luke Angel has been banned from the US for sending an email to the White House calling President Obama an obscenity. The 17-year-old says he was drunk when he sent the mail and doesn't understand what the big deal is. "I don't remember exactly what I wrote as I was drunk. But I think I called Barack Obama a p***k. It was silly -- the sort of thing you do when you're a teenager and have had a few," he said. The FBI contacted local police who in turn confronted Luke and let him know that the US Department of Homeland Security didn't think his email was funny. "The police came and took my picture and told me I was banned from America forever. I don't really care but my parents aren't very happy," Angel said.

U.S. Hospitals Secretly Promote Black Market Trading of Harvested Organs for Transplants

Many hospitals in United states are conflicting , tacitly participating in the illegal organ transplant industry by not scrutinizing potential donors too closely.

15 Jobs That Pay $50 An Hour


Though $50 won't make all your wildest dreams come true, it's no chump change, either. There's still a lot you can get for $50 these days. A haircut, dinner for two, a tank of gas, a 50-day supply of macaroni and cheese ... it can buy a lot of life's necessities and simple pleasures.
 

Now ... Just imagine what you could do if you got paid $50 for each hour on the job. (Lifetime supply of mac and cheese, anyone?)
 

While it may seem like the kind of money only doctors and lawyers make -- it is actually possible to earn $50 an hour in a variety of career paths. Here's a sampling of jobs that pay $50 an hour* (or $100,000 a year, based on a 40-hour workweek, with two weeks' vacation time).

1. Computer and information scientist
What they do: Computer scientists research everything from computer algorithms to programming languages and software properties. The goal of computer science varies, but objectives may include: improving the ease of computer use, expanding computer functionality and developing artificial intelligence.
Education: Most have a Ph.D.*
Average hourly earnings: $50.66*
 

2. Pharmacist
What they do: Pharmacists work in hospitals, drug stores and outpatient facilities. They dispense patient medication, ensure proper dosage, analyze possible drug interactions and provide information to patients.
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D.)
Average hourly earnings: $51.27
 

3. Construction foreman/superintendent
What they do: These professionals oversee residential and commercial construction sites. They manage construction workers and coordinate project timelines and budgets.
Education: On the job experience, bachelor's degree preferred, but not necessary
Average hourly earnings: $50.14
 

4. Funeral director and embalmer
What they do: Funeral directors make plans for church services, wakes and burials. The embalming portion of the job title involves cleaning and sanitizing the body, and preparing it for burial.
Education: Licensing, two-year education program and apprenticeship required
Average hourly earnings: $52.47
 

5. Marketing manager
What they do:  Marketing managers help direct a company's advertising, promotional and sales strategies, with the ultimate goal of increasing company reputation and revenue.
Education: Bachelor's degree in business, communications, advertising or public relations.
Average hourly earnings: $50.81
 

6. Financial aid officer
What they do: Financial aid officers direct disbursement of student scholarships, loans and grants, with the ultimate goal of making school (colleges, universities, boarding schools, graduate programs) more affordable for students.
Education: Bachelor's degree usually required.
Average hourly earnings: $51,203
 

7. Securities trader
What they do: Securities traders typically work at investment banks, managing securities like stocks, bonds, futures and options for individual and institutional investors
Education: Most securities traders hold a bachelor's degree in finance or other business concentration. Often, securities traders must pass financial certification exams like the Series 7 and Series 63 tests.
Average hourly earnings: $50.79
 

8. Behavioral psychologist
What they do: Behavioral psychologists study and treat emotional and behavioral issues by helping patients change their perceptions and behaviors, often through therapy.
Education: A doctoral degree is required to practice as a psychologist
Average hourly earnings: $50.36
 

9. Adult day care director
What they do: Adult day care directors manage day-to-day operations of the facility. Responsibilities may include overseeing employees and budgets, developing relationships with attendees and their families and planning activities.
Education: High school diploma required, bachelor's degree preferred.
Average hourly earnings: $50.64
 

10. Seismologist
What they do: Seismologists study, report on and predict earthquakes and seismic waves.
Education: An undergraduate degree in physics or geology is enough to get a foot in the door, though many seismologists have master's degrees or Ph.D.s.
Average hourly earnings: $50.43
 

11. Judge
What they do: Judges preside over trials and hearings in local, state or federal courtrooms.
Education: Because almost all judges get their start as lawyers, law school is the most common educational path for judges.
Average hourly earnings: $49.99
 

12. Physicist
What they do: Physicists study the physical world, with emphasis on the properties and laws of nature like mass, gravity, inertia and the composition of matter. Physicists may also apply their findings practically, and develop new medical instruments and engineering technologies, for example.
Education: Though entry-level positions can be found with a bachelor's degree, most physicists have a Ph.D.

Average hourly earnings: $51.76
 

13. Human resources managers
What they do: HR managers interview and hire workers, mediate employee complaints and act as information sources for employees of their respective organizations.
Education: Bachelor's degree
Average hourly earnings: $50.73
 

14. General and operations managers
What they do: General managers are responsible for the overall operation of venues like amusements parks, restaurants and hotels. They oversee things like employees, guest relations, budgets, marketing and purchasing.
Education: High school diploma, bachelor's degree preferred.
Average hourly earnings: $53.15
 

15. Co-pilot
What they do: A co-pilot serves as one part of the two-part team that makes up an airplane cockpit crew. In-flight duties are usually shared between the more experienced pilot, also called the captain, and the less experienced co-pilot, also referred to as the first officer.
Education: High school diploma, pilot's license.
Average hourly earnings: $52.45
----------------------

Highest Paying Jobs In The U.S.

Hi Friends,
You think that in order to make the big bucks, you have to get involved in the glamour professions, such as acting or professional athletics. You might be surprised to learn, however, that none of those professions made the top 10 or even the top 25 list of highest-paying jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

It should be noted that, according to the Department of Labor, 8 of the top 10 highest-paying professions were in the medical field. To avoid monotony, we excluded most of the medical professions and included the U.S. Department of Labor’s official list at the end of this article. Here are the top 10 highest-paying jobs in the U.S.

Number 10

Natural Sciences Manager

Highest salary: $97,560
Training time: 6 years

Natural science managers oversee the work of other scientists, such as agricultural scientists, chemists, biologists, and geologists. Natural science managers are commonly employed in the research and development field and work in pharmaceutical and environmental consulting or municipal organizations. Natural science managers often own their own consulting or testing firms, and can serve as expert witnesses in court hearings.

A bachelor’s degree is absolutely required, and to work your way up the ladder, an MBA or doctorate is strongly encouraged. Fortunately, many employers will pay for educational costs. The best and highest-paid natural science managers have an aptitude for key business functions, such as marketing, sales and finance. This is common, as it often takes a combination of business acumen and specialized knowledge to present and communicate ideas and concepts in a sophisticated sales environment.

Number 9

Marketing Manager

Highest salary: $100,020
Training time: 4 to 6 years

Marketing managers, like CEOs, span all sorts of industries and levels of responsibility. A small accounting firm may have a marketing manager to help coordinate Yellow Page advertisements and chamber appearances, while this marketing manager's Fortune 500 peer is responsible for the complete tactical execution of a multimillion-dollar marketing budget that encompasses a plenitude of marketing media. Marketing managers can be expected to handle items such as public relations, brand development, media buying, collateral and promotions development, and even the financial metrics and analytics.

The responsibility scope is a function of the organization’s size and the outward focus of the company. For instance, a marketing manager at a Fortune 500 company serving the consumer audience will have a far larger task than the marketing manager at a small, niche business-to-business consulting firm. Communication skills, marketing prowess, and basic management skills all come into play. In most cases, marketing managers have a four-year degree, and an MBA will definitely help in higher-level executive marketing positions.


Number 8

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Highest salary: $100,110
Training time: 4 to 8 years

Computer and information systems managers are responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the company’s information technology (IT) and systems plan. Many start out as programmers or data analysts, but as experience and conceptual knowledge is acquired, one can become capable of overseeing the information systems management of an entire enterprise. In today’s technological environment, most companies regard this as a highly valued position and pay accordingly. Elements of the job include overseeing a company’s IT security, information management, information technology deployment, software and application selection, revenue assurance, and compliance.

When the field was relatively new, there were stories of incredibly gifted programmers who rose to top positions without any formal training or education. Today, however, with the wide corporate acceptance of information technology, more of an emphasis is placed on new candidates having a four-year degree in computer science, computer engineering or mathematics, and even advanced degrees.

Number 7

Air Traffic Controller

Highest salary: $100,430
Training time: 9 years

Employed almost exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), air traffic controllers are responsible for the safe operation of private and commercial aircraft. Responsibilities include coordinating movement of air traffic to keep planes at safe distances from one another and to minimize traffic delays. Typically, a team works together to help planes position for takeoff and landing, taxi to the gate, and to communicate with pilots and warn about weather patterns.

To become an air traffic controller, you must enroll in an FAA-approved program and pass an aptitude test. Exceptions may be made for those with military or aviation experience. A four-year degree and three years of work experience are typically required, and you must apply to take the exam. If you are selected and you pass, you’ll have to attend a 12-week training session before working as a development controller for two to four years, and after that, you’ll be ready to be hired as an air traffic controller.

Number 6

Lawyer

Highest salary: $110,590
Training time: 7 years

The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society  and there is no shortage of attorney classifications that you can aspire to. We are all familiar with the personal injury and criminal attorneys, but the scope goes far beyond that. Environmental law, entertainment law, family law, real estate law, intellectual property, and civil law are a handful of the fields that need legal representation. Some attorneys choose to specialize in a particular industry, such as construction, waste management, securities, or insurance, while others will review agreements, represent the court or mediate.

The industry is highly regulated and adheres to a very stringent code of ethics. Lawyers must pass the bar examination offered by the state they wish to practice in. However, in most cases, to be eligible to sit for the bar, you must have a four-year degree and have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, which takes about three years.


Number 5

Dentist

Highest salary: $132,660
Training time: 8 years

There are quite a few specialties orthodontics, oral surgery and pediatrics to name a few within the dental field, although many opt to become general practitioners. Dentists in private practice will commonly oversee business operations, including administration and bookkeeping. All states require dentists to be licensed, so candidates must graduate from one of the 56 dental schools accredited by the ADA. Graduates must also pass both written and practical exams. While most dental schools require only two years of college-level education, most candidates obtain their bachelor’s degree. Dental school for general practitioners takes three to four years, and if you wish to specialize, you can plan on an additional two to five years of training.

Number 4

Airline Pilot

Highest salary: $134,090
Training time: 5 to 10 years

A pilot can not only captain a commercial airliner, but he can also fly helicopters, test aircraft, serve as an aviation director, crop dust, monitor traffic, and pilot cargo planes.
While everyone has heard of the grand benefits enjoyed by commercial airline pilots they fly only 100 hours per month due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations it is not easy to obtain that status. Becoming certified as a pilot is not too stringent you need to be at least 18 years old  and have at least 250 hours of flight experience to obtain the basic licenses. Commercial airline pilots need to be at least 23, have at least 1,500 hours in the air, and pass an array of FAA tests (written, flight and instrument).

A four-year degree is not necessary; however, the increasingly competitive landscape is making many airlines require a bachelor’s degree. Due to the number of required -- and generally expensive flight hours, many airline pilots have earned their experience in the military. There are, however, many private flight training schools. After being hired by an airline, it can take 5 to 15 years to become a captain and reap the rewards in terms of pay, benefits and choice of routes.

Number 3

Engineering Manager

Highest salary: $140,210
Training time: 6 to 7 years

Engineering managers are responsible for plans, coordination, research, design, and production activities. Frequently, engineering managers oversee natural science managers and information systems managers two professions that also made this list.

Typically, engineering managers determine specific technical or scientific goals, provide broad outlines, plan the execution and, in some cases, are responsible for the financial viability of a project. For example, engineering managers may be actively involved in the development of a real estate community, or they may work in the manufacturing space to solve technical problems. However, managers who deal with semiconductors and electronic components manufacturing are among the highest paid.

Most engineering managers have bachelor’s degrees, and many will pursue post-graduate degrees, such as an MBA, a Master of Science or a doctorate.

Number 2

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Highest salary: $140,880
Training time: Varies

A CEO is the highest ranking official within a company (and often the highest paid), and they’re responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operational performance of the company. The CEO usually answers to the board of directors, which is elected by the shareholders. In smaller companies, however, the CEO is not only the Chairman of the Board, but he can also be the entire board of directors.

There are many paths to becoming a CEO. In large Fortune 500 companies, you are just as likely to see an employee with more than 30 years become the head honcho as you are to see the company hire a seasoned executive manager. It is also possible to form your own company and simply name yourself CEO and build your company until you are actually overseeing many levels of management and development.

In the corporate world, a bachelor’s degree is almost ubiquitous and it is encouraged to obtain an MBA, though it’s not necessary we all know that Bill Gates is an inspirational dropout.

Number 1

Surgeon

Highest salary: $181,850
Training time: 10 to 15 years

While many medical professions are high on the pay scale, those who perform surgery are the highest paid  specifically, surgeons who specialize in the treatment of illness or injury. As such, most surgeons opt to specialize in a specific area, like the heart or the brain.

Even for general surgeons, the very granular knowledge required to effectively perform an operation can only be obtained through additional formal training and many years of hands-on experience. Of course, a four-year degree is required to go down this path, and biology or other sciences are preferred because these provide access to basic knowledge that will be applied in medical school. After college, plan for four years of medical school the first two years will be in classrooms, and the last two will involve working with patients under the direction of physician educators. A residency is the next step, and this can last from three to seven years, depending on the candidate’s desire to specialize. A candidate must also pass a licensing examination.

While the profession can be lucrative, it is certainly not easy or cheap: More than 80% of medical-school graduates carry a debt.

earning six digits

To make the most money, your best bet is to go down the medical path, provided you are willing to participate in the many years of required training and education. Also, before getting too green-eyed, realize that one year in school is one year taken away from building your career. Overall, to do well, note the specialization of each of the top 24 highest-paying careers per the U.S. Department of Labor -- finding your niche and becoming the best certainly pays dividends.

The top 24 according to the U.S. Department of Labor:
  1. Surgeon: $181,850
  2. Anesthesiologist: $174,610
  3. OB/GYN: $174,610
  4. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon: $169,600
  5. Internist: $156,790
  6. Prosthodontist: $156,710
  7. Orthodontist: $153,240
  8. Psychiatrist: $151,380
  9. Chief Executive Officer: $140,880
  10. Engineering Manager: $140,210
  11. Pediatrician: $140,000
  12. Family or general practitioner: $137,980
  13. Physician/surgeon, all other: $137,100
  14. Airline Pilot: $134,090
  15. Dentist: $132,660
  16. Podiatrist: $111,130
  17. Lawyer: $110,590
  18. Dentist, any other specialist: $106,040
  19. Air Traffic Controller: $100,430
  20. Computer and Information Systems Manager: $100,110
  21. Marketing Manager: $100,020
  22. Natural Sciences Manager: $97,560
  23. Sales Manager: $96,950
  24. Astronomer: $96,780
-----------------------------------

By Terence Channon

Thursday, September 9, 2010

10 Things to Do When You Leave Corporate America

What’s the best part about not having to get dressed up and go to work every day? Time.

If you're working full time in Corporate America today, eventually you will leave. What are you going to do with all that time? Or, if you’ve already left, what are you doing with all that time?

Here’s my top 10 list for things to do when you leave Corporate America (in no particular order):

1. Go to the gym. I understand (really, I do) when you’re working you just don’t have the time. My first inclination was to make up for lost time by cramming years of workouts into one month while making believe that I can still do what I did in my 20s. But that resulted in one trip to the emergency room and four stitches. Now I’m approaching my workouts more like a 30-something (a-hem).

2. Cook. It’s always been my job to make dinner. But let’s face it making dinner is not quite the same thing as cooking. I’ve known this for a long time even though I did my best to convince my family I was actually cooking. My new approach is causing some disruption though when my husband comes home expecting that I’ll pull something together in twenty minutes or less.

3. Read. Admit it you all have that pile of books that you’ve been collecting from Amazon to read some day. They have been collecting dust and consuming precious shelf space. When you leave Corporate America you just might have time to read those books while simultaneously encouraging the pile to grow larger.

4. Master the laundry process. I used to spend all weekend mass processing the laundry. It was the only time I had to do it, and with kids playing messy sports there was quite a bit to do. I have discovered that it is far more efficient to spread the loads across the week. And the weekends remain free for other things like:

5. Pay attention to what your kids are doing. Your kids won’t like this. It will disrupt the normal order of things. They aren’t likely to give you full Facebook friend status, but there are covert methods that work quite well (which can’t be divulged here for fear that I will lose my sources).

6. Annoy your spouse. When you have time to clean and organize you start to realize that you have collected enormous amounts of junk over the years. So when that yellow t-shirt disappears – and your spouse is annoyed well, just think of it as getting even.

7. Learn what a savasana is. Don’t think about, just do it.

8. Write. Everyone has a story in them, right? You know all that stuff that’s been cluttering up your brain? Now you can write about it. If you’re lucky someone might even read it.

9. Get some Vitamin D – from the sun. Some of you may not know this because you never see the sun, but the sun does actually shine – at least a little on most days. And ten minutes (without sunscreen) is equal to 10000 international units of vitamin D.

10. Watch Mad Men. I can’t be the only person on the planet who had no idea this AMC TV show existed until a few months ago. If you’ve worked in Corporate America this might become your new favorite show. You get bonus points if you were born in the 50s or 60s.

What’s on your list?