Wednesday, August 25, 2010

With Income Gap at 80-Year High, Solutions Remain Elusive « The Washington Independent

With Income Gap at 80-Year High, Solutions Remain Elusive « The Washington Independent


But economists say the real key to regaining lost ground, especially for the middle class, is cultivating large numbers of jobs in new and growing industries like green technology and health care, and providing unfettered access to higher education so middle- and lower-income Americans can train for these careers.
“I think it’s widely agreed that education plays a huge role here and more so than in the past,” said Ron Haskins, an economist at the Brookings Institution. “The problem is a lot of people don’t have skills, and that’s because our high school dropout rates are high and people don’t go to college.”

The flip side of that coin is having jobs available for young people after they’ve invested in their education. “There’s potentially a lot of growth in health care and skilled manufacturing, but we need to do a much better job of providing access to training,” said Harvard’s Katz. “The traditional jobs that have provided wages to the middle class are clearly not doing well in today’s economy and are unlikely to come back. We need to think about a different middle class.”

“What we need is a policy conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Will Marshall, president of the Progressive Policy Institute, a think tank. “You need the energy of invention just as we saw in the late 90s. We need another spurt of innovation-fueled growth.”

“Inequality is one of the great structural challenges facing America,” Marshall continued. “It raises questions about whether the American dream still works. … That’s why it demands attention from policymakers as something we’ve got to squarely face.”


Tuesday, August 24, 2010

America's healthiest pleasures: 10 'vices' that are good for you - CNN.com

America's healthiest pleasures: 10 'vices' that are good for you - CNN.com

(Health.com) -- Permission granted: You can officially stop feeling guilty about those little "bad-for-you" habits you can't seem to break. Turns out, many of life's greatest indulgences bring big health benefits -- helping you stay slim, fight off the blues, and kick disease to the curb.
And we've got the 10 best right here, conveniently ranked by Health magazine's expert panelists. Start at the top of the list to get the most bang for your healthy buck, and keep moving on down to learn how to boost your well-being in the most decadent ways possible.

Pleasure No. 1: Getting your zzz's: Our experts unanimously agreed: Sleep is free and has virtually zero health drawbacks, making it the one treat no one should skimp on. Pillow time gives you energy, bolsters your immune system, boosts your memory, and even helps you get (or stay) slim.
Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night, the amount that studies show is ideal. Health.com: 8 factors that could be keeping you awake at night

Pleasure No. 2: Playing hooky: There's a reason it's called a mental-health day. Studies confirm that time off -- whether on a trip out of Dodge or a 24-hour staycation -- relieves stress, lowering your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease.
It also promotes creative thinking (attention, bosses!).

Pleasure No. 3: Sexual healing: Getting frisky is, hands-down, the most pleasurable form of physical activity there is. Having sex releases feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, the hormone that promotes attachment.
"That component of feeling connected to another person really benefits mental health," says Alice Domar, Ph.D., the executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health.
Another plus: Subjects in one study who did it once or twice a week had higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which shields you from colds and other infections. Why doesn't sex rank higher on our list? It can bring unintended consequences, from sexually transmitted infections (especially if you're not currently monogamous and not practicing safe sex) to "oops!" pregnancies.
Health.com: 10 reasons you're not having sex]

Pleasure No. 4: A daily chocolate fix: Our experts gave a hearty thumbs-up to nibbling a little chocolate every day -- as long as you stick to a square or two of the dark kind, to minimize sugar and fat intake and maximize the benefits. (The temptation to overeat this sweet treat accounts for it not making it into the top three.)

Pleasure No. 5: Girls' nights out: A flurry of recent studies have shed light on how huge an impact our friends and family have on our behavior, from what we drink and eat to how much we weigh -- for better and for worse.
But there's little question that strong social ties can bring a host of benefits: fewer colds, better brain health, and a longer life, to name a few.
"Friendships are very good for you -- as long as you hang out with people with whom you have a well-balanced relationship and limit your time spent with people who are toxic for you,"

No. 6: Full-fat dressing: For years we were trained to reach for low-fat everything, but there's no need to deprive yourself of the real deal. Full-fat foods not only taste better but also serve a real health purpose, as long as you get the right amounts of the right kinds. Aim for at least 10 percent of your daily fat intake to come from monounsaturated fats (found in vegetable oils, avocados, and many nuts and seeds), . Plus, "when you have a meal that includes a little fat, you tend to feel more satisfied, so you eat less," Gans says.
Still, no more than 30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat -- even the good kind.

Pleasure No. 7: Your morning java: It's completely OK if you need it to pry your eyes open in the a.m. A wealth of research suggests that coffee doesn't just pick you up -- it fights heart disease and some cancers, and it may even help you push through harder, longer workouts.
Moderate coffee-drinking in middle age has been associated with lower risks for dementia and Alzheimer's. And a 2009 review of more than four decades of research found that for every additional cup of coffee you drink each day -- high-octane or decaf -- your risk of developing type 2 diabetes shrinks by 7 percent, possibly because chemicals in the beverage improve your body's insulin sensitivity and increase metabolism.

Pleasure No. 8: Getting a rubdown: Don't ever feel guilty about shelling out for massages.
"In general, people who are touched regularly are healthier," Domar says. And if your budget doesn't include spa services, consider hands-on time with your honey.
Women in a 2008 study noted less pain, depression, anxiety, and anger when they were massaged twice a week by their partners -- and (bonus!) their partners reported better mental health, too.
Health.com: Which massage is best for you?

Pleasure No. 9: Basking in the sun: Bright days really do lift our moods -- sunshine is the ultimate natural antidepressant, triggering our bodies to nip production of the sleep-stimulating hormone melatonin so we're alert, energized, and ready to face the day. Exposing bare skin to the sun also triggers the synthesis of vitamin D, a hormone that may reduce your risks for cancer, heart disease, fragile bones, and other problems.

Pleasure No. 10: Wine with dinner: The buzz on wine is about its heart-healthy properties, though researchers aren't entirely sure how it works its magic. Its antioxidants may keep blood vessels flexible, or alcohol could boost HDL (good) cholesterol.
Either way, the key is moderation: one 5-ounce glass a day. More than that can raise blood pressure and pack on pounds.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Call for Papers

 

Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution

www.academicjournals.org/JLCR 

 

 

Introducing ''Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution"                  

 

Dear Colleague,

 

The Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution (JLCR) is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal published monthly by Academic Journals (http://www.academicjournals.org/JLCR). JLCR is dedicated to increasing the depth of the subject across disciplines with the ultimate aim of expanding knowledge of the subject.

 

Call for Papers

 

JLCR will cover all areas of the subject. The journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence, and will publish:

·  Original articles in basic and applied research

·  Case studies

·  Critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries and essays

We invite you to submit your manuscript(s) to Submit.jlcr@gmail.com for publication. Our objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript(s) within four weeks of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally be published in the next issue. Instruction for authors and other details are available on our website; http://www.academicjournals.org/JLCR/Instruction.htm

 

JLCR is an Open Access Journal

One key request of researchers across the world is unrestricted access to research publications. Open access gives a worldwide audience larger than that of any subscription-based journal and thus increases the visibility and impact of published works. It also enhances indexing, retrieval power and eliminates the need for permissions to reproduce and distribute content. JLCR is fully committed to the Open Access Initiative and will provide free access to all articles as soon as they are published.

                                                             

Best regards,

 

Onome Clinton.

Editorial Assistant,

Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution

E-mail: Submit.jlcr@gmail.com

www.academicjournals.org/JLCR

ISSN 2006-9804

 

Monday, August 16, 2010

Canada's public-Service mentality must be changed | FAIR

Canada's public-Service mentality must be changed FAIR

Fwd: FAIR Monthly Headlines



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: FAIR (Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform) <subscriptions@fairwhistleblower.ca>
Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Subject: FAIR Monthly Headlines
To: siegholle@gmail.com


   Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform

FAIR Monthly Headlines: July 2010

A list of articles added to the FAIR website last month. These are about whistleblowing, whistleblowers, and government or corporate misconduct exposed by whistleblowers.


Holly Watt, Jon Swaine and Elizabeth Colman – July 30, 2010

More than £7.3 billion a year is being "skimmed off" the value of Britons' savings by City bankers and fund managers, an investigation by The Daily Telegraph has found.

A range of questionable hidden fees and levies are being deducted from investments, making it difficult for a typical saver to make money from the stock market. Britain's eight million investors are losing an average of £800 a year each to the hidden levies.

Nagendar Sharma – July 25, 2010

NEW DELHI — Two Right to Information (RTI) activists in Gujarat and Maharashtra had striking similarities. Both were fighting to expose corruption and both of them were murdered earlier this year despite having alerted the police about their lives were in danger.

Vishram Laxman Dodiya and Satish Shetty are among the eight whistleblowers who have lost their lives in 2010. The latest victim was the 33 year-old RTI activist, Amit Jethwa, shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court, Ahmedabad, on July 20.

Press Trust Of India – July 25, 2010

NEW DELHI — The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is seeking greater powers to ensure that individuals who expose corruption by government officials and departments are not victimised, hounded or harassed by the bureaucracy. The Commission says it needs "enforcement powers" to protect whistleblowers from harassment.

The CVC is a designated authority to receive complaints and to ensure adequate protection to the whistleblowers under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution (PIDPI).

David Pugliese – July 23, 2010

Stingy federal bureaucrats, including those at Privy Council Office and Treasury Board, are blocking initiatives that could help the country's Afghan war veterans, the Veterans Ombudsman says. Retired colonel Pat Stogran said the motive appeared to be saving money.

"There's huge amounts of pushback from central agencies on anything to do with veterans in any way that might mean more money going out," Stogran said in an interview.

"Deputy ministers make more on average in one year than a person who loses two legs in Afghanistan can expect to be paid out for the rest of their life," Stogran said in his harshest words yet aimed at the federal bureaucracy.

Federal investigation followed conflict of interest complaint against former assistant deputy minister

Daniel Leblanc – July 23, 2010

Ottawa has just recouped more than $300,000 from a major supplier that was recently at the centre of a conflict of interest probe involving a senior bureaucrat.

Public Works Canada launched an audit in the fall of 2008 into the work of the Corporate Research Group after allegations that the department's former assistant deputy minister, Tim McGrath, gave preferential treatment to the company because he was a friend of its president, Brian Card.

The Canadian Press – July 22, 2010

Canada's controversial asbestos industry was hit with a public-relations tsunami Wednesday, following a volley of damning international media reports that probed the use of the disputed building material in developing countries.

The British Broadcasting Corporation — which claims a worldwide audience of 241 million — aired an in-depth series on the asbestos trade as part of a joint investigation.

Officer alleged police infighting sank major Hells Angels investigation

Chad Skelton – July 22, 2010

A fired biker-gang investigator who sued the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. for wrongful dismissal received $2 million in an out-of-court settlement with the B.C. government, ministry records reveal.

Allen Dalstrom was fired by OCABC chief officer David Douglas in 2004 after concerns were raised about Dalstrom's handling of Project Phoenix, a multimillion-dollar investigation of the Hells Angels that was never prosecuted, and over comments Dalstrom allegedly made to a journalist writing a book about the Angels.

Gary Mason – July 21, 2010

The trial of Allen Dalstrom versus the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. had been under way in B.C. Supreme Court for only a few days when lawyers representing both sides approached Madam Justice Catherine Wedge asking for a temporary adjournment.

It was granted. And although no one knew it then, a wrongful-dismissal case that threatened to level serious allegations of misconduct against high-ranking RCMP members would never resume.

Jim Morris and Steve Bradshaw – July 21, 2010

Banned or restricted in more than 50 countries, white asbestos continues to be widely used in China, India, Russia and Brazil, and many developing countries. The BBC's Steve Bradshaw and Jim Morris from the ICIJ report on an industry supported by a global network of lobby groups.

The Jeffrey asbestos mine in Quebec is an astonishing sight. "Big and beautiful," says one of the regular flow of tourists and locals who peer into its depths from a public observation deck.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers 2009 Global Economic Crime Survey includes a measure of the percentage of respondents from various territories who reported suffering some type of fraud. Canada fares very badly in this survey, with 56% of respondents reporting fraud. Only three of the 54 countries surveyed fared worse: Russia (71%), South Africa (62%) and Kenya (57%).

The table below lists the countries with the best and worst results on this measure.

PS labour board says government used dismissal as 'scapegoat' to protect itself

Kathryn May – July 20, 2010

OTTAWA — The Harper government has been ordered to pay nearly $1.4 million in damages and psychological injury for its "sham" dismissal of a high-powered executive recruited to revamp its real estate operations.

In a sweeping ruling, the Public Service Labour Relations Board concluded last week that former Public Works adviser Douglas Tipple's layoff in 2006 was nothing more than a "disguised" termination.

Colum Lynch – July 20, 2010

UNITED NATIONS -- The outgoing chief of a U.N. office charged with combating corruption at the United Nations has issued a stinging rebuke of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing him of undermining her efforts and leading the global institution into an era of decline, according to a confidential end-of-assignment report.

The memo by Inga-Britt Ahlenius, a Swedish auditor who stepped down Friday as undersecretary general of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, represents an extraordinary personal attack on Ban from a senior U.N. official. The memo also marks a challenge to Ban's studiously cultivated image as a champion of accountability.

Rasna Warah – July 18, 2010

I recently met a UN staff member who told me that he had come across incriminating evidence linking a top official with misuse of donor funding. In fact, he suspected that the money had not just been misused, but had been stolen.

I asked him if he could report this to an oversight body within the UN and he told me there would be no point in doing so because he would either be fired or there would be a massive cover-up on the part of the organisation's financial officers, who would find a way of cooking the books to legitimise irregular movement of funds.

July 16, 2010

Washington, D.C. – The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is praising the newly passed Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR 4173) today for four cornerstones of strengthened accountability related to whistleblowing.

"Congress has hit a home run for whistleblowers," declared GAP Legal Director Tom Devine. "This reform has teeth, because Congress wisely is protecting frontline witnesses who are critical to enforce it."

Gardiner Harris – July 12, 2010

In the fall of 1999, the drug giant SmithKline Beecham secretly began a study to find out if its diabetes medicine, Avandia, was safer for the heart than a competing pill, Actos, made by Takeda.

Avandia's success was crucial to SmithKline, whose labs were otherwise all but barren of new products. But the study's results, completed that same year, were disastrous. Not only was Avandia no better than Actos, but the study also provided clear signs that it was riskier to the heart.

It is hard to cut waste and excess when people think there are no problems

Sean Bruyea and David Hutton – July 6, 2010

The recent announcement of cash rewards for public servants who suggest improvements in the federal government is naive at best and disingenuous at worst, given the prevailing management culture within Canada's public service.

Canadians have long been soothed by platitudes such as the claim that we have the best federal public service in the world. Unfortunately such hype sidesteps very real and serious government failures and misconduct: the tainted blood scandal, the sponsorship scandal, the billion-dollar gun registry overrun, and the Air India bombing, to mention but a few. Yet this has not stopped the steady flow of feel-good messages fed by the wellspring of Ottawa's more than two dozen federal departments, claiming all is well in our country's administration.



Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR) promotes integrity and accountability within government by empowering employees to speak out without fear of reprisal when they encounter wrongdoing. Our aim is to support legislation and management practices that will provide effective protection for whistleblowers and hence occupational free speech in the workplace. FAIR is a registered Canadian charity.

http://fairwhistleblower.ca | Join us on Facebook


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Hollecrest & Associates Inc   -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .


Back to Eden communities
 Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
 backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Advisors News | Economic | ADVISORS - Is the recession really over?

Advisors News Economic ADVISORS - Is the recession really over?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Fwd: To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S.Holle <holcrest@worldchat.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Subject: To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel
To: q-jumpers.sieg@blogger.com, siegholle@gmail.com


261 Oakhill Drive

Brantford N3T5L7

519- 754-0018

respondfeedbacknow@yahoo.ca

 

 

 

To the Editor- Expositor          Thursday, July 29, 2010

 

 

Comment from reader

 

Re: 4 mayor candidates do not show up for the Taxpayer coalition Mayors debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall

 

 

In my opinion ,it is unfortunate that the would be mayor hopeful, Mr. Littel could or would not attend" the meet the candidates  mayor debate"  at the Knights of Columbus hall.. It appears that he was not officially notified and he was thus not officially prepared to be at the debate, or share his vision and plan for Brantford's future. This seems strange coming from one of the first Mayor candidates in the race- Not prepared after campaigning for almost 6 months?  The great communicator, the lead champion, planner of the City's south Colborne development project - not prepared to share his views with the common public? How ironic and just what special behind the scene agenda are we, the voters, to believe in now?

 

Unofficially, this apparent prima donna or Let them eat cake attitude does not say much for his leadership style or ability to listen. Hopefully he will officially attend other public meetings and answer or be willing to answer questions from the voters.

 

The Taxpayer Coalition public "Meet the Candidates" meetings where well publicized.  Most people would think that a Mayor Job candidate would welcome the opportunity to meet the public, the voters and the press to share his views –unofficially or officially

 

Littel seem to have little confidence in his own ability to debate other serious candidates – pity.

 

 

Name       Withheld on request

 

Phone

 

Address . .

 

 




--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc   -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .


Back to Eden communities
 Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
 backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel

261 Oakhill Drive

Brantford N3T5L7

519- 754-0018

respondfeedbacknow@yahoo.ca

 

 

 

To the Editor- Expositor          Thursday, July 29, 2010

 

 

Comment from reader

 

Re: 4 mayor candidates do not show up for the Taxpayer coalition Mayors debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall

 

 

In my opinion ,it is unfortunate that the would be mayor hopeful, Mr. Littel could or would not attend” the meet the candidates  mayor debate  at the Knights of Columbus hall.. It appears that he was not officially notified and he was thus not officially prepared to be at the debate, or share his vision and plan for Brantford’s future. This seems strange coming from one of the first Mayor candidates in the race- Not prepared after campaigning for almost 6 months?  The great communicator, the lead champion, planner of the City’s south Colborne development project - not prepared to share his views with the common public? How ironic and just what special behind the scene agenda are we, the voters, to believe in now?

 

Unofficially, this apparent prima donna or Let them eat cake attitude does not say much for his leadership style or ability to listen. Hopefully he will officially attend other public meetings and answer or be willing to answer questions from the voters.

 

The Taxpayer Coalition public “Meet the Candidates” meetings where well publicized.  Most people would think that a Mayor Job candidate would welcome the opportunity to meet the public, the voters and the press to share his views –unofficially or officially

 

Littel seem to have little confidence in his own ability to debate other serious candidates – pity.

 

 

Name       Withheld on request

 

Phone

 

Address . .

 

 

Advisors News | Industry news | ADVISORS - Beware the 'Austerians': GMO's Monteir

Advisors News Industry news ADVISORS - Beware the 'Austerians': GMO's Monteir


Interesting read about the dangers of not spending . Personally it is more about effective versus wasteful government spending . Priming a over primed spending pump is illogical and wasteful. PR

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Cities Rent Police, Janitors to Save Cash: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy

Cities Rent Police, Janitors to Save Cash: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy

What are other cities doing to get more service for less out of choice or necessity? Can we learn from others -a worthwhile read . PR

Tax Cuts Stimulate, But They Don't Solve All Ills - Forbes.com

Tax Cuts Stimulate, But They Don't Solve All Ills - Forbes.com


As for the Democrats, it would similarly be best if the biggest tax cut opponents would acknowledge the empirical truth that irrespective of tax rates, federal tax collections have for the last 60 years regularly hovered around 18% of gross domestic product.

This is an interesting article - a strong dollar seems to be the answer . What are your thoughts ?