Assessing Your Earnings Potential
Thinking about making a move to another part of the country but are unsure of what your earnings potential might be?
While most companies have rather robust career web sites that provide candidates with job descriptions and education and skill requirements, they do not typically offer much information regarding salaries. Fortunately, there are still ways to get a sense of what you are likely to be paid in your
new locale.
One way is to use a tool such as the one found at SalaryExpert.com, a provider of online salary data for individual employees, HR professionals, compensation specialists, managers, and Boards (for-profit and not-for-profit). While the site does offer a premium (that is, paid) service, for most job-seekers, the basic service will be more than adequate for getting a sense of what to expect. All that is needed is a basic job title such as "teacher", "electrical engineer" or "attorney",and the zip code of the geographic area you are interested in. Next, you will be asked to answer a few basic questions regarding some core competencies. Once this information is entered, you will be provided with the current average salary for your desired locale.
While it's important to remember that the data provided on web sites such as this are meant only for informational purposes, it can be quite helpful in helping job seekers evaluate potential viable compensation packages.
Tax-Free Shopping Returns to New York State
On Saturday, April 1, shoppers in New York State will get a tax break.
This is no April Fool's joke, rather, it is part of a plan by the state's legislature to return nearly $4 billion to state residents over the next two years. This tax break applies to clothing and footwear purchases totaling less than $110.
While New York State has offered this type of tax break in the past, typically they last only a week or so. This time, at least in some areas, the tax cut will last one year. The counties that will enjoy this benefit for the next twelve months include: Columbia, Greene, Chautauqua, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Hamilton, Madison, Tioga, Wayne and Rensselaer.
According to the official New York City website clothing, footwear, fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, zippers, neckties, scarves, hats, uniforms, athletic clothing, and diapers are all included in the state tax exemption. Items that are not covered by the exemption include jewelry and watches, handbags, umbrellas, pet clothing, and sports equipment.
Many Charity Leaders Fed Up With Pressure
Think it's easy running a charitable organization? Well, think again. A recent survey indicates that over 2,000 national charitable fund or association directors have had it with their responsibilities. They're so fed up, they're ready to quit, in fact. In fact, 75 percent of those surveyed said they don't expect to be in their current position five years from now, and 9 percent are already moving from one job to another.
So, why are America's charitable leaders so fed up? They say they are tired of dealing with donors and boards of directors, there is little support from administration and management, and the long hours just aren't worth the pay. This plague of discontent seems to hit small charitable organizations (10 people or under) the most, but bigger charitable organizations don't necessarily mean less stress on their leaders.
Most leaders find dealing with the board of directors is their most stressful activity. Many wish board members would be more active in raising organizational funds and challenge them to be better leaders, too. Sadly, the study nearly mirrors a similar study conducted five years ago. Executives are still dissatisfied, and want better pay for their efforts. It seems that charity organizations across the country may be seeing new leadership if they can't make their executives and little happier in their work.
Spring Nesting Season
Is it finally spring in your area? Then it's time to think about attracting songbirds to your spring garden! It's time to put out the bird food, fill up the bird bath, and put up a nesting box or two. Why? Because if you're thinking about spring gardening, then it's a sure thing your local songbirds are thinking about making nests for impending little ones. You can find bird houses and nesting materials in a wide variety of shapes and sizes at your local garden or home center. Just be sure you read up on the types of birds that frequent your area before you head for the store, so you know just what type of house to buy.
It's especially important to provide backyard habitats for migratory birds, because their numbers are decreasing around the country as their habitats disappear. By providing a backyard bird sanctuary, you're bringing beautiful birds to your neighborhood, but you're also ensuring the species continues to be healthy and viable. Songbirds are picky, however, and they won't use just any old birdhouse or nesting box you put up. That's why you need to research what types of birds are native to your area, what kinds migrate through, and what type of habitat they really prefer. If you have a local Audubon Society, that's a perfect place to start. So attract songbirds to your backyard. They're beautiful, they add to the ecological balance of your yard by eating plant materials and insects, and they need our help to survive and thrive!
Google Desktop Invades Privacy
If you're like me, you have a ton of documents on your computer's various hard drives. You need to access them quickly and easily. Then you hear about Google Desktop Search, and it sounds like a good thing. You download it, allow it to run on your computer, and happily search away whenever you need your information at the touch of a button. Nothing wrong with that, right? Well, actually, you may be giving up a whole lot of your privacy though this nifty Google tool.
This newest Google version of desktop search is called Search Across Computers. Using it, you can even access files on remote computers, like your laptop or work computer. If this sounds like an awesome idea, it is, but at a price. In order for you to access these files from anywhere, they are actually uploaded and stored on Google's servers. Oh sure, they're encrypted and erased after 30 days, but still, they are out of your hands, and in the hands of others, and that greatly enhances the risk of privacy issues and information theft. In addition, when your data is stored on another server, it is open to subpoena and retrieval by the government or other entities if they ask for it. And do you really want all your files, even that letter to Aunt Tilley you never actually mailed, on someone else's server? The implications for this kind of service seem a bit higher than I'm willing to pay. How about you?
Immigration DREAM Act passes Senate Judiciary Committee
The DREAM Act passed the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday as an amendment by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) to a much larger comprehensive immigration reform bill. Moments later, the larger bill was voted out of committee. Senate floor debate on the larger bill is scheduled to start as early as Thursday and will probably continue through next week.
The amendment that passed the committee is identical to S 2075, which Senators Durbin, Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced late last year. Remarkably, it passed on a voice vote with no amendments or debate. This represents an even stronger endorsement of the DREAM Act than 2003's 16-3 vote in the same committee.
23 States reach 8.8 million dollar settlement with Time
23 states reach $8.8 million settlement with Time, Inc.
Time, Inc. will refund up to $4.3 million to consumers and pay $4.5 million to the States for their costs and fees.
The settlement resulted from the States' investigation into Time's marketing and billing practices. The investigation looked at complaints that Time was billing or charging consumer credit cards for unwanted magazine subscriptions. These complaints arose when Time broke with the long-standing industry tradition of limited-term subscriptions that are renewed at the customer's option at the end of the subscription term. In its place, and without adequately informing customers of the change, Time initiated an automatic renewal method that required the customer to cancel the subscription. This practice generated significant consumer confusion and numerous complaints.
The States also investigated complaints that Time mailed consumers solicitations that appeared to be invoices and lacked the conspicuous disclosures required by law. The States concluded that Time's practices misled some consumers into paying for unwanted or unordered subscriptions.
Kids and Electronics
A recent Time magazine cover story explored the question of whether today's kids are too dependent on all the technology available to them. The combination of computers, iPods, and cell phones makes it easy for kids to connect with their friends, listen to some of their favorite music tracks, or watch a television program they may have missed all at the same time.
While it's true that much of this technology has greatly simplified our lives by providing ways to quickly and easily communicate with friends, co-workers and far-flung family members, ironically enough, it has also had the unfortunate effect of inhibiting communication between family members living in the same home. As this article points out, many kids become so engrossed in the activity taking place within their electronic world that they forget – or chose not to – acknowledge the things going on in their immediate surroundings.
This is a problem that many parents struggle with. In the end, the issue really comes down to finding the proper balance between "wired" and "unplugged". And because many parents would prefer to avoid conflict, they leave the issue of deciding how much is too much to their kids. Until this changes, it's a good bet that kids will continue to live quite happily in the electronic worlds they have created.
Nestle Country Creamery Ice Cream being Recalled in Texas
Oakland, Calif., March 28, 2006 — Two flavors of Nestlé Country Creamery Ice Cream purchased from Wal-Mart stores in Texas are being recalled because the ice cream may contain egg not identified on the label. The Nestlé Country Creamery flavors being recalled are Toll House® Chocolate Chip and French Vanilla. Read more
Anthony-Thomas Candy Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg Whites
Columbus, OH — March 28, 2006 — Anthony-Thomas Candy Company, Columbus, OH is recalling 6 oz and 12 oz packages of Filled Easter Eggs because they may contain undeclared egg whites, yellow #5 and yellow #6. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. No illnesses have been reported to date. Read more