GOODBYE OLD CONTINENT Part 1

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>EUROPE HAS REACHED ITS ZENITH</b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Europe, the once striving continent everyone admired for its cultural heritage, economic prosperity, high living standards and social welfare system, seems to have reached its zenith and now faces the abyss, if it refuses to tackle some of the core problems that engulf the continent. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.            DECLINING AND AGING POPULATION </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrcBHeB7NMaHHSfKp4b6AYRt7Mlqk5BlwyIlR8uafZGFRHzlsO2QNIGZ2p_ZppCPMyyINwIrQ6ocIq81CeZ8dy_TmO5K8ryqJE7GdQv5Jssf28V8S63e8ugBt-l6Qdpdr90LjiJUHBzNG/s1600/Fotolia_5382620_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrcBHeB7NMaHHSfKp4b6AYRt7Mlqk5BlwyIlR8uafZGFRHzlsO2QNIGZ2p_ZppCPMyyINwIrQ6ocIq81CeZ8dy_TmO5K8ryqJE7GdQv5Jssf28V8S63e8ugBt-l6Qdpdr90LjiJUHBzNG/s200/Fotolia_5382620_XS.jpg" width="200" /></a>Most Central European countries are confronted with a declining population due to low birthrates and resisting migration. Despite this fact and the consequences of current immigration policies looming over the continent, populist governments refuse to promote immigration for fear of losing votes from the older generations who are the majority voters in the industrial world and who fear immigration most. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This old generation is weary of changes and feels threatened by migration and foreign influence.  There is a growing hostility to anything foreign in Europe. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If Europe continues with this policy, countries such as Austria and Germany will become a large “old people’s home” for the poor. Without immigration Europe will not be able to sustain its social welfare state and economic growth will plunge even deeper.  Growth will eventually halt and subsequently government revenues will stagnate, just when governments need them most, thus jeopardizing exactly these conditions, Europeans cherish most: social security, welfare system, health systems  as well as a high living standard.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2.            RIGHT VERSUS LEFT</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Where as in South America, which most of the industrial world severely underestimates, there is a political center left move and growing economy, Europe moves in the opposite direction. Most of Central Europe no has center right governments and a stagnating economic growth rate. The right plays with the fear of the common man regarding immigration and the subsequent loss of national identity etc. The left on the other hand promote ideas and ideologies that are out of context in the current political and economic situation. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b> Still to come: </b></div><ul><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DISINTEGRATION VERSUS INTEGRATION</b></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">LOOMING GENERATION CONFLICT - OLD VERSUS YOUNG</b></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PENSION SYSTEM</b></li></ul><ul><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">EUROPE’S DECLINING EDUCATION STANDARD AND LACK OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  </b></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

GOODBYE OLD CONTINENT Part 1

EUROPE HAS REACHED ITS ZENITH Europe, the once striving continent everyone admired for its cultural heritage, economic prosperity, high living standards and social welfare system, seems to have reached its zenith and now faces the abyss, if it refuse…

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Sleepy Thursday.... and Vacay!

I'm feeling very lethargic and stressed today.  Tomorrow morning, Joel and I leave for Savannah, GA for the next 7 days.  I have not been getting good sleep all week, struggling to fall asleep right away, as I normally do, and instead laying there tossing and turning for an hour or more.  It has caught up to me today, finally.  My bags are not packed, but a list is made.  I just need to DO it.  I decided to leave work at noon today, work from home the rest of the day, so I can get some stuff done while being at home.  This will help relieve the stress factor for sure.<br /><br />Back to weight loss crap :)<br /><br />Last night was to be my second WWM, but the leader was not able to make it due to the severe storms we had roll through the metro area, and subsequent traffic backups.  Welcome to DC folks, the city that cannot handle any kind of weather what so ever (including sunshine - sometimes that can prove to be blinding when trying to drive on the highways in the morning/afternoon)!  Instead, I just weighed in and left.  I did have a great loss since last week, but as I said yesterday, I'm only going by my Friday weigh in's officially.        <br /><br />Shall we go back to more important things?<br /><br />I've never been to Savannah, but have always wanted to go.  Why?  Well, before there was the "butter lady",<br />I just liked how the town rolled off my tongue - "Savannahhhh" - sounds so pretty and relaxing and lovely.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.frontdoor.com/FDOOR/0-City-Pages/Savannah/Skyline_Savannah_Area_CVB_54893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://images.frontdoor.com/FDOOR/0-City-Pages/Savannah/Skyline_Savannah_Area_CVB_54893.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Then I fell in love with Paula Deen, the butter lady.  Her restaurant and store are high on my priority list of places to visit when we arrive.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2010/news/100628/paula-deen-240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2010/news/100628/paula-deen-240.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's so beautiful - I hope I look that good when I'm her age!</td></tr></tbody></table>I just picture Savannah as being the perfect town - lots of flowers, pretty tree-lined streets, right on the water, NICE people, just the right amount of people - not so overly populated like DC, pretty plantation-style homes with perfect lawns, cutsie shops.. etc.  Everything I want in the town of my dreams!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.madcoparanormal.com/Savannah_GA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.madcoparanormal.com/Savannah_GA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.visitsoutherncomfort.com/images/dHOUMAS%20house%20Plantation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://www.visitsoutherncomfort.com/images/dHOUMAS%20house%20Plantation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Have you been there before?

Miscellaneous Weight Watchers Sleepy Thursday.... and Vacay!

I'm feeling very lethargic and stressed today.  Tomorrow morning, Joel and I leave for Savannah, GA for the next 7 days.  I have not been getting good sleep all week, struggling to fall asleep right away, as I normally do, and instead laying there to…

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Why do employers do credit and background checks?

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b><br /><br /><div class="cbmsnArticleImage"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/sw/ar5l19p6g9qyykfsnjsw.gif?time=6/7/2011%2011:17:32%20am" /></div></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you want to work for the senior homecare organization Visiting Angels in <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Michigan/Ann+Arbor/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Ann Arbor, Mich</a>., be prepared for a thorough background check. "I wouldn't even consider hiring an employee without one," says owner and director Angil Tarach-Ritchey. "Employees not only need to be trusted by the employer, they are a reflection of our business. The check brings peace of mind and less risk for future problems, and I use it as an educational and marketing tool so the elderly, their families and our referral sources know that we value their safety."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Tarach-Ritchey is not alone. A variety of employers are turning to background checks as a way of ensuring applicant suitability. And while certainly not a new phenomenon, it is one that is on the rise.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"The trend toward greater use of background checks could be driven by several factors, including technological advances that make the screening process easier, faster and more economical," says Mary Massad, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/vice+president/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">vice president </a>of talent acquisition and retention strategies for Insperity Recruiting Services in <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Texas/Houston/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Houston, Texas</a>. "Also, there is greater awareness by employers that candidates may not always be completely honest about their background and employment histories."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">According to Massad, a complete background check often includes the following:</div><ul><li>Review of work history. The applicant will typically be asked to provide first and last paystubs to confirm length of employment and salaries at previous jobs.<b></b></li> <li>Verification of Social Security information. Federal databases will help verify that a candidate is providing accurate information and has a legal right to work in the United States.<b></b></li> <li>Criminal background check. Local criminal records, as well as those in jurisdictions where the applicant has lived during the past seven years, will reveal information about an applicant's criminal background.<b></b></li> <li>Confirmation of education. Schools or universities listed on the applicant's résumé will be contacted to verify the applicant's attendance, degree and graduation year.<b></b></li> <li>Review of driving record. Employers typically obtain motor vehicle records on candidates whenever a job requires driving, such as deliveries or sales calls.<b></b></li></ul><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Increasingly, employers also are performing credit checks. According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, 47 percent of companies run credit checks before hiring for select positions, and 13 percent do so for all positions. While searches are most common for applicants who will have financial responsibility (handling cash, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/banking/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">banking</a>, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/accounting/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">accounting</a>, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/technology/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">technology</a>), checks are becoming more commonplace for those seeking <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/senior+executive/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">senior executive</a> positions and for anyone who has access to highly confidential employee information, such as salaries, benefits and medical records.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So what should an applicant do when confronted with an employer who wants to run a check? Don't lie, and know ahead of time what the hirer will find.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"As far as preparing for an employer running a background check, there is very little the applicant can do. He cannot influence the outcome, so our advice is to be totally honest and up front about any criminal past and be able to articulate a reasonable story about either how it happened or what has transpired since that makes the applicant a good risk," says Dan Chaney, director of human resource advisory services at Employers Resource Association, a nonprofit serving small and medium businesses in <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/ohio/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Ohio</a>, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/Kentucky/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Kentucky </a>and <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/indiana/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Indiana</a>. As for a credit check, he suggests job seekers obtain a free credit report and be prepared to explain the results if necessary.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Guidance policies from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission deter companies from discriminatory practices. Results from a criminal background check must be approached with fairness, taking into account such factors as the nature of the offense, the age of the offense and the relationship of the offense to the job. An SHRM poll reveals that the majority of employers comply with EEOC expectations.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thus, job seekers subjected to checks should not feel that a company is attempting to dig up embarrassing dirt. Most employers are just trying to run a good business, and verifying a new employee's background can be in the organization's best interest. As Massad notes, "Few businesses boast perfect records on hiring decisions. Mistakes, such as blindly trusting candidates to provide honest information on their résumés or during interviews, can have long-term repercussions for employers that may include work disruption, lost revenue, low employee morale, litigation or even damage to a company's reputation. Background checks have become an essential hiring tool that can help protect a company."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

Why do employers do credit and background checks?

Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilderIf you want to work for the senior homecare organization Visiting Angels in Ann Arbor, Mich., be prepared for a thorough background check. "I wouldn't even consider hiring an employee without one," says ow…

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