Recently in Economy Category

It isn't a perfect analogy, but the family budget has a lot of similarities with the national budget. It's funny how often people forget about their own budgets. When families sit down and discuss their own budgets there are a number of different things that come into consideration. We did this as a family this past week since I will be underemployed for awhile. So, I thought I would make some comments.We have to balance...

Perhaps you've heard the phrase before. Gladwell wrote a book about his perspective on tipping points. It's referred to in several ways: crossing the line, the last straw, triggers, the point of no return, the magic moment -- you know the drill. Tipping points are change catalysts. Why are they most notably associated with pain or negativity? Because we only decide to change when it becomes uncomfortable for us to continue doing what we're doing/the way...

What Eugene Robinson said:"What is it about the word "jobs" that our nation's leaders fail to understand? How has the most painful economic crisis in decades somehow escaped their notice? Why do they ignore the issues that Americans care most desperately about?Listening to the debate in Washington, you'd think the nation was absorbed by the compelling saga of deficit reduction. You'd get the impression that in households across America, parents put their children to bed...

I'm always amazed whenever I have gone job hunting. Most of the time, my job searches have been more targeted. When you already have a job you can afford to do that. Three times in my life I haven't had that luxury. The first time was fairly easy because we knew it was coming more than a year in advance. That has a way of giving someone time to get their affairs in order. I...

Toyota announced the temporary halt of U.S. vehicle production due to supply chain delays caused by the recent devastation in Japan, Business Week Reports:Toyota, which estimates that North America generates about 60 percent of its operating profit, said last week it would suspend production at auto, engine and parts plants in the region for five days this month because of a shortage of Japan- made components. The company plans to restart all plants in Japan...

It's great being married to someone that works with government employees. My wife has her crackberry that beeps every minute or so with this update or that solar event. Boy, isn't great having all that information at your fingertips. Well, apparently a shut down has been avoided as the two parties have an agreement in principle. At every step of the way, it seems this was a triumph of image over reality.Let's start with the...

Yes, I have blonde moments and maybe I don't feel quite sharp some days but please ... 'splain to me how Congress can get paychecks (I heard some a-hole R-senator this morning say "we aren't allowed to take reduction in pay for what we do" when asked if they were still going to get their checks) but the troops will have to wait until things are resolved to get paid again if the government shuts...

Austerity:"The first day of Operation Odyssey Dawn [why do I get a sudden urge to have my paycheck cashed in all singles when I hear that name? But I digress] had a price tag that was well over $100 million for the U.S. in missiles alone. And the U.S. military, which remains in the lead now in its third day, has pumped millions more into air- and sea-launched strikes targeting air-defense sites and ground-force positions...

Good morning to my fair Hurricane readers. Last time, I broke the news that I had been let go after three years as a counselor. This is actually my third time experiencing it in fourteen years in schools. That by itself is somewhat remarkable. The first time I was laid off represented only the second time in recent history that a school district in the Houston area went through an actual reduction in force. School...

Some of you know my stats: single mom, three amazing boys young men. Heck, I have my own YouTube channel with nothing but videos of their particular accomplishments in the arts, etc. so I'm a rather proud mom.My feelings this week have really run the gamut. I'm always proud of them, happy with them, exhausted because of them (LOL), and scared shitless that something will happen to them. How very mom-like, right? I have reason to...