A Periodic Round-up of Resources & News

SKILLS GAP IS WIDENING

Since the global recession has forced many employers to cut costs—including labor costs—one area may need a resurgence of investment: training.

U.S. employers continue to struggle with finding new hires who have not just the basic skills, but also higher-level critical thinking and creativity skills, according to a new report from The Conference Board. Since the education system is not supplying young workers with these skills, companies may have to devote more of their own resources to bringing workers up to their required skill levels.

Some options include providing internships and working more closely with community colleges. The goal should be to prepare workers before they go out into the job market.

"It is a losing strategy for employers to try to fill the workforce readiness gap on the job. They need to be involved much sooner to prepare new employees to succeed," according to Donna Klein of Corporate Voices for Working Families, which worked with The Conference Board on the report.

SOURCE: The Conference Board

Workplace futurist John A. Challenger noted that many of our concerns today, such as labor shortages, immigration, retirement, and globalization, are not new trends, but the recession has put them in a new context. For instance, when baby boomers saw their retirement savings disappear, many stayed in the workforce and thus helped alleviate labor shortages. The three big areas of future job growth, he said, are health care, energy, and global business. See his article, along with that of fellow conference speaker Edward Gordon, in the September-October 2009 FUTURIST. View an excerpt of Challenger's presentation

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Guide to free e-learning sites

It’s simply astonishing – the number of free online learning sites grows by leaps and bounds. You can take courses on everything from how to use Google to researching and stand-alone university sites such as MIT and Berkley. For a lengthy listing and link database, go to Open Culture or:

www.bulletin.aarp.org/freelearning

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A recent University of Arizona study suggests we waste a lot of food. Most people estimate they waste one percent while in reality, they waste closer to 15%!

Use up your leftovers by combining them (or freeze them) into soups and stews, omelets, etc.
Use over ripe fruits in smoothies or freeze them…they taste fine.
You can make a variety of stock and broth from leftover meat and vegetables – freeze or can them.
Freeze leftover bread and rolls and use them for making stuffing, bread pudding, French toast, etc.
Clean out your fridge weekly to use up leftovers (my wife never looks in the fridge)!

Save energy and cash by using tax credits…before investing in solar panels, solar hot water heaters, wind turbines, etc. double check the fine print as some states offer tax credits but have certain restrictions. Find out what’s available at the Database of State Incentives at:

www.dsireusa.com

Urban Sustainability on 1/5^th of an acre

Amazing story of a couple from New Zealand who have become nearly self-sufficient on a small plot of land. Learn more about Jules Dervaes and his “One trowel revolution” by visiting his site at:

www.pathtofreedom.com

Years ago when I was a fledgling publisher, I had the opportunity to befriend John Shuttleworth, the founder of Mother Earth News, the grand daddy of self sufficiency magazines. A born tinker at heart, Shuttleworth sold his magazine and moved to CO. The magazine has seen its shares of ups n downs since John left. It has recently improved and offers many, many DIY information online now too. They’ve recently added an online search capability for Seed & Plant Finders, DIY blogs and other content worthy of your attention. Visit them at:

www.motherearthnews.com

Save money through government auctions.

Each year the government, at all levels, sells off surplus and seized property through auctions throughout the United States. The post office, the IRS, Department of Defense and down the line via local city and county governments. For example, our local police department sells (not an auction) abandoned or seized bikes several times a year; a local auction house sells off surplus and confiscated police agency property; our biggest University in the area has a ‘surplus’ store and you never what bargains you might find.

It may take a bit of digging (by phone or internet) to see what your area schools, police agencies and other local governments are selling and where…but it’s worth the effort.

See the link below as an example of what the feds sell off…Sorry, the days of buying a surplus PT Boat for $500 are long gone!

Welcome to DRMS (Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service),
the place to obtain original US Government surplus property.

http://www.drms.dla.mil/index.html

Recycle old electronics…

E-waste is a growing problem worldwide. Too many so-called environmentally aware firms are simply sending junk electronics to 3^rd world countries, causing health hazards.

Smart moves for truly recycling electronics include Dell Computers which allows you to recycle their goods free by simply dropping them off at your nearest Staples Office Supply store.

Cell phones can either be donated to local police agencies (which make them available to low income crime victims) or through www.greenphone.com which will buy them from you. Sony and Samsung will take back your old TV sets for free.

Tax Credits for Home Windmills

-American Wind Energy Association says you can get a new 30% tax credit from the Economic Stimululus Bill. Check their site for useful data at:

http://www.awea.org/

Citizen-Times | Federal authorities arrested an Asheville man in what they said was a scheme to undermine the U.S. currency system and defraud consumers with so-called Liberty Dollars.

William Kevin Innes marketed the “barter” currency in Western North Carolina and recruited merchants willing to accept it and give it as change for products bought with real money, according to an indictment unsealed this week.

“When groups seek to undermine the U.S. currency system, the government is compelled to act,” said acting U.S. Attorney Edward Ryan of the Western District of North Carolina.

NOTE: What in blazes do you think our government has done to our currency? It continues to lose value each year! PM reported on this several months ago.

More of the story at: http://justgetthere.us/blog/categories/Self-Sufficiency/171

Is this the new Amero Dollar? Designed to compete with the Euro?

Cool site with how-to videos (make garden table from a pallet, etc.)Urban Self Sufficiency site

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003795.php

Updated every minute…newsfeed on self sufficient living world wide

http://www.karavans.com/newsfeed.html

Libertarian site calling for smaller government

http://www.smallgovtimes.com/2009/04/prepare-to-defend-your-liberty/

Live simple

by John December. Radical tactics to reduce the clutter, complexity, and costs of your life.

http://www.december.com/simple/live/

World's Premier eBook destination for Green Living, where you'll find all your favorite titles about the environment and environmentally-friendly living. All content on EcoBrain is in downloadable, digital format, so you can buy green with zero use of forest-pulping paper and only a minimal amount of expended energy.
http://www.ecobrain.com/index.php?affiliate_id=1891

3/50 Project…grassroots group promoting local support/shopping of merchants.

This will help stabilize local economies. According to its organizer, Cindy Baxter, if half of the employed population spent a mere $50 monthly among locally owned retailers, it would generate $42.6 billion in revenue.

http://www.the350project.net/home.html

National Tea Party Convention, scheduled for February 4th-6th, 2010,
includes a special keynote by former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin and
appearances of [4]Michele Bachmann, [5]Marsha Blackburn, [6]Angela McGlowan,
[7]Phil Valentine, [8]Judge Roy Moore and many more.

http://www.nationalteapartyconvention.com

News Release

ETA News Release: [01/13/2010]
Contact Name: Mike Trupo or Lina Garcia
Phone Number: (202) 693-3414 or x4661
Release Number: 10-0039-NAT

US Department of Labor announces $150 million in ‘Pathways Out of Poverty’ training grants for green jobs

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced $150 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The "Pathways Out of Poverty" grants — as the group of funding awards is known — will support programs that help disadvantaged populations find ways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency through employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

"These Pathways Out of Poverty grants will help workers in disadvantaged communities gain access to the good, safe and prosperous jobs of the 21st century green economy,"said Secretary Solis. "Green jobs present tremendous opportunities for people who have the core skills and competencies needed in such well-paying and rapidly growing industries as energy efficiency and renewable energy."

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100039.htm

The People are Speaking…

Populism is a political discourse that juxtaposes "the people" with "the elites." Populism may comprise an ideology, a political philosophy or a mere type of discourse urging social and political system changes and/or a rhetorical style deployed by members of political or social movements.

Over time, there have been several versions of a Populist Party in the United States, inspired by the People's Party of the 1890s. This was the party of the early U.S. populist movement in which millions of farmers and other working people successfully enacted their anti-trust agenda

If you’re tired of paying the price for government ineptness and bailouts of bankers, review and/or join these two organizations. Watch the PBS/Bill Moyers video interview of their presentation…finally, a national group which is on our side. The middle class is tired of taking constant hits so Wall Street robber-barons can get rich.

While you’re at, read this article about Howard Zinn, author of the People’s History of the United States.

In Howard Zinn’s new documentary, “The People Speak,” the actress Marisa Tomei is shown reading aloud an essay by a worker at a 19th-century textile mill in Lowell, Mass., who led other women to protest wage reductions and demand better working conditions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/arts/television/12zinn.html?em

http://showdowninamerica.org/

http://ourfinancialsecurity.org/

Ed Begley's Recycling His Gray Water!

While he's not totally 'off the grid' water wise, Ed Begley's now recycling 100% of his families household shower, bath and laundry water and reusing that water for irrigation and flushing toilets.

Ed's system, designed, manufactured and installed by Gray Water Recycling Systems, LLC, operates automatically, requires simple weekly maintenance and produces water that exceeds quality standards established by the California Department of Health for levels of bacteria and clarity.

"It's an amazing system," states Begley. "The water is probably safer than 80% of the drinking water worldwide. Begley adds, "It makes absolutely no sense to flush toilets with perfectly good drinking water when a system like this is available. I'll be monitoring our water usage closely and I'm confident we'll be reducing our municipal water use by well over half! But best of all, Rachelle can now take her half-hour showers and my blood won't boil. The water she's using today will be irrigating our garden tomorrow!"

The durable system utilizes a five-stage filtration process, Ultra Violet disinfection and a unique re-circulation loop to insure absolute disinfection and water clarity. A true state-of-the-art system that will provide years and years of trouble free performance and water savings.

To learn how you can purchase a system and join Ed in being part of the water conservation solution and not the problem visit www.reusegraywater.com, www.livingwithed.net or call 310-791-0283 and speak with Buzz Boettcher, Founder and Managing Member of Gray Water Recycling Systems, LLC.

Gray Water Recycling Systems, LLC

100 Best firms to work for as a working mother…

http://www.workingmother.com/BestCompanies/node/1671/list

Best safety tips when operating a portable generator during emergencies.

http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/corporate/newsroom/storyideas/stormsafety/generators/

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FIGHT BEGINS OVER NEW CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY

It would be the most sweeping change to American consumer protection in decades, perhaps since 1930. It would wrest power away from major banking regulators and the Federal Trade Commission and place it in the hands of five appointees charged with putting consumers first.

And apparently it scares the heck out of the banking industry and other business interests.

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2009/09/it-would-be-the-most-sweeping-change-to-american-consumer-protection-in-decades-perhaps-since-1930-it-would-wrest-power-awa.html

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The Business Insider, Goldman Sachs is warning that "when the economy kicks into gear, supply shortages will become problematic, and the price of oil will spike." Expect oil prices to spike and gasoline to hit $4 per gallon soon.

Congress’s Energy Policy: What Others Are Saying

Various newspaper editorials and experts have agreed that excessive taxes on energy companies will create more problems than they will solve.

View our partner website where you can join the more than 36,000 people who have petitioned Congress to vent about gas prices and the need to reduce energy taxes. While there, you can see where your gasoline dollar goes, and view a map showing how much of the US is closed to oil exploration.

Choose your food wisely.

Although my wife worries more than I do about genetically altered foods (haven’t most foods, such as corn, been altered over the generations?) you can visit the following site to print out a free pocket guide that lists fruits & veggies most likely to contain the most pesticides.

www.organic-center.org

Coffee As Fuel for Your Car?

At the University of Nevada in Reno, a biofuel researcher was looking at a cup of coffee left over from the day before, and noticed that the coffee had a thin film of oil floating on the top. He enlisted a Starbucks to supply used grounds and engaged some fellow researchers — soon a new biofuel source was born.

The new coffee-based biofuel has some distinct advantages over other sources like soy and corn. First, coffee biofuel is extremely high in quality. Second, most coffee grounds would otherwise end up in a landfill; therefore, no food source is diverted away from consumption and no land is diverted from production.

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at jrparks@mac.com. To find out more about Jim Parks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com

You’ll find discount offers, consumer advocate news & more at:

http://www.consumerworld.org

PDF Version-News Release from the Poor Man
http://www.prlog.org/10249824-poor-man-recession-survival-ctr-helps-consumers-beat-hard-times.pdf

http://www.prlog.org/ - use their service to distribute your news - no cost!

States Rights-More than 25 Now Affirming their Sovereignty

http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/

Glenn Beck TV Interview on States Rights vs. Congress Overstepping its boundaries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ha7T0JzWM&feature=player_embedded

Why Government is Out of Control

Teen homeschooler jailed under Patriot Act

Ashton Lundeby

A 16-year-old homeschooled boy from North Carolina was taken away from his home in handcuffs two months ago and has been held by the FBI in Indiana ever since, a victim, his mother claims, of the Patriot Act spun out of control.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=97099

HUD Tosses Grandma from home…

Stone Manor change seen as chaotic

Monday, May 04, 2009

By CHALLEN STEPHENS

Times Staff Writer challen.stephens@htimes.com

Audrey Jones, widowed a year ago, sold her home in English Village last summer to move into a well-lit and quiet, two-bedroom place at Stone Manor Luxury Apartments.

"I thought I was going to be here the rest of my life," Jones said. "I loved this place."

But what happens when the Huntsville Housing Authority, backed by federal regulations and federal dollars, converts your home into public housing while…

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/124142851018090.xml&coll=1

Ex-Owners Turning Aggressive in Efforts to Resist Leaving

New Class of Squatters during times of foreclosures…

One former homeowner rigged his front door with coffeepots filled with boiling water. Another left piles of ferret feces. Hidden compartments have been used as living spaces, with people hiding in attics, tool sheds and garages to elude police.

For the rest of the story, go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/02/AR2009050202150.html?nav=hcmoduletmv