Want to know the major job trends for 2008? Ask the CEO!
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Jan 7, 2008. 2 commentsThe CEO of CarreerBuilder.com has written a piece for CNN very much worth checking out (here). Here are some of his key points:
- To attract and keep top talent, employers plan to offer more lucrative compensation packages in the coming year
- Many plan to provide more flexible work arrangements: alternate schedules, compressed workweeks, telecommuting options, etc.
- More employers are leveraging the Internet as a vehicle for screening potential employees
- Concerned over the loss of intellectual capital as Baby Boomers approach retirement agemany employers say they are likely to rehire retirees
- Employers pointed to Hispanic workers, women, African American workers and mature workers.
- Almost half of employers said, in addition to English, Spanish is the most important language for bilingual hiring.
- Employers are turning to freelance or contract workers to help support business initiatives.
These and other points are discussed in more detail in the article, which we invite you to read here.
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
Loading ...Unemployment suggests recession
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Jan 5, 2008. 4 commentsKey quotes from NYT article:
- “The unemployment rate surged to 5 percent in December as the economy added a meager 18,000 jobs,” (…) “the most powerful indication to date that the United States could well be falling into a recessionary downturn.”
- Chief economist at Economy.com characterized report as “unambiguously negative,” adding: “The economy is on the edge of recession, if we’re not already engulfed in one.”
- “A recession is typically defined as an extended period of at least several months during which economic activity shrinks and unemployment rises.”
- “Some economists said the markets and other analysts were making too much of a lone jobs report that could yet be revised.”
(2 votes, average: 3 out of 5) Loading ...Chinese vehicles take on Panama’s streets
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Jan 3, 2008. 2 commentsKey points from direct observation:
- During my recent visit to Panama, I have noticed an unusually wide assortment of motorcycles and small cars of Chinese brands on the streets.
- The Panamanian vehicle market, usually dominated by Japanese and American cars and motorcycles, yet no stranger to European and even Russian products, is now being tempted with the low cost of Chinese vehicles.
- In 2007, Chinese buses were evaluated for use in public transportation. Dubbed the ‘Chinese devils’, these buses were the subject of public debate because of safety and quality concerns.
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...Looking back on 2007, looking forward to 2008!
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 31, 2007. 1 comment so farWe would like to use this last post of year 2007 to share some vital stats of the Supply Chain 2020 Sensors Watch with you, our readers, and to let you know what you can expect in the new year 2008.
During the last year, we brought to you 262 posts that described ’sensors in the ground’, early warnings of changes that are taking place in the world and that could have repercussions, sooner or later, in our supply chains. (more…)
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5) Loading ...Pakistan’s turmoil means tough choices for U.S.
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 29, 2007. 1 comment so farKey quotes from analysis in CNN:
- The Bush administration finds itself in a box after sticking so long with the policy of standing by Musharraf’s side at all costs.
- The Bush administration had recently turned to “Plan B,” a potential power-sharing pact between Bhutto and Musharraf.
- After Bhutto’s murder, the U.S. faces a bunch of bad options. “Plan C” is finding someone to unite a nation teetering on the brink.
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Kite might decrease ship’s fuel use by 20 percent
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 18, 2007. 2 commentsKey quotes from Reuters news (see video):
- Two German companies have developed together a high-tech kite system to pull enormous ships across the oceans, cutting fuel expenditures and greenhouse emissions.
- A 433 ft long ship, “will make its maiden voyage in January across the Atlantic to Venezuela, up to Boston and back to Europe. It will be pulled by a giant computer-guided 500,000-euro ($725,000) kite tethered to a 15-metre high mast.”
- “To latch onto the powerful winds prevailing well above the surface, the kite attached to the high-tech steerage unit flies up to 300 meters high to tug the 10,000-tonne ship forward, supporting its diesel engines and cutting fuel consumption.”
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...Russia sends 80 tons of uranium to Iran
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 17, 2007. 2 commentsKey quotes from Reuters news:
- Russia has delivered the first shipment of nuclear fuel (about 80 tons of uranium 235) to Iran’s Bushehr atomic power station.
- The United States and allies suspect Iran harbors ambitions to acquire a nuclear weapon, and had called on Moscow not to dispatch the fuel.
- Russian foreign ministry says Iran supplied “written assurances” that the fuel will be used exclusively for the power station.
- Russians argue fuel delivery made Iran’s own enrichment program redundant. Yet a senior Iranian official asserted that this does not mean Iran will halt enrichment.
(3 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...The erratic, convoluted way towards doing things right
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 14, 2007. 2 commentsKey quotes from Chicago Tribune news:
- “Parasitic sea lice infestations caused by salmon farms are driving nearby wild salmon populations toward extinction, according to a study in the journal Science”
- “These results suggest that salmon farms can cause parasite outbreaks that erode the capacity of a coastal ecosystem to support wild salmon populations”
- “If outbreaks continue, then local extinction is certain, and a 99 percent collapse in pink salmon population abundance is expected in four salmon generations”
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...How do you say Panama in Chinese?
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 12, 2007. 1 comment so farKey quotes from BBC story:
- Lawmakers in Panama are “moving to make the teaching of Mandarin compulsory in all schools, in recognition of China’s growing importance in the world economy.” A committee in the “Panamanian National Assembly has given conditional approval to the bill in the first of three debates.”
- “The bill’s supporters recognize that English is the international language of business but say that with China’s increasing economic influence, Mandarin is set to be an indispensable language.” “China is the biggest single user of the Panama Canal that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.”
- “The proposed legislation sets out a timeframe of 10 years for Mandarin to be taught in all schools.” (Note by the author of the post: the current Education Minister is against the measure.)
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...‘The canary has died’: NASA climate scientist
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 11, 2007. 1 comment so farKey quotes from CNN story:
- “An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.”
- “This week, after reviewing his own new data, NASA climate scientist Jay Zwally said: ‘At this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice-free at the end of summer by 2012, much faster than previous predictions.’”
- “‘The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming,’ said Zwally …. ‘Now as a sign of climate warming, the canary has died. It is time to start getting out of the coal mines.’”
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5) Loading ...Cured mice bring new hope to humans
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 10, 2007. 1 comment so farKey quotes from Washington Post news:
- “Using a recently developed technique for turning skin cells into stem cells, scientists have cured mice of sickle cell anemia — the first direct proof that the easily obtained cells can reverse an inherited, potentially fatal disease”
- “Researchers said the work … points to a promising future for the novel cells. … But researchers also cautioned that aspects of the new approach will have to be changed before it can be tried in human patients.”
- “The technique depends on the use of gene-altered viruses that have the potential to trigger tumor growth. … The big issue is how to replace these viruses.”
- Experts say “the success … does not mean that research on human embryonic stem cells can be dropped. All the progress in this field was only possible because we had embryonic stem cells to work with first.”
(4 votes, average: 3 out of 5) Loading ...U.S. becomes only rich nation not party to Kyoto
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 6, 2007. 1 comment so farKey quotes from Forbes news:
- “Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Monday after being sworn in as leader last month, leaving the US as the only rich nation that is not party to the 1997 climate change-tackling pact.”
- “Delegates from nearly 190 nations are gathered in Bali to try and draw up a roadmap of negotiations leading to a new plan to tackle global warming when the current phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.”
- “The United States delegation at a UN climate change summit said Thursday they would not commit to deep greenhouse gas emissions cuts at the key meeting in Indonesia, despite growing pressure.”
(4 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...Honey, there’s a natural alternative…
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Dec 5, 2007. 1 comment so farKey points from US News story:
- FDA recently recommended that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines not be given to children under 6 years of age.
- A study of cough in kids compared effectiveness of honey versus the cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medicines.
- Honey provided the greatest relief of symptoms. This gives parents a safe and effective alternative to use for children over age 1 who have cough and cold symptoms.
(4 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5) Loading ...Risks of salt in diet require rethinking habits, products
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 30, 2007. add a comment here!Key points from Reuters news:
- Health experts say most Americans exceed the recommended limits of salt in their diets. Excess salt in diet is a major risk factor in high blood pressure and heart disease.
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged stricter regulation by the FDA at a public hearing. They argue that cutting salt content in half in processed and restaurant foods could save up to 150,000 lives every year.
- Center is making the case to revoke salt’s “generally recognized as safe” status, which would subject it to stricter regulations as a food additive. “I am sure no one would tolerate so many deaths from airline crashes, so why tolerate it from food?,” says a VP of the American Medical Association.
- The Grocery Manufacturers Association prefers to keep the existing regime. They argue that cutting salt too much would turns off consumers because of bland taste.
(3 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...Plastic bag ban goes into effect in San Francisco
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 28, 2007. 2 comments- “A city ordinance passed in March and set to go into effect Tuesday forbids the use of traditional plastic bags by large grocery stores” in San Francisco.” “It’s just San Francisco’s latest effort to go green.”
- “Officials say the estimated 180 million plastic bags handed out in the city each year cause litter, hurt wildlife and often end up in a massive patch of swirling plastic junk in the middle of the Pacific.”
- “The California Grocers Association says regular plastic bags cost a penny or two, paper bags cost 5 to 8 cents, and the special, biodegradable bags cost 10 to 16 cents.”
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5) Loading ...Fighting counterfeits in the eBay era
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 27, 2007. add a comment here!Key points from NYT story:
- Lawyers for Tiffany & Co argue in trial that eBay is a distribution network that enables the trading of counterfeit Tiffany items. Tiffany has requests procedures to eliminate counterfeits. eBay disclaims responsibility to find counterfeits.
- Other makers of luxury goods have complained that sales of counterfeit items are hurting their businesses. If Tiffany wins this case other lawsuits could follow, and eBay’s business model could be threatened.
- Law seems to be on Tiffany’s side. Legal precedents say distributors that continues to supply a product knowing it is counterfeit are “contributorily responsible”. But even if eBay stops, phantom sites will continue to sell products.
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5) Loading ...Think Gattaca, but written in bright colors
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 26, 2007. add a comment here!Key points from IHT story:
- Online company funded by Google is selling a $999 personal DNA test.
- Users get kit and return it by mail. A month later the results are online.
- Results tell you about inherited traits, ancestry and - if an external Pro takes a look at it - some personal disease risks.
- When the database is big enough, users will have the option of taking part in scientific studies about diseases and treatments.
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5) Loading ...Banana producers protest unfair trade conditions
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 23, 2007. 1 comment so farKey points from La Prensa story:
- A farming cooperative in Panama has refused to sell any more banana to Chiquita to protest what they see as an unfair contract. Instead, they have given away 50,000 45-lb crates of export-grade bananas to the population, and claim they stand ready to give away another 100,000 crates.
- The cooperative claims the contract price with Chiquita is unfair, and that they take a loss of $2.18 every every time they sell a crate for $5, the price mandated by the contract. They demand Chiquita adjust the contract price to $8/crate, to match the realities of high oil price.
- Panamanian authorities are looking into the matter, to assess whether monopolistic and anti-competition practices are occurring.
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...Stem cell breakthrough could boost genetic medicine
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 21, 2007. 1 comment so farKey ideas from NYT story:
- For a decade, the issue of human embryonic stem cell research has proved bitterly divisive along religious and political lines.
- A new technique that turns ordinary human skin cells into stem cells promises to remove the controversy from research.
- Stem cells can turn into any cell type. Scientists want to find causes and treatments for complex human diseases.
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5) Loading ...Can open-source make roads beyond software?
By Roberto Perez-Franco. Nov 20, 2007. 4 commentsKey points from selected news:
- TechCrunch reports that “Bug Labs, the startup developing a Lego-like device that lets engineers mix-and-match different modules to create any digital device they can dream up, has its first working prototype.” And a video to prove it.
- They are not alone. Many other firms are pursuing similar goals. For example, Phidgets offers an easy to use set of building blocks for low cost sensing and control from your PC.
- The idea is ‘cool’, but products still look ‘clumsy’, bulky, suboptimal.
(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...