Top of the day to you out there!  I'm Donna J. Jodhan at the business desk.
I hope that everyone is enjoying their week thus far and today I bring you much news from our e-bag.  So, please read and enjoy.
 
Important answers to consumers concerns

 

Question from Marc Christiansen:  I just got laid off and I am wondering who would be the most stressed out:  laid off workers or those who are still employed?
Answer:  Mark, I would think that those who are still employed and are feeling the most insecure would be the ones who may be the most stressed at the present time.  At least, if I were working for someone else, and felt insecure about my job, then I would be really stressed out.  I am going to let the reference below speak for me.  Please give it a read.  Good question.
Laid Off Workers: Less Stressed Than Those Still Employed?
TIME - USA
The data suggest that employed people who feel insecure in their jobs display similar levels of anxiety and depression as those who are unemployed. ...
Read more at:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1883614,00.html            

 

Question from Matthew Gailhood:  Is it safe to say that there is a direct inverse relationship between the rise and fall of bonds and the rise and fall of depression and anxiety?
Answer:  Matthew, I do believe so.  It is a documented fact that as the markets rise rates of depression and anxiety fall and as the markets fall rates of depression and anxiety rise.  An inverse relationship and the reference that I have chosen for you supports this view.  Please give it a read.  I hope it helps.
Stocks Go Down, Paranoia Goes Up | Psychology Today Blogs
By Guest Blogger
Pick almost any major psychological problem and stress will be right in the middle of it, either as a cause or as an exacerbating factor. Depression, insomnia, anxiety, worry, anger, relationship problems, addictions and substance 
abuse ...
THIS JUST IN: News, Insight,... -
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/ 

 

Question from Michelle Dirksen:  Do you know where I can go to get some support for myself?  I have been laid off 
and am suffering from depression. 
Answer:  Michelle, as this is not my field of expertise, I am going to refer you to an article that I came across a few 
days ago.  I am sorry to hear about your situation and I hope that my reference helps.
Economic News Online: Measures To Help Unemployed People Who Are ...
By FERRY
A package of measures to help unemployed people who are experiencing depression or anxiety to get back to work 
were announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, including greater 
provision of ...
Economic News Online -
http://economy-online.blogspot.com/ 

 

Question from Sue Radcliff:  I am in the market for a laptop but am not sure how to go about choosing a good one.  
Any suggestions?
Answer:  Sue, here you go.  A perfect article for you to check out.  I hope it helps.
Laptop and Notebook Buying Guide | Best Tech News, Reviews, How it ...
By Mat Nayie
If you are a home user, then choose a notebook which is easy to carry and comes with the most basic computer 
applications. Students should opt for an affordable laptop which is light and durable. Frequent fliers need slim notebook 
models with ... A business user should purchase a laptop with plenty of hard disk space and advanced security 
features while a gamer needs a fast processor and the latest graphics card. What are the different kinds of laptop 
computers available? ...
Best Tech News, Reviews, How... -
http://www.micronanotronics.com/ 

 

Question from Tai Conretsky:  Is it true that identity thieves are targeting job seekers these days?
Answer:  Tai, it would appear that this is the case and I am basing my statement on the reference below.  Identity 
thieves are always one step ahead of the pack and job seekers seem to be their favorite target at the present time.  
Please read my reference below.
Identity Thieves Prowling for Job Seekers
Consumer Affairs - USA
Update your computer security prior to emailing resumes and receiving email correspondence. Making sure your 
computer security is currently updated against ...
Read more at:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/03/job_scams.html

 

Question from Edward Lu:  What are some of the top scams these days?
Answer:  Edward, here you go.  The reference below does a very good job in identifying some of the top scams for 
2008.
Top 10 scams of 2008 - and how to avoid them
Ottawa Citizen - Ontario, Canada
The key common tactic is to get you to either fill in personal information or download malicious software on to your 
computer to compromise your security ...
Read more at:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/scams+2008+avoid+them/1123669/story.html

 

Question from Hannah Jorelli:  Donna, how are organizations handling the translation of Chinese medical terminology 
these days?
Answer:  Hannah, I have a perfect article for you to read.  Please check out my reference below and I do believe that 
as more and more Eastern medicine becomes integrated into Western society, the demand for translation of these 
terms is going to grow.
Medical Translation Blog: Massive new Chinese-English technical ...
By ForeignExchange Translations
As the East meets West blog of the European Patent Office points out, the glossary currently contains approximately 
1.79 million Chinese and English patent-related technical terms extracted from patent abstracts and various technical 
...
Medical Translation Blog -
http://blog.fxtrans.com/ 

 

Question from Mario Marquez:  How important is it for immigrants to America to learn English?
Answer:  Mario, very important.  If any immigrant from non-English speaking countries wants to expand their career 
and horizons, it is vitally important for them to learn English because this is the first language of America.  Learning 
English will only enhance their career.  Please check out my reference below.
Building Successful Careers: Why Improve English Skills?
By noreply@blogger.com (Pat Zimmerman)
There are Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Spanish doctors, dentists, bankers and grocers. People have many reasons for 
not improving their English: I do not have time to work on my English; I am busy working and raising a family; ... Your 
children should not be your translators. You are the parent. Most likely one of the reasons you came to this country 
was for a better life for you and your children. That is admirable. You gave up a lot to travel thousands of miles to a 
...
Building Successful Careers -
http://leadershipmentorgroup.blogspot.com/ 

 

Question from Alex Pinto:  Donna, what are your thoughts on being able to find viable Internet businesses?
Answer:  Alex, I do believe that there are opportunities out there to find viable Internet businesses and I am going to share a reference with you that will answer your question.  I hope it helps.
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of Ebusiness | Free article
By admin
What is good about internet business? Probably the single greatest benefit of ebusiness can be summed up in one 
word — opportunity. There are numerous opportunities to start a business, buy a business,and grow a business on 
the internet ...
Free article -
http://www.2ked.com/ 

 

Question from Carrie Donnahue:  What are some of the common pitfalls for a failed home business?
Answer:  Carrie, here you go.  A perfect article for you to read.  This one gives you a lot of very insightful hints and common sense reasons as to why home businesses often fail.
Real Home Based Internet Business - 3 Fatal Mistakes | Free ...
By Love to Chat
We've not even covered the basis of the majority population in the world yet which is Asia. However, you can see the 
potential of generating income by running a real home based Internet business is a viable option today. ... The one 
pitfall that you must watch out for is judging your business on a margin that is tight or small. Truth is, you really do 
not know how much a margin you can make on your real home based Internet business until you start selling 
something. ...
Free Singles Chat -
http://freesingleschatonline.com/ 

 

Question from Rick Smawley:  What do you know about cash gifting?
Answer:  Rick, not very much so I am going to refer you to an article that may or may not answer your question.  I hope it helps.
The Best Work At Home Business blog: Better Than Cash Gifting ...
By Brian Davis
Infinity Downline could be what those who wanted to join the cash gifting opportunities but did not have or want to 
spend the $250 - $10000 up front that many of the popular cash gifting programs required. .... PowerHomeBiz Small 
& Home Business Blog. How to Reduce Your Risks When Starting a Business - Mar 3, 2009 - PowerHomeBiz.com; 
Best Tools for Learning How to Start a Small Business - Mar 1, 2009 - PowerHomeBiz.com; Pricing Strategies During a 
Recession - Feb 24, ...
The Best Work At Home Business blog -
http://thebestworkathomebusiness.blogspot.com/ 

 

Question from Pablo La Paz:  How much do you know about Shanghai as a city to do business with?
Answer:  Pablo, here you go.  A great article for you to review.  This may have just what you're seeking.  Good luck!
Shanghai-great city of China for business and travel | Content for ...
By lilichinese
Today Shanghai's goal is to develop into a world-class financial and economic center of China, and even Asia. In 
achieving this goal, Shanghai faces competition from Hong Kong, which has the advantage. ... After the signing of the 
Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, Shanghai became one of the few trading ports in China for doing business with foreign 
countries, and she grew by leaps and bounds into a thriving center of commerce and cultural interchange. ...
Full text recreation-and-leisure... -
http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/travel/destinations/ 

 

Question from Shawna Day:  Donna, I just got laid off and am looking around for some good home business ideas.  Can you help me?
Answer:  Shawna, sure!  Please read my reference below.  I hope it helps.
Finding The Right Home Business | Home Business Ideas
By Steve Finger
An internet venture is filled with positive aspects when stacked up against other types of home based careers. With a 
web based business, you will get some nice features that you won't have from different opportunities. .... Canon 
Australia is packing its bags from its WA corporate home of two decades in the Herdsman Business Park and moving a 
stone's throw away to the emerging $120 million Optima Centre, in a shift that exemplifies the growing preference of 
major ...
Home Business Ideas -
http://home-business.vjad.net/ 

 

Question from Karen Barker:  What does the employment picture look like for graduates these days?
Answer:  Karen, I would say that it depends on how you view things.  In addition to a bad economy, we have an exodus of some baby boomers and a holding pattern for others who are being forced to stay on because of financial constraints.  Please read my reference below.
Employment picture is dim as economy forces cutback in hiring
Winston-Salem Journal - Winston-Salem,NC,USA
... crops is guaranteed a job in the financial-services sector. ... aware that they will be facing a shortfall of employees 
as their baby boomers retire. ...
Read more at:
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/mar/08/employment-picture-is-dim-as-economy-forces-cutbac/news/

 

Question from Steven Kipperchuck:  Do you think that the mandatory age for retirement should be increased?
Answer:  Steven, this is a very interesting question and I am going to defer to a reference that comes from the UK.  It is interesting and insightful and raises many questions for the reader.  Please give it a read.
Seniors World Chronicle: U.K.: Mandatory retirement age should be ...
By Seniors World Chronicle
As populations get older they make greater demands on the state for care services, paid for by those in work. A 
society that is top-heavy with older people could topple over financially. The effects of this demographic change are 
already ... Baby boomers are bringing much higher expectations to their retirement than previous generations. But 
their children are poorly placed to finance those expectations. Society will have to change its attitude to work and 
retirement to ...
Seniors World Chronicle -
http://www.seniorsworldchronicle.com/ 

 

Question from Dennis Cook: What are some of the hurdles that older job seekers face these days?
Answer:  Dennis, here you go.  My reference below outlines these in very great detail.  Please give it a read.
Seniors World Chronicle: USA: Older job-seekers face special hurdles
By Seniors World Chronicle
VanDerhei, who has analyzed average 401(k) account balances for 22 million Baby Boomers, concluded, "The vast 
majority of people do not have enough savings to get out of the workforce at age 65." Retirees can begin receiving 
Social ...
Seniors World Chronicle -
http://www.seniorsworldchronicle.com/ 

 

Question from Anna Hadwick:  Donna, how are seniors doing when it comes to accepting digital technology?
Answer:  Anna, I think that they are going to accept and welcome digital technology and this is because their need for information is going to increase.  Especially so for aging baby boomers.
Seniors Hip to Digital Technology : Bizzia
By Sandy Mitchell
¡§Baby Boomers¡¨ are now a core part of this segment. As this segment nears retirement age, we can anticipate they
will be seeking out information, communication and entertainment that is relevant to their current and changing 
lifestyles. ...
Bizzia -
http://www.bizzia.com/ 

 

I am out of time for this week but before I leave you here is my tiny tip.
Identity thieves are now starting to target job seekers.  They are intercepting resumes from job seekers and gleaning personal information from their resumes in order to steal identities.
 
I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and week ahead.