Top of the day to you out there!  I'm Donna J. Jodhan at the business desk and I am delighted to be back with you after a bit of a working vacation.  I thank you all for all of your feedback both positive as well as negative because it is through both that I can become better at answering your questions.
I do not have any questions in my e-bag today as it is my first day back so just for this week, I am going to share an editorial that I wrote a few weeks ago for another magazine.
I'll be back next week with my regular feature.
I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and week ahead.
 

 

The knowledge divide
By Donna J. Jodhan
 
How ready are we to tackle the problem of the knowledge divide?  Up until the economy started to slide, this was a very big problem but now that things have changed somewhat, yes it is still a problem but we have been given somewhat of a reprieve.
 
With the present economic crisis playing havoc with the incomes of retirees, seniors, and aging baby boomers, more and more persons have been forced to put off retiring choosing instead to stay longer in the workplace.  This was not the case about a year ago when so many aging baby boomers were so anxious to stampede out of the workplace and into retirement.  At that time many companies were facing a real problem of having to cope with an ever widening knowledge divide.  A divide that was threatening to swallow us up but now; things have changed drastically.
 
In years to come, many companies may look back on this economic crisis as having played a huge role in saving them from having to deal with the knowledge divide.  As things stand today, aging baby boomers are choosing to stay longer in the labour force and retirees and seniors are choosing to seek jobs to help them bolster their diminished savings.  These two factors will definitely help to stem the knowledge divide for now but make no mistake!  As soon as the economy turns around, aging baby boomers will be packing their bags in droves and retirees and seniors will be deserting their temporary positions in favor of days of not having to work. 
 
Of course, it may take years before the problem of the knowledge divide comes to the front again but in the meantime, I do believe that we should be taking this lull to prepare more thoroughly for this eventuality.  What can we do to prepare?  More incentives for aging baby boomers and experienced workers to pass on their knowledge and skills to younger workers.  More initiatives to ensure that knowledge and skills are passed on in a timely and appropriate manner. 

 

What exactly is the knowledge divide?  The knowledge and skills that baby boomers possess and will eventually take away with them versus the lack of knowledge and experience that those in their twenties and thirties possess.

 

Donna J Jodhan is the president of Sterling Creations.
Now you can view blogs and editorials written by Donna at:
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com (Donna Jodhan!  Advocating accessibility for all)
 http://numpadplus.com/blog/?page_id=7 (access and accessibility)
http://www.accessibilitynews.ca/acnews/editorials/donna.php (accessibility issues in Canada)
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com (under the editorials section, an international perspective)
http://www.onestopbookcafe.com (under the café talk link) 
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm (important answers to consumers concerns)
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/magazine.html (monthly editorial)
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog/blog.html (blogs for language professionals and accessibility consultants)

 

 

        Isakson Living Helps Children Avoid Sandwich Generation ...
By Donna J. Jodhan
 
One of the more frequently asked questions is this one:  Who exactly is the sandwich generation and why has this name been given to such generation?  In response to this question here is the more general answer.  The sandwich generation is the name that has been coined to describe the aging baby boomer generation; those who were born between 1946 and 1964.  They are referred to as the sandwich generation because they find themselves having to take care of both their kids and their parents all at the same time.  A very tight situation for this generation and they are doing their best to ensure that their kids do not end up in the same situation as they.
 
The sandwich generation is caught between having to ensure that their parents have been well provided for and at the same time they have to make provisions for their kids.  The key here for the sandwich generation is sound and logical planning.  It is a very stressful situation for the sandwich generation but the good thing about it is that they are very aware and conscious of their predicament and they are taking steps to ensure that their kids do not end up in the middle of both sides of another sandwich; their parents, that being the present sandwich generation, and their own kids.
 
This picture could be one for many to look at as a way to create and develop several types of new careers and at the same time it is a way for communities and establishments to design and develop services to meet the needs of both the sandwich generation and their parents.  I am going to leave you with a really great reference to check out.

 

        Isakson Living Helps Children Avoid Sandwich Generation ...
        By Isakson Living
        Today's baby boomers find themselves in the Sandwich generation and the stress of taking care of their family is proving to them that planning is key to making sure their children avoid the
tug-of-war between taking care of their ...
Upon completion the community will offer a plethora of amenities as well as a variety of
health services including a medicare-certified clinic headed by a doctor
trained as a geriatrician, home health services, assisted living options
and ...
        Atlanta Real Estate Forum -
http://www.atlantarealestateforum.com/ =20

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and week.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.com and I would be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.
 
You can view more of my blogs and editorials at the following websites:
Donna Jodhan!  Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com 
a weekly feature on important answers to consumers concerns
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly blogs for language professionals and accessibility consultants
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog/blog.html
a monthly editorial on business issues and concerns
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/magazine.html 
weekly editorials on accessibility issues in Canada
http://www.accessibilitynews.ca/acnews/editorials/donna.php
Editorials:  An International perspective on issues of accessibility and disability
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com (under the editorials section, an international perspective)
A general perspective on issues of access and accessibility
http://numpadplus.com/blog/?page_id=7 

Good morning!  I'm Jeff N Marquis at the business desk and I am back after a nice long holiday.
Today I would like to place the emphasis on success and how much we take it for granted.  Yes!  So many of us take it for granted and no!  Not enough of us take it seriously let alone plan for it.  Today, I have an excellent article to share with you.  One that will help you to understand why success is more of a planned event rather than something to be taken for granted.
I hope you enjoy this article.  Have a great weekend. 
I'm Jeff N Marquis at the business desk.
 
SUCCESS IS A PLANNED EVENT
The greatest economic boom since the industrial revolution is taking place in the east, with China at the forefront. The monopolistic oligopoly that China now represents will render the rest of the world second class citizens in less than twenty years. As to how severe this will affect the United States and the rest of the world, only time will tell.
China has slowly, silently and methodically devoured large sectors of the world's economy, to include but not limited to energy, farming, lumber, real estate, currencies, steel, stocks, bonds, pharmaceuticals, commodities to name a few. Its growth and ever increasing appetite for oil has led China to develop relations worldwide, from Africa and the Middle East, South America, the former Soviet Republics, Indonesia and Australia. In 2005 China tried to acquire California based Unocal, but was unsuccessful due to public outcry and vigorous opposition in Congress.  As Chinas need for oil increases, so will it amplify its economic power and influence worldwide, in order to fill this void. China will return to stake its claim in one form or another, in time.

 

The Beijing Olympics provided us with some visible insight into the immense growth China has made, on a scale westerners are unable to comprehend or accept and all indicators show that it will continue for a long time. This growth typifies the resources, vision and pragmatism China possesses, which will in a very short time extend itself around the globe.

 

The facts speak for themselves:

 

China represents one fifth of all humanity, one and a quarter billion people. A distinctly homogenous group all committed to one goal with long term implications. Granted there are political, social and human rights issues to be concerned about, however these issues appear to be more of concern outside China than to the Chinese themselves. The government of China is well aware of these issues and will deal with them as they see fit, in the best interest of China as a whole.

 

China's strength lies in its numbers and its close ties with Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and now Africa. Its strength is even further enhanced by the approximately sixty million Chinese nationals living outside China, whose earning power is said to exceed $50 Billion annually. Interestingly enough, many of these nationals are returning to China annually in increasing numbers.

 

The main contributor to this advancement is the fact that China heavily invests in its future, by its emphasis on the education of its citizens. China has not only recognized but is committed to excellence in education at every level. The evidence can be seen on a global scale where their students dominate at the world's finest learning institutions, in science, engineering and medicine. It is important to note that India is not far behind.

 

The United States trade deficit with China is well over $2 Billion dollars a day.

 

The United States government owes China and its lenders in excess of $500 Billion, which will increase significantly as the war with Iraq continues and as the bailout of the various financial institutions stemming from the subprime mortgage crisis materializes.

 

The Chinese economy's growth rate has averaged over nine (9%) per cent since the start of the 1980's. It is estimated over 50 million Chinese have been elevated into the middle class in less than twenty years.

 

China's individual savings rate is estimated above thirty five (35%) percent. The individual rate of savings in the US is below two (2%).

 

Approximately forty (40%-45%) to forty-five percent of China's productivity goes toward its exports, which directly correlates to very little or no foreign debt.

 

China's foreign investment exceeds $80 Billion per year. This combined with their huge trade surplus has created foreign currency reserves in the neighborhood of $2 Trillion.

 

China's investment in its own infrastructure doubles every three years. China is now using over half the world's cement, 40% of the world's steel, and 20% of the world's copper, large quantities of Tin, Nickel, Zinc, and Lead. Massive quantities of Uranium will be next, once their Nuclear energy program kicks in. Their investment in Environmental Protection will exceed $175 Billion by 2012.

 

China's military is said to exceed ten (10) million and growing.

 

 A report to the US Congress in 2007 stated that Chinese espionage, comprise the single greatest risk to the security of American technologies.

 

 Microsoft China now assumes first place in the field of computer technology, research and development worldwide, after only eight (8) years.

 

 All Chinese markets are completely regulated and participation, foreign investment and or competition is severely limited outsiders.