 OBAMA
TALKED JOBS, ECONOMY IN FLINT ... : Speaking
at an event yesterday at Flint's Kettering University,
presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama
said economic success in the 21st century "will
depend not on our government, but on the dynamism, determination,
and innovation of the American people." But, he
added, history shows that, in times of transition, "success
has also depended on national leadership that moved
the country forward with confidence and a common purpose."
Obama called for the creation of a new "competitiveness
agenda" aimed at creating jobs and opportunity.
"This agenda starts with education," Obama
said. "Whether you’re conservative or liberal,
Republican or Democrat, practically every economist
agrees that in this digital age, a highly-educated and
skilled workforce will be the key not only to individual
opportunity, but to the overall success of our economy
as well." To read the entire speech, as prepared
for delivery, click
here. To listen to podcasts of the speech,
click here. 
...
AND LATER IN DETROIT: At Detroit's Joe Louis
Arena last night, Barack Obama said he'll fight to revive
the nation's struggling auto industry and make sure
Michigan continues to put the country on wheels. ''We
are going to build the cars of the future right here
in Detroit, right here in Michigan, right here in America,''
the Illinois senator told supporters. More...
 ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN ENGULFS SMALL BUSINESS:
Only
seven months ago, small businesses couldn't hire workers
fast enough. Now many are worrying how to make ends
meet, according to small-business columnist Keith Girard.
"The credit crunch and falling consumer spending,"
he writes, "are depressing sales at the same time
that businesses are facing soaring costs, thanks, in
part, to skyrocketing oil prices." To read the
entire column, click
here.
AS WOMEN EARN MORE,
'MANIMONY' IS A GROWING TREND: As
women out-earn their husbands in the workplace, many
find they are footing the bill in divorce as well –
supporting their ex-spouses with alimony payments. Manimony
is the new term for a growing trend. Some of the most
well-known cases involve celebrity couples. But it's
not just Hollywood wives who are paying up when their
marriages end. More...
EMPLOYEES
EXPECT HELP WITH GAS PRICES: American workers
expect their employers to help them with the high cost
of getting to work, a survey finds. A special edition
of the ORC Ouch Point survey from Opinion Research Corp.
found that 84 percent of the U.S. workforce expects
employers to take measures to help offset the rising
cost of gas. More...
VIRTUAL
COLLABORATION
AND REAL-WORLD HUMILIATION: The ability
to use technology for collaboration and information
is making workers more productive and saving companies
a lot of money on travel. But, as The Wall Street
Journal reports, it also increases the potential
for embarrassment if our personal and professional virtual
lives cross paths. The Journal cites the case
of an executive who was in an online meeting when an
instant message saying "I love you Teddy Bear"
showed up for all to see. "Only a few keystrokes
separate one's private life from the virtual world,"
writes Journal reporter Dana Mattioli. "The
wrong computer settings, an awkward Web-camera angle
and even something as harmless as the 'hold' button
on the telephone can create lasting career memories."
For the complete article, click
here.
BORDER
PATROL IS HIRING: The U.S. Border Patrol is
stepping up efforts to hire more people. The government
agency is looking to fill 6,000 jobs by the end of 2008.
Agents can earn more than $70,000 after three years
of service.
More...
FED
CHIEF TALKS ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH CARE: Bolstering
the performance of the U.S. health care system is one
of the biggest challenges facing the country, Federal
Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday. New
medical technologies and treatments are allowing people
to live healthier, longer and more productive lives.
However, the aging of millions of baby boomers coupled
with rapidly rising health care costs are accounting
for an ever-growing share of both personal and government
budget strains that will become increasingly burdensome
unless changes are made, the Fed chief warned. More...
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