Refashioning the local economy - and yours

In a previous post, I opined that one big reason why Philly remains the nation's fifth largest city is because this city and region have a diverse and resilient local economy, whereas Phoenix, which everyone from the Census Bureau on down expected to pass us but didn't, relies too much on a single industry and is thus vulnerable to boom and bust cycles or shifts in the industry. This week, I realized that the same could be said of Detroit, a metropolis to which pessimists often compare this one. That city rose on the strength of auto manufacturing, and when its manufacturers shrank in the face of global competition and changing labor markets, so did it. But the same could also have been said about Boston by a visitor there in the 1940s. By then, the textile mills and factories that made New England prosperous had all departed for the South and beyond, but the computer revolution that would remake and revive the region's economy had yet to begin. Likewise, when I arrived here in the early 1980s, this city still had not gotten over the hollowing out of its diverse industrial base. Even though the seeds of its rebound had already been planted many decades earlier, few locals who I knew at the time could have even predicted that some two decades later, we would be talking about the "eds and meds" as a regional economic powerhouse. And yet they are now the main pillar supporting our local economy, but they're not the only one. We also have strengths in professions such as law, the hospitality sector, and service industries, among others. In fact, we even still have manufacturing around here, though some of that has been bought dearly in order to keep assets such as the Naval Shipyard alive. All this reinforces my earlier argument. Because we have historically never relied on a single industry or sector to keep our economy humming, we have been able to find new strengths to build on after the old ones weakened. This sort of renewal process can take place at the individual level too. While many of us have a dominant set of skills, and would do best in jobs that make use of that skill set, most of us either have other skills we can develop or adapt our strong skills to other purposes. Continuing and adult education programs like the ones you can find in PhillyJobs' Education section can get you started down the road to retooling your personal economy to take advantage of changed realities. There's no time like the present to get started. By Sandy Smith Sandy Smith is a veteran freelance writer, editor and public relations professional who lives in Philadelphia. Besides blogging for PhillyJobs.com, he has written for numerous publications and websites, would be happy to do your resume, and is himself actively seeking career opportunities on Beyond.com. Check out his LinkedIn profile and read his other posts on PhillyJobsBlog.com.

Winning a Key Battle Against HIV

by Alex A. Kecskes

What makes HIV so deadly and impervious to the body's defenses is its ability to hide in immune cells--known as macrophages--whose very job it is to destroy foreign invaders and cellular debris. This has posed a nagging problem for HIV specialists.

Researchers discovered that when HIV faces a shortage of the molecular ingredients it needs to copy itself within an immune cell, the virus adapts by bypassing one of the molecules it usually uses and simply taps another available molecule.

Recently, a team of researchers found a way to block HIV's ability to replicate in macrophages by up to 90 percent. The work opens up a new front in the battle against HIV. Current drugs generally take aim at the infection in immune cells known at CD4+ T cells. The new research allows HIV to be targeted in macrophages--where the virus is out of reach of most of today's drugs.

The first cells that HIV infects in the genital tract are non-dividing target cell types such as macrophages and resting T cells. Most of today's drugs are designed to be effective only when the infection has already moved beyond these cells. Researchers hope to leverage this information to create a microbicide to stop the virus or limit its activity much earlier.

Researchers call this a significant breakthrough and are prepared to exploit new anti-HIV drugs based on this novel approach; an approach that is basically not toxic and that has the potential to treat and prevent HIV infections.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs at www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com/ and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

3 Interesting Part-time Jobs for Retirees

These days it seems that more and more retirees are deciding to seek part-time employment. This situation can occur for a variety of reasons. For instance, some people may seek employment for social reasons, while others seek a particular job as it is related to a hobby that they are interested in; still other retirees seek out part time jobs for financial reasons.

What are some of the more popular part-time jobs for retirees? Read on to discover this interesting information:

#1 - Library Aide or Assistant - a person in this position typically helps library patrons with inquiries, helps to catalog and shelve books, and general administrative tasks. The hours vary according to the institution – for instance, many university libraries are open late or in some cases twenty-four hours a day. To get hired for this particular position, it is beneficial to have actual library working experience. In addition, any related post-secondary education is helpful as well.

#2 - Virtual Assistant – an excellent position for someone who does not want to deal with commuting and work from the comfort of home, a Virtual Assistant is a great part-time job. While the actual job description of a Virtual Assistant can vary from employer to employer, this type of job can involve sending out letters, conducting online research, making travel arrangements, and other administrative tasks. To obtain a job as a Virtual Assistant, it is great to have some administrative work experience – as well as be up-to-date with computer programs such as Word and Excel.

#3 - Bookkeeper - a person working in this career field deals with, as you may assume, financial record keeping. Specifically, some bookkeeping duties can include completing payroll, accounts receivable, and accounts payable tasks. Other duties can include making financial reports, performing audits, keeping track of everyday business transactions and so on. To obtain a part-time job in this field, it is important to have an educational background in accounting, mathematical skills, computer skills and pertinent work experience.

There are many lucrative and interesting opportunities for retirees. Will you work part-time as a retiree?

Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues for PhillyJobsBlog.com and other topics for a variety of international websites and magazines. Please visit her other blogs at PhillyJobsBlog.com and view job posting at Beyond.com.

Sunshine On Your Shoulders

Were you aware that 80% to 90% of Vitamin D is obtained thought exposure to sunlight? Exposure of the hands, face, arms and legs to sunlight 2 or 3 times a week for about one half the time it would take to get a mild sunburn will produce enough Vitamin D.

How important is Vitamin D to you? Vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Sufficient vitamin D prevents prostrate cancer, ovarian cancer, depression, colon cancer, and schizophrenia. Osteoporosis is commonly caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. According to health care experts, 40% of the US population is vitamin D deficient. Unfortunately, the healing rays of natural sunlight can’t go through glass. So sitting on the couch in a sunny window may make you feel good but it won’t produce Vitamin D. If you drank ten large glasses of fortified Vitamin D milk a day, it would only give you the minimum requirements you would need. Also people with dark pigmented skin may need 20-30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair skinned people to get the vitamin D requirement. It’s impossible for you to generate too much Vitamin D from sunlight exposure. Your body will only generate what it needs. Just six days of casual sunlight, without sunscreen, can make up forty-nine days of no sunlight exposure. During periods of sunlight, Vitamin D is stored in fatty fat and then released when sunlight is gone. Older people are at risk for Vitamin D deficiency. They are less likely to spend time in the sun. They also may not have enough D in their diet or may have trouble absorbing Vitamin D due to aging kidneys. As many as 40% of older people even in sunny climates don’t have enough of this vitamin in their system.

Does Vitamin D come in a supplement? Yes it does, however, the dosage should be regulated by your healthcare provider. If the dosage is too much some side effects could be: weakness, fatigue, sleepiness, headache, loss of appetite, dry mouth, metallic taste, nausea, and vomiting. Also excessive amounts can cause high levels of calcium in the blood. There can be an interaction with drugs you might be taking such as Diltrazen, Digoxin, Calcipotriene, and Verapamil. Fluid pills also interact with Vitamin D. Too much Vitamin D can cause an excess amount of calcium in the body which can cause kidney problems.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that people ages 1-70 take 600IU daily, 71years and older, 800 IU daily, pregnant women, 600 IU daily and infants 0-12 months, 400 IU daily. Taking Vitamin D for long periods of time in excess does of 4000 units per day is considered unsafe. This dosage may cause excessively high levels of calcium in the blood. However, much higher dosages are often needed for the short term treatment of vitamin D deficiency. This type of treatment is done often under the supervision of a doctor.

So you can see how important Vitamin D is to your body. All you have to do is sit in the sun for about 15 minutes a day to get the full benefits that are needed. Plus, tilting your face up into the sun does feel good now, doesn’t it?

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and Healthcarejobsite. You can read more of her blogs on Healthcarejobsite blog.

How To Overcome Anxiety in Your New Job - 4 Tips That Can Help

So you got a job! Good for you! So, why are you still struggling? Overcome anxiety in your new job with these tips.

All of that hard work you put into your job search has finally paid off. You don't have to sift through job openings looking for your dream job, and instead you're trying to get into the swing of your new job. So, why are you still having trouble sleeping and spending a lot of time worrying about your job?

Sometimes, just getting the job isn't enough to keep the anxiety at bay. Now that you have a job, there is more risk and more to lose. Going through a period of unemployment is really, really tough and it's not unusual to come out of the experience a little shell-shocked and worse for wear. It's normal to worry that your skills are rusty, that you might not fit in at the new company or even have worries about money.

If you're dealing with anxiety and fear in your new job, here are some tips that can help:

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  If you're worried about money – Starting a new job is hard, but it's even harder when you are broke. Accept that the first month or two are going to be really hard. The first few weeks are a struggle because you might have trouble affording things like gas to get you back and forth, childcare, work clothes and even lunch until you get a few paychecks under your belt. Even then, you'll be spending a large portion of each paycheck just getting caught up on bills. It's really tough, but it does get better.
  
  


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  If you had to take a pay cut – When you are out of work and desperate, sometimes you have to take a transitional job just to pay the bills. There is no shame in that, and when you are feeling stressed out, try to keep your focus on the positive side of things. While you are working, you are able to earn a little money and brush up on your skills. When the job of your dreams comes along, you'll be in a position to make a smooth transition.
  
  


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  If you are feeling overwhelmed – Transitioning back to the workplace is really hard. If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember to take care of yourself. For the first month or two it's really important to eat as healthy as you can. Pick breakfast food that will give you energy throughout the day, rather than sugary foods that will give you a mid-morning crash. Also, you might want to be sure to take a multivitamin everyday. Your new workplace is bound to be filled with germs that your body isn't accustomed to and the last thing you want to happen is to be sick during the first month of employment.
  
  


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  If you're worried about your job performance – Being out of work is traumatic, and it's normal to worry that you are going to fail at the new job. Instead of looking at it as a test, think of the new job as a chance to be the best “you” you can. If you don't already have a personal brand, now is the time to create it. Decide what you want to be and try to be that. Re-creating yourself into the sort of employee you want to be can become an adventure, and this new job is a fresh start.

Have you had a hard time adjusting to full-time employment? What helped you work through it? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia are job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Meditation Produces Positive Physical Changes in the Brain

by Alex A. Kecskes

Most of us have read that meditation enhances one's sense of tranquility and physical relaxation. But clinical researchers recently discovered that clearing the mind with this technique also provides some cognitive and psychological benefits that last throughout the day.

A recent study revealed that meditation actually changes a person's brain structure. MR images were taken of 16 study participants two weeks before and after they took part in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. The study included weekly meetings of mindfulness meditation -- which focuses on nonjudgmental awareness of sensations, feelings and state of mind. Participants also received audio recordings for guided meditation practice and noted how much time they practiced each day. A set of MR brain images was taken of a control group of non-meditators over a similar time interval.

Researches analyzed the MR images and found increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus, key for learning and memory, and in brain structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection. Reductions in stress were also noted and correlated with decreased grey-matter density in the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with anxiety and stress.

Medical researchers concluded that practicing meditation can alter the brain and increase our well-being and quality of life.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs at healthcarejobsite.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

In The Hot Seat: Jones

Pick up your job search with straight laced advice for when you’re In The Hot Seat.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for PhillyJobsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Beyond.com blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.