As the global economy recovers, America’s trade activity has picked up. But imports once again grew more than exports last quarter, presenting a net drag on growth.
Gross domestic product, a broad measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a given economy, has been expanding for the last year, leading many economists to believe the recession  that began in December 2007 is technically over.
Still, G.D.P growth in the last quarter of 2009 — at an annual rate of 5 percent — was much more robust than it has been this year. This slowdown, coupled with disappointing job creation, has led to worries that the recovery is losing steam. The nation’s unemployment rate continues to linger just below 10 percent.
Here’s a HUGE reason why there is a slowdown and unemployment is so high:
E m m a  M a e r s k
The Emma Maersk, part of a Danish shipping line
chartered to Wal Mart, is shown in this photos essay.
What a ship….no wonder ‘Made in China ‘ is displacing North American made goods big time.
This monster transports goods across the Pacific in just 5 days!! This is one of three ships
presently in service, with another two ships commissioned to be completed in 2012.
These ships were commissioned by Wal-Mart to get all their goods and stuff from China . They hold
an incredible 15,000 cartons and have a 207 foot deck beam!! Â The full crew is just 13 people on a ship
longer than a US Aircraft Carrier (which has a crew of 5,000)
With it’s 207′ beam it is too big to fit through the Panama or Suez Canals ..
It is strictly transpacific. Cruise speed: 31 knots.
The goods arrive 4 days before the typical container ship (18-20 knots) on
a China -to- California  run. 91% of Walmart products are made in China .
So this behemoth is hugely competitive even when carrying perishable goods.
The ship was built in five sections. The sections floated together and then welded.
The command bridge is higher than a 10-story building and has 11Â cargo crane rigs
that can operate simultaneously unloading the entire ship in less than two hours.
Length – 1,302 ft
Width – 207 ft
Net cargo – 123,200 tons
Engine – 14 cylinders in-line diesel engine (110,000 BHP)
Cruise Speed – 31 knots
Cargo capacity – 15,000 TEU (1 TEU = 20 cubic feet)
Crew – 13 people !
First Trip – Sept. 08, 2006
Construction cost – US $145,000,000+
Silicone painting applied to the ship bottom reduces water
resistance and saves 317,000 gallons of diesel per year.
A recent documentary in late March, 2010 on the History Channel noted that
all of these containers are shipped back to China , EMPTY. Yep, that’s right.
We send nothing back on these ships. What does that tell you about
the current financial state of this country? Just keep buying those imported
goods (mostly gadgets) until you run out of money.
Then you may wonder what the cause of unemployment (maybe even your job)
in the U.S. and Canada  might be????
This message, if any, surely deserves forwarding, doesn’t it ?
Continue reading about One BIG Reason why the economy is weak in 2010 and getting weaker!
After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:
‘Let me see if I’ve got this right.
‘You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.
‘You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
‘You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.
‘You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams
‘You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
‘You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.
‘You want me to do all this and then you tell me. . .
I CAN’T PRAY?
Also:
without support from many parents ( When I was a student, If I got in trouble at school I got in more trouble at home)
with dwindling budgets and support
with the threat of losing my job if students perform poorly on state, federal or provincial tests (which  are a waste of money and time)
with a great deal of stress
with a huge workload
with low status
after 5 years of College or University Education
No wonder there are so many emails making the rounds about, WHY TEACHERS DRINK!
Continue reading about NOMINATED FOR ” BEST EMAIL OF THE YEAR 2010â€
Don’t look at your watch every 10 minutes.
Don’t play with things like a pen or a knickknack sitting on the interviewer’s desk.
Don’t get too comfortable.
Don’t promise to fix the company’s two years of losses and cure all the problems in the world.
Don’t assume that you have the job until it’s offered to you.
What to Say and do in a Job Interview
1. The art of listening
One of the first skills of a conversation is the art of listening.
2. When to speak
Keep in mind when to speak and when not to. Â This is doubly important when you are facing more than one interviewer.
3. The information you provide
Quality over quantity Concentration and focus are quite important.
4. Provide Facts
5. Relevancy
focus on relevancy.
6. A team player
Make it clear to the  interviewers that you are a team player.
8. Future plans
9. Honest answers
Proof Read your resumeeee:
Continue reading about What not to do and What to Say in a Job Interview
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, ‘The tooth fairy will never believe this!’
God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do,
And the eyesight to tell the difference.
Two young businessmen in Florida were sitting down for a break in their soon-to-be new store in the shopping mall.  As yet, the store wasn’t ready, with only a few shelves and display racks set up. One said to the other, “I’ll bet that any minute now some senior is going to walk by, put his face to the window, and ask what we’re selling.” Sure enough, just a moment later, a curious senior gentleman walked up to the window, looked around intensely and rapped on the glass, then in a loud voice asked, “What are you sellin’ here?” One of the men replied sarcastically, “We’re selling ass-holes.” Without skipping a beat, the old timer said, “You’re doing well, only two left.”
All you think about is soccer!
My Wife: ‘Soccer, soccer, soccer! That’s all you ever think about! If you said you were going to stay at home one Saturday afternoon to help with the house’ work, I think I’d drop dead from the shock!’
Me: ‘It’s no good trying to bribe me, dear.’
and that’s when the fight started…
Continue reading about All you think about is soccer, football, hockey, baseball and…
When an old man died in a geriatric ward, it was believed that he left nothing of any value. Later, when the nurses were going  through his meager possessions, they found this  poem. Its quality and content so impressed the  staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her  copy to Missouri .
The  old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since  appeared in the Christmas edition of the News  Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental  Health. A slide presentation has also been made  based on his simple, but eloquent,  poem.
And this little old man, with  nothing left to give to the world, is now the  author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across  the Internet.
Crabby  Old Man
Crabby  Old Man
What  do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you  see?
What  do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you  see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when  you’re looking at me?
What are you thinking . . . . . when  you’re looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . Â . . not very wise,
A crabby old man . . . Â . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . Â . with faraway eyes?
Uncertain of habit . . . . Â . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his  food . . . . . and makes no reply.
Who dribbles his  food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you  say in a loud voice . . . . . ‘I do wish you’d  try!’
When you  say in a loud voice . . . . . ‘I do wish you’d  try!’
Who seems not to notice . . . . . the  things that you do.
Who seems not to notice . . . . . the  things that you do.
And forever is losing . . Â . . . A sock or shoe?
And forever is losing . . Â . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or  not . . . . . lets you do as you will,
Who, resisting or  not . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With  bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to  fill?
With  bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to  fill?
Is that what you’re thinking? . . . . .  Is that what you see?
Is that what you’re thinking? . . . . .  Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes,  nurse . . . . . you’re not looking at  me.
Then open your eyes,  nurse . . . . . you’re not looking at  me.
I’ll tell you who I am. . . . . . As  I sit here so still,
I’ll tell you who I am. . . . . . As  I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, Â . . . . . as I eat at your will.
As I do at your bidding, Â . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small  child of Ten . . . . . with a father and  mother,
I’m a small  child of Ten . . . . . with a father and  mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who  love one another.
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who  love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen  . . . . with wings on his feet.
A young boy of Sixteen  . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that  soon now . . . . . a lover he’ll meet.
Dreaming that  soon now . . . . . a lover he’ll meet.
A  groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a  leap.
A  groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a  leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I Â promised to keep.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I Â promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . Â . . . I have young of my own.
At Twenty-Five, now . . Â . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to  guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
Who need me to  guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A  man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown  fast,
A  man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown  fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties  that should last.
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties  that should last.
At Forty, my young sons  . . . . . have grown and are gone,
At Forty, my young sons  . . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my  woman’s beside me . . . . . to see I don’t  mourn.
But my  woman’s beside me . . . . . to see I don’t  mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play  ’round my knee,
At Fifty, once more, babies play  ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . Â . . My loved one and me.
Again, we know children . . . Â . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are  upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
Dark days are  upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look  at the future . . . . . shudder with  dread.
I look  at the future . . . . . shudder with  dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . Â young of their own.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . Â young of their own.
And I think of the years  . . . . . and the love that I’ve  known.
And I think of the years  . . . . . and the love that I’ve  known.
I’m now an old man . . . . . and  nature is cruel.
I’m now an old man . . . . . and  nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . Â . . . look like a fool.
Tis jest to make old age . . Â . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles  . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
The body, it crumbles  . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is  now a stone . . . . where I once had a  heart.
There is  now a stone . . . . where I once had a  heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . Â . . a young guy still dwells,
But inside this old carcass . . . Â . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and  again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
And now and  again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I  remember the joys . . . . . I remember the  pain.
I  remember the joys . . . . . I remember the  pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . . .  life over again.
And I’m loving and living . . . . .  life over again.
I think of the years, Â all too few . . . . . gone too fast.
I think of the years, Â all too few . . . . . gone too fast.
And  accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can  last.
And  accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can  last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . Â open and see.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . Â open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look  closer . . . see ME!!
Not a crabby old man . . . Look  closer . . . see ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We  will all, one day, be there, too!
PLEASE Â SHARE THIS POEM
The best and  most beautiful things of  this  world can’t be seen or touched.