Today’s mobile devices and an always-on internet connection make it truly possible to work anytime, anywhere you want. But it’s also necessary to have the type of work that’s portable. If, like most traditional office workers, you spend the majority of your day using a word processor, spreadsheet or slide program plus occasionally surfing the web, there’s no reason you can’t periodically break free from your cubicle and work in the wide open world.

While I do most of my work from a cozy home office, I’ve got a mobile setup that gives me true flexibility.In this post I’ll show you the minimum kit necessary to work anywhere you want.

For example, I’m writing this article on my iPhone in my favorite coffee shop using Evernote, a ubiquitous note taking tool that will immediately sync my Evernote draft with my desktop as soon as I’m done. Pretty crazy, huh? Evernote syncs automatically across multiple devices – my iPhone, my laptop and the web. So I’ll be able to edit my article later wherever it suits me. You can signup for a free Evernote account at http://evernote.com.

Here’s a list of standard mobile office tools that make working anytime, anywhere a snap:

Laptop

A laptop or a netbook computer is an absolute must. My personal preference is an old black MacBook laptop with as much memory as I could cram into it. I’m primarily a writer and a web designer, so my software packages include Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite 4.

Broadband Internet Connection

You can’t depend on coffeeshop wi-fi and be truly free to work anywhere you want. To be truly mobile, you need to take the internet with you. While some folks may opt for a cell phone tethering setup, I prefer a USB modem that I can easily pop into my laptop as needed. The nominal monthly charge is worth it since I know I’ll always be connected.

Mobile Phone/Internet Device

While I haven’t personally jumped on the iPad bandwagon yet, I know a lot of colleagues who love them. I honestly prefer the smaller form factor of my iPhone and don’t mind typing with my thumbs. In fact, lately I’m doing more and more writing work on my iPhone since I don’t necessarily want to lug my laptop backpack everywhere I go. It’s nice to have a choice that fits right into your pocket or purse.

Online Data Storage/Retrieval

Cloud computing services such as Dropbox and Box.net are an excellent way to store and access large files from the internet. Both services have free starter accounts and are less than $10 a month for up to 5GB of storage. They also have iPhone, Blackberry and Android apps to make it easy to access important files from your mobile device.

Notebook and pen

There’s still something magical about putting pen to paper that never gets old for me, so a pocket Moleskine notebook is a great asset to all my gadgets.

Earbuds

I love to listen to music while I’m working, so earbuds help me shut out the outside world and get into the zone. And, since they’re an iPhone accessory they make it easy enough to take calls if necessary.

Laptop lock (optional)

A Kensington laptop lock is a great way to keep everything secure if you’re working in a public space like a restaurant, library or coffeeshop. I typically lock my laptop to the table where I’m sitting and run the cable through my bag handle to keep everything together. It will give you great of mind if you occasionally need to step away for a break.

A bag to keep everything in

Finally, you’ll need a place to keep everything neat and tidy, so my preference is either a small laptop backpack or a midsize messenger back. I alternate between both depending on where I’m going. The messenger bag is a little nicer for client meetings, but either will do.

And there you have it. A basic kit to keep you organized and productive from just about anywhere in the world. What do you use to setup your mobile office? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

Credit: Franchise Update Media Group (via Flickr)

It is no longer sufficient for businesses to have a huge set up in one place and expect to grow.  It has become inevitable to have a global presence.

Today, most retail and service based brands have the ultimate goal of becoming a global player in their industry.  But in order for them to achieve that goal, capitalization is essential and there is also the fear of even the best concept facing resource scarcity.

The most effective solution to this problem is franchising.  It is the best way to take a business concept forward, with scope of profitable multiplication at various locations.  The beauty of franchising is that the capital investment by the franchisor is low, as the capital for expanding the network comes from franchisees.

Franchisees, along with the investment, also bring along with them their optimum resources and knowledge of the local markets. This helps in the franchise outlets opening faster and far more efficiently than if the franchiser had to do it all. In fact, it would be an almost impossible task for the franchisor to understand how the local markets work.

It not all about capital; over and above that, the franchiser can rest assured that the expansion of the business is in the hands of people with high levels of motivation to make it work.  Most franchisees put their hard earned money into a franchise and will do whatever it takes to ensure it is a success.

Franchising is a wonderful method of business expansion, as the franchiser is expanding his business without having to spread their resources across too many business units.

Less Costs And Higher Returns For Franchisors

The franchisor only needs to spend money on recruiting the franchisee, training and the required assistance before the opening of the franchise. It is the franchisees that invest on the premises, equipment and all other working capital that is needed to establish a franchise unit.

The returns on businesses that are expanded through franchising are very high. Since the franchisor’s expenses are limited, whatever the revenue they receive from franchised units is good.  Of course their revenue would be much higher if they expanded with company-owned units. But with minimal investment and no hassles, they earn revenue from the franchises.

The Advantages Of Franchising For Both The Franchisor And Franchisee

Franchising is a comprehensive business relationship that consists of four essential elements offered by the franchisor to the franchisee, which ensure the success of a franchise.

They are:

1. The franchisor and the franchisee enter into a legal agreement
2. An operations manual about the business provided by the franchisor
3. A training program provided by the franchisor to the franchisee
4. On-going support by the franchisor

On the part of the franchisee

1. He pays the franchisor an initial franchise fee
2. He pays a continuing management services fee, which is a small percentage based on the turnover

Today, all sorts of businesses can be franchised and more and more businesses are turning to this expansion model than ever before. Almost any product or service can be distributed through franchising.

Franchising, unlike other businesses, does not face issues such as slashing marketing budgets, delaying capital investment or cutting staff numbers.  Franchisers’ only focus is to support their franchisees, and closely monitor for any issues and resolve them through training programs.

This business concept has combated the downturn successfully and many franchisors achieved immense success.  Franchising has certainly outperformed the economy and continues to be seen as a perfect business model for the short and medium term.

Franchising is expected to experience a huge growth spurt over the next few years and many franchisers are even diversifying into new product or service markets, to utilize the benefits of franchising.

Credit: JT (Via Flickr)

There are several helping natured people who give back to the needy. With so many unemployed residents, there is always need for a helping hand.  This helping hand is provided by the following businesses for the unemployed in their communities.

Free Dry Cleaning

National Drycleaners in Seattle is offering laundry service free for people who have an interview coming up, and there have been many takers.  The owner, Erstad is of the opinion that there are several ways of helping people in the neighborhood.

They got good feedback from people and he encourages other business owners to do the same and offer their services to the unemployed.  This not only helps the customers but also their businesses in the long run, as it generates a lot of good will while providing great publicity from local media.  Erstad says that although he could not afford to advertise on television, with this gesture, he managed to get his name out there.

Free Stay At An Inn

The Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, Vt. has a “Pink Slip Giveaway Getaway” program, which targets people who have been unemployed for at least six months.  This works by taking a monthly drawing with the winner enjoying a free two-night stay at this inn that belongs to Leslie and Brian Mulcahy. They let people know about this program by using press releases in the local media.

They are doing this because they themselves went through unemployment earlier and understand how bad it can get. This offer is open up to Jan 2010 and they have experienced immense success with this, with hundreds of entries coming in.

This promotion led to increase in business in terms of higher number of customers as well as referrals.

How About Getting A Pair Of Shoes Free?

Hells.com is a Charlotte, N.C. based online retailer that is giving away professional shoes to job-seeking women in that area.

The director said that they surprised women by giving away brand-new shoes free of charge, to give them more confidence during their interviews.  This company wanted to offer something positive to people when everything around us seems to be negative at this point. They have received numerous messages of gratitude from women who got the jobs.

Out of Job?  See How A Martial Arts Class Can Help

Bayonne Karate in N.J. is owned by Patrick Cunningham, who came up with an exciting idea for the unemployed.  He invited the local unemployed to get rid of their miseries with karate. The studio offered a Bruce Lee style aerobic workout every Tuesday and Thursday morning for three months in a row.

Cunningham is extremely pleased with the fact that the participants who came in sad and tired went back home with a smile on their faces. They felt more positive towards life and were all charged up to go out and find work.  The best part is that most of them found employment.

This wonderful gesture spread so fast through word-of-mouth that the center picked up several customers after that.

Free Haircut In St. Petersburg, Fla.

The unemployment rate in this area is about 11% and this promoted Albie Mulcahy, a salon owner to give the unemployed something to make them feel better.  He understands the importance of what a confidence booster looking good can be; especially when attending interviews. He offered 150 unemployed people a free hair cut and style at the salon on a weekend.

He revealed that he was sympathetic to the stories he keeps hearing from his clients about losing their jobs and wanted to give something back to the community.

People who took advantage of this free haircut got to know of this through news and the local blogs. Some of them couldn’t hide their emotions and cried when given a haircut.

The local media coverage benefited the business by driving in more customers.

With times being hard and cash hard to come by, it can get quite depressing for the unemployed. Their emotional status is usually so low that they end up not giving their best even in their interviews due to lack of confidence.  Every small gesture of love and understanding makes a huge difference.  These businesses have achieved in doing their bit and bringing cheer to their faces. This is what a community is all about.

The term “white collar crime,” is not just some crime conducted by people in white-collar jobs; it is a crime of artful lying. White collar criminals use persuasion and deceit to achieve their end.  Not all crime is illegal, a person can be deceitful and unethical while not committing any illegal acts, according to law.

Spinning is the favorite tool of these criminals. Since humans live on hope, they are sold hopes and dreams through lies. It is a common thing for accountants of companies to employ several tricks to dupe auditors, but one trick that was much talked about involves using women.

Sam Antar

As a former CPA and former Chief Financial Officer for Crazy Eddie, Inc.; Sam Antar had become (in)famous in the 1980s for masterminding one of the largest securities frauds of its time, which shaved investors off by hundreds of millions of dollars.  Many lost their life savings, some lost their careers, cost creditors lost hundreds of millions of dollars and overall was responsible for immeasurable suffering of thousands of people, including shareholders, creditors, financial analysts, employees, public accounting firms, Wall Street firms etc.  The fraud hit so many people that Antar was called, “the Darth Vader of Capitalism,” by US Attorney Michael Chertoff.

Compared to today’s frauds which go into billions of dollars, the fraud at Crazy Eddie may seem small; however, it was much more outrageous than most frauds committed during those years because it went on for 18 long years (1969-1987), and it used multiple methods.

Antar used several complicated accounting tricks, but one of the simple methods used by him was to pair hot female employees with young male auditors who were in their 20s. He later said, “These auditors from the Big Four accounting firms are usually single kids just a few years out of school. What do kids in their 20s think about all the time? Sex. In effect, I was a fraudster, matchmaker and pimp.”

In Sam Antar’s words, “We committed crime simply because we could. Criminologists like to analyze white collar crime in terms of the ‘fraud triangle’ — incentive, opportunity, and rationalization. We had no rationalization. Simply put the incentive and opportunity was there, but the morality and excuses were lacking. We never had one conversation about morality during the 18 years that the fraud was going on.”

Eventually Antar took full responsibility for his actions and to avoid jail time, worked with the U.S. government, and now has taken up a position as advisor to the government agencies and other businesses on avoiding accounting fraud.

Accounting Scams of Today

The current financial crisis has seen several such accounting scams, including the Bernard Madoff scheme, which is a multi-billion dollar fraud.  But Bernie Madoff may just be the tip of the iceberg with the unraveling of several such frauds.

Accounting firm, KPMG, another of the Big Four accounting firms (with Ernst, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu being the other three), had its Executive siphon as much as $900,000 of the company funds for personal use.  Ernst & Young had one of its Hong Kong executives detained by police because of evidence of false audit documents came to fore in a court case.

According to a former FBI accounting fraud investigator, “There’s always an uptick in fraud activity when the economy goes down.  It’s like the ocean going out and you can see everything that was hidden under water.”

The Need for Accounting Education

Antar feels that reform has to start with accounting education. He says, “The kids who are out on the front lines of auditing, they know nothing about people like me.  It is easy to fool them.” He wrote in one of his posts, “Accounting students must take separate in-depth courses in criminology, securities laws, internal controls, insurance/risk management, and other ‘real experience’ areas they require for the fieldwork they will encounter on audits.”

Key Elements In Fraud Cases

In spite of there being millions of ways to commit fraud, the key elements in most employee fraud cases are found to be incentive, opportunity and rationalization.

Incentive – A deeper look into the whole thing reveals that while greed is the main incentive, there are other strong incentives, such as gambling debts, drug usage, infidelity or just ego. There have been cases where fraud was conducted just to satisfy the psyche, and not for monetary reasons.

Opportunity – This is when an employee feels that there is a lesser chance of being caught and this happens in private companies where there are less internal checks and controls rather than in public limited companies.

Rationalization – The white-collar criminal consoles their conscience and rationalizes his or her behavior, usually when there exist internal problems such as downsizing or overworking.

Antar says accounting fraud is all about “distraction,” like diverting the auditors’ attention with attractive young females.  He says, “It’s like David Copperfield, it’s an illusion … I want you to look over here so you don’t see what I’m doing over there.”

Another tactic is “delay.” If the auditors have five weeks to do the audit, the fraudster’s goal would be to leave 80% of the work till the last minute, so that the auditors feel rushed.

According to another white-collar fraudster, accounting fraud means understanding the difference between truth and accuracy.  He said that every financial statement he has ever created was completely accurate – but not truthful.

One of the best ways of detecting fraud is said to be by asking questions and if someone gets offended in the process when asked a question about verification, then something is wrong there. Honest people do not get offended when asked to verify something official.The one good thing that came out of the financial crisis was that several people were being trained to detect this fraud. Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, a US based company, trains accountants in fraud investigation, and 10,000 of its 47.000 members joined last year alone. Could this be the beginning to the end of white-collar fraud?

Credit: Casa Branca (via Flickr)

The Group of Twenty (G-20) is a forum of central bank governors and finance ministers of the biggest industrialized and developing economies created to discuss key issues affecting the global economy.  The G-20 countries account for two-thirds of the population in the world, 80% of world trade and 90% of global GDP.

Reason for forming the G-20

In the year 1997 and 1998, the Asian financial crisis led to fear of an economic meltdown globally and the need for a platform to discuss these issues and look into the improvement was felt by world leaders.  Thus, in 1999, the G-20 was created in response to this need.

How does the G-20 work?

Although, there are no criteria for membership, the group has nineteen of the world’s largest economies as members. Along with the G-7 industrialized nations, the group also consists of emerging economies like India, China, Brazil, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, Argentina, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Australia.  The last member (20^th) is the European Union, where the country holding the current EU presidency acts as its representative at the G-20.   Right now, it is the Czech Republic that holds the presidency.

Apart from this group of twenty, the World Bank and the IMF also attend G-20 meetings.

The first meeting was held in the year 1999 and the chairmanship rotates each year, with Britain heading the G-20 for 2009.

How the G-20 has evolved

G-20, as we have seen was formed in a crisis situation to discuss ways of averting a global meltdown.  Over the years, the range of issues discussed have increased, with the inclusion of domestic reforms, commodity markets, global energy resources, clean energy and a host of others.

In 2008, at the Washington summit, there was yet another change introduced, where along with the central bank governors and finance ministers, a leader level meeting was also conducted to discuss the financial crisis of 2008.  The Washington summit was followed by the London summit on April 2, 2009.

Details of the London Summit

With the current global economy in the dumps, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President, Nicolas Sarkozy took the initiative and asked for the meeting, to discuss this pressing issue.  They had also invited Thailand, which is the chairman of Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations) and Ethiopia, which is the chairman of Nepad (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development).

Although, there were huge expectations from the London summit; locally, it is being seen more as an attempt by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to boost his popularity at home. Critics are also not convinced of Brown’s stand that it is an initiative for the leaders of world’s major economies and important institutions to discuss and take the necessary action to stabilize the world economy and secure jobs.

Commitments to strengthen the financial system and resources of around 1.1 trillion dollars to support jobs and growth across the world, were made at the London Summit.

G-20’s future issues

With the world economy and financial markets facing serious global challenges and the severity of ongoing uncertainties, there is need for urgent action.  The G-20 is now driving forward to work between advanced and emerging economies to handle this crisis situation sensibly, restore financial stability worldwide and lead the international economic recovery. To be able to secure the future of all countries, it is important to identify and understand the root causes of the current international financial crisis to ensure this does not repeat again in the future.

Another agenda on the G-20 to-do list is the long-term issue of climate change.  The main challenge for the G-20 was financing the global carbon emission reductions and helping developing nations that are worst affected by the climate change.  Poor nations asked for funds to help them develop sustainability to the expected increase in warming.  The question remains as to what the world leaders will think of this.   Countries like the US and Japan are doing their best to combat this.  In the US, tighter energy efficiency standards are being passed and in Japan, deep emission cuts are being pledged.   But there is not much time left. Environmentalists hoping for some sort of a concrete action on climate change remain disappointed, and G-20 has a big task on its hands.

G-20 is the coming together of the nations to collectively look into the needs of the world today and find solutions to key issues.

The recession is usually a time when most employers grind all pay hikes to a halt. But you can still get your boss to change his mind.

Before you decide that you need a pay hike, sit down and do some self appraisal.  Are you able to fulfill your work obligations well?  Does your employer value your work but resists from letting it reflect in your pay?

It is important to remember that good performance doesn’t go unnoticed.  Working hard, remaining focused and willing to take on any responsibilities within the company are the key to making your boss think about you.

Seek results!  Management experts say that you could still get your boss to give you a raise, even in the current scenario.

Here are a few tips that could pave the way to your pay hike:

Justify a pay hike – You must command a hike and not demand it.  In the current scenario, it’s not enough to fulfill your job requirements.  You will have to show your boss that you’re working much more than what is expected of you.  Is there new business that you brought in or have you been doing the job of two people?

Study the market –  Before asking for a pay raise, find out the market value for similar jobs.  See what your colleagues fulfilling the same responsibilities as you are getting.

Work smarter – An intelligent employee is one who works smarter and not harder. In fact, employers look at this as a positive trait that separates the leaders from the followers.  Employees who make a difference to the company by concentrating on what is most important for the company are those that are looked at favorably by the management, and are kept in mind for any pay increases or bonuses.

Invest your energy wisely - When you join a company, you are given a specific role to play.  This role should be fulfilled to the best of your ability by keeping the company’s goals in mind. Everything you do should be aligned to the goals of the company.  If you know that the company is looking at cutting costs, then that is what you should be working towards, even if you are not told to do so.

Approaching the boss – When approaching your boss for a pay raise, you have to make it seem like a good deal.  You cannot just barge in and ask for an increase.  You can tell your boss that you are looking for a better pay and are willing to take on more responsibilities to justify the raise. Creating extra value works better than simply going up to the boss and asking for extra money.

Discuss the increase politely – When most employees start thinking of a pay hike, it is usually with negative feelings towards the management and with frustration that they are not getting what they deserve – all this, even before approaching the boss.  It is necessary to have a completely positive attitude and arrange for a meeting with the boss, where you discuss this in the most appropriate manner.

There is nothing wrong in asking for a pay rise even in the recession, as long as you know for sure you deserve it.  There are many companies that do give pay raises even in this downturn, because they understand the value of human resources and their need to retain talent at any cost.  They are aware of the young employee mindset, which prompts them to shift jobs easily if they get a better offer.  They know that competitors are always on the prowl, looking to attract the best talent from other companies. You must ensure you are considered essential talent that the company cannot afford to lose.

You are in luck if you happen to be a part of the shortage areas of the labor market, where supply is less than the demand.  Since such people are hard to come by, employers take care of their needs to keep them satisfied.

On the other hand, you, as an employee should also understand that times are tough and you will have to base your decision on your contribution and the company’s current financial status.

How difficult is saving money?  It’s not easy and there are very few people who understand the art of saving.  I often see people giving tips on saving money, but not many of them target youngsters and that’s the intention of this article, to give some ideas to both students and working people.

People talk about refinancing mortgages, but young people don’t have one.  Another commonly talked about thing is not to use ATMs because of the fees, but how many college students actually pay ATM fees?  Most banks provide free withdrawals.

Here is a compilation of a list of things to do to save at least about $200 per month, and that too – without ever feeling deprived.  If you do things right, you will never feel like you’re missing out on something.

Dinner  - Going out for dinner with a group of friends can be loads of fun.  But after eating your fill without bothering to look at the prices, paying the bill is certainly not fun.  If you spend around $50 per meal, you’re down $100 with just two dinners.

You can reduce that by ordering smart.  Instead of ordering an entrée for $20 or so, order a dinner salad for $10 or $15.  Just limit yourself to one cocktail instead of two.  Split a desert with a friend or don’t have one.  Saving on eating out can really make a difference and you don’t have to stop eating out.

Coffee Outings – Lattes anyone? I know you love them and you drink at least one per day.  At $5 each, it amounts to $35 per week – just for coffee.  A simple change can help here.  Instead of buying them, make them yourself.  Just buy a mug and keep some milk in the refrigerator.  Mix 3 parts coffee and 2 parts milk.  You can flavor your latte with a Sugar Free Caramel Syrup.  You don’t really need espresso, as this itself tastes wonderful.  Some days, when you feel desperate to have one, coffee house is certainly open for you.

Bars – Drinks and friends go together and it is no fun drinking alone. But going out for a drink can be really expensive!  Especially so when you spend a night out and forget the number of drinks you have.   Why not have a couple of drinks at home before hitting the bars.  A couple of drinks less in a bar means you save a lot, even if you party just twice a month.

Cell Phones – This is where most people go wrong – paying for plans with too many minutes than is actually required.  Get into plans that provide unlimited nights or weekends and talk to your heart’s content during that time, at no cost to you.  Remember, going over the minutes provided in the plan can be very expensive.

DVDs – Buying DVDs is something we all do but renting them can work out cheaper.  Even if you buy a couple of DVDs every month, renting will be cheaper, as there are many rentals offering them at around $9 or so a month.  If you want to go to the movies, try and do that when there are promotions running.  Just a little control can take you a long way in getting into the habit of saving, which will help you throughout your life.

If you can put in just a little bit of effort to bring in these lifestyle changes, you will be able to save on dining out, bars, coffee, cell phones and movies/DVDs.  Enjoy everything you have always done.  Go to the movies, use a cell phone, drink coffee, visit the bars with your friends and have drinks but still manage to save at least $200 per month.  Believe me, if you consciously try and implement these subtle changes, you will soon find that you’re not missing out on anything at all and you are not feeling deprived either.

Now, there are lots of things you can do with the savings.  Want to buy a new outfit?  Saving to buy a ring?  Need to pay for something? The options of spending that money you saved are limitless.  Go out and enjoy – while you save.

If you think economics and CIA are poles apart, you cannot be more wrong. Financial knowledge is a must for the CIA, especially so in the current global crisis.  Producing daily economic intelligence briefing for the president of the United States calls for a great deal of knowledge and CIA has been doing this since February, in addition to providing him with regular intelligence reports every day. This briefing is also different from the one provided to him on a daily basis by his National Economic Council.

To cater to such demands, CIA is going all out and making the most of the financial meltdown by recruiting financially literate spies – ex financial geniuses from Wall Street.

This is not the first time CIA is doing this kind of recruiting.  It has always employed economic analysts and during the Cold War period, they studied the Soviet economy to gain an understanding into how much military spending it was able to support.

“Economics, finance and business professionals – if the quest for the bottom line is just not enough for you, the CIA has a mission like no other. Join CIA’s directorate of intelligence and be a part of our global mission as an economic or financial analyst.  Make a difference in your career and for your nation,” says one radio advertisement.

CIA currently needs analysts who are completely in tune with the world’s financial markets and able to assess their impact on the United States. Governments get destabilized due to financial problems.  According to Gordon, Director of global research at the Eurasia Group, this need arises due to the global financial crisis, as it has emerged as the top national security threat facing the US.

There are two key areas of interest for the CIA; one is the assessment of how other countries respond to financial pressures and the risks they generate internally and secondly, they would like to know how terrorists, drug gangs, enemy states, such as Iran and North Korea are acting financially.

The importance of highly trained Wall Street pros cannot be undermined.  They are adept at analyzing markets, identifying appropriate investment opportunities and making deals to make money.  CIA wants to tap this potential and is using radio ads to ask them to consider using their invaluable experience for the benefit of national security.

CIA is at an advantage to attract the best of the talent from Wall Street due to the current job scenario.  A spokesman for recruitment and retention at the CIA, Ron Patrick, said that they have received hundreds of resumes from applicants this year, including students and laid-off bankers from Wall Street.  Patrick said “It’s going to be a very different use of their skill set than perhaps they’ve used on Wall Street.”

There are ex-investment bankers from Wall Street who are already working for the CIA.  One of them says, “There’s no question that an understanding of the global financial system and how money moves from place to place and sort of the economic motivations of the bad guys that we look at are all important skills that I’ve been able to transfer from investment banking.”

All applicants will have to go through a battery of checks, which includes a lie-detector test, rigorous medical and background checks.  The applicants will have to show that they are motivated by service to the nation and not just to their wallet.

Starting salaries are certainly not comparable to the high pay of Wall Street and are expected to be between $60,000 for a fresh graduate and $100,000 for an experienced person.  They can reach as high as $160,000.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in CIA careers and the proof lies in the resumes they received this year, which is the most they ever received.   With thousands of young professionals looking for new jobs, this recruitment may prove to be much more than what they have been looking for, providing them the opportunity to serve the nation while earning a decent pay; in spite of it not being what they were paid at Wall Street. These are perfect jobs for people who have a passion for the country and want to make a difference.  That is the kind of person CIA is looking for!

The mass media forms the image of the world for us and tell us what to think about that image. Essentially, everything we know comes to us via our newspapers, magazines, radio or television. The manipulating techniques of media masters come across in the way some items are played down while some others are emphasized by their choice of words, tone of voice, facial expressions, headlines and the choice of illustrations – all these things subliminally and subtly affect the way we interpret what we see or hear.

The overall revenue of the top ten media, entertainment and communications companies rose to a whopping $59.9 billion and this huge increase from the previous years is attributed to the strong demand for digital services, acquisitions, operating efficiencies and favorable exchange rates. Another interesting factor to note is that the media is largely dominated by Jews.

Who are these powerful media Moguls that mould American minds?

Time Warner

Media Giant, Time Warner with $46.48 billion in revenue is the largest media conglomerate and was founded by Jewish Warner brothers in the last century. It was formerly three companies: Warner Communications, Inc, Time Inc. and America Online, Inc. The Time-Warner merger took place in 1990.

The company reached this stage when it was bought by America Online for $160 billion in 2000. AOL is the largest internet service provider in the world with more than 34 million U.S. subscribers and Time Warner was the second largest of the international media companies when it merged. The combined company’s revenue was $39.5 billion in 2003. With this merger, Gerald Levin, a Jew, became the CEO and Steve Case, a Gentile, became the chairman for AOL-Time Warner. Then AOL went into losses, and the name AOL was dropped in 2003 and Richard Parsons replaced Steve Case.

Another well-known merger was with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in 1996. Later, Turner of Turner Broadcasting said about the merger, “I thought I was buying Time Warner, but they were buying me. We had kind of a difference in viewpoint. Then they merged with AOL, and that was a complete disaster, at least so far. I have lost 85 percent of my wealth.”

In spite of several such hiccups, Time Warner emerged successful and is now at the very top of media companies. It will be launching a trial of “TV Everywhere” very soon, which will allow its subscribers to access content on mobile devices and PCs.

News Corporation

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation owns Fox Television Network, Fox News, the FX Channel, 20th Century Fox Films, Fox 2000, and publisher Harper Collins. News Corp. is one of the largest mega media corporations in the nation, with revenue of approximately $32.9 billion. Almost 70% of its sales come from its US businesses. Initially incorporated in South Australia, News Corporation was re-incorporated in Delaware in 2004. For the first time ever, media mogul, Rupert Murdoch has been overtaken by his son, James, in the list of the most popular figures in British media.

However, Murdoch’s stance on charging for online news content access, in an attempt to keep newspapers profitable, what with the falling ad revenues and subscriptions, has been met with sharp criticism from various quarters, including the blogging community who advocate free content availability.

Walt Disney Co.

The Walt Disney Company with revenue of $37.8 billion is a large media conglomerate, founded on October 16, 1923 by the Disney brothers, Walt and Roy Disney. Initially, it was started as a simple animation studio but went on to become one of the biggest Hollywood studios. Led by CEO Robert Eiger, it now includes several television production companies, cable networks, motion pictures and theme parks.

Earlier, when the company was run by the Disney family before the takeover by Eisner in 1984, it epitomized wholesome family entertainment, like Snow White. After its takeover, there has been a shift towards a great deal of “adult” material.

Disney’s practices have prompted action from several religious welfare groups from around the world. For example, their productions, Priest and Dogma were embroiled in huge controversies over offensive material. Films such as The Lion King, Aladdin and a few others attracted attention as they were said to contain subliminal messages.

In spite of all the controversies, the Walt Disney Company continues to grow at a wonderful pace.

Comcast Corp.

The nation’s largest cable provider for broadband cable networks is founded by Ralph J. Roberts, Julian A. Brodsky and Daniel Aaron in 1963. With current revenue of $30.8 billion, this has been a success story ever since its inception. The company now has more than 24 million cable customers, about 15 million high-speed internet customers and 6.5 million voice customers.

Comcast manages to retain consumers through the increases in prices, by offering flexibility with a number of choices. Comcast is not just a cable service provider, it also produces content, and owns E! Entertainment Television, ten Comcast Sportsnet networks, e-newsletter Daily Candy and the Golf Channel, and CEO, Brian Roberts says they are planning on growing the content business.

Google

Operating from Googleplex, their headquarters in California, Google have achieved the feat of being the most valuable media company, topping the list for brand value, at $100 billion, and boasts of revenue of $21.7 billion. It was co-founded by Larry Page and Sergey Bin in 1998 when they were both students at Stanford University. From the humble beginnings to having more than 20 thousand employees is worthy of praise. The company’s revenue comes from advertising related to internet search, online mapping, email, social networking and video sharing services. A recent study revealed that Google accounted for 72.74% of all US searches in a 4-week period, which speaks for the huge popularity it enjoys. In a landmark agreement, Google and Fox Interactive Media of News Corp. entered into an agreement of US$900 million, to provide search and advertising on MySpace.

DirecTV Group

DirecTV Group, which was earlier Hughes Electronics, with $4.9 billion revenue, is one of the leading providers of direct broadcast satellite television to US customers in businesses and homes. It is also a provider of multichannel video programming distribution in the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies not only in the United States but also in Mexico, Brazil and other countries in Latin America, the company provides digital television service to more than 18 million customers in the United States and about 5.8 million customers in Latin America. The company also extends its services to providing high definition (HD) local channels and national television channels to some markets. With its headquarters in El Segundo, California and with more than 11,000 employees, the company is going places.

Dish Network Corp.

This company was founded by Charlie Ergen and began its operations as a service of EchoStar, and then went on to launch its very own satellite in 1995. It then established its brand name, Dish Network to start marketing its home satellite. EchoStar, in 2008, divided into two different businesses, EchoStar Broadcasting Corporation and Dish Network Corporation. Dish Network, which is the larger company, concentrates on US-based marketing of satellite television and EchoStar takes care of the satellite fleet and other signal infrastructure. Its main rival today is DirecTV Group but the company has gained recognition as being the best.

CBS Corp.

CBS Corporation is a mass media company with operations in the United States and internationally. It operates the CBS Television Network and about 40 broadcast television stations and 15 of the top 20 US markets, including 21 stations owned and operated by CBS. The CEO is Leslie Moonves and Chairman, Sumner Redstone, is the owner of National Amusements and a majority shareholder. CBS was formed in 2005, when the old Viacom split into two different companies; New Viacom and CBS Corp.

In 1985, when Ted Turner made a bid to buy CBS, there was panic in the media boardrooms all over the country. Turner was a Gentile (a term used to refer to non-Jews) and although, he never showed any resentment towards Jews, he was regarded by the Jews at CBS as someone who might turn against them in the future. To spoil Turner’s bid, executives at CBS invited Laurence Tisch, a Jewish billionaire, for a friendly takeover of CBS. For almost ten years from 1986, Tisch was the chairman and CEO of CBS, until finally 20 percent of CBS stock was owned by Time Warner.

Even with so much going on behind the scenes, for almost 50 years, CBS has been shaping broadcast media and has experienced tremendous growth over the years, with current revenue of 13.9 billion. It has established itself as one of the leading media companies.

Omnicom

More than twenty years ago, in 1986, the merger of powerhouse BBDO and DDB Needham advertising agency networks shook the advertising world. This merger is also referred to as the “Big-Bang” merger.
Under the leadership of CEO John Wren, Omnicom has become the number one holding company in the world today. As a world leader in global marketing and corporate communications holding company, Omnicom’s major holdings include DDB Worldwide, BBDO, TBWA Worldwide advertising agency networks. It is the biggest player in nontraditional marketing, from public relations, healthcare marketing and sales promotion to new disciplines such as interactive marketing and media buying services.

Given Omnicom’s track record of awards, it is no surprise that it stands as a top media company and it is safe to bet that it will be on top of whatever the new wave of media brings.

Viacom

Viacom, headed by Sumner Redstone, a Jew, is one of the top ten media companies. Viacom produces and distributes TV programs for three largest networks, owns 39 television stations, owns 185 radio stations in the Infinity radio group, as well as having more than 1,500 affiliated stations through the CBS Radio Network. Viacom also produces feature films through Paramount Pictures.

This company was formed in 1971, and its chief claim to fame is as the world’s largest provider of cable programming through its MTV, Showtime, Black Entertainment Television, Nickelodeon and other networks. As we all know, MTV dominates the television market for viewers between the ages of 12 and 24. Viacom is the largest outdoor advertising (bill boards) entity in the United States and also owns Country Music television and Nashville Network cable channel. It is also involved in satellite broadcasting, video games and theme parks.

There is no greater power in this world today than mass media of news and entertainment, which is the power that shapes every citizen, irrespective of caste or creed; rich or poor.

With the economy the way it is, there are so many of us who have been laid off and trying to find an alternative employment, and trying to make ends meet. If you are one of those even remotely thinking of or interested in working from the comfort of your home, you will be excited to learn of the number of opportunities that exist.

Being laid off is no longer one of life’s injustices – who knows it could just be a blessing in disguise.

In spite of the scams that exist online in the name of work-at-home opportunities, there do exist legitimate wage-earning telecommuting jobs, which is what most people want to get into. Many of these jobs are in the fields of virtual assistance and customer service and some of them even offer limited benefits in the form of withholding taxes or sending out 1099 forms.

In spite of these jobs being genuine, they don’t pay very well and they are hard work. In most cases, you will have to get your own equipment and spend for electricity, and these expenses are not reimbursed. In fact, the hourly wages are not competitive enough. However, this works out for some people and if you are one of them, sure go ahead.

But frankly, if you want to work from home, you don’t really need a job, all you need is an idea and the willingness to try it out. Starting a service based home business is easier than most people realize and can be done without any investment. All you need to do is find a few good clients, get paid and share your income with Uncle Sam – as simple as that.

Here are ten home-based businesses that are very easy to start:

Web Designer – Every small business owner knows the importance of having a web presence but many have no clue how to go about setting up a website. Web sdesigners earn thousands of dollars and you can too, if you have the skill. You can offer your services through your own website or through any of the freelance sites online. This can earn you some good money.

Freelance Writer – Lots of online content is outsourced. If you have a passion for writing, you can pick up several writing jobs online. Sites like www.guru.com, www.elance.com or www.odesk.com are just a few of the freelance sites. Many writers earn a full-fledged income just following their love for writing.

Local Travel Guide – If you happen to live in a tourist location or if you are good at hiking fishing or hunting, you can offer your services as a guide and pursue your hobby while earning money. One of the most popular are walking tours in historic places and you need nothing to get started, except of course your eagerness and some knowledge.

Dog Walking or Pet Sitting – Your love for animals can be translated into a profession. You will have to find good clients and show that you care for their pets, and you will have pet owners falling all over themselves to get you to help them.

Personal Assistant – You can offer your services to run errands for professionals or families, who have no time to take care of things. These tasks can be anything from making travel arrangements, shopping, paying bills, party arrangements etc.

Teacher – Are you great with a piano? What about math? English or some foreign language? Teach people how to do what you are good at and earn money by doing so. You can make as much as $30 for a half-hour session, and if you spend about 4 or 5 hours a day, just imagine the kind of money you could be making.

Cook – If you are interested in or have a talent for cooking delectable food, then you might as well become a chef. There is no investment as you are not going to buy anything, as the kitchens you cook in belong to your clients. Many personal chefs cook for an entire week, label the meals and freeze them. You can take up a few clients this way.

Gardener – Organic vegetables are gaining popularity and you can take advantage of this. Even if you don’t want to install and maintain your own garden, which may require some work, you can always do that for others. To find clients, you can have your business card posted at the local garden centers.

Event Planner – Weddings, parties and celebrations of all sorts need a great deal of planning and people who can afford it, hire out these jobs to specialists. You can be the go-to-person who takes care of everything related to major events and if your clients are satisfied, your name will spread like wild fire through word-of-mouth and you will end up with more work than you can handle.

Baby Sitting – This is something that has been around for a long time but there is always the need for more babysitters, with people getting busier. If you love kids and have the time to take care of them, this could be perfect for you. The rich are willing to pay any price to find a good and honest person to look after their children while they are away. Land yourself some rich clients, and your life is made.

There is really no need to work for others, when you can earn a high hourly wage doing what you love. I don’t say this is going to be any easier, as there are all sort of clients and some weeks, you may be having more work than can be handled, but it is still worth it for the great rewards. You can double or even triple your hourly wages you earn at your job. You also get to meet a lot of interesting people and improve your connections, which could come in handy. And the best part is that you can “fire” your clients, if you are not happy.