Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for December was 5.3 percent, up 0.4 percentage point from November. In 2006 the December unemployment rate was 4.9 percent. The national unemployment rate for December 2007 was 5.0 percent, up from the November national rate of 4.7 percent.
“Tennessee’s unemployment rate experienced a notable increase from November to December, consistent with what’s happening across the nation,” said Commissioner Neeley. “We see this as a result of a slowdown in employment growth in the overall economy in Tennessee and the nation.”
November-to-December gains were seasonal, with retail trade increasing by 4,200; professional and business services employment increased 1,300; and transportation and warehousing jobs increased 1,100. Month-to-month declines included accommodation and food services employment, down 1,100. Employment in state government educational services was down 900 jobs, and machinery manufacturing lost 600 jobs from November.
Over-the-year increases led with gains of 8,000 jobs in leisure and hospitality. Educational and health services employment increased by 7,100; and construction jobs were up 7,000. Manufacturing jobs were down from a year ago with employment decreasing by 7,400; professional and business services employment lost 1,800 jobs and clothing and accessories stores declined by 1,600.
Think a pink slip could be headed in your direction? Most people who are let go know their time is up or (in retrospect) say they should have seen it coming. While there are no sure signs of professional apocalypse, here are 12 clues your job may be in peril:
1. You're Out of the Loop. You no longer get advanced notice of company news or reports; and you seem to be losing your voice in organizational matters. You are not copied on memos you normally receive or invited to meetings you usually attend.
2. Your Boss Has an Eye on You. You feel as if you're being scrutinized more closely and that your boss no longer trusts you. Your decisions are constantly questioned, your expense reports put under a microscope, and you have less latitude to work independently.
3. You're Getting the Siberia Treatment. You used to know all the scoop -- be it business or social in nature. Now your co-workers avoid you and the last conversation you had with your superiors was a lame attempt at pleasant banter.
4. You Had a Bad Review. You received a poor performance rating and a disproportionate amount of negative feedback. If you received a warning or were given a "performance improvement plan," it's really time to start packing!
5. Your Superior is Leaving Paper Trails. Your boss communicates with you predominately in writing. You receive memos pointing out errors, criticizing your performance and confirming any meetings or discussions the two of you have had.
6. You and Your Boss Are Not Getting Along. Corporate management will swear it's not personal, yet many downsizings are actually ways to get rid of unpopular or "black-listed" employees. Performance is a subjective judgment and managers are more likely to get rid of people they don't like.
7. Your Mentor is Gone. The executive who always championed you has left the company or been rendered powerless.
8. You Publicly Messed Up. You made a blatant error that embarrassed your boss or made the company look bad. Or, you're part of a team that goofed up and they need a scapegoat.
9. New Blood Has Taken Over. Your company is about to merge, be acquired or undergo reorganization and your leader suddenly disappears. New hires have become the wave of the future and they've been given the directive to "shake things up."
10. You're Being Set Up to Fail. You've been assigned to an undesirable territory or given impossible tasks with unrealistic deadlines and little support.
11. You've Been Stripped of Your Duties. You've been asked to compile a report of all your ongoing projects and pushed hard to finish one or two specific projects. Or, you've been relieved of your core duties so that you can work on meaningless "special projects." You are encouraged not to do your usual long-term planning.
12. You're Hearing Rumors. If you're hearing rumors of your demise, take heed: Where there's smoke, there's fire!
At one point or another we're all vulnerable to the proverbial corporate ax. Don't live in denial. If you recognize more than one of these signs, it's time to look for greener pastures and take steps to reverse your fate.
Most Dangerous Object in the Office: The CO2-Fueled Twister 325 Air Cannon
Topic: Miscellaneous
1:30 pm EST, Jan 19, 2008
This is the infernal machine that killed poor Maude Flanders on The Simpsons. It also destroyed a hallway light in the Wired office and the left buttock of one of our gadget guys. Like its smaller, paintball-projecting cousin, the Twister 325 Air Cannon generates thrust from compressed carbon dioxide. (Screw those canisters on tight when you reload, kids!) But unlike paintball guns, an air cannon will shoot just about anything you can fit in the barrel. Shrink-wrapped T-shirts are only the beginning! Step 1: Choose your projectile (we like snowballs, cash, or kittens). Step 2: Climb onto your roof. Step 3: Say hello to my little friend!
What's Inside: PowerBar Protein Plus (Laxatives, of Course)
Topic: Health and Wellness
1:29 pm EST, Jan 19, 2008
Whey protein isolate Globular proteins left over from cheese making, minus the fats and sugars. The main protein, beta-lactoglobulin, is an especially good source of amino acids for building other proteins.
Calcium caseinate Legend had it that casein can worsen autism due to the protein's alleged opiate-like effects on the brain. But a 2006 study showed no significant connection. So don't blame PowerBar for your Asperger's, nerdlinger.
Soy protein isolate High intake of soy protein has been linked to lower rates of coronary heart disease. But manly men seeking to sculpt their musculature may not like the fact that it's rich in phytoestrogens (girlie hormones). Cooties!
Chocolatey coating Why the y? Anything sold as "chocolate" can contain only one type of added fat — cocoa butter. PowerBars use fractionated palm kernel oil instead, which is about as healthy as Elmer's Glue-All.
High fructose corn syrup This ingredient is everywhere, even in so-called health foods. In 2006, Americans consumed 58 pounds of this sweetener per capita, up nearly 50 pounds in 30 years.
Glycerin The bar's chewy texture is due in part to this sugar alcohol, which moonlights as a food moisturizer.
Maltitol syrup Another sugar alcohol and probable sweetener, but one that the body absorbs super slowly. Besides gas and bloating, maltitol can produce a laxative effect so powerful that Australia and New Zealand require a warning label on foods that contain it.
Oat fiber Oat fiber helps lower cholesterol by fermenting into the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which can limit the release of lipids from the small intestine.
Calcium phosphate This supposed performance enhancer (which is essentially powdered bone) is also used to polish teeth and build hard-tissue prosthetics.
Copper gluconate In theory, a copper deficiency can lead to anemia and neurological disorders (though such problems are usually found only in people who have been kept alive via intravenous feeding or in babies fed nothing but cow's milk). So copper gluconate sounds healthy. Too bad a 1985 study showed zero effects from adding it to the diet.
Pantothenic acid (calcium pantothenate) Better known as vitamin B5, pantothenic acid is necessary for the digestion of sugars, proteins, and fats. Handily, it's found widely in foods — plants, animals, and all PowerBar Protein Pluses.
Vitamin B6 B6 is essential for the synthesis of neurotransmitters like epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. But don't binge, new moms: Too much can stop lactation.
The Things That Suck Air travel Batteries Booze Car alarms Credit cards Customer service DVD sound Evite Fuel economy Hearing aids Infertility treatments Junk mail Knees and backs Medical records Office copiers Plastic packaging Prescription drugs Printer cartridges Radio Roads Robots Science Spam filters Subscription cards Teleconferencing Ticket purchasing Tomatoes Traffic Vending machines Web video Whiteboards Wireless speakers
CES Video Highlights: Bug Labs Lets You Build Your Own Gadget
Topic: Technology
1:08 pm EST, Jan 19, 2008
Even though they had a tiny booth at CES, Bug Labs seemed to strike a nerve. In addition to winning CNET's Best of CES Award for emerging technologies, the Bug team excited the crowd with the promise of one gadget to replace the ever increasing menagerie of devices on exhibit elsewhere at the show. Steven Cherry has already discussed why open source hardware is so revolutionary, but its best to just see the Bug for yourself. We talked first to Mehrshad Mansouri, who gave an overview of the device and showed off some of its initial possibilities:
Next up was Bug Labs' Jeremy Toeman, who explained how the bug base, modules, and software actually work together, and what sort of engineering challenges faced the team:
This site is the on-line companion to the book Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students, by Ellen Lupton (Princeton Architectural Press, 2004).
why we are on the design topic... good info here...
The laptop computer hard drives stolen from the Davidson County Election Commission office are in the hands of Metro police.
It doesn't appear that sensitive information was accessed, police reported.
Investigators found the computer hardware at The Muse, a club in the 800 block of Fourth Avenue South. The business features concerts, tattoos and an exercise studio.
Tax records show that an investor group owns the building.
Police said 45-year-old Robert Osbourne admitted to selling the computers at the business for cash.
Metro's Code Enforcement department shut down the building Thursday due to violations.
Metro police said other parts of the stolen computers were found at a home in Goodlettsville.
I have recently finished a demo of my playing and as a gift to all my friends I am giving it away! www.myspace.com/zanderwyatt I only ask that you provide any comments you may have and if you like it please share it with your friends. As of now there are four tracks available and there is one left (my favorite) that will be up soon. Thanks to all! Zander Wyatt
Great music from Zander Wyatt! Get it why you can... and YES Nashville does have talent...
