Generation B – Time, It Turns Out, Isn’t on Their Side – NYTimes.com
Business Trends
Another View of the War in Mexico
I’ll be in San Antonio for the annual AHOU meeting.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the city has changed since my last visit.
Who’s creating US jobs? Mexicans. / The Christian Science Monitor – CSMonitor.com
“In fiscal year 2008, the US issued E-1 and E-2 visas to 1901 Mexicans and their families, nearly three times the level of a decade before. “
Where are all of these Mexican immigrant investors going? San Antonio!
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Chapter 11 Proceedings Examiner’s Report
Examiner’s Report – Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Chapter 11 Proceedings
The Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Chapter 11 Proceedings Examiner’s Report can accessed through the link above.
While not exactly insurance or underwriting related I’m posting a link as a public service for readers who may be interested in downloading and reading some, or all, of this report.
Remote Work – Who Are Those Guys?
What are the Top 10 nations for online workers? / The Christian Science Monitor – CSMonitor.com
And the fastest-growing major economy for freelance work?
The United States. “We’re seeing a huge number of Americans come online,” says Brian Goler, vice president of marketing for oDesk. “More and more people are working this way.”
Perhaps they have to because of the economic downturn. Perhaps they want to.
Outsourcing v. Permanent Hires
Calculated Risk: Diffusion Index and Temporary Help
The thinking is that before companies hire permanent employees following a recession, employers will first increase the hours worked of current employees and also hire temporary employees. Since the number of temporary workers increased sharply, some people think this might be signaling the beginning of an employment recovery.
However, there has been some evidence of a shift by employers to more temporary workers, and the saying may become “We are all temporary now!”, so use this increase with caution. For more, including some cautionary comments from a BLS economist on using temporary help, see Tom Abate’s article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The problem, of course, is the fact that temps and perma-temps are the first to be terminated at the beginning of a business cycle downturn and the first to be hired when the cycle turns back upwards. If you’re a temp, that is. Read the entire SF Chronicle article. It’s a good, short read.
(Remote) Underwriting Position in Australia
I found the following on LinkedIn:
Senior Life Underwriter required for Melbourne. Overseas applicants are of specific interest especially from the UK. Relocation package available. Contact Ken Roberts at Darwin Rhodes in Sydney.
Not a “remote” position as in telecommuting. Relocation is available though.
The Contraction of the Consumer
An Update On Consumer Frugality: Americans Staying Home More, Reading Books | zero hedge
While people did spend more on luxury items and things to help them improve their mood during these tumultuous times, there was still very much a frugal ‘stay at home’ cocooning theme in the spending report.
Staying home, reading books. Sounds like my life in a nutshell.
How Do You Get Your News?
Social Networks Play a Major Part in How We Get News [STATS]
I use Bloglines as my RSS aggregator and this blog to highlight and pass along articles of interest. My posts also appear on my Plaxo and LinkedIn pages. Tweets and retweets are delivered to a small band of followers and on my LinkedIn page.
It’s a wonder how I get any work done.
Scary Chart of the Day – 2/28/10
Health Insurance for Freelancers
This is an interesting development in the world of temporary and contract workers. Bear in mind, once you become a W-2 that changes the composition of your business as a self-employed individual. Examine the pluses and minuses before making a switch like this.
Outsourcing Firm’s Latest Offering: Health Insurance – BusinessWeek
lifeunderwriter.net 
You must be logged in to post a comment.