Unfortunately, not every Westerner immigrant succeeds in
adapting to a totally new life in Israel. Many of those who have
made abortive Aliya attempts come back to the West and tell horror
stories that scare away anyone other than the lion-hearted who long
for Zion no matter what. Without delving into specific common
complaints - which is not our focus in this article - we still must
ask ourselves, "Why is Aliya so tough?"
The Gemara answers simply, "Three things come with difficulty -
Torah, a place in the World to Come, and the Land of Israel." All
three intrinsically require sweat, blood and tears. That's a good
explanation for the brain, but the heart needs something more.
Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (1730-1788) was one of the
prominent disciples of Rebbe Dovber, the Maggid of Mezeritch. Rebbe
Menachem Mendel, together with Rebbe Avraham Kalisker, spearheaded
the "Chassidic Aliya" in the latter part of the 18th Century, when
some 300 Chassidim from Russia and the Ukraine settled in Tzfat and
in Tiberias. There challenges were indescribable, for they were
forced to deal with poverty, hostile neighbors and disease. Yet,
their faith was so strong that they held on.
Rebbe Menachem Mendel minced no words: once in Israel, he wrote a
letter to his followers who still lived outside of Israel. Among
other things, he wrote: "Be aware that many transformations and
developments will occur with every person who comes to the Land
until they are established there." He explains that Hashemwants a
person to love the Land of Israel, so much so that he must refine
himself to the following three levels:
1. He should be able to find even the stones and dust of Israel
pleasing;
2. He should even cherish the ruins of Israel;
3. He should be satisfied with a modest sustenance in Israel.
In point 3, Rebbe Menachem Mendel is telling his followers that if
they want to succeed in Israel, they must strengthen their emuna,
since emuna essentially is being satisfied with one's lot in life.
A person who is looking to live an American or Western lifestyle in
Israel won't be able to refine himself to the degree where he truly
loves the Land of Israel. Since the Land of Israel is rich on
spirituality but limited in material amenities, the westerner who
desires to perpetuate his western lifestyle will most surely be
unsatisfied.
In addition, says the Rebbe, the Land of Israel "is not for
thin-skinned people...it takes many years until the days of
absorption are over and the newcomers live an integrated life." So,
Israel requires loads of patience. Those who seek the path of least
resistance won't find it in Aliya.
Moreover, Rebbe Menachem Mendel adds, "Whoever approaches the
holiness of the Land must begin life anew." The level of holiness in
the Land of Israel is much higher than outside, and a soul that
comes here is like a reborn soul, which must start from scratch in
building emuna and spiritual strength. An old parable about life in
the Holy Land says that one's behavior in the king's palace must be
much more refined than behavior in the cowshed. Accordingly, the
Rebbe explains that one's acquired character traits from abroad are
not necessarily compatible for the Holy Land. A person must go
through a process of spiritual refinement, to the extent that he
might feel that his brain is torn and shattered and he has no place
to rest. But, Hashem is doing all of this for the best, by helping
the new immigrant to be spiritually worthy of the Land.
The inner holiness of the Land of Israel doesn't come cheap; we
certainly don't acquire it for free.
Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman of saintly and martyred memory says that
the Land of Israel is the best place in the world for a person who
seeks to get close to Hashem, but the worst place in the world for
one who doesn't observe the Torah.
Successful Aliya requires preparation, and the best preparation is
prayer, the more the better. May we soon see a massive Aliya,
redemption and the ingathering of all our exiles, soon and in our
time, amen!
Working and living in a foreign country can be overwhelming -
even shocking. This phenomenon of 'culture shock' is somewhat
inevitable for expats, and while there might be ways to decrease
the unpleasantness of the experience, it is something that happens
to everyone, everywhere, and to varying degrees. Most experts
believe that culture shock is related to one’s preparation for the
changes they will face (their prior experience and knowledge of
them), as well as their perception of them 'in reality' (their
open-mindedness, their interest in the foreign culture, and the
judgements they make). The effects of culture shock are also
influenced by one’s awareness of culture shock itself, and the
process one might go through. There are four stages of culture
shock that expats go through, including the honeymoon phase, the
irritation-to-anger stage, the rejection of the culture stage, and
the cultural adjustment phase.
1. Honeymoon
The honeymoon stage includes a phase of bliss and excitement from
experiencing new people and places. As a new immigrant, I had
traveled to Israel countless times before I moved here. But the
sense of exhilaration was undeniable during the first few months.
Everyday life was an adventure. Using public transportation was a
mission for the day, and getting lost was the thrill. Israelis can
seem a bit tough and distant, but they will drop everything to
help if you are lost or have a question. If I met Israelis on the
street and they learned that I was a new immigrant, conversations
were always incredibly encouraging, and would always lead to how
they can help with my transition. Meeting Israelis was also
exciting. They were always happy to speak English, and never quick
to judge my pathetic attempts at Hebrew. Conversations seemed more
direct and free, without a code of behavior. Boundaries felt
limitless and connections seemed solid, honest, and genuine. The
food was incredible. Fresh fruit and vegetables were a delight,
especially because a cucumber tasted like a cucumber (rather than
rubber), and the variety of fruit is endless. The dairy is
phenomenal, especially the cottage cheese. The fresh Mediterranean
diet was extraordinary. Culturally, the combination of so many
different cultures and religions living amongst each other is
incredible. I could hear 10 different languages on the streets of
Tel Aviv in a day. And in Jerusalem, I could see a fully covered
Muslim women standing next to a Jewish women, buying the same
groceries at the market. It was amazing to witness.
2. Irritation to Anger
After a few months of bliss, I started to study Hebrew and look
for a job. And then it hit me - “the irritation-to-anger stage.”
Instead of viewing Israelis as nice and warm people, I found them
aggressive and rude. Things seemed inefficient, unlike my
well-organised and effective American way of life. I took the
train every morning, which I used to think as an adventure and
relaxing. But then I became annoyed and frustrated, feeling as if
Israelis were worse than New Yorkers on the subway. People rushed
to steal the only available seat, while I watched in rage and had
to stand for the duration of the train. The train was no longer
exciting, it was annoying! I was learning Hebrew, but I was
realising how little I actually knew. The demands and expectations
for me to be able to explain myself and understand Hebrew were
increasing. So, I began to avoid situations where I needed Hebrew.
I would make my husband answer the phone or go to the store. I
didn’t want to be in big groups, where only Hebrew was being
spoken. I am not normally the quiet one, but I became a good
listener and observer (I actually became an expert on pretending
to understand a conversation, when actually not understanding a
thing!). I became annoyed and avoided situations where I needed to
use Hebrew.
3. Rejection
After a few months of growing frustration, loneliness, and
anxiousness, the rejection stage of culture shock began. I became
incredibly frustrated and quite bitter. I no longer waited
patiently for others to board the train and find their seats; I
was throwing elbows and pushing people in order to get a seat. Why
should they sit and I shouldn’t? Driving in Israel is also an
experience. It can be a bit dangerous if you are not accustomed to
it. I found it exciting when I first began driving here, as it was
unbelievable and surprising how people drove. However, after six
months of dealing with Israelis on the road, I had had enough.
Using one's indicator is the law; however, it won’t get you
anywhere. Most people won’t let you in and many people drive as if
there is no one else on the road. It was shocking to see Israelis
on the road, and eventually just appalling. And if the driving
attitude wasn’t enough, the endless traffic can put you over the
edge. What should be a 15-minute drive can sometimes take over an
hour. My negative attitude about Israel didn’t stop with the
traffic and train problems. I found the food boring and limited. I
found the people imposing and aggressive. One day, I was in the
supermarket with my sister and her new baby. A woman came to us
and gave us some advice about how to care for the baby. A few
months before, I would have regarded this action as incredibly
thoughtful and warm. However, at this point, I judged her as
obnoxious and pushy, and I asked my sister sarcastically, 'Did we
ask for advice?' I found myself no longer trying to avoid
situations, but rather, looking for situations to judge Israelis'
differences, and to defend my own culture and habits.
4. Adjustment
And then FINALLY, I reached the adjustment phase. This phase is
actually about understanding and embracing the new culture. It is
about adapting from one’s previous lifestyle to one’s new culture.
For me, this phase occurred only when I grew aware of my actual
experience; when I could identify my withdrawal and my anger, and
could choose to deal with it accordingly. I decided I could get
incredibly angry and become a jerk on the road, or I could take a
breath, drive carefully, and get home when I get home. I could be
thankful when there was a seat on the train and be patient when
there was not. I could identify aggression and avoid that
behavior, and appreciate others’ sincerity and concern. Most of
all, I grew to understand the bottom line: things are different -
for better or for worse! The process of culture shock is dynamic
and ongoing. What I struggled with upon arrival will reappear. And
my coping mechanisms will change as I change. A few suggestions on
how to deal with culture shock: Educate yourself on the culture -
read, watch movies, talk to people Focus on what is controllable -
focus on yourself! We can’t change the whole world, but we can
change our own behaviour and attitude Pick your battles - some
situations are less significant than they seem. Focus your energy
on what is significant! Ask for help - ask other expats who have
been in your situation Keep in touch with family and friends
abroad - balance your 'worlds', as they are both important
Remember that all changes are learning experiences. Nothing is
permanent and everything changes. Below is a list of other notable
differences in Israeli culture. Of course, this list is consists
of generalisations and is only provided as an attempt to lessen
the 'shock' of culture shock. Cultures are innately different, but
being aware of these differences may help the shock of the
experience, and make it a more enjoyable and exciting challenge.
More relationship-oriented rather than rule-oriented (openness and
bluntness is priority). In a business environment and depending on
the company, rules can be somewhat ambiguous and less structured
Compared to other cultures, Israeli’s manner of speech and
interpersonal relations are less formal; Israel is much less
hierarchical than other cultures (easier access to top leadership)
Expression of opinions is highly valued - Israelis can be more
assertive and spontaneous about their point-of-views and opinions,
and this can be considered 'pushy'. Conflict avoidance is less
popular among Israelis; they tend to confront differences, in
order to resolve them using direct communication styles.
Whenever I have questions about how to
translate it, where to buy it or how to prepare it, I find the
people in my circle of olim incredibly helpful.
When I asked fellow olim to share their tips for food shopping in
Israel, I was overwhelmed with hundreds of Facebook messages and
emails. I went to work, culling the duplications, deleting the
personal opinions (unless they were mine) and dividing the
responses into information about specific food items and
miscellaneous tips about food shopping in general. This took many,
many hours more than I intended, but there's some really quality
(and money-saving) information here.There is nothing about this
post that pretends to be scientific or comprehensive. It's
information that a very giving group of olim thought to share. I
did my best to organize it. In some cases, Hebrew names are
transliterated and in some case they are spelled in Hebrew
letters. It depends on how I received the information.
My deep thanks to the members of the anglo olim community who
responded so generously.
And now, here are some things we have learned along the way that
might make things easier for you, whether you've yet to make
aliyah or have already been living here for some time. Naturally,
I take full responsibility for any errors.
SPECIFIC FOOD ITEMS
Apple sauce: Canned resek tapuchim is
not actually apple sauce. It has pits and skin. It can be
used for baking.
Bakingpowder: Avkat afiya
(אבקת אפיה) is baking powder, but it often says it in English as
well.
Some advise importing baking powder. Sold in little packets,
usually 10 per cellophane wrapper. One packet is about one scant
Tbs.
Baking soda: Soda leshtiya (drinking soda) is
baking soda. It comes in little blue boxes next to the
vanilla sugar. You can also find baking soda in decent-sized
plastic containers (clear plastic, like the spice jars). It is
sometimes labeled as Sodium Bicarbonate in English.
Bananas:
It took me awhile to get used to Israeli
bananas. They are slightly different. Although bananas are
generally available year round, summer bananas often go from green
to overripe without an edible stage in between. Winter bananas are
much better. Also, Israeli bananas may look more brown and bruised
than you're used to on the outside and still be perfect inside.
Bread:
There is great bread in Israel, but it's not always possible to find an exact duplicate
for what you are used to. There are
a couple of brands of packaged, lower calorie breads that are
widely available. There is no such thing as white bread in Israel.
The closest is called לחם אחיד, a government subsidized
light rye. · There is
also a government subsidized challah. It's very plain and very
inexpensive. · Real
Jewish rye bread is almost impossible to find unless you go to a
special boutique like bakery such as Teller in Machane Yehudah
(the shuk) in Jerusalem.
Bread crumbs:
Come in cellophane bags, not cardboard canisters.
Broccoli:
I had to forget all about the 10 oz
boxes of chopped broccoli that were a staple in my American
kitchen. I buy the 800 gram bags from the freezer case and I
learned to slice the florets into smaller pieces for quiches and
soups. I tried kitchen shears but a sharp knife on mostly
defrosted florets works best. I've seen the price range by brand
from 13 NIS to 40 NIS for the same amount of frozen broccoli.
Bodek brand is available here but it's the highest priced.
Brussel sprouts: Frozen only. Imported. Not
widely available.
Buttermilk: Rivion is the closest substitute, but
you can often substitute with gil or leben. Or use milk and a bit
of lemon juice.
Chicken:
· It's often
cheaper fresh than frozen.
· If you buy
frozen, check the date it was frozen.
· Whole chickens
cut in quarters or eighths are not sold here.
· Buy a decent
pair of chicken shears and learn to cut up whole chickens.
· White meat is
often cheaper than dark.
· There is a
difference between chicken wings for cholent and normal ones.
Cooking cream:
· Called shemenet
l'vishul. · Comes
in 250 ml and 500 ml cardboard boxes like juice boxes.
· Comes in 23%,
15%, and 10%.
· There is also a
pareve version, though that's harder to find.
· Half and half
doesn't exist here. If you want coffee cream buy 10% cooking
cream.
Cornmeal/Cornflour/Cornstarch - "Cornflor" can be
either cornmeal (sometimes called kemach tiras and sold in the
same section of the store as beans) or cornstarch (sold in the
baking aisle).
Cheese:
· Lots of people
mentioned that it was scary to use to cheese counter but so worth
it. · Sliced and
grated cheese are significantly cheaper when purchased from the
cheese counters. ·
The cheese counter is also likely to have types of cheese that you
won't find in packages - like cheddar and feta.
· If it's not
crowded at the cheese counter or the cheese stand in Machane
Yehudah (the shuk), you can ask to taste different cheeses.
· You can ask at
the cheese counter to slice your cheese thin.
· Tnuva makes
cheddar but it's very very mild. Ask for something "charif yoter"
(sharper). · Many
supermarket deli counters have pre-sliced packages of popular
cheeses, such as Gilboa and Emek. This obviates the need to wait
in line and is the same cheese that you have sliced to order at
the counter. There are also pre-packaged grated cheeses, such as
mozzarella and parmesan.
· If you go to the
cheese counter and ask for a mix you get shredded scraps of
whatever's left over at the time.
· Gvina levana
(white cheese) is like soft cream cheese, with a little less tang.
· Hermon is like a
salty farmers cheese or a way less salty feta.
· Baby belle
cheeses in the red wrappers are not kosher in the US but are
kosher here. · The
cheese market in Machane Yehudah (the shuk) in Jerusalem has
amazing white cheddar cheese from England that is OU.
· Israel has lots
of other cheeses that you can't get kosher in the US.
· Tiv Tam cheese
can most closely be described as pressed cottage cheese, but it's
actually strained gvina levana. It is also used as a substitute
for Philadelphia cream cheese in cheesecake. It comes in a block
wrapped in plastic see through wrap. It spoils quickly so buy it
close to use.
Cream Cheese:
· Philadelphia is
occasionally found here, but it's expensive.
· Gvinat
shamenet which is the cream cheese sold in the rectangular
containers has a softer consistency. There is one in a black and
white speckled tub that looks like a cow pattern and spreads like
light cream cheese from the US.
· The one most
like whipped cream cheese here is Napoleon brand (gold & white
container) gvina shamenet b'signon Tzarfati and
comes in cups in a few varieties. The one with the yellow daisy is
plain. · Some
people make their own cream cheese. Take a cheese cloth and
hang Israeli 5% cream cheese over night and in the morning you
will get the cream cheese you are used to.
· Another way to
make your own cream cheese: add 1/8 teaspoon salt to shamenet and
let it strain. You are left with whipped cream cheese.
· Some use Israeli
gvina levana instead of American-style cream cheese for
cheesecake
Crembo: A marshmallow, cookie and chocolate
confection that's ubiquitous in the winter and nowhere to be found
in the summer. Comes in mocha and vanilla, in 8 and 40-packs.
Dairy products: Like milk in the US, many
dairy products in Israel come in different fat percentages. This
is true for sour cream, hard cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and,
of course, milk.
Deli:
· Pastrama is not
pastrami. It's turkey breast in different incarnations.
· Try כתף בקר as
an affordable beef cold cut.
· Pastrama cafrit
is close to American turkey bologna.
Eggs:
· There are two
dates stamped on eggs. The earlier one is the freshness date if
the eggs are unrefrigerated. The second is the freshness
date when they are kept cold.
· Egg shells are
not, ahem... pristine here. Washing them introduces bacteria into
the egg. They are, however, generally much fresher. You'll get
used to it.
Flour:
· White, whole
wheat and 70% whole wheat are widely available.
· Flour is sold by
the kilo to avoid infestation.
· Pre sifted is
very expensive. Consider buying an electric sifter.
· I have found the
texture of the flour somewhat different, requiring that I add a
bit more flour to some recipes.
Grains: Grains should not be bought in a corner
store, but rather in one with a large turnover. When buying grains
in cellophane, lift up one corner and check for webs, an
indication of infestation.
Hawaij: a Yemenite spice blend to give
soups soup/cholent/stew a rich flavor.
Herbs: Some herbs, including parsley (petrozilia),
dill (shamir) and celantro or coriander (cuzbara)
are highly perishable. Cut them up and put them in small
plastic bags and freeze. Use as needed.
Hot dogs: Israeli hot dogs are generally
chicken. Beef hot dogs are harder to find. Chofetz Chaim (a
Jerusalem butcher that might be worth getting to know) sells beef
hot dogs that are the closest to tasting like an American hot dog
and they cost the same as the Israeli beef hot dogs. Also try the
Tirat Zvi brand beef naknik americai which come in a
package of six.
Ketchup: Israeli ketchup is sweeter. Heinz is
widely available. We buy cheap Israeli ketchup for cooking and
Heinz for french fries and burgers.
Lasagna: Comes in boxes about half the height of
a 1-pound box. Dry lasagna is completely flat (no ruffled edges)
and is both wider and thinner than lasagna in the US.
Leben:
The pink and orange Yotvata brand leben tastes just like yogurt,
is one-third the price and has natural colors from carrots
and beets.
Lemon syrup: Try Prigat brand lemon syrup to make
lemonade and sweetened iced tea.
Margarine: One stick of American
margarine/butter is 100 grams (half an Israeli stick).
Blue Bond stick margarines are widely available and come in yellow
wrapper (unsalted), blue (salted), red (butter flavored). Yellow
is best for baking.
Meat: Meat cuts in Israel take awhile to master.
Here's Marc Gottlieb's great chart of the meatcuts you'll find in Israel. You can get
basar chamim (chulent meat) already cut into chunks. Check that
meat is kashered--sometimes it's sold without soaking/salting.
Ground meat is often mixed with soy. Osher Ad and Rami Levy
Mehadrin, both in Givat Shaul, have great selections of the OU
Kashrut Israel line called "It's Fleisch" frozen meats with the
names we are familiar with, such as brisket, corn beef, etc.
Milk: Skim milk is hard to find. Generally, you
can find 1% (red) and 3% (blue). Whole milk is basically 3%. These
are the opposite colors from the US. Sometimes 1.5% is
available. Milk comes in liter cartons and plastic bags. The bags
are 1 liter, which is basically 4 cups. Milk in plastic bags is
price-controlled and should cost the same anywhere. It is also
cheaper in bags than in cartons.There are clear produce bags near
the tubs of milk bags. I have found that the produce bags begin to
tear if you put more than 2-3 bags of milk in them.
· Milk doesn't
have vitamin D added unless you buy Yotvata or Tnuva brand 3%
milks.
Milk drinks: are milk with water and other
flavors added
Oats: Plain oats are found next to the
sugar free stuff, or granola bars, health food, but never with
flours, cereals, or grains. Instant oats can be found in almost
any supermarket, but the price is around twice that of in the
Machane Yehuda shuk, where you can also buy coarse oats. This is
called Qvaker (from Quaker Oats.) There is Qvaker Dak-instant oats
and Qvaker Ave-the coarse oats. You can also find these at a
health food store.
Onions: Yellow (though they are called batzal
lavan) and sometimes red onions are available. Raw onions are very
strong here and peeling them is a challenge. I have never seen
Vadalia onions in Israel.
Paprika: Paprika is sold with and without oil and
hot and sweet. Hot paprika is not a bad substitute for cayenne
pepper.
Parsnip: Occasionally available in winter
in limited markets.
Pastry:
· Sufganiyot in
Israel are not the same as American style donuts.
· Herby Dan, Mr.
Donut and Brooklyn Bake Shop have American style donuts.
· Brooklyn Bake
Shop has awesome black & white cookies (and a black &
white cake) as well.
Pastry Dough/Pie Crust
It is possible to find prepared graham cracker crusts in Israel.
If you use them, stock up when you see them because they are hit
or miss. Some stores that cater to American olim sell pareve
Oronoque prepared pie crusts, but they are very expensive. A great
alternative is the widely available puff pastry dough . Comes in a
sweet variety (called batzaik sh'marim - metukim in the green
wrapper below) and a plain (batzaik alim). There are several
brands. I have never been able to distinguish a flavor difference,
so I just buy whichever is cheapest. They go on sale often.
Pickles:
come in brine or in vinegar. Brine is most familiar to Americans.
Potatoes: Thin-skinned red and white potatoes
are widely available. I hardly ever peel potatoes anymore. If a
grocery store sells potatoes in a mesh bag, it's perfectly
acceptable to open the mesh and take only the size and quantity of
potatoes you need. I have seen fresh new potatoes (small) in the
gourmet produce section. They are expensive. Since canned potatoes
are hard to find here, I just use sliced fresh potatoes in my
brisket. No russet/Idaho potatoes here.
Pizza sauce: יחין makes great lasagna and pizza
sauce and they are very affordable. They come in tubs like the
tomato paste.
Rubbing alcohol: comes in a tiny bottle and looks
exactly like nail polish remover (acetone).
Salsa Rosa - a combination of sour cream and
tomato sauce. Very common pasta sauce in restaurants.
Shamenet: Generally refers to sour cream (shamenet
chamutza). But the word also refers to cooking cream (shamenet
l'vishul), cream cheese (gvinat shamenet) and
whipping cream (shamenet lhaktzafa which is 38%).
Silan: Date syrup that makes a great
substitute for honey or molasses.
Soup mix: Available in 1 Kg bags as well as the
more familiar plastic tubs. Chicken soup mixes are available
pareve and meat. Osem makes both without MSG.
Sour
cream: Called shamenet. Comes in 4-pack of small
plastic tubs (200 ml each) or in 1/2 liter containers. Sour cream
is a perfect substitute for ricotta in baked pasta dishes such as
lasagna. Spices: Spices are often located close
to the meat counter and not the baking aisle Here's Marc
Gottlieb's chart of the names of spices in English,
Hebrew and transliterated Hebrew: Here's Jacob Richman's spice chart.
Strawberries: Strawberry season in Israel is
winter.
Sugar: Sugar (white and brown) is a bit
coarser than Americans are used to. White sugar comes in paper or
1 Kg clear plastic tubs. A kilo in a paper bag is much cheaper so
I buy in paper and refill the plastic tubs. I reuse the tubs to
store bread crumbs, rice and other grains. Brown sugar comes in
the same 1 Kg clear plastic tubs. Both dark and light brown sugar
are available. Dark and light brown sugar can sometimes be found
in large plastic bags. Light brown sugar is called demerara sugar.
Confectioner's (icing) sugar (אבקת סוכר) comes in small packets.
One packet is 3/4 c.
Sweet red pepper: Gamba
Swiss chard: the mehadrin packages of what is
called alei selek is actually swiss chard.
Techina: buy plain techina paste, add water,
lemon, olive oil, garlic and spices for techina. Add water and
honey for halava spread.
Tomato paste: Comes in cans and small red plastic
tubs, generally two or four together. There are codes on tomato
paste that refer to the thickness of the paste. Tomato paste
concentration is measured in BX (pronounced 'bricks'). The higher
numbers are more concentrated (less water). Tomato paste is
typically sold in 22⁰BX or 28⁰BX. 22⁰BX is less concentrated than
28⁰BX. Some say 22⁰BX is tomato sauce.
Vanilla: Imitation vanilla is widely available.
Real vanilla is very expensive. If you're a baker, you might want
to import real vanilla or learn to make from vanilla bean and
vodka.
Vanilla sugar: This is sugar made with vanilla
beans or mixed with vanilla extract. Comes in small packets. One
packet is a scant Tbs.
Vinegar: White vinegar here is synthetic. Natural
vinegar here is light brown but tastes exactly like natural white
vinegar from the states.
Yeast: Yeast comes in many different forms. Fresh
yeast comes in 4 ounce cubes or in granulated form in packaged
from the company Shmirit. Dry yeast is sold in the
baking department, generally in 500 gram vacuum sealed foil
packages.
MISCELLANEOUS TIPS
American products: Some stores in neighborhoods
that cater to American immigrants carry a lot of imports that are
not otherwise generally available.
Cartis Moadon: This is a store loyalty card. It's
usually the first thing a cashier will ask you in any grocery
store. "Cartis moadon?"
Cleaning the kumkum: If you use your kumkum
(electric kettle) for a long time you will get calcium deposits
inside. Put in a few tablespoons of lemon salt (melah
limon), boil the water and leave over night. In the morning, rinse
it out and it will be all clean with no scrubbing.
Cooking from scratch: You will likely do much
more cooking from scratch since many prepared/convenience foods
are not available in Israel. It's often healthier, and definitely
cheaper.
Grocery stores: All grocery stores offer delivery
service in Israel, but stores in charedi areas in cities will
often automatically offer delivery, without you needing to ask.
Supersol (Shufersol) is a very good store brand and their products
are worth trying. It's a different culture. In Israel, people will
leave a half-empty cart on line, holding their place, while they
finish their shopping. This annoys some people. You have to visit
a fair number of stores to understand the lay of the land in terms
of what is available. Many interesting items can be found in
health food stores such as Eden Teva Market in Ramot. Prices are
not the same in every branch of a store chain.
Kitniyot at Pesach: Oy! This is a whole separate
discussion. Suffice it to say if you don't eat kitniyot on Pesach,
you're going to need to take a knowledgeable friend to the store
with you when you shop for Pesach. And you're going to need to
learn the words, lo chashash kitniyot which means there
is no suspicion of kitniyot and you can buy it and l'ochlei
kitniyot, which means it's kosher for Passover for those
who eat kitniyot. Stores in certain neighborhoods in Jerusalem, in
Modi'in Illit and other cities that specifically cater to American
and/or Ashkenazim will have more options than in most of Israel
where the majority are kitniyot-eating Sefardim.
Make friends with your grocer. He can teach you
tips about how things are used in Israel with which you are
unfamiliar -- and you can get a Hebrew lesson in the bargain.
Packaging: Many more things are packaged in
cellophane than in cardboard (e.g. bread crumbs, pasta, etc.)
Produce: Eating seasonal is a new concept. You
can't always get what you want when you want it. On the other
hand, it's always a joy when new fruits come into season.
· On Sunday
evenings, the fruits and vegetables at the Jerusalem shuk are
cheaper than usual.
· The internet is
a great resource for learning how to use ingredients with which
you are not familiar (e.g. kohlrabi, dragon fruit, etc.).
Quantities: Packages are generally much smaller
in Israel. Perhaps that's due to the fact that people have less
room to store things and there are no warehouse clubs here.
· The one
consistent exception is toilet paper which seems to come only in
large quantities.
· Certain common
spices come in very large containers. If you are buying
something that sells in packages of 1 liter or 2 - check the
price. People assume that per liter, the 1 liter will be more
expensive. Amazingly enough - a lot of times, it is cheaper to buy
two or three ONE liter bottles than to buy the two or three liter
bottle.
Receipts: Look at your receipts after finishing
grocery shopping. Sometimes you are entitled to free gifts that
you can claim from the kupa rashit (service desk).
Sales: Sale price signs on grocery store shelves
generally list the last four numbers of the UPC code for the
products that are actually included in the sale price. CHECK THE
CODE. Do not assume the merchandise above/below the sign is
actually connected to the sale. Look at the sign. See if it says mogbal
l' - restricted to x number of items- that means, you can
buy only that number for the sale price; after that, it will be
priced at full price. When something is on sale "2 for..."
or "3 for..." etc., you only get the discount if you buy that
number of units.
1+2: This means, buy two, get one free,
NOT, buy one, get two free as I once thought when buying pasta.
Remember, Hebrew reads right to left :-) Stores in Israel
periodically run brand sales where everything from a particular
brand is on sale - typically 20-25% off.
Translations: A GREAT tool in the grocery store
is a smart phone and a translator app so you can translate words
on packaging.
I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted now. Comments,
corrections, clarifications are most welcome.
Here's an article from the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe's magazine,
Feb. 1943 (הקריאה והקדושה), roughly translated from Yiddish. I post
it on this blog to serve as a preamble to a subsequent post wherein
I'll maintain, to my utter dismay, that the gangster
regime now in power, the ruler of Edom, will again triumph in
the next presidential election. I will refer back to this
article to remind readers what this Jewish leader of his generation
forewarned his flock. I have this premonition of imminent disaster I
feel compelled to share with you, later. [The highlighting is mine.]
Our sages, who foresaw that this last diaspora, called "Edom", would
endure nearly two millennia, also foresaw that, as it winds down to
its terminating stage, Torah will have become enfeebled among a
majority of Jews, and this would therefore bring back the age-old
national Jewish scourge - the FALSE PROPHETS.
These false prophets would then lead Torah-empty Jews through all 49
degrees of impurity, unfortunately.
The end-stage period would then necessarily have to be a horribly
bitter one. It would spell outright danger wherein multitudes of
Jews will undergo waves of spiritual suicide, even conversion, G-d
forbid.
Accordingly, the sages decided to foretell the signs that will usher
in and constitute the Messianic era's birth pangs - in order to save
at least a remnant of those being swept away; And also so that some
Jews, here and there, will be able to console their distressed
brethren by disclosing to them these very signs, just as this
periodical has been doing for a year and a half now. We've
been telling you we are in the eve of the Messianic era; That
we've been foretold the tragedies that will unfold; And that we
can attenuate these problems, or entirely prevent them from
occurring - by tearing you away from the
modern false prophets, so you return to the warm fold of Torah, back
to the ways our forefathers practised.
Our sages knew saving the entire Jewish nation would be very
difficult because the false prophets will not loosen their grip. On
the contrary, they will exert their strongest, spiritual pogrom ever
against the Jewish nation, until the very last moment when, as our
sages tell us, they themselves will finally perish during
physical pogroms against the Jews.
The sages took as their task to rescue the innocent victims of the
false prophets, those who might even question or doubt one of two
things; Either the false prophets, or, the Torah and its true
prophets. It was for the benefit of these 50-50 Jews or
50-50 believers for whom the sages foretold us the many signs by
which to recognize the eve of the Redemptive Era.
The many signs serve each person as however he will understand them.
In truth, however, all the signs really boil down to but a
single sign - for they all point to this one point, that
"And against all the gods of Egypt will I avenge myself, for
I am G-d" (Ex. 12, 12). And why so? In order to finally
and totally discredit the false prophets, so the Jewish masses strip
away their allegiance to them and from the various idols of Egypt
the false prophets would have them worship.
The modern idols our false prophets energetically
promoted, and succeeded in convincing a huge Jewish populace to
follow them, are well known: Political Freedom, Economic
Certainty, and Godless Zionism. These
are the 3
primary false idols. These extend to other such
"isms", like Bolshevism, Bundism, Yiddishism, and dozens others.
The signs of the Era of Redemption our sages depict start out as
follows: "The son of David will not come until …"
such and such happens. These signs portend the utter destruction of
the above 3 "isms", for which the false prophets should be
dishonored.
Our sages tell us that after the known, bloody wars, the entire
world will be ruled by the kingdom of Edom, the one Ovadiah the
Prophet refers to as "You are greatly despised"
(Ov. 1, 2). This means many nations will be ruled over by unabashed
tyrants and oppressors who will put an end to all hope for Political
Freedom, Economic Certainty or whatever other culture!
"Moshiach will not come," our sages say, "until
the following signs will manifest":
1) "All cheap dominion will disappear" from Jewish notion. This
means to say, until all new systems of rule most Jews place their
hope in, will reveal themselves as being cheap and worthless, as was
evident with Bolshevism in Russia, and other such unavailing
systems. 2) "Mankind will lose hope in any redemptive process." Note
the exact words of the sages; They did not say, "Until the Jews",
but rather all "mankind" will lose their faith in any
redemptive process. 3) "All judges or police (protectors of Jews)
pass into oblivion." 4) "All conceit passes from among Jews",
because all will become poor and enslaved.
The 4 above signs indicate that the false prophecy of Political
Freedom will be shattered. Not only Jews but the other nations
too will be robbed of freedom. No longer will hope be held out for
redemption, or for returning to previous times.
"Moshiach will not come," continue our sages, "until
...":
5) "The last penny of savings will disappear." 6) "When they seek a
sliver of herring for an invalid but can't find one". We can thus
imagine what smidgen of better foods healthy people will be able to
find, who command less mercy than sick people.
From the latter 2 signs we easily note how the idol of Economic
Certainty will also be shattered. And our sages offer several
more signs that will convince everyone that the idol of Culture
will also lie in a shambles.
They say, "Moshiach will not come until,"
7) "All governments in the world are under the control of
G-d-deniers." 8) "The number of students will diminish." 9) "Every
event will have several interpretations". This implies strong
censorship; When nobody knows the truth, and everyone has a
different version of what happened. 10) "All souls will leave their
bodies", which could mean all mankind will be obsessed with hunger,
when their only concern will be to to hold on to dear life, where,
like animals, no thought is given to nourish the soul with
spirituality.
Under a reign of avowed G-d-deniers who will abolish education for
the masses, except for a privileged segment, entire populations will
slave for the state, eking out enough only to survive. With a press
akin to that of Nazi Minister of Propaganda Goebbels, the idol of
Culture will obviously be smashed, just like its two other "idol
friends", Political Freedom and Economic Certainty.
All these 10 signs of impending redemption our sages show us actually
constitute one sole general sign regarding G-d's
claim, "And against all the gods of Egypt will I avenge
myself", where these signs merely indicate the many ways
one can be poked in the eye, in that generation.
The economy has changed in structural ways; preparing for the
old economy is a sure path to disappointment.
Millions of young people will be graduating from college
over the next four years, and unfortunately, they will be
entering an economy that has changed in structural ways for the
worse. It's easy to blame politics or the Baby Boomers
(that's like shooting fish in a barrel), but the dynamics are
deeper than policy or one generation's foolish belief in endless
good times and rising housing prices.
1. Getting a college degree, even in the STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math) subjects, no longer guarantees
a job. As I have often noted, producing more graduates
does not magically create jobs. The economy can only support a
certain number of jobs in any one field. Producing 10 times as
many graduates in that field does not create 10 times more jobs.
According to this analysis of supply, employment, and wage trends
in information technology (IT) and other high-tech fields, Guestworkers
in the high-skill U.S. labor market (via B.C.), only half
of those graduating with STEM degrees get jobs in STEM fields.
Interestingly, 36% of IT workers do not hold a college degree,
and only 24% of IT workers have a four-year college degree. As one
would expect in a nation with a strong tradition of immigration,
many "guest workers" (i.e. people seeking citizenship via working
in the U.S.) also have degrees in the STEM fields.
This report Where
are the STEM jobs? (via B.C.) predicts 8.65 million STEM
jobs in the U.S. by 2018, which is a mere 6% of the current
workforce of 142 million.
2. Those millions of Baby Boomers clinging to their jobs
can't afford to retire, partly as a result of Federal Reserve
bubble-blowing and zero-interest rates. Now that cash
earns nothing, having a $300,000 nestegg of lifetime savings
generates only enough interest income to pay a few bills. In the
days before the Fed manipulated the economy to serve the interests
of the banking cartel and the state, such a sum would earn roughly
$15,000 a year at 5%.
Those days are gone, thanks entirely to the Fed, which is blowing
new asset bubbles and engaging in unprecedented financial
repression, distorting the entire economy in self-reinforcing
negative ways.
It's easy to blame Boomers for buying into the fantasy of
ever-rising real estate, but it's not a generational issue; plenty
of Gen-Xers also drank the "housing never goes down" Kool-Aid. The
issue is: who inflated the bubbles with lax oversight, easy money
and low interest rates? The Fed and the U.S. government's housing
and financial oversight agencies.
3. Many of those Boomers clinging to jobs are doing so to
support you. Yes, it's a fine irony, isn't it? If you
got a decent full-time job, Mom and Dad could stop sending you
money for rent, gas, etc. But since millions of Boomers have to
keep their jobs to be able to support their unemployed offspring,
there are fewer openings than there would be if Boomer Mom and Dad
could quit and retire.
4. We now have a bifurcated economy: we have
what's left of the open-market economy and we have the
cartel-state economy of various rentier arrangements. A rentier
arrangement is one in which the input costs can keep rising due to
political power/protection while the output declines.
Our economy is now dominated by rentier arrangements. This is one
of the core reasons it is stagnating, the other being a parasitic,
corrupt financial sector that depends on phantom collateral and
accounting trickery for its survival.
Rentier arrangements include the financial sector (hated by the
public but politically sacrosanct), the National Security State
(you can never have enough people spying on the world, including
Americans), healthcare (costs triple while the availability of
care and the health of the populace decline) and education
(college tuition rises 600% when adjusted for inflation but a
third of the graduates learned essentially nothing).
Protected from the discipline of the market, these
quasi-monopolies vacuum up an ever-increasing share of the
national income while their output/yield declines. Where $200
million bought four top-line fighter aircraft a decade ago, now it
buys one; we have reached the point where we can't afford our own
fighter aircraft. And many in the military conclude the $200
million-each F-35 Lightning (by some estimates of full program
costs, $300 million each) is an underpowered, bug-ridden dog, less
capable than competitors and the aircraft it replaces at four time
the cost, the F-18 E/F Super Hornet.
For decades, those entering the rentier cartels were
assured of lifetime security. Get a job in healthcare
or education or the defense/national security sectors, and you had
it made. But these bloated rentier arrangements are bankrupting
the nation.
Lacking any limit on their cost inputs, these sectors have
expanded at rates far exceeding the growth rate of the economy
that supports them. Healthcare once absorbed roughly 5% of the
economy; now it is consuming 18% and is on track to consume 20%.
Healthcare alone will bankrupt the Federal government and the
economy.
As a result, employment in the rentier arrangements will
be less secure going forward. Right now, the Federal
government can borrow $1 trillion every year because the Fed has
manipulated interest rates to zero. At some point, rates will rise
(for one reason or another) and the "free money" will become
costly. That will eventually limit the state's ability to fund its
favored cartels and rentier arrangements with borrowed money.
5. The private-sector economy is bifurcated as well.
The sprawling global corporations can draw upon talent from around
the world, so competition for those big-bucks corporate jobs is
fierce. Small business, under pressure from higher taxes, global
competition and skyrocketing healthcare costs, cannot afford to
hire anyone who can't generate a net profit for the company on day
one--if they hire anyone at all.
Mentoring, on-the-job training, all of that good stuff--everybody
wants somebody else to have given you that. They want you
productive on day one.
6. The older generations will have to adjust to
demographic and financial realities. That the promises
made for Social Security and Medicare cannot be kept is "obvious,"
but so politically dangerous that we cannot discuss this truth
openly. As I have maintained for years (Boomers,
Prepare to Fall on Your Swords June 2005), the Baby Boomers
will have to let go of the impossible promises made to them by an
expansive Savior State. If they refuse to do so voluntarily, then
the younger generations will have to insist via political means.
Or we can passively do nothing and watch the whole entitlement
system implode. That works, too, but it's messier than just
dealing with demographic and financial realities.
7. There are two sets of laws now: one for the Elites and
the state, and one for the rest of us. If you wonder
why small business growth has shriveled, look no further than the
over-regulated, legalistic thicket that awaits anyone starting or
operating a business. It no longer makes sense to have employees;
contract workers or arrangements between sole proprietors is the
only way left to do business for most of us.
The rule of law has been undermined by corruption, political
favoritism, and mindless regulation. That systemic failure leads
to stagnation and cynicism.
8. We are a free-lance nation. Many people
bemoan this, as they want everyone to have the security to be
unproductive and never be fired. But that's the problem with the
entire rentier cartel-state economy: cartels are skimming
operations that are immune to market discipline or any limits on
their cost structure. Incompetence has no cost in cartels, and
neither does inefficiency.
These bloated fiefdoms and cartels keep growing while the economy
stagnates, increasing their share of the national income at the
expense of the rest of the economy (and there is an opportunity
cost to this malinvestment--what else could we have done with
these trillions squandered on rentier arrangements?). The
cartel-state economy will collapse under its own weight.
There are opportunities, but they require a deep
understanding of risk and security. A livelihood with
day-to-day low-level insecurity and volatility is actually far
more stable and secure than the cartel-state one that claims to be
guaranteed.
The burdens of Fed manipulation and the cartel-state rentier
arrangements will come home to roost between 2015-2017. Those who
are willing to seek livelihoods in the non-cartel economy will
likely have more security and satisfaction than those who believed
that joining a rentier arrangement was a secure career.
There is a price to joining a parasitic rentier
arrangement, a loss of integrity, agency and
independence. Complicity in an unsustainable neofeudal society has
a cost.
What's more expensive than going to college? Until recently,
the answer was easy: not going to college. Numerous studies
over the years have shown that individuals with college
degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees
by $1 million or more over the course of a lifetime.
But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation
and the economy remains relatively weak, people are beginning
to question how they spend their education dollars. As student
loans hit the $1 trillion mark and more and more graduates are
faced with years of paying staggering monthly payments, many
are starting to ask themselves, "Is it worth it?"
While there's no doubt that a college degree increases
earning power and broadens opportunities, today's high cost of
education means it makes sense to more carefully consider
which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment
(ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. This article
exposes eight college degrees with poor ROI.
Methodology
To calculate ROI for a specific degree, we first determined
the overall cost of the degree. We allowed the degree holder
four years to graduate. Using data from a recent College Board
study, we assigned a figure of $37,343 as an average cost of a
four-year public liberal arts degree, and a figure of $121,930
for degrees earned at four-year private colleges. The total
cost included tuition, room and board, and books, and did not
factor in scholarships or grants. We then determined the
median cash compensation over the course of 30 years of
typical jobs requiring that degree using Salary.com data. We
used current Salary.com figures, but added 4.3% per year to
account for inflation and cost of living increases. To
determine ROI, we subtracted the cost of the degree from the
gains over 30 years, then divided that figure by cost.
8. Sociology
People who enter the field of sociology generally are
interested in helping their fellow man. Unfortunately, that
kind of benevolence doesn't usually translate to wealth. Here
are three jobs commonly held by sociology majors (click on job
title and/or salary for more info):
SOCIAL WORKER
Median Salary: $47,121
30-Year Earnings: $2,779,195
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 73%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 21%
CORRECTIONS OFFICER
Median Salary: $39,630
30-Year Earnings: $2,337,376
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 61%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 18%
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELOR
Median Salary: $47,210
30-Year Earnings: $2,784,444
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 73%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 21%
7. Fine Arts
Artists are respected, revered and celebrated. The trick is
achieving that status while they're still alive. After all,
the term "starving artist" didn't come from nowhere. Here are
three jobs commonly held by workers with a fine arts degree:
MUSEUM RESEARCH WORKER
Median Salary: $48,401
30-Year Earnings: $2,854,689
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 75%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 22%
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Median Salary: $47,753
30-Year Earnings: $2,816,470
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 74%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 22%
PAINTER/ILLUSTRATOR
Median Salary: $37,819
30-Year Earnings: $2,230,563
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 58%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 17%
6. Education
Ah teaching. One of the noblest professions. And while it
stands to reason we'd pay great sums to the chosen few who
shape the minds of future generations, it doesn't quite work
out that way. Here are three commonly held jobs in education:
DAYCARE CENTER TEACHER
Median Salary: $27,910
30-Year Earnings: $1,646,131
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 43%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 13%
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
Median Salary: $52,241
30-Year Earnings: $3,081,172
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 82%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24%
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
Median Salary: $54,473
30-Year Earnings: $3,212,815
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 85%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 25%
5. Religious Studies/Theology
Talk about finding your calling. While devoting your life to
the church and dedicating your life to the service of others
is laudable, it's not going to leave you with a lot of profit
after you earn your degree. Here are three commonly held jobs
theological jobs:
RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR
Median Salary: $47,957
30-Year Earnings: $2,828,502
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 75%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 22%
CHAPLAIN -- HEALTHCARE
Median Salary: $51,127
30-Year Earnings: $3,015,174
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 80%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24%
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Median Salary: $61,811
30-Year Earnings: $3,645,610
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 96%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 29%
4. Hospitality/Tourism
You're the wizard behind the curtain. The one who's working
like a dog to make it all happen while everyone else is
enjoying the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, there isn't
always a lot of financial benefit after earning your degree.
Here are three commonly held hospitality jobs:
MEETING/EVENT PLANNER
Median Salary: $55,476
30-Year Earnings: $3,271,972
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 87%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 26%
HOTEL RESIDENT MANAGER
Median Salary: $65,076
30-Year Earnings: $3,838,180
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 102%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 30%
CATERING MANAGER
Median Salary: $42,533
30-Year Earnings: $2,508,595
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 66%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 20%
3. Nutrition
It's hard work making sure everyone else eats right,
preparing nutritious meals and/or checking to make sure the
nation's food supply is up to snuff. But all that hard work
and education necessary to land this job might not turn a huge
profit.
DIETICIAN
Median Salary: $53,679
30-Year Earnings: $3,165,985
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 84%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 25%
FOOD SERVICES MANAGER
Median Salary: $56,711
30-Year Earnings: $3,344,813
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 89%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 27%
FOOD SCIENTIST
Median Salary: $64,019
30-Year Earnings: $3,775,838
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 100%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 30%
2. Psychology
We're starting to notice an unfortunate trend regarding doing
work for others with minimal pay. Maybe you can get inside the
head of someone influential and find out why workers in this
field don't get paid more for these jobs:
HUMAN SERVICES WORKER
Median Salary: $22,738
30-Year Earnings: $1,341,086
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 35%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 10%
CAREER COUNSELOR - HIGHER EDUCATION
Median Salary: $43,384
30-Year Earnings: $2,558,787
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 68%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 20%
BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR
Median Salary: $52,200
30-Year Earnings: $3,078,754
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 81%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24%
1. Communications
You'd think the ink-stained newsrooms and TV studios are full
of wealthy and famous journalists. Not quite. Although these
skills require lots of education and training, they buried the
lead regarding the lack of payoff. Check these communications
jobs out:
COPYWRITER
Median Salary: $52,549
30-Year Earnings: $3,099,338
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 82%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24%
NEWS REPORTER
Median Salary: $37,393
30-Year Earnings: $2,205,438
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 58%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 17%
MARKETING COORDINATOR
Median Salary: $50,455
30-Year Earnings: $2,975,834
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 79%
ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 23%
Be Prepared
We know money isn't everything. A lot of people do these jobs
and have great and fulfilling careers. But as the cost of
education increases, it's important to know if you'll get your
money’s worth and see a postive ROI. Good luck.
Earn More Money No Matter Your Major
It doesn't matter whether you major in philosophy or physical
education, you want to make as much money as possible.
Luckily, Salary.com can help. The first thing you should do is
research, so you're able to come to the table armed with the
knowledge of what your job is worth. Use our free Salary
Wizard below to find out what's a fair salary for your
position. You can enter your location, education level, years
of experience and more to find out an appropriate salary range
before you negotiate.
By John Galt – March 29, 2010 Posted in: Economics
by John Galt March 29, 2010 While I was out playing happy camper
in the Everglades and checking on my ‘local’ BOL, some news snuck
through the system but thankfully good old Tyler Durden at
ZeroHedge.com has the scoop: It’s Official – America Now Enforces
Capital Controls This is not something I say lightly after
reviewing this information and reinforcing...
by John Galt
March 29, 2010
While I was out playing happy camper in the Everglades and
checking on my ‘local’ BOL, some news snuck through the system but
thankfully good old Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge.com has the scoop:
It’s Official – America Now Enforces Capital Controls
This is not something I say lightly after reviewing this
information and reinforcing the commentary from the Rangel rule
which restricted and penalized voluntary emigration and/or
renunciation of one’s citizenship from the United States.
If you can, even if it means a 75% loss of your fortunes, get out
now.
If you have a universal skill set (Programmer, trader, medical
skills, security skills, etc.) and can relocate with little
resources, get out now.
If you have real estate holdings in certain nations (not Canada
or Mexico) get out now.
The precursor to most major shifts within western civilization
have always been the restrictions placed on the flow of capital.
Without going off into woo-woo land on you, all I can say is that
this is a warning shot that something major is about to occur
which further restricts the freedoms of the citizens of this once
great nation. When I did my radio show, I warned that this one
event, a key moment or marker in any nation’s history was
something to be taken deadly seriously. In my opinion it means
that a currency realignment or change or outright revocation of
rights taken for granted was certain with a 90 day, maybe if we’re
lucky, 180 day window.
Our esteemed rabbinical overseerer, Rav Yehuda, has
requested that I translate and post the two most recent messages
from Rav Nir Ben Artzi who has a reputation as one who
speaks from something close to Ruach HaKodesh.
I'm not much of a translator, but it will at least make more sense
than the online translators do. My profoundest apologies to the Rav,
if I have misinterpreted or misrepresented his words in any way.
from the mouth of HaRav Nir Ben Artzi, shlita on Parshat
Mishpatim 5771
The King of all kings, HKB”H is announcing to the whole world, to
the Holy Land and to the Jews, that they are the essence of the
whole world and without the Jews – the world would have no
existence. HKB”H is operating in all fields of endeavor, through
the forces of nature, through computers, to create conflict
between countries and within them.
Every country in this world is entangled. There will be revolution
leading to the trash can [of history]. They will all fall into a
trap. All the evil and the hatred, the jealousy, the murder, the
fraud, the lies, the lust, the cravings and the abominations -
everything will fall into the garbage and will be blotted out.
HKB”H is creating a new, pure, holy, clean and spiritual world.
This is the end of Tikun Olam.
Am Yisrael will rule over the whole world. The economy in the Land
will [only continue to progress.] Eretz Yisrael will develop
without end. All the countries of the world will make war upon
Yerushalayim although only in order to destroy and overturn her…
Because from there is the source of holiness and purity, the power
and the light that energizes Eretz Yisrael and the whole world.
This power operates against evil and against people who do not
fulfill the ten commandments.
All the countries will make war with each other and will destroy
each other. The country of Israel will develop and expand and will
receive with abundance and open arms all the Jews from the world.
Part understands and part even understands that the period of
Jewish residence outside the Land of Israel (in impure lands) is
to be ended. Because the Jew has a holy soul which needs to live
in Holy Eretz Yisrael.
Dear Jews around the world, a Jew shouldn't take lightly,
shouldn't play around with the Master of the World who is giving
to you hints and you turn a page, or don’t do a spiritual
accounting and continue on as usual like nothing is happening. Our
Father in Heaven is a Father of mercy which extends only to a
point and a little more and it’s reaching its end. Don’t play
around with HKB”H. He comes to the Jews of the world with much
love and great mercy. He’s doing everything so you will
understand. Don’t miss these hints. It’s preferable now, with
great honor, later it will be in great humiliation. If only you
will be successful in arriving to Eretz Yisrael.
The Master of the World is collapsing the world’s economy. He’s
collapsing Russia, Europe, America, every place. Because Jews live
there. So that the Jews will come to Eretz Yisrael and to renew
the world so that it will be a world of truth, integrity, peace
and brotherhood. The floods will hurt every country outside of
Holy Eretz Yisrael.
Volcanoes, earthquakes, severe storm winds will hurt every country
outside of the Holy Eretz Yisrael. The Creator of the World is
raising a standard – every week it’s higher and this won’t cease
until the world’s repair is finished.
The rabbis in Eretz Yisrael – unite and unify everyone. Come
together and be united even if Jews in the world are not being
hurt, because you are the shield and the messengers of the Creator
of the World to the People of Israel. Rabbis and heads of
communities in the Diaspora, come urgently to prepare a base, to
put down roots in holy ground, so it won't be too late.
Everyone who comes to Yerushalayim and wants to freeze her or to
destroy Yerushalayim, this is relevant to the People of Israel, he
will be hurt directly. Yerushalayim is the dear son of HKB"H.
Jews in Eretz Yisrael – every lie will be revealed. Everything
will be revealed. It won't take years, but a much shorter time.
Lie reveals lie, all the evil things that were done and are being
done to you. Bribery, fraud, lust, greed, everything will be
revealed.
Do teshuva, repair your character traits, confess to the Creator
of the World. Hashem will help you. Jews, HKB"H is doing
everything in order to build the People of Israel anew, clean and
pure. And build the third Temple and reveal the King Messiah at
every moment in our days.
'There is an expectation of a missile offensive from Lebanon and
an earthquake in Israel," warns HaRav Nir Ben Artzi, who foresaw
the revolution in Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt. He spoke on Radio
Kol Chai with Mordechai Lavi. What are the messages of HaRav
Ben-Artzi to the People of Israel, and what is forecast to occur
the world over, the unexpected ups and downs? Listen to the
strong words:
…"This is the time of the redemption of the People of Israel, the
whole world is going to collapse," says HaRav Nir Ben Artzi. He
pointed to the latest events in the world – floods and revolutions
in the Arab countries. After Egypt and Tunisia, also Syria is
expected to undergo a makeover, according to HaRav Ben Artzi.
And regarding the economy? "It will continue to collapse. In
America as well as in Europe."
To the Jews, calls HaRav Ben Artzi, "Come up urgently to Eretz
Yisrael. There will be an airlift to Eretz Yisrael. It's already
begun and will increase from day to day. The Creator of the World
desires that the People of Israel will come together and be as
one."
MISSILES FROM LEBANON, REVOLUTION IN YEMIN
On the Iranian threat, says HaRav Ben Artzi: "There will be an
operation to blow up what there is in Iran, and then Lebanon and
Syria will operate together with [Hamas in] Aza. There will be
operational cooperation among the four of them. HKB"H will not
allow them [to succeed.]
The Americans, says HaRav Ben Artzi, will give permission to blow
up the core in Iran at a certain stage.
From underground in Israel will arise tremendous treasures. "There
will be revealed here a great treasure of oil," he predicted. "The
world is going to change, the evil world will collapse, the whole
world is insane, outside of the Land of Israel which is protected
and guarded."
In his words, these are signs that HKB"H is giving to the world
and we need to pay attention to them. "The severe winds will
continue, mud in every place. In Yemin, Sudan and Morocco,
complications. What is in Tunis will continue to be in every
place."
During the special interview, HaRav Nir Ben Artzi also describes
an expected military offensive from Lebanon. "They will fire
isolated missiles from Lebanon that will cause a disturbance only
in order to strengthen the People of Israel. The missiles will go
in the direction of the sea."
I RECEIVED A GIFT FROM HASHEM
Also an earthquake is expected to befall Israel. "It will result
in shaking, only in order that we will understand that HKB"H gives
us good fortune. With Hashem, there is no difference between a Jew
who is religious and one who is not."
About the powers that he was endowed with, says HaRav Nir Ben
Artzi: "It's a gift from Hashem and I use it only for the good of
the People of Israel. It’s impossible to explain."
On the divisions among the people: "All that there is, it will all
be good. After there are disagreements and arguments – everything
will work out. The People of Israel need to understand that there
will always be these disturbances."
HaRav Ben Artzi was asked about the IDF conversion storm and he
refused to address the issue. "There are Gedolei Torah who are
working on this. Hashem will help them to go in the correct and
good way."
MESSAGE TO AM YISRAEL FOR PARSHAT SHEMOT
The whole world is in chaos. HKB”H is working at every
level and in all directions in order to dismantle wickedness in
the world, in order to take apart the material world, the old
world and to build a new world. Today, everyone understands that
there is Someone running the world. Not an understanding with
intelligence, but with the heart and with the soul. A person
feels that his soul indicates this to him. A Jew who fulfills
the ten commandments is able to feel in the body, in the heart,
in the spirit, in the brain and in the soul, the workings of
HKB”H.
The Master of the World is using all the spirits of Heaven, the
dry land, the sea, the wind and the fire. At this moment, there
is snow in Europe and in other places there are strong and
difficult winds and earthquakes or fires and Jew-hatred.
All this is happening and getting stronger from day to day and
after that, from hour to hour and from minute to minute, until
the great day of the revelation of Melech HaMashiach. All of the
Jews in the whole world understand these hints. That the economy
is coming apart and being destroyed in America and in Europe and
in other places in the world and this will continue and will not
stop. Everyone understands the hints. The Jews of the world are
in fear and great anxiety. They don’t know where to go or where
to come, they don’t know what the day will birth.
HKB”H is shaking the ground under their feet, shaking the Jews
loose from the material and the money, shaking from many
different directions, hatred is set to overpower them.
Everything in order to return them to the Holy Land of Israel.
The world is in chaos and the Land of Israel, the holy and pure
land, is the most protected land, eternally, the place in which
will be the best economy, eternally, the place which gives
vitality and nourishment to the whole world, eternally.
Soon, a great aliya of Jews from throughout the world will be
felt and publicized. Band after band, until the whole chain of
Jews in the whole world will come up to the Land of Israel in a
very short time. The King of all kings, HKB”H, promises to all
the new immigrants and returning Jews to the Land of Israel,
come and live in the Land of Israel, here will be the place
where I will settle you and defend you, in purity and in
holiness. From here – whoever desires can work in the whole
world.
HKB”H promises abundant parnasa to every Jew. The Shechina has
left the exile, the Shechina is no longer outside the Land of
Israel. There is no longer success there. The blessing is in the
Land of Israel. HKB”H has done all this. The destruction of the
old, evil world, the building of a new world and preparing the
world for the great day, the revelation of Mashiach ben David,
in our days.
MESSAGE TO AM YISRAEL FOR PARSHAT VA'ERA
The King of all kings, HKB”H, is gathering up the whole
world to hurl it into chaos, anxiety and panic. In every place
in the world there is anxiety and panic, not knowing where to go
or where to come or what the day will give birth to.
HKB”H is striking every place where there is arrogance, because
this is the root of Divine punishment---arrogance. HKB”H is
using hard and strong winds, using the sea, the water, the rains
and floods. He’s using fire, whether it’s heat, fires or
explosives, as a weapon to strike people. He’s using the earth,
that ever since the Mabul the earth is in trauma and waits for
the moment, the great day when the whole world will be holy and
pure---earthquakes. And everything, in order to rock the world
in order to shake it up, to unite, consolidate and unify all the
Jews in the world, that they are Jews, to come to the Holy Land
of Israel, the defended and the guarded.
HKB”H grounded the trains, the buses, the planes and ships in
every place in the world. This will go on and increase in
strength and suddenness, without the knowledge of the
stargazers. It will be a surprise and will be known that this is
not the work of man, this is directly from HKB”H.
The Master of the World is speaking with every Jew, from the
simplest Jew who has no Torah and mitzvot to the holiest and
purest Jew. HKB”H is speaking with everyone, commenting to
everyone, not giving up on anyone.
The gentile infiltrators coming to the Land of Israel, not for
nothing are they here. What is there for them to do in a little
country like this? HKB”H has brought them here in order to wake
up and shake up Am Yisrael, that they be united and unified and
return in complete repentance.
The economy in America, Russia, Europe and other countries is
going to crash. Every Jew that will live in the Land of Israel
consistently, if he desires to work outside the land—he will
have blessing and success---but only on condition that he will
live in the land and goes out only on short trips and returns to
the Land of Israel.
The Shechinah has left the rest of the world and is located in
the Holy Land of Israel. She completed her task in the exile.
Therefore, the world is in chaos, in panic and difficult
anxiety. There is no one to protect the Jews outside the Land of
Israel. They have no defense. HKB”H wants to unite all the Jews,
that they are Jews that belong in the Holy Land of Israel.
This is not a temporary thing. It will go on and get stronger,
week after week, day after day, hour after hour, until it
arrives to a situation of every minute, hard things are
happening in the world, until the great day of Melech
HaMashiach’s revelation arrives.
The rabbis---it’s upon them to unite and unify, Ashkenazim,
Sefardim and Chareidim. To go out and to rescue Am Yisrael and
the Jews all over the world. This is their task and you are
obligated to him. To unify and unite, to make shalom bayit among
Am Yisrael, to be united and to be one heart---everyone.
This is the time, this is the hour and these are the hints to
all the rabbis in the land. Noach was the one who erred. Moshe
Rabeinu did not err. Mashiach is on the way to be revealed in
our days.
Posted by Devash
RFID chips and Privacy
ScienceDaily (Nov. 25,
2008) — A research article published in the current issue of the
International Journal of Intellectual Property Management suggests
that Big Brother could be opening a privacy and security Pandora's
Box if human rights, particularly regarding data protection are not
addressed in the design of new RFID applications.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips can be found tagging
everything from groceries and clothing to the experimental
swipe-free credit cards used to pay for those goods. In library
cards, warehouse inventories, and under-skin pet tags. They are
also used for prisoner and parole tags, in hospital patient
wristbands, and in smart passports.
According to Eleni Kosta and Jos Dumortier of the Katholieke
Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, the benefits of RFID technology in
innovation are beyond question. However, the threats posed to
personal privacy should be taken into account at the design phase
of the applications. Their increasingly widespread deployment
means individuals do not necessarily know when, how and what kind
of information about them is being transmitted at any given time
from an RFID in a passport, in their shopping bags, or even when
they visit the library.
RFID tags are powerful devices for use in a wide array of
applications: stock inventory, logistics, security finance,
buildings, and across international borders. However, they provide
a seemingly innocuous medium for the collection and transmission
of personal data, as well as the ability to track the movements of
people.
The European Union has already recognized some of the concerns
being raised. A recent European Commission report, "Communication
on RFID" emphasized that privacy and security should be built into
RFID information systems before their widespread deployment.
Moreover,
European legislation on data protection applies to RFID
technology when it entails the processing of personal data, Kosta
and Dumortier point out. However, it is not always clear whether
or not information stored on or transmitted via an RFID tag is
personal data.
"In order to achieve a common approach towards RFID technology at
the
European level, a unified interpretation of what is perceived as
personal data is necessary," the team explains. "When information
about an individual, such as name, age and nationality, is
directly stored in an RFID tag, it is beyond doubt that it
qualifies as personal data."
However, there are many instances when the information seemingly
cannot be directly linked to an individual, but by linking the
RFID tag number to a back-end database can be correlated with a
credit card payment, for instance, and so provide indirect
identification of the individual. "In this case, even if the data
seem anonymous at first sight, the processing falls under the
scope of application of the Data Protection
Directive, as the data can be easily linked to the credit card
data", the team explains. Even vaguer are the cases when the
information on the RFID tag cannot be linked to an actual person,
or at least significant effort is needed for a link to be made.
The team counter the argument that honest citizens have nothing
to fear from RFID. "A surveillance society where RFID tags reveal
personal information and enable the tracking and tracing of the
individuals, shall be contested, as every law-abiding citizen
should be free from any kind of monitoring," they say.
An immigrant family shops at the local Supermarket.
Did you know that your bank, credit card company, insurance
company, brokerage, and other companies you do business with can
legally sell the personal information they collect from you to
telemarketers, direct mailers, retailers, and others? Is it okay
with you if these companies sell your social security number,
credit card spending habits, account balances, or monthly income
information to companies that want to use the information to
target the people who are most likely to purchase their products
or services?
The privacy notices you've no doubt been receiving in the mail
from financial institutions you do business with probably ended up
in your trash can, a move that you may come to regret unless you
act quickly. These notices were NOT junk mail. Federal law now
requires companies that collect personal information about you to
give you the option to refuse to allow them to sell your personal
information. But if you don't "opt-out" by responding to the
notices or contacting these companies directly, your personal
information can be sold to anybody willing to pay the price.
In some cases, those willing to pay the price have been criminals
who illegally used the information to run scams where millions of
dollars of bogus charges were charged to credit cards.
Your right to opt-out is limited, due to flaws in the law that do
not protect consumers, but it is still worthwhile to opt-out. It's
also worthwhile to write to your Congressional representatives to
let them know that you expect them to pass legislation that will
better protect the privacy of consumers.
If you're among the millions of Americans that tossed these
privacy notices in the trash, you can still protect your personal
financial information by contacting each of the financial
institutions you do business with and instructing them NOT to
disclose information about you to non-affiliated companies.
Privacy Rights Now offers a sample form letter on their site that
you can use or adapt.
When you open new accounts at financial institutions, or when a
financial institution you do business with changes its privacy
policies, you'll receive privacy notices in the mail. To protect
your privacy, follow the instructions in the notices (you may have
to complete a form or call a toll-free number).
In 2011 The Baby Boomers Start To Turn 65:
16 Statistics About The Coming Retirement Crisis That Will Drop
Your Jaw
Do you hear that rumble in the distance? That is the Baby Boomers
- they are getting ready to retire. On January 1st, 2011 the very
first Baby Boomers turn 65. Millions upon millions of them are
rushing towards retirement age and they have been promised that
the rest of us are going to take care of them. Only there is a
huge problem. We don't have the money. It simply isn't there. But
the millions of Baby Boomers getting ready to retire are counting
on that money to be there. This all comes at a really bad time for
a federal government that is already flat broke and for a national
economy that is already teetering on the brink of disaster.
So just who are the Baby Boomers? Well, they are the most famous
generation in American history. The U.S. Census Bureau defines the
Baby Boomers as those born between January 1st, 1946 and December
31st, 1964. You see, after U.S. troops returned from World War II,
they quickly settled down and everyone started having lots and
lots of babies. This gigantic generations has transformed America
as they have passed through every stage of life. Now they are
getting ready to retire.
If you add 65 years to January 1st, 1946 you get January 1st,
2011.
The moment when the first Baby Boomers reach retirement age has
arrived.
The day of reckoning that so many have talked about for so many
years is here.
Today, America's elderly are living longer and the cost of health
care is rising dramatically. Those two factors are going to make
it incredibly expensive to take care of all of these retiring Baby
Boomers.
Meanwhile, the sad truth is that the vast majority of Baby
Boomers have not adequately saved for retirement. For many of
them, their home equity was destroyed by the recent financial
crisis. For others, their 401ks were devastated when the stock
market tanked.
Meanwhile, company pension plans across America are woefully
underfunded. Many state and local government pension programs are
absolute disasters. The federal government has already begun to
pay out more in Social Security benefits than they are taking in,
and the years ahead look downright apocalyptic for the Social
Security program.
If we are not careful all of these Baby Boomers are going to push
us into national bankruptcy. We simply cannot afford all of the
promises that we have made to them. The following are 16
statistics about the coming retirement crisis that will drop your
jaw.....
#1 Beginning January 1st, 2011 every single day more than 10,000
Baby Boomers will reach the age of 65. That is going to keep
happening every single day for the next 19 years.
#2 According to one recent survey, 36 percent of Americans say
that they don't contribute anything at all to retirement savings.
#3 Most Baby Boomers do not have a traditional pension plan
because they have been going out of style over the past 30 years.
Just consider the following quote from Time Magazine: The
traditional pension plan is disappearing. In 1980, some 39 percent
of private-sector workers had a pension that guaranteed a steady
payout during retirement. Today that number stands closer to 15
percent, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute in
Washington, D.C.
#4 Over 30 percent of U.S. investors currently in their sixties
have more than 80 percent of their 401k invested in equities. So
what happens if the stock market crashes again?
#5 35% of Americans already over the age of 65 rely almost
entirely on Social Security payments alone.
#6 According to another recent survey, 24% of U.S. workers admit
that they have postponed their planned retirement age at least
once during the past year.
#7 Approximately 3 out of 4 Americans start claiming Social
Security benefits the moment they are eligible at age 62. Most are
doing this out of necessity. However, by claiming Social Security
early they get locked in at a much lower amount than if they would
have waited.
#8 Pension consultant Girard Miller recently told California's
Little Hoover Commission that state and local government bodies in
the state of California have $325 billion in combined unfunded
pension liabilities. When you break that down, it comes to $22,000
for every single working adult in California.
#9 According to a recent report from Stanford University,
California's three biggest pension funds are as much as $500
billion short of meeting future retiree benefit obligations.
#10 It has been reported that the $33.7 billion Illinois Teachers
Retirement System is 61% underfunded and is on the verge of
complete collapse.
#11 Robert Novy-Marx of the University of Chicago and Joshua D.
Rauh of Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management recently
calculated the combined pension liability for all 50 U.S. states.
What they found was that the 50 states are collectively facing
$5.17 trillion in pension obligations, but they only have $1.94
trillion set aside in state pension funds. That is a difference of
3.2 trillion dollars. So where in the world is all of that extra
money going to come from? Most of the states are already
completely broke and on the verge of bankruptcy.
#12 According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Social
Security system will pay out more in benefits than it receives in
payroll taxes in 2010. That was not supposed to happen until at
least 2016. Sadly, in the years ahead these "Social Security
deficits" are scheduled to become absolutely horrific as hordes of
Baby Boomers start to retire.
#13 In 1950, each retiree's Social Security benefit was paid for
by 16 U.S. workers. In 2010, each retiree's Social Security
benefit is paid for by approximately 3.3 U.S. workers. By 2025, it
is projected that there will be approximately two U.S. workers for
each retiree. How in the world can the system possibly continue to
function properly with numbers like that?
#14 According to a recent U.S. government report, soaring
interest costs on the U.S. national debt plus rapidly escalating
spending on entitlement programs such as Social Security and
Medicare will absorb approximately 92 cents of every single dollar
of federal revenue by the year 2019. That is before a single
dollar is spent on anything else.
#15 After analyzing Congressional Budget Office data, Boston
University economics professor Laurence J. Kotlikoff concluded
that the U.S. government is facing a "fiscal gap" of $202 trillion
dollars. A big chunk of that is made up of future obligations to
Social Security and Medicare recipients.
#16 According to a recent AARP survey of Baby Boomers, 40 percent
of them plan to work "until they drop".
Companies all over America have been dropping their pension plans
in anticipation of the time when the Baby Boomers would retire.
401k programs were supposed to be part of the answer, but if the
stock market crashes again, it is absolutely going to devastate
the Baby Boomers.
State and local governments are scrambling to find ways to pay
out all the benefits that they have been promising. Many state and
local governments will be forced into some very hard choices by
the hordes of Baby Boomers that will now be retiring.
Of course whenever a big financial crisis comes along these days
everyone looks to the federal government to fix the problem. But
the truth is that after fixing crisis after crisis the federal
government is flat broke.
At our current pace, the Congressional Budget Office is
projecting that U.S. government public debt will hit 716 percent
of GDP by the year 2080.
But our politicians just keep spending money. In order to pay the
Baby Boomers what they are owed the federal government may indeed
go into even more debt and have the Federal Reserve print up a
bunch more money.
So in the end, Baby Boomers may get most of what they are owed.
Of course it may be with radically devalued dollars. Already we
are watching those on fixed incomes being devastated by the rising
cost of food, gas, heat and health care.
What is going to happen one day when prices have risen so much
that the checks that our seniors are getting are not enough to
heat their homes?
What are we going to do when those on fixed incomes are buying
dog food because it is all that they can afford?
We are rapidly reaching a tipping point. As the first Baby
Boomers retire the system is going to do okay. But as millions
start pouring into the system it is going to start breaking down.
No, there is not much that we can do about it now. We should have
been planning for all of this all along. Americans should have
been saving for retirement and governments should have been
setting money aside.