Archive for October, 2009

Ready for some halloween fun? Now through November 5th, only, you can search some of Ancestry.com’s creepiest collections for free.

Probably one of the most interesting collections is the Salem Witches Collection. This collection includes records of those who were formally accused and charged with witchcraft in New England from 1647-1697 and actually went to trial in a town court proceeding. The available records show the year the accused stood trial, a first and last name, the town or village where the trial took place and the outcome of the trial (confession, acquittal, execution, escape, etc.) Perhaps one or more of your distant ancestors was accused of being a witch! Wouldn’t it be fun to find out?

The offer also includes free access to the cemetery and gravestone collections and a collection of 74,000 headstone photos, some with multiple names, of people who died from the early 19th century through the present.

The collections can be found at Ancestry.com’s Halloween offer page.

Happy Hunting!

This Halloween marks the 83rd anniversary of the death of master illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini. On Sunday October 31st, 1926, Houdini died of peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix, in room 401, Corridor D, in the old John R. Wing of Grace Hospital in Detroit. He was just 52 years old.

Born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, on March 24, 1874, Harry’s family moved to Appleton, Wisconsin when he was 4 years old. Throughout his life, Houdini would claim Appleton as his birthplace so that he would be more readily accepted as an American. He ran away from home at the age of twelve, performing magic as “Eric the Great” with circuses and side shows.He then rejoined his family in New York at age 13. Later, after reading a biography of French illusionist, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, Harry changed his last name, adding an “i” to the name of his idol and became one of the most famous performers in American history.

In addition to his well publicized career as a magician and escape artist, Houdini was also a well known crusader against fake mediums. He had developed an intense interest in the spirit world following the death of his beloved mother and tried several times to contact her in the great beyond. Having been bilked, himself, Houdini would frequently attend seances in disguise just to expose the charlatans and prevent them from taking the money of grieving survivors.

Several days before his death, in Montreal, Houdini had been struck repeatedly in the abdomen by a student, challenging Harry’s claims that he could withstand any blow to the abdomen. The punches were unexpected and caught Harry off guard. In pain, Harry gamely made the long train ride to Detroit, calling for a doctor, upon his arrival. He was taken to Grace Hospital where he was found to have a ruptured appendix. There is much speculation about whether the blows to the abdomen may have caused Houdini’s appendix to rupture, thereby, causing his death, but medical wisdom belies this claim. In any event, the student was never investigated and, reportedly, disappeared into obscurity shortly after the incident.

Seances are held each year on Halloween and have been held each year, since his death in 1926, in an attempt to contact Houdini. He had always vowed that, if there were any way possible, he would return to his wife Bess and had set up a code with her so that she would recognize his spirit when it materialized. Bess attended these seances faithfully for 10 years following the magician’s death, then she gave up.  To this day, though, the faithful still gather in a location which had a significant connection to Houdini’s life, in an attempt to raise his spirit. The seance was once held at the site of the magician’s death: room 401, Corridor D, Grace Hospital, Detroit.

Troy, Michigan based Kelly Services, Inc. today released the results of their survey, The Kelly Global Workforce Index, which surveyed about 100,000 people in 34 countries throughout North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific, regarding their views on social responsibility as an incentive to accept employment and tracks differences between respondents, depending on their generation.

The survey showed that, while employees across all age generations and regions tend to prefer companies with well developed social, ethical and environmental policies, baby boomers seem especially likely to be concerned with a company’s social responsibility factor, as a gauge of suitability for employment.

Here are key findings of the survey, from KellyServices.com:

• Almost 90 percent of respondents say they are more likely to work for an organization that is considered ethically and socially responsible, something that is consistent across all age generations.
• 80 percent are more likely to work for an organization that is considered environmentally responsible, a figure that is considerably higher among older age groups.
• In deciding where to work, an organization’s reputation for ethical conduct is considered ‘very important’ by 65 percent of Gen Y, 72 percent of Gen X, and 77 percent of baby boomers.
• 46 percent of Gen Y would be prepared to forego pay or promotion to work for an organization with a good reputation, rising to 48 percent for Gen X and 53 percent for baby boomers.
• In deciding where to work, policies to address global warming are considered ‘very important’ by 31 percent of Gen Y, rising to 35 percent among Gen X and 36 percent for baby boomers.

North America
• 90 percent say they are more likely to want to work for an organization that is considered ethically and socially responsible, the highest of any region of the globe.
• 83 percent say they are more likely to want to work for an organization that is considered environmentally responsible, again the highest of any region.
• In deciding where to work, 35 percent say that policies to address global warming are ‘very important’ and 53 percent say they are ‘somewhat important.’
• In deciding where to work, 82 percent say an employer’s reputation for ethical conduct is ‘very important’ and 17 percent say it is ‘somewhat important.’
• Almost half (49 percent) would be prepared to accept a lower salary or a lesser role to work for a firm with a positive approach to the environment, employees and the community.

Europe
• 86 percent say they are more likely to want to work for an organization that is considered ethically and socially responsible.
• 79 percent say they are more likely to want to work for an organization that is considered environmentally responsible.
• In deciding where to work, 29 percent say that policies to address global warming are ‘very important’, and 57 percent say they are ‘somewhat important.’
• In deciding where to work, 62 percent say an employer’s reputation for ethical conduct is ‘very important’ and 34 percent say it is ‘somewhat important.’
• More than a third (42 percent) would be prepared to accept a lower salary or a lesser role to work for a firm with a positive approach to the environment, employees and the community.

Asia Pacific
• 87 percent say they are more likely to want to work for an organization that is considered ethically and socially responsible.
• 81 percent say they are more likely to want to work for an organization that is considered environmentally responsible.
• In deciding where to work, 39 percent say that policies to address global warming are ‘very important’, a level higher than in either North America or Europe.
• In deciding where to work, 71 percent say an employer’s reputation for ethical conduct is ‘very important’ and 27 percent say it is ‘somewhat important.’

• More than half (56 percent) would be prepared to accept a lower salary or a lesser role to work for a firm with a positive approach to the environment, employees and the community, higher than in both North America and Europe.

This would appear to show that companies will need to be aware of their social footprint in order to attract and retain high quality employees, of any generation, but that baby boomers, in particular, are most concerned with the social responsibility of potential employers.

You might remember my post from back in March about writing online for various websites. I have since applied to a few and I am happy to report I’ve been accepted to write for three of them: Demand Studios, Examiner.com and Suite101.com and can now tell you a little more about them. Of the three, Demand Studios seems to be the most selective, both in terms of your initial application and the writing you will eventually do for them. They do, however, provide you with extensive writer’s resources and editorial guidelines to follow. The writing, itself, is mostly research based articles and “how-to’s” and most pay a flat fee ($7.50 – $15.00 per article) and some assignments offer revenue share. The content created for Demand Studios will end up on any of a number of Demand Media owned sites, including eHow.com, Livestrong.com, AnswerBag.com and others. If your writing isn’t quite up to snuff, though, I wouldn’t start out at Demand, due to their more stringent editorial policies. Suite 101 is unique among these types of sites in that they don’t hold you to one particular category. You do pick categories or interests in your initial application, but they don’t hold you to it. You can submit articles on any of their topics and share in the revenue the articles bring in. Examiner.com is probably the best for sheer exposure and they have a big push on for writers right now. This might be the best place to begin for those who want to break into the online writing field. You will apply for a particular topic and you are imited to writing on that topic, only. The good news is there are hundreds of topics, some very narrow niches, so you’re sure to find something that interests you. Click here to apply – and please let them know I referred you.  I’ll keep you posted over the next few months on how these three writing endeavors are going for me.

Many baby boomers find it difficult, if not impossible to find employment in today’s tough job market. One of the reasons for this is that many employers believe mature applicants don’t have any computer skills or are not willing or able to learn new applications. Certifying your skills and furthering your education can be the most rewarding and effective way of combating this stereotype and improving your chances of being hired by an employer.

I, myself, have recently begun to do just that, thanks to Michigan’s “No Worker Left Behind” program. It’s a great program for those who are unemployed or simply making less than $40,000 per year. Under the program, you can receive up to $10,000 for two years to further your education. There are a few stipulations, however. The degree or certificate you’re earning must prepare you for a job in an “emerging industry” or “high growth occupation”. They have a list of such occupations on the NWLB website at http://www.michigan.gov/nwlb

I have been pursuing IT certifications in various computer applications and have recently completed the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam in Microsoft Word. I now hold MCAS certification in that application. These certifications will help to certify my skills, so that employers will know exactly how proficient I am. I will be continuing on through the Microsoft Office suite of programs (Excel is next), eventually leading to certification as an all-around MS Office “expert”.

With all the hype about we boomers being “the” fastest growing group of consumers, many sites have sprung up targeting our demographic. Here’s how it works: you put up a site, you get lots of traffic, advertisers take notice and buy space on your site. However, some site publishers have been a bit too hasty in their quest for our dollars and have created sites that do not even come close to speaking to who we are or how we look at life. My first encounter with one of these sites was with Eons. Eons is billed as a site for boomers but, back when I first signed on, they had lots of references to death, illness and advanced funeral planning! It was certainly depressing. They may have changed their focus by now but I have not been back, showing the importance of first impressions. However, from the moment I first signed on to Vibrant Nation, a community site for women 50+, I felt as if they were speaking to me and to who I really am. Here, I can talk about anything, from writing my first novel, to hang gliding, to cupcakes, to sex. This is a place that seems, quite obviously, to have been written by boomer women, rather than by some marketing guru who thinks he has found the pot of boomer gold. However, you will be surprised to learn that the site was actually founded by a 45 year old man! Nonetheless, Vibrant Nation makes me feel as if I belong there and that is what I was looking for all along. I encourage you to check it out and sign up. You’ll be so glad you did.

The baby boomer of today is a very different breed from any other generation in history. While we are entering our golden years, we are remaining active and pursuing adventure in untold numbers. Although we still have a great love of nostalgia, we also want to experience life “up close and personal”. Many resorts and travel destinations are recognizing this and responding with travel options tailored specifically for the baby boomer generation. “Glamping” (or glamorous camping) is one such option.

Three Lakes Resort in upstate Washington offers a travel package which includes two nights in a vintage 31-foot 1978 Airstream Sovereign camper, situated lakeside. The camper includes a full deck (which the resort terms “fluffing it vs. roughing it”), kitchenware, indoor and outdoor furnishings, bed linens, bath and body amenities, two coffee mugs complete with  hot cocoa and even a harmonica for those nightly sing-alongs beside the campfire. The price is reasonable, too, at just $229 per night with the second consecutive night free. http://www.lakedale.com/

If you’re more of a maverick do-it-yourself-er, Silver Cottages, Inc. also offers these vintage Airstream trailers for rent, anywhere in the NW Washington area. http://www.silvercottages.com/

While Airstream camping may satisfy the yearning for nostalgia in all of us, Paws Up Resort in Montana brings new meaning to the term “glamping”. Tent City, a collection of six spacious, exquisitely appointed tents is one option available. Your canvas abode will include a huge rustic feather bed, fine linens, art on the walls and even electricity. Paws Up also offers a private bathhouse, a dining pavilion serving gourmet cuisine, a spa tent for indulgent massages and of course, a “glamping” butler at your service for the duration of your stay. True to their name, you can even bring Fido along. http://www.pawsup.com/