With over 26m people either unemployed or under-employed and many not having any real prospects of landing a job, a self-owned business may no longer be an option but a necessity! There seems to be little doubt that unemployment is going to remain high -- quite possibly for years to come. A good part of unemployment is said to be structural in nature with the skills and capabilities of many workers no longer demanded by the market, but lets face it, when the cash register quits ringing the first jobs to go are those that business owners can't justify.

Threat of extended unemployment may very well force an explosion of self-employed and independent small businesses by disillusioned unemployed who will seek to go out on their own, not as a dream but a necessity. Factory workers are replaced by robots, middle managers forced by executives to do more with fewer people and business owners not willing to hire because of increased taxes, insurance cost and a lack of capital, the outlook for a job growth is dismal.

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A few weeks ago, my team and I were invited to compete in the US National Finals for the Microsoft Imagine Cup in Washington D.C. This was the culmination of a blistering year of hard coding, business development, and scientific research that had been spent to create a mobile application called Mobilife. In short, we had adapted existing technology to provide users with supplemental diagnostic information to assist in diagnosing vascular diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sickle cell disease, etc.). The team tag line explains it all: take a picture, save a life.

The purpose behind the Imagine Cup Competition is straightforward enough - create technologies to address the UN Millennium Development goals, such as increasing environmental sustainability and reducing child mortality rates. Lofty goals for a student-only competition, but you would be impressed at some of the ideas out there. A team out of San Jose State University, for example, developed a software suite that models the carbon footprint and electrical consumption of computer systems as a function of their workload and the components. The quality of work and sheer brilliance of those competing really showcased the potential of our generation.

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The reality of being an artist, with few exceptions, involves having a day job, something that pays the rent and, most importantly, buys the stuff -- paint, guitar strings, reeds, canvas, whatever -- that makes the self-expression you live for possible. For too many, the day job is a generally uninspiring affair that entails some manner of serving, teaching, or selling out.

Not so for Jon Herington, whose recent CD Shine (Shine Shine) has just been released. He hit the day job jackpot over 11 years ago when he landed, as he describes it, "the best gig in the world," as guitarist for jazz-rock legends Steely Dan. Anyone who knows Steely Dan's music, shaped with intense perfectionism by principals Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, understands that "best" is in no way synonymous with "easy." Start with the complexity of their compositions and arrangements, plus an uncompromising demand for excellence from their players; add to that the fact that many of Steely Dan's classics are practically defined by the signature solos of a veritable pantheon of modern guitarists; and it's clear that Herington is charged with a task that would be daunting to most musicians.

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It all started with a toast at my wedding. My mother-in-law, who is extraordinarily shy, shocked our 200 friends and family when she held up her white-gloved hand, and it began to speak. Her lips didn't move, so it really looked like the white-gloved hand was delivering a toast. And it did so with humor, charm and grace. I know how hard it is for her to address a crowd in public. So for her to stand in front of all our friends and family, and move us to tears with essentially a sock puppet, well, this began my adventure into the world of ventriloquism.

It turns out ventriloquism is rising in popularity across America. It's hard to miss ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, whose YouTube channel views are in the hundreds of millions, and his "A Very Special Christmas Special" became Comedy Central's highest-rated comedy special ever. Jay Johnson, who starred as a ventriloquist in the '70's hit TV series Soap, recently won a Tony award for his autobiographical Broadway show, The Two and Only. Miss Arkansas and Miss America runner-up Elyse Eady's yodeling 'vent' act earned her an appearance on Letterman.

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Fashion Week seems to have softened Elisabeth Hasselbeck's opinion of Michelle Obama. At the Milly show on Tuesday, "The View" co-host, with daughter Grace on her lap, raved to HollywoodLife.com: "I love Michelle's style....I've seen her on a number of ocassions and she knocks it out of the park. I think she's such a fantastically strong fortunate woman and she dresses in a way I think many women like to dress. She's confident, she feels comfortable in her clothing, she's feminine, and beautiful. I think she really understands who she is."

That's quite a change in tone from 2008, when Hasselbeck took a jab Michelle Obama during a Cindy McCain event. She assessed the difference between the two candidates' wives based on their appearances on "The View": "Cindy came into our hair and makeup room, fresh as can be, and unlike another wife of a political candidate who shall remain nameless, she didn't come with a list of topics that we weren't allowed to touch. Nope, that's because she has nothing to hide."

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A good friend of mine asked me to read an article published on November 10, 2010 in Bazaar titled: The Peach Smoothie, The hottest new spa service takes the quest for perfect skin to a new place. Alex Kuczynski bravely investigates: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health-wellness-articles/vagina-facial-spa-treatment.

I had not read the article, nor was I aware that such a service existed in our United States of America. But that's not surprising. I'm the type of a gal who doesn't even bother to get a manicure, plus the only few times I've reluctantly had a facial was when it was offered as part of a package by some hotel or another and it would have been a total waste not to take advantage of it. Still, when I did have a facial it didn't feel relaxing to lie there for an hour or more, awake and aware and able, with my hyperactive brain having nothing better to do than concoct horrific images of my beet-red face and swollen nose after the beautician was done steaming and poking and probing and squeezing my poor skin.

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Editor's Note: This is the third installment of a six-part series by Jim Wallis reflecting on the past two years and painting a post-election vision for people of faith and Sojourners. To read more from Jim and join in a discussion with other Social Justice Christians check out his blog at God's Politics.

There are endless comparisons made between Obama, Clinton, and Reagan -- how badly each did in their first midterm elections, and how to recover and not be a one-term president like Jimmy Carter. But in the case of Obama, the better historical models are FDR and the JFK/Johnson period. It was the robust activism of those independent progressive movements of the past which created the space for major reforms, and made other presidencies memorable. That's because social change does not ultimately rest on who is in the White House, but a movement outside of Washington, D.C. that makes fundamental reforms possible. What we need to re-learn now is the choreography of the "outside/inside dance" that real social change always requires.

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Her Highness Sheikha Mozah is the second wife of Qatar's Amir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. She is a gorgeous, impeccably dressed, educated mother of seven who is wealthy beyond imagination. She has every reason to live an existence comprised nothing more of globe trotting, couture shopping and feasting on mussels and duck confit of the highest order. So why would a woman who doesn't have to work another day in her life choose to work every day of her life? Why would a first lady who could avoid controversy instead take the oryx by the horns make her nation state the most bitchin' place it can be?

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"Accommodationism" is the word used today to speak of the position that believes science and religion can exist together harmoniously, or at least without conflict. It is disliked strongly both by the New Atheists, who loathe religion, and by the fundamentalists, who reject science. Expectedly, it is a position much favored by liberal Christians and other such believers. People like Francis Collins, head of the National Institute of Health, are deeply committed Christians and strong supporters of modern science.

Is there a place under the accommodationism canvas for the non-believer? I think there is for I aspire to be one such person. As explained in an earlier blog and argued at length in my book Science and Spirituality: Making Room for Faith in the Age of Science, I believe that one can argue for all of modern science and yet agree that there are certain questions that science leaves unanswered: Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the ultimate ground of morality?

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What a difference two years make in times as serious as these. Two Novembers ago, all was hope and glory on the center-left in American politics, all was despair and despondency on the center-right. But that is not how things stand now. The political momentum has shifted back, and shifted back very quickly, into the hands of the very conservative forces whose future looked so bleak when Obama first entered the White House. Since those conservative forces are now not simply back on the offensive, but are also significantly more conservative in policy and ideology than were their defeated predecessors, this shift in momentum is both critical and potentially dangerous for those of us committed to progressive change. The rise of the new conservatism, unless stopped, will move the whole agenda of American politics even further to the right than it was in the Bush years. Stopping it requires many things: but it must begin with a clear understanding of why the tidal wave of progressive enthusiasm that swept Obama to the presidency has now dissipated.

So why have we seen this rapid change of fortunes? Some mixture of the following four reasons at least.

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Second-wave feminism forgot the single woman. That's the argument made by Rachel Moran in an important law review paper. I doubt that the single women of the first wave would have anticipated that future.

Do you know about "bachelor girls" or the women who thought of their lives as "single blessedness"? They, along with Susan B. Anthony, were among the faces of single womanhood from the mid-1800s through the beginning of the next century. "Bachelor girls" were the young adults who were not marrying so young; instead they were enjoying life in the city first. The phrase "single blessedness" was not used ironically. Single women who pursued spiritual growth and moral action were seen as serving a higher calling than marriage (as Lee Virginia Chambers-Schiller described in Liberty, A Better Husband.) Susan B. Anthony was, of course, one of the most famous single women who worked for women's right to vote, but the suffrage movement was powered by many other single women as well.

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This home is literally a work of art. Mills Studio Architects worked with owners and artist Fred Fehlau and Greg de Lumeau to create something inspired by Fred's contemporary art and work with galvanized steel. The end result: lots of warm wood paneling, concrete, and a steel shell. The three bedroom, two bathroom home has 4,500 square feet of living space and sits atop a 24,666 square foot lot - additional land available if you want it.

This home of steel is not only aesthetically pleasing - it's practically built too. Sitting on high on the hills of Tujunga, the original listing emphasizes the architect's concern for the environmental risks: "Steel was used for its aesthetics, its large span / open space capabilities, its ability to allow the building to touch the ground in as few places as possible, its ability to minimize interruptions to the existing natural drainage patterns, and as a response to the dangers of canyon fires." The home also has an indoor/outdoor pool that also acts as an "evaporative cooling device."

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The drinks menu is easy--anything from scotch on the rocks to wine to martinis to Mint Juleps. And we know what brand mad men and women smoke, at least for now--Lucky Strike. But what do mad men and women eat? When they dine out in season four, it's Chicken Kiev. And when they're staying in--well, it's easy to see why they don't eat in very often.

In the first episode of the new season, Dan's housekeeper told him that she had made pork chops--surely enough to drive a man not only to drink but to thoughts of an earlier season, when Betty, jumping up from the table to fetch his dinner, perkily asked, "Hot or cold"? Did we ever see Betty eat, even when she was pregnant? Most evenings she was brooding at the kitchen table, nursing a glass of wine. As little Bobby says, "Mommy doesn't eat." I can recall only two noteworthy exceptions: the vision of Betty--in the same episode as Bobby's observation--devouring a chicken leg after her one-night stand with a stranger and her tryst in a sweet shop over a dish of ice cream with future- second-husband and Freudian-father-figure Henry Francis.

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We have argued for some time that the policy debate about Iran here in the United States is distorted by a number of "myths" -- myths about the Islamic Republic, its foreign policy, and its domestic politics. We were reminded of this by Jim Hoagland's column Sunday in the Washington Post -- particularly the passage in which he chastises President Obama for citing sanctions "as the cause of unrest" in Iran. In Hoagland's view, this reading "does a disservice to the humanity of Iran's simmering revolt," which is playing the "dominant role in the popular uprising" that is taking place in the Islamic Republic. We certainly agree that the Obama administration is exaggerating the impact of sanctions, but it surpasses understanding that Hoagland is citing the Green movement as the cause of "unrest" and a "popular uprising" that is supposedly going on in Iran right now.

One of the more dangerous myths currently affecting America's Iran debate is the proposition that, through concerted diplomatic action, the United States can isolate the Islamic Republic, both regionally and internationally.

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Julian Assange has done America a service by releasing the new "Pentagon Papers" on Afghanistan. He reveals to a citizenry that has been left in the dark about the true nature of the war just what is going on. To the historian, the American predicament (and inevitable defeat) is foreshadowed by the Soviet experience. That the Obama administration "surged" this losing battle, embraced a two-faced Pakistan, and kept the Bush-era nation-building going (to the tune of $7 billion/month) despite all of the sobering news delivered by Wikileaks is astounding.

To see how this draggletailed war will end, let us consult the Soviet playbook, which has become ours. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan on Christmas Day 1979. The invasion was designed to place Moscow closer to the Persian Gulf oil fields, but also -- in common with US efforts today -- to strike a mortal blow against Islamic fundamentalism, which had begun to creep into Russia's southern 'stans. Like us, the Soviets pushed modern ideas: they abolished sharia, unveiled women, introduced co-ed classrooms, redistributed land, built schools and medical clinics, and expanded roads and infrastructure. They abolished the Afghan tricolor flag because it was striped with Muslim green.

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At least in our office, there are two types of gals: Those that would die for their stilettos, and those who'd freak out if they were in anything but their wedges. The skinny heel vs. chunky heel seems like comparing apples to oranges; each has their merits and shortcomings, and wearing one doesn't mean that you won't ever sample the other. But in terms of crossover, there actually doesn't seem to be much happening. We've yet to find a woman who wears both styles in equal measure. So which side of the great heel divide do you fall? Leg-enhancing, sexy, painful skinny heels—or the comfortable, unfussy, clumsy-looking chunky heel?





Above, from left: Karen Millen Tassel Sandal, $250, available at Karen Millen; Rachel Comey Tassel Brogue, $350, available at Opening Ceremony.

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Over the years, U.S. bashing has become a national pastime in Pakistan. This trend is dominant almost everywhere, ranging from drawing room discussions to media talk shows, and in recent months has assumed alarming proportions due to host of events such as Afia Siddique verdict, Raymond Davis's capture and subsequent release, incessant drone attacks and above all, the recent killing of Osama bin Laden.

Although it would be an exaggeration to say that everyone in Pakistan mistrusts and hates the U.S., a substantial majority does. Several surveys have revealed that majority of Pakistanis consider USA as an enemy rather than a friend. In fact Al-Jazeera-Gallup Pakistan Survey 2009 revealed that 59% identified the U.S. as the greatest threat to Pakistan. Even India, the arch rival was considered as the greatest threat by only 18% of the respondents. And Taliban, despite blowing off thousands of people, were considered as the biggest threat by only 11%.

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I work with teenagers who are having difficulties, I have done so for almost 30 years, and I have written previously about the propensity of some parents to fail to set limits on their children. I know this is not only my opinion, I have heard it voiced many times by peers in my field. Or as a sixth grade teacher friend once told me, "Just go to any mall, sit down on a bench in an open area, and observe. I guarantee you'll see example after example of poor parenting, with the kids running the show and the parents checked out."

While I haven't tried the mall experiment yet, I did happen upon an example of this recently while at the gym. I was on the treadmill, it was 7 a.m., and of the 10 televisions playing in front of me, the only show that looked half-way interesting was one on MTV called "Parental Control." I have to admit I am not a fan of MTV, in fact with shows like "Jersey Shore," "Skins" and "The Real World" on its roster, I consider MTV to have pumped more toxicity into the environment than BP and Exxon combined.

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I'm tapping my fingers waiting for asparagus to arrive. It's like the night before Christmas, or worse, the early morning hours when you're not sure whether Santa's come and gone, or might shuffle in yet. So while we're waiting, I thought I'd rehash some of the simplest, most satisfying, no-nonsense ways to turn asparagus and other fresh produce that will soon arrive into meals. Because it'll be too nice outside to worry about it too much.

Plus, so many have asked how to make cooking with fresh produce more efficient, especially for one. What to do with leftover food? There is economy to eating locally and seasonally, when you consider how far you can stretch one bunch of produce. You can cook it throughout the week, and never get bored. All too often we're smitten by more things than we know what to do on a market trip, and end up letting some of our bunches go bad. Save yourself the time, money and head-scratching by focusing on one fetching ingredient at a time. I've practically lived off of all these techniques, or some variation of them, for quite some time, and they never get old.

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One of the more original food trucks to hit Manhattan, Bistro Truck is a Moroccan-owned and inspired truck serving a mix of North African and Mediterranean grub. The result is something of a combination of a kebab cart and a classy French bistro with a list of everyday items and daily specials based on what's fresh.

The Menu: What's great about the Bistro Truck is they use sometimes exotic and generally high quality ingredients (the beef is grass-fed, for example), yet no dish tops $7. Hors d'oeuvres include a decent size Salad Nicoise and Lamb cigars (phylo dough stuffed with ground lamb and mixed greens). There are seven sandwiches to choose from, including an incredible one with Merguez sausage, topped with fries, on a baguette. Awesome. The entrees (Marrakech Lamb, Dijon Chicken and Vegetable Tajine) come with cous-cous or rice. You can get a side order of fries, which are called Belgian frites, yet like every other food truck claiming to sell Belgian fries, they aren't thick cut or very crispy. (They came out kind of soggy, actually). Daily specials range from lentil soup to steak tacos.

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I really don't want to like guns. I was raised in a pacifist household -- we protested the Vietnam War and worshiped Ghandi. So why do I find war so gripping? My dad, who was a leader in the American Friends Service Committee for many years, is also a Civil War buff. He read us Michael Shaara's "Killer Angels" (the fictional account of the battle of Gettysburg) out loud. When I was old enough, I re-read it -- studying the infantry maps of Little Round Top, where Colonel Chamberlain and the 20th Maine changed the course of American history.

As part of the Good Men Project, I have become close with Michael Kamber, war photographer for The New York Times. We often exchange emails; while I'm sitting in my suburban Brookline home, he's getting shot at in some god-awful war zone in Iraq or Afghanistan. He tells me that there is a time to use guns. The wars may be foolhardy, and the press reports scripted by the military, but the men on the front lines have a job to do, and no choice but to do it to the best of their ability.

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The Blue Button is a way for a vet to download their personal healthrecord, maybe to bring to a doctor or clinic. It's a moving target, abig step toward getting more info available and accessible. It's one of many efforts across government to provide better medical care at lowercost for everyone.

Blue Button draws mostly on data entered by the vet, but also has aconnection to health information from the Department of VeteransAffairs. DoD has one too. Because they coordinated so closely they arenearly identical. You don't see that every day in large agencies.

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Beverly Hills is sleepy and sunny on an early Saturday morning as I make my way to the Physique 57 studio for a class. The area, notorious for its shopping and restaurants, is virtually empty with exception to a few early risers ducking into the Rite Aid pharmacy or Jack and Jill's for breakfast. There's so much street parking its as if you're in another part of the globe. I hop out and hurry into the tiny brick building that hosts the studio. The latest hot trend in fitness, Physique 57 classes combine strengthening exercises with stretching. Without a doubt, the classes are popular. The room is packed as more than a dozen sleepy-eyed women file in -- mind you this is at 10am.

What hooked me, however, weren't the classes but the DVDs Physique also offers. As a serial entrepreneur with a two-year old startup, I'm not always able to get to the gym, am on travel, etc. I keep the DVD that tones your booty in my laptop's player for this very reason. In 30 minutes, no matter where I am, I can sneak a work out in.

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