Mountain Surfing

AP - A super-sharp Earth-imaging satellite that can detail an area the size of a baseball diamond's home plate from space has been launched into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the Central California coast.

Yes, that is a tough question. You don't want to be too forward and ask before you have even had an interview do you? No, of course not. You do want to seem assertive and show interest in the position, and asking makes you seem worldly, right? Well maybe, but not automatically. It can also make you seem inexperienced and greedy.

The real answer is you don't ask. You have to go on interviews without having any idea what the compensation is. Quite often there is a phone interview and your current compensation may come up as a question. If you must answer, then you must, but you should avoid it anytime you can."But why oh guru of the job market? Won't I be wasting everyone's time if we are far apart?" you ask.

Yes, it is possible that you are way over or way under the compensation for the job, but if that is true then someone made a mistake in qualifying you for in the first place, or you did in applying for it. A phone interviewer should determine from your current job title and level of responsibility if you two are in the same ballpark salary-wise.

But in the end, it is completely incumbent upon the hiring authority to make you an offer of compensation based on the level of responsibility for the position and the current market rate for it. You may have to invest in several interviews over several weeks to get to that point, but that is protocol.

If, during the face to face interview your future employer should ask you for your salary requirements (as in, how much money are you expectin' to come to work here boy), the best you can do is tell them what you currently make and that you are sure they will make you a fair offer based on the position and your experience. Most companies will accept that answer and it puts the responsibility right back on them, where it belongs. Trust me, I have done this a few times. Now ain't you glad you stopped in to visit my lil ole article? Of course you are.

Once you receive the offer of employment, in writing, only then can you make a counter offer, which includes vacation negotiation. And remember, everything is negotiable until you say yes. They may just say no, and may even pull the offer off the table altogether, so be prepared to lose the position, but that doesn't normally happen. And if it did happen, you wouldn't want to work there anyway. People and companies like that are from the dark side and I don't want you to go work there.The interview and the compensation discussion are the most awkward parts of this, but it is the most power you will ever have during the entire hiring process. You have to wait until the offer is made before discussing comp.

But, that is the time to do it because once you start, HR owns you and you must go into the fields and work the crops just like all the other farm hands - or whatever job you just signed up for.

Hope this helps!! If you would like more information, feel free to email me.

M.E. Edwards is a career coach, author, speaker entrepreneur and expert on career development at all levels. You can read his musings here, or take a more extensive look at his blog at http://www.directyourcareer.com/ Or you can email him at just_mike70@yahoo.com

AP - David Spade is the father of Playboy playmate Jillian Grace's newborn daughter, Spade's representative said Thursday. The baby girl was born Aug. 26 in Missouri, and Spade plans to visit her on his first break from filming the CBS sitcom "Rules of Engagement," publicist Meredith O'Sullivan said.

So, how do you save for retirement?

Seriously, have you actually started to save?

Have you thought of where and how to come up with the money you need to support yourself in retirement?

No? That's pretty normal because it isn't something we usually think about when we've other more pressing matters at hand. Retirement? Well, it's another 20, 30 years down the road; plenty of time to start that saving.....

Well, before you know it, you've retired and you don't save enough to support yourself in retirement....

Don't fall into this "tragic" trap. Start to save as early as possible because the earlier you start to save, the more time your savings have, to compound over time.

I'm going to show you how to save for retirement, the "smart" ways:

• Estimate how much you need to save to last throughout your retirement years, with inflation built in. How much your expenses will be at retirement and your life expectancy at retirement (based on when you might retire) are the crucial measuring yardsticks to know how much you need to save.Multiply your estimated annual expenses at retirement by the years you can expect to live after retirement. You get a rough idea of what you need to save for retirement (P/S: Experts estimate that your retirement expenses will be 30% lower than when you were in the work force)
• Deduct the amount you expect to receive from Social Security. Contact the Social Security Administration at get your estimated benefits at retirement. On average, Social Security will account for less than 44% of your income (and if you're in a higher income bracket, the figure could be more like 15%). The rest must come from you, from your other sources of income - could be pensions, retirement savings plans, annuities, interest, dividends, rent....
• Learn about your employer's pension Or profit sharing plan - if your employer offers a plan, check to see what your benefit is worth. Most employers will provide an individual benefit statement if you request one. Before you change jobs, find out what will happen to your pension. Learn what benefits you may have from previous employment
• Contribute to a tax-sheltered savings plan - if your employer offers a tax-sheltered savings plan, such as a 401k, sign up and contribute all you can. Your taxes will be lower, your company may kick in more, and automatic deductions make it easy. Over time, compound interest and tax deferrals make a big difference in the amount you will accumulate
• Put your money into an individual retirement account (IRA). You can put up to $4,000 a year into an IRA and gain tax advantages. When you open an IRA, you've 2 options - a traditional IRA or the newer Roth IRA. The tax treatment of your contributions and withdrawals will depend on which option you select. Also, you should know that the after-tax value of yourwithdrawal will depend on inflation and the type of IRA you choose
• Get familiar with basic investment principles. How you save can be as important as how much you save. Inflation and the type of investments you make affect how much you'll have saved at retirement. Know how your pension or savings plan is invested. It'll help to enhance your financial security
• Don't touch your retirement savings. You'll lose principal and interest, and you may lose tax benefits. If you change jobs, roll over your savings directly into an IRA or your new employer's retirement plan
• Start now to save and stick to it. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Put time on your side. Make retirement savings a high priority. Get a plan, stick to it, and set goals for your savings

Due to her strong yearning to retire early in life, Cecelia Yap has been researching on the subject of retirement. She has found the most "viral" way to grow her retirement nest egg and you too can do what she does, here: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/my-passion.html