Unless you live in your underground bunker, you’re probably aware of a certain election that took place recently in the United States. It featured historic presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as cable news networks with fancy computerized maps, and an abundance of talking heads.

I will admit, I kind of got into the election coverage that saturated newspapers, the Internet and television news programs. However, now that I know who the new president will be come January 20, I have something else on my mind.

Puppies!

It turns out that President-Elect and Mrs. Obama promised their daughters a new addition to the family if they won the election: a family dog! In true democratic fashion, people were even allowed to help the Obama’s decide which breed to choose.

Several presidential dog websites have sprung up, including one sponsored by the American Kennel Club. At www.presidentialpup.com, visitors can read about breeds the family is considering, and make their voices heard by voting for the breed they want to see in the White House.

More recently, animal activists have encouraged the Obama family to adopt a dog from a shelter. And in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mrs. Obama stated that they would indeed be adopting a shelter dog.

Unfortunately for me, Mrs. Obama also said they would wait until life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a little more settled before welcoming a new dog to the family. I guess I’ll have to wait along with them.

What do you think about dogs? Maybe you’re more of a cat person. Even if dolphins are your favorite species, you should consider a career in veterinary and animal care. A college near you might have the perfect program.

The animals will thank you. And maybe you’ll get to spend your whole workday hanging out with puppies!

In a recent blog post, we talked a little about the Federal Student Aid Programs that don’t require repayment. But, even if you qualify to receive a grant or begin a work-study program, chances are, you’ll still probably need additional funds.

Filling out FAFSA will also help determine your eligibility for a number of loans. Let’s take a look at one of my favorites:

Federal Perkins Loan
This is a loan with a super-low 5% fixed-interest rate, with the ­college serving as the lender. You don’t have to pay your principal and interest charges if you’re enrolled at least half-time.

Eligibility based on financial need. And, even though your financial need is determined by the U.S. Department of Education and the info you provide on your FAFSA, your school’s financial aid administrator has a big say in determining the amount of Perkins loans to award.

Undergraduates can qualify for up to $4,000 annually with a maximum limit of $20,000 for the whole of your undergraduate education. Graduate students can qualify for up to $6,000 with a maximum of $40,000, including undergraduate loans.

And, you start making payments nine months after you graduate, or from the time your enrollment falls below half-time status. Repayment can take up to 10 years.

The extra perk in the Perkins Loan? Students who get involved in certain fields like public, military or teaching service employment may be eligible to have all or part of their loans CANCELLED! It’s one of those “you scratch America’s back, America will scratch yours” deals.

Sounds good to me!

Anyhoo, keep on the lookout for our next installment where we’ll explore Federal Stafford Loans.

When you step into the world of Homeland Security, you may have several opportunities to see and hear about some really strange stuff. And what’s started to become more and more commonplace is that toys are continuing to be considered security risks.

Anyone remember last year when the entire city of Boston was put on hold while police, homeland security agents and bomb squads chased down, removed and “defused” threats that ultimately turned out to be nothing more than an advertisement made on a child’s Lite-Brite toy? Well this year, crime fighters are going about it with a bit more pre-emptive gusto.

A few weeks ago, police seized a board game from homes and store shelves because it contained items that “could be used in a criminal or terrorist act.” What’s the game? Why, “War On Terror,” of course!

When questioned by game owners and the press, the police claim that the ski mask that came with the game could be used in a criminal act.

The game’s creators, Andrew Sheerin and Andy Tompkins, web designers from Cambridge UK, have expressed total shock at the inclusion of their toy among “criminal” items.

Andrew said: “I saw pictures of the board game in papers and was absolutely baffled. Surely no member of the public is going to believe that a board game could be used as a weapon?” Well, actually…

War on Terror, similar to games like Risk, revolves around creating empires that compete and wage war. And of course, someone has to be the bad guy. That person has to wear a balaclava (included in the game) with the word “Evil” stitched on to it.

So in order to keep public order and safety at an optimum, you may not even PRETEND to join the “Axis Of Evil.” So you might as well join the other side and enroll in a Criminal Justice program or Homeland Security program at a nearby college.

True story.

Francoise de Motteville, a 17th century biographer, believed that “the true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.” Yet, many find it hard to obtain any kind of satisfaction, let alone happiness, in the work they do every day. Is it possible to be happy at work?

For years, the amount of research and attention given to happiness at work has increased. Books are published, studies are commissioned and reports are produced year after year that all say it is possible to be happy at work. Somewhat contradictory is the reality that the majority of the workforce indicates high levels of job dissatisfaction.

Barbara Moses, author of “What Next? The Complete Guide to Taking Control of Your Working Life”, believes there is a reason for the high levels of unsatisfied workers. “Realistically, it’s unreasonable to expect to be happy all the time. No job is perfect,” said Moses. “You aren’t wrong or strange if your job isn’t a major source of personal happiness.”

There are all kinds of reasons why people enter the workforce in the first place. They include everything from making money to self-expression to personal fulfillment. For some people, “work is not the centerpiece of their identity,” said Moses. Others define themselves by the work they do. You must identify which you are. If you view work as a means to an end, you will more than likely seek happiness in activities and relationships outside of work to bring balance to your life. If your work defines you, a career that affirms your value system is a must for you to experience happiness.

In his book, “Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities”, Dr. Steven Reiss introduces what he calls “value-based happiness.” He believes that we only experience happiness when we satisfy our intrinsic desires. Value-based happiness, therefore, becomes an equalizer. “You can find value-based happiness if you are rich or poor, smart or mentally challenged, athletic or clumsy, popular or socially awkward,” said Reiss in a past Psychology Today article.

“Happiness and life-satisfaction stem not from experiencing pleasure and avoiding pain,” he said. “But from a sense that our lives have meaning and fulfill a larger purpose.”

The 16 desires Reiss identifies are: curiosity, acceptance, order, physical activity, honor, power, independence, social contact, family, status, idealism, vengeance, romance, eating, saving and tranquility. Learn more about the Reiss Profile here.

Reiss encourages everyone to identify their deepest desires and then seek work in those areas. “To do well in a career and enjoy life, people need to be in a job and work environment that are compatible with their intrinsic desires,” he said.

This is easier said than done for some people. “Everyone who has experienced a bad work situation knows how personally destructive it is,” said Moses. She recommends asking yourself one question: If your work is making you unhappy, what’s keeping you there?

A huge problem for many people is not knowing what would make them happy. It could be that your work environment is not compatible with your intrinsic values. Or, it could mean that you need to do some simple self-evaluation to determine what it would take to restore happiness to your job and life.

In addition to completing a Reiss Profile, consider a few strategies Moses provided in her CareerJournal.com article, “Should You Expect Happiness at Work?” Moses encourages the unhappy worker to:

• Identify the source of your unhappiness
• Evaluate your options
• Think about when you were last happy to determine what has changed
• Look outside your work for possible causes
• Be bold and assert your right to feel good about your work

While doing these things won’t guarantee you will find happiness at work, it is a starting point to begin the journey to happiness at work. As you explore where you are and where you desire to be, remember that true happiness begins with you choosing an attitude of happiness.

Economic Slowdown May Not Affect Tourism

With all the talk of an economic downturn and a possible recession in the U.S., some states are concerned with how it will affect tourism. In places like Florida and California, where tourism is one of the largest industries, the rising cost of gasoline and travel expenses could spell trouble for the hospitality industry.

The big question on everyone’s mind this year is how gasoline prices will affect travel plans. However, many in the industry don’t anticipate a problem. While some consumers may curtail longer trips because of gas prices, they might opt for shorter ones. This is good news for many states as more people could be staying near home for their vacations.

Thomas Ranese, chief marketing officer for the “I Love New York” tourism campaign, said the industry has seen a trend toward shorter trips in recent years. A poor economy could accelerate the trend. As a result, New York has directed its tourism advertising at New York City, as well as nearby states and Canadian provinces.

Rising gas costs aren’t the only problem. As people feel the economy’s pinch, they may be inclined to find less expensive vacation plans. Why stay in a costly hotel when family and friends can put you up for the night? This could mean fewer jobs in the hospitality industry.

In a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel, University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith disagrees. He noted that Central Florida has not seen any impact of the economic downturn. In fact, Metro Orlando has added 4,100 jobs in the hospitality industry during the past year.

“I think tourism will fare pretty well, and that this won’t be an equal-opportunity downturn,” Snaith said. “Leisure and hospitality should continue to grow jobs.”

If anything, the devaluation of the dollar could be good for U.S. tourism. Those who might normally travel abroad may stay home when faced with a weaker dollar in Europe. Likewise, Europeans may see a trip to the U.S. as a bargain.

Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said the hotel and tourism industry has been doing surprisingly well. Because, he said, a weak dollar is attracting international tourists.

According to the Tourism Industry Association of America, the tourism industry generates $740 billion annually, from both domestic and international travelers in the United States.

Although the country’s economy may be slowing down, the forecast for this year’s tourism industry is still generally sunny. More importantly, it may be tourism that helps balance economic troubles in other sectors of the U.S. economy.