This'n'That; April 23rd[Crooks;Insurance;Employment]

Fluffy's "Back-Door" Deals

[GAWD!!! Will it ever end?? If he's not "hiring" crooked tax dodgers, he's pressuring folks to hide disparaging information from stockholders. Not knowing the full story could have potentially cost BoA investors "a tonna money!! "But, it wasn't Fluffy who withheld the information," you say......Technically correct... but, in the real world.... a boss [Fluffy] is ultimately responsible for what his employees [Bernanke, Paulson] do and say. "But how would The Fluffer know?"......you say. Again, technically correct, but had Fluffy spent more time in the real world [read: at a non-governmental entity; making payrolls, etc], he might have picked up his first modicum of executive experience. That experience would have alerted him to follow his crooked employees closer!! His executive experience STARTED on January 20th. Any previous time--be it as a community agitator, in the Illinois State Senate or his 142 days in the US Senate--he's just another hireling among thousands!!]

According to a recently obtained copy of CEO Ken Lewis' February testimony to New York's attorney general, Bernanke and then-Treasury chief Paulson pressured Bank of America to stay silent on its increasingly troubled deal to acquire Merrill Lynch. Despite an obligation to disclose any material financial hits to shareholders, officials pressed Lewis to keep quiet during government-funding negotiations to ensure important financial institutions wouldn't fail. Publicizing Merrill's losses would have allowed Bank of America's shareholders the opportunity to stop the deal and let Merrill collapse.

Who Has Your Insurance?

[If you have "The Hartford," you might want to consider shopping your insurance requirements around. Fluffy'll probably treat it like AIG and throw money at them.... nothing like "nationalizing" the private sector!!]

Hartford Financial Services is said to be seeking bids from rivals including Travelers Companies for its flagship property insurance business. Sources said Hartford has been shopping the unit after losses in its life division led to credit downgrades, and that damage from the financial crisis may ultimately lead to a breakup of the insurer. The property unit is estimated to be worth $4B-$8B.

Lookin' For Work?

[Anyone looking for work should check these companies. They might have something in your area. I work for one of those listed-Lowe's Home Improvement stores-in the Rochester, NY, area. Lowe's is one of the finest companies I've worked for in some time!!]

According to a recent article by Fortune magazine, the following companies are on a hiring binge: Wal-Mart (WMT). An estimated 960 new job openings to staff new locations. It's hiring store managers, human resource managers, pharmacists, customer service associates and cashiers, among others. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ). An estimated 150 new openings needed in several areas of its businesses, including information technology, human resources, research and development, marketing, finance and administrative. Bank of America (BAC). 1,860 new positions needed in several areas including consumer banking, small business banking, credit cards, home loans, global banking, wealth management, technology, human resources, finance, communications, marketing and administration. State Farm Insurance. An estimated 800+ new agents needed. There are positions in a variety of areas including claims and underwriting, finance, accounting and legal. The company aims to add 800 to 1000 new agent positions across the country, specifically in the Northeast, Texas and California. WellPoint (WLP). 1,225 new positions needed. It's hiring health outreach specialists, nurse case managers, accountants, actuaries, claims representatives, customer care representatives, enrollment and billing representatives, account managers, marketing managers, business analysts and sales assistants. Boeing (BA). 2460 positions are available in various areas such as engineering, finance, communications, contracts, intellectual property, information systems, program and project management, operations, quality, marketing, supplier management and supplier quality, legal, business development and some administrative and support positions. Microsoft (MSFT). 630 Positions are available in marketing, software development, customer service, information technology, operations, program management, small and medium business sales, software testing, administrative services, operations, user assistance and education, game design, content publishing, marketing communications, legal and finance. MetLife (MET). 1000 new positions are needed in areas of information technology, human resources, finance, operations, call center, administration and sales (including individual policies, group, home loans - mortgage and reverse mortgages). United Parcel Service (UPS). 3,070 positions are needed for part-time package handlers, mechanics, warehouse personnel, sales representatives and information technology professionals. Medco Health Solutions (MHS). 300+ new positions for selective hiring companywide. One division in particular, Liberty Medical, which serves the needs of patients with diabetes, is hiring for a number of customer service positions. Lowe's (LOW). 7,900 jobs are available in corporate, stores and distribution centers. Positions range from seasonal employees in Lowe's stores, to team members in regional distribution centers, to miscellaneous positions in the corporate office. Time Warner (TWX). 480 openings posted online include positions in creative, editorial, marketing, media, finance, accounting, graphics design, animation, new media, ad sales, film/television production and programming, administrative, information technology services and online. Sears (SHLD). 500+ new postions in information technology, eCommerce, finance, audit, marketing, brand management, merchandising and distribution. Positions are also available for associates, store managers and in-home technicians. Supervalu (SVU). 180+ Corporate positions are available in various departments including advertising, marketing, retail operations, merchandising and finance. In addition, there are open positions in retail stores and supply chain services. Johnson Controls (JCI). 750 positions related to energy efficiency. GMAC. 750 positions include project managers, mortgage loan officers, underwriters, servicing call center representatives and loan loss mitigators. Additional openings are available in information technology, finance, compliance, risk and treasury. Comcast (CMCSA). 1,000 openings primarily in call center operations, field operations, warehousing and sales. Northrop Grumman (NOC). 3,700 openings include positions in information technology, engineering, production/manufacturing, supply chain management, program management, product development and administration (including human resources and finance). Coca-Cola (KO). 160 jobs for a variety of different functions on many levels including finance, bottling, retail operations, production and customer service, delivery and food chemistry. New York Life Insurance. 3,640 positions are available in accounting, actuarial, auditing, customer support, information technology, investment management, legal, life insurance and annuity products, product development and strategy, sales and underwriting. Aetna (AET). 550 openings are in customer service, claims and health care, including nurses. Motorola (MOT). 520 openings are in engineering, sales, finance, marketing and project management. Abbott Laboratories (ABT). 260 jobs in sales, legal, information technology, administrative, engineering, clinical research, manufacturing, quality assurance and accounting. General Dynamics (GD). 2,365 openings in many areas, but most job opportunities are in technology and manufacturing fields, and include administrative, engineering, design and development and production and installation positions. Prudential Financial (PRU). 235 openings are in financial, actuarial, market research and analysis, operations and administrative. Humana (HUM). 265 openings in sales, nursing, actuarial, finance, project management, information technology, pharmacy, medical, health, insurance, administrative, compliance, communications and legal. Liberty Insurance Mutual Group. 500 positions are available in finance, nursing, legal, claims and sales. HCA (HCA). 9,000 openings for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, clinical technicians and patient care support workers.

Til Nex'Time....