Uncategorized

On the job hunt … methods to increase your chances. (website listings & advice)

Now Hiring Sign by ttblum @ Flickr

It’s common knowledge by now that more people are looking for jobs than ever before – many people have been laid off, some want to supplement their income with a second job, stay-at-home moms and dads are being forced to re-join the workforce, kids are graduating with Masters degrees, and bored retirees are seeking jobs simply to give them something to do.

There are a plethora of websites where you can look for jobs – but I really believe you should be avoiding the big names like Monster, Careerbuilder, and even Craigslist.

niche job boards are more effective.

Instead, time is better spent applying to jobs that are posted on niche websites that only post jobs for specific career fields, business sectors, or regions.  Below you will find advice and a listing of more effective niche job posting websites for various fields, including jobs in the nonprofit sector, bilingual careers, marketing job boards, environmental careers, etc. Continue reading …

Economics, Public Policy

China and the United States: Trading Places (communism, capitalism, policy)

Globalization.  It’s still the reason for much animosity towards the world’s eight ‘major industrialized democracies,’ also known as the G-8.  And while the U.S. has historically been one of the most criticized nations it is increasingly finding itself on the receiving end, as a great place to make fast and easy money.

The rules are changing as the US begins to Nationalize failing businesses and China Privatizes state-owned organizations.

China’s Newest Import to the US: Landlords
US Citizens face a slew of regulations and restrictions when it comes to purchasing property in China – good real estate in China is expensive and the value of the US dollar is relatively low.  On the contrary, it is substantially easier for foreigners to purchase property in the United States.  In fact, New York City and Washington D.C. topped the list of the best cities for real estate investment published in 2008 by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE).

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Current Events

Controversy Over the Mural in NE, Washington DC – ANC Ridiculousness

I recently read this on Wooster Collective.

A few weeks ago we posted a call for artists to assist in a massive mural in Washington DC, sponsored by the fantastic nonprofit group Albus Cavus. The final wall is absolutely stunning.

But to show how ignorant some people can be, we heard today that the local Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Marshall Phillips is now protesting the mural because, according to him, for it to be acceptable it needs to include references to MLK, the Redskins football team, and the Nationals baseball team.

Here’s the video and my commentary:
Continue reading …

Police Use Taser on Hispanic Homeowner and Female Relative, Four Electroshocks, Excessive Force, Caught on Video
Current Events, Public Policy

Police Use Taser on Hispanic Homeowner and Female Relative, Four Electroshocks, Excessive Force, Caught on Video

A joyful baptism celebration at a Hispanic household in Woodbridge, VA was abruptly interrupted by police who reportedly barged in requesting immigration documentation from the homeowner – the night ended with the tasing (shock with taser gun) of two adults and their subsequent arrest. Relatives of the man and woman that were arrested claim to have caught this all on video. The incident occurred on July 25, 2009.

This story is still very much in development, I heard it on the way to work this morning while listening to the local Spanish-language radio station, El Zol. Relatives of the man and woman who were arrested came on the morning radio show to tell their story. Continue reading …

Current Events, Public Policy

Banning the Burqa: France’s President Sarkozy Sets the Stage

Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, publicly stated (June 19) his disapproval of the burqa/niqab,  stating that it is not welcome in France and renders women “prisoners behind a screen.”  His statements have set the stage for a possible nationwide ban – this ban would obviously apply to everyone in France…but reasonably speaking, it only targets the Muslim population, which makes up between 5-10% of the total population (64 million). Continue reading …

Tech & Web

Facebook Spreads Virus, Corporate Management: 'Told You So!'

Facebook Is My Day JobWith over 175 million users Facebook has become an ideal place to proliferate and spread ridiculously potent viruses.  The only solution is to completely block social networking websites from the workplace.  The newest of the viruses is the ‘Koobface‘ worm – it phishes its way onto user computers by getting users to open messages that appear to be sent from their Facebook friends.

Facebook in the Workplace
Facebook users and internet marketers have been pushing, often staunchly, for the privilege to use the social network while at work. Management didn’t really care about the harm to their IT infrastructure, for the most part they worried about the potential (and later observed) decline in productivity associated with allowing access to the website.

Continue reading …

Research

The Abandoned City of the Chernobyl Disaster | Pripyat, Ukraine

Pripyat, Ukraine – once home to 50,000 people was swiftly abandoned immediately after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 (Wiki).

For the past 22 years the city has been totally uninhabited with the exception of a few (about 300 or so) elderly people who returned to their homes in surrounding villages.

Today Pripyat remains an empty and dreary desert of concrete, wild animals, and rampant flora. There are plants busting through pavement to reach the sky and wild horses roam free through vast open fields…untouched for 22 years by manking, perhaps for the better.

These are some photos I pulled together from various sources around the interwebs – enjoy!

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Public Policy

Cuba's Reforms, Solidarity in Latin America, and Declining US Influence

Visit CubaRaul Castro has officially been president of Cuba since February 25, 2008, when his brother Fidel Castro stepped down from the post for good. Just before retiring from his presidential post Fidel ensured his nation that “this is not my farewell” – and even today there is no doubt that Fidel’s influence remains significant, if not compulsory. That said, Raul Castro is making a lot of changes to the the way Cuba operates – we’re witnessing a slow departure from communism and the simultaneous introduction of capitalism into Cuba’s economy – quite similar to the situation in China.

Domestic Reforms.
Some recent changes include the legalization of cell phone usage throughout Cuba, increasing the amount of state land available to private farmers, and the allowance of some citizens to seek title for their homes. Perhaps one of the most impressive moves was today’s announcement that Cuba is abandoning the egalitarian ‘same wage for all’ scheme – now all workers will be entitled to compensation based on skill and performance – an essential component of free market capitalism.
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Global Development, Public Policy

What’s Killing Children? Diarrhea – Policy, Sanitation, and Handwashing

Global Handwashing Day, October 15, 2008. A brilliant idea being implemented by the right organization, the United Nations. With diseases flourishing and spreading at a rampant pace throughout the developing world this initiative comes at a most critical moment.

In the U.S. and other ‘developed’ nations diarrhea is something we treat with over the counter (OTC) medications and very rarely seek medical attention – the problem just goes away and one returns to ‘regularity.’ Well, this is not the case in the third-world, where diarrhea is a real threat – it’s a fatal disease; in fact, it is the second most common cause of death for children under the age of five. Globally, about 2 million child deaths (children under five) occur every year. (UNICEF)
Continue reading …