Archive for October, 2009
What Are the Best Careers for Someone with an Art Degree?
October 30th, 2009 |Careers an Art Major Can Enter
People studying for an art degree or considering an art degree are going to struggle with concerns that their bachelors degree isn’t going to have a bit of marketability. Most people assume that business and science degrees are marketable, while a trained artist will end up washing dishes somewhere. That’s not the case at all.
First of all, there are a number of different art degrees you can attain. These degrees each lead into a number of different career fields, therefore it’s logical to assume the options available to someone with a art degree are numerous. I’ll give the full list of professions one can enter with an art degree later, but here are the degrees someone attending an art program or art school can apply for.
Art Degrees
- Commercial and Advertising Art
- Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
- Design and Applied Arts
- Design and Visual Communication
- Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
- Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
- Illustration
- Industrial Design
- Painting
Furthermore, even if you decided to take your art degree and enter the “sensible job market”, employers are looking for potential employees with unique skill sets.
People with a bachelor of arts are hired by corporations for management positions as often or more often than people with business degrees, because the unique skill sets required to attain such a degree: research, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving and, most of all, communications skills. People with art degrees often learn some of the same skills and certainly bring creativity and often unique technical skills to the business world.
But really, we’re not going into the art field to be “sensible people” working in the business world. Though your art degree won’t disqualify you from entering the real world of commerce, most of those entering an art institute hope to find a job in the visual or creative professions. The fact is, there are a whole lot more jobs that require your kind of visual talents or imagination out there. You just have to search for what you want and make them happen.
Art Degree Professions
If you have an art degree, the opportunities are seemingly endless. You don’t have to be a starving artist working on meager rations. Certainly, some of the jobs listed below are low paying jobs, but many of them are highly-specialized careers with increasing demand every year for people with those talents.
Many more than you would think are in the technology industry or require electronic expertise. With increasing possibilities opening for artists in the computer industry, there are careers in the artistic field that have yet to be invented yet, but will appear in the next few years. While plenty of art careers involve old school painting and design skills, some are on the cutting edge of technology.
What all of them have in common is the need for people with imagination and creativity. All of them require a certain vision that only an artist has.
I’m not going to suggest to you which of the following are the best career choices for you. Pick a career, develop your vision and make your way in this world as a professional artist.
Art Degree Careers – Art Careers
- Art Activity Writer
- Art Appraiser
- Art Book Editor
- Art Consultant
- Art Coordinator
- Art Critic
- Art Dealer
- Art Director
- Art Distributor
- Art Historian
- Art Insurance Agent
- Art Librarian
- Art Magazine Editor
- Art Researcher
- Art Restorer
- Art Specialist
- Art Supervisor
- Art Teacher
- Art Teacher Assistant
- Art Therapist
- Artist in Residenc
- Artists’ Agent
Art Degree Careers – A
- Accessory Designer
- Advertising Director
- Aerial Photographer
- Airbrush Artist
- Antique Specialist
- Appliqué Artist
- Archaeologist
- Architect
- Architectural Graphic Artist
- Architectural Writer/Critic
- Architecture Teacher
- Audio/Visual Designer
- Automobile Designer
Art Degree Careers – B
- Background Artist for Television
- Bank Note Designer
- Basket Maker
- Block Engraver
- Book Jacket Designer
- Bookbinder
- Botanical Designer
Art Degree Careers – C
- Calendar Editor
- Calligrapher
- Camera Operator
- Candle Maker
- Caricaturist
- Cartographer (mapmaker)
- Cartoonist
- Ceramicist
- Children’s Book Illustrator
- Cinematographer
- Comic Strip Artist
- Commercial Photographer
- Computer Graphic Artist
- Conceptual Artist
- Copywriter
- Corporate Art Collector
- Corporation Photographer
- Costume Designer
- Courtroom Artist
- Crafts Person
- Curator
- Curriculum Writer (Art)
Art Degree Careers – D – E
- Design Consultant
- Designer
- Drafter
- Editorial Art Director
- Editorial Illustrator
- Enamelist
- Environmental Artist
- Environmental Designer
- Environmental Planner
- Equipment Designer
- Exhibition Coordinator
Art Degree Careers – F
- Fabric Designer
- Fashion Art Director
- Fashion Consultant
- Fashion Display Director
- Fashion Editor/Writer
- Fashion Illustrator
- Fashion Merchandiser
- Fashion Photographer
- Faux Finish Specialist
- Film Animator
- Film Developer
- Film Editor
- Filmmaker
- Fine Art Photographer
- Fine Artist
- Floor Covering Designer
- Floral Designer
- Forensic Artist
- Foundry Worker
- Furniture Designer
Art Degree Careers – G – H – I
- Gallery Assistant
- Gallery Director
- Gallery Owner
- Gallery Photographer
- Gem Cutter
- Glass Blower
- Goldsmith
- Graphic Arts Technician
- Greeting Card Designer
- Hair Stylist Designer
- Heavy Equipment Designer
- Illustrator
- Industrial Designer
- Interior Decorator
- Interior Designer
Art Degree Careers – J & L
- Jewelry Maker/Designer
- Lace Maker
- Landscape Designer
- Law Enforcement Photographer
- Lawyer with Art Specialty
- Leather Worker
- Legal Photographer
- Lighting Designer
- Lithographer
- Lithographic Photographer
Art Degree Careers – M
- Magazine Art Director
- Magazine Photographer
- Makeup Artist
- Manufacturer of Art Materials
- Manuscript Illuminator
- Marine Architect
- Master Printer
- Medical Illustrator
- Metalsmith
- Model Builder
- Mold Maker
- Movie Art Director
- Movie Scene Painter
- Mural Artist
- Museum Curator
- Museum Director
- Museum Photographer
- Museum Photographer
- Musical Instrument Maker
Art Degree Careers – O – P – Q
- Ornamental Metalwork Designer
- Painter
- Papermaker
- Parade Float Designer
- Patternmaker
- Photo Researcher
- Photo Re-Toucher
- Photo Stylist
- Photofinisher Specialist
- Photographer
- Photographic Engineer
- Photography Teacher
- Picture Framer
- Photojournalist
- Playground Designer
- Police/Court Artist
- Portrait Painter or Photographer
- Poster Artist
- Potter
- Press Photographer
- Printmaker
- Private Art Instructor
- Product Designer
- Product Illustrator
- Product Photographer
- Promotion Designer
- Puppet Designers
- Puppeteer
- Quick Sketch Artist
Art Degree Careers – R & S
- Retail Store Art Director
- Rug Maker
- Scenic Artist
- School Photographer
- Science Fiction Illustrator
- Sculptor
- Set Construction Worker
- Showroom Manager
- Sign Painter
- Silk Screen Artist
- Silversmith
- Sketch Artist
- Space Planner
- Special Effects Artists
- Sports Clothing Designer
- Sports Equipment Designer
- Stage Design
- Stained Glass Maker
- Stencil Illustrator
- Storyboard Illustrator
Art Degree Careers – T
- Tapestry Worker
- Tattoo Artist
- Technical Illustrator
- Television Art Director
- Television Graphic Artist
- Text Book Illustrator
- Textile Artist
- Theatre Set Designer
- Theme Park Designer
- Tool Designer
- Toy Designer
- Transportation Designer
Art Degree Careers – V – W
- Video Artist
- Wall Covering Designer
- Wardrobe Staff
- Web Site Designer
- Window Display Designer
- Wood Crafter
- Workshop Coordinator
What Are the Best Career Books to Read?
October 28th, 2009 |Best Books About Jobs and Money
If you’re trying to master your old career, it’s always good to inject some new ideas into your old habits. Or if you’re looking for a new career, you probably need a little inspiration and advice to get through the darkest moments between jobs.
The problem is, there are so many books related to jobs and career advice, just looking through the list of names is enough to drain you of your brain power and life force. So I’ve compiled a list of the best career books to read.
Whether you have a company and want to make it more successful, you have a job and want to make it more rewarding or you have no job and you need one desperately, you should find a book or two on this list to help you make key career decisions.
Job Spa by Milo Sindell and Thuy Sindell
The full title is Job Spa: 12 Weeks to Refresh, Refocus, and Recommit to Your Career, and the discussion is about re-energizing your career by gaining the respect of your boss and colleagues, improving your listening skills, reconnecting with fellow employees, build valuable relationships in the workplace and creating and expanding your professional network.
101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions by Ron Fry
A primer for people about to go through the hell of the job interview process, helping you get your answers pat for the hardest questions you’ll be asked.
Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Schultz (Starbucks CEO) and Dori Yang-Jones
Using Starbucks as his success story, Mr. Schultz discusses the goals and traits of a successful growing business model.
Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger
Discussing methods for determining your personality type and matching your career to your own personality type. Also includes a lot of examples of others who did the same.
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish
Fully titled Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm, this book studies how small, successful firms can become big, successful firms by focusing on John D. Rockefeller’s method (according to Mr. Harnish): priorities, data and rhythm.
Don’t Send a Resume by Jeffrey J. Fox
How to avoid the Human Resources Department of your potential employers and connect with the executives who ultimately decide whether you get hired or not.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
About building a strong network of relationships to help your business, Never Eat Alone shows that successful careers are often a “who you know”, not “what you know”, proposition.
What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard N. Bolles
This one has stood the test of time, going through nearly 40 editions and selling over 6,000,000 copies. Another book about finding a new career.
Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra
A professor interviews a lot of people who successfully changed careers, dissecting the start-to-finish process and providing lessons for others who are changing jobs at the moment.
Don’t just limit yourself to reading career books though. This career advice blog, for example, offers excellent advice and tips for moving your career forward.
How Do I Buy the Best GPS Navigation System for My Car
October 27th, 2009 |Buying an Affordable GPS System Suited to Your Needs
Buying the best GPS navigation system for your car situation often comes down to deciding how much you want to spend on a GPS navigation unit. There are a few particulars about the GPS systems that work better for one customer than others, such as in-dash GPS or portable GPS units.
There are a few frills that some people have to have (like voice-activated GPS), while others only want a GPS unit that gives them the information they need. So buying the best GPS system for you is getting a piece of technology that does everything you want within the price range you’re willing to spend.
1. Write Down What You Want
List everything you want in your GPS navigation system. We’ll go over the common bells and whistles and other specs on GPS device in the next few points.
2. Bluetooth GPS Device
Adding Bluetooth capabalities to a GPS unit gives you the ability to use its global positioning abilities with your hands free for driving. This might come with a Bluetooth head-set. If you don’t have Bluetooth, the only safe way to use GPS while driving is to have a navigator sitting in the passengers seat (your wife). This isn’t a big problem for families going on vacation.
3. Weather Proof GPS
You might be wondering why you would need a GPS system with weather-proofing inside your car. You don’t, unless you have a convertible. There are a lot of outdoorsy types who love to put their top down and go riding out in the sticks (or wilderness, if you’re not from Texas). If so, you’ll want a weatherproofed GPS unit.
4. Decide About Either In-Dash or Portable GPS
An in-dash GPS system is going to be more expensive. It’s also going to require a professional installment job (more time and money). Also, if your car is broken into, the indash GPS is more likely to be stolen. At the same time, in-dash Global Positioning Systems are going to have bigger display features and will usually have more tweaks.
A portable GPS system won’t be as elaborate, but it’s cheaper, doesn’t require installation and can be used in multiple vehicles.
5. Price and Evaluate the GPS Online
Go on the Internet and look at all the options available. There are a number of big electronics companies which sell their own GPS devices, while countless lesser known companies doing the same. Look at our list below for some of the big names in the GPS industry.
6. Price and Evaluate in the Electronics Store
Go to your local store to evaluate the stock and prices of the GPS locally. Just like with the online GPS pricing, take your list of wants and figure out if the GPS offered fits in your price range. Don’t impulse buy or let a salesman pressure you into a sale.
Takes notes on prices and options, if you have to.
7. Make Your Decision
Once you get back home, make your decision on which GPS system is best for you. There are a lot of moving parts to a GPS system purchase, so it’s best to take your time on this decision. If you want the GPS right away and the prices (including shipping) aren’t much different, buy your GPS at a local eletronics store.
If the price difference between online and brick-and-mortar sales is huge, then shop online for a GPS navigation system. The online option lets you shop from dozens of different locations, as opposed to one or two nearby your home. Be careful who you give out your credit card information to, though.
Here is a short list of GPS navigation systems you can research, either at home or in your local electronics outlet.
GPS Navigation Systems For Cars
- TomTom GPS Systems
- Magellan GPS Systems
- Motorola GPS Systems
- Garmin GPS Systems
- Alpine GPS Systems
What Are the Top Ten Christmas Decorations in 2009?
October 23rd, 2009 |Top 10 Christmas Ornaments in 2009
It’s about time to start thinking about Christmas decorations for 2009.
If you have to get the ornament crates out of the attic, it’s always nice to buy a few special Christmas decorations to add into the mix and excite you as you decorate your Christmas tree again.
To give you ideas for new Christmas decorations to add to your holiday collection, I’ve compiled a list of the top Christmas decorations in 2009.
Seasons Greetings!
- Thomas Kinkade White Christmas Animated Snowman Figure – The Thomas Kincade Collection from Ashton-Drake is among the most popular and most striking decorations right now, including my favorite, the Thomas Kincade Snowman.
- Hallmark Christmas Ornament Collection – Hallmark consistently has some of the cutest Christmas decorations year-in and year-out and the Hallmark Christmas Collection 2009 is no different.
- Shane Brox Christmas Decorations – Some of the most stylistic Christmas decorations I’ve found are the Shane Brox Collection from Royal Copenhagen. Americans won’t be familiar with the tv show these are based on, but Angela Glitterbright, Ollie Winterwite and Linus Elfnut are characters on the Danish program Shanes Verden (Shane’s World). Shane Brox, an author and designer, is the star of the imaginative children’s show. Mr. Brox also designs wonderful porcelain products for Royal Copenhagen.
- Reed and Barton Silver Christmas Ornaments – Silver Christmas ornaments always stand out in room full of lights, including an Annual Christmas bell or silver cross. Check out the lovely bears and Christina Angel decorations.
- Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Decorations – The Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Collection will fill up your Christmas tree with some unique ornaments, including this one, which strangely has Santa Claus riding a mallard.
- “Angel of Praise” Christmas Ornament – I found this beautiful angelic decoration on the Crystal Cathedral Christian merchandise website.
- Frontgate Christmas Decorations – Bright green and red Christmas decorations that are a throwback to the days of traditional holiday ornaments.
- Susan Winget 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments – If you want some high end Christmas decorations, try this collectors set of decorations from Susan Winget.
- Pfaltzgraff Christmas Decorations – Pfaltzgraff has a large collection of Christmas decorations, including these porcelain gift ideas and decorations to decorate your house during the holidays.
More Christmas Decoration Ideas for 2009
I thought I would include a few bonus Christmas gift ideas and decorations for gift ideas and those ornament suggestions that might slip your mind or miss your notice.
- Disney Hannah Montana Star Christmas Ornament – Hannah Montana christmas decorations have been popular for a couple of years now and Disney continues to please the kiddies. Here’s a Disney Hannah Montana star Christmas ornament, which sells for $10 on Amazon.
- Disney’s Christmas Carol Decorations – Jim Carrey is starring as Scrooge in Disney’s 2009 version of A Christmas Carol, so you know the Jim Carrey Scrooge tree ornaments are goign to be hot sellers this year. I saw a trailer for this movie and the ghosts have a completely different look. Don’t take the kiddies to this one.
- Crate & Barrel 2009 Engravable Ornament Charm – And finally, if you buy $100 worth of merchadise from Crate&Barrel, you can buy this exclusive zinc alloy decoration for $2.95.
Fun Questions to Ask Strangers
October 22nd, 2009 |Fun Questions To Ask a Stranger
Talking to strangers can be one of the hardest things to do, if you’re introverted or unsure of yourself. Thinking of a decent ice-breaker that might interest a stranger, but not appear to be a come-on, is hard to do when you’re sitting on a bus or in the waiting room at some office. Even when you’re at a party where everyone presumably arrived to have a good time and get to know other people better, asking fun questions to a stranger can seem, well, strange.
Sometimes, though, off-the-wall questions break the ice and get a real reaction from a person, where asking about the news, weather or sports is likely to get the same canned answers they would give anyone else. It’s not such a bad thing to embrace the strangeness of a talk with someone you know nothing about. In fact, getting something personal (but not too personal) out of them is a good way to introduce yourself. At the very least, your new acqaintance won’t forget the first question you ever asked them.
So here are fun questions to ask a stranger you meet in the everyday course of your life. Try to ask these questions as if you’re talking to an old friend or family member. That will throw them off.
- Do I look fat?
- What did you do last night?
- Why don’t we elope?
- When is the last time you called in sick?
- Have you had your 15 minutes yet?
- Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to talk to strangers?
- What are you on?
- What’s your favorite time of day?
- What was your New Year’s resolution this year? How long did it take you to break it?
- What is your biggest regret?
- What’s the last thing you ate?
- What’s the last impulse buy you made?
- What was the last thing that made you feel like an idiot?
- What did you get for Christmas last year?
- Why don’t we take the day off and go to the beach?
- What would come up on a Google search of your name?
- When and where was your best vacation?
- (Pointing at your shirt top) Is this my color?
- What’s the strangest dream you’ve ever had?
- What’s the last event you dressed up for?
- What color hair do you prefer in the opposite sex?
- How many times a week do you shower?
- What’s the most expensive thing you have on right now?
- Who is your role model?
- If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, which color would it be?
- Why don’t the make mouse-flavored cat food?
- What’s your favorite memory?
- Do bald people use soap or shampoo on their head?
- What are your nicknames?
- What’s the plural form of mongoose?
- What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard today?
- What’s the funniest thing you’ve said today?
- Why do you press harder on the remote when you know it’s the battery that’s going dead?
- What’s the color of your toothbrush?
- Why do we answer the phone with “Hello” when the better answer would be “Who is this”?
- If quizzes are quizzical then what are tests?
- What’s your ringtone?
- So do you have a crush on someone right now?
- What are your nervous habits?
- Do you like sushi?
- When was the last time you sat and looked at the stars?
- Do you ever spit?
- How do you feel about long distance relationships?
- Where are your ticklish spots?
- How often do you cook your own food?
- Do you have any pets? What are their names?
- So what brand of underwear are you wearing?
- When was the last time you drank a bottle of alcohol by yourself?
- Have you ever regretted loving someone?
- When was the last time you were super happy?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you with your life right now?
- Do you prefer the sunrise or sunset?
- Have you ever been in a car accident?
- What kind of fashion sense attracts you?
- What’s your favorite hair style on a woman?
- Are you afraid to ask people out on dates?
- What’s the usual age range you look at for dates?
- What are the positive parts of being single?
- What are the negative parts of being single?
- How well do you handle rejection?
- What’s the longest relationship you’ve ever been in?
- How do you handle disagreements?
- Would you prefer to have 5 acquaintances or 1 friend?
What Do Buddhists Believe?
October 21st, 2009 |Common Beliefs of Most Buddhists
Buddhism was created in the sub-continent of India somewhere around the year 563 BCE by Siddharta Gautama, more famously known as the Buddha. Buddhism has in common several beliefs with another major world religion which originated in India, Hinduism. These beliefs include cause-and-effects ethics in the form of Karma, the illusionary nature of the world (known as Maya) and the cycle of reincarnation, known as Samsara.
To break the cycle of reincarnation, Buddhists seek enlightenment, which will lead nirvana (an end to hatred, greed and delusion) and involves paying off a karmic debt, which is likely to require multiple lifetimes. Because Buddhism has existed for over 2,500 years or roughly 100 generations of Buddhist thinkers, there are a lot of different ideas among Buddhists about how one best attains enlightenment. One thing most if not all Buddhists agree upon is Siddhartha’s original teachings about the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths
To achieve enlightenment, a Buddhist must attain the essence of Buddhism: the Four Noble Truths. These noble truths are defined as:
- To live is to suffer.
- Suffering is caused by desire.
- One can elimate suffering by eliminating all attachments.
- Eliminating all attachments is achieved by following the Eightfold Path.
The Noble Eightfold Path
Therefore, the Four Noble Truths lead to a Noble Eightfold Path to achieving enlightenment, and therefore Nirvana. The Noble Eightfold Path requires you to attain wisdom to purify your mind, maintaining ethics or morality (abstention from unwholesome deeds) and mental discipline, to achieve mastery over one’s own mind. Mental discipline requires contemplation and meditation.
The Eightfold Path is described as:
- Viewing reality as it is, peering through the illusion of what it appears to be.
- Renunciation, freedom and harmlessness.
- Speaking in a truthful yet non-hurtful way.
- Acting in a non-harmful way.
- Maintaining a non-harmful livelihood.
- Making an effort to improve oneself.
- Achieve awareness, seeing things for what they truly are with a clear consciousness, being aware of the reality within oneself, without craving.
- Correct meditation and/or concentration.
Some view the Eightfold Path as a step-by-step progression, a kind of eight-step program to enlightenment. Others view the Eightfold Path as a simultaneous process, where a Buddhist achieves all eight parts of development at once.
The Middle Way – The Middle Path
Buddhists are expected to follow the “Middle Way”, which is the path of moderation. A Buddhist is supposed to neither live in luxury (or pursue self-indulgence), nor become an ascetic monk (or pursue self-mortification). This method is sometimes translated the Middle Path. There are several explanations for what this Middle Path is, according to the Buddhist sect you listen to.
Practice non-extremism, a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence or self-mortification.
The middle ground on metaphysical questions; that is, the view that things either do (permanance) or do not exist (nihilism).
Perfect enlightment or Nirvana, which becomes clear when one realizes that all dualities (extremes) are delusions.
Achieving “emptiness”, avoiding the extremes of inherent existence or nothingness.
This can get heady for some, which may be why there are so many different explanations for Buddhist principles. There are many different sects of Buddhism, while there have been Buddhas besides Siddhartha over the century. Some of these men were charismatics who were virtually worshipped by their followers, while others shunned any such objectification of a Buddha figure as entirely against the tenets of Buddhism.
Buddhism teaches its followers to look at the world from a different perspective than others, not for the sake of doing so, but because the world has a deceptive quality. A Buddhism meditates and contemplates and attempts to break down the illusions in life that deceive others. Because devout Buddhists have often been seen as wise men, such Buddhists have been approached by rulers and common folk alike, who appeal to their wisdom. These people do not always like what they hear from a Buddhist monk.
How Many Buddhists Are There In the World?
It’s hard to say how many Buddhists there are in the world, because Buddhism isn’t a conventional world religion with a church hierarchy or tithe-paying congregation. In fact, many Buddhists would argue that Buddhism isn’t so much a religion as a philosophy, though Buddhism is generally considered a religious belief system. By most experts’ guess, there are between 250 million and a half-billion Buddhists in the world today.
Buddhism has achieved a certain number of adherants in Western Culture, through the import of gurus and Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism tends to rely on meditation over scriptures and was developed in China and Japan.
The two great schools or branches of Buddhism are Theravada Buddhism (the School of the Elders) and Mahayana Buddhism (the Great Vehicle). Theravada is the older of the two branches of Buddhism and tends to have a following in Southeast Asia, some parts of Southwestern China, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and, to a lesser degree, in Singapore, the West and in modern-day India, where a kind of revival of Buddhism is happening presently.
Mahayana is found in East Asia, including China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The Mahayana has spread to other parts of the world, in part because of the Himalayan diaspora caused by the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet. There are many schools of Buddhism in the Mahayana branch of Buddhism, including Zen, Shingon, Pure Land Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, the Tendai faith and Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is a highly-respected religious official of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhists, and has lived in exile since the failure of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959 against the Chinese Occupation of Tibet (1949-1950).
What Beliefs Do Buddhists Have?
In summary, Buddhists believe many things. Themes such as the 4 Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and the Middle Way are commonly held practices and beliefs of most Buddhists, though as you can see, there are many divergent beliefs within the greater Buddhist teachings.
Will The Days Of Our Lives Be Canceled Soon?
October 20th, 2009 |Will The Days of Ours Lives By Canceled Soon?
After an 18-month renewal in November 2008, Days of Our Lives is signed to continue on NBC until September 2010 , but there have been constant rumors of a cancellation since Guiding Light was canceled in September 2007. In fact, there were rumors at the time that The Days Of Our Lives would not survive 2009, at least before the renewal.
Declining ratings in the summer of 2007 made this seem a certainty, but changes in writers and an 11th-hour new contract seemed to save the show at the time. Rumors have continued to persist throughout 2009, though.
The Days Of Our Lives is now NBC’s only traditional soap opera, so the rumors are probably fueled by the logic that NBC might be getting out of the soap opera business. Rumors also suggest that The Days Of Our Lives could be picked up by another network (possibly ABC) if NBC were to cancel the show.
The Days Of Our Lives Picked Up By Another Network?
ABC still supports a number of soap operas, so it might be a good fit for The Days of Our Lives. Other speculation has centered on the soap opera being picked up by DirecTV, like Passions was when it was canceled. Most fans of The Days Of Our Lives would prefer the show to be aired on a big network like ABC, because they would be more likely to see the show in its traditional time slot and format.
The Days Of Our Lives – 44 Years & Counting
The Days of Our Lives has been on the air since 1965, originally being written and produced by Ted and Betty Corday. Corday & Co have remained involved in the production of the soap opera through much of its history, though Ted Corday died in 1966 and Betty Corday died in 1987.
Many soap opera watchers associate The Days Of Our Lives with the bizarre and sometimes supernatural storylines of the 1990′s, when Marlena was possessed by the Devil in a 1994-95 plotline and the “Cruise of Deception” storyline of 1990, which included the mad Ernesto Tuscano holding much of the cast captive on his cruise ship and set up many of the resulting off-kilter storylines of the 1990′s-era Days Of Our Lives broadcasts.
The 2000′s haven’t been nearly as strange, though masked psychopaths have turned up occasionally. One popular storyline revealed the beginnings of the Brady & DiMera Feud. Despite some high moments, ratings have declined and new writing and production teams have been brought in frequently. At one point in 2007, The Days Of Our Lives had the lowest ratings of any daytime soap opera.
The Days Of Our Lives – 2010 Cancellation Rumors
It’s possible The Days Of Our Lives will be canceled in 2010, given that it’s hard for NBC to sell advertising blocks for only one daytime soap. If ratings take a downturn again, that could prove the end for The Days Of Our Lives, too. But even if that happens, there’s a good chance that The Days Of Our Lives continues on with another network, and perhaps one willing to do what it takes to make DOOL a ratings success again.
So join letter writing campaigns to save The Days Of Our Lives if you want to, but know that a series cancellation isn’t always the end of the show.
See also:
How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Hotel Room?
October 19th, 2009 |How Old Do You Have To Be To Rent a Hotel Room in the United States?
18 is a good rule of thumb, if you have a picture I.D. and a credit card or debit card. In most hotel chains in the United States, customers need to be 18 years of age to rent a hotel room. The age is often 17 in Canada. With locally-owned hotels, the age of motel rental is often left to the discretion of the hotel owners or the staff on hand when you ask to rent a room.
As big of an issue as age is whether you have a credit card to rent the room with. Since most people 18 aren’t going to have their own credit cards, 18 becomes the default age for hotel room rental.
Occasionally you’ll find a hotel that only books rooms for customers who are 21. Again, you’ll find there is a certain difference from one hotel to the next. If you are 18 and a hotel refuses to rent you a room, don’t simply assume every hotel in town has the same policy. Go to the next hotel and see what their rental policies are.
Call Hotels and Ask Beforehand
If you don’t want to be in the situation of driving around town in the middle of the night looking for a hotel room, call hotel establishments before you go on your trip and ask them what their policy is. If you have a credit card handy, you can even reserve a room for your hotel visit. Once you take this step, you simply show up at the hotel, present your credit card and a photo id and collect your rented room.
Hotel Age Policy Not Always What It’s Posted
Those walking into a hotel with a 21 age limit might test the policy. Hotels might be willing to rent to 19- and 20-year olds if you have the identification and driver’s license. It’s not illegal to rent to you, so their policy becomes a matter of preference and circumstance. They might decide to rent you a room, if it’s a slow night. This is especially true in resort towns like Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Rent a Hotel Room in Europe?
Generally the answer is 18. If you have your parents’ consent to rent a hotel room, you can rent hotel rooms in Europe at age 16. Since that generally requires you using your parents’ credit card, this regulation is pretty self-enforcing. If you are 14 or older and want to stay at a youth hostel, you can rent a room at a specially-accommodating youth hostel if you have id confirmation from your school.
See also:
- How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Job?
- How Do I Book a Hotel Room?
- Can I Make a Hotel Booking Without a Credit Card?
- Hotel Affiliate Programs
- Online Hotel Finder
- Las Vegas Hotel Rooms
- How to Cancel a Hotel Reservation
Questions to Ask During an Interview
October 14th, 2009 |Questions To Ask During a Job Interview
When you go on a job interview, you should have questions to ask of your potential employer. Asking questions during an interview demonstrates preparation and initiative.
Knowing what to ask – and what not to ask – during a job interview can be difficult, though, so here are questions to ask during a job interview.
1. Prepare a List of Questions
Consider the job you are interviewing for. What questions come to mind about that job? Prepare a short list of questions that come to mind when considering this job option.
2. Prepare For the Job Interview – Questions Not To Ask During An Interview
Go to your potential employer’s website. Read the site, focusing on the “Frequently Asked Questions”, “Company News” and “About Us” sections. If any of the questions on your list were answered by reading the site, mark them off your list. If you ask these questions anyway, you’re wasting the interviewer’s time and demonstrating that you didn’t prepare well.
3. Ask For Clarifications
From reading the company website, you’ll come up with other questions. Jot these down. You might also want clarification on certain answers, so jot down new questions that are raised by reading the company site. At the interview, tell the interviewer, “Your website said…. Could I get a clarification about…”.
4. Don’t Be the First To Bring Up Money
Don’t ask questions about money until the interviewer brings up the subject. Asking money questions too soon makes it look like that’s all you’re interested in. Ask your money questions, after the interviewer brings up compensation, .
5. Don’t Be The First To Bring Up Benefits
Along the same lines, don’t be the first to bring up the company’s benefits package. This indicates you’re more interested in the money/benefits than doing the work, or that’s where your mind is focused. Sure, everyone is at a job to take care of their material needs, but when you’re at a job interview, you should impress the interviewer more with how interested you are in doing a good job, and focus less on what you get out of the job.
Questions To Ask During An Interview
With those five suggestions in mind, here are specific questions to ask during a job interview. In two broad categories, you can ask about your specific job description or the company/management policies of your new employer.
Questions To Ask About Your Job
Here are some questions that focus on you, which show you’re conscientious about how you will perform your job and fit into their organizational structure.
- What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- What kind of equipment and/or software will I need to use?
- What skills and traits will I need to succeed at this position?
- What is the organizational structure of your company? (That is, who will be your supervisor.)
- How will my job performance be measured? Who will measure my job performance?
Questions To Ask About The Company
These questions show an interest in the company: what kind of people they hire, and the training they offer.
- What are your company’s relative strengths and weaknesses compared to its main competitor?
- What is your company’s policy on training and seminars to increase job efficiency?
- Could you describe this company’s idea of an ideal employee?
- Could you describe this company’s management style? What kind of employee fits in well at this workplace?
- What is your company’s policy on transfer to other cities/regions?
See also:
- How Old Do You Have to be to Get a Job?
- Which Colleges Earn Their Graduates the Most Money?
- Questions to Ask Your Boyfriend
Questions to Ask Your Boyfriend
October 13th, 2009 |Tips For Learning About Your Boyfriend
Getting to know a boyfriend can be frustrating. One way to get the answers you want is to play a Q&A game with him. While this won’t answer all your questions – and it might pose a whole lot of new questions – 20 questions can coax your boyfriend into revealing things about himself he otherwise wouldn’t. So here are two sets of twenty questions for you to ask your boyfriends.
Serious Questions To Ask Your Boyfriend
These are serious questions to ask your boyfriend early in your relationship, but not on the first date. If he’ll answer some of these questions, you’ll know things about him he would never volunteer. You can form a picture of your guy’s inner life.
- What experiences make you who you are?
Do you still have feelings for an ex-girlfriend?- How would you react if I was dating someone else?
- What are your future financial goals?
- How would you know if I am the right one?
- What do you believe in?
- What about me do you like the most?
- Is there something about me you don’t like?
- What would you do if you were the last person alive on earth?
- What’s your favorite book?
- Do you have any enemies? Why do you have an enemy?
- If you could change something in the past, what would you change?
- Do have any bad habits?
- Who is your hero?
- What is your priority on the first date?
- How would you describe your idea of the perfect life?
- How do you remember my first impression?
- Excluding female members of your family and me, who is your closest female friend?
- Who is your favorite female celebrity?
- Would you leave me for your favorite female celebrity?
Fun Questions To Ask Your Boyfriend
Asking tough questions might make him uncomfortable, so here’s a set of 20 funny, non-invasive questions to ask your boyfriend. You might find his answers just as insightful. Get him talking about himself and enjoying it, and he’ll tell you much more than he otherwise would. Here’s 20 silly questions your boyfriend will enjoy answering.
- How long do you think you would last in a zombie attack? How long would I last?
- When you see my picture, what song do you think of?
- What’s the girliest band that you like?
- If you were an animal, what species would you be? Why?
- What stupid nickname do your friends call you? Why?
- Would you have the patience to come with me when I’m buying clothes?
- Would you prefer me to wear a mini skirt or a low-cut top?
- If you had a big Hollywood budget to film a movie, what would it be about?
- If you had a music band, what would your band name be?
- If my girlfriends and I had a band and you were manager, what would you name our band?
- What is the craziest dream you ever had?
- What is the sexiest dream you ever had?
- What would you do if you were on a beach and a bunch of topless girls started being friendly with you?
- What kind of sexy costume would you like to see me wear?
- If you had to cook a meal for me, what would you cook?
- Imagine we are together alone in the woods in a remote cabin. What would you wear?
- What was your favorite tv show as a child?
- If you and my best friend showed up at a club and she started flirting with you, what would you do?
- Who was your childhood hero? Why?
- What’s sexier: making love on the carpet in front of a fireplace or on the hood of a car in the rain?
See also:
- Questions to Ask During an Interview
- 80 Fun Questions to Ask Your Friends
- Fun Questions to Ask Strangers
- Questions to Ask a Lawyer
- Good Speed Dating Questions
- How to Ask for a Pay Raise
- Common Interview Questions
Elsewhere:
What Is an Average ACT Score?
October 12th, 2009 |What Is An Average Score on the ACT Test?
50% of students make less than a 20 on the ACT test, so you might say an average ACT Composite score is 20. But if you want to get into big state schools or prestigious East Coast universities your expectations will differ. Many state schools require an ACT score in the 22 to 25 range, while Ivy League schools expect composite scores of 30 or higher. If you want to get into your local college, getting a 19-20 on your ACT will work.
What Is the ACT?
“A.C.T.” stands for “American College Testing”. The ACT is produced by ACT, Inc. to help colleges determine students’ worthiness for college admissions. The test has existed since 1959 and is the second-most used test, behind the SAT, which has existed since 1901. Some students do better on the ACT than the SAT, so consider taking both and using the higher score.
All U.S. universities accept the ACT, though some place a different emphasis on the importance of the ACT in admissions. GPA, class rank, and extracurricular activities might take precedence.
The ACT is taken more often in the “middle states” than the ACT, while the SAT is used more on the East Coast and the West Coast. Exceptions include Texas and Indiana, who use the SAT more often than the ACT test, while most of the rest of the Midwest, South and Southwest use the ACT more often. There is some evidence that east coast states are beginning to use the ACT more often.
What Is an “ACT Composite Score”?
The ACT test covers four broad subjects: English (grammar), reading, math and “science reasoning”. The time to take all four tests is 2:55 minutes, with an optional 30 minute writing test.
The English test is 45 minutes and 75 questions long; the Mathematics test is 60 minutes and 60 questions long; the Reading Comprehension test is 35 minutes and 40 questions, while the Science Reasoning test is 35 minutes and 40 minutes long, as well. This creates a composite test of 215 questions taken in just under 3 hours. The writing section of the test counts minimally towards your composite score (2 points at most), though some schools do take into account your score on the writing section of the ACT.
ACT Comparison Scores
Below is a short example of ACT composite scores for a variety of universities nationwide. I’ve included scores for a few Ivy League schools, a few private schools and some top public universities. These are the elite schools of their type, so if you have no intention of going to these schools, don’t be intimidated by the high numbers. Most colleges admit students with a 20-22 ACT Composite Score.
75% means that 75 per cent of the admissions require this composite score, while the 25 per cent means that 25% get in with the lesser composite ACT, usually because of high GPA and/or extracurricular activities.
I’ll give the school and then two numbers. The first number is what around 25% of admissions will need, if they have excellent extracurricular activities and a good GPA. The second number is what approximately 75% of admissions will need to enter the university.
Also, be sure to check out our new site, average ACT score, which covers the ACT test in much more detail.
| School | Average ACT Score |
| Columbia | 28-33 |
| Cornell | 28-32 |
| Princeton | 30-34 |
| Yale | 29-34 |
| Harvard | 31-35 |
| Duke | 29-34 |
| Johns Hopkins | 29-33 |
| Georgetown | 28-32 |
| Notre Dame | 31-34 |
| Stanford | 30-34 |
| UCLA | 24-30 |
| UC Berkeley | 23-30 |
| UC San Diego | 23-29 |
| UNC Chapel Hill | 25-30 |
This is part of our series of articles about average test scores:
- What Is an Average ASVAB Score?
- What Is an Average MCAT Score?
- What Is an Average DAT Score?
- What Is an Average GMAT Score?
- What Is an Average PSAT Score?
- What Is an Average GRE Score?
- What Is an Average LSAT Score?
- What Is an Average ACT Score?
- What Is an Average SAT Score?
