I’m a Gen O kid
Casual, cool, interactive, the face of Barack Obama. Just as Thomas Jefferson used the newspaper, F.D.R used radio, J.F.K used television, and Howard Dean (remember him?) used the internet, as the first candidates to gain popularity through new media; Barack Obama has conquered the World Wide Web. The Obama brand grew in record time from seemingly nowhere. He had only two books and a speech in 2004 under his belt. His capture of social networking catapulted his name into the history books. Since the election, he has already sprouted up two new sites, change.gov and my.barackobama.com.
We are the Obama generation, according to the New York Times. We put communication technologies to use in ways, normally devoted to hooking up, to find a president. Obama is our ringleader. His campaign found us everywhere; our cell phones, email, websites, billboards, sidewalks, 30 minute commercials, his face burned airwaves, but from a creative advertising student’s perspective, his campaign was fundamentally flawless and complete with new media outlets never before used by a political leader.
We were all a part of it. We all made history, so I am not going to reiterate all the details that went into our part of changing the world. I am always questioning, what next? What is to come of all us first time voters? This election seemed so easy. We voted and won. Maybe living in Philadelphia all my life has jaded my perception of constant disappointment, but I’m bored with the election now. What is next Obama? I have seen the new sites, they are ‘friendly’ and ‘interactive’ and all those fun words we like to throw around, but I want some follow up, I want some shock. I want to see an Obama hologram interviewed by Anderson Cooper. We’ll see.

Now that Barack Obama is the leader of our country, let’s take a look at what he will do for us, the college students and the future leaders of America. To be honest, there is not much he can do for us now as we enter the work force. The economy is way down, and every time we think it’s looking up, another company goes under. But I believe he was the best candidate to help us find a job out of college Hopefully he does not prove me wrong.
As for the incoming college students, Barack Obama has some seemingly great plans for us. His Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit, will make college affordable for all Americans. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is worth $4,000 in exchange for community services performed by the students. This includes the Peace Corps. Inner city schools I feel will benefit from this most, as there is a ton of community service needed right around campus
Obama says this $4,000 will cover 2/3 the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Now I am not saying I am not gracious for the $4,000, but I consider my school to be on the cheaper side of state schools, and that would cover less than ½ of one years tuition. But when we look into the details of this policy, it states this universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the FIRST $4,000 of a college education is completely free for MOST Americans. Recipients of the credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of community service, which should be easy depending on the time allotted, which is not stated.
So what happens to all of us with massive amounts of student’s loans and debt after we graduate? We pay it off, we get through it, Obama did it. Really the only thing he can do for us is enhance the job market and make more jobs available to recent graduates. Hope for a change.

So You Graduated, Now What?
As I pick classes for my final semester of college, and watch the economy crumble, I often wonder; now what? When it seems like my parents are struggling to keep their jobs, now I begin to panic. I would love to make this blog as positive as possible, but sadly this is very hard. While it is getting more difficult to obtain your dream job upon graduation, I have found some stepping stones to get your foot in the door, and money in your pocket.
First, pick apart your strengths, and get creative with it. If you are a business major, but you are an extremely patient person, look for jobs that accentuate your patience. Or if you are a classical music lover, try looking for jobs at a symphony or opera house. If it isn’t your dream job, you will be happy doing something you like to do already, and your degree will undoubtedly assist you. Look on your local Craigslist.com site under the jobs, gigs, or community sections to find interesting opportunities in your area. Craigslist helped me find a job this summer as a lifeguard when I was low on cash; who knew there are rooftop pools in Center City Philadelphia.
If you are that kid in class who wears their pajamas each day, even though you live off campus, and you’re over the age of 18, I even have some ideas for you. Recently more customer service companies are bringing their outsourced services back to the US. You can wear whatever you want, help some interesting people, and get paid to sit around your house. Alpineaccess.com, liveops.com, arise.com, and west.com are just a few sites with work from home programs you should check out.
And as a third option, try and get a job at your university. You already attended, chances are your school isn’t going anywhere so you are secure, and you probably already like the environment. Try getting a student job on campus first. I work at the Tech Center at Temple University, so I already have a foot in the door. Ask your boss how the hiring process works, and go from there. If your boss is nice, they will hopefully help you set up your resume and give you good recommendations.
Lastly, while you still are in school, start volunteering and interning. These opportunities make great contacts, and usually will lead to jobs. Internships are sometimes as hard to catch as a real job, but the practice interviews, cover letters, and resumes will prove beneficial.
Finding your first job is your first step into the ‘real world’. It’s going to be rough, tough, and somewhat scary even without the threat of another depression on the way. But we are smart, creative, and powerful young professionals who will succeed in finding a job. And we just have to keep that affirmative energy flowing. See, I told you guys I would be positive!

Dirty campaigning has become the norm for today’s political wars, but what does this actually mean? We can define dirty campaigning as one candidate lying or being misleading about the other, or define it as personal attacks on the other person. The fact of the matter is that in modern politics this method of getting votes has become common practice and unavoidable. In light of this, how are we the voters supposed to be able to understand each candidate? How can we see through the fog of war?
John McCain has an untruthful campaign the likes of which we have never seen as voters, the only problem is Barak Obama is just as bad. The difference, Barak Obama and VP candidate Joe Biden have pointed out that McCain has been untruthful or misleading. The popular opinion in today’s society is to believe just about everything that you here on TV, and honestly more people see these ads and form opinions than actually do the appropriate legwork to find out who is better. In reality each candidate has there positive and negatives and regardless nearly every advertisement you will hear or see is VERY misleading. Take the recent attack on McCain’s record regarding stem cell research. The Obama camp put out adds saying he was going to outlaw stem cell research, when in reality as recently as 2004 McCain has sent a letter to W (along with only 13 other GOP Senate Members) pushing for more stem cell research funding. So what we have here is a straight lie passed off as truth. At this point I want everyone reading this to honestly ask themselves if they for one second doubted that ad.
John McCain recently accused Obama of his past relationship with Bill Ayers who for all intensive purposes was a former terrorist. Well they have worked together, and are familiar with one another but apparently it’s hard to find anyone in Chicago that couldn’t’ say the same for Ayers. The McCain camp made claims that Obama lied about Ayers, when in reality he just didn’t mention it. So take that for what it’s worth, but in reality it’s another instance of misleading ads put out by a politician.
So let’s be honest hear both sides are going to lie. But I have come up with an easy way to see through everything and will share that with you now. DO NOT TRUST EVERYTHING YOU HEAR IN AN AD. The reality of the situation is
• Obama isn’t a Terrorist
• John McCain isn’t proposing the largest tax hike in history
• McCain will lower your taxes, simply not quite as much as Obama
• Both sides health plans are different, but each will SAVE you money
• Nancy Pelosi is the 3rd in line to the presidency (just scares me)
• Acorn signs up Mickey Mouse, but Mickey doesn’t have the proper ID to vote anyway
• McCain won’t give away your social security
• The economy is in the tanks because of legislation started back in the Clinton days which was supported and expanded to current times
• Factcheck.org is the best chance you have to see through the lies
So I hope that made everything a little easier for everyone out there, and remember this
on Super Tuesday. I implore all of you to vote for yourself, and not for the trendy hype.

Ok, so you might be saying to yourself that it is a tad early to start crowning a new golden boy of modern day football.

For a while it looked as though the battle to answer the question of “Who would you want to start your franchise with at QB?” would rage on for years to come between Tom Brady and his formidable foe, Peyton Manning. They went back and forth with MVP awards, touchdown records, national commercials, and even swapped Super Bowl trophies, but now it seems as though no “expert” can remember such a crazy notion. The best Manning this year is Eli, not Peyton, and there is no telling how long that sentence will hold water. Peyton was unable to throw a pass for the entire preseason and therefore looked out of sorts. His accuracy was off and he was out of touch with his receiving core for much of this season. I do realize that just yesterday he put together a nice game in blowing out the Baltimore Ravens, who were touting the number one defense in the league, but whether that was an anomaly or a sign of things to come is yet to be seen. The given is that the Colts don’t look great like they usually do, Brady’s injury has sent the Patriots down a road they’re not accustomed to…. Losing.

The changing of the guard isn’t just with the best Quarterback in the league either. Take a gander at the standings and some interesting names appear at places you would generally not expect considering the way things have been in recent years. No one gave the Giants a chance when the season began. The Titans are also undefeated despite the fact that they are starting Kerry Collins, a career backup, at QB. The Buffalo Bills are 4-1 and sitting at the top of the AFC with Pittsburgh. Yes, the Bills, it’s not a typo. They haven’t won anything since Jim Kelly was taking snaps. (That’s a long time.) Arizona, who hasn’t been 4-2 in 20 years, beat Dallas yesterday. Atlanta, which is starting a rookie QB, is also 4-2. Trial by fire is working so far.

I’m not going to get ahead of myself at this point. The bottom of the barrel in the league is not exactly a surprise. Mostly everyone could venture a guess that among the worst teams in the league would be Oakland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit, and Cincinnati. The perennial powerhouses in terms of Power Rankings over the last 6 or 7 seasons aren’t sitting dreary eyed with hopes of the post-season dashed either. Most of the big names, including San Diego, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Green Bay are .500 or better, but they still find themselves in the middle of the pack instead of sitting pretty, something that is foreign to some of the coaches and players on the respective teams.

A few years ago no one questioned who would make it to the playoffs in each conference. It was almost a foregone conclusion because the talent for the powerhouse teams was noticeably higher, but now it’s not even a feeling that things are going to change, they already have. There are new kids in town who are ready to take their piece of the pie and run with it. Decent drafting and good coaching has enabled some young teams to take strides this season that most didn’t see coming. The only question left now is how far will their young legs take them before their heads get in the way. It’s a long season, one that many young players are not used to in their experience. However, by that same token, college football bowl games are equally as “big-time”, which enables the young kids to shake off the nerves and relish in the spotlight. We’ll see how long the light can continue to shine.

Another weekend has come and gone and if I wanted to be true to form this blog would naturally be written about the NFL’s conglomerate of games, but this week I decided to shake things up. Don’t be too impressed, I’m still talking about sports this week, but this time it’s baseball. I’ve decided to write some mail to a few cities that I need to have some serious conversations with.

Dear Cubs fans,
Before I even start I should probably preface this by saying that I am a Philadelphia sports fan and therefore I have no sympathy to the Chicago franchise. Let’s face it, Michael Jordan hand delivered Chicago championships for six years not too long ago. I’ve gone my entire lifetime, yes that is only 23 years, without witnessing a championship in any of our four major sports. Sure we’ve come close, the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl against the pesky Patriots in 2004, the Sixers made it to the finals against the monster Lakers in 2001, the Flyers made it to the finals in 1997 against the unstoppable machine known as the Red Wings, and the Phillies made it to the World Series against a lucky Blue Jays team in 1993, but they didn’t win the big one. So, I’m actually a little excited that the LA Dodgers swept your Cubs this past week. Why? Well the Cubs had the best record in the National League and looked very strong the entire season, especially after they traded for pitcher Rich Harden. I was a little annoyed with the realization that despite beating the Brewers the Phils would surely have to go up against them, a team that not only had the talent, but had history on their side. Boy was I wrong. I must say, I did not expect the Dodgers to look that good. It wasn’t just Manny Ramirez either, their pitching was spectacular. Sure having a player of Manny’s caliber in the lineup doesn’t hurt either, but I don’t think that one player can beat an entire team. If that were the case then Barry Bonds would have won a lot more championships than he did.
I’ve been where you are right now, in all actuality I’ve been there many times. The team you love builds your hopes up so much to only crush them in a single breath, leaving you confused and annoyed that you wasted so much time and energy engrossed in the players that seemingly choked. You feel cheated and idiotic because something inside you told you that this was going to happen all along, but you decided to go against the smart choice and unabashedly become the little boy inside you again, hoping that this year would be different. I get it Cub faithful, I really do. I do it every year, for each Philadelphia team. As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow I can pretty much guarantee that next year you will be pre-gaming in the parking lot before opening day, dying with every pitch throughout the season and forgetting about what happened the season before, trust me.

Now I have a favor to ask, I would ask that you tell the Philadelphia Phillies any secrets that you have on the LA Dodgers so that my pain can subside for one year, and perhaps next year we can return the favor. From the looks of it anything you have can help considering how formidable the Dodgers pitching looked over the three games in the Division series. They have me a little worried. You can have no doubt that no matter how hard it was for me to watch the Phillies get swept last year by a wild card team I’m back again with hopes stronger than before. I have a good idea, so just let me know if I’m on the right track. We don’t pitch to Manny Ramirez, and all we do is hit pop flies to left field. Do you think it will work?

P.S. If you need some help getting through this rough week may I suggest watching some replays of the six championships by the Bulls. I’m sure they can make you feel better.

Forever Evolving
This past weekend of football saw some unexpected upsets and some interesting play calls. First of all, it’s already weird to see Brett Favre throwing passes in a current Jet’s jersey, and now for the rest of time whenever they want to show Brett’s best statistical game as a pro we have to watch him in a 1950’s New York Titans throwback that the Jet’s decided to wear yesterday when Brett threw six touchdowns. Outside of that they did play pretty well. (I will overlook the fact that it was against an overrated Arizona Cardinals team who employs Kurt Warner to play QB while 30 million dollars is invested in the left bench position, aka Matt Leinert.)

I did not expect, along with most of the country, that the Chiefs would put a whooping on the previously unbeaten Broncos who were reigning supreme at the top of every power ranking list that exists. The Buc’s were able to beat the Packers, and in doing so hurt QB Aaron Rodgers, who now has a separated shoulder. The Cowboys lost. Finally! Not that I’m rooting for them to fail or anything, I just like to see T.O. unravel a team. I think it’s better than a movie. He already talked about how annoyed he was that he wasn’t involved in the offense basically calling out the Offensive Coordinator and his beloved quarterback, Tony Romo. What T.O. forgets to realize is that his team had 63 offensive plays this past week. Ninetten of those plays were focused to him and thirty-five percent to one player! You have no room to speak Terrell. The Saints looked more like New Orleans of two years ago by blustering the 49ers defense this past week. Deuce McCallister looks to be fully recovered from his ACL tear, which once again gives the Saints a fantastic 1-2 punch with Reggie Bush heading up the other half. The Bills are still undefeated? Well it was against the Rams, but still its impressive. Their QB, Trent Edwards, seems to be taking the helm quite nicely in Buffalo. I wonder how last years starter J.P Losman is feeling after being remanded to clipboard duty so far this year. In keeping with impressive teams, the Titans look good, even without Vince Young, and their first year running-back Chris Johnson is garnering comparison to Vikings all-pro running-back Adrian Peterson for more than just the fact that they wear the same number. Unfortunately the Eagles lost to the Bears despite four plays on the one yard line. Andy Reid needs to let his offensive coordinator call the plays once again. He blamed the play calling on injuries and what not. Come on coach, every team is banged up every week. The key to sustaining victories in a parody league like the NFL is having faith that the backups can get the job done while the stars are sidelined. Injury is a cop out excuse.

I think it’s interesting that its only week 4 in the NFL schedule and a GM, Matt Millen, and a coach, Scott Linehan, have already been fired. With all due respect to those two gentleman, it was completely warranted in my opinion. The Lions, Millen’s team, have drafted despicably under his advisory and therefore can’t seem to put a winner on the field. The Rams, Linehan’s team, are winless and at the bottom of the league in virtually every category possible. What is equally as exciting is the coaching rumors that are constantly circling some teams. The Raiders coach, Lane Kiffen, must have a constant temperature of 100 degrees or so considering not a minute goes by without him on the hot seat. I wonder if the fact that 25 years ago owner Al Davis fired a 1-3 (the Raiders record now) coach who is now considered one of the best coaches in the league with a running system that is top notch, and who consistently beats the Raiders every year, Mike Shanahan, coach of the Denver Broncos. My assumption is that he’ll let Lane stay on until they are guaranteed to finish below .500 and then give him the heave-ho.

Thank God It Was Only A Sprain
Every week for nearly 6 months we have the pleasure of watching football on Sundays and Mondays, and naturally we tend to get excited to see our favorite players take part in the game. However, a tragic nightmare was averted this past Sunday when THE guy for the Philadelphia Eagles limped off the field and did not return. The worst thoughts possible ran through my head as I wondered how Brian Westbrook would be replaced if the team didn’t have his services readily available. They were scary thoughts considering the offense is generally centered around him and McNabb. An offense usually works best when the two focal points of it are in the game. For proof just take a moment and remember all the games when McNabb has been injured or Westbrook has been injured and think about how lost the team looked.

All in all the Eagles vs. Steelers match up was a completely different game than the Monday Night shootout against Dallas just 6 days prior. It was a prototypical Pittsburgh Steelers game; dirty, boring, and slow. That type of fashion is not something that the Eagles are accustomed to or like, but they played extremely well, especially on defense. Obviously the game plan was to take away Willie Parker, the Steelers most explosive weapon, and force Big Ben to beat them through the air. It worked perfectly and once again Jim Johnson’s genius shown.

Outside of the Pennsylvania showdown there were a couple shockers in the NFL this past week. Who could have imagined the whooping that the Dolphins, more specifically Ronnie Brown who had 5 touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 throwing), put on the Patriots this past week. Ok, well Joey Porter did, but anyone other than him? The beasts of the league last year are looking old and tired this year without there fearless leader, Mr. Brady, and have given a ray of hope to everyone else in the AFC. A few teams are fumbling with that hope however, including the Colts. Peyton is completely out of whack while his little brother continues to shine. On the flipside, the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills are taking the bull by the horns so to speak, each starting out 3 and 0 so far this season and looking far more improved at the Quarterback position every week.

The New York Brett’s, as they’re more commonly being referred to now, looked dismal in their loss to the previously winless Chargers on Monday Night this week. Brett Favre was throwing prayers into double coverage while the Chargers QB, Philip Rivers, was calm, cool, and collected in the pocket. Brett resembled the Favre that played in Green Bay 2 seasons ago instead of the Favre of last season where he had great numbers. He, along with many Jets fan, are quick to throw the blame on the coaching staff that has seemed to shackle the playbook and run conventional stuff. However, in accordance with that they obviously don’t feel comfortable opening it up despite Brett Favre being there which I’m sure they feel is warranted for some reason, considering the backlash they’re taking.

College campuses are normally dominated of largely polar political ideals put forth as fact and leaving little room for debate. This is caused by peer pressure and lobbying to get the campus vote. Groups such as ACORN campaign hard to get students registered, while onlookers on megaphones preach propaganda to the students in an attempt to win an easy vote. This is the day to day political world that a Temple University student is exposed to. Freshmen to twenty something’s have to navigate their way through troubled, often uncertain waters in an attempt to find an answer. So which side do college students side with Democrat or Republican? And when a student has an opinion, do they put it to use?
College campuses have long been a haven for liberal thinking and ideals, be it through professors or by lobbying from outside sources. This brings the question, is there even exposure so students can make a fair decision? Well, in my opinion there is absolutely not. The reality is that on an urban campus in a city that went 82.3% Democrat in the 2000 election a liberal lean is unavoidable. In a walk across campus a student will see electric poles decorated with papers offering jobs to help Obama get elected. One notable absence is public support of McCain be it through signage or outward student support. At the very least the city of Philadelphia is very left leaning, and a college campus is not much better. This leads to a perfect storm of liberal thought on a campus. The point of college is to mold young minds and it is clear what direction the youth of the country are pointed just as they become eligible to vote.
Given this conclusion how does one explain two consecutive Bush presidential terms? The question needs to be rephrased to, how many college students vote? In the most recent election CNN reports that 80% of eligible college aged individuals said that they would vote in the last election. However, when push came to shove about 36% of that population turned up at the poles. This simple fact explains a lot about why elections turn out the way they do. A huge portion of the voting population chooses not to vote, yet wants the appearance of such. In my opinion college politics can be summed up by this simple sediment. It is fashionable on a college campus to appear politically well versed, and to memorize a few talking points. But when it comes to registering to vote, finding you local polling station then either going home, or filling out an absentee ballot college students are simply not up to the challenge of voting.
It is important to note that these observations are from an Urban Campus, and I am aware that college campuses across the country may have a different bias, but the numbers are staggering and with the vast majority of college aged residents democratic the absence of their votes explains the discrepancy of the polls to reality. I feel the best way to sum up the lack of college kids showing up to vote is to compare the stats. 67.5% of college kids have had a drink in the last 30 days this as compared to the 36% that vote once every four years. Is it any wonder that the most controversial president in history won re-election?

A Shot of Life to Philly Sports
You didn’t think that I’m going to let a wild weekend of Philadelphia area sports go unwritten. With only one blemish on the record over a weekend that included a football opener, a season deciding series with the Mets, and a Philadelphia Soapbox race I’d say Philadelphia sports fans have reason to celebrate. Ok, so maybe the soapbox race shouldn’t exactly be counted in that list, but it was a big hit in Manayunk despite downpours that threatened the riders lives even more than the drinking that took place before they got to the starting gates.

Everyone knows the city of Philadelphia bleeds green and once again the Eagles reigned in another football season. Even before the first pass was thrown there was some high hopes and high praise bestowed on the season. The players think that it is a formidable idea to make it to the Super Bowl, and Sports Illustrated and a few ESPN columnists and analysts seem to agree. With hype like that the Eagles needed to make a statement in their first game. Donovan McNabb had to prove that he is healthy once again and ready to lead his team to the promised land and with a quarterback rating of over 140 for the game I can safely say he silenced any critics. I don’t think there is an Eagles fan that is unhappy with the way he and his team went about their business on the field on Sunday. 38 to 3! Can you complain with that? Take into account that Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, the teams two top receivers were out and a rookie WR was starting in place and the win is even more impressive. For a rookie in Andy Reid’s offense to gain over 200 all purpose yards in his first game is something to not only smile about, but it also makes you wonder why Andy Reid never plays anyone else he drafts right off the bat.

Ok, so the win was against a soft St. Louis Rams team who’s star player held out for the past month, but still it’s not like they beat up on Oregon State (nice job Penn State) or something, they still field pro-level players. With a convincing win such as that it is hard to wait until Monday night to see them perform again, but the match-up of two of the predominant teams in the division has to wet your appetite. It’s going to be a tougher test than this week considering the Dallas Cowboys looked impressive in a solid win over the Cleveland Browns. The possibility of Sheldon Brown and Brian Dawkins high-lowing Terrell Owens is worth the price of the popcorn.

As for the rest of the league I’m going to give my own version of the two minute drill. How weird was it to see Brett Favre not wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey? He did pretty well in his debut, although with all things taken into account it was against the Miami Dolphins. Tom Brady may have suffered a season-ending knee injury. I would never wish injury on anyone, but sympathy is not something I’m going to shell out for Mr. Brady. There were players who feel as though the play was dirty. Ok, he just couldn’t have had bad luck I guess. Last but not least, how amazing must it feel to have your first pass in the NFL be a 65 yard touchdown strike. Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons deserve some credit!

With one week down I have decided to write a petition that football should last twice as long, who’s with me?

Everyone is feeling the urge to go green. City dwellers are discovering new ways to cut costs, energy, and fuel emissions from their everyday lives. With gas prices constantly on the rise, and improving the environment a frequent thought, students in major cities successfully found the perfect transportation solutions.

The answer is city car sharing. Practically every major city in America operates a car sharing company. Each company pay for your all your insurance and gas, and the non-profit organizations don’t even require a signup fee. Carsharing.net provides a list where you can search for your cities car share provider.

Benefiting from this service is easy, cheap, and enjoyable. Some companies require you to be 21, but for others you only need to be 18 to apply. Signup is simple through the website, once you give your information and it takes about a day for a background check to clear before you are accepted. As a member you get an account name, used to reserve your choice of car and time of use. The bigger companies let you make reservations on your phone as well.

Once a member, the company will send you a card, or personal key, to unlock any car on the fleet. Just go to the pod containing the car you reserved, place your key over the sensor on the windshield, and the car unlocks. Inside the car is the key, a gas card, and manual. Now just enjoy your drive!

Look for student discounts too. Universities have programs for students to make public transportation safer and cheaper. Whether you frequent the bus, train, or subway, your school will probably provide cheap monthly or semester long passes. I purchased my TrailPass for the Septa Regional Rail from Temple University, and saved enough money to pay for all of my books.

The new popular transportation devices among students are bikes. If you can’t find your mountain bike from 7th grade in my garage at home, Craigslist.com provides any type of bike you could imagine at a cheap price. Most of the time you can find a bike close enough that you can ride it home after purchase.

So whether you’re looking for a new car, a cheap ticket on public transportation, or a vintage bike, your city is full of resources tailored to your needs. Start exploring cheaper, faster, and environmentally friendlier!

232 YEARS AND COUNTING:

Happy Birthday! If my math is correct the wonderful country we call home is now 232 years old. I hope the ceremonial BBQ’s and fireworks shows were enjoyable. Over the long weekend it was hard to escape the dilemmas that face our country. It seems around every turn there is another problem, albeit the economy, the Iraq situation, the Afghanistan situation, the Iran situation, the ‘every other country in the world hates us’ situation. After stewing over everything I finally came to one ultimate question that we really need to figure out: Who is best equipped to tackle these seemingly unmanageable problems? I know, you are probably sick of hearing about Obama vs. McCain, I know I am. There are new speculations of each candidate’s not-yet-determined running mate every day. It’s getting to the point that I feel any person with a shred of political savviness can give their two sense on the air. It’s all a bit confusing to tell you the truth. With so many stories about the candidates themselves it’s hard to figure out what is the truth and what is simply fiction.

It’s been almost eight years of good old G.W. and judging from his recent approval, or one could say ‘disapproval rating’, almost everyone feels like enough is enough. (CNN reported that Bush’s approval rating is the lowest in Modern History, standing at 28 percent.) Frankly, I just want someone in the most prestigious office in America that is able and willing to deal with the crap that America finds itself trudging in everyday, regardless of party affiliation. Naturally, the smart money would be put on the Democratic party to take back the White House. However, Obama just narrowly won his own parties nomination. The party split projects the feeling that it's almost impossible for the the Democrats to muster up enough votes to beat McCain.

Both candidates have their negatives, which the media and opposite party seem to harp on incessantly. People have been outraged regarding comments made by Obama about religion, guns, and anti-immigrant feelings. By that same token people, are weary of McCain’s campaign strategy. It is an understandable weariness. He is trying to distance himself from Bush but consistently seems to agree with moves that he has made and has him as a rather big campaign backer. It’s a known fact that voting for a President generally doesn’t come down to which candidate you like, it comes down to the lesser of two evils.

I’m not about to write about how great one man is and how awful another is because truthfully I don’t know enough about each man’s history to make that type of decision. But at the same time I have had a front row seat to the deterioration that our country has experienced for quite some time. Obviously trying to fix all our problems is not an overnight job. It will take a lot of time, most likely more than either candidate can spend in office, but any sort of improvement would be a welcomed change of pace.

So who really has a chance to win? That’s a rather loaded question, but that doesn’t mean that trying to figure it out is impossible. Obama’s biggest question is whether he can get the Clinton supporters to jump on his bandwagon. This requires him to be mindful of the Christian and women voters. McCain has two major things to try and figure out. One, distance himself from the Bush camp. That means that rumors of naming a Bush cabinet member as his running mate are bad. Two, he has to start appealing to the younger demographic which will ultimately decide this election. I understand it’s hard for a 71 year old to really know what the hot-button issues regarding 18-25 year-olds are, but he should try and figure it out. All in all it is going to be an interesting race. It’s still only the first quarter, we don’t know much about what type of President each would be or who the V.P. would be, but no matter which lesser evil wins the election later this year I guess we can all be certain that the winner will not be G.W.

WHERE HAS ALL THE MONEY GONE?

Everywhere you look these days it’s the same story. Revenue is on the decline across the board and penny-pinching is the new norm. Just last week Starbucks Coffee Co. announced that they are going to close 600 “underperforming stores”, and be more picky about opening new stores. Four major automotive companies have all seen sharp declines in their businesses and shareholders are feeling the heat. Chrysler sales decline leads the pack, falling nearly 30 percent from May to June, followed close by Ford, Toyota, and GM. That may seem astronomical, however those kind of numbers can’t hold a candle to the types of losses in the music industry.
Lets face it, everyone has an ipod, Apple Inc’s sales have reached around 100 million. It has completely transformed how and where people can listen to music. Walking across any college campus you’ll notice that the amount of kids that have the white earbuds hanging from their ears greatly outnumbers the amount that do not. Go to the gym and try to find someone working out without the assistance of a personal playlist. So how is it that music sales have declined dramatically in the last ten years?
About two months ago, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story on the music industry and the fact that the industry as a whole has lost 1.4 billion dollars in 2007 compared to the numbers generated only six and seven years prior. This prompted me to take a gander at the big picture and try to figure out where 1.4 billion dollars went. The highest selling album domestically of 2007 was Alicia Key’s ‘As I Am’, grossing a little more than 3 million copies in the United States edging out the High School Musical 2 Soundtrack for U.S. album sales during the fiscal year. In 1999, there were three albums that generated at least 13 million copies, five that generated at least 5 million in sales in only the United States. In 2000, there were four albums that sold at least 10 million copies. In 1997 and 1998 both years’ saw separate albums eclipse 20 million sales domestically. So in seven years where did people decide to go to get there music?
The easy answer is illegal downloading via the internet. But I didn’t think that really answered the question considering that Napster, the biggest pirated music file sharing system, was made in 1999. Sure, there are more peer-to-peer file sharing systems around today, but with increased federal policing on these sites and more pay to use sites popping up everyday, I naturally assumed that the numbers for the music industry would slowly climb back. For example, iTunes has made it incredibly easy to purchase music, movies, and video games that can then be synced to the player. However, according to the Wall Street Journal “CD sales still account for more than 85% of music sold” and still far eclipse the digital downloads “which were supposed to have been the industry’s salvation.”
Basically, I was wrong. Over one-billion, yes that is not a typo it’s billion, songs a month are traded on illegal file sharing networks according to BigChampagne LLC. Six years ago it was not uncommon for albums to sell 600,000 copies in their first week of release. Now albums that reach 65,000 copies in a week are number one. A number that would not have even put them in the Top 30 six years ago. Numbers are so bad that stores like Best Buy have started to cut down the floor space originally reserved for CD’s. So naturally we should all just go blame everyone who downloads music illegally and take away their computer, right? Well the argument is that bands make their money by touring. Ticket and merchandise sales help raise the numbers that are lacking from album sales. But if the sales continue to decline and more big time companies like Tower close down, will we see a decline in the amount of bands that make music, or in the production companies that release the music? There has to be a way to make a dent in the technology fueled downloading world that we now live in. Any Ideas?

A ‘HOW-TO’ ON GAINING EMPLOYMENT

WARNING! If you want to stay unemployed upon graduation then please, by all means, do not read the following.

Now, for those of us that enjoy the thought of moving out of our parents house before they leave us for the sunny beaches of Florida follow the one key formula to landing that first job once you finish school. It is as simple as one word, internship.

According to Vault.com many companies, including big names like Proctor and Gamble, are moving to a “promote-from-within policy where upwards of 80 percent of entry-level hires may have been interns with the company.” Elsewhere, the National Association of Colleges and Employers(NACE) recently released their 2008 Experiential Education Survey, which proclaims that acquiring employment from internships is at an all time high. According to the survey nearly 36 percent of all college graduates who received employment upon graduation were from internship programs, a number that is up six percent in two years.

Okay, so maybe the number 36 doesn’t particularly impress you. I understand, it’s only a little more than a third of the graduates from this year. That means you have a pretty good chance of looking to either your left or your right during the ceremony and realizing that only one of the three of you have a job thanks to an internship. However, 70 percent of students who participate in an internship program before they graduate are offered a full time job out of the experience. That number is up 13 percent in only 6 years and is projected to go up 3.7 percent in the next year. The statistics basically speak for themselves, getting an internship is extremely important.

There are several advantages for the company to work with interns. For example, companies don’t have to waste time teaching a new hire the ins and outs of the job, policies, procedures, responsibilities, etc. The intern is aware of the company format, so both parties know what to expect from each other. Also, it saves a ton of time when searching for a new entry level employee. When it comes to full time employment, experience helps A LOT. Experience helps tremendously, considering the people who decided that it’d be a good idea to hire you are most likely the same people that trained you. Who better to trust with training programs than yourself, right? At least that is what the higher-ups are thinking. That is all common sense, but the NACE survey dug deeper.

According to the survey, companies say that they have found that hiring interns from their own programs is a better decision in regards to retention rates. Former interns who worked to become full-time hires are more willing to stick around with a company. Retention rates are, in some cases, upwards of 48 percent higher with interns than with regular hires after five years on the job. Former interns, who transition into full time hires, become tremendous assets to the company. It’s easy to see the full circle of a successful internship.

Unfortunately, not every college student thinks ahead, and some don’t have the luxury of being able to take an internship opportunity due to a full-time job, a scholarship requirement, summer classes, the list can go on but you get the picture. I don’t mean to discourage that demographic, however the types of internships out there are vast and the time commitment for different positions is ever changing. Getting an internship is no longer just a summer fling. There are internships for every season with companies ranging from drama clubs to sports teams and everything in between. Overall, I think everyone can agree that an internship could be one of the most rewarding opportunities of your life. Most importantly, the biggest piece of advice that every literature outlet recommended is to ALWAYS try to do your best work. It may not seem like a big deal now, but when you are offered a job that can start your career, you can thank the work you did back when you were low person on the totem pole.

THE FIGHT IS HEATING UP: APPLE VS PC

So you are a college student, or soon to be college student, and you are in need of a new laptop computer to lug around from class to class. Decisions such as this one used to be cut and dry. Remember the “dude, you’re getting a Dell” ads? Going back just a few years, there were few decisions when it came to laptops, and not one of them was whether you wanted a Microsoft based product. It was basically a monopoly. Microsoft had such a stranglehold on the market that they could release a new version of Windows every year and declare everything else obsolete, but times are changing.

Mac’s are the new cool, according to college students in the 18-29 target market. They outsell everything else two-to-one on college campuses. Last quarter, Mac computer sales, which doesn’t include ipod and iphone, increased by 50 percent. Granted, their sales are still not as big as Microsoft computers, but the numbers are closer than they have ever been before. When I read these numbers I wonder if Microsoft is starting to feel the heat. Yes, I realize that Microsoft has about a bazillion dollars and can do almost anything, but they haven’t had to deal with a true competitor in quite some time.

Apple has done a very interesting job of climbing up the ladder. Apple is synonymous with one word, ‘ipod’. It is easy to say that the Apple ipod owns the music playing business, and the iphone is quickly becoming ‘the phone to have’, especially now that they are releasing their second generation 3-G model. Microsoft has countered with a variety of different mp3 players, centering on the ‘Zune’, and a merger with phone companies to put Windows 6.0 on certain phones. However, what they are lacking is a computer application like itunes to keep track of people’s music and video files and enable people to download new files.

Microsoft has looked to other things to continue their dominance on our technological hearts. In addition to computer sales, Microsoft pretty much owns the video game industry. The Xbox, built and owned by Microsoft, outsells Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s Playstation and by anyone’s guess those numbers will not change.

I understand that it is hard to change over. After all, most of us own a computer with Windows, so starting from scratch with a new operating system can be a little scary. Last January, I went through this dilemma myself. Much of my school’s computing systems are Macs (not the university, but the journalism department) and I knew I needed a laptop in the near future. I had never really used a Mac, much less thought about purchasing one. However, after playing around on one for about an hour, I felt confident enough to know that I wouldn’t mind the switch. Leopard, Mac’s operating system, bills itself as more user friendly and has less problems than Window’s Vista. In my dealings with the two, I would have to agree.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my PC. I have never had any problems with the operating system and the only thing I had to deal with was a lack of hard drive space due to my extensive collection of music. So even as I sit here, typing away this entry on my Macbook, it is not as though I threw my PC in the trash. It’s sitting on my desk, still used regularly. However, by that same token, when it actually does die an untimely death I sincerely question whether I will want to purchase a PC that runs Windows Vista. Ultimately, you have to try both and see which one fits your life better. There are positives and negatives to Apple as well as Microsoft, but when it comes to college-aged students, it is easy to see which company is winning out. It will be interesting to see the next move in the Apple vs Microsoft duel.

Like most college students I am residing at home for the summer, once again living with my family and generally losing my mind due to that fact. The one good thing is that it is much cheaper than an apartment so I have found it much easier to save money, which is good because I desperately needed to find something to do while encased in suburbia. I was unsure as to what that ‘something’ was going to be until a video game, Grand Theft Auto IV, made 500 million dollars in one week. I was flabbergasted and decided to look into the game a little more. I own an Xbox 360 but don’t get to play video games to much anymore. It made me apprehensive to purchase any new games, however with every review of this game receiving 5 stars out of 5 and 98% ratings it was hard to resist.
I finally found the game after searching at three different stores. I rushed home and popped it into the Xbox. From the opening credits I was hooked. The detail that the developers took in creating the world of GTA IV is unprecedented, the graphics and seemingly life like actions are amazing, but what really makes this game great to play is the story line. I didn’t particularly grow up on video games, I was more of an outside kid addicted to playing sports, but since I discovered them I have seen my fair share of good and bad. There are good games, fun games, and games that have the ability to hold ones attention for a few hours, but GTA IV enthralls the player from the get go. When the end comes you almost don’t even realize it because you are lost in the world of the game. Naysayers have pointed out that the game is a little short, but that along with one or two other drawbacks can’t detract from its greatness. There are ridiculous amounts of multiplayer action to keep a person entertained instead of missions, so pretty much you could put this game into your console and never have to take it out, well until the console breaks from overuse.
Now I know what you are thinking, 23 year olds should probably not be spending a large amount of time playing video games considering that pesky little word ‘responsibility’ keeps popping up, but technically the game is marketed to the 17 and above crowd. It’s no secret the game is graphic. Guns, violence, beat downs with pipes, car chases, rocket launchers, hi-jacking everything from cars to helicopters, and so much more. Basically anything graphic and illegal you can think of the lead character can get himself into during the course of gameplay. That’s all fine and dandy, the only problem is that there is a large amount of kids playing this game. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to rip a kids video game out of his hand if he isn’t of age to go along with the “M” rating, but if 8 year olds are growing up playing such violent games it could have adverse affects on their psyche. I just hope people realize that.
Anyway, I don’t really think I need to clarify this, but I am going to give this game my 5 star stamp, which makes the grand total of 5 star reviews for GTA IV to an unbelievable 7 bazillion. (I don’t really know the exact number but I’m pretty sure that that number is actually unbelievable to most people.) Obviously a sixty dollar price tag is a bit steep and I don’t recommend running out to grab it for your cousins 12th birthday, but if you’re bored and happen to have a next-gen console you should not hesitate when it comes to this game. Get in your car, go to the store, buy the game, and enjoy.

Everyone goes to college for the same thing, to get a good job upon graduation. It sounds so simple and direct but sometimes the journey takes tons of u-turns, detours, and wrong ways. So what truly is the best way to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life and, more importantly, what you don't want to be stuck doing. It's that pesky little thing that everyone will always ask about during your college career, an internship. It'd be nice if the entire process of finding one came with a turn-by-turn direction GPS system, but unfortunately this decision must be made based purely on human feelings. Sure, there are different types; some are paid, some are unpaid, some involve as little work as getting the coffee for whomever it is you're working for, and others can absorb your entire summer with multiple responsibilities. Obviously the latter will give you a better opportunity to figure out whether or not the direction you think you would like to go in is actually a correct turn, well unless you really want to become a barista at the local starbucks.

The burning question that everyone wants to know is how to get one. It'd be awesome if I had the ultimate answer to that one. There isn't a golden cheat sheet that everyone can look at and magically internships will fall into his or her lap. But there are some things you can do that will better your chances. Have a professional resume, with some interesting eye catching flair so it doesn't get lost in the pile. Be on time to your interview; a little early never hurt anyone by the way. Look professional, try and figure out what the attire of the office is before you have your interview. Showing some interest in trying to fit in with the rest of the crew at the office sends a good message. Most importantly, be confident, comfortable, and thorough. Talking yourself up always sounds like a genius move, but it could also come back to bite you. Concentrate on what you do well instead of hounding on the negatives, but have the understanding that what you're about to get into is not going to be as easy as you would like to believe. The best thing you can do is try and anticipate what types of questions the interviewer is going to ask and try and have some answers worked out in your head. Don't write down specific answers and practice them in front of the mirror, it sounds rehearsed and may not exactly cover the question correctly.

It's no secret that an internship does wonders for a student. Enhancing a resume, gaining experience, starting a relationship with a company that could lead to a full time position all sound fantastic, especially with the ever depleting job market and ever worsening economy in this country. But most importantly it shows people that you did more in college than drink beer and sleep through class. It gives the impression that you actually are interested in what you're studying. Last time I checked it is much easier to get a job when the person you are about to sit down with is already impressed before you open your mouth.

I guess the major question you have to ask yourself in regards to the whole 'internship thing' is how much work do you want to do this summer? It's easy to sit on your rear-end, maybe picking up a serving job at the local restaurant or becoming a cashier at the Gap so that you can go to the beach on your 'off' days which for some reason are more frequent than your 'on' days, but neither of those or anything related to those are going to improve your ability to further your career. Throwing away a summer at the beach sounds awesome, until the time comes for you to graduate and the only thing you can write on your resume is your ability to decipher what SPF sunscreen gives you a better tan. Besides, an internship won't take away your entire life, by all accounts you will most likely still have a weekend.

Everyone goes to college for the same thing, to get a good job upon graduation. It sounds so simple and direct but sometimes the journey takes tons of u-turns, detours, and wrong ways. So what truly is the best way to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life and, more importantly, what you don't want to be stuck doing. It's that pesky little thing that everyone will always ask about during your college career, an internship. It'd be nice if the entire process of finding one came with a turn-by-turn direction GPS system, but unfortunately this decision must be made based purely on human feelings. Sure, there are different types; some are paid, some are unpaid, some involve as little work as getting the coffee for whomever it is you're working for, and others can absorb your entire summer with multiple responsibilities. Obviously the latter will give you a better opportunity to figure out whether or not the direction you think you would like to go in is actually a correct turn, well unless you really want to become a barista at the local starbucks.

The burning question that everyone wants to know is how to get one. It would be awesome if I had the ultimate answer to that one. There isn't a golden cheat sheet that everyone can look at and magically internships will fall into his or her lap. But there are some things you can do that will better your chances. Have a professional resume, with some interesting eye catching flair so it doesn't get lost in the pile. Be on time to your interview; a little early never hurt anyone by the way. Look professional, try and figure out what the attire of the office is before you have your interview. Showing some interest in trying to fit in with the rest of the crew at the office sends a good message. Most importantly, be confident, comfortable, and thorough. Talking yourself up always sounds like a genius move, but it could also come back to bite you. Concentrate on what you do well instead of hounding on the negatives, but have the understanding that what you're about to get into is not going to be as easy as you would like to believe. The best thing you can do is try and anticipate what types of questions the interviewer is going to ask and try and have some answers worked out in your head. Don't write down specific answers and practice them in front of the mirror, it sounds rehearsed and may not exactly cover the question correctly.

It's no secret that an internship does wonders for a student. Enhancing a resume, gaining experience, starting a relationship with a company that could lead to a full time position all sound fantastic, especially with the ever depleting job market and ever worsening economy in this country. But most importantly it shows people that you did more in college than drink beer and sleep through class. It gives the impression that you actually are interested in what you're studying. Last time I checked it is much easier to get a job when the person you are about to sit down with is already impressed before you open your mouth.

I guess the major question you have to ask yourself in regards to the whole 'internship thing' is how much work do you want to do this summer? It's easy to sit on your rear-end, maybe picking up a serving job at the local restaurant or becoming a cashier at the Gap so that you can go to the beach on your 'off' days which for some reason are more frequent than your 'on' days, but neither of those or anything related to those are going to improve your ability to further your career. Throwing away a summer at the beach sounds awesome, until the time comes for you to graduate and the only thing you can write on your resume is your ability to decipher what SPF sunscreen gives you a better tan. Besides, an internship won't take away your entire life, by all accounts you will most likely still have a weekend.

Everyone goes to college for the same thing, to get a good job upon graduation. It sounds so simple and direct but sometimes the journey takes tons of u-turns, detours, and wrong ways. So what truly is the best way to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life and, more importantly, what you don't want to be stuck doing. It's that pesky little thing that everyone will always ask about during your college career, an internship. It'd be nice if the entire process of finding one came with a turn-by-turn direction GPS system, but unfortunately this decision must be made based purely on human feelings. Sure, there are different types; some are paid, some are unpaid, some involve as little work as getting the coffee for whomever it is you're working for, and others can absorb your entire summer with multiple responsibilities. Obviously the latter will give you a better opportunity to figure out whether or not the direction you think you would like to go in is actually a correct turn, well unless you really want to become a barista at the local starbucks.

The burning question that everyone wants to know is how to get one. It would be awesome if I had the ultimate answer to that one. There isn't a golden cheat sheet that everyone can look at and magically internships will fall into his or her lap. But there are some things you can do that will better your chances. Have a professional resume, with some interesting eye catching flair so it doesn't get lost in the pile. Be on time to your interview; a little early never hurt anyone by the way. Look professional, try and figure out what the attire of the office is before you have your interview. Showing some interest in trying to fit in with the rest of the crew at the office sends a good message. Most importantly, be confident, comfortable, and thorough. Talking yourself up always sounds like a genius move, but it could also come back to bite you. Concentrate on what you do well instead of hounding on the negatives, but have the understanding that what you're about to get into is not going to be as easy as you would like to believe. The best thing you can do is try and anticipate what types of questions the interviewer is going to ask and try and have some answers worked out in your head. Don't write down specific answers and practice them in front of the mirror, it sounds rehearsed and may not exactly cover the question correctly.

It's no secret that an internship does wonders for a student. Enhancing a resume, gaining experience, starting a relationship with a company that could lead to a full time position all sound fantastic, especially with the ever depleting job market and ever worsening economy in this country. But most importantly it shows people that you did more in college than drink beer and sleep through class. It gives the impression that you actually are interested in what you're studying. Last time I checked it is much easier to get a job when the person you are about to sit down with is already impressed before you open your mouth.

I guess the major question you have to ask yourself in regards to the whole 'internship thing' is how much work do you want to do this summer? It's easy to sit on your rear-end, maybe picking up a serving job at the local restaurant or becoming a cashier at the Gap so that you can go to the beach on your 'off' days which for some reason are more frequent than your 'on' days, but neither of those or anything related to those are going to improve your ability to further your career. Throwing away a summer at the beach sounds awesome, until the time comes for you to graduate and the only thing you can write on your resume is your ability to decipher what SPF sunscreen gives you a better tan. Besides, an internship won't take away your entire life, by all accounts you will most likely still have a weekend.

Everyone goes to college for the same thing, to get a good job upon graduation. It sounds so simple and direct but sometimes the journey takes tons of u-turns, detours, and wrong ways. So what truly is the best way to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life and, more importantly, what you don't want to be stuck doing. It's that pesky little thing that everyone will always ask about during your college career, an internship. It'd be nice if the entire process of finding one came with a turn-by-turn direction GPS system, but unfortunately this decision must be made based purely on human feelings. Sure, there are different types; some are paid, some are unpaid, some involve as little work as getting the coffee for whomever it is you're working for, and others can absorb your entire summer with multiple responsibilities. Obviously the latter will give you a better opportunity to figure out whether or not the direction you think you would like to go in is actually a correct turn, well unless you really want to become a barista at the local starbucks.

The burning question that everyone wants to know is how to get one. It would be awesome if I had the ultimate answer to that one. There isn't a golden cheat sheet that everyone can look at and magically internships will fall into his or her lap. But there are some things you can do that will better your chances. Have a professional resume, with some interesting eye catching flair so it doesn't get lost in the pile. Be on time to your interview; a little early never hurt anyone by the way. Look professional, try and figure out what the attire of the office is before you have your interview. Showing some interest in trying to fit in with the rest of the crew at the office sends a good message. Most importantly, be confident, comfortable, and thorough. Talking yourself up always sounds like a genius move, but it could also come back to bite you. Concentrate on what you do well instead of hounding on the negatives, but have the understanding that what you're about to get into is not going to be as easy as you would like to believe. The best thing you can do is try and anticipate what types of questions the interviewer is going to ask and try and have some answers worked out in your head. Don't write down specific answers and practice them in front of the mirror, it sounds rehearsed and may not exactly cover the question correctly.

It's no secret that an internship does wonders for a student. Enhancing a resume, gaining experience, starting a relationship with a company that could lead to a full time position all sound fantastic, especially with the ever depleting job market and ever worsening economy in this country. But most importantly it shows people that you did more in college than drink beer and sleep through class. It gives the impression that you actually are interested in what you're studying. Last time I checked it is much easier to get a job when the person you are about to sit down with is already impressed before you open your mouth.

I guess the major question you have to ask yourself in regards to the whole 'internship thing' is how much work do you want to do this summer? It's easy to sit on your rear-end, maybe picking up a serving job at the local restaurant or becoming a cashier at the Gap so that you can go to the beach on your 'off' days which for some reason are more frequent than your 'on' days, but neither of those or anything related to those are going to improve your ability to further your career. Throwing away a summer at the beach sounds awesome, until the time comes for you to graduate and the only thing you can write on your resume is your ability to decipher what SPF sunscreen gives you a better tan. Besides, an internship won't take away your entire life, by all accounts you will most likely still have a weekend.

Everyone goes to college for the same thing, to get a good job upon graduation. It sounds so simple and direct but sometimes the journey takes tons of u-turns, detours, and wrong ways. So what truly is the best way to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life and, more importantly, what you don't want to be stuck doing. It's that pesky little thing that everyone will always ask about during your college career, an internship. It'd be nice if the entire process of finding one came with a turn-by-turn direction GPS system, but unfortunately this decision must be made based purely on human feelings. Sure, there are different types; some are paid, some are unpaid, some involve as little work as getting the coffee for whomever it is you're working for, and others can absorb your entire summer with multiple responsibilities. Obviously the latter will give you a better opportunity to figure out whether or not the direction you think you would like to go in is actually a correct turn, well unless you really want to become a barista at the local starbucks.

The burning question that everyone wants to know is how to get one. It would be awesome if I had the ultimate answer to that one. There isn't a golden cheat sheet that everyone can look at and magically internships will fall into his or her lap. But there are some things you can do that will better your chances. Have a professional resume, with some interesting eye catching flair so it doesn't get lost in the pile. Be on time to your interview; a little early never hurt anyone by the way. Look professional, try and figure out what the attire of the office is before you have your interview. Showing some interest in trying to fit in with the rest of the crew at the office sends a good message. Most importantly, be confident, comfortable, and thorough. Talking yourself up always sounds like a genius move, but it could also come back to bite you. Concentrate on what you do well instead of hounding on the negatives, but have the understanding that what you're about to get into is not going to be as easy as you would like to believe. The best thing you can do is try and anticipate what types of questions the interviewer is going to ask and try and have some answers worked out in your head. Don't write down specific answers and practice them in front of the mirror, it sounds rehearsed and may not exactly cover the question correctly.

It's no secret that an internship does wonders for a student. Enhancing a resume, gaining experience, starting a relationship with a company that could lead to a full time position all sound fantastic, especially with the ever depleting job market and ever worsening economy in this country. But most importantly it shows people that you did more in college than drink beer and sleep through class. It gives the impression that you actually are interested in what you're studying. Last time I checked it is much easier to get a job when the person you are about to sit down with is already impressed before you open your mouth.

I guess the major question you have to ask yourself in regards to the whole 'internship thing' is how much work do you want to do this summer? It's easy to sit on your rear-end, maybe picking up a serving job at the local restaurant or becoming a cashier at the Gap so that you can go to the beach on your 'off' days which for some reason are more frequent than your 'on' days, but neither of those or anything related to those are going to improve your ability to further your career. Throwing away a summer at the beach sounds awesome, until the time comes for you to graduate and the only thing you can write on your resume is your ability to decipher what SPF sunscreen gives you a better tan. Besides, an internship won't take away your entire life, by all accounts you will most likely still have a weekend.

Trends like skinny jeans, tall boots and shirts with ambiguous phrases, it's easy to forget what is acceptable in the workplace. Making the right first impression is vital, because it only takes six seconds for someone to make a judgment about a person. During those six seconds, an employer can decide whether or not you will fit in with the company culture and represent them well. Women and men have different guidelines to follow with clothing, but knowing the proper attire is a universal skill.

Dressing professionally does not mean women have to hang up their personality. Cropped jackets and high wasted pants with thick belts are trendy statements for the office; however, a mini skirt and visible tattoos will not project the right image. Colors are a great way to express individuality in solid patterns, but try to avoid loud colors like hot pink or bright orange. When accessorizing a suit in a solid print, bracelets and earrings are a great way to jazz up a dull outfit, but avoid overpowering gems or bangles and necklaces that clank so loud that a co-worker can hear you coming down the hallway. Once the outfit is complete, shoes are the finishing touch. Steer clear of open toes, straps and chunky heels. A shoe should be classic and not overpower the rest of the outfit.

Men have different rules to follow, but the end result is the same, a polished look that will make a great first impression. First, that long beard with the shaggy hair cut needs to be trimmed for a well-groomed appearance. Avoid heavy cologne and make sure a belt keeps your pants above the waist. Like the women, cover all visible tattoos and know that dressing professionally can be stylish. Designers tailor suits to men's styles and needs, so make sure that the suit is a solid print that fits properly. The sleeves should not be too long or too short, and the shirt should be a darker color. Ties should be conservative with no flashy patterns or prints, so save the singing tie for the holiday party. Finally, never wear white socks with a suit. The sock color should compliment the color of the suit.

With these guidelines, you should make a first impression that is sure to make an impact on the employer. Six seconds are all it takes to make a decision about you, so make those six seconds work in your favor. While these are merely guidelines, different corporate cultures may dress different ways or have different standards, so assess the dress code properly and dress to impress.

As a current student at Drexel University, I have had the pleasure of gaining field experience during my past four years. The value of an internship extends far beyond a few words on a resume or a couple of bucks in your pocket. Internships augment the learning experience for a student that broadens knowledge beyond the classroom. During an internship, lessons are taught without even realizing it, such as showing up to work on time, creating rapport with co-workers, establishing relationships with clients, taking constructive criticism, dressing properly and managing time properly. While finding the perfect internship opportunity can be difficult, the experiences learned during that time will prove to be priceless.

One of my most memorable internship opportunities was with the Philadelphia Soul in the communications department. I found the internship by going to the team's website and sent my resume and cover letter to the Director of Communications with little expectations. Within two days he had called me in for an interview, and I was offered the job two days later. Emotions ranging from anxious to excitement filled me as I walked up to the gorgeous glass office building in the heart of Center City Philadelphia for work. From day one I had made an instant group of friends that I keep in contact to this day.

During my time in the communications department, the most valuable lesson learned was how to properly take criticism in regards to my writing. I had to take what was said about my writing and work it into my personal style. I also learned how to maintain relationships with media and co-workers for the most productive use of time. I was able to do so in such a manner that I consider my former co-workers to be great friends, excellent references and positive contacts for future opportunities. An internship is what you make of it, but with the right attitude and the drive to succeed, an internship can be the best opportunity during your college career.