The auto bailout

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/19/autos.ceo.jets/index.html?iref=newssearch

Does anyone else think it must be a nightmare to be on the PR teams right now for these big 3 U.S. automakers?

It seems to me that these folks are doing too little too late. I know that it would cost Americans a lot of jobs if Ford, GM, and Chrysler went bankrupt, but these guys should have learned years ago that Americans don't want / can't afford the kinds of cars they're building (ie: SUVs and large trucks). The media had a field day when the 3 CEOs flew to Washington in 3 private jets to beg for tax payer money. I suppose I'm just glad I don't have a job on any of their PR teams. It's got to be really hard for them right now with all the bad press.

Another personal post...

So I'm into my training for this half marathon and I'm a bit discouraged... I've stuck to my schedule (minus a few days last week when I was sick... but I made those up on my "rest" days) and I haven't lost any weight... I suppose I shouldn't be too concerned 'cause it's still early and Thanksgiving was in there. My clothes fit a little better, so that's good.

What I've been doing is alternately walking 1/4 mile with running 1/4 mile. I'm not in great shape, so I'm trying to ease my way into running the full thing. In other news - over the past two weeks, I have shaved 2:08 off my mile :)

My life is pretty uneventful outside of that. My brother and his fiancee are looking for jobs in Wisconsin. I'll probably end up somewhere around there or Chicago after graduation... I just hope I can find a job :\

My first ever half-marathon

So a few weeks ago, my brother's fiancee asked me if I wanted to do a half-marathon with her as a way to get in shape for their wedding in July. I said sure because I've always wanted to do a half or whole marathon. Unfortunately, the half-marathon she is doing is on the day I graduate from college - FAIL.

BUT! My mom and I found one in Xenia on April 5, the second day of our spring break. So I'm in training for that. I also convinced my mom to take me to either Disney World or on a cruise for my last spring break ever and as a reward for doing the marathon.

I can't think of a good way to end this, so... yay!

Catholic Social Services Food Drive

The Pride of Dayton Marching Band is pairing up with the Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley to sponsor a food drive between December 1 and 17, 2008. All food donated will be given to the largest food pantry in the Miami Valley. CSS says that with the economy suffering and food and gas prices rising, they are seeing record numbers of people every day. Most of them are first-time visitors.

Please look for the bins placed in Stuart Hall, Marianist Hall, Reichard Hall, Kettering Labs, McGinnis Center, Kennedy Union, Campus South, and the Library in December. If you give your food items to a marching band member, you will be entered into a drawing for gift certificates to local establishments.

I hope you can all find yourselves able to donate something during this holiday season. Clean out your pantry before you leave for Winter Break. If you have any questions or want to be entered into the drawing, please let me know!

First Interview

So I had my first interview today for my first "big girl job." It was with a firm called C.C.L. Executive Group, Inc. They're based in Cincinnati and they're a pretty young firm (they just celebrated their 6th birthday last week). I think it went really well. Alex, the man I interviewed with, said he liked the way I answered his questions, but they're looking to hire right now. He told me that they would keep my resume on file until a little closer to my graduation and they will be calling me back for a second interview sometime in February or March. I suppose that's about what I expected.

For all those people who complain about the Interviewing communication module we all have to take at UD - STOP. I thought it was dumb, too, at the time, but I actually used a number of things from that class in my interview today. Besides, it's only, what, a 6-week course? I think you'll live through it :)

Facebook and the job market

My dad recently sent me this link to an article about Facebook dos and don'ts:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/11/05/cb.social.networking/index.html

I've heard about employers using Facebook to research prospective employees, but this article talks about how you (the prospective employee) can actually use Facebook to your advantage. The article talks about how some businesses actual cruise Facebook to scope out new employees. It's a fairly interesting article and I've taken it to heart. I've recently tried to make my Facebook appear a bit more professional, while retaining the things that show off my character and personality.

Perhaps you can use this as a guide to revamp your Facebook, too?

Another political entry, because I have links to share...

So the political dust has settled a little bit. I just wanted to share the links to a few things regarding Proposition 8 (the proposition in California that revoked the rights for gay couples to marry).

First, see Keith Olbermann's comments on Proposition 8:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27650743/

Then, see this ad to "Protect Marriage, Protect Children, Prohibit Divorce:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdJ4oVnujbA

I don't understand how anyone can disagree with either of these arguments. If you can come up with a legitimate argument, please let me know, because I'm interested in hearing it.

My two cents on the election

First of all, I think a number of things went well in the election. At the same time, I think a number of things didn't go so well.

I'm glad Obama won. I think he was the best candidate for the job. I'll end my opinion on that there so as not to incite a riot.

I'm rather disappointed in California, Arkansas and Florida for passing their bans on various gay rights (California took away the right for gays to marry... can you really TAKE AWAY someone's right to marry? Florida passed a ban on gay marriage and Arkansas passed a ban on gay couples having the right to adopt children.). Being someone who has a number of homosexual friends, this bothers me. I don't understand how people are so closed-minded. Gay people deserve all the same rights straight people do. I won't go much further into this issue, but it really disappointed me to see the looks on my friends' faces and to hear the disappointment in their voices when they found out these issues passed. All I want is for them to be happy and have the same rights as everyone else.

On the local front, I'm VERY disappointed in my hometown of Waynesville, Ohio (about 30 minutes south of UD). They always seem to manage to fail the school levies. They don't seem to appreciate the value of a good education. If you knew the people who lived there, you would agree with me. The police levy did manage to pass by a small margin, which is good. However, they passed a decrease in the street management levy. I suppose I'll have to get used to driving on crappy roads... oh well...

So there are my opinions on the election. What are yours?

Personal Post #1

I'm boring and can't think of anything more interesting for a title, so we'll just number them... sounds good to me!

I was really excited for a few days because over this past weekend (Parents' / Family Weekend), my parents, brother (Evan), and his fiancee (Julie), came up to visit and Julie told me she finally found her wedding dress (after searching for 6 months). She also told me she thinks she found the bridesmaids' dresses. She informed me that she wants to lose some weight before the wedding (which is in July 2009) and she wanted to do the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati in May. I told her I wanted to do it with her. It's on my list of life goals to do at least a half-marathon, so I figured "Here's my chance!"

Unfortunately, I found out yesterday that the marathon is on the same day that I am set to graduate from UD. Bummer. I'm tempted to just not walk at graduation. My high school graduation was a joke and a waste of my time... I somehow think my college graduation won't be that way, but still... HS left a sour taste in my mouth.

SO... Julie and I are now looking for a different half-marathon to do (hopefully in April or May of next year)... anyone know of any (preferably in Ohio...)?

Economy and the Job Market

As a senior in college, graduating in about 7 months, it makes me very nervous that the job market is suffering. I've started looking for jobs and internships and I've found it very difficult to locate any entry-level jobs pretty much anywhere. Everything I've been able to find wants at least 2 years of experience. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to gain the experience I need to get a job when there aren't any jobs for me to gain that experience.

It's just frustrating.

I spoke with my cousin's wife and she said that since the economy is suffering right now, companies and organizations aren't hiring PR specialists because they think they can do their PR-related tasks themselves. She recommended I find an internship somewhere I'd like to work and try to get my foot in the door that way. So, I will probably end up getting a post-graduate internship and hopefully that will lead me to a full-time position after that.