Top 50 Sci-Fi Bloggers

August 4th, 2010

There aren’t many college courses that let you read or watch science fiction, so if you need to get your additional fix of sci-fi commentary and news as a student, the web is a great place to look. Whether you’re interested in books, movies, TV or a little bit of everything, you’ll find bloggers on this list who share you passion for the best of speculative fiction.

News

Get your sci-fi news and general information from these great blogs.

1. io9: On this blog, you’ll find everything from the latest tech news to information about your favorite sci-fi comics.
2. SFSignal: You can get your sci-fi fix through this blog with reviews, news and more of games, books and movies in the genre.
3. Tor: This blog covers just about anything and everything related to science fiction and fantasy.
4. blastr: Check out this SyFy blog to read posts about the latest in sci-fi movies, art, TV and books.
5. Big Dumb Object: Whether you can’t get enough Doctor Who or just love to read sci-fi stories, you’ll find news and reviews here.
6. Suvudu: This site is your one-stop destination to get your geek on and read news about science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, gaming and more.
7. Revolution Science Fiction: On this site you’ll find the latest updates on books, movies and television to get you your sci-fi fix.
8. Science Fiction World: If it’s happening in the world of science fiction, you’ll be able to read about it here.
9. Slice of Sci-Fi: Read this blog or join a discussion in the forums to learn more about what’s going on in sci-fi media.
10. SciFi Blog: Get updates on movies, reviews of books, and discussions about all things sci-fi here.
11. BSC Review: Need to read a review of the latest book, game or movie? Check out this site for advice on what’s good and what could be missed.
12. Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’ News & Reviews: If you’re a fan of either of these genres you’ll find all the news and reviews you can handle here.
13. Sci-Fi Talk: See what the sci-fi world is buzzing about today with posts of trailers, reviews and info on this site.
14. SF Scope: Need straight up no-nonsense news about sci-fi? You’ll find it here.

Books

Read these blogs for advice on the latest and greatest sci-fi reads.

15. Science Fiction and Other Odysseys: You can visit this blog to read author interviews, get tips on writing science fiction and hear from author Ann Wilkes.
16. Grasping for the Wind: Check out this blog for sci-fi and fantasy book news and reviews.
17. OF Blog of the Fallen: Fans of speculative fiction and literature more broadly will appreciate the reviews and links on this blog.
18. Apex Book Company: This publishing company’s blog shares some of their latest releases in sci-fi.
19. The Galaxy Express: Meld sci-fi and romance with the books recommended by this blog.
20. The Wertzone: Get commentary on sci-fi books and movies from Adam Whitehead on this blog.
21. SciFiGuy: Here, you’ll find reviews of fantasy, paranormal, and sci-fi books as well as interviews and much more.
22. I Hope I Didn’t Just Give Away the Ending: This sci-fi fan shares reviews of all kinds of books that may be of interest.
23. Worlds In a Grain of Sand: Need to find a good book to read? Check out this blog for some reviews of sci-fi books old and new.
24. The Geek Curmudgeon: On this blog, self-professed geek Rick Klaw shares his opinions on books, movies and more.
25. Neth Space: This fan loves to share his thoughts on the sci-fi books he enjoyed on this blog.
26. From a Sci-Fi Standpoint: Fans of the genre can find a wide range of book reviews on this blog.

Movies

Use these blogs to stay in the loop about the latest sci-fi releases.

27. SciFi Squad: Find sci-fi movie news, trailers, DVD information and a whole lot more on this site.
28. John Scalzi: Film critic John Scalzi shares his opinions on sci-fi films through this AMC blog.
29. Star Wars Blog: Star Wars fans will find everything they need to be a true blue aficionado on this official blog of the movies.
30. Cinematical: Sci-Fi and Fantasy: Keep up with the latest news and reviews in the sci-fi genre with this blog.
31. Classic Sci-Fi Movies: Want to make sure you’ve seen the best sci-fi movies ever made? Check out this blog for recommendations.
32. Alien Experience: Fans of the Alien and Predator movies will find news and information here.
33. SciFi UK Review: This site is dedicated to providing reviews and the latest updates on sci-fi films in and outside of the UK.

TV

Learn more about your favorite sci-fi TV shows from these bloggers.

34. Star Trek Sci Fi Blog: If you’re a Trekkie through and through, find out news and information about the series and the movies on this blog.
35. Galactica Sitrep: You can get your fix of Battlestar Galactica news from this blog.
36. Battlestar Blog: Here you’ll find another great Battlestar Galactica blog.
37. Behind the Sofa: Read through the posts on this site to learn more about the world of Doctor Who.
38. Whedonesque: If you love the work of Joss Whedon, like Buffy and Firefly, then check out this blog to see what he’s working on next.
39. Fringe Television: Those who’ve gotten hooked on Fox’s new show Fringe can find a wealth of information about it here.
40. The Caprican: Fans of Caprica will find news and updates about the next season of the show on this site.
41. Multiple Verses: Read and talk about your favorite sci-fi shows on this blog.
42. The Soul of Star Trek: Star Trek fans will find a great collection of news and information to keep them interested here.
43. The Watcher: This TV blog from the Chicago Tribune is full of reviews and news about a wide range of sci-fi and fantasy shows.

Authors

These bloggers are also sci-fi authors who share their thoughts on a wide range of topics.

44. Charlie’s Diary: Author Charles Stross offers up his take on writing, sci-fi and life in general on this blog.
45. Tobias Buckell: This science fiction author and blogger posts info about his work and fun sci-fi tidbits here.
46. Mike Brotherton: A hard sci-fi writer, Brotherton shares great information about real science he uses as inspiration for his work.
47. David Louis Edelman: On this blog, writer Edelman posts about science fiction, writing, politics, technology, web programming, current events, film and everything in between.
48. Ecstatic Days: Award-winning writer Jeff Vandermeer maintains this blog to share thoughts on writing, sci-fi and more.
49. SFNovelists: This blog brings together posts from a wide range of sci-fi and fantasy novelists.
50. Neil Gaiman’s Journal: While Gaiman’s work falls somewhere between fantasy and science fiction, his blog is an interesting read for anyone who likes the genre and wants to read more about it.

100 Inspiring Productivity Ideas for the Unemployed

August 1st, 2010

If you’re unemployed, you may feel like you don’t have much to do, but you can turn your unemployment into a learning and personal development experience. Here’s a collection of things that you can do to transform unemployment from boredom to productivity.

General

These are just a few of the things you can do to get started on a productive unemployment.

1. Make goals: Avoid procrastinating or letting responsibilities go-stick to your goals instead.
2. Keep a blog: Gain visibility with the help of a blog while you’re unemployed.
3. Reassess your career: Your unemployment might be a blessing in disguise-think about whether you were really doing what you want to do.
4. Focus on what you can control: Don’t obsess over things you have no control over, like whether you’re going to get called back about that job, and work on what you can.
5. Make a schedule: Make time for certain tasks throughout the day and stick to it.
6. Set your alarm early: Get out of bed as if you have a job to do.
7. Stick to a normal routine: Keep a regular routine every day so that your days don’t feel sporadic.
8. Get dressed: You don’t have to get dressed like you’re going in to work, but get cleaned up and decent every day.
9. Leave your TV off: Don’t turn your television on until the evening.
10. Start or finish a novel: Working on a novel is a project that will help you stay productive and develop yourself.
11. Learn something new: Even if there’s no monetary payoff, take the time to learn something new that will bring purpose and happiness.

Education

Make your unemployment a learning experience with these ideas.

12. Take courses: Improve your portfolio with courses-you may even be able to take free classes if you’re collecting unemployment.
13. Read everything: Read books, industry magazines, business blogs, and more to build your brain trust.
14. Learn a new job related skill: Pick up a new skills, whether it’s from a class, volunteering, or apprenticeship.
15. Sharpen your skills: Be sure that your current skills are sharp and up to date.
16. Teach a course: Deepen your knowledge and share what you know by teaching a course. It looks great on a resume and you might even earn some money.
17. Go back to college: Find grants, loans, and more to go back to school.
18. Learn a new language: A second (or third, or fourth) language looks great on a resume.

Job Search

Use these ideas to supercharge your job search.

19. Identify your best job resources: Find online sources, contacts, and more to identify the best job resources for you.
20. Don’t be fussy: Apply for anything and everything, even if the positions aren’t ideal.
21. Create a plan: Lay out an employment plan with small, manageable steps.
22. Double check your references: Talk to your references and make sure that they are up to date on your current situation, skills, and accomplishments.
23. Contact a staffing firm: Staffing companies can help find you a job, or at least find temporary work to hold you over.
24. Act like a job search is your job: Get up early and spend most of your day looking for jobs.
25. Keep your cool: Don’t let panic and stress take over your job search.
26. Ask for opinions on your resume: Share your resume with other professionals and ask for their opinion.
27. Work on your resume and cover letters: While you have time, make sure that you’ve got an updated resume and cover letter.

Networking

Put these ideas to work for a great networking experience.

28. Offer a reward: Let your contacts know that you’ll offer a reward like a steak dinner to whoever can land you a job.
29. Update your contacts: Make sure that your contacts aren’t planning on contacting you at your old work email and phone number-be sure to give them a better way to get you.
30. Tell everyone you’re unemployed: Don’t be ashamed-unemployment happens to the best of us. Tell everyone you’re looking for a new job.
31. Practice your speech: Be ready with a quick speech to go over what you’re doing now and what you’re looking for.
32. Embrace your contacts: Brush off your list of contacts and find out if they have know about any opportunities that might work for you.
33. Use social networking: Find contacts that can help you get a job through social media.
34. Pay attention to your network: Take the time to invest in your network when you have the time to do it.
35. Review your online presence: Be sure to check out what you look like on the Internet.
36. Join or start a club: Become a part of a job club to find encouragement, support, and resources.
37. Don’t forget to share: Share with your constantly expanding network while you have the time to do it.

Health

Here’s how you can maintain your health while you’re unemployed.

38. Eat well: Eat right to cut down on your health costs while also keeping your food bills down.
39. Get some exercise: You don’t have the excuse of being too busy anymore-get at least 30 minutes of brisk exercise every day.
40. Cut out prepared foods: Learn to cook from scratch and you’ll save money.
41. Lose weight or get fit: Present a better image for yourself by working on getting fitter.
42. Buy seasonal: Follow seasonal trends and look for treats.
43. Extend your insurance: Keep your health care coverage by extending it through programs like COBRA.
44. Take advantage of sales: Stock up on food that’s on sale.

Life at Home

When you’re unemployed, you’re going to spend a lot more time at home than you used to. Here’s how to make the most of it.

45. Clean your house: Embrace a sense of accomplishment and feel great at home with a clean house.
46. Plant a garden: Make a small investment in seeds and supplies to get satisfaction and super fresh, cheap food from your garden.
47. Fix it: Take the time to fix what you have around the house, saving money instead of buying something new.
48. Clean out your clutter: Check out your closets, garage, and attic to get rid of junk, and even sell off stuff you don’t need.
49. Do some green updates: Check for air leaks, cut out electrical leeches, and more around the house to save some cash and improve your home.
50. Learn to cook: Embrace your need to eat at home more often and brush up on your cooking skills.
51. Hang your clothes outside: Save on drying costs by drying outside while you’re at home instead.
52. Tackle your honey-do list: Get to work on the home projects you’ve been saving for when you have more time.

Finance

Here are a few tips for staying on top of your finances when unemployed.

53. Don’t hesitate to get unemployment benefits: Your first and most important task when you’re unemployed is signing up to get unemployment benefits. They may take weeks to come in and can even offer help finding new employment.
54. Just buy less: The less you buy, the less you’ll have to manage, replace, and store.
55. Track your spending: Keep track of every cent coming in and going out.
56. Haggle: Brush up on your bargaining skills and learn to haggle like a pro.
57. Put together a doomsday plan: It may be dreadful, but think about what you can do to raise money and decrease spending if you really end up in financial trouble.
58. Buy used: Many second hand items are still in great quality at a fraction of the cost.
59. Prioritize: If you can’t pay every bill, make sure you keep the essentials like your mortgage, utilities, and transportation.
60. Talk about payment options: Explain your situation to your mechanic, plumber, and other people who may be willing to stretch your bill out into installments.
61. Brush up on budgeting: Create or reassess your budget to deal with your new situation.
62. Cut your costs: Learn how to clip coupons, stop buying takeout, and find other ways to cut down on your expenses in the short and long term.
63. Reassess your bills: Find out if bundling or changing providers can help you cut down your bills.
64. Be careful about home equity: Stay disciplined and hold off on tapping into equity until you’ve back on your feet.
65. Rent out a room: If you’ve got an extra room, rent out your space to someone.
66. Deal with debt: Pick up the phone and call your lenders to discuss your situation instead of just letting bills pile up.
67. Pay attention to job search and moving expenses: Track your job search or moving expenses to see if you qualify for a deduction.
68. Put off expensive purchases: Now is not the time to get a great new TV or laptop.
69. Learn frugal habits: Pick up good frugal habits to save money while you’re unemployed.
70. Use cash: It’s more emotionally difficult to spend cash than credit, so stick to bills.
71. Keep your retirement sacred: Unless you’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel, don’t even think about touching your retirement fund.
72. Keep your checkbook balanced: Watch your bank account carefully-you can’t afford mistakes or overdraft fees.
73. Ask for level billing: Get a more stable look at your monthly bills with the help of a level bill payment structure.
74. Look into helpful programs: In addition to unemployment, you may quality for programs like food stamps and Medicaid.
75. Trade your housing down: If it makes financial sense, you can move, take on a roommate, or even move back home with your family.
76. Scrutinize your bills: Examine every bill you get for mistakes and get credits.

Money Makers

If you’d like to make some quick cash, use these ideas.

77. Start a business: While you’re waiting to get hired, consider starting your own business. You just might decide you never want to go back.
78. Take odd jobs: Odd jobs will provide you with some cash and help you feel productive.
79. Freelance: Take on small assignments for a little cash, and you can even put freelancing on your resume.
80. Take on a part time job: Work is work-don’t shy away from part time work that can help bridge the gap.

Relationships & Interaction

With these ideas, you can maintain great relationships and interaction.

81. Keep socializing with people: Talk to your former work colleagues, friends, and family to stay social.
82. Practice public speaking: Speak at associations, classes or Toastmasters to get out there and improve your interview skills at the same time.
83. Practice talking about yourself: Practice for interviews with friends, at parties, and with family.
84. Keep your family in the loop: Talk to your family about what’s going on and how they can help you.
85. Pick up your phone: Whether you’re calling personal or professional contacts, call at least a few people every day.
86. Spend time with your family: With your extra time, take the opportunity to focus on your family.

Happiness

Follow these ideas to stay happy while you’re unemployed.

87. Practice relaxation: Try out deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to wipe out stress.
88. Stick with happy people: Socialize with people who believe in you and can boost your self confidence.
89. Focus on the positive: Don’t forget to look on the bright side when you’re unemployed.
90. Take a day off: If you’re unemployed, one little day isn’t going to make or break your life.
91. Be thankful: While unemployed, you may find yourself focusing on what’s wrong-but you should take time to focus on what’s good in your life.
92. Maintain balance: Make time for fun and relaxation instead of letting your job search completely take over.
93. Reward yourself: When you’ve made an effort or had something good happen, indulge in a little reward.

Fun

Have a little fun while you don’t have to worry about work.

94. Visit the library: Take advantage of free resources and entertainment at your local library.
95. Travel: While you have time and fewer responsibilities, explore a new part of the world.
96. Embrace your hobbies: Enjoy your hobbies while you have time to really enjoy them-you might even find they can become a great job.
97. Explore your city: Visit museums, parks, and more to enjoy your city when you would normally be working.
98. Volunteer: Whether you’re at an animal shelter or soup kitchen, spend some of your extra time giving back to your community.
99. Create a job for yourself: Take on a project like volunteering for a loved one’s company.
100. Get out of the house: Do something, anything, that gets you out of the house every single day.

50 All-Time Best Biopics for History Buffs

July 29th, 2010

Coined by industry trade rag Daily Variety around the middle of the century, "biopic" is a handy mash-up of "biographical picture," meant to refer to any movie whose main narrative follows the life of a real-world figure. It may feel like they’re more popular than ever right now — recent years have seen a number of biopics about musicians — but they’ve been a staple of Hollywood since before the term was invented. Whether you’re brushing up on history for your online degree or you’re just a film fan looking to learn something, these biopics are perfect for history buffs. Be warned, though: Some of them take some pretty substantial liberties with the truth (but that’s half the fun of movies). Here we go:

Ancient History

Get your toga ready for these biopics set in the old days.

1. Alexander: Oliver Stone’s sprawling look at the life of Alexander the Great met with mixed reaction stateside but was a global hit.
2. Cleopatra: This Elizabeth Taylor vehicle almost destroyed 20th Century Fox, though it went on to win several awards for its depiction of the lavish life of Cleopatra VII, the queen of Egypt.
3. The Ten Commandments: Cecil B. DeMille’s biblical epic features Charlton Heston as Moses leading a "cast of thousands."
4. The Greatest Story Ever Told: This 1962 epic stars Max von Sydow as Jesus of Nazareth.
5. Spartacus: Kirk Douglas toplines this classic about a slave who leads an uprising against the Roman Republic.

Kings and Colonization

These are the films that explore the era of global expansion, from religion to economics.

6. The Lion in Winter: Peter O’Toole is King Henry II and Katharine Hepburn is Eleanor of Aquitaine in this classic costume drama based on the play of the same name.
7. Braveheart: Mel Gibson’s ode to Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace was one of the most popular films of the 1990s.
8. 1492: Conquest of Paradise: Released to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the "discovery" of America, Ridley Scott’s biopic stars Gerard Depardieu as Christopher Columbus.
9. Cromwell: Richard Harris stars as Oliver Cromwell, a soldier and leader who ruled Great Britain in the 1650s.
10. The Passion of Joan of Arc: One of the best silent films ever made, Carl Theodor Dryer’s moving account of the trial and death of Joan of Arc is a haunting film that’s a must for history buffs.
11. El Cid: Charlton Heston plays the title role of El Cid, renowned Castilian nobleman and governor of Valencia.
12. Richard III: Laurence Olivier’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s play is considered a classic treatment of the life of King Richard III, who ruled from 1483-1485.
13. Henry V: Kenneth Branagh’s exciting and visceral interpretation of Shakespeare’s account of King Henry V is one of the better adaptations of the Bard’s work.
14. Luther: Joseph Fiennes stars in the title role of Martin Luther, the theologian who started the Protestant Reformation.

War Stories

These films highlight the magnitude and cost of conflict.

15. Schindler’s List: One of Steven Spielberg’s best, this film stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, a German business owner who helped a number of Jews escape the clutches of the Nazi prison camps during World War II.
16. Patton: George C. Scott’s iconic portrayal of Gen. George Patton makes this 1970 film a classic to this day.
17. Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean’s lengthy but beloved film follows the life of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), a British Army officer with a key role in the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918.
18. Valkyrie: This riveting thriller centers on Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise), a German officer who conspired to kill Hitler.
19. Downfall: This acclaimed European film traces the final days of Adolf Hitler’s life at his bunker in Nazi Germany in 1945.

Everyday Life

From the notable to the unknown, these biopics dig into the existence of regular people with extraordinary lives.

20. Erin Brockovich: Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich, a legal clerk who rose to prominence thanks to her dogged work to fight corporate malfeasance.
21. The Straight Story: Easily David Lynch’s most accessible (and least nightmare-inducing) film, this is the story of Alvin Straight, a man in his 70s who travels more than 200 miles on a John Deere riding mower to visit his ailing brother.
22. The Aviator: Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) was an American icon of engineering, aviation, and filmmaking, and Martin Scorsese’s biopic explores his greatness as well as the paranoia that consumed him later in life.
23. Into the Wild: Emile Hirsch plays Christopher McCandless, a young man who blew off college to hike through the Alaskan wilderness and explore the world. Sadly, his journey took him too far.
24. Antwone Fisher: This uplifting true story follows young Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke) as he deals with abuse in a foster home before joining the Navy and eventually seeking out his true family.
25. Donnie Brasco: Johnny Depp stars as Joseph Pistone, a real-life undercover cop who took on the identity of Donnie Brasco to infiltrate the mob. It’s also got a killer performance from Al Pacino.
26. The Three Faces of Eve: Joanne Woodward takes the title role in this fictionalized version of the life of Chris Costner Sizemore, a woman born with multiple personality disorder.
27. The Spirit of St. Louis: Billy Wilder directed Jimmy Stewart in this biography of Charles Lindbergh that follows Lucky Lindy’s solo flight from New York to Paris.
28. Quiz Show: A fantastic but often forgotten drama from 1994, Ralph Fiennes stars as Charles van Doren in Robert Redford’s compelling account of the TV game show scandals of the 1950s.
29. Searching for Bobby Fischer: Child chess prodigy Joshua Waitzkin is profiled in this winning drama starring Ben Kingsley, Joe Mantegna, and Joan Allen.
30. Goodfellas: Considered by some to be Martin Scorsese’s best movie, this film tells the story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a kid who grew up to be in the mob but ultimately found the life too hard to survive.
31. The Miracle Worker: Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke both won Oscars for their work as Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, respectively, in this drama about the woman who helped Keller learn to communicate with the outside world and overcome her handicaps.
32. My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown: Daniel Day-Lewis is predictably amazing in this biopic of Christy Brown, a man born with cerebral palsy who could only move his left foot.
33. Bonnie and Clyde: Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty are Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of young lover and bank robbers who tore up the South during the Great Depression.

Sports and Entertainment

These biopics scratch the surface of our obsession with celebrity.

34. Walk the Line: Johnny Cash’s life and love affair with June Carter get the all-star treatment in this great biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.
35. Man on the Moon: Jim Carrey does some of his best work in this immersive portrayal of Andy Kaufman, the brilliant comedian who died of lung cancer at 35.
36. Rudy: It’s impossible not to cheer and cry (trust me) watching this inspirational true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, whose dream was to play football for the University of Notre Dame.
37. Prefontaine: Billy Crudup anchors this outstanding biopic of Steve Prefontaine, a long-distance runner and Olympic hopeful who met with tragedy.
38. Capote: This engaging drama follows Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) as he researches the events that would make up his masterpiece, In Cold Blood.
39. The Notorious Bettie Page: The classic pin-up girl is brought to life by Gretchen Mol in this overlooked but highly entertaining drama from 2005.
40. Auto Focus: Greg Kinnear gives a powerful performance in this biography of "Hogan’s Heroes" star Bob Crane, whose private life was consumed by sexual addiction.
41. Ali: Will Smith stars as Muhammad Ali in this critically acclaimed look at the champ’s life. Directed by Michael Mann.
42. Chaplin: Robert Downey, Jr. earned some of the best praise of his career as Charlie Chaplin in director Richard Attenborough’s film.
43. The Pride of the Yankees: Gary Cooper stars as Lou Gehrig in this classic drama about the hero baseball player laid low by illness.
44. De-Lovely: Hollywood had tackled Cole Porter before, but this 2004 biopic starring Kevin Kline as the composer dealt more directly with his sexuality.
45. Notorious: This biopic deals with the life, career, and killing of Christopher "Biggie" Wallace, aka Notorious B.I.G.

Politics

The lives of politicians make for some riveting movies.

46. The Queen: Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II in this intimate drama about the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. Michael Sheen co-stars as Tony Blair, a role he would play in several other films.
47. Frost/Nixon: Ron Howard’s drama focuses on the TV interviews David Frost (Michael Sheen) conducted with Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) in 1977, a few years after the president had resigned office.
48. Reds: Warren Beatty starred in, wrote, and directed this biography about John Reed, an American journalist who reported from the Bolshevik Revolution.
49. Invictus: Clint Eastwood’s film stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in a story set shortly after the South African leader was released from prison.
50. Milk: Sean Penn is amazing as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in California, and who met with a tragic fate.

15 CEOs Who Failed At First

July 28th, 2010

The life of a CEO is fraught with peril: Success brings with it the pressure to repeat your performance, while failure brings public scrutiny and stockholder scorn. If you need more evidence that it’s a tough gig, consider the fact that many of the biggest CEOs and other business leaders throughout history have met with major failure on the road to success. Whether you’re a long-time exec or you just started your online degree program in business, let the names on this list serve as an inspirational reminder that obstacles aren’t impossible to pass, just opportunities to grow.

1. Steve Jobs: It might be hard to remember now, but there was a time when every Apple announcement wasn’t greeted like the second coming, and when Steve Jobs wasn’t worshipped as the leader of the hippest computer company around. Jobs is the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc., but he wound up on the losing end of an internal power struggle that saw him leave the company in the mid-1980s. He then founded NeXT, a computer company that was eventually bought by Apple, a move that brought Jobs back into the company he’d begun. He was re-installed as CEO of his former home in 1997, and since then has led the company to record heights with a line of iMacs, iPods, and iPhones.
2. David Neelman: David Neelman founded Jet Blue Airways and served as the company’s CEO, but eventually hit a wall when weather-related flight delays damaged the company’s reputation. He took responsibility for the problems and was asked by the board of directors to resign in 2007. What would’ve been a career-ender for some CEOs was instead an opportunity to move on to something else. In 2009, Neelman launched Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, a regional airline dedicated to serving Brazil.
3. Jacques Nasser: Jacques Nasser joined the Ford Motor Company in 1968 as an analyst; in 1999, he became CEO. That’s an impressive career, but his time at the top was short-lived. Thanks to economic pressures, Nasser only held the post until 2001, when he was asked to resign. Despite having three decades’ of experience at one company, rising through the ranks to the upper levels, Nasser was shown the door. Yet his failure to hold the reins allowed him to change direction, and he joined One Equity Partners before eventually becoming chair of BHP Billiton, the biggest mining company in the world.
4. Donald Trump: He’s got terrible hair, a bad reality show, and his hotels have played host to WrestleMania. Yet for all his dubious achievements and pop culture infamy, Donald Trump had his share of setbacks on the road to ridiculous wealth. After a string of real estate successes in the 1980s, a recession and the use of junk bonds brought his business to bankruptcy. It took him years to restructure and reduce his debt to the point where he could return to the top of his game.
5. David Murdock: Born in 1923, David Murdock was a high-school dropout who got back from World War II without a penny to his name. Homeless and with almost no options, he found a way out when he secured a loan to buy a closing diner that he flipped for a profit. Relocating from Michigan to Arizona and eventually California, he made a name for himself in housing and commercial development before expanding into other business. Now he’s the chairman of Dole. Oh yeah: he’s dyslexic, to boot. What have you done lately?
6. T. Boone Pickens: An oilman and corporate raider with a controversial habit of trying to take over anything that isn’t tied down, T. Boone Pickens is currently the chair of BP Capital Management. (The BP stands for Boone Pickens, though, and isn’t related to British Petroleum.) However, great success tends to bring great failure, and Pickens saw both as he tumbled into debt and saw his gambles on natural gas come up short. However, his business have rebounded in in recent years, and he remains a formidable business presence. Take a look:

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7. Stephen M. Ross: Stephen Ross is CEO of The Related Companies, L.P., a real estate firm. He also owns 95 percent of the Miami Dolphins as well as 95 percent of their stadium, Sun Life. The real estate game turned on him in the 1990s, sending him to the brink of bankruptcy, but Ross overcame that failure in a big way by developing the Time Warner Center in New York City. Since then, he’s pretty much been on a roll. Forbes pegs his net worth around $2.9 billion. Not bad for a guy who almost lost it all.
8. Mark Zuckerberg: When David Fincher makes a movie about your life, you know you’ve made it. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook with a few of his classmates at Harvard in 2004, and despite his massive success — in March 2010, his net worth was $4 billion — he’s dealt with failure at every turn. Users have often bristled at perceived abuses of privacy, and Zuckerberg has fought an almost constant battle with the press over the site’s expanding role in online society. Still, there’s no denying his business savvy.
9. Bruton Smith: Bruton Smith has had a life-long love of stock car racing, and he built Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1959 for $1.5 million. By 1961, he was bankrupt. Smith lost control of the track and relocated to Illinois, working down his debts. He wouldn’t regain control of the track until the 1970s. However, Smith’s adversity bred success: As founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, he owns eight NASCAR tracks. Speedway was also the first motorsports company to be traded at the New York Stock Exchange, going public in 1995.
10. Richard Branson: Long before he was picking fights with Stephen Colbert, Richard Branson was struggling to make a name for himself. He wasn’t the best student: dyslexia hampered his academic performance and affected his personal relationships, and a few attempts to make money as a teen met with disaster. However, those early failures only strengthened his resolve, and by age 20, he’d started up a mail-order record company that would soon move into physical retail. The name: Virgin Records. Branson’s Virgin brand now encompasses everything from airlines to mobile phones.
11. Henry J. Heinz: The business giant whose name is now synonymous with ketchup started out by going bankrupt. In 1869, Heinz formed his first company, Heinz Noble & Co., with L.C. Noble. The intent was to market horseradish, capitalizing on Heinz’s love of produce and gardening. Within a year, the company went out of business. Thankfully (especially for those of us who like a good burger), he rebounded soon after and teamed up with his cousins to start F&J Heinz, which would eventually become the H.J. Heinz Company. The rest is tasty, tasty history.
12. Yasumitsu Shigeta: One of the richest people in the world according to Forbes, Yasumitsu Shigeta earned billions thanks to his mobile phone sales but lost it all when the dot-com bubble burst. He was knocked completely out of the game, and by all accounts, should’ve stayed there. But he rebounded by changing direction, moving from mobile media into businesses like office equipment and medical insurance. By the mid-00s, he was a billionaire CEO once more.
13. Tim Blixseth: After trying his hand at everything from songwriting to real estate, Tim Blixseth found himself broke and struggling to realize his dreams of financial gain. But instead of chasing the money, Blixseth made it work for him: He turned some of his Montana land into the Yellowstone Club, a private ski and vacation resort that brought him success.
14. Donald Graham: The Graham family is a media institution: Donald’s mother, Katharine, was the publisher of The Washington Post for more than 20 years, his daughter works at Slate, and his son works for The Onion. Donald joined the Post as a reporter in 1971 and eventually worked his way into the management ranks, becoming publisher in 1976 (succeeding his own mother) and CEO in 1991. However, his time at the post began with a major setback when, in 1994, he lobbied Sen. John Danforth to include a special provision favoring the Washington Post Company’s cell phone holdings in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade treaty. This ethical breach cost him credibility and earned scorn from critics, but the paper’s soldiered on and is one of the few media outlets managing to weather the Internet-driven demise of newspapers.
15. Sam Walton: Sam Walton is known for founding two stores that seem to define modern America: Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. But before the Wal-Mart stores made him famous, Walton learned some hard lessons as the owner of a Ben Franklin store in Newport, Arkansas, in the 1940s. His low prices and longer hours brought in the money, but as a result, his landlord refused to renew his lease and bought out the store’s inventory. His business career was almost over as soon as it began, thanks to some cutthroat practices. It took a few years for Walton to rebuild his businesses, but with the help of his family, he was able to get Wal-Mart off the ground.

15 Facts Law Schools Don’t Want You to Know

July 19th, 2010

While colleges are often prestigious and highly regarded institutions, they are also in the business world and have to make enough money to cover the costs of the services and programs they offer. Just like advertisements you see for any other products, schools’ claims about their degree programs may not always be the full truth and may exclude some important information that could color your decision about which school to attend or to attend at all. If you’re thinking about going to law school, take a look at these facts about attending and ultimately working as a lawyer that law schools don’t want you to know about.

1. Books are incredibly expensive, and you might never use them again. Think your books in undergrad were expensive? Those prices have nothing on the costs of law school texts. Students report spending on average $500 a semester on books, many of which aren’t tomes that can be referenced in your professional life. Over three years of law school that’s over $3,000 in books alone.
2. Your first year of law school will already be laid out for you. This means you won’t get to choose your courses, your professors or pursue any of your personal interests. Instead, you’ll be taking a set schedule of courses and you may not get a chance to work with professors you admire. And if it turns out you hate the school and want to transfer? You likely won’t be able to transfer out, and depending on your choice of schools, your credits may not even transfer if you could.
3. Your grades will be curved. Curved grades aren’t unfamiliar for many who braved degrees in particularly difficult majors in undergrad, but the curve in law schools can be a whole different animal. Think you rocked your final exam by getting a 97% percent? After the curve that 97 may only end up earning you a B, which can be disenheartening for many hard-working students.
4. Law school debts could total well over $100,000. Law school isn’t cheap, and even those attending public universities can expect to accrue debts into the six figures during their time in school. Most students can’t swing paying $30,000+ in tuition and fees each year, so loans are the only way to afford it. Unfortunately, these kinds of debts can be crippling if you don’t get a high paying job upon graduation.
5. What school you go to does matter. While many law school students will tell you that being happy at a school is more important than name recognition, when it comes to getting a job, names matter. You might enjoy your school experience more at a tier-two school, and get specialized training, but if you’re seeking a career at a high-powered law firm, attending the big name, top-tier schools is almost essential.
6. Your chances of getting a high paid job are slim. Many want to get into being a lawyer because they think it means big, six-figure paychecks and a life of luxury. While for some it might, the reality is that there are few high-paying jobs out there and your chances of getting one are slim. How slim? If you didn’t graduate from one of the top law schools or are in the top 5% of your class, you can pretty much forget about it. You’ll be facing hundreds of applicants who were. Of course, law schools would lead you to believe that getting one of these jobs is a lot easier than it is.
7. You can expect to work much more than 40 hours a week as a lawyer. Being a lawyer isn’t a 9-5 job. In fact, many lawyers at top firms work from 60-80 hours a week, so you can forget about a personal life. Even with a hefty $120,000 salary, if you’re working 70 hours a week you’re only raking in $33 an hour. It’s more than most people make, but not quite what many had in mind when they became lawyers and requires you to really love what you do.
8. The bar exam requires you to study for months, and even after that 33% fail. You’re unlikely to find a lawyer who exalts the virtues of the Bar Exam. It’s riddled with bizarre hypotheticals and legal questions that are unlikely to ever come up again in your entire law career. You’ll get the pleasure of studying for a good three months to take it, with no guarantee you’ll pass or be able to get a job to help you pay off your massive debts.
9. Breaks aren’t really breaks– you must spend them working. You might have been able to enjoy your summer breaks when you were an undergrad, but forget about that in law school. To stay competitive with your peers you’ll needs to take on internships and work at law firms, if you want to get a good job when you graduate. Some of these positions are paid, some are not, but all will require a hefty chunk of your time– even sometimes up to 50 hours a week.
10. Law school won’t teach you business skills. Law school is designed to help you think like a lawyer but it won’t teach you how to run your own firm, bill clients, get business loans or any other practical skills that can help you in your future endeavors. If you want to learn those things you’ll need to do it through personal experience or through taking a class, which you likely won’t have time to even consider doing.
11. Grades aren’t the end all. While your law school grades do matter to a certain degree, getting less than perfect grades won’t condemn you to a life of working outside of the law field. Law schools want their students to be hyper-competitive so it drives their reputation up, but the reality is that there are legal jobs out there for the rest of the school population as well.
12. Only 54 percent of all working-age law school grads are able to make it as a lawyer. Law schools are churning out tens of thousands of grads each year, and the reality is that there simply aren’t enough law jobs out there. The vast majority of these students will end up finding jobs doing other, much less desirable things rather than what they shelled out a hundred grand plus to do. Either that, or they will work as lawyers but won’t be able to make a living do that so will have to move to other fields.
13. Fewer new grads are able to find jobs. You can blame the recession, but over the past few years a smaller and smaller percentage of new grads are able to find jobs in the legal field. Your law school may make it seem like you’re assured a job upon graduation, but the reality is that there is no assurance of a job for anyone these days, especially not young, inexperienced lawyers.
14. Law schools lure in minority students to improve diversity rankings without disclosing that less than half of African-Americans who enter these programs ever pass the bar. Are you a minority student hoping to become a lawyer? Law schools may not be working in your best interests and instead hoping to inflate their own diversity without offering the help and guidance students need to succeed as working professionals.
15. Schools create misleading employment statistics by temporarily hiring new grads and spotlighting kids who land top-paying jobs, while ignoring the fact that most students make far-lower average incomes. Being a lawyer should be something you’re doing because you love practicing the law, not because of the money. If you’re in it for the money, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Many law schools will lead you to believe you have a great chance of landing a high-paying prestigious position, but the reality is that you’ll likely end up with a middle of the road salary if you can find a job at all in these highly competitive times.

12 Most Hated Professions On the Planet

July 15th, 2010

Some people are universally beloved for their profession: the firefighters who charge into danger, the brain surgeons who perform miracles, the teachers who inspire us all to become better. And then, well, you’ve got people who just can’t catch a break because they work in professions that tend to generate nothing but scorn, anger, or outright hate. These 12 professions are the most hated for reasons that will quickly become clear: for all their good intentions, these are the professionals with the most power to screw up your day and put you in a world of financial hurt. The next time you see one, cut them some slack. It’s a tough job, but at least you don’t have to do it.

1. Dentist: Blame it on Marathon Man, or the fact that nobody ever had a positive experience getting a root canal, but dentists are typically disliked everywhere you go. Yes, they help you by cleaning your teeth and ensuring that you practice good oral hygiene — and they risk professional burnout for doing it — and they’re highly qualified professionals (despite the claims of anti-dentites), but that doesn’t change the fact that a trip to the dentist is one marked by guilt for not brushing enough and pain at suffering the consequences. Plus the medicine always knocks you for a loop:
2. Principal: Face it: No kid ever goes to the principal’s office to hang out. The school principal can do a lot of good in their role as a leader, but they’re viewed by students as nothing more than the ultimate disciplinarians. They’re the highest rung on the ladder, and they’re the A-bomb of administrators. If you’re sitting in front of the principal, you’re probably in some serious trouble. As a result, most students have a pretty negative view of their school’s head.
3. Stock Trader: Every stock trader you have ever seen in a movie was a jerk. Wall Street. Boiler Room. 25th Hour. These people do not have a good rep, thanks to a public perception that all they care about is making money and taking advantage of the little guy. Traders work in a high-stress environment most of us will never have to deal with, and many of them are just trying to get ahead, but that hasn’t stopped the spread of the image of the shark-like, uncaring stock trader. However, the pressures of their job make them more likely to be clinically depressed than most people, so treat them with a bit of caution next time.
4. Telemarketer: Why do they always call during dinner? Because they know you’ll be home, that’s why. Telemarketers are the scourge of modern technology, especially now that real people have given way to digital recordings that just start yammering away when you answer the phone. We’re not even getting spammed by humans any more, but machines. And when it is a real person, they refuse to give up without a fight. It’s tempting to tell them off when they call, but take a moment to remember that the telemarketer probably hates their job as much as you hate getting called, and that they’ve probably been yelled at several times today. Hate away, but just hang up the phone.
5. Mechanic: If you find a good mechanic, hang onto him or her as long as possible. Buy a house next door if you have to. Mechanics are widely disliked for two major reasons: They can charge you a small fortune to fix your car, and they work in a field too complicated for many people. The first reason leads to resentment, the second to suspicion, and it all adds up to a feeling that you’re being fleeced even when they cut you a "good deal." The flip side is they work long, hot hours fixing complex machines that keep America running, and it can often be thankless work. Nevertheless, most people have a healthy dislike for mechanics, thanks to a few bad apples ruining the bunch.
6. Traffic Officer: People like police officers, but only in theory, or in those rare instances (car wrecks, home invasions) when they’re perceived as coming to the rescue. Most of the time, police officers are hated for being sticklers for the rules we all break regularly, particularly traffic regulations. We’ve all been pulled over for going just a few miles an hour above the posted speed limit, or for failing to come to a total stand-still at a stop sign. (That intersection was totally empty, too.) People hate traffic cops because traffic cops punish people for breaking what feel like minor laws, and though that’s often not the case — speeding kills, you know — it’s tough to shake the resentment you feel when dealing with a traffic cop. Of course, for their efforts, police grapple with suicide and depression at higher rates than the general population. The best plan: Smile, take the ticket, and move along.
7. Nurse: Weird but true: A lot of people really do not like nurses. They’re viewed as pushy and aloof, more concerned with keeping a schedule or mindlessly changing bedding than doing real medical work. They’re also around more than doctors, and as a result, people tend to project any discomfort or anger they feel about their situation onto the nurses. Needless to say, nurses are incredibly important and deserve respect for the long hours and hard work they accomplish.
8. Politician: This is one of the most obvious entries on the list. Politicians speak in vague generalities and half-truths, and they often soften their stances on issues once they get elected to high office. Worse, some of them say such hateful or stupid or just plain inaccurate things that they threaten to derail the whole system. Now, there is of course another side: Many public servants are just that, and they entered politics at whatever level to try and help people. (Even worse, those who struggle with diseases like depression that are exacerbated by their profession are often ridiculed for disclosing it.) The country’s also an enormous place, and change of any kind takes time, struggle, and luck. Still, the sad march of presidential scandals is enough to convince most people that politicians lie every moment they’re awake.
9. TV Weatherman: They can always be wrong! That’s probably the biggest complaint and the reason people bristle at the sight of their local meteorologist. Yes, there’s a lot of science and study that goes into weather forecasting, and it takes more talent on top of that to go on camera. But the bottom line is that these people are trying to predict the future, and they’ve found a win-win job situation. If they’re right, they’re geniuses; if they’re wrong, well, that’s just the way the weather is, so what can you do?
10. Tax Examiner: Raise your hand if you like being audited. … That’s what I thought. Taxes are, as Franklin Roosevelt said, the "dues we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society," but that truth doesn’t make them any more fun to pay. Tax examiners are met with sneers and scorn and are perceived as bloodless collectors working for a soulless government. Never mind the math skills and gift for precision it takes to be good at the job, not to mention the thick skin you need to get over the daily gripes from the rest of us. It’s a demanding job, but a necessary one, making sure everyone pays no more or less than what they owe.
11. Lawyers: Aside from a few crusaders on "Law & Order," lawyers are mostly depicted in an unflattering light as money-chasing fiends who care more about winning than getting at the truth. They’re the butt of a seemingly endless supply of jokes — a quick Google search for "lawyer jokes" yields a staggering 1,040,000 results — and viewed as little more than sharks in suits. They pay for the stress, too: A 2008 study found at Johns Hopkins University surveyed 104 occupations and found that lawyers have the highest rate of depression at 19 percent, compared with an average of three to nine percent for the rest of the population. Yet for the all the potential downsides, lawyers still provide a valuable service to those seeking justice. They’re also an invaluable part of the criminal justice system, representing those defendants who can’t afford to hire their own attorney. Like the others on this list, they’re disliked, but necessary.
12. Used Car Salesman: The cliché of the shady used car salesman has been around since, well, the birth of the automobile. Everyone’s got a story about a salesman who tried to fix them up with a lemon, or of one who charged extra for floor mats, or of one who was just so pushy that buying a car felt like punishment. The minute you drive the car off the lot, something goes wrong. However, despite the presence of some genuine hucksters, most salespeople are just that: people trying to make a living on a slim commission they get from selling you a vehicle. It’s demanding, grueling work, and requires loads of patience and a keen understanding of psychology. Like every other job on this list, it’s a whole lot harder than it looks.

20 Best Lectures to Learn About the Oil Spill

July 13th, 2010

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill has practically destroyed wildlife, whole industries, and marine ecosystems up and down the Gulf Coast, and it poses many long-term risks to human health. Conservationists, policymakers, scientists, engineers, oil executives, and everyday residents whose lives have been disrupted — at the very least — are involved in a critical argument about the future of oil and energy consumption and production in the United States, and about accepting responsibility and committing to paying back all the losses resulting from the spill. Even if you don’t live anywhere near the Gulf Coast, you’re probably going to be affected by the spill in some respect. These lectures given by university professors, scientists, marine life experts, and even the president will tell you how.

Environment and Ecosystem

Discover how the oil spill is killing sea life, the wetlands and other ecosystems here.

1. What the Big Spill Means for Sea Life: Natural Resources Defense Council marine expert Dr. Lisa Suatoni explains the sea life and ecosystems being damaged by the oil spill. [Open Culture]
2. President Obama’s Oval Office Address on BP Oil Spill and Energy: President Obama’s controversial speech addresses the need for environmental policy reform. [White House]
3. Oil Cleanup Poses Risks in Louisiana’s Fragile Marshes: Learn about the cleanup’s effect on Louisiana’s marshlands and the risks posed to the wildlife there. [NPR]
4. Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: 35 Days from Space: View the oil spill from its first day through the 35-day mark from space. [Open Culture]
5. Observation: Philippe Cousteau talks about conservation and his experience diving into the oil spill. [TEDxOilSpill]
6. Saving the Marine Animals: The head of the wildlife rescue effort in Houma, LA, discusses saving marine animals in the Gulf and recording the dead. [UC Davis]
7. Issues of the Environment 5-26-10: Learn about the oil spill as it reaches "critical" status and inspires scientists, policymakers and regular people to start thinking about alternatives to fossil fuels more seriously. [Eastern Michigan University]
8. Keeping Up with the Oil Spill: Professor Cutler Cleveland explains the long-term environmental effects of BP’s oil spill, from coastal wetlands to the shrimping business. [BU Today]

Human Health

These talks will help you understand the risks that the oil spill and all its toxins pose to human health.

9. How Will the Gulf Oil Spill Affect Human Health?: Listen to or read the full-text of this report on the human health risks and effects from the spill. [NPR]
10. RFK, Jr. Discusses Health Effects of Oil Spill: Discover the long-term health effects of the oil spill and the dispersants to clean up the spill. [Go Left TV]
11. Lindsey Williams Talks with Alex Jones About Deadly Gases Leaking from BP Spill: The author of The Energy Non-Crisis explains that the oil destroys wildlife, beaches and marine ecosystems, but the toxins coming out of the spill will cause catastrophic damage to human health and even "unborn babies." [The Alex Jones Channel]

Business and Industry

Watch and listen to lectures about financial losses, the economy, local businesses and what’s next for business, the oil industry and more.

12. Louisiana Senator Gives Take on Gulf Oil Spill: Listen to Louisiana senator Mary Landrieu discuss the financial losses resulting from the BP oil spill. [NPR]
13. Implications of the Gulf Spill: Bob Schieffer and James Schlessinger talk about what we can expect regarding changes in policy, energy and industry after the oil spill. [Center for Strategic and International Studies]
14. Oil Spill Unravels Future of Net-Making in Gulf: Learn about the net-making industry, and how, after surviving Katrina, the oil spill may ruin it altogether. [NPR]
15. Future of Energy: Learn about the possible future of energy — including how we use it, conserve it, and regulate it — after the oil spill. [TEDxOilSpill]
16. Oil Spill Crisis Puts Jindal Back on Center Stage: Republican governor and Party protege Bobby Jindal may be experiencing a career changing moment due to the oil spill. [NPR]
17. Oil Science: This lecture honestly discusses our consumption and production of oil. [TEDxOilSpill]

Solutions

Learn about possible solutions and efforts to stop the oil spill and solve the crisis.

18. Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Pros and Cons of Dispersants: An advisor to the U.S. government and BP explains the pros and cons of various dispersants that are being used to clean up the spill. [UC Davis]
19. US Oil Spill Explained: This talk features illutrations to explain the leaks and attempted efforts to stop the leaks. [Al Jazeera English]
20. Gulf Emergency Summit: Venica, LA, resident Kindra Arnesen addresses the Gulf Emergency Summit to give her perspective of "going behind enemy lines" and listen in on meetings held by BP, the Coast Guard and other leaders trusted to clean up the spill. [Gulf Emergency Summit]

10 Big Ways That Technology Affects Your Brain

July 8th, 2010

The Internet and digital technology has wholly revolutionized the way we do business, conduct research, find entertainment and even socialize. It’s a godsend for college students, and arguably an invaluable tool for everyone from freelancers to CEOs to stay-at-home parents. But with all of the information and media that we’re exposed to everyday, our minds are actually changing. There’s a scientific and neurological shift in the way we process information, read, communicate and interact with each other, and some of it is quite frightening. Here are 10 big ways that technology affects your brain.

1. It’s physically changing our brains: Brains are malleable, and through our power of imagination, virtual simulation and technology experiences, we’re actually changing the physical shapes of our brains, strengthening parts of the mind that can lead to a decrease in sense of self and human identity.
2. Developing brains are especially at risk: Today, people "consume" about 12 hours of media — including TV and Internet — per day while at home, while in 1960, people consumed only 5 hours per day. Children are especially at risk because their minds are not developed enough to process so much digital stimulation or information, especially when it comes to prioritizing and practicing self control.
3. It can be addictive: For lots of reasons, being plugged in can become a serious addiction which interferes with daily activities, child rearing, social events, normal conversation, and even business and work.
4. We’re less able to think abstractly, but can tune out external distractions: Perhaps because of the immediacy of information, over-stimulation, and multitasking applications and technologies, our ability to think abstractly has been greatly affected. On the other hand, we’re better able to tune out external distractions like music or TV while processing information online or via a smart phone.
5. Our neural pathways are affected: The change in attention span isn’t just "habitual," as this Guardian article points out, but neurological. Our neural pathways are actually being damaged, and we’re less able to really process and remember information, even though we’re constantly reading, or skimming, online.
6. It affects our ability to read: Reading books or even longer articles from a medium like a newspaper has become more and more difficult for lots of frequent web users, as we’ve become accustomed to taking in information superficially without taking the time to really appreciate things like fully constructed arguments, narrative or even complex plot. This challenge may be a result of lowered attention span, but others believe that the way we think has actually changed, and our minds have "taken on a staccato quality," possibly because reading isn’t a human instinct. Just as we learned how to read, we’re un-learning it after years online.
7. Fragmented communication leads to jitters and addictive personalities: This writer shared her experience "dreaming in Twitter": after too much Twittering, her brain couldn’t relax, and she and her friends attuned the experience to having ADD-like symptoms. Their concentration is limited to 140-character quips, and addictive personality traits surfaced almost immediately after she got the hang of sharing peak experiences and participating in global conversations.
8. Our brains function more primitively: With such "deluge[s]" of information popping up at a constant rate, we’re more prone to panic and irrational reactions to e-mails, blog posts and other things online. We get too excited too easily, feel bored and empty when we’re not plugged in, and feel impulsive and compelled to respond to every piece of data coming in.
9. We’re losing our sense of place, and the ability to contextualize: Scientists and researchers have pinpointed a problem with GPS and other direction services like Google Maps: we’re given directions to follow, but no context to put it all in. This lack of understanding and personal customization or familiarity makes us more likely to forget something or miss out on a piece of information altogether. Social networking is being used to help solve the problem, but if we rely on technology as a one-sided provider, we lose our ability to contextualize.
10. We process visual information more quickly: Those who spend more time reading webpages and playing video or computer games are able to process visual information and translate visual symbols at a much faster rate than those who don’t.

50 Blog Posts Every Business Leader Should Bookmark

July 6th, 2010

Whether you’re at the top of your game in business or are a college student just starting out in your business education, learning from others who work in the field is essential to helping you grow and become better at what you do. Here are some blog posts that will inspire you to be a better business leader in a variety of aspects, from your ability to communicate to your passion for the work itself. If you don’t have time to read them now, bookmark them to read later, or to reread when you need a burst of inspiration.

Leadership

These posts offer some inspiration and guidance for better leadership in business.

1. Humility as a Leadership Trait: Read this post to learn why having humility as a leader is essential to helping you lead better and more effectively.
2. What Is the Single Most Important Task for a Leader?: This post from Fast Company will help explain what you should really be focusing on in your leadership role.
3. Do You Know How Your Group Works?: If you want to be an effective manager and leader in your business, you should read this post on understanding group dynamics.
4. 5 Things I Have to Do, But Don’t Like to Do, As a Leader: Being a leader means sometimes having to do things you don’t want to do, as you’ll learn from this post from Ron Edmondson.
5. Nine Great Questions for Leaders: Read this post and formulate your own answers to these very important leadership questions.
6. Leadership Isn’t About You: Check out this Harvard Business Blog post to get some perspective on your leadership role and understand that there are more important things to worry about than yourself when it comes to being a leader.
7. 11 Principles of Entrepreneurial Leadership: Learn some of the essentials of leading as an entrepreneur from this helpful post.
8. The Manager’s Cheat Sheet: 101 Common-Sense Rules for Leaders: This post collects numerous tips and tricks to help you become a better leader and manager.

Job Happiness

Read through these posts to learn how to cultivate happiness while you’re on the job, for yourself and those you work with.

9. The Business of Forgiveness: When we get angry it is often our knee-jerk reaction to get even, but this blog post explains how it is better to forgive and move on instead.
10. How to Escape Perfectionism: As a leader, you may find yourself never satisfied with the work you are doing. This post will show you that perfectionism isn’t necessary for success.
11. Leaders Hold Themselves to a Higher Standard: Are you holding yourself to an impossible standard? You just might be if you’re a leader, as this post explains.
12. Creating a Business Culture: Learn the basics of creating a working business culture from this blog post.
13. 24 Tips for being happy at work: Here, the Happiness Projects’ Gretchen Rubin shares some tips that could help you to be happier at work, no matter what you do.
14. 10 Tips for Getting Along With Coworkers: Whether they are your subordinates or your coworkers, some people will undoubtedly rub you the wrong way. Learn how to get along with them from this post.
15. Nurturing employees’ work life balance in a meaningful workplace: Read this post to learn how to create a work atmosphere that values a personal life as well.

Communication

Knowing how to talk to others is essential to good business. Get a few pointers on bettering your skills from these posts.

16. The Art of Giving Praise: This post from Harvard Business will explain why you should hand out praise to your employees when they deserve it.
17. The Need to Be Right: Learn from this post by Seth Godin why you shouldn’t always push forward to be right in every situation.
18. 9 Principles of Quality Customer Service: This post will teach you what it takes to keep customers happy and coming back.
19. Conflict at Work: Steve Rosler offers some advice on dealing with conflict at work in this post.
20. Good Communication Can Promote Better Team Work and Prevent Misunderstandings in the Workplace: Read this post to learn why you as a leader should show the way to better communication in the workplace, and the benefits you can reap as a result.
21. Talking Shop: Motivate employees through empowerment: Here, you’ll learn why it’s important to have employees speak up and be responsible for themselves and their work.
22. Twelve Tips for Team Building: How to Build Successful Work Teams: This post will teach you how to better communicate with your employees or coworkers to create a team environment.

Marketing

You won’t sell much in your business without good marketing, and these posts will show you how to make the most of what you’re doing.

23. Leadership Is Now the Strongest Marketing Strategy: Read this post from Seth Godin to understand why good leadership is essential to good marketing.
24. Practical Marketing Tips for New Entrepreneurs: Here, you’ll find some great marketing tips from the Wall Street Journal.
25. Top 5 Branding Tips: Looking for some help branding your business? This post can help.
26. Get Your Marketing Strategy Right and the Rest Will Follow: Learn why building an effective marketing strategy should be the foundation of many of your business practices.
27. Four Tenets of Marketing Accountability: This post will teach you how to take responsibility for your marketing.
28. Effective Twitter Marketing: Being a business these days means knowing how to tap into the latest technology. This post will explain how to market your products and services through a web program like Twitter.
29. Top 10 Rules for Having a Strong Personal Brand: Whether you need help with selling your business or yourself, this post offers the essentials to doing it right.

Entrepreneurship

If you’re starting your own business, these posts offer some advice essential to getting things off the ground the right way.

30. The Get-Started-Now to Becoming Self-Employed: Read through this post from Zen Habits to get an idea of how to adapt to self-employment successfully.
31. 30 Days to Success: Steve Pavlina will show you how to turn your ideas into success in a month.
32. 12 Facts About Entrepreneurs That Will Likely Surprise You: Here are some things you might not have known about entrepreneurs, some of which might even describe you.
33. Entrepreneur vs. Business Owner: This post will teach you the difference between these two things, which are far from being the same.
34. 5 Sure-fire Ways to Know If Your Business Will Work or Not: Not sure if your business venture is bound for success? Use this post to help you figure it out.
35. Entrepreneurs Have to Make Decisions, Quickly: Learn why it’s essential that you learn to make decisions on your feet as an entrepreneur from this post.
36. 10 Reasons You Should Never Get a Job: In one of his most-read posts, Steve Pavlina extols the benefits of working for yourself.

Passion and Motivation

Pump up your motivation and drive to make your business the best with help from these posts.

37. How to Do What You Love Without Selling Your Soul: Check out this post from Zen Habits to help you learn how to pursue your dreams without selling out.
38. Goals Into Habits: Here, Steve Pavlina will show you how to make working towards your goals a part of your everyday life.
39. How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes: Not sure what you really want to be doing with your life? This post will show you how to figure it out.
40. 33 Rules to Boost Your Productivity: Read through this post for some ideas how to get more done in less time from the master of GTD Steve Pavlina.
41. Powerful Manifestos and Goal-Setting Tools: Get inspired to move forward in your business practices with some help from this post.
42. How to Build Confidence and Destroy Fear: Here, you can learn how to be more confident in your work and less afraid of failure.
43. Luck Is No Accident: 10 Ways to Get More Out of Work and Life: This post from Get Rich Slowly will show you how to make your own luck.

Innovation

These blog posts will teach you the importance of innovation as a business leader.

44. How to Think What No One Else Thinks: Want to think outside the box? Get some ideas from this Lifehack post on how to be more original in your thought process.
45. Top Ten Tips for the Innovative Leader: This post will teach you some ways to be a more innovative and effective leader.
46. Ten Great Ways to Crush Creativity: Read this post to learn what not to do if you want your employees or yourself to be creative.

Networking

Learn how to meet people and create relationships that can help your business here.

47. 7 Deadly Sins of Networking and How to Avoid Them: Make sure your networking doesn’t fall into these traps.
48. How to Network at a Business Conference: This post will teach you how to make the most out of networking opportunities at conferences.
49. How the Company You Keep Can Fuel or Foil Your Success: Think it doesn’t matter who you associate with? This post will teach you that your relationships really can take a toll on your success in just about everything.
50. Networking for Success: Learn some important pointers to improve how you talk to others and network for business.

100 Amazing Ways to Hack Your Moleskine Notebook

June 29th, 2010

Moleskines are both legendary and trendy little notebooks, and their lasting popularity is particularly fascinating in such a tech-fueled, tool-obsessed world. But Moleskines can really help with your productivity despite their simplicity. Here are 100 modern and amazing ways to hack your notebook as a student or in the real world.

Selecting a Moleskine

Learn about where to buy Moleskines and all the different kinds of Moleskines here.

1. Where to buy Moleskine Notebooks: Use this store locator to view maps of all the locations in your city where you can buy a Moleskine.
2. Buy one on eBay: Find cheaper Moleskines on eBay.
3. Cahier Journals: Grid-like pages are great for doodling and brainstorming.
4. Museum Notebooks: These come as ruled editions and sketchbooks, in honor of Van Gogh.
5. Reporter Notebooks: Use a ruled notebook with flip-up pages in classic reporter style.
6. Diaries and Planners: Pick monthly or weekly planners for notes, assignments, deadlines and more.
7. City Notebooks: Pick a city notebook — they come in editions for Europe, North America and Asia — to find maps, city guides and room for organizing a trip.
8. Folio Art and Professional Books: These notebooks are like portfolios and come with an elastic band over the cover and an expandable pocket.
9. Folio Tools: Hack your Moleskine with this product, which includes extra little tools and notepads for organizing messages.
10. For paragraphs get a a large-ruled notebook: Large, ruled Moleskines are best for more organized writing.
11. Large Squared Notebooks are best for balance: Mash up organization and more flexibility with this option.

General Organization

Learn about GTD hacks and other organization strategies for your Moleskine.

12. Implement GTD: This simplified model of GTD will help you index and organize your Moleskine.
13. Add contact information: Always put your contact information on the inside front cover when you get a new notebook.
14. Use symbols: Make up your own symbols to use in your notebook to indicate priority items and other tasks or meanings.
15. Use tabs: Use colored tabs and label them with a Sharpie to divide your notebook into sections like Inbox, Someday, Projects or Special Priority.
16. Tab pages: If you’d rather not have tabs sticking out of your notebook, cut pages to create tabs.
17. Number the odd pages: As you go along, number the odd pages in the lower right corner, starting with the first ruled page.
18. Work back-to-front: Put on-the-fly thoughts and messages in the back, and more static projects in the front, working your way to meeting in the middle.
19. Use multiple notebooks: Have a larger notebook for all your tasks and ramblings, and a smaller one for more direct organization and high priority tasks.
20. Use Post-Its: Stick little Post-Its on pages to mark your spot or add temporary notes and references.
21. Use right-hand pages for notes, left-hand pages for tasks: Or, vice versa. Carry this through for the entire section, or even all your sections.

Indexing

Keep track of all your content with these hacks.

22. Leave open pages at the back for an index: Fill it in when you’ve finished the notebook.
23. Index each section: On self-adhesive tab labels, record page range and content for each section.
24. Record start and stop dates: Label it on the spine, inside front cover, or inside back cover.
25. Label the spine: For archiving your entire Moleskine collection, it’ll help to have your spines labeled.
26. Number your books: You can also number the outside of your notebooks as you finish each one.
27. Put a calendar on the inside cover: Use it on either the back or front inside cover for a quick reference.

Customizing

Make your Moleskine your own with these hacks.

28. Twitter-ify your Moleskine: Stick easily removable white labels on the cover of your notebook for reminders and quotes that you can later switch out.
29. Use the MSK: This printable format lets you "import" digital content to your actual notebook.
30. Make your own weekly planner: Follow this hack to turn your Moleskine into a customized weekly planner.

Security and Protection

Keep your Moleskine safe and private.

31. Get a cover: Slip your Moleskine into a cover to protect it from spills and tearing.
32. Padlock your Moleskine: This ridiculous hack is actually pretty effective.
33. Write on one side of the page only: It wastes paper for sure, but it’s easier to shield your writing from spying eyes when you only use one side of the paper.
34. Include an emergency phone number: Besides your contact info, list an emergency contact number in case someone finds your Moleskine on you when you’re injured or unconscious.
35. Use trick labels: If you think someone’s trying to read your diary, use a trick label on the spine to throw them off.
36. Offer a reward: Include a reward line on the back of the front cover where you place your contact information.
37. Get a Moleskine messenger bag: A bag like this will make you less likely to lose your notebook.

For Students

These hacks are great for helping students get organized.

38. Time management: Dave Gray’s example will show you how to make your own time management "software" system with a Moleskine.
39. Summarize each page on the upper right corner: Skim your notes by reading only the metadata you record in the upper right corner of each page.
40. Use the datebook as your planner: If you need a low-key planner, use the Moleskine Diary.
41. Create a Research section: If you’re adhering to a GTD system, include a Research section for brainstorming, creating research questions, recording citations, and more.
42. Use context tabs for different subjects: Substitute classes or subjects for the context tab on this page that you can move around to follow your notes and assignments.
43. Use it for central, temporary storage: Stash magazine clippings, tickets, receipts and other to-file items in your "inbox" section.
44. Study abroad diary: Moleskines make great travel companions and can be great for recording study abroad experiences. Use it as a diary and to mount photos, postcards, and other souvenirs.
45. Create visual mindmaps: Use the Moleskine as space to make visual connections between concepts learned in class.
46. Reading journal: Use a Moleksine as a reading companion filled with responses, questions, notes, favorite quotes, and more.

For Business and Freelancing

Let your Moleskine help with your business, too.

47. Waiting list tab: Use a moveable waiting list tab that is for tasks delegated to others.
48. Keep track of processed work: Use a blue tab to separate processed work from stuff that still needs to get done.
49. Manage expense accounts: Keep track of daily expenses or travel expenses.
50. Try out logos and designs: Sketch ideas for website designs or new logos in your Moleskine.
51. "To-done" list: For freelancers and contractors needing a record of billable hours or what they’ve done on a task, they can write down finished tasks in their Moleskines.
52. Give it as a gift: Moleskines make great gifts for clients.
53. Job hunting companion: Record information and responses to interviews, application dates, key names and phone numbers, and other references for your job hunt.
54. Use it as a branding tool: Attach your logo to the front and carry it with you to meetings, like a portfolio.

Note-taking

Hack your note-taking skills with these tips.

55. Tag your notes: Use the @ sign before a keyword to quickly "tag" notes.
56. Diagram your notes: Connect ideas visually by diagramming notes.
57. Take notes to be more engaged: Taking your notes requires you to concentrate more and become more engaged, so bring your Moleskine with you to presentations and conferences.
58. The Box: Brad Rourke explains his "The Box" technique for taking notes at a meeting.
59. Shorthand: Write in shorthand for quick, space-saving notes.
60. Date your notes like a journal: Give each note section a date and title.
61. Keep track of abbreviations: If you make up abbreviations and symbols as you go along, use a page in the back of your notebook as a key.
62. Link your notes: Separate notes into four quadrants and use arrows to link up page numbers and notes, like this user did.
63. Use symbols: Stars, question marks, equal signs and other pictures help you when skimming your notes later.
64. Be goofy: Draw pictures, give nicknames and have fun with note-taking in your Moleskine: you have all that space, so use it!

Add-ons and Accessories

Learn about tricks for your pens and other add-ons in this list.

65. Kindle Cover: Get an analog-digital hybrid Moleskine that also acts as a Kindle cover.
66. Mount photos: Mount inspirational photos into your notebook for added encouragement.
67. Use a bookdart: For soft-cover Moleskines, attach a bookdart to hold your pen in place without wearing out the notebook’s cover.
68. Typography template: Print out this template for practicing typography.
69. Find the right pen: The right pen shouldn’t skip or feather.
70. Moleskine Cozy: Knit a Moleskine cozy with this hack.
71. Uniball Signo RT Gel mini Hack: Follow this hack to customize your own pen for the Moleksine.

Clever Uses

With these hacks, you’ll discover all kinds of purposes for your Moleskine.

72. Set it up like a blog: Organize your Moleskine as you would a blog, as this blogger did.
73. Store business cards: Mount business cards and use your Moleskine as a more portable Rolodex.
74. Press flowers and plants: This Moleskine user used his notebook to collect plants and flowers from a trip to Mt. Hood.
75. Make a passport: It’s just for fun, but you can decorate the cover of your Moleskine to mimic any passport in the world.
76. Moleskine hard drive case: This "Geekster Moleskine" project turns your notebook into an external hardrive case.
77. Secondary wallet: Stick library cards, printing cards, sticky notes, and even money in the back pocket of your Moleskine.
78. Dream journal: Keep a small Moleskine by your bed to record dreams when you wake up.
79. Blog organizer: Create a Blog section so that you can brainstorm for posts on the fly.
80. Wallet: Start using your Moleskine as a wallet if it has a pocket so that you can carry fewer things in your pockets.
81. Smoking or drinking journal: If you’re into wine, beer, cigars, coffee or anything else you want to compare and keep track of, let the Moleskine help you.
82. Password log: Devote a page to storing passwords and registration codes.
83. Rough drafts: Write your rough draft in a moleskine to welcome creativity and notes.
84. Family reference: Store medical information, important contact numbers, bank numbers and more in your Moleskine.
85. Directions: Write down directions or systems that you’ve tried out to solve problems, at work or home.
86. Gauge a design or web project: Use a Moleskine with grid-lke pages to scale a design.
87. Photo log: Make notes about pictures you take in your Moleskine.
88. Lists: Use it for grocery lists, goals, TV shows, book lists, and more.
89. Love letters: Trade Moleskine notebooks with a boyfriend or girlfriend to share love notes and then be able to archive them in one place.
90. Customizable city guide and travel log: Write down locations, newfound favorite restaurants and other places you want to remember, in your town or as you travel.

DIY

With these hacks, you can customize your notebook and create little add-ons for it.

91. Make room for more index cards: If your notebook has a pocket, reverse the accordion folds so that it can fit more index cards.
92. Refill your old one: Refill an old hardcover Moleskine with cahiers to save money.
93. Pen Clip Mod: Check out this hack to fashion your own pen clip.
94. Make your own planner: Devote your last 12 pages to a customized monthly planner if you don’t need a separate notebook for appointments.
95. Moleskine Hipster PDA case: Turn your Pocket Reporter Moleskine into a notebook that you can wear on our hip.
96. Create an iPod case: Create a secret iPod case with this little hack.
97. Make tear-out pages: Check out all the hacks for creating tear-out pages in your Moleskine.
98. Rebind hack: Read this hack to learn how to rebind a damaged Moleskine.
99. Moleskine shelves: Attach Moleskines to the wall in various patterns to create shelves.
100. Pen hack: Use ribbon to create your own pen holder on the front cover.