Guest post from: Kent Lara
In a world where designer labels and A-list celebrities dominate, the DO SOMETHING awards on VH-1 stand in stark contrast.
My husband and I have spent a lot of time in third world countries. We've witnessed poverty that has brought us to tears. Sometimes it's hard to view award shows where just one dazzling earring is worth more than it would cost to feed an entire village for a year.
It was with great joy that we tuned in to watch the DO SOMETHING awards on directTV. Instead of handing out awards to top name celebs, the awards went to young men and women who are doing radical things with their lives. These award winners have at least two things in common: they are all twenty five and under and they are all out to change the world.
The list of accomplishments range from starting a school for young girls to tackling the failing economy in a small town. Some of the award winners have been inspired to start theater programs and others have opened up community centers.
It would be a wonderful world to live in if our culture put more value on changing human lives instead of changing designer labels.
I hope that Hollywood takes note and that there are more award shows like this one in the future. Bravo VH-1.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Getting My House In Order
When oh when am I going to get my house in order? I hope soon. I still have reorganizing to do around the house and repairs still need to be done. I still have to sort that pile of junk mail and file the important papers! Also, save up money to buy things for my house that I need. And make needed upgrades. After all, I might rent my condo someday when I buy my fantasy house. Well, hopefully not fantasy, but that is how it seems right now. Since I don't have money to buy one. Well, at least I have a nice place to live. Which is more than many people can say.
But I am going to make my list of things I need. New toilet, new stove, shelving in the laundry room, maybe a Hansgrohe faucet. I want to be as fanatical about home and housework, as I was about law school. Then maybe I could get things done.
But I am going to make my list of things I need. New toilet, new stove, shelving in the laundry room, maybe a Hansgrohe faucet. I want to be as fanatical about home and housework, as I was about law school. Then maybe I could get things done.
Trying Out New Templates
I apologize that I have changed my template again, but I did not like the "candy stripe" effect I had before. I found some template downloads for Blogger, and I chose this news type format. Comfortable for me since I am a journalist. Hope you enjoy it.
Got My First Elance Job
Well, I finally got my first Elance job. I thought it would never happen. I have only recently paid any real attention to it, so no wonder. I have a full time job, plus trying to break into law, plus have a social life. And, I am trying my hand at freelancing through Elance. So I don't have much time to check the jobs and bid on them. When I do, I am usually outbid. So, I was thrilled to get this first job.
It is a balancing act: You want to bid on jobs and get them, but you have to think about your schedule and can you meet the deadline. Many of the jobs are due yesterday--not sure why there is always such a fast turnaround. It wouldn't matter so much if you did freelancing full time, but when you have only a limited amount of time, you have to think carefully. If you don't meet the deadline, you might get bad feedback, and that would be bad for getting future work.
The other bugaboo is the lowballers. Elance is famous for lowball bidders. A lot of times, they are writers from other countries who outbid us and win. The problem, it seems from the buzz around Elance, is that these non native speakers do poor work, which then sometimes has to be rebid. And it pushes the prices downward. The buyers though tend to go with the low bid, and many times they are burned.
I bid a little less on the job I won than I would have liked. But I was able to write the posts pretty easily and without too much research. And at least now I have one job on my profile. I need a few more, and then I will be in business!
It is a balancing act: You want to bid on jobs and get them, but you have to think about your schedule and can you meet the deadline. Many of the jobs are due yesterday--not sure why there is always such a fast turnaround. It wouldn't matter so much if you did freelancing full time, but when you have only a limited amount of time, you have to think carefully. If you don't meet the deadline, you might get bad feedback, and that would be bad for getting future work.
The other bugaboo is the lowballers. Elance is famous for lowball bidders. A lot of times, they are writers from other countries who outbid us and win. The problem, it seems from the buzz around Elance, is that these non native speakers do poor work, which then sometimes has to be rebid. And it pushes the prices downward. The buyers though tend to go with the low bid, and many times they are burned.
I bid a little less on the job I won than I would have liked. But I was able to write the posts pretty easily and without too much research. And at least now I have one job on my profile. I need a few more, and then I will be in business!
Lose Your Job....And Your Friends Too?
I have been reading a lot of press recently about how the long term unemployed can lose their friends too. Maybe it comes from embarrassment, a sense of shame, feeling unlucky or jealous of others who are working. Maybe they suffer from depression and shy away from people, or are just tired of being asked about their job search and having nothing positive to say. At any rate, all of the articles I have read sound like the loss of friendship originates from the unemployed themselves, rather than their friends. So, it is up to the unemployed people to still reach out and keep contact. And if anyone shirks you because you lost your job, they are no friend and you are better off without them.
I was laid off once when I was very young. I did not experience any of this loss of friendship or depression. I actually was less depressed, because I hated that job! Or at least was tired of it, and that depressed me. But also, I was only unemployed for two months before I found another job. Those chronicled in the recent articles have all been unemployed for six months or more. Apparently that is when the chronic effects of unemployment can kick in.
I am sure those unemployed are looking as hard as they can for a job. What I did to keep myself positive was doing something every single day about looking for a job. I either found another position to apply for, or I actually applied for another job. I wanted to always have an open application out there, to keep my hopes up. And it worked. Of course, that was a different time. It is just harder today, but I hope people try to keep their good attitudes....and their friends.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/long-term-unemployment-lo_n_656588.html
I was laid off once when I was very young. I did not experience any of this loss of friendship or depression. I actually was less depressed, because I hated that job! Or at least was tired of it, and that depressed me. But also, I was only unemployed for two months before I found another job. Those chronicled in the recent articles have all been unemployed for six months or more. Apparently that is when the chronic effects of unemployment can kick in.
I am sure those unemployed are looking as hard as they can for a job. What I did to keep myself positive was doing something every single day about looking for a job. I either found another position to apply for, or I actually applied for another job. I wanted to always have an open application out there, to keep my hopes up. And it worked. Of course, that was a different time. It is just harder today, but I hope people try to keep their good attitudes....and their friends.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/long-term-unemployment-lo_n_656588.html
The Country Music Awards--Not Just For Hillbillys!
The Country Music Awards - Not Just For Hillbillys!
Post contributed by Hilton Miranda
The Country Music Awards ceremony last took place on June 9, 2010 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. The CMA's are interesting to watch, as voting is often so competitive that it is difficult to predict who the winners will be. This year was my favorite year watching, not only because some of the best artists performed and took home awards, but because I got to watch it like never before, on my new big screen TV with my high definition direct tv family package channels!
This years Country Music Awards biggest winners included Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Brooks and Dunn, Luke Bryan, Shaun Silva, Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins.
*Carrie Underwood was this year's big winner with two awards, one for CMT performer of the year, with her hit single "Temporary Home", and one for video of the year, with the video "Cowboy Casanova".
*Keith Urban won the male video of the year award with "Til Summer Comes Around".
*Miranda Lambert took home the female video of the year award for "White Liar".
*Lady Antebellum took home the group video of the year award for "Need you Now".
*Brooks and Dunn dominated the duo video of the year category with "Indian Summer".
*Luke Bryan won the USA weekend breakthrough video of the year award for "Do I".
*Shaun Silva took home the director of the year award for "Indian Summer", "Out Last Night", "Rain Is a Good Thing", "Here Comes Goodbye", "Summer Nights", "Living for the Night", "Nightswimming/Joey", "Keep You", "I'm Alive" and "Do I".
*Lastly, Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton won the collaborative video of the year category with "Hillbilly Bone".
Post contributed by Hilton Miranda
The Country Music Awards ceremony last took place on June 9, 2010 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. The CMA's are interesting to watch, as voting is often so competitive that it is difficult to predict who the winners will be. This year was my favorite year watching, not only because some of the best artists performed and took home awards, but because I got to watch it like never before, on my new big screen TV with my high definition direct tv family package channels!
This years Country Music Awards biggest winners included Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Brooks and Dunn, Luke Bryan, Shaun Silva, Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins.
*Carrie Underwood was this year's big winner with two awards, one for CMT performer of the year, with her hit single "Temporary Home", and one for video of the year, with the video "Cowboy Casanova".
*Keith Urban won the male video of the year award with "Til Summer Comes Around".
*Miranda Lambert took home the female video of the year award for "White Liar".
*Lady Antebellum took home the group video of the year award for "Need you Now".
*Brooks and Dunn dominated the duo video of the year category with "Indian Summer".
*Luke Bryan won the USA weekend breakthrough video of the year award for "Do I".
*Shaun Silva took home the director of the year award for "Indian Summer", "Out Last Night", "Rain Is a Good Thing", "Here Comes Goodbye", "Summer Nights", "Living for the Night", "Nightswimming/Joey", "Keep You", "I'm Alive" and "Do I".
*Lastly, Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton won the collaborative video of the year category with "Hillbilly Bone".
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Wanting To Be A Volunteer At The 2012 Olympics
I love the Olympic Games, especially the summer ones, and have enjoyed them for years. A few months before the Greek Games started, I came up with the idea of trying to be a volunteer. Unfortunately, it was really too late at that point to apply, and the pickings were slim. They did have one volunteer job for me, but it wasn't of interest to me, so I declined.
This time, I am on top of my Olympic game, so to speak. I have already inquired as to how to be a volunteer and will apply at the appropriate time. It will be costly to be a volunteer, so it needs to be something I really want to do. If it is the right position, it will be worth the time and money. After all, it will be worth a lifetime of memories.
If I go, I need to start thinking about cameras, maybe do a video camera hire or camcorder hire. It would be fun to record the sights and sounds of the Olympics,and who knows, maybe using a camera would even be part of my job.
I don't have a really good camera, just a small digital one, so I am sure I would need to do a camera hire rather than spend a lot of money on something new. I used to own a Nikon, so I might check into those cameras again, or maybe do a canon lens hire. I would need something that would record excellent photos and allow me freedom of creativity that my little digital camera just doesn't provide.
This time, I am on top of my Olympic game, so to speak. I have already inquired as to how to be a volunteer and will apply at the appropriate time. It will be costly to be a volunteer, so it needs to be something I really want to do. If it is the right position, it will be worth the time and money. After all, it will be worth a lifetime of memories.
If I go, I need to start thinking about cameras, maybe do a video camera hire or camcorder hire. It would be fun to record the sights and sounds of the Olympics,and who knows, maybe using a camera would even be part of my job.
I don't have a really good camera, just a small digital one, so I am sure I would need to do a camera hire rather than spend a lot of money on something new. I used to own a Nikon, so I might check into those cameras again, or maybe do a canon lens hire. I would need something that would record excellent photos and allow me freedom of creativity that my little digital camera just doesn't provide.
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