text:
Who knew that sleazy Swede Stefan Eriksson was starting such a popular trend when he destroyed his Ferrari Enzo? Our main man from the north lands, JanTheMan, sent us this video of one Swedish gentleman putting his Ferrari F50 in the ditch. How did this happen? According to JanTheMan:
This weekend it has been a major sport car show in Malmö in south of Sweden. Anyway. This tape was recorded after closing time when a Ferrari F50 was followed by some young twats in Beemers, Ricers and Porsches. SWEDES ARE HEARBY BANNED TO DRIVE ONE OF A KIND FERRARIS."
We'd also point out that Eddie Griffith is really Swedish. For those about to smash, we salute you. (accident about four minutes into "twat driving") [Bilsport.se]


text:
Our dedicated team is ready to assist you 24/7. Give us a call or select a topic below to get startedCall 1-800-212-5200
Your Loan Officer will set expectations for a closing timeline, which is generally around 45 days, dependent upon the complexity of your transaction. Follow the guidelines your Loan Officer provides and be up-front with any changes in your status in order to minimize the chance for delays.
An active member of the armed forces or a Veteran of the military may be eligible for VA benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for the VA Loan program. Loan approval is determined by a lender and primarily based on your income, debts and credit history. It is possible to be eligible for a VA loan but not approved for financing and vice versa.
A pre-approval is made official by reviewing income, asset and credit documents. Your Loan Officer will communicate what you should expect to need throughout the process. However, in order to receive final loan approval, specifically once a contract is signed, an underwriter will typically ask for supplemental information. Requests for updated income and asset documents, borrower letters of explanation, or any number of items related to the specific property are common and should be expected.
A lender cannot finance a loan above what a real estate appraiser determines the value to be. Often a seller will lower their sales price to match the appraised value but it is possible to file an appeal with the VA in the event of a low appraisal. This method does not commonly lead to a significant change of the original appraised value. As a buyer, you also have the right to pay the difference beyond the appraisal value, negotiate with the seller, or walk away from the property.
Becoming prequalified for a loan is a basic step the applicant can complete in a conversation with a Loan Officer, as documents are not required to be submitted at this time. Prequalification gives you a ballpark estimate of your purchasing power while pre-approval is a more formal stage of the process in which you provide, on paper, confirmation of the information translated at prequalification. A real estate agent will generally require a pre-approval letter before a purchase offer can be made.
The money a buyer puts toward down payment goes toward equity (the portion of the home's value that you own) while closing costs cover fees and services for the work performed by the lender, title agent, and to establish tax and insurance escrows. The seller may cover some or all of these costs, or they become the responsibility of the buyer. Your lender will estimate closing costs for you; however, exact numbers are usually not determined until final loan approval, just before settlement.
If your mortgage is being serviced by Veterans United Home Loans, sign in to MyVeteransUnited or call 1-888-300-7545.
If Veterans United is not servicing your loan, please contact your servicer for instructions.
Please contact your servicer or call one of our specialists with questions regarding the serving of your loan.
If your loan is serviced by Mr. Cooper or Cenlar on behalf of Veterans United Home Loans, you can call us or send a Qualified Written Request to:
Mr. Cooper:
PO Box 619098
Dallas, TX 75261-9741
PO Box 77423
Ewing, NJ 08628

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The stock market is ending slightly higher as renewed worries about a U.S.-led attack on Syria dampened an early rally.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 23 points, or 0.2 per cent, to close at 14,833. It was up 123 points shortly after the market opened. The Dow was also held back by Microsoft and Verizon, which both slumped after announcing deal news that investors didn't like.
Other indexes rose more than the Dow did.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose six points, 0.4 per cent, to 1,639. The Nasdaq composite rose 22 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 3,612.
Microsoft fell after saying it would buy Nokia's smartphone business.
More stocks rose than fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was average at 3.4 billion shares.


text: The Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) is working on new ways to tackle challenging medical problems in infectious and immunologic diseases, accelerating the discovery process and commercializing new therapies. The program fosters excellence in basic and translational clinical research in infectious and immunological diseases, with a special focus on personalized medicine. The center allows a diverse community of clinicians and scientists to communicate more effectively, providing opportunities for them to collaborate on research that seeks to cure, treat or prevent a range of human infectious and immunologic diseases and conditions. The program seeks to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, encouraging groundbreaking, interdepartmental and interdisciplinary translational research among the Medical Center's research community. The center makes efforts to maximize technology-transfer opportunities and works to expedite commercialization of new therapies. Enhancing philanthropic support for research in this area is a key mission of the center. Communicating scientific and clinical advances to scientists, physicians, policy-makers and the general public is also a priority. The center's areas of focus in translational research include: vascular inflammation (atherosclerosis, vasculitis, Kawasaki disease); lung infection (pneumonia, asthma, COPD, acute lung injury); transplant immunology; tumor immunology; fetal-maternal and perinatal-neonatal inflammation-infection and immunity.


text:
I�ve been eating at Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que since the days MTV played music videos, but in all those years I overlooked the barbecue � a sin of omission I vowed to correct on a recent visit.
FORT WALTON BEACH � I�ve been eating at Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que since the days MTV played music videos, but in all those years I overlooked the barbecue � a sin of omission I vowed to correct on a recent visit. Fans of the pig, the cow and the chicken, rejoice: I�m happy to report the barbecue is just as mouth-watering as the rest of the menu.
You need to hustle on down there before I pull a Jethro Bodine and hose out the joint. (Note: For those of you under the age of 50, Jethro was a character on a TV show called �The Beverly Hillbillies.� He was known for his appetite.)
The food
Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que features good old-fashioned, Southern-style food, from appetizers to dinners. We�re talking black-eyed peas and turnip greens, and cobbler of the day and fried catfish.
But leading off the menu is barbecue in all its forms � pork, beef, chicken and sausage. Concentrate on a single critter or try a combo plate of two of the latter, a sampler platter with all four, or a plate of pork ribs. They also offer barbecue sandwiches. Dinners come with either a tossed salad, french fries or two veggies.
To get things going, start with an order of fresh-cut fries, spicy onion rings, or fried green tomatoes.
Dinners come in many varieties, from fried catfish to chicken-fried steak, hamburger steak, liver and grilled onions, or fried chicken tenders. Each dinner is served with either a tossed salad, fries, or two vegetables.
Now, about those veggies: We�re talking baked beans, black-eyed peas, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, potato salad, turnip greens, green beans, corn, cabbage, field peas, carrots, green limas or sliced tomatoes.
No bean sprouts? Sorry. We�re talking real food, not that stuff they feed supermodels.
The sandwich lineup consists of a BLT, burgers, cheeseburgers or chicken breast. You can get them topped with grilled onions, cheese (Swiss or Cheddar), bacon, or sauce, gravy or dressing.
Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que provides a formidable takeout menu, which includes lean pork or beef, ribs, sausage, chicken bakes beans and barbecue sauce.
On our visit, I went all-Jethro and ordered the sampler plate, which came with pork, beef, chicken and sausage barbecue. I opted for the fries, as salad didn�t seem compatible with my whole-hog mindset (and I knew my dinner companion would probably opt for vegetables).
The plate they brought me was as big as a hubcap and covered with steaming heaps of meat slathered in spicy barbecue sauce. I was, ahem, in hog heaven.
The meat was cooked to perfection and would have melted in my mouth had it not found its way to my stomach so quickly. The fries arrived in a separate basket and could have made a meal unto themselves � there were that many.
But wait, I�m getting ahead of myself. To start things off, we ordered a Southern staple, fried green tomatoes. We received a basket of said goodness, and I would rate these on par with the FGTs we sampled at Old Hag�s Caf�. In fact, I wouldn�t mind seeing a FGT cookoff between Old Hag and Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que. I bet it would end in a draw.
My dinnermate ordered the chicken and dumplings, plus green beans and cabbage. She rated the chicken and dumplings as equal to what her grandmother would make. Fat dumplings and chunks of chicken immersed in a creamy broth � who could resist?
I confess, I didn�t try the cabbage. As some of you know, cabbage is an enemy vegetable. But the green beans reminded me of my grandmom�s � she cooked them with bacon to add an extra, delectable dimension to the flavor.
The service
Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que was busy the night we visited, but our server hustled and kept up with the rush. We never lacked for anything and felt well-attended. Plus, she was a sweetheart.
The atmosphere
Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que has been around for a long time, and you�ll notice that in the d�cor, which features lots of local history. It�s a home-owned, home-operated restaurant, which makes you feel good about spending your restaurant dollars.
Oh, and then there are the pigs.
Ceramic pigs. Porcelain pigs. Pig figurines lining the shelves and walls. Did I say something about �hog heaven�? This is the place, as any proper barbecue joint should be.
A final taste
Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que features authentic Southern-style cuisine with an emphasis on barbecue. It�s a Fort Walton Beach fixture, having lived at its downtown location for many years. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere unique.
If traditional family fare � south of the Mason-Dixon � is your thing, Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que is your place.
Y�all come back now, ya hear?
Brooks Bridge Bar-B-Que
240 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E.,
Fort Walton Beach
Telephone: (850) 244-3003
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Reservations: Not necessary
Handicapped access: good
Credit cards accepted
Children�s menu: yes
Barbecue: $8.50-$13.95
Barbecue sandwiches: $3.95-$6.50
Fries and rings: $2.95-$5.75
Desserts: $2.95-$4.95
Vegetables: $1.85
Vegetable plate: $6.95
Beverages (soft drinks, beer and wine): $1.75, $3, $4-$12
Dinners: $7.95-$10.95
Sandwiches: $6.25-$6.95
Soup, salad: $3.50-$4.95
Children�s menu: $5.25
Takeout: $4.50-$27


text:
2. Finally, a Hispanic Supreme Court Justice... and we won't have to keep talking about how some day there ought to be a Hispanic Supreme Court Justice.
3. We'll get back to the historical high water mark of women on the Court. Wow! To hit 2 again!
4. Jeffrey Rosen gets his comeuppance.
CORRECTION: James Taranto on #1:
Blogress Ann Althouse claims that Sotomayor will be the first justice with a four-syllable last name and credits her son for confirming this. But it isn't true. John Althouse Cohen apparently is too young to remember Justice Willis Van Devanter.I'll bet John thought his middle name was Van.


text:
Is It OK to Wear a Tampon in the Bath or Shower?
Can I wear a tampon in the bath or shower during my period?
– Soraya*
Yes. It's fine to wear a tampon in the bath or shower.
Although it's perfectly OK to use a tampon while showering or bathing, many girls find they don't need one. Most of the time blood won't leak out. But if it does, its not a big deal since it's not like swimming where you're in the water with other people.
When you get out of the water, it's a good idea to change your tampon: Remove the one you've been wearing and put in a new tampon before getting dressed.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995- KidsHealth® All rights reserved.
Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.


text:
Although it's now all modern skyscrapers and 21st century design, Las Vegas is also the place for some of the best entertainment nostalgia from the 1950's and 1960's, if you know where to find it. The Crown Theater at the Rio is just such a place.
Nothing quite conjures up that time period better than the popular casino lounge acts of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. They were among the first entertainers to headline in Las Vegas back then, and there are still not many performers today who can quite evoke the romantic notion of that period better than the "Rat Pack."
The Rat Pack was a group of famous, hi-jinks-loving friends who would frequently show up "unscheduled" when one of them was booked to perform. It was always a special treat for audiences at their shows, including those at one of their most popular stomping grounds, the Sands Hotel Copa Room. The marquee on the hotel sometimes even proclaimed, "Dean Martin – Maybe Frank, Maybe Sammy!"
Attempting to reinvigorate the feel-good 'ole days of an earlier Las Vegas, the Rio currently features a production entitled, "The Rat Pack is Back." In this modern-day act, the romance and fun of a lost era is performed by four talented showmen who beguile us with songs and patter that originated with the legendary Rat Pack.
If you loved the originals, you will not want to miss an evening of music and jokes with this group of impersonators. Each of the performers assumes the appearance and persona of the original celeb, with delightful charm and skill. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the new Rat Pack has definitely succeeded.
Mickey Joseph doing "Joey Bishop" takes center stage as the announcer and greets the audience with a round of rapid-fire old jokes. Although most are super corny, the sheer speed and fun of them elicits loads of laughs from the crowd.
Drew Anthony as Dean Martin is excellent. Anthony looks uncannily like Dean Martin, and spends the evening with his trademark cigarette in one hand and martini glass in the other. Mimicking Dean's characteristic swagger and playfulness, Drew treats us to songs like "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You," "Volare," "That's Amore," and others that Martin made famous.
As Sammy Davis, Jr., Kenny Jones sings and dances up a storm with "That Old Black Magic," "The Candy Man" and "Mr. Bojangles." Kenny makes all the right Sammy moves, playing along with jokes from his friends and making many colorful clothing changes.
When Brian Duprey comes onstage, it's almost like you are up front and center for an actual Frank Sinatra gig. Looking remarkably like the young Sinatra, Duprey perfectly captures Old Blue Eye's mannerisms and phrasing in speech and song. Crooning some of Frank's standards, Brian is smooth as silk with "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Fly Me to the Moon," and "Luck, Be a Lady Tonight." Concluding the act, he delivers powerful renditions of Sinatra's classic favorites, "New York, New York," and "My Way."
The foursome is backed by the splendid 12-piece Lon Bronson All-Stars, with each musician giving an enthusiastic performance, evidenced by visible joy and zeal for the act.
The night we were there, the audience was packed, predominantly with Baby Boomers and even older folks who were loving every moment of the 90-minute show, likely thinking of a different era and perhaps better times.
The Rat Pack is Back takes us back for a special visit with four notable American entertainers. The impersonators give an outstanding performance, with their first-rate crooning and snappy repartee, such that, if you closed your eyes and just listened – you could believe that Dean, Joey, Sammy and the Chairman of the Board… Frank Sinatra were actually there, performing onstage. The Rat Pack is Back is a worthy tribute to the iconic Rat Pack.
Before the show, taking advantage of a terrific deal, we had dinner at the Carnival Buffet. Guests can get Golden Circle Show tickets, which are the best seats and a feast of a dinner at the Carnival World Buffet for $115. And so you don't forget the night, you also get a The Rat Pack is Back souvenir T-Shirt.
The Carnival Buffet is well known around Las Vegas for the variety and display of its sumptuous buffet stations. With something like 300 different dishes available daily, including mounds of crab legs and shrimps, slabs of roast beef, turkey, and pork, along with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and vegetarian specialties, there are also usually 70 varieties of homemade pies, cakes and pastries, and 9 gelato flavors. Everything here is made from scratch everyday. If it sounds delicious, it is. We know!
Considering the edible largesse, the Carnival Buffet is a bargain by itself at around $28 per person. But by choosing The Rat Pack is Back package, you also get to enjoy an incredible taste of nostalgia for a long gone, but beloved era in Las Vegas history.
The Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
The Rat Pack is Back
Crown Theater
3700 W Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Golden Circle Show and Carnival World Buffet - $115. Includes the show and seating in theGolden Circle(best seats), dinner at the Carnival World Buffet prior to the show and a Rat Pack is Back T-Shirt.
Golden Circle Admission Show - $95. Includes show in theGolden Circle(Best Seating) and a Rat Pack is Back T-Shirt
VIP Admission Show - $73. Includes show in the VIP (Second Best Seating) section.
General Admission Show - $62. Includes 1 show in the General Admission section.


text:
Hunan (Chinese: 湖南; pinyin: Húnán) is a province of China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (hence the name Hunan, meaning "south of the lake"). Hunan is sometimes called 湘 (pinyin: Xiāng) for short, after the Xiang River which runs through the province.
Hunan borders Hubei in the north, Jiangxi to the east, Guangdong to the south, Guangxi to the southwest, Guizhou to the west, and Chongqing to the northwest. The capital is Changsha.
Learn more:
See it:
http://www.webshots.com/search?query=Hu ... romeheader


text:
Xcode is the preferred development suite for MacOS X and iOS projects. This suite provides the tools we need to build software products using the Cocoa framework and Objective-C.
For instance, we can lay out a product's user interface with the Interface Builder tool. We can use the MallocDebug tool to locate the source of memory leaks and null references. We can create and manage source repositories with Subversion or Git. And naturally, we can use the Xcode editor to prepare and compile a project's source files into an executable binary.
As an IDE, Xcode is far from perfect or complete. For instance, it cannot analyze a given project in terms of cost. We can address this lack with the help of Python and Xcode's script system. This article demonstrates how to implement several code metrics in Xcode. And it shows how a typical OS X and iOS project fare against these metrics.
Readers need working knowledge of both Xcode and Python.
The Issue of Cost
In today's austere economy, software projects must achieve their design goals with a minimum waste. This means project managers should check whether their projects are within schedule and are progressing smoothly. They should know if one project needs more resources or if another needs to be scaled back.
To achieve these aims, managers could analyze their projects with cost metrics. These metrics are empirical tools that rate a project in terms of expended time. The results are expressed in terms of person-times but can be expressed in monetary costs when combined with salary rates.
Cost metrics help managers better estimate the budgets for current and future projects. They help form competitive, more realistic contract bids with certain customers. They can even help make the right informal decisions for guiding a project's growth.
Now most cost metrics have these common traits:
- use of empirical constants to describe a project type.
- reliance on a precise measure of project size.
- ability to compare two or more projects of the same type.
- allow for calibration, using data gathered from previous or similar projects.
It is, of course, good practice to rate a project with two or more metrics. This helps ensure an accurate analysis, and it helps corroborate results.
Scripting by Xcode
One interesting feature of Xcode is its support for scripts supplied by the users themselves. One script may create a build phase, one may use a different compiler or linker. Another may alter a copy phase, adding new files to the final binary or loading the binary to a server for distribution. And then there are the utility scripts.
Xcode lists all its utility scripts in its Script menu (Figure 1). A utility script can affect the active source window or it can affect the entire project. To invoke a script, users can simply select the script's name from the menu. Alternatively, they can use a key-combo if one is assigned to the script.
Utility scripts can be written in most shell languages like bash, Perl, and Python. Some scripts can be written as Automator workflows, which can interact with scriptable Cocoa applications. Some can even make AppleScript calls with the aid of the
osascript tool.
To view and edit a utility script, choose Edit User Scripts from the Script menu. This displays the script editor window (Figure 2), on which are two major panes.
To the left is a list pane. It shows how each utility script is arranged on the menu. It also allows us to reposition a script by selecting and dragging its name. Below the list pane is a button toolbar. We use this to start a new script or group, to remove a script, and to import a script from an external file.
To the right of the editor window is the editing pane. It is where we can view and alter a script. It is also where we can change the input and output nodes for a given script.
Details on using the Xcode script editor are simply beyond the scope of this article. Readers who want to write their own utility scripts should read the official XCode user guide from Apple.
A Measure of Size
As mentioned earlier, cost metrics need a precise and reliable estimate of project size. One way we can obtain this estimate is to count the number of lines contained in each project file. This is the "SLOC" metric (SLOC is short for source lines of code). As a rule, large projects, those with thousands of lines of code, take more time to develop and maintain. In contrast, smaller projects, with hundreds of lines or less, take less time.
SLOC metrics come in several forms. One form, xSLOC, counts the number of executable lines in a given project file. These are lines that are compiled into executable code and assembled into the final binary. Another form, dSLOC, counts just the white-spaces and comments that make up each file. It measure the overall readability of the given file.
But the form we are interested here is eSLOC. This one counts the number of effective lines of source in each file. An effective source line is one that compiles into executable code. So, this excludes white-spaces, as well as comments. An effective line is also one that forms the final product. Header statements are excluded because they are just file references. Debug, assert, and trace statements are excluded because they are meant for testing. And pragma statements are excluded because they control the source editor and compiler.
Listing One shows an Xcode utility script that measures the eSLOC of the active source file. It uses the
sys module to establish its
stdin port. Plus, it assumes that the source language is Objective-C.
Listing One
#!/usr/bin/python # -*- coding: utf-8 -*- # # import the following modules import sys # read the source lines from STDIN tBuf = sys.stdin.readlines() # start parsing tLOC = 0 tBgn = False for tLin in tBuf: # filter out whitespaces tTst = tLin.strip() tLen = len(tTst) if (tLen > 0): # filter out inline comments tMrk = tTst.find("//", 0) if (tMrk != 0): tMrk = tTst.find("/*", 0) tMrk = tMrk + tTst.find("*/", 0) if (tMrk <= 0): # filter out import statements tMrk = tTst.find("#import", 0) if (tMrk != 0): # filter out block comments if (tBgn): # check for a closing token tMrk = tTst.find("*/", 0) tBgn = (tMrk == -1) else: # check for an opening token tMrk = tTst.find("/*", 0) tBgn = (tMrk >= 0) if (not tBgn): tLOC += 1 # print the metric results print "Effective Lines of Code: %d" % tLOC
The script begins by reading all the lines from the source file, storing the lines into the array buffer
tBuf (line 8). As it parses the buffer, the script looks for lines that start with the token
'//', or those that start with the token
'/*', and ens with
'*/'. It skips these lines because they are inline comments.
Next, the script looks for lines that start with the token
#import. These are, of course, the import statements, and thus are skipped over. Then the script looks for a line that start with a
'/*' token but does not end with a
'*/'. If one is found, the script skips this line and the rest untill it finds one ending with a
'*/'. These skipped lines form the basic block comment.
Finally, the script counts those lines that it did not skip. It prints the total count, which is the file's eSLOC, to be viewed by the user.
Note that the script does not look for lines with
#pragma, test keywords, and other "unwanted" keywords. Readers are welcome to modify this script if they want to filter out those keywords.


text:
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text: I used to post about this a lot years ago but got away from encouraging people to try this out themselves because it's probably not wise for everyone to go there. I do think that there's a benefit (or two) for some folks who might want to play with some different tools/equipment and maybe up their sharpening game. So here I am to start a discussion on power stropping where I'll share some of what I've learned that will hopefully keep you from making some of the same mistakes and help you to get some success for your efforts. Since this is something that's done using power equipment I felt that this post is best put in the Shop Talk forum vs the Kitchen Knife forum where sharpening is usually discussed. Yes, this is sort of specialized for someone who has some shop space and is comfortable with being around machines with spinning parts and such. So, what is power stropping? Un-technically correct answer: To remove a burr, to identify and remove a wire edge, and to refine an edge to the level of proper aggressiveness for use within an intended task through the application of a powered medium (substrate) such as a belt or wheel. What types of belts and wheels are we talking about? Leather/cork/felt belts used on a belt grinder/sander, leather clad and buffing wheels used on buffing machines/bench grinders. Do these belts/wheels get used as is or would be appropriate to use a compound of some sort with them? It's rare, but not unheard of, to use belts/wheels plain or "as is", most everyone uses some sort of compound with wax based bars being the most common. Is there a specific combination that works best? Ask 100 sharpeners and knifemakers that question and you'll likely receive as many varying answers. You could have asked me this question every 6 months for the last 7 yrs and received a different answer each time. Part of the fun, and yeah - frustration, is the experiments you can conduct by playing with the variables. I currently use leather belts with a combination of green rouge & diamond spray for 85% of Japanese knives, for German knives I use a slotted paper wheel with white rouge, and for axes/meat cleavers/etc I use super hard buffing wheels with black & white rouge. Some things to consider is that some compounds can reduce a wire while others raise a burr so what you use and when you use it factors in. For instance, if I use white compound on a leather belt I will very quickly remove burrs from a Japanese knife but make too many passes on this combo and quickly a burr will form again and that's just because most white compounds cut steel pretty aggressively. Now flip this to using a buffing wheel with white compound and you'll quickly see that you'll get a slick (very burr free edge) and that's because buffing wheels tend to round edges and the white compound cuts fast. Change the compound used in both of those scenarios to say green and you'll get completely different results and that's because green often contains chromium oxide which is spherical in shape thus cutting different than the sharper edged (white) aluminum oxide particles. Also, it should be noted that each and every compound found is different meaning that white isn't just white - there's lots of differences between each manufacturer and even within their lines. You will see some bars that are dry and other super greasy, more experimentation for you. The same thing can be said of diamond and CBN compounds, just so many variations to play with. You have sprays, powders, pastes, slurry, suspensions & even solids to contend with. This could be it's own thread subject so I won't go into details here, it just needs to be known that there's many options for you to try if you're so inclined. How the heck do you use (or apply) these compounds to the belts or wheels? Compounds that come in bar form are directly applied to the rotating substrate. Compounds that are in paste form are best applied by hand while the substrate is not in motion, well unless you want to paint your shop a pretty color. Even still pastes are going to want to leave the belt/wheel on start up so beware. I don't use pastes anymore but when I did I would rub "just enough" into the surface and put up a back splash to catch the waste. As I mentioned above I do use diamond spray on a leather belt and yeah this is messy but I continue with it because of unequaled results I achieve. I spray while the belt is in motion and find that enough remains on the surface to work effectively, it's somewhat wasteful though. If you're fortunate enough to have speed control then I would suggest turning the RPM's down and keep more compound on the substrate. What size leather/cork/felt belts are available? It's important to realize what availability of belts you have before purchasing a grinder/sander. The most common sizes are (in order), 2x72, 2x48, 1x42, 1x30, 4x36 If you have a machine outside of those sizes you're likely screwed here and even the 4x36 size won't be easy to find belts for. I use a 2x48 and find it challanging to acquire belts. Are there different types of leather belts available? Yes and no....yes in that you can find a couple of different makers but no in that they're pretty much all the same. The most common leather belts found are the 5/6oz Surgi-Sharp belts. These are OK but they stretch something fierce but they have solid glue joints. I've tried to have custom leather belts made by many leather workers over the years and everyone has failed in one way or the other. They either use leather with too much give, leather that's too stiff and won't flex around the wheels, waxy leather that won't hold compounds, leather that insta-stretches, or most commonly comes apart way too easily at the seem. For a brief time I was constructing my own leather belts and had enough mixed (mostly not so great) results that I scrapped the project. Now I've just come to realize that I will order leather belts at 2 a month forever and like it. What type and size of leather wheels are available? There's a company who makes solid leather wheels in small sizes, they're OK but difficult to use because the machine housing gets in the way. There's also an 8" (I think) wood wheel with leather cladding but my preference for a leather wheel set up is the synthetic leather Tormek wheel mounted to a Baldor buffer. I like using a buffer because the motor housing is low profile providing proper blade clearance in use. Leather wheels are longer lasting than leather belts because they don't stretch but it's MUCH easier to round an edge with a wheel than with a belt. What kind of results could I expect from power stropping? Well, even if I gave you the exact recipe that I use and trained you personally you may have problems. Like everything in life there's a learning curve. Poke around the internet and search for people's opinions on power stropping and you'll find most hate it and speak badly of it. I think that these folks are correct but also I think that they gave up before the got the hang of it. Again, it's experimentation here folks. What type of machine would you recommend for someone who just wants to try this out? The cheapest most easiest set up I can think of is the Harbor Freight 1x30 mini belt sander and Surgi-Sharp leather belt. This machine isn't at all a good machine but it's cheap enough for a try, probably like $40 (ish?). My first belt sander was one of these HF 1x30's (seen directly above with a crap waxy leather belt) that I flipped over onto it's back to present me with a horizontal belt running away from me. You can get crazy and make a frame or just simply re-mount the base plate on the back side and then clamp it to a table - shazam! :thumbsup: So what's the deal with testing for a wire edge? Not to get too complicated here....when using a leather belt to de-burr you will first see the burr fly off the edge but if you continue to make passes (under pressure) you may (and hopefully not) see what appears to be another burr popping up along the edge. Yes this could be a burr coming from too many passes or the wrong compound being used (as explained above) but if you keep going and see this fly away or disappear then you've just seen a wire edge leaving your knife. If it keeps coming back then you're creating a burr. This is a neat test to see how tough you're making your edges, most people's sharpening work fail this test miserably or if they pass the edge is seen as way too slick. I've personally fought with all these issues over the years but because of all my experimentation I now know how to get a tough edge that still has bite - to me that's what is the best. You didn't really cover buffing wheels, why? Because they're dangerous. I use them myself but I'm not going to recommend them. If you do go there please be careful - buffing wheels like to grab edges and pull knives from hands. Got any tips for using leather belts and wheels? Yeah....most importantly - don't leave a leather belt on a machine under tension while not in use, they like to stretch. To clean the leather use a light oil on a rag. To refresh (or smooth) use sandpaper. Hone on the platen - never in the slack section - using the slack section will round even a thick convex edge (like found on a meat cleaver) and when working on thin Japanese knives the slack section will destroy all your sharpening work straight away. So there you have my thoughts on power stropping. If you have any questions please ask away here and if you give it a shot please share your results, I'd love to see what you get into. Dave


text:
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Even on those occasions when God does not reveal conditions explicitly, we can be sure that His ultimate blessings work through the means of our faith and repentance. This faith and repentance is not something we create but is rather ...Read More


text:
As Pakistan looks ahead to a national election later this spring, the biggest wildcard is shaping up to be cricket legend Imran Khan, who rallied at least 150,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday.
After years of trying to gain a foothold in Pakistani politics, the shaggy-haired, ruggedly good-looking 60-year-old has finally elbowed his way into the big league. Casting himself as a populist anti-corruption crusader, he is seen as a threat to the two parties that have long dominated elections.
Khan has almost mythical status in cricket-crazy Pakistan. He was the captain of the national team that won the 1992 World Cup - the only time the country has claimed the sport's highest prize - and polls show he's the nation's most popular politician by a wide margin.
But it's uncertain how effective he will be in converting his personal appeal into votes for his party when Pakistan holds parliamentary elections on May 11 - the first transition between democratically elected governments in a country that has experienced three military coups.
Much of Khan's support has come from young, middle-class Pakistanis in the country's major cities, a potentially influential group. Almost half of Pakistan's more than 80 million registered voters are under the age of 35, but the key question is whether Khan can get his young supporters to show up at the polling booth.
"This is going to swing the election," Khan told The Associated Press in an interview before the rally. "The youth is standing with us and change."
Khan, one of the few Pakistani politicians with a squeaky-clean image, broke into the political mainstream in the past 18 months with a message that capitalizes on widespread discontent with the country's traditional politicians. Some are seen as being more interested in lining their pockets than dealing with pressing problems facing Pakistan, such as stuttering economic growth, pervasive energy shortages and deadly attacks by Islamist militants.
On foreign policy, he has struck a chord by criticizing Pakistan's unpopular alliance with the United States and controversial American drone attacks targeting al-Qaida and Taliban militants in the country's northwest tribal region. He also believes the Pakistani army should pull out of the tribal region, where it is fighting a domestic Taliban insurgency, and resolve the conflict through negotiations.
A suicide attack in the North Waziristan tribal area Saturday killed five soldiers, the army said.
Khan's message has helped him rally huge crowds in Pakistan's major cities. Some people estimated that up to 200,000 people packed into the park in downtown Lahore on Saturday, despite periods of lighting and driving rain. Lahore is the capital of Punjab, the country's most populous province and the main battleground in determining which party wins enough seats in the National Assembly to form the next government.
"We want to clean up corruption. We want justice. We want electricity, and only Imran Khan can do it," said Mohammed Wasim, a 21-year-old student from Lahore and one of many first-time voters attending the rally near the country's towering national monument, the Minar-e-Pakistan.
Many of the people at the rally were middle-class youths like Wasim who danced to music blaring over loudspeakers and waved the red, white and green flag of Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or the Movement for Justice. But plenty of older Pakistanis, some of whom had switched from other parties out of frustration, also turned up.
Khan hopes the momentum from the rally will push forward what he calls his political "tsunami" and help his party win a majority of the 272 National Assembly seats that are up for election. That would allow Khan to form the next government and position him to become prime minister.
He is up against the two groups that have dominated the country's politics for decades, the Pakistan People's Party, which led the most recent government, and the main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N. Both have broad alliances with local leaders who use political patronage, such as government jobs and contracts, to shore up support.
"The reason why we are in politics is to break the stranglehold of these two parties who have plundered this country," Khan told the AP.
Many analysts are less bullish and believe Khan's party will win 20-40 seats. They predict the PML-N, which is led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will lead the polls and Khan's party will come in third behind the recently ruling People's Party. The conventional wisdom is that no party will win a majority of the seats, and Sharif's PML-N will end up having to put together a weak coalition government.
"I think third place is the safest bet for Khan's party, but if he could gain second, which is not impossible, it would be a big political revolution for the country," said Rasul Baksh Rais, a political science professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences.
A breakout performance by Khan's party could spell trouble for the PML-N because both parties appeal to urban, middle-class voters in Punjab. Some analysts predict that if Khan's candidates can steal away enough votes from Sharif's party, they could swing the balance in favor of the People's Party and allow it to once again form the next government. The People's Party's largest area of support is outside Punjab, in southern Sindh province, where Khan has less backing.
Senator Tariq Azim Khan, who runs the PML-N's media operations, acknowledged Khan's potential role as a "spoiler," but claimed his party's lead is so great after five years of "misrule" by the People's Party that it's unbeatable. He also painted Khan as someone who doesn't have the experience to handle the country's problems.
"He might have good intentions, but winning a cricket World Cup does not make you a good prime minister," said the senator.
The former cricketer was known in his youth as a womanizing playboy who spent time hobnobbing with socialites in London and partying in the city's nightclubs, but later turned to religion and politics. He built a successful cancer hospital that treats patients for free.
Khan founded his political party over 15 years ago but struggled to make inroads until October 2011, when he held a rally in Lahore with more than 100,000 people that proved he was a real political force.
He risked losing support during the past year when he was criticized for opening his party up to traditional politicians who could deliver votes but clashed with promises to change Pakistan's corrupt political system. He said he addressed that criticism by holding the first intra-party elections in the country's history, so members can recommend who runs on the party's ticket.
One of the main reasons for the weekend rally in Lahore was to take an oath from the 80,000 newly elected party workers.
Associated Press writer Zaheer Babar contributed to this report.


text:
By Lisa Capobianco
Staff Writer
Dennis Kies of Southington knew he wanted to make a difference when he became a tutor for The Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut (LVCC), which provides one-on-one English literacy tutoring to hundreds of adults each year.
As a literacy tutor, Kies meets with a mother who struggles to communicate with her children's school teachers. Meeting with her once a week for the past three years, Kies said he has seen her confidence to speak English grow. Developing her grammar skills, the student that Kies tutors has become more comfortable making phone calls and engaging in meetings with her children's teachers at school.
"It makes a big difference in every day life," said Kies, who added how he has seen his student's desire to learn. "It is really rewarding."
Prospective literacy volunteers undergo training sessions to learn teaching techniques for adults looking to learn or improve their English. Upon completion of training in English as a Second Language and/or Basic Literacy, LVCC pairs tutors with at least one student. Tutors meet with students for at least two hours a week.
"It is really fulfilling because you are giving someone the tools they need for daily life," said Program Assistant Sarah Hudkins. "You help them achieve their goals."
Lynne Prairie, the associate director, said seeing the one-on-one interactions between tutors and students serve as a "vibrant" experience for her. She recalls the number of achievements the students have made through the tutor program. During Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, LVCC served 458 students, using 199 volunteer tutors. According to the annual report, 93 students obtained/retained employment or started a business, 11 students earned their GED or another diploma, and 261 students increased their involvement in their child's education. Over 200 students also improved reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The report stated that 18 percent of students were basic literacy students, and 82 percent were English for Speakers of Other Languages students.
"It is very rewarding," said Prairie, who has worked at LVCC for 16 years. "Our tutors will tell you how close they have become with students."
LVCC serves adults age 18 or older from Southington, Plainville, Bristol, New Britain, and other surrounding communities. Anyone interested in becoming a literacy tutor can call Program Assistant Sarah Hudkins at 860-229-7323.
Volunteer tutors help to improve literacy in the state
By Lisa Capobianco


text:
Monday, July 28, 2008
Diary Of An Unemployed Young Journalist: An Open Letter To Entry-Level Journalism Jobs Everywhere
Where have you been?
I've been looking everywhere, virtually since the day I got my bachelor's degree in journalism from a reputable university. But I haven't been able to find you -- not on my university jobs database, not on New York Times Company Careers, not on Dow Jones Careers, nor Hearst Publications, Conde Nast, Time Inc., Rodale, Bauer, Hachette, Bonnier, Village Voice Media, News Corp., New York Observer, Manhattan Media, Gawker Media, CBS, NBC, ABC, Folio Jobs, Poynter.org, Mediabistro Jobs, Ed2010 WhisperJobs, Monster, Careerbuilder -- even the smaller companies of publications like New York, Interview, Radar and so forth.
That's newspapers, magazines, broadcast and online.
I feel like I've looked everywhere for you, ELJ. But I can't find you.
I've certainly tried my best to catch your attention. I thought my bachelor's journalism degree in New York wasn't enough, so I went to the top journalism school in the country and got a master's degree in New York, too.
You know, they don't really make journalism degrees any higher than that, ELJ.
Along the way, I interned at one of the Top 10 newspapers in the U.S. and three national monthly magazines, all under big companies (some might call them the "Big 3" of publishing). Everybody I know said internships were the big way in, so I went and did five.
I'm pretty lucky to have gone to school in this town. Wouldn't you say, ELJ?
But where are you when I need you?
Since I'm not receiving any handouts from dear old Mom and Dad -- especially with regard to the price of grad school and the incredible price of rent in this city, the biggest and most expensive in the U.S. -- I've even done some freelancing, some for notable publications in this town. It used to be a fun side gig, but when I'm depending on that $400 check that comes every couple of months, that's no good, right?
After all, every young journalist needs clips, right?
And hey -- my writing made the cover of a small national monthly magazine three times this year -- did you see, ELJ?
If you did, I wish I knew. Because I can't seem to find you.
Be well-rounded, they said. Be web-savvy, they said. Be flexible, be cheery, and most of all, be professional. Everyone loves a hard worker.
Well, I practiced my hard news stories. Inverted pyramid, soundbite quotes and all that. I've never even had a correction run for one of my pieces.
Then I edited stories by other people. I tried my hand at science journalism, technology journalism, business journalism, arts and entertainment, fashion -- even religion reporting. I challenged myself to see if I could cover everything equally as well, be it short news pieces, briefs, or full-on Rolling Stone-style profile features.
I researched. I fact-checked. I copy edited. I even tried blogging, both for the snarky and staid.
Then I went and learned Photoshop and InDesign and Illustrator and Dreamweaver. I learned how to shoot and edit video and photos. I practiced how to make webpages -- I even set one up for myself. And -- get this -- I learned Adobe Flash this year. How cool is that?
I trained my eye on my resume -- cleaned it up, made it classy, cut the junk. I practiced writing cover letters. I networked -- introduced myself to people, showed them my website, LinkedIn with them.
If you Google me these days, it's a trove of love letters to you, ELJ.
Then, when the time came to work in this big town, center of technology and media and finance and basically everything, I applied like a madman. I started slow, to test the waters, but when time started passing, I quickened the pace.
Editorial assistant jobs, assistant editor jobs, news assistant jobs, beat reporter jobs, online editor jobs, multimedia producer jobs, administrative assistant jobs -- I went after them all. And why not? Everyone told me it'd be a lot easier to find you if I had more feathers in my cap.
You must be allergic to feathers, though, ELJ. I can't seem to find you.
I asked my friends for openings at their companies, only to hear that they might be fired soon because of the economy. I asked my mentors for openings at their companies, but most couldn't find anything. Romenesko keeps saying all the positions for senior staffers were being cut in lieu of openings for young upstarts like me. The new generation of do-it-all journalists. But every time I search for jobs, how come the only ones open are for "senior editor" or "deputy page one editor"?
And gee whiz, there are a lot of internships available. But I think five is where I draw the line, ELJ.
Besides that, I just see freelance gigs that guarantee a lot of wasted time for little reward, or a lot of jobs that require three years of experience. But see, that's what I'm looking for.
ELJ, I'm looking for you.
I even bought a snazzy navy suit for the occasion. Your receptionist, "informational interview," said I look nice and I'm superbly qualified, but she said she can't find you, either.
Must be the economy. Must be the time of year. But let me tell you -- if there's one thing I've got, ELJ, it's information. Now I just need to find you.
I'm getting worried now. Rent's due soon, and $900 doesn't sound "stabilized" when you're not making anything. Who am I kidding -- it sounds like a lot to you too, doesn't it, ELJ?
Everyone says I should move out of the city. But why? I made so many professional connections here. And if everyone's moving out, and those jobs elsewhere are disappearing, who's left anyway?
I'm worried, ELJ. I can't find you. Where are you?
An Unemployed Young Journalist
64 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I am looking for a j-job right now, so I feel your pain. I've pretty much stopped looking on the East Coast, however. With a masters degree in journalism (from Columbia?), I'm sure you will be able to find a j-job somewhere. It may not be in New York, however. I know a girl, for example, who interned during college at the Hartford Courant, got a job at msnbc in Seattle, worked there for three years, then transfered to New York (where she is now).
I'm sure it will work out.
- Anonymous said...
You're a pretty good writer. The job is closer than you think. Don't take your foot off the accelerator until you get it. Don't stop pumping the handle until the water comes. Get my drift? Once you've been in your ELJ for a while, chances are you will hate it any way, but I know, you just want to get there. You will. A lot of people are in NYC w/ education and no job--only the cream rises to the top. I searched for 4 months after getting my masters before finding a job I could live with. The only thing you can do is to keep aggresively networking, applying, and most importantly, writing. Crazy as it sounds, I believe in you.
- Anonymous said...
I think I see the problem. You're applying to big newspapers either because you can't leave a city or don't want to, and you figure your degrees and big internships should land you at a major paper to start.
I recommend searching J-Jobs under the reporter category. There are many jobs available. Hopefully one of the smaller papers won't be thrown off by your additional degree, as they may not want to pay you more just because you have it.
Maybe you should consider teaching.
- Anonymous said...
HIRING EDITOR: "Hmm, nice resume....a master's degree? To do birth notices and marriage licenses? Jesus Christ on a stick! Talk about overqualified. I need someone who won't need $60K a year for their student loans."
See the problem here? There's not that much to learn/know about journalism. Seriously. A Master's is overkill.
- John Lichman said...
You should offer MSM editors your services is throwing eggs at their competitors.
- Anonymous said...
Ditto last comment. The fact that advanced degrees in journalism exist, as Kramer once said, "is the biggest fraud perpetrated on the American public since one-hour Martinizing." Worse still, a master's degree in journalism -- unlike, say, one in business, language, etc. -- is completely useless outside of news. These diploma mills need to be re-purposed to some kind of technical communications bent, or shuttered. Although working in the business, I've seen M.S. from Columbia get higher pay, but the golden age for that joke has past. Good luck paying those loans!
- Anonymous said...
Gotta agree with some of the previous posters -- you need to look outside NYC. I get that you don't want to leave, but you need to understand that as a young'un, you CAN leave. Unlike a lot of the recently laid-off 40somethings with spouses, kids, aging parents, mortgages, etc. It sounds like you've got great qualifications and a terrific work ethic -- apply outside NYC and you should get snapped up quickly. Good luck.
- Anonymous said...
You are over-educated. My paper prefers entry-level journalists who have degrees in fields other than journalism, on the grounds that gives them broader interests. You should consider going back to college and getting a degree in something that will be useful in your life.
- John Lichman said...
maybe i have to disagree with some of the anons here, but:
why should "We" (being those hunting for work or self-fulfillment in fields we strive to be in) leave NYC when we're already here?
Why leave when this is ultimately where we've been told to migrate to if we want to work?
I know the traditional route involves Andrew having to wait until he's 38 until he gets a desk and a fedora, but that clearly isn't the case anymore when people are scooped up from college and even brothels to be thrust into the major media spotlight.
Luckily, I know Union Square Trader Joe's Newsletter will be welcome to have Nusca as their editor. As long as I can fact-check it.
- Chase Squires said...
The entry level stuff is out there, but it's not going to come to you, you've got to go to it ... no, it won't pay much, neither did my first gig in Greenwood, SC, but I only had that job for 7 months before moving on ... you have to get out there.
Good luck,
Here, from Journalismjobs.com today .... these are just a few, notice one (Sheridan, Wyo, even SAYS no experience nec., if that's not ELJ, I don't know what is, and it's a gorgeous area)
Company: Odessa American
Position: Seeking reporters
Location: Odessa, Texas
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Negotiable
Ad Expires: September 1, 2008
Job ID: 536730
Website: http://www.oaoa.com
Seeking talented, experienced reporters to cover business, police and general assignments. Excellent pay and benefits. The Odessa American is a daily paper in West Texas and serves an area of 250,000 people and is consistently a top award winner among Texas daily newspapers. Send resume and clips to Gene Powell: email@example.com
Company: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
Position: Wanted: A reporter who loves news
Location: Lancaster, Ohio
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: September 1, 2008
Job ID: 957049
Website: http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com
The Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, a Gannett newspaper, wants reporter who loves local news to join the Local Desk. This person must have strong writing and reporting skills and be able to write hard news as well as features about public safety, crime and the courts. The successful candidate will possess a can-do attitude, flexible and committed to learning and growing. A college degree required, journalism major preferred. Some night and weekend work is required. Proficient in AP style and grammar a must. The Eagle-Gazette is an aggressive multimedia operation where everyone is involved in maintaining and updating the Web site. Lancaster is about 25 miles south (or a 30-minute commute) of Columbus, the state capital. The Eagle-Gazette, circulation 15,000, serves Fairfield County in central Ohio. Send cover letter, work samples, resume and references to Antionette Taylor-Thomas, managing editor, 138 W. Chestnut St. Lancaster, Ohio, 43130 or via e-mail: email@example.com. No telephone calls.
Company: The Sheridan Press
Position: Great start
Location: Sheridan, Wyoming
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Negotiable
Ad Expires: September 1, 2008
Job ID: 956811
The Sheridan (Wyo.) Press, a six-day-a-week afternoon newspaper, has a great opportunity for a journalist — some experience working at a daily newspaper would be great, but it is not required. Daily responsibilities are typing in obituaries and emergency services reports and working with our news editor on rewriting press releases about community events, weddings and anniversaries. Other responsibilities include gathering news and planning coverage for the Business page and working with city and county business leaders. The successful applicant will also work into the title and responsibility of special projects editor. Photography and pagination skills a plus. The Press offers a relocation stipend, competitive salary, health, dental, eye-care benefits and a profit-sharing plan — and Wyoming has no state income tax. If you want to join an energetic and professional staff on an award-winning newspaper in a thriving community, send resume and work samples to Patrick J. Murphy, managing editor, P.O. Box 2006, Sheridan, WY 82801, or e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Company: The Stevens Point Journal
Position: Reporter
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: August 29, 2008
Job ID: 955533
The Stevens Point Journal, a Gannett daily newspaper in central Wisconsin, has an opening for a full time reporter to join the news staff. This position is responsible to provide multi-platform news coverage of local stories in an accurate and timely manner under the direction of the Managing Editor. The primary focus of this position will be on the University of Wisconsin – Steven Point. They will be required to coordinate the weekly Pointer Connect page which includes stories connected to the university submitted by staff and readers.
The process will involve collecting information, interviewing, writing stories and providing online updates. This requires the ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines on a daily basis. We seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to design a story using AP style and grammar, some writing or free lance experience and a willingness to report on a variety of subjects.
Please send your cover letter, resume, references and writing samples to the Stevens Point Journal, Attn: Human Resources, 1200 Third Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481 - or email your application materials to email@example.com.
- John Lichman said...
see. here's the other thing that annoys me--andrew's mainly going on the point that these jobs should be avaliable without insane requirements.
To bring glorious new media into this:
Gawker is currently looking for interns. One of the positions requires a 3-year minimum of reporting experience.
That's usually called an assistant editor at a paper or magazine and they're paid for their work. Not just name credit.
This is stemming from the same site that took a chance on a 20-year old NYU student who dropped-out to run Wonkette and Gawker Proper, busting his ass along the way. And it was entirely based off his conversations with Gawker Proper's then Editor.
(eh, Alex Pareene and Choire Sicha for those not obsessed with "tehzomgnewmedia!" like the rest of us freaks.)
This is what should be pissing us off: instead of established companies taking chances, they're forcing new students to the wolves for work, countless CL ads peddling pending pay and big experience.
Hoo-ray, amazing world of media!
- Anonymous said...
This is directed to John Lichman:
NYC is home to some of the top publications in the world. The vast, vast majority of journalists will not start there, because it's meant to be the top of the top. Yes, some people will start in NYC, but most won't, and it's unrealistic not to apply for jobs outside of the city. It may seem like everyone is getting snapped up in the city, but it's just not true.
If the author is really hell-bent on staying in the city, she might be able to reverse commute to a paper in New Jersey.
- Andrew said...
I have to stand up for advanced journalism degrees. Sure, it's not like getting a degree in medicine, or law, which require some mastery of a body of knowledge. But if you do j-school right, you're subjecting yourself to the highest possible standards every day and being edited and measured by professors and peers who are fine journalists or who will be. Most newsrooms simply are not set up to help young journalists develop skills and high standards the way the a good j-school can.
Do you need j-school? No, and I admire those many great journalists who didn't go to one and made something of themselves. Are some j-schools "diploma mills"? Probably. But so are some law and med schools.
For me and others I know, j-school was just the crucible I needed to test and develop my talents. Keep your sights and your standards high, you'll find something!
- jason said...
It's time to leave New York. I'm serious. You can come back when the city wants you.
- ML said...
I'm also unemployed -- after 15 years of experience, regional, state and national awards, blah blah blah. I know lots of other people who were pushed out of the business who were as good writers or better than I am.
I just interviewed for a job that is three-months long and they offered nearly 20 percent less than I made in my last contract (no benefits) job.
As Mom always said, life isn't fair.
- John Lichman said...
If the author is really hell-bent on staying in the city, she might be able to reverse commute to a paper in New Jersey.
Reverse commute and a sex change?
I doubt most journalists can afford the latter.
At the same time, nothing against commuting. But the main point Andrew's getting at, IMO: these entry-level jobs aren't here anymore. And it's annoying when you're thrown an "internship" that would normally be a paid entry-level position.
Or maybe that's my take. Who knows.
- Sara said...
Well crap. You sound 100% more qualified than I am despite my two years of out-of-town newspaper experience, yet you can't find a job in the city. My dreams die a little.
Still, I was always told that the best reporters start out in the small places, and move back to New York when they've "made it." There are so many young people with hustle, rich parents and more connections than you in New York (I have seen them on Gossip Girl). The great wide America calls out for some great reporter-to-be...
- Anonymous said...
I tried to get an ELJ in New York during the Daily News strike. Impossible, unless I wanted to cross picket lines, which I did not.
I landed at a little paper in York, Pa. and was so happy...
Leaving the city is great advice. What about leaving the country? My second job was in Russia at an English language paper. After that, on to Chicago.
Look to Dubai, etc. Don't snub corporate or government communications, either.
Good luck.
- Anonymous said...
At all 4 papers I've worked at I've met reporters with masters degrees. Not one of those people were as valued within the newsroom as those who (a) had specific expertise within a field, such as business or technology, (b) had exceptional talent at their craft, or (c) were bulldogs who would work through the night to get a job done, or relentlessly pursue a source, lead or idea, and never, ever give up.
If you're looking for a job in New York and not getting it, it's because you're not good enough yet. That might sting, but that's the market right now. You can try to wait it out in NY or look for work at a scrappy 30K circ paper in Podunk, Pa. I'd venture there are editors in NYC who spent time in Podunk and are better for it.
- Anonymous said...
This is irrelevant to real life, I'm sorry. I graduated with a J-degree, bartended for a year (generally goofed off) then when I decided to use my degree the first place I applied I got a three week internship (paid) and then an offer for a full time position with my own carved out beat.
While working I got another ELJ offer two weeks later that I had to turn down.
The reason between you and I? I did what my teachers told me I had to do; start at a small town paper...
Listen to yourself: "I applied at the New York Times, etc." "WHAAHHH!!"
What about Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue while yer at it?
You've got to put in a teeny weeny bit of effort and humility to get where you want to go.
Two years at a small paper is the norm and I was being told that in the nineties when we WEREN'T in an "economic downturn".
- Anonymous said...
"why should "We" (being those hunting for work or self-fulfillment in fields we strive to be in) leave NYC when we're already here?"
.. uhm, because there aren't a lot of starting-level jobs in NYC. It's called reality. Trying coping with it instead of blogging about it.
"Why leave when this is ultimately where we've been told to migrate to if we want to work?"
.. uhm, whoever would tell you to START a career in a major city? Young journalists trying to begin in Boston, Chicago, N.Y. etc are just showing ungodly arrogance. Not to mention unbelievable ignorance; how could anyone be remotely connected to this industry and really think that noobs are going to be welcomed in NYC? Damn, go into advertising or someplace where commonsense isn't valued.
- Anonymous said...
"You know, they don't really make journalism degrees any higher than that, ELJ."
"Everyone says I should move out of the city. But why? I made so many professional connections here."
Ah, the whine of entitlement.
- Anonymous said...
Oh, man. We go through this every year. Last year it was this dumb shit (http://poynter.org/column.asp?id=77&aid=124307) whining to Joe Grimm on Ask the Recruiter. And the economy was a damn sight better then than it is now. It's a shame those pricey master's programs don't give their students a course in reality, namely, that master's or not, you're still a rookie, and you gotta pay those pesky rookie dues. Good luck, Editorialiste. Your dreams of journalistic glory may wither and die, but your loan payments will live on for decades.
- rknil said...
"Ah, the whine of entitlement."
It's about all young journos have to offer these days. They don't need more higher education; they need remedial training.
Also, Joe Grimm is a fossil who just took a buyout. His advice is as worthwhile as the empty pop bottle sitting next to me. Creepy 40- and 50somethings yearning for recent college grads should be laughed at and not heard from.
- Anonymous said...
You are doing all the right things, getting the extra sheepskin, battling for national attention, blogging about your problems. So just continue to sit back in NYC, give out periodic updates on your progress, and it will come to you -- just as it has come to previous generations in whose shoes you are following.
- Anonymous said...
C'mon, Joe Grimm's a good guy who helped a lot of kids get started in the business. And he didn't hesitate to tell them when they were aiming too high. It's a shame Editorialiste's profs didn't do the same.
- Jim Thomsen said...
Here's what jumps out at me, a working newspaper professional who makes a good living in a part of the country I love:
1. You're overeducated. Getting that master's degree right out of the gate doesn't help your cause. Credible employers value real-world experience, not a heaping pile of academic credentials (no matter how prestigious the school).
2. There are few staff jobs these days. Most employers are shrinking FTE counts and are unwilling to shoulder even a portion of the escalating costs of health insurance and other benefits. Most people hired by major publishing companies these days are on contract, not on staff.
3. If you're not getting anywhere despite countless job interviews and "professional connections," consider the possibility that you may be seen as personally repellent. Maybe it's arrogance. Maybe it's the way you dress or groom yourself. Maybe you are unable to edit your thoughts in a conversation and wind up saying obnoxious things.
4. Many more journalists are making their livings these days through freelance work. It can be done. If you decide it can't be, then you need to modify your expenses and your standard of living. (Racking up tens of thousands of dollars in student-loan debt, if that's what you did, probably wasn't smart, either.)
5. What's wrong with taking your credentials out of town for 2-3 years, kicking ass in a small town, and coming back to NYC with renewed energy and attitude?
6. There are a lot of people out there like you, based on other blogs and news accounts I've read. You're likely competing against a glutted hiring pool.
I wish you luck ... but I don't think your luck will change until you realize that it's you that needs to change, not the cold cruel world.
Those of us who have good jobs know this. We've paid our dues, endured lean times, waited out bad situations ... and learned some diplomacy and savvy along the way.
- Claudia R said...
Dear Tina, your blog post takes me back to 1978, when I was desperately seeking a job in journalism. Fresh out of the Master's program at UC Berkeley, I'd gotten lots of encouragement from the likes of the LATimes, but couldn't land that first job. It worked out eventually (Chicago Sun-Times) but I honestly was at the point of jumping out of my 14th floor window (my husband was worried.) I wish you well, as you are obviously talented, determined and hard-working. Claudia Ricci (I teach at SUNY in Journalism and English)
- Alyson Hoge said...
We're hiring copy editors, page designers and reporters in Little Rock at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The owner, Walter E. Hussman Jr., is E&P's Publisher of the Year. Look us up!
- Anonymous said...
From a working reporter - don't buy the "not good enough" racket. That's just a line they give you to keep you down and buying into the high-school politics of this profession.
Do buy into the "bulldog" routine. Hustle beats out talent in this business at least 70% of the time. The other 30% is connections.
The smalltown route can go either way. I did it, it worked out, but not the way i exactly had in mind. And some people get marooned there. That said, Sheridan Wyoming would make you an exotic when you came back, and exotics sometimes have an edge.
Stay published while you're looking, even low-paying freelance. Technical expertise in something (business, health care, music, whatever) helps your case too.
Good luck.
- Claudia R said...
This takes me back to 1978 when I was desperate for my ELJ. I was fresh out of UC Berkeley Master of Journalism program, and had received lots of encouragement from the likes of the LA Times; still, it took what seemed like forever. I finally ended up in Chicago, at the Sun-Times, but I'm thinking about the day(s) when I was so desperate I was tempted to jump out of the 14th floor window of my apartment. Good luck to you Tina, you are obviously talented and determined, deserving, and understandably, frustrated! The current state of affairs in newspapering has made it even harder today than it was in 1978! Claudia Ricci, Ph.D. (I teach journalism and English at SUNY Albany.)
- Anonymous said...
You didn't mention Gannett. They'll hire anybody. Try there. It sucks, but if you're any good, you'll survive and move on to better things.
- Anonymous said...
"What's wrong with taking your credentials out of town for 2-3 years, kicking ass in a small town, and coming back to NYC with renewed energy and attitude?"
because realistically, when it comes down to it, there's more to life than your job, and small towns suck.
- Ryan from D.C. said...
I went to graduate school in NYC as well (the OTHER school just about a hundred blocks south of the big C) and don't think it was a waste at all. I got some great internships and had my work edited by some amazing writes from the New York Times, New York and other publications I admire. However I did not go to grad school because I thought it would get be a better job. I did it because I wanted to learn from a few writers who happened to be teaching there and I wanted to spend a year and a half in New York City. That was about 3 years ago.
That said, I pretty much knew once grad school was over that I'd have to move out of the city to find a sustainable job. I got a job at a community weekly in New Jersey and it was awful, but it paid the bills and I honed my chops on the most basic hard news you could find. Then I got a job covering crime for a very large chain of weeklies outside of D.C. in Maryland, owned by a prominent newspaper in the area. I spent a year there and continue to sharpen my skills.
Now I cover green technology for an insider-type daily paper in D.C.
I've worked my ass off AND I also went to grad school (I think people forget sometimes that you can go to great and ALSO be a hard worker). I may not be at the New Yorker yet (pipe dream), but I'm 26 and I'm climbing my way up one rung at a time.
My advice. Bite the bullet, leave New York and work for a small town or mid-sized daily somewhere. A few years of grunt work looks amazing on a resume. Editors respect that you are willing to learn the craft in the trenches as well as in the classroom.
What do I know, though? I'm only able to pay the bills (and student loans) and enjoy a pretty nice journalism job in our nation's capital.
- nnemshneb said...
I'm 20 years into my career, working now for a decent paper at the top of the food chain with tons of awards. But at the onset in 1987 I EXPECTED to be run through a gauntlet of humiliations and low pay. That's your problem. You feel ENTITLED. That's not how the biz works. I started out hustling at 20,000 circ papers and pushed and shoved my way to bigger ones. I finally made it to a Top 10 paper only by having to get shot at and bombed for three years of covering wars abroad - just to get clips I could show a Top 10 paper. When I read whines like this, it just makes me want to throw up. Go to the Odessa Texas paper and learn how to be a man.
- Kristen said...
I'm sorry to say that many young journalists (no matter how educated or talented) usually have to start in a smaller market and work up. It's great that you have connections and do freelance work, but really look to other areas of the country. It seems the title of your post to "journalism jobs everywhere" isn't quite accurate. You mean jobs in New York, not everywhere. There's your problem.
- Anonymous said...
Freelancing is a great way to start.
- Ryan in D.C. said...
Anonymous said...
"Freelancing is a great way to start.
Did you even read the post?
"I've even done some freelancing, some for notable publications in this town. It used to be a fun side gig, but when I'm depending on that $400 check that comes every couple of months, that's no good, right?
After all, every young journalist needs clips, right?
And hey -- my writing made the cover of a small national monthly magazine three times this year -- did you see, ELJ?"
- Anonymous said...
Whoever said; "because realistically, when it comes down to it, there's more to life than your job, and small towns suck..." is a dumbass, I'm sorry.
You can write on bathroom walls all day if you want to, but what this blog is about is trying to MAKE MONEY at writing.
And if that's what you care about, which I'd say most people who aren't hipsters "living on the streets" off their parent's dime, do care about, then you need to think about your job.
Especially when you've got grad school loans to pay.
I'm from the same generation, we all grew up thinking we'd be rock stars, but face it, you've got to pay your dues before your are FORTUNATE enough to have a great job in NYC.
The writers who are there earned it. In the trenches.
Big papers want those of us who suffered for our art and craft, not paid for it.
And yes, I left a big, cultural city (Austin, Texas) for a 30K circ. paper way out in the piney woods far away from every friend I'd ever grown up with.
And like someone posted earlier, it made me a far better person than I ever was sitting in my journalism classes in College or High School...
- Jim Thomsen said...
Actually, small towns don't suck.
Many have social vibrancy and cultural richness that New York City can't touch.
Besides that, small towns challenge you to make the best of your surroundings, to extend yourself, to stretch, to adapt and to learn new things and get to know whole different kinds of people. People who have put in time in small towns (and, really, I'm talking about any city that isn't in the Top 25 in U.S. population) find themselves richer in character and perspective for the experience.
Hang your insular, vacuum-sealed hubris on the shelf and go into the real world for a while. You'll be a much better person — and journalist — for the experience.
And who knows ... maybe you'll find that being part of the preening, pretentious world of New York publishing isn't the only worthy dream out there.
- Anonymous said...
Have you looked at trade publications? They're not glitzy, and the pay stinks, but you'll have clips galore in short order. What's more, you'll get a a really deep dive into a subject and gain some real expertise. That's a tough thing for a journalist to do, especially one who studied only journalism in school.
When I started in journalism--in New York, because I'm from here--J school was for rich kids or for people who had worked a while and wanted to raise their game. Don't expect the degree to get you much, if it hasn't already gotten you the job you want. You just have to grab any job you can find and work your butt off. And if you can't get a job in journalism, for goodness sake, get another job and keep freelancing at night. Everybody does it. Don't be too proud to succeed.
- Jim Thomsen said...
One thing about advanced degrees:
You get them for a specific purpose — usually, to prepare for a specific kind of management track or to go into teaching. I think getting such a degree just to front-load your resume when you're short of actual real-world experience is a poor strategy. Because I don't think it gives you much of an advantage in hiring.
I've been a hiring manager before. I'll say this: If I had a job opening and two resumes on my desk — one from somebody with bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia, and one from somebody with a B.A. from Jerkwater State U, I'd muse on that for a moment before saying: "OK, let's see the clips." I'm interested in practical, pragmatic, hit-the-ground-running skills sets, not raw talents with more theoretic knowledge than work experience.
If anything, the advanced degree might be a drawback. I'd be concerned that you're just looking for a bullet point on your resume before bolting back to the Big Apple, whereas I'd prefer to hire somebody who I perceive is open to growing with us.
And the degrees would make not a whit of difference in pay. There's very little wiggle room in newsroom budgets these days. If I'm offering, say, $13.50 an hour to Candidate B, I'm offering the same to Candidate A. A master's degree does not translate to a higher wage. I can't see how it would for anyone just breaking in to the business.
- rknil said...
"C'mon, Joe Grimm's a good guy who helped a lot of kids get started in the business. And he didn't hesitate to tell them when they were aiming too high. It's a shame Editorialiste's profs didn't do the same."
Thanks for posting, Joe. Good to see you had the guts to put a name behind the post. (eyes rolling)
I can just imagine Grimm continuing to visit campuses even though he's no longer associated with a newspaper. The paper that just bought him out has been plummeting in circulation and credibility for years. (Exhibit A: Mitch Albom's Arch Madness.) What excuse does someone give for offering advice after being bought out at the Free Mess?
- Anonymous said...
Get out of Dodge. There are plenty of other jobs. Blah, blah, blah. I'm essentially repeating what 90 percent of the posts have already said.
I moved from South Florida and took a job in Alabama ... Was it my dream place to live? Nope. Do I have a great editor position now thanks to that first job in the middle of nowhere? Yup.
- JCH said...
This industry sucks, plain and simple. Get into a different field and freelance as a hobby.
- Anonymous said...
I too am looking for a full-time J-Job in the Chicago area. I have BA in Communications and a Masters in Journalism as well. I feel your pain. I have been looking for a year and still no luck. However, I have been looking for communications jobs and not journalism jobs (I did that for 3 years and want to move on from the newspapers).
I have gotten so fed up with the job hunt and rude human resources people I have decided to open my own communication consulting firm. My advice-never give up looking, and think outside the box.
- Ryan in DC said...
Also, don't think a "small town" means its like Deliverance. There are plenty of small town newspapers that are an hour or less from a major city.
- rknil said...
"Also, don't think a "small town" means its like Deliverance."
They should remake Deliverance, only with young journos on the canoe.
That would be an instant classic. "Who are those people on the shore who keep following us? Let's send them a Twitter post!"
The critical part would have to change, though, as today's young journos are anxious to get, um, Beattyed by today's newspapers. Instead of shooting anyone with an arrow, they'd run forward and make friends. They're gonna save journalism!
- supparappa said...
A master's degree in journalism is completely unneeded. It's not wise to dig a massive debt hole when publications offer little or no salary premium for advanced degrees. I've never had an employer express much interest in what I studied at school. Mostly, they've wanted to see my last few stories and if I could write. My only academic regret is not becoming more proficient at a foreign language, as multilingual skills are invaluable as a journalist, since publications would like to avoid employing both a translator and a writer.
- Lisa R. said...
Try getting an MFA degree (for artistic reasons, unrelated to delusions about earning power).
Then, when you apply for any kind of media or publishing or writing gig ('cause it sounds interesting, cause you need to put braces on a kid's teeth, cause you need to buy groceries while the book comes together, if ever) then you are not only "overqualified," but "too literary" for the real world too.
- Hannah said...
Don't leave New York! There are NO jobs outside of New York! And don't go back to school again, please!
-> Have you subscribed to the Gorkana job listings? They've had a lot of ELJs listed recently at the AP.
-> Shoot for websites and newswires. They are the only people hiring these days.
-> Network with web editors; at most publications, the website and print pub are pretty separate, so you won't get anywhere networking with the print side.
-> The problem with magazine internships is that magazines aren't actually hiring. And websites aren't all that interested in hiring someone who has experience spending a month to write a story. Play up any beat reporting or daily experience.
-> Consider Long Island or New Jersey or Westchester -- the commute will be a bummer, but you'll be able to transition to a NYC job later.
- Anonymous said...
Recruiter/trainer of 15 years here who just left a large media conference in Chicago. Yes, it's "bad" out there. But, people are landing jobs. Newspapers are bleeding people now. But, their websites are growing and getting the funding, not the traditional newsrooms. Acquire skills for today's and tomorrow's environment and you will land a job.
Also, there are jobs NOT on the coasts. There are two Columbia and one Brown grad at a public radio station in Wyoming, working, on the air as reporters with a News Director who is actually serving as their manager and coach. He knows they are not going to retire there, but that hasn't stopped him from luring "coastals" to his newsroom. Nor did it keep them from going there.
I have little sympathy for people who complain about not finding a job but won't leave the coasts.
Doug Mitchell
- Anonymous said...
Um, "online editor" is not an entry-level job. At least not at my company, and not at any company that's serious about news on the Web.
- The Editorialiste said...
The Editorialiste responds:
Responding To Romenesko: Thoughts On Your Comments
- Anonymous said...
Could this entry be more pretentious? I mean come on! Where do you come off thinking that because you attended "reputable" schools and worked five internships that you should be guaranteed a position within months of graduating? We all have three to five internships, and a lot of us are from "reputable" J-schools. There are hundreds of recent grads embarking on this city who are equally competing with you for the same jobs. It all boils down to who you know. And once you know someone, it's how you interact with them...and perhaps that's where you're going wrong. Take a slice of humble pie, zip it about your uppity education, and realize things just don't get handed to you.
Also, according to AP Style, "webpage" should be "Web page."
- Anonymous said...
Couple of comments:
There's still hope for you. While the way I started out in NY 25 years ago is no longer an option (I was a copy boy), there are any number of publications within a public transit commute. But be careful not to take a job where you'll be miserable. I was so desperate after I graduated from college that, after a six month search, I took a low-paying job at a trade publication. The advantage was that I was writing 8 to 10 stories a week. The disadvantage was that the owners wanted me to be an industry shill, and I hated that. Yes, I should have expected that and taken that into account before I took the job, but desperation can make you do crazy things.
My only other piece of advice is to make sure you get to know people. You can spend a few hours a day adjusting your resume and searching online for a job, but make sure you get out and meet working journalists as much as possible. A face is much easier to remember than just another resume among thousands. Check mediabistro.com for industty mixers. Ask for tours of newsrooms, even if there are no openings. Invite friends in the business to lunch (and make them pay -- they're working!). Anything you can do to make yourself stand out above the crowd. I can't guarantee it will land you a job, but it can't hurt.
Good luck.
- Anonymous said...
You don't need to have gone to school in New York, nor do you need to have had a big-ticket internship to land a solid job. I've talked to hiring managers who say that despite journalists the country over looking for jobs, he can't seem to get a decent applicant. And this is a man at a solid, good newspaper that is not experiencing the woes of the industry the way other papers are.
You have to be willing to pay some dues. That may mean working a job you may not like, such as copy editor. It also may mean living in Sedalia, Mo. You need to do it, though, to get the real-world experience papers want. Those requisite "three years of experience." I can't stress enough the value of working for a small paper. We who have are valuable because we've had our hands in all parts of the newspaper operation. Knowing (and often having done) everyone else's job makes us better at ours. You'll be far more marketable for it. You may even find you like hyperlocal, community journalism.
If you're good, the rewards will come. They're not going to come just because you interned here or got a master's from there.
- Anonymous said...
I'm a recent grad with an entry-level job that fits your ideal. I've read your blog before (I think first directed there from IvyGate) and just looked at your personal Web page. Honestly, I see a few problems.
I'm not going to harp on the fact that you went to J-school straight out of college, especially after majoring in journalism. You know all the criticisms of journalism degrees and obviously don't –– and didn't –– care. If your outside-the-classroom experience was better, I think you'd at least be getting interviews if not jobs. (Have you had any interviews since kicking off your full-time job search?) Let's look at your resume.
College newspaper: Could be a great asset if you were one of the top few editors on the masthead. "News editor" isn't a title that I see on the current WSN staff list and I have no sense of what your responsibilities were. Experience at a decent college daily can be a great asset, one that, I can attest, is worth more than a J-school degree. But that's in the past.
Internships: OK, so you've had a lot, but none seem too substantive. Maybe it's just how you describe (or don't describe) them on your resume, but nothing appears to be more than average. You think you're alright on this front because up against candidates who have done a similar number of internships (or, as in my case, a few less), right? Sure. But I've gotten 30+ bylines in each of my summer internships. You seem to have mostly done grunt work. Though my job involves a lot of administrative functions, the editors who hired me were thinking about longer-term potential within the newsroom, something that doesn't really come across in your experience.
Now: To put it frankly, when any straight-laced HR person or editor visits your personal site or this blog, he or she will probably be more repelled than drawn to you. You come off as snarky, holier-than-thou and supercilious. All things that any smart boss would want in an underling, right?
I'm starting to fall asleep, exhausted from my entry-level journalism job, so I'm going to end this comment abruptly. I apologize for that and for my anonymity, but I'm not dumb enough to do what you do (read previous paragraph). If you respond to my comment, I'll comment back.
Cheers and good luck. What's the backup career/grad school plan?
- Sam Sukaton said...
Howdy! It's my first time here, and I really like your work. I don't mean to be a bother, but I thought (what with all the "entitled" remarks from older and wiser heads) you might like feed back from the aspiring, idealistic young.
With all due respect, survey of the comments strongly recommends that you spend some time as a voice crying in the wilderness, proclaiming the fires, treebound cats, library functions, and city council meetings in Podunk and Dubuque.
That being said, you're a very good writer, and I'm sure that you'll be recalled from exile soon, as long as you're willing to grin and bear it.
What's your specialty, by the way? (Specificially, what do you LIKE reporting about, aside from reporting on reporting) If you go off into exile from the Apple and maybe charm an editor into letting you write a column in that field in the paper you do your time in, I'm sure that it'll also keep you sharp for the time you choose to go back.
I apologize if I seem cold, like some of the other comments.
I'm a little (well, a LOT) younger than you, but that's my game plan right now:
1. Declare a niche--I'm a religion major, with possible double or triple with philosophy and history. No comm, journalism, or English on this end.
2. Suffer the indignity of exile--I'm blogging biweekly for interfaith events at UCLA--it's miles from the Daily Bruin, and light years from the likes of Cathleen Falsani, Ari Goldman, or even my church's in-house world magazine, the Adventist Review. But if the Bruin will take me, I'll repeat the cycle until I DO end up with a major religious publication. If not, I'll throw a line somewhere else--a blog, maybe, freelancing for the big guns.
3. Bite down, bite hard, and hold on. Something will eventually give, somewhere. It may not be New York, but there's no shame in working in Chicago, LA, SF, Boston...you get the picture.
I won't go so far as to say you're entitled, nor will I use the language I see in the comment above mine, but I do think you're aiming wrong. Not too high or too low. Just...incorrectly.
Hope things work out, though!
- The Editorialiste said...
Thanks for your heartfelt comment. To answer:
1) I do have a specialty, and that's new media. If you mean as a beat, then no -- I've covered stories of all flavors before. While I understand the "branding" angle to your suggestion, I think that kind of versatility is an asset at the entry level.
2) I must say that "exile" isn't insufferable if one can pay one's monthly bills. That's primarily the problem!
As a side note -- Ari Goldman is a former professor of mine, for you guessed it, religion reporting. Good luck on your quest -- it's a small club to break into.
Thanks for your comments and best wishes,
The Ed.
- Anonymous said...
Become a minority
- Anonymous said...
Bookmarked this. Thank you for sharing. Definitely benefit my time.
- Anonymous said...
This is a great article as they all are. I bring into the world been wondering about this looking for some measure now. Its great to get this info. You are objective and balanced.
- Anonymous said...
You are doing all the right things, getting the extra sheepskin, battling for national attention, blogging about your problems.


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