I just saw this and had to share it with my fellow economists courtesy fosslien.com. Hope you enjoy a good laugh!
Another good one
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Over the years, I have become an avid user of Yelp. Why you ask? Because Yelp gives me a snapshot of the restaurants, events or services through the eyes of consumers. If I’m in a new city, country or even my hometown Ballard, Yelp is my go to resource for finding the best of the best and almost guarantees a memorable experience.
After having a horrifying experience last weekend at a hotel in Hilo, Hawai’i that my aunt had booked (she should have used Yelp), I introduced her to the site. She now says she will always Yelp prior to making any hotel reservations in the future. Sorry Naniloa Resort, you have been yelped and it doesn’t look good.
Top 5 Reasons to Yelp
- Transparency- Allows recent customers to share their experience, good or bad with others and hold merchants accountable for their service and products. The availability of information allows consumers to make informed decisions and seek out highly rated merchants. Transparency creates an incentive for below average merchants to improve their products and services (which is my next reason).
- Better Products/Services- Increased transparency leads to higher quality products and services. Companies don’t want to establish a bad reputation that the entire world can see.
- Meet new people- Yelping is social. Read other reviews, become a fan of fellow yelpers and get to know people who share the same tastes. Get out of your house and into the world! You are bound to meet interesting and passionate people.
- Tell your story- Writing reviews on Yelp and becoming an elite member allows users to create almost a diary or timeline of the restaurants, hotels and cities they have traveled too. Give it a try, sign up on Yelp and watch your reviews grow. Take a look back on your review history and let the memories roll.
- Explore new neighborhoods, cities and let your adventurista side out- Yelp allows users to explore new places. From speakeasy bars to the best Tom Yum a city can offer, the site lets people expand their horizons, create new experiences and lasting memories.
So what are you waiting for?
Get Yelping!
Aloha,
My recent trip to the Big Island of Hawai’i exposed me to island culture, food and hawaiian cooking. During my trip I enjoyed every meal with my aunt and uncle and discovered new culinary techniques that I must share! On the second to last night we enjoyed Kumu, purple potato salad, barbecued pork and bok choy while watching the blazing sunset near Kohala Ranch. This was my first time trying Kumu and definitely not my last. I admit, I was skeptical when my uncle said he was cooking a whole fish in the microwave, but I was very wrong. The fish came out tender, moist and delicious in a matter of minutes. Thanks Uncle Stewart and Aunt Sue for your wonderful meals and inviting us into your beautiful home!
Mahalo
How to Cook A Whole Fish: Microwave Style
Ingredients:
- Whole Kumu (goat fish scaled, gutted and gills removed or find a good fishmonger)
- Minced garlic
- Bok Choy
- 4 Tbsp Shoyu (soy sauce)
- Handful minced green onions
- Cilantro
- Tbsp Brown Sugar
- Sliced ginger
- 3 Tbsp Peanut Oil
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 water
Cooking Time: 3 minutes per lb
Directions:
Place fish on serving plate and stuff ginger into the cavity of the fish. Salt the fish and pour 1/4 cup water onto the serving tray underneath the fish. Place plastic wrap over plate and microwave 3 minutes per pound (Our fish was 5 pounds= 15 minutes microwave time). Mix shoyu with brown sugar in a small bowl. Heat peanut oil over medium-high heat in saucepan. Sautee garlic in a frying pan and add Bok Choy until wilted. Pour shoyu mix over Bok Choy in frying pan. Remove fish from microwave and check if done with a fork (fish should easily flake if done). Sprinkle cilantro and green onions over fish. Place bok choy around the fish on the serving plate and drizzle entire fish lightly with hot peanut oil (Allowing the veggies to fully cook).
Ohoiho!
Kohala Sunset
P.S. If you are concerned about the safety of microwaving plastic wrap, please read the disclosure below courtesy PlasticsInfo.org:
Q: Is it okay to use plastic wrap with high-fat foods in the microwave?
A: Yes, it is okay to use plastic wrap with high-fat foods in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Plastic wrap is not heated by microwave energy, but it can be heated by contact with hot foods. Normally, foods in a microwave oven do not become hot enough to bring the wrap to its melting point. However, because certain foods with high fat content (such as butter) can become very hot in a microwave oven, most manufacturers recommend leaving an inch of air space between the food and the wrap or turning back a corner for ventilation. The instructions on various plastic wraps may vary, so again, it’s always a good idea to check the label.
Yesterday was one of those days where nothing seems to go smoothly. It was getting late and I needed to make something quick from the ingredients already in my cabinet. Since it’s near the end of the week, my fridge was on the empty side and I wanted to throw together a delicious, yet simple meal for Thursday night. This recipe requires almost no planning and delivers an effortless and healthy meal from ingredients already hiding in your kitchen. Next time I will add grilled chicken breast and a bottle of vino. This dish is worth celebrating!
What You Will Need:
-
Gluten Free Pasta (I used Fusilli but any type will do)
-
Sun Dried Tomatoes (half jar)
-
Sunflower seeds (1/4 cup)
-
Artichokes (canned)
-
Capers (1/4 cup or less)
-
Fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano (as much as your heart desires)
Use any amount of ingredients you like, whether you are cooking for one, two or an entire group. Boil lightly salted water, add pasta and cook for 7-10 minutes (depending on type of pasta). Slice artichokes into quarters. Once pasta is al dente, strain pasta and mix additional ingredients in a large bowl. Sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano and that’s it!
Buon Appetito!
The berry monster smoothie is a breakfast staple for me. It’s loaded with protein and antioxidants, but low on sugar and calories. Perfect to drink pre workout for a boost of energy or enjoy for breakfast or lunch. I’m sure some of you are wondering how can a smoothie can substitute an entire meal, but this little monster will keep you full all morning long and give your metabolism a jump start!
Key Ingredients:
Handful of frozen blackberries, raspberries and blueberries
Banana (optional)
6 oz Organic Almond Milk
Protein powder (Aria has 14g of protein per serving and only 80 calories)
Heaping handful of spinach
And Enjoy!!!
Ingredients:
2 organic chicken breasts or package of thighs
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves
Fresh lime wedges
1 large bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon red pepper and garlic or jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
8 leaves of Bibb lettuce
Directions:
Heat skillet over medium heat. Add sesame oil and sauté garlic. Add chicken to the skillet. Mix ginger, brown sugar, lime juice, hot peppers and fish sauce together and pour over cooking chicken. Add sliced bell pepper to chicken in the skillet (Add extra veggies if you prefer) Transfer cooked chicken and vegetables to a bowl. Place spoonfuls of chicken into a pieces of bibb lettuce and fold to eat. Squeeze fresh lime wedges over lettuce wraps for a boost of flavor.
Enjoy!
Motivation to try and try again. We all might have good taste, but the key is to create a large body of work.
The Take Away: Do Work. Eventually you will get there. Your quality of work will pass your taste test.
Getting your first job out of college is extremely difficult and frustrating. But, its up to you to differentiate yourself from other candidates and stand out in a crowd of hungry job seekers.
Being a recent-college graduate, I have discovered there is a new-graduate paradox.
No employer will hire you without experience, but you can’t get experience without getting hired. Well that’s just wonderful since I myself am a recent college graduate and have worked during college in retail, but have yet to get a “real” full-time job relevant to my economics degree.
During my job search, I have discovered that entry-level doesn’t mean having a college degree and little experience.
Entry level really means at least 1 to 2 years prior relevant work experience when you read the whole description. How many college graduates really have at least 1 year relevant work experience to the jobs they seek out?
Entry-level jobs no longer mean what they used to. Employers are taking advantage of the current economic downturn and adding new requirements (additional experience) to entry-level jobs. Two years ago, it seemed that there was a high demand for entry-level workers right out of college. There was a huge market for recent graduates. Employers hired many full-time employees straight out of college. Two years ago the economy was improving and unemployment was low. But then the housing bubble burst, the financial markets began to fail and for those of us graduating in 2009 into the present got screwed over.
Reasons for the New-Graduate Paradox:
- High unemployment. The combination of layoffs, financial market crashes and foreclosures flood the job market with experienced workers that are unemployed or looking for a higher paying job. Recent graduates have little chance of getting hired when the market is full with workers who have racked up many years of experience. Basically there is less demand for young unexperienced workers in today’s job market.
- Employers think experts get the job done. Employers don’t want to “take a chance” on new and creative minds.
Solutions:
- Employers should take advantage of unexperienced workers. New-graduates are willing to work longer hours for less money than experienced workers. Employees that have many years of experience racked up also have bills to pay, mortgages, kids and additional responsibilities that demand higher incomes. Recent-graduates have student loans, but little variable costs. Employers should hire recent graduates because they are enthusiastic about starting their career, will bring new insights to the job and will accept less in compensation.
- Get an internship. Even though internships typically don’t typically last longer than 6 months, it will give you some great on-the-job experience and show that you are worth the money. Be indispensable and turn your internship into a full-time paid position. If you show your ambition, hard work ethic and creative ideas during your internship, chances are they won’t let you go.
- Volunteer. You won’t get paid, but you will get some hands on experience and add skills to your resume. Plus, your ambition and dedication to work for free shows you are a self-starter and will be a valuable employee.
- Blog or make your own website. Show off your writing skills and get blogging. Sharing your ideas and creating a discussion is a great way to use the skills you learned in college. Don’t let all those years in school go to waste. Keep up your professional writing skills and blog in your spare time. If you are more of a technical person, make your own website to include in your portfolio. Don’t know what type of website to design? Advertise your skills on Twitter or social networking sites and start a contest to design a free website for some very lucky person and build your portfolio.
- Have a business degree? Make a mock business plan. After graduation you can either use what you learned during all those years or lose it. My advice: use your writing, analytical and creative skills to draft a business plan for an existing business or one you create yourself. This is a great way to show your ambition and take action. Employers will love your ambition and self-motivation. Who knows? Maybe showing them who you are and what you are capable of will get you a job. It could happen, so go for it!
My Journey:
Since there’s this new-graduate paradox, I am currently on the job search looking for the right opportunity to come my way. So I’m taking my own advice. I started a blog. I volunteer as a data ninja with People for Puget Sound (environmental non-profit) and I’m applying for internships to gain hands-on experience. I’m also in brainstorming ideas for my business plan. Wish me luck!
Hope this post helped and inspired those recent college and unemployed graduates out there.
What’s your story? How did you land your first job? Any other advice for recent college grads to gain experience? Comments and discussion are always welcome!
For many years we have all heard about the threat of peak oil, energy security, climate change and pollution.
These global problems are just symptoms of a larger, overshadowing problem and all the symptoms can be solved with one solution.
The Overshadowing Problem: Materialism and Conspicuous Consumption in America
We have become obsessed with lavish spending on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying wealth and status. But material things do not bring anyone happiness in the long run. We should rediscover that happiness doesn’t come from what you own, but what you do.
The Solution: Minimalism
Not to the extreme meaning of the word, just living within your means. Create a lifestyle that brings you happiness and purpose. Maintain a life where satisfaction and success are measured by the things you do, not what you own. Between the combination of credit cards, conspicuous consumption and the accessibility of home loans, we have created the idea that happiness and success come from material things. But the truth is, it doesn’t.
Think about all the things we buy that give us instant satisfaction, but these things do not contribute to our happiness in the long run.
Former president Jimmy Carter once said during his ‘Crisis of Confidence’ speech in 1979, “Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns.”
Effects of Minimalism:
- Energy and Resource Conservation. If we only demand and buy goods that improve our standard of living and quality of life, less energy and resources will be used in the production process. If we bought what we needed and not what we wanted, energy would be conserved. This would have a huge impact on the energy crisis, energy security and climate change. Resource conservation can directly reduce deforestation and depletion of natural resources.
- Address Climate Change. With less energy and resources used in the production of goods, carbon emissions will decrease.
- Switch from Manufacturing to Services. Some might suggest that with less manufacturing, jobs will be lost. I propose that jobs in manufacturing switch to the service and technology industries. Yes, people in manufacturing will loose their jobs, but training programs and placement should be provided in the switch to technology and service industries. Economists call this restructuring of the economy creative destruction. Restructuring of the economy will occur and the economy will be stronger and robust in the long run. Careers will be created to solve today’s problems and discover innovative solutions. These workers will be extremely valuable and will provide a new wave of indispensable workers in America.
- Waste Reduction. If we consume what we need instead of what we want, fewer goods will be produced and ultimately less waste will be produced. We can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, water bodies and the environment.
Why should you care?
Be part of the solution, not the problem. Think about your lifestyle and what makes you happy.
Is it material things or spending time with family and helping others?
What are you contributing to your neighborhood, city, nation and world?
My Advice:
- Do what makes you happy. Volunteer, cook with your family, write a book, start a blog.
- Consume what you need, not what you want. Buy things that improve the quality of your life, not just instant satisfaction from material things.
- Have a purpose. Create a life that helps others, the environment and reap the benefits of happiness and satisfaction throughout your life.
Many of us know eating fresh fruits, vegetables and staying away from processed fatty foods are part of a healthy lifestyle. So why do Americans maintain unhealthy eating habits?
People make choices based on their preferences and typically select the choice that derives the highest amount of satisfaction. Economists call this satisfaction utility. If we assume all people are rational, then people will select the choice that maximizes utility. When it comes to food, its hard to give up the cheeseburger for a healthy alternative.
Let’s face it. Fatty, salty and sugar filled foods just taste better. Our taste buds have developed over many decades to crave the fat, salt and sugar in our diet. Since we enjoyed it so much and it gave us instant satisfaction, unhealthy yet tasty food became the center of our diets.
Fast food is well…fast and easy. Today Americans work longer hours and have little time to prepare and cook food. So the simple solution is to eat processed and packaged food. For many of us, time is money. We sacrifice maintaining healthy diets for quick and easy meals. Sometimes these meals come in the form of a drive-up window or a frozen pizza.
Low quality processed food is cheaper. Buying poor quality processed food costs less money than buying fresh produce. Less time is spent on food preparation and cooking.
With these reasons, its no surprise why Americans have unhealthy eating habits.
But eating processed and unhealthy foods have huge costs. There is a tradeoff between eating unhealthy foods and adverse health effects that range from diabetes to cancer.
Here are the Stats:
According to a new study, mortality from obesity eventually “may result in a decline in future life expectancy.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 18 % of teenagers are overweight.
Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults.
The percentages jump significantly higher for adults.
According to the CDC, 67 % of adults are overweight or obese.
Ultimately, the food choices we make every day are leading to adverse health effects and eventually decreasing life expectancy. For the first time, parents may have higher life expectancies than their children if the obesity trend continues.
These stats signify the immediate need for a food revolution to not only eat healthy foods but to save lives.
Jamie Oliver has started the food revolution to educate and Americans about food and cooking. The first step in the food revolution is to serve healthy and unprocessed foods at all schools in America.
Sign the petition to keep processed foods out of America’s schools.
Food Revolution Solutions:
Where does your food come from? Many people, including myself cannot always answer this question. Knowing where our food comes from is both informational and will lead to healthier eating habits. People are usually afraid of things, ideas and foods that are unfamiliar. If Americans grew some of their own produce or at least knew where it came from and how it was produced, we would most likely eat better quality food and fresh produce.
If we were more connected with our food, we would appreciate the process and environmental systems that are involved with food production. We would have a greater appreciation for the food we eat and the environment.
The potential positive side effects of the food revolution might possibly be renewed environmentalism in America.
Become a chef. Cooking your own meals is healthy for your whole family and usually saves money in the long run. Many processed and prepared meals at the grocery store cost a lot more than making it at home. For example, ever seen the frozen pasta dishes in the freezer isle. You can make the same pasta and other dishes at home for a fraction of the cost, calories and fat. Cooking Light Magazine shares recipes that feed 4 for under 10$.
According to Jamie Oliver, “Switching from processed to fresh food will not only make you feel better but it will add years to your life.”
For those of you reading this, I urge you to take a second look at the food you eat. Next time at the grocery store take the time to choose unprocessed and healthy foods. Make your first stop the produce section. Read ingredient labels.
Rediscover food culture. Many Americans do not associate dinner and food with spending time with loved ones. We are a country of immigrants and behind every family is a history of food culture. If we value family time then preparing, cooking and sharing dinner with family could rediscover our unique food culture.
This weekend take the time to cook your own meals and eat them at the table with your family. Don’t know what to cook? Cooking Light has 20 easy recipes that take 20 minutes or less to make. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!
