Tag Archives: media

Where do the “Cool Jobs” live?

So, lately I have been watching/participating in a rather hysterical internet fight between Ask a Manager and Rebecca from Modite.com

Essentially, Rebecca gave some, what I consider to be, awful advice about burning bridges, and championing the “new rules” and that “cool jobs” won’t check references. But if you want to work, in like, insurance  – go right ahead and be old school.

What?

I read a lot of websites that seem to focus on Generation Y and Millenials (I think I may fall into this demographic) and am convinced that for a lot of people, they are just posting to be inflammatory and link-baiting, but I think a large majority of them believe their own hype. But, that’s for another day. My issue is this idea that the only “cool, change the world” jobs are in internet start-ups with questionable profitability plans.  And what is actually changing in this New World Order? Can’t I change the world if I work in an insurance firm? Or in a mid-sized internet company? What if I am in charge of corporate responsibility at Bear Stearns, or Wal-Mart?And what are these life-changing things that are happening as a result of these new rules. We got Obama elected, and really utilized social media. Okay. Now what? I feel as if I see a lot of passion, but no clear goal. What about the world are we trying to change?

Are these conversations about jobs and career advice only for those who want to work in PR/Marketing or Community Building? Is this “new way of thinking” non-applicable for those who work in some other, perhaps lame field? Or for large, established companies?

Is this obsession with “cool jobs” really just a desire for large salaries given for skills that consist mainly of using the internet and technology effectively? Can you have a “cool job” and work for a big company?

Over The Top Rope

I love pro-wrestling. I love the pageantry, I love the soap-opera angles, I love the gorgeous men in sparkly underwear and the strong, athletic women. I love the shoots and works, the locker room gossip and when a character I love gets a big push.  I love the WWE (which will always be the WWF in my heart), although I abhor the business practices and ethics of Vince McMahon. I hate the schedule that wrestlers have to maintain in order to stay on top, and how completely and totally they have to bend to McMahon’s will. There really is no other show in town.

Unfortunately, we have seen a lot of wrestler deaths lately – today marks the death of Andrew “Test” Martin.  In response to the recent rash of deaths, the WWE has instituted a new wellness policy, but I am not sure it’s enough. Test was released from the WWE , awhile ago, suposedly because he failed wellness checks – so the WWE can claim it’s hands are clean on this one, except I am not sure I agree.

Celebrities often have problems with drugs – the pressure, the influences, the fishbowl world. I am pretty sure Test could walk down the street without being mobbed, but the pressure to maintain his physique must have been pretty intense. You have that, coupled with shaky job security, tied to the whims and ideas of a megalomaniac , and it sets the scene for disaster. On top of all that? You have a grueling schedule. Wrestlers almost never get a day off – between taped shows, house shows and traveling (and finding a gym at each location.) Because wrestlers are independent contractors – they provide their own transportation. Not really glamorous stuff – and certainly shows passion and dedication. But, there is one more component – the pain.  I don’t want to get into the “Wrestling is fake!!!” fight (because it’s old and annoying) but even the haters can agree – pro-wrestling takes athleticism.  Sure, not all of the punches land, and I don’t believe Edge really fought his way back from hell – but those flips, running the ropes and crashing through tables (even if they have been pre cut) are very, very real. And if you are hurt – you just keep going. What are you going to do? Take a few days off to stretch, when you are in the middle of the storyline that could eventually see a strap around your waist?

So – constant pain + travel + pressure = recipe for disaster.

The StrapI wish I had the conviction to quit the WWE. How they treat their superstars goes against a lot of what I believe in terms of corporate values and ethics.  And the misogyny of the Women’s Division is a joke.  And yet I don’t stop. And I fear my love of the “sport” is contributing to the death of it’s stars.

Darwin and Fairy Doors

Today is Darwin’s 200th Birthday. Pretty cool. I attended a phone conference celebrating his birthday (and joined the facebook group) that is hosted by Phil Terry of Creative Good.  A friend sent me this Gallup Poll - It’s pretty depressing. But, I do think that framing it as “do you believe?” is already part of the problem. Evolution isn’t something to believe in, like a deity or a religion. I also think a lot of people don’t “believe” in Evolution because they don’t understand it. They either think its this Lemarckian concept, or they think that we decended from orangutans holding the atheist’s nightmare – a banana. In any case, it drives me crazy.

And, in case you are riled up about Creationism or mystical forces that started “macro-evolution” – I present to you the awesome catalog ever. The Pyramid Collection. I always thought this was a guilty pleasure of mine – found during my gothy teenage days.

Jezebel.com recently wrote about it for their “Day In Catalogs” feature and I am spreading the love. (I not-so-secretly love the Fairy Doors.) I love the “Goddess Plus Sizing” and the random “personal massagers” and the flowy dresses and rings that can conceal poison. And the horrible plaques about Dragons and Magick within. I highly recommend it – just don’t forget to remove yourself from the mailing list if you decide owning a small, crystal dragon collection seems like a good idea.

She’s my best friend…

Okay, time for some fast-breaking (3 days old), sensationalist journalism.

Veronica Mars Movie!

This is ridiculous. It’s not a done deal, it’s not even like, off the ground. But just the very idea is enough to make me giddy. I’ve been burned before by movies of my favorite TV shows (I’m looking at you, Serenity!) but really? Squeee!

And just in case you have never seen VM and are skeptical about watching TV shows about teenage private investigators, perhaps a listing of my favorite TV shows (random order) will help you get a sense of my taste. Or perhaps you will be horrified – but hey, it’s a blog and it’s the beginning of the year. I think lists are probably required at this point.

  • Firefly
  • Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
  • Angel
  • (early) X-Files
  • Veronica Mars
  • Battlestar Galactica
  • Big Love
  • 30 Rock
  • Xena and Hercules
  • House and the Law & Orders get a special nod.

The Veronica Mars soundtrack is awesome (and I never notice stuff like that) but the title of the post is my somewhat pathetic version of the awesome theme song. I am totally tune-deaf and it’s now just my accepted version.

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