It is very well known that English majors get a lot of flack. So much so, that many English majors have lost all pride in their academic choice and are pretty defensive about it. From one writer to another, that kind of ‘tude will only limit you.

So to lift your spirits and remind you how great it is to be an English major; here are some great jobs you can have with an English degrees and famous friends who all have found great success with theirs! Read More »

The names Laura Ling and Euna Lee are on everyone’s tongue as the news of their 12-year sentence of hard labor breaks.  In case you don’t know the entire story, the two women, both journalists, were arrested on the border of China and North Korea as they reported on the flight of North Korean refugees into China.  Today, they were given a 12 year sentence in a North Korean labor camp, the maximum sentence for the “crime” (i.e. illegal entry and hostility toward Korean people) they had committed. Since they were tried at the highest court, there is no appeal.  There is also no early release due to overcrowding or good behavior.

Even worse, all reports indicate that any time served in a North Korean labor camp is tantamount to a death sentence.

These two women are shining examples of what our generation strives to be – hard-working, independent, intelligent individuals who are passionate about the human condition.  We should not only keep these women in our thoughts, but also look to their bravery as an example of how to live our lives.  This can only underline the power and the preciousness of our right to free speech and fair trial (and all our rights we are free to enjoy in the United States).

All my best wishes go to these ladies.  Let’s hope someone with more power than I have can pull through and get them out of there.

Let’s talk about Twitter: To have a Twitter, or not to have one? To use it, or not to use it? And most importantly, how do you use a Twitter?

It seems like everyone’s all atwitter about, well, Twitter these days.  Started in 2006, Twitter is a “micro-blogging” service where users post status updates (called Tweets) that are limited to 140 characters, which answer the question, “What are you doing?” You can also add friends on Twitter by “following” their feeds.

But while you may be thinking, “only status updates? Just 140 characters? Why would people care what I’m doing 400 times a day? I already have a Facebook, thanks,” don’t dismiss Twitter just yet.  As a matter of fact, its beauty is in its simplicity.

People use Twitter for everything from updating their friends about their whereabouts (“at the airport- Spring Break Cancun here I come!”) to sharing breaking news and reactions to important events.  It’s actually become quite a phenomenon among journalists and media-types. Many will post links to fresh news stories or recent articles they’ve written. It’s easy because you can update Twitter from your cell phone (via text message) or instant messanger, so you can post when you’re on the go. Read More »