Mom Knows Best

Useful information intended for college students and graduates starting out on their own, from daily living tips, to recipes, freebies, budgeting and much, much more.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Limit the Information You Share Online: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Elsewhere

In today's world, where so many of us share limitless details online about our lives, identity theft is a very real concern.

These two articles might convince you to rethink some of the information you choose to share online:

How I'm going to use social networking to steal your identity! by Ron Shulkin (www.examiner.com)

and

The New York Times article, Typing In an E-Mail Address, and Giving Up Your Friends’ as Well, by Alina Tugend.

Take a moment to review your profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn and elsewhere, and consider scaling back your personal information. Personally, I opt for the bare minimum, which is probably still more than necessary. Google your name, your spouse's name and child's name; you may be surprised by what you find. The Internet is here to stay, and so are the many skilled hackers ready to grab what you are willing to provide. Spend some time tightening your privacy settings.









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Monday, June 15, 2009

It's the Perfect Time to Visit the National Parks (A Freebie!)

The U.S. Department of Interior is offering its own Stimulus Package with 3 free weekends at the National Parks: June 20 - 21, July 18 - 19, and August 15 - 16. The entrance fee, normally $3 to $25, will be waived at 147 sites. Many other National Parks regularly offer free admission.




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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Grab Your Vanity URL on Facebook ASAP

I may be preaching to the choir, since I imagine most if not of all college students and grads check Facebook nearly every day, but be sure to take a moment to grab your vanity URL today. For more information, read Facebook Launches Personal URLs (Finally) on switched.com, written by Leila Brillson. I claimed mine this morning.



Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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Monday, June 8, 2009

Heading Abroad Soon?

A recent article in The New York Times, Cum Laude in Evading Bandits, by Nicholas D. Kristof, offers some thoughtful travel advice for the novice or seasoned traveler. You will inevitably rethink your safety and security plan once you or a friend are victimized while traveling abroad. Take precautions in advance of finding yourself in a precarious situation. Make it a memorable trip for all the right reasons!









Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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Mom
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Thursday, June 4, 2009

What to Consider in the Ever-Changing Job Market

Last night my home was filled with a terrific group of recent college grads, so full of promise - - bright, engaging, motivated. (YES, that's you I'm talking about!) Representative of today's economy, most are unemployed. While they joke about it, I know it's a bittersweet and frustrating time for them. Yet I also recognize that, despite the unknowns, they will all find jobs. It is a matter of time, but with a lot of effort, significant networking, and with a fair amount of luck, they will jump start their careers.

It may feel like information overload, but the more we read about the current and ever-changing job market, the better equipped we will be to evaluate a career path. (Sorry, Sarah and Dan, I know I send you tons of articles about networking - - the supposed key to any good job search in today's world. I am of the mindset that if I pick up one new piece of information from an article, then it served my purpose.)

These articles from the Boston Globe cover an array of topics for college students and college grads alike:

The article, More industry snapshots, covers "a broad spectrum of opportunities in different careers":
"Accounting and finance
Building and design
Business and administration
Education
Engineering and science
Health and medicine
Hospitality and food service
Information Technology
Legal
Media"

Get the job you want in 2009, by Dave Sanford, focuses on strategies for job hunting in the current economy.

Now hiring, your Uncle Sam
, by Megan Woolhouse, reminds us that the federal government offers many opportunities, and with reasonable job security.

Shift Course
, by Brooke Lea Foster, suggests considering alternative career tracks.


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Mom
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Looking for a Recipe for Father's Day Brunch? Ever Tried Monkey Bread?

My son and his friends are home from college for the summer. As part of their regular get-togethers, they frequently prepare a meal. Last week it was breakfast at Emma's, followed by an adventure to a locally abandoned beach community. This recipe for Monkey Bread I (submitted by LuAnn Connolly on Allrecipes.com) is a popular favorite amongst Dan's friends and it was the highlight of last week's breakfast. (Thanks, Emily, for sharing the recipe!) I haven't yet made it, but the 5 star rating and countless positive comments sure look tempting. Be sure to read the comments for some useful tips!

If you prefer to make the recipe from scratch, omitting the packaged biscuits and instead baking with yeast, then consider trying Martha Stewart's recipe, Making Monkey Bread.

Thanks, Dan, Emily and Emma!

If you have a favorite recipe that you would be willing to share, add it to the comments box below. Thanks!


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Mom

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Tweeting Your Way to a Job

Have you caught on to Twitter yet? Its appeal eluded me initially, but now the more I use it, the more obvious the benefits become. At first it seemed like yet another technological social media time waster. The best way to understand it is to sign up and begin following people or news organizations. You will quickly learn how to effectively tweet in 140 characters or less.

Click on “Find People” and type in some keywords. For instance, type in “job”, “career”, “employment”, the name of a city or state you may be interested in moving to, your area of interest (architecture, urban planning, engineering, environment.....), you get the idea. And feel free to follow me at: MomBlogsBest

“How to” articles abound on the topic of Twitter. I am including a number of useful articles to get you started and increase your comfort level with Twitter. Come on, what do you have to lose? Give it a try. I’ll look forward to tweeting with you soon.

Click on the titles below:

Twitter 101: Tips and Tricks, by Terrence O'Brien, http://www.switched.com/

HOW TO: Find a Job on Twitter, by Sarah Evans, http://mashable.com/

Is Twitter the answer for your job search?, by Sanjay, and courtesy of RiseSmart.com, http://www.collegerecruiter.com/

[How To] Find a Job Through Twitter, the easy way!, by Miriam, http://delimitdesign.com/

Top 7 Twitter Tutorials on YouTube, by Ben Parr, http://mashable.com/

150+ Experts on Twitter ALL Job Seekers MUST Follow,by Chris Perry, http://www/careerrocketeer.com

Browse Twibes Twitter Groups, http://www.twibes.com/

Update Your Status, Update Your Job, newscast by Glen Zimmerman, Today in New York, NBC

By the way, you may be able to follow some of these sites on Twitter.





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Thanks,
Mom

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Monday, June 1, 2009

New Passport Law Takes Effect Today

In my November 13, 2008 posting, Planning To Go Abroad? Get That Passport!, I alerted you to an upcoming change in the law regarding passports. Crossing the border is no longer as easy as it used to be! This change takes effect today. Follow the link for more information about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Wishing you safe and happy travels!



Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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Thanks,
Mom

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