Worst Food Awards for 2010

IHOP's Big Country Breakfast

David Zinczenko produces the “Eat This, Not That” books which show readers what foods are particularly unhealthy and what satisfying alternatives to each dish might look like.  He has published the annual list of “Worst Foods” for 2010.  Some of the big winners are dishes from P.F. Chang’s, Pizzeria Uno, Cheesecake Factory and IHOP.  I was shocked not to see my favorite culinary abomination – KFC’s Double Down – make the list.  But with the holidays fully upon us and lots of dining out for holiday parties, I thought our readers might arm themselves with this knowledge before they hit the restaurants.  Enjoy!

5 Tips for Avoiding the Common Cold

Well, cold and flu season is upon us again and no one hates being sick more than I do.  So I have been looking for some ideas on how to minimize the probability of catching a cold this season and I came across this. An article by dietician and nutitionist Susan Dopart offers 5 tips for avoiding the sickness this time of year.  Click here to read the useful suggestions she offers.

The Small Talker, The Box Checker & The Unprepared

Doug White of renowned staffing firm, Robert Half International says to be prepared for the different personalities of hiring managers. In terms that remind this blogger of Seinfeld episodes (remember the “Low-Talker” or the “Re-Gifter”?) he outlines three typical HR managers’ personality types and provides information on how to prepare yourself should you run into one of them in your next job interview. Click here to learn how to address “The Small Talker”, “The Box Checker” and the “Ill-Prepared” varieties of hiring manager.

The Power of the Sun

There is a new hotel in Vegas whose curved, reflective glass facade is focusing sunlight into a “death ray” that beams down onto a certain area on the hotel’s pool deck and giving sunbathers serious burns. Link to that story here.  Well if you thought that was cool (no pun intended) watch the video below where scientists have focused two square meters of sunlight in such a way that it can melt ROCK!  Explain to me why we are not using this simple, clean technology to fire steam turbines for emissions-free electricity?

Encore Careers

In an article by Chris Kyle for Yahoo! Education, medical assistant and medical manager are two of the five top “encore” careers.  That is, fields for people wishing to retrain and re-enter the workforce, perhaps after losing a job in an industry hard hit by the recession.  The relative safety and immunity from economic downturn enjoyed by the medical field played a large part in vaulting these two jobs to the top of this particular list.  Click here to read all the details!

50 Worst Resumé Clichés

Resume ClichesUS News and World Report published the 50 most overused phrases job seekers include in their resumés.  Trying to avoid them all seems like a difficult challenge.  However, if you succeed in avoiding them all, your resumé will be undeniably different and that is exactly what catches the eye of the recruiter!  Make the jump to see the full list: Continue reading…

Meteor Shower Tonight

If you live in the Northeast (as many Allen School students and faculty do) and if you wake up early to start your day, you may be treated to an amazing sight.  The next few pre-dawn mornings will host the annual Leonid Meteor Shower.  Every November, the Earth passes through the tale of comet, Tempel-Tuttle.  The bits of frozen debris in the comet’s tail enter into the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up forming streaks of fire across the sky.  The shooting stars, as many as 20 per hour, will be most visible Thursday and Friday AM between 3AM and dawn.  So if you’re up early to make the coffee, and if you’re far enough away from city lights, have a look up at the dark, pre-dawn skies for an awesome celestial show.  For more about the Leonid Meteor Shower, click here for Wired magazine’s article on the subject.

Top 20 Industries Where Jobs Are Returning

Well, no one here will likely be surprised, but according to US News & World Report the healthcare field is near the top of the list of industries where jobs are returning fastest.  According to their article linked here: “Healthcare. There was barely a recession in healthcare–employment has been rising consistently in almost every specialty. This is one of the few fields in which there are more jobs today than before the recession began. A lot more, in fact. Jobs gained in 2010: 204,000 Change since 2007: 738,000 jobs gained Mining, warehousing and oil extraction also made the list.  But aren’t you glad to be in healthcare rather than digging, lifting or drilling?

Is Fast Food “Less Delicious” than Slow Cooked Food?

Science has been looking into the causes of obesity in the US population.  One interesting idea is that society has grown less interested in preparing its own food.  As both sexes in the modern world typically work out of the home, food technology has improved to shorten the time it takes to prepare meals.  As a result, the meals themselves are less satisfying and Americans try to regain the satisfaction by consuming more.  When we take our time to prepare a meal from scratch, our brains perceive it as “more delicious”.  Maybe they’ve never tasted my wife’s cooking!  (Just kidding honey!)  These are interesting ideas, but really, is there any evidence to support these conclusions?  Yes!  The article linked here appeared in Wired magazine and it discusses some of the experiments scientists performed to try and get to the bottom of this question.  You’ll be surprised to learn what they’ve found.  Read it and form your own conclusion.