Social Media is the future

Hey all!

So after a speech I made in class about the importance of social media and personal branding, I thought I would post the Wall Street Journal article of must-have job skills for 2013. Personal branding is a great project to work on over winter break and the best part about social media? It's fun AND free :)

Here are three simple steps to improve your social media skills:

1. Gain followers on Twitter.  Start making that brand for yourself. Employers will be impressed by your ability to gather followers because it shows you have drive, initiative and have something to say that people want to hear. The easiest way to start doing this? Ask people to add you. Even if it’s a shameless plug on your blog: @beckymaehayes :)
2. Create a LinkedIn profile. And update it regularly! Every second two members join linkedin. This is your competition. Add connections. Ask former employees to write you reviews. These are the things that will get you noticed.
3. Keep blogging! Or if you haven't started yet, create a blog. Show employers that you can write effectively, your engaged in the social media world and your eager to teach something new to loyal followers.

Social media is the future. It is changing the way we look at the world. Most of us use social media, but what I am here today to tell you, is not only use it but utilize it. Good luck and enjoy creating your personal brand!

Current Event:Transgenics

Welcome to the wonderful world of Transgenics!  A fantastic place with a wild menagerie of genetically modified organisms and genetically engineered foods. A magical place where fish glow green and corn can kill insects with bacterial toxins! Its like we are living in the future!  Transgenics is the process of taking genes from one species and placing them into the DNA of another species.  This process creates a genetically modified organism (GMO).  Imagine all of the possibilities?  Plants can become resistant to pests, drought, and herbicides.  We could maximize produce production and solve world hunger!  We could make pigs fly and give humans gills! But with great power comes great responsibility, so lets get serious.  Transgenics has become a controversial issue.

Unfortunately, the agricultural industry has turned very corporate and is now dominated by major companies like Monsanto, who generate GM seeds for farms; Seeds that are resistant to herbicides and allow farmers to blast chemicals all over their fields. Herbicides are now found in 60 to 100 percent of the air samples and rain samples in the Midwest. Think about how excess roundup can sink into the soil and run off into the water supplies of major cities or other ecosystems that are not resistant to herbicides. It is slowly killing our earth.  Maybe we won’t see the affects of the GM food in our lifetime, but what are the long-term ramifications of ingesting GMO’s? To read more about the dangers of GMO check out this interview with Jeffery Smith, author of seed of deception.  Click here.

Corn and soybeans in particular are popular target for genetic modification. About 90 percent of U.S. production of these foods comes from GE crops.  So much of the food in our diet contains soy or corn. Many of our foods like ketchup, salad dressing, soda, cookies and chips all contain high fructose corn syrup.  And what about all of that meat, dairy and eggs you are eating?  GE animals are not yet approved for human consumption, but the animals are fed GM corn or soymeal.  What are the secondary toxic affects on humans?  Or are there affects at all?

The stance on transgenics is not one sided.  There are many people who think the future of agriculture is in GMO’s.  With rising populations it is thought that we cannot possibly feed everyone with modern farming techniques.  Biotechnology is a tool for greater seed variety and faster and cheaper production of crops.  Scientifically it is difficult to prove the harm of ingesting a GMO.  If you feed a mouse enough of anything it is going to get cancer and die.   You can read more about these opinions in a Business Day article here.

Over the summer the state of Vermont considered a bill that would have made it mandatory for genetically modified foods to be labeled.   Even though the Bill had great support from the public it failed to pass.  Other states like California and Florida have also tried to pass such Bills.  Click here to read an article about Florida's efforts for GMO labeling.  Don’t we have a right to know what is in our food and where it came from?  This brings us to the wonderful green city of Burlington where grass-fed beef is offered, organic vegetarian options are bountiful, and many supermarket’s offer co-ops for selling healthy products in bulk to low-income residents.  The Intervale Community Farm provides the greater Burlington community with an affordable source of high-quality, organic produce. Magnolias, the Farmhouse and Bite Me are just a few of the many restaurants offering local organic dishes. So be proud that you go to school in Vermont and enjoy all  of the green restaurants downtown!!!

As a microbiology major I think transgenics is a fascinating ethical topic.  The compelxity of DNA is unpredictable.  Are we doing more harm than good?  What gives us the right to play god and speed up evolution?  What happens when GMO crops outcompete other plants and become an invasive species?  Is there animal suffering with animal transgenics?  I hope I was able to spark your interest and show how relevant genetic engineering can be in your life.   Transgenics encompasses far more than just GM food. We have been able to insert a spider silk gene into goats and harvest silk protein through goat’s milk.  GM animals are used as disease models, for researching effective treatments for diseases in humans. Transgenic cattle were created to carry particular human proteins that can be used to treat human emphysema.  Transgenic pigs with human histo-compatibility genes have been bred in the hope that their "humanized" organs will not be rejected by a patient's immune system.   Click here for a fun list of discovery channels list of top ten eccentric transgenic animals.  And click here for a terrific article published in Nature that describes the science behind transgenics.   

More places to find cheap fun

Broke and Ballin' isn't the only blog out there to help you find fun things to do on a budget. There are plenty of websites that can lead to some inexpensive adventures. Here are a few I would recommend you check out:

1. The Simple Dollar: This blog is run by a man who was once $20,000 in credit card debt, several consumer loans, a pile of student loans, two car loans, and no money in savings. He turned his whole life around and started The Simple Dollar after he got rid of all his loans. His posts are extremely helpful and his story inspiring.

2. WiseBread: The slogan for this blog is living large on a small budget. What could be better? The blog covers everything from personal finance to credit card debt. My favorite section is the Do-It-Yourself posts. I love all the craft ideas.

3. The Fun, Cheap, or Free Queen: Jordan Page is fantastic. Her ideas and posts are addicting. You get sucked into one after another, so be prepared to stay on her page for a while. Her suggestions on how to grocery shop are key. Everyone should take a look at her shopping budget video. I plan on taking many tips from her to save some of the change in my piggy bank.

Have you found any good blogs that offer money-saving tips to have a good time?

Theatre: Great performances that don't empty your pockets

I just read a wonderful post from the blog Art Collective about the wonders of live theater. The blogger, Penelope C., wrote about how theater is unpredictable  You can see the same show 5 times and the performance will always be different. Also, she wrote about the craft of theater, with it's stages, costumes, lights, and talent.

I have to say that I completely agree. I have been to quite a few live theater performances and they are always fantastic. What is great about Burlington is that there are tons of options for seeing a show and they are generally affordable for students!

1. The Flynn: The Flynn is great because it is a historic theater that has dance, musicals, plays and more ranging from Broadway talent to the local high school kids. And tickets aren't that much. You could see a wonderful performance of local talent for a little as $10. I saw Chicago last year by actors from UVM, St. Mike's, and Burlington High School. I was very impressed.  But even if you want to see the real deal, tickets for off-Broadway performances are literally HALF the price of tickets you would try to obtain in Boston. Same actors. Same show. Half the price. I love Burlington! Spring Awakening last year was a must-see.

2. Royall Tyler Theatre: You don't even have to leave campus for great entertainment  Student performers at the Royall Tyler Theatre are incredible. I always leave with a smile on my face after seeing the talent that comes from my peers. The sets, costumes and lights are always done by students as well. And the student tickets? Only $7!

So do yourself a favor and check out what is coming up next at the local theatres. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Top 10 Winter Activities

10.)  Movie Night

Well it’s that time of the season when people are going gaga over holiday family films that touch the spirit and warm the heart.  Rest assured Bailey Howe Library has what seems like an infinite collection of DVD’s, yes, even your favorite holiday films.  And guess what its for free! Go downstairs to the media services center and browse the large catalogue of movies.  I personally love a good cheesy sci-fi creature features during the holiday season. Nothing says Merry Christmas like Tremors 3 or Anaconda: Hunt for the blood orchid. 

9.) Burlington Winter Farmers Market

Fear not, for the summer’s farmers market that you grew to love is not gone for the season; it has only been relocated to Burlington’s memorial auditorium located on 250 Main Street.  Even in the cruel winter months, you can still feast upon fresh produce.  Take shelter from the snow and enjoy the lively local crowd as you shop for garlic, beets, radishes, spinach, cheese and other locally grown crafts and products.

8.)  Hot chocolate

Maybe its too cold for you out there and you would rather spend your winter hunkered  down enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate.  Remember those coupon books that student life was hocking at you the first couple weeks of school?  Within that book is a coupon for buy one Lake Champlain hot chocolate and get the second hot chocolate free.  Go with a buddy and enjoy a deliciously cheap cup of hot chocolate, while people watching on church street.

7.) Hockey Game

Bust out your green and gold and head to a UVM hockey game.  Show your school spirit and cheer on the catamounts!  Go Cats Go!  The enthusiastic crowd of cheering students makes it quite the exhilarating experience.   It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, bond with your friends and strengthen your school pride!  Even if you don’t know anything about hockey I encourage you to go to a game.  Just cheer when the crowd cheers and you are guaranteed a fun time.

6.)  Thrift Shops

With the temperature dropping you may have wished that you had some warmer apparel. Maybe something kind of hip without breaking the budget.  Maybe you want another way of boosting your hipster cred other than drinking black coffee out of a mason jar.  Lucky for you Burlington and the greater Burlington area has plenty of thrift shops. I’m talking shops on shops on shops. And there is plenty to do with that used clothing.  Buy matching suit shirts with your friends and then go to a restaurant for a fake business causal dinner.   Start planning next years Halloween costume.   Find the perfectly ugly sweater for that holiday party.

Here are a few of my favorite places to shop:

Downtown threads on 73 church street

Battery Street Jeans on 7 marble avenue off of pine street

Plato’s closet on 34 Taft corner shopping center in Williston.

Goodwill on 1080 Shelburne road

Plato’s Closet and Downtown threads will buy clothes off of you, which is a nice way of making some extra cash.

5.) Bikram yoga

Cold weather got you down?  Try bikram yoga!  The room is heated to about 95 degrees, which allows for deeper stretching and flexibility.   Sweat out all of the toxins from last Friday night.  Feel your stress melt away.   Heal and relieve tension from your body.  Its pretty amazing how much you sweat during the 90 minutes.  Student rates for bikram yoga sessions are $12 a class.  It might seem expensive, but bikram yoga is a really unique experience that greatly improves your health.  Give it a try!   Bikram Yoga studio is located on 257 pine street. Drop ins are welcome.  Arrive 15 minutes early if it is your first time so you can meet with an instructor and get an overview about the class.

4.) Ski and Snowboard

How would a winter’s activity list be complete without skiing and snowboarding?  It’s too late to buy your pass through the Ski and Snowboard club, but some mountains are still offering seasonal passes.  It may seem pricey, but these passes are bargains.  Take advantage of Burlington’s location and accessibility to mountains beyond mountains.   Don’t have skis?  You can rent them through the outing club for $20.  Even if you aren’t a skier or snowboarder, you could always tag along with your friends and spend a day at the lodge reading by a fire. 

3.) Sledding

Who says sledding is just for kids?  Grab a bunch of your friends and head to Burlington   Country Club for a midnight sledding adventure.   There is a surprisingly big hill right next to the club house.   Don’t have a sled?  Get creative and make one! Seriously, make a competition with your friends and see who can create the fastest makeshift sled.  Yoga mats, pizza boxes, cookie sheets, aluminum turkey roasting pans, trash bag…. whatever you can get your hands on.  If you want something a little more legitimate, try heading over to Sharp Tubing Park in Milton, where you can rent a sled for $12 or bring your own sled and take advantage of the nicely groomed slope.

2.) Carnival

Celebrate the winter season at Quebec Winter Carnival!  It’s a huge celebration for art, music, sports, culture and winter festivities. There are parades, ice sculptures, snow slides, outdoor dance parties, ice-skating….the list goes on and on.  The night parade was one of my favorite events.  The parade floats are over the top, the music is loud and energetic and the crowd goes crazy.  Winter Carnival is from February 1-17.   Mark your calendars and plan a weekend adventure with your friends.  Go hard and celebrate the joys of life at this winter extravaganza!

1.) Snowshoeing

You can rent a pair of snowshoes from the outing club for only $8!  For your first time keep it simple and easy.  Maybe stroll through centennial woods in search of beaver dams or trek the secret path to the wale tails located next to I-89.  Then work up a sweat by hiking your favorite mountain paths. There are some great trails at Bolton valley.  There is nothing like hearing the crunch of snow under your feet and seeing your frosty breath in the winter air as you slowly work your up a twisting snow covered path.

The Old North End's Best Kept Secret

Many would have you believe that very little good can come from living in the Old North End, and after living in the notorious section of Burlington for the past few years myself, I wouldn't be in a place to vehemently disagree. In a general sense it has lived up to its hype as the more "dicey" section of our familiarly friendly college city. Between my two North End residences, I have experienced three break in attempts (all of which were unsuccessful... thank you very much second amendment rights), and countless cases of vandalism to property and vehicles. It seems appropriate we are a mere couple of blocks away from the Burlington Police Station, the presence of their cars in my neighborhood a regularity most nights, I imagine they would waste a lot of money on gas if they had to travel much further.

Support of stereotypes aside, I have rather enjoyed my time in the lesser explored sector of Burlington. Having also lived in Winooski, as well as the "College Ghetto" off of Pearl in the hills section, and I prefer the peace and quiet of the O.N.E. over the constant bother of being surrounded by the rowdy college crowd that has infiltrated most neighborhoods in Burlington. The fact that my rent is half the price doesn't hurt either. The convenient yet secluded location has proven worth the occasional "B&E" and the few extra blocks added to the campus walk. Other than the environment alone, being in the O.N.E. has led to the exploration of an area that would have otherwise fell off of my radar here at UVM. Recently, with the company of a close friend, I stumbled upon something that would be wrong of me not to share with you.

ONE Pepper Grill

If you are anything like I was a week ago, that name means nothing to you. Sitting with its unassuming exterior at 260 North Street, the hand painted sign and plethora of neon beer advertisements in the windows seems nostalgic, a nod to the old pubs of the past. Admittedly, I had driven past this corner for over a year, barely noticing the restaurant that sat a block from my own home. Sitting at a corner that also housed the Africa Market, as well as a bodega style convenience store (complete with attached sports jersey shop) it just fit into its surroundings as another part of your stereotypical O.N.E. attractions.

I was thrilled when Garret contacted me last Wednesday boasting about a deal for $1.50 tacos he had stumbled upon while exploring one of the many Burlington guides that litter the city. I was, without a doubt, in for any adventure that ended in Tacos, so we set off to find the elusive host of this delicious hump day deal. As we followed google maps on our Iphones it quickly became clear where we were headed. Caught off guard but not quite discouraged, we forged ahead, past my house toward the corner I had traveled through a million times.

One we gritted our teeth and dove through the threshold, we found that our concern was without cause. The place was, in a word, awesome. We immediately took a seat in a comfortable booth with a good view of the street (it would be a sacrilege not to people watch in the O.N.E.) and inquired about the mystical taco special. We indeed had it right, $1.50 soft and hard tacos on Wednesdays, but there was a catch. There were other rules. What might those be you ask? You have to eat in, and you have to drink. I shit you not, drinking on taco night is a requirement. It isn't one of those "we're going to fuck you with expensive beer to make up for our food deal" kind of requirements either. Tall boys are $1.50 all day long.

I was immediately in love.

We sat in that booth late into the evening, eating delicious tacos until we couldn't possibly stomach one more (Garret bested me by 2 tacos in the end, 6-8). Needless to say, my mind had been changed. Little did we know when we ventured out on this trip that we were just scraping the tip of the iceberg. The deals in this place are consistently phenomenal. Mondays are $0.25 cent wing night, Thursdays are $3 microbrews, and Wednesdays leave you with free fries and a Coke. All of this is on top of their ludicrous every-day drink specials.

Their online menu is currently down while they design a new website, but take my word for it, a trip into the O.N.E. to experience the ONE Pepper Grill is a decision that you will not regret. What is life without taking a little risk once in a while?

Especially if that risk ends in delicious $1.50 tacos and thirst quenching $1.50 tall boys.

101 Things to do Before You Graduate

I’m sure many of you have seen the list of “101 things to do before you graduate UVM,” and I’m sure most of you stopped reading it after you hit the second bullet (make a friend from each campus).  Although many things on this list are fairly unexciting and lame, a lot of them are very “UVM-y” things to do. And, I’m here to tell you how to make completing the list a little bit more fun.  Turn it into a game (with or without alcohol). Gather a group of around 10 people, split yourselves into groups of 3-4, set a timer, and see how many things you can complete in an hour or two.  Running around Burlington with your friends and acting like idiots while trying to complete as many tasks as possible, is actually pretty fun. Although they aren’t all plausible to finish in one day, you can definitely get a chunk of them out of the way pretty quickly.

I’ve complete 65 of the 101 so far. How many have you done?