Volunteer ‘Cause Summer Jobs Are Scarce!

Via LA Times

Rough summer job search ahead for teens

Teenagers may want to consider just volunteering this summer; recent research suggests that the job market for the 16- to 19-year-old crowd could be the tightest since the 1950s.

For possibly the first time since 1954, fewer than 1 million teens will find summer jobs, the Chicago-based outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. said today.

As discretionary spending plunges, the retail and restaurant jobs that are typically filled by teens are being eliminated, according to Challenger. Even the number of internships and lifeguard positions is thinning as teens compete with a larger pool of more experienced applicants who are desperate for jobs and willing to take a pay cut.

As a result, out-of-work teens are less likely to spend their summers dropping money on clothes, music or entertainment, especially because their cash-strapped parents are now less inclined to give handouts.

Teen employment has been declining for several years already. Between May and July 2008, 1.2 million teens joined the workforce, compared with the 1.6 million who found jobs in the summer of 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As of March 31, 4.7 million teens were employed, compared with the 5.3 million working at that point last year. Granted, fewer teens have been looking for work in recent years. In 2006, 44% were searching or working, down from 52% in June 2000.

— Tiffany Hsu LA TIMES

Work for Diddy

 

Work for PDiddy!

VH1 and Sean P. Diddy Combs are now accepting resumes for potential candidates to compete for the position of P.Diddy’s Personal Assistant on the reality TV show, “I WANT TO WORK FOR DIDDY 2.” Diddy will once again hold a nationwide search for an Assistant with the mental and physical stamina it takes to work for one of the world’s most high profile CEOs. If you think you have what it takes to be P.Diddy’s Assistant, then we want to hear from you.

  Applicants must be 21 or older by June 2009. Must have a “WHATEVER IT TAKES” attitude. You’ll need a big personality to stand out amongst the other candidates. You must be available and on-call 24/7. You must be able to cater to the BAD BOY Chairman of the Board, P.Diddy. Characters welcome.

In order to submit yourself as a potential cast member please go to www.workforpdiddy.com.

PJ Harvey & John Parish, “A Woman A Man Walked By”

 

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PJ Harvey & John Parish, “A Woman A Man Walked By”
A Review by Sami Ponoroff
PJ Harvey, never ceasing to amaze her fans, will be releasing another unforgettable album on April 30th. The album, titled ‘A Woman A Man Walked By,’ features Harvey’s long time friend and band mate, John Parish, who has worked with Harvey since her entrance into the musical world in the early ’80s. After decades of working together, with some records here and there, Harvey and Parish have collaborated once again to make this sensational album.
Though the first song may not be an adrenaline boost, it in no way fails to make you want to dance: Black Hearted Love softens you up with almost a minute of instrumentals, followed by dark-sounding lyrics and melodies. And as the CD progresses, unlike the majority being sold now-a-days, it continues to be different. ‘A Woman A Man Walked By’ could even be mistaken for another artist because it sounds like nothing Harvey has done before.
As the CD progresses and you listen to tracks five to eight you will feel the intensity build. A Woman A Man Walked By, The Soldier, and Pigs Will Not are truly moving. Their raw, dark, and insightful vigor flashes an uncut black-and-white documentary of angry youths destroying everything in their paths into your mind. And as Pigs Will Not ends, so does that feeling. The end of the CD calms the listener down with mellow tones and instruments, like the ukulele.
Harvey and Parish have proven once again that they are here for the long haul. In an industry full of one-hit-wonders and trendy sounds, they display in their seemingly effortless cool in a timeless manner. This is a CD you should definitely invest in.

The Darlings-A Review of their self-titled EP

 

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the Darlings’ review by Sami Ponoroff
If you’re into alternative or punk-rock do not hesitate to buy the Darling’s self-titled EP. Drawing inspiration from the times of Nirvana, the CD is jam-packed with whole-hearted, head-banging, pure energy.
Seeing no need for an introduction, the Darlings begin their CD with ‘Captivated,’ a song so upbeat it thrusts the thoughts of mosh pits and head banging into the listeners’ mind. Each song sounds nothing like the others, forcing you to wonder–what will the Darlings do next?
As they make their way into the music scene, the Darlings leave a positive and lasting impression on the people who matter the most–their fans. These die hard fans, tens-of-thousands on the band’s personal myspace page, have truly shown their support. You can check them out at www.myspace.com/thedarlings, or buy their self-titled EP on iTunes.