What If You Lose Your Job?

In today’s economy thousands of people are losing their jobs every day. It’s a scary time and those of us with jobs should do what we can to stay employed. However, no matter what we do, unfortunately some of us will lose our jobs. This experience can be devastating, however it can also be an opportunity in disguise. An unemployment period can be a time to re-invent oneself. If you lose your job, use the unstructured time to find your passion, as well as your next job. There are a great deal of resources available online. Keep the faith no matter what happens.

Even if you have a job, it may be a good idea to save your 2008 tax refund and hold on to vacation days in the event you may need the cash later. Work and maintain your networking sources. What ever happens, keep a positive outlook. Our weak economic time will get better. For now, find ways to cut expenses. Begin researching what you would do if you did lose your job. Find ways to become more of an asset in your present position. No matter what, everything happens for a reason and you can find the silver lining in any situation if you look close enough.

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My Favorite Latino Blogs

While browsing the blogosphere to educate myself on what makes a good blog, I came across some excellent Latino sites. I thought I would share my favorites in a blog entry.

The Latin Americanist is an English-language forum for all things Latin American. Vivirlatino is dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, and entertainment of Latino interest. American Taino is a site of commentary from the perspective of an American Latino.

The Latino Journal is a good blog that keeps track of various Latino-related news on the Internet. As a communication guy one of my favorite blogs is Cumba Media, a site that chronicles the diversity of Latinos and Puerto Ricans in history and the media. I also follow politics closely and found Latinopundit to be one of the best Latino political blogs out there.

Blabbeando is an LGBT blog that documents and informs readers of the international Latino LGBT struggle for equality. My favorite Puerto Rican-focused blogs are Puerto Rico Sun and Dondequiera.

Bronx Latino concentrates on news of interest to Latinos in the Bronx. I enjoy reading the perspective of William Dipini, an American of Puerto Rican descent. The best culturally-based Latino blog with a sense of humor is Sofrito For Your Soul (the Chancleta posting is hilarious.)

(Please also see My Favorite Latino Blogs for 2010.)

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An Amazing New America

I woke up this morning and turned on CNN like every other day before heading off to work. But it was a new day. It still seemed unreal to watch the coverage of the inauguration ceremony and celebration of the first Black President of the United States. I know it is our new reality, however I felt a wonderful weirdness throughout the day. Did this really happen? I know it did, but it’s still just so amazing. Maybe I need another few days to really soak it all in.

(Photo courtesy of AFP – Agence France Presse.)

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Blogging 101 – What I have learned so far

I signed up for my first blog in 2003 but have not promoted one or fully delved into the blogging world until now. I have three blogs today: Velez’s View, Centered Soul, and Fraternity Communication. They are all part of Blogger.com, a free premier blogging network owned by Google. You can also set up a free blog with WordPress.com or pay a reasonable monthly rate for a more advanced blog via Typepad.com.

Once you set up your blog you should concentrate on the look and feel of the site and post some content. Setting up a blog is fast and easy. Next you can promote your blog to contacts, family, and friends via email or online networking sites like Myspace and Facebook. Then it’s important to join a blog network to see what other bloggers are up to, build online relationships, learn from peer bloggers, and draw traffic to your blog. There are many blogging networks. I joined three: Technorati, BlogCatalog, and MyBlogLog.

Finally, you should bookmark blog info and web coding sites. Two of the best blog info sites are Problogger.net and DailyBlogTips.com. You do not need to know web-coding languages like HTML or CSS, but it may be helpful in the long run. One of the best places to start learning web-coding language is HTMLdog.com.

There are some incredible blogs out there. I will mention some in later posts. Until then, happy blogging.

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MLK and Inauguration Day 2009


Tomorrow is the actual birth date of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s national holiday honoring the civil rights leader happens to precede, by 24 hours, the inauguration of the first African-American President of the United States. Since Monday I have found the level of excitement within me rising exponentially each day. I look forward to commemorating the three-day holiday weekend thinking about how far our country has progressed since Dr. King led the 1955 Montgomery Alabama Bus Boycott. I will also be thinking of next Tuesday’s inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. Inducting the first African-American US President a day after the national MLK Holiday is just incredible and will mark the beginning of a new world.

As I think of the MLK national holiday and Obama’s inauguration, I can’t help but recognized a few additional connections between the two occasions. It’s interesting to note that Inauguration Day has been held on January 20th since 1937 and the first federally recognized MLK holiday occurred on January 20, 1986. Another interesting fact is that Illinois, the state that elected Barack Obama its US Senator, is the first state in 1973 to adopt MLK Day as a state holiday.

Underneath my extreme enthusiasm I am realistic enough to know that the world is not truly going to change overnight. However, the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States is a sign that our country is moving in the right direction. Any thing is possible if we dare to continue to dream, just like Dr. King dreamed of a better day.

(Image courtesy of ObamaBling.com.)

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Posted in barack obama, news, politics | 1 Comment