I have to admit that I enjoy a good caper film every once in a while. I love it when the main characters orchestrate a big, elaborate crime in order to make off with millions of dollars in gold, loose diamonds, or cash. Some of the caper films I’ve enjoyed in the past are: Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Mad Money.
What are some other ones? I’m bored and need to fill my DVD queue with some fun movies!
The Game of the Week this week over at the USA Network’s Character Arcade is Spider Solitaire. I’d never heard of this version of Solitaire before, but since I want a chance to win the Wii Bundle in this week’s free sweepstakes, I decided to give the game a whirl. It wasn’t pretty.
The object of Spider Solitaire is to arrange the cards in order from high to low (King to Ace) by moving them around on the piles or dealing from the deck. The main difference between Spider Solitaire and regular Solitaire is that the cards don’t have to be the same suit in order for you to arrange them together. So you can put a 6 of diamonds on top of a 7 of spades or whatever. Take a look:
It seems like that would make the game easier, but for some reason, I had a tough time with this. I couldn’t get very far in the game, and didn’t score more than 5,000 points at any time — which is kind of pathetic considering the fact that you START the game with 5,000 points! LOL… I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad though. It looks like the high scores for this one are all in the 5,700 range, so it’s hard for everybody.
I’m going to keep trying this one because I want to clear the board at least once before moving on. Then again, that blackjack game is looking pretty enticing as well!
Why is there still baseball preempting my favorite television shows in November?? Isn’t the season supposed to end in October? I really hate that the games are still going on, so here’s hoping the New York Yankees will win Game 6 and end the series for the year. Or put the games on ESPN or another basic cable network, that way I won’t have to miss out on two weeks of House and possibly another episode of Bones if the World Series goes to Game 7.
I’m a baseball fan, but I don’t like either of the two teams that are vying for the championship. So I’m not going to bother watching, except maybe from the 7th inning on — and only if I can get a feed on my Sony VAIO. I’ll be too busy with other stuff to sit in front of the TV, but if I can bring the game up on my laptop and watch it while cleaning or whatever, I might tune in.
At any rate, let’s just hope it ends tonight!
(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Having completed two degrees online and being in the process of getting a third, I am a firm believer in this method of education. I earned my Associate’s degree this way, then went on to complete my Bachelor’s, and am now getting my Master’s — all without setting foot on campus at any school. And each online degree I’ve received has served as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, so I recommend this route to any adult looking to improve their career prospects.
One of the better online programs I’ve heard about is from Western Governors University. WGU is a fully accredited degree-granting institution that has an excellent track record when it comes to serving nontraditional students. All WGU programs are accelerated, meaning you can complete an online business degree or get your teaching license in less time than it would take for an on-campus student, and the tuition is far more affordable than at comparable schools. Plus, financial aid may be available to qualified students, so that could lower your costs even more.
These days, competition for jobs is tougher than ever before. You need the right qualifications to get your foot in the door, which is where Western Governors University can help. Check out the school’s website for more information on whichever degree program you’re interested in, and start building a better future today!
My brother is one of those guys who just doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life. He’s never had a career really, just a series of dead-end jobs that he held merely to pay the bills. But he was laid off recently, and doesn’t even have one of those to go to anymore. I think this is the perfect time for him to think about going back to school and getting a degree.
I was trying to think of a recession-proof job, one that wouldn’t be eliminated just because the economy turns sour, and I came up with fire service professional. These are people like fire chiefs, fire marshals, parks and wildlife fire prevention managers, risk management analysts, and fire and emergency response managers, people who work to prevent fires or lay out rescue plans in the event of a major blaze. These are all very challenging and rewarding jobs in a growing field, which is just what my brother needs.
Of course, he’ll also need the proper training first, which is why I’m going to tell him to check out the online Bachelor of arts in fire service administration offered by Lewis University. Lewis is just about 35 minutes away from my brother’s place, but there’s a heck of a lot of traffic between here and there, so taking the online program would make things much easier. He wouldn’t have to worry about the commute or keeping the gas tank filled, and would just be able to concentrate on his classes. The fact that Lewis University is a well known, respected institution with a rich history means that a degree earned from the school will give my brother an edge over other job candidates and put him on the road towards a fulfilling career.
I really think an online Bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration would be perfect for my brother. I’m going to forward him this information about Lewis University right now. I hope he follows through on it!
I decided to go back to school to get a Master’s degree, so a couple months ago I spent a great deal of time researching potential programs and institutions. There are quite a few places that offer advanced degrees these days, but not many of them are what would be considered “elite” schools. Apparently, some of the bigger names in education don’t want to join the online trend for fear that this will somehow devalue their brand. Fortunately, other schools, like Gonzaga University in Washington state, don’t feel that way.
Gonzaga University believes that everyone should have an opportunity to pursue further education, even busy professionals who often can’t make it to campus for traditional daytime classes. That’s why Gonzaga now allows people to obtain online Master’s degrees in three popular fields: Organizational Leadership, Communication & Leadership, and Nursing. Students enrolled in these programs are put through the same rigorous curriculum and held to the same exacting standards as students on campus, and so there’s no value dilution involved here.
Online master degree programs like the ones offered by Gonzaga are often quite expensive. But Kiplinger’s Personal Finance named Gonzaga a “best value” among top private universities. In addition, other sources such as U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, and The Princeton Review all rank Gonzaga among the top schools in the entire nation. Talk about a quality education!
Unfortunately, the field I’m interested in isn’t yet offered by Gonzaga Online. Hopefully they’ll expand their degree programs in the near future so they can accommodate even more professionals looking to give their resumes a boost.
In the meantime, if you’re thinking about returning to school for a Master’s degree, be sure to check out Gonzaga Online. You’re not likely to find a better program at a better price!
I have a friend that lives in Los Angeles, and he’s lucky enough to be able to attend a number of movie screenings every year. These are not premieres of the red carpet, star-studded variety, mind you, but just screenings where the audience can get an advanced look at a film for free. Sometimes the studio is looking for feedback about the movie so they can make last-minute changes before a wide release, but occasionally, these screenings are just intended to generate positive buzz before an opening.
At any rate, my buddy has never gone home from a screening empty-handed. Over the years, he has received all manner of swag from these events, including personalized tote bags, hats, t-shirts, mugs, pens, water bottles, wristbands, keychains, magnets, press kits, cast photos, and just about everything else you can think of.
I’ve been to exactly one screening in my entire life. It was for the 1991 Julia Roberts film Dying Young, and I got a t-shirt out of it. It wasn’t the best prize I could have hoped for and it was a size XL, which is huge for me, but I remember being thrilled to have been part of the event.
Sometimes I wish I lived in La La Land!
Few people who are already established in their careers bother to give further thought to additional education, which is understandable. But updating your credentials is a very smart move that can solidify your position with your employer and give you a leg up on the competition for promotions, salary increases, and other perks.
For instance, if you’re a construction manager, computer & information systems (CIS) manager, or engineering manager, then getting an online Project Management certificate from St. Joseph’s University can really boost your future prospects. This certificate is affordable, can be completed entirely online at your convenience, and comes from a well-known, fully accredited university with academic traditions stretching back more than 150 years. You’ll learn useful information that can immediately be applied to your work situation, and your extra qualifications will distinguish you from the rest of the crowd. Now those are advantages worth pursuing!
No matter where you’re at in your career, furthering your education can pay off in big ways. Where can a Project Management Certificate from St. Joseph’s take you? Enroll today and find out!
