Posted on December 13, 2010 by BioJobBlogger

New Social Media Tidbits and Insights

At present, 74 percent of adult Americans use the Internet according at a recent Pew survey. While Twitter continues to be one of the hottest new social media tools and Facebook still dominates the social web, do both really live up to the media hype? Let’s start with Twitter.

A new study released last Thursday by the Pew Research Center found that about 8 per cent of active American Internet users are also enthusiastic about Twitter. Of the 8 per cent, 2 percent indicated that they are extremely active and use it daily as a source of new content and links to other websites and services. Further, it appears that black and Latino persons are twice as likely as compared with whites to use Twitter. Whether or not Twitter can increase its use among all Americans still remains to be seen.

Facebook is still the 800 lb gorilla in the room and without a doubt the world’s largest online networking site. However, Facebook growth is starting to slow a bit and issue surrounding privacy and free speech considerations are starting to take its toll. There is no doubt that Facebook is a content-generating machine. According to an article in the NY Times, Facebook’s “more than 500 million users upload more than 1.0 billion pieces of content a day.” Unfortunately, because of Facebook’s expansive size, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find relevant and useful content on the site. Interestingly, Facebook users are turning to the site to gain access or find information to “ebooks.” Finally, roughly 70 per cent of recruiters and hiring managers are using Facebook (and other networking sites like LinkedIn) to source job candidates or conduct background checks on prospective new hires.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!

 

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Posted on March 16, 2010 by BioJobBlogger

A Eureka Moment...Of Sorts

Most scientists fantasize about that so-called eureka moment when, after years of hard work, academic challenges and mental anguish, it all makes sense. While I have experienced these moments from time to time during my career as a scientist, it has happened less frequently as a lay person. This morning, while reading a Science Times article on Thomas R. Friedan , former New York City health commissioner and current head of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA, I had one of those moments.

After reading the passage:

campaigns to ban trans fats, post calorie counts in chain restaurants, reduce salt in processed food and tax high-calorie sodas. He had a supportive boss in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and a receptive populace in New York, but if he were to try anything similar at the C.D.C., tough Congressional hearings could be in his future because conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill often oppose such measures

it finally dawned on me that conservatives, in general, don’t give a damn or care about human health. Or perhaps, the underlying message may be: “don’t tell me how to eat or take care of myself; it’s my life and I know what is best for my health and me.” Unfortunately, since over half of the American population is obese or overweight and the incidences of diabetes and hypertension among younger and older adults has reached unprecedented epidemic proportion it is becoming increasingly evident that most Americans, regardless of their political affiliations, don’t know how to adequately manage their health.  And, to make matters worse, the inability or unwillingness of these individuals to maintain their health increases the cost and may block access of otherwise healthy Americans to adequate healthcare.

As an American, I strongly believe in individuals’ rights and freedom of expression. However, I also believe that summarily opposing unobtrusive measures to improve human health—based almost exclusively on political philosophy or personal financial gain—is morally bankrupt and overtly un-American!

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Eating!!!!

 

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