Avatar photoSteven Savage

Civic Diary: 12/19/2016

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

Been awhile since I did these, huh?  Well back at it as always.

So let’s get this out of the way – very little was going to change no matter who won the election. As I’ve noted I think Trump is basically going to be an awful president in a historically bad way, so I may be moving a bit faster, but a lot of what I’m doing was already in the plan.  There’s a reason for that.

Really simply, I’ve realized over the last few months we’re really not that good at civic engagement in America. I’d been assembling a plan of what to do and how to get better at it for myself, some of it driven by the realization that “man, we could do this better.” In fact I could have done a whole lot better as a citizen in my life and didn’t.

How bad? Take the worry over President Trump – or anyone who’s President. The President is (or should) be one person in the system, but we too often ignore the rest of the system.  How many people vote only for President? Or never higher than Congress? How many think of the entire social-political system and if it’s working anyway? Do they look at local issues?

So here’s what I’ve been up to:

Staying Informed

Seriously, keep following news. I’ve got a news feed reader set up and my Twitter. I also mail/forward myself news I want to follow up on – if say I want to read more, call a representative, etc.

I also created a “Debunking” Twitter feed to follow up on debunking news from various sources, considering the amount of B.S. out there.

Regular Donations

I picked ten groups whos mission I support and set up either monthly donations or subscriptions/memberships. I reccomend you do the same – make it automatic. This depends on what you can afford, but hey, its something.

Auditioning Groups And Getting Involved

My goal is to get involved in two political groups/orgs, so I’m going to events and finding where I can get involved.  It certainly makes you think – maybe you help out with a local campaign but when that person is in congress you can have more influence. Range (and indeed “local”) aren’t always clear.  I’ve got an idea of one group I’ll probably join for a specific position, and I’m looking at others – with the possibility of actually doing some direct work with local government.

Let’s be blunt – if you want to make a difference, become involved and do something.

Working The Phones And Mails

Something I did once a week I’ve come to realize works better once a day give or take:

  • Call/write your congresspeople, governor, state reps, or even mayor if there’s anything you want them to address.  Try calling in-state offices and ask for specific actions. Do it daily if you have to.
  • Also call any of your representatives or others who have done things you agree with to thank them.
  • Call media companies or write them on their coverage of important issues.

So what’s next?

A few more things I want to do next

  • Subscribe to some news sources, including local. Keeping up on local issues is often forgotten so I want to stay informed. I’m also looking at subscriptions as gifts if I want to support a given news company.
  • Read up more on politics to better think about issues (I assume that happens with time, but the latest crazy makes me realize there’s a lot of subtletlties).

Hope these give you ideas!

– Steve

Recipe – Vegetarian Meatloaf

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

So one of my goals is to get back to reposting my cooking experiments.  I cook, you know it, and I even speak on it and lately my audience suggests I speak on it more. So here goes – and here’s one of my latest experiments, vegetarian meatloaf.

My goal lately has been to go back to experimenting with meatlike vegan food.  Why?  Well, meat has that combination of texture, savory, and filling, so why not?  Also I recenly experienced some great meatloaf, so I wanted to re-create the experience.

This recipe is “OK.”  I need to do more, but it’s a good solid vegan meatloaf and pretty filling and nutritious.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp crushed garlic
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • ¼ cup peanut butter (use the kind that’s only peanuts)
  • 1 Tbsp onion powder
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
  • 1 can (14 oz) pinto beans, drained, rinsed
  • 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1/4 cup sauce your choice, optional

 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine all ingredients but oat meal and beans. Mix thoroughly.
  3. Add beans to mixture, mash thoroughly. It may help to mash them separately if the tools you have don’t work – I recommend a large for or potato masher.
  4. Stir oatmeal into mixture until blended.
  5. Place mixture into oiled bread pan. Cook for 25 minutes.
  6. Remove and add glaze if desired.
  7. Cook for another 25-50 minutes until a fork comes out reasonably clean.  It won’t be perfect, but you won’t have a lot clinging to it.
  8. Remove and let sit abount 10 minutes so it firms.  Serve.

– Steve

Q&A: Your Career In The Age Of Trump

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

OK Donald Trump is President-Elect. So I’m going to discuss what that means for your career, in a helpful Q&A format inspired by John Scalzi.

Why the hell are you writing about careers right now?

It is kind of what I do.  Geek Job Guru thing and all.

OK.  Uh, you know I didn’t vote for Trump.

I’m kind of guessing you didn’t if you’re reading my writings.  I don’t think I attract a lot of modern “conservatives.” But hey, whatever.

Fine.  Sure.  OK, what do you think Trump means for careers and the economy?

Trump’s thin-skinned, egotistical, easily-distracted, surrounding himself with terrible people, and easily manipulated.

Christ.  So anything good about this?

Trump’s thin-skinned, egotistical, easily-distracted, surrounding himself with terrible people, and easily manipulated.  This means people are going to be trying to control him and hopefully their various agendas will conflict enough to keep this from becoming a disaster.

Yeah, OK, uh . . . let’s talk about careers.  So what’s your basic view of the economy?

First of all, short-term, I think we’re good for about a year.  The economy is going good new, I’m not sure how much it can be screwed up short-term, and the above mentioned conflicts may help us.

In the next two years or so I’ve been expected a mild recession anyway merely because things have been going decently for awhile and I figure some kind of snag is due. There’s a few areas I’m concerned about like student loan debt and areas with continued sub-employment on top of this, so yeah, I figured we have a recession coming up no matter what.

The big issue twofold. First, past a year out I think we’re likely to see a Trump Administration create too much economic and political chaos, and I don’t see any stimulus proposals that create actual stimulus coming out of this. In the next four years I’d expect a serious recession, and it’s probable that mild one I predicted will be far more severe.  I’m also concerned about changes to bank regulations leading to a repeat of something like 2008 in the next four-six years.

So past 1 or 2 years we’re going to have somethig go wrong.

Well that’s depressing.  Are you saying that past one year out we’re going to have something bad happen, maybe twice, and some of the bad might be Voltroned together?

Pretty much, barring some radical changes or good luck.  Now some of this is going to be highly regional, so keep that in mind, but we’ll all feel it.

Uh, so . . . what’s your career advice?

Get your act together in the next year.  If you have a career plan, work on it.  If you don’t, make one. Make sure you have a five-year plan for your career, what you can do, and what you need to learn to make it happen. Get your certifications.

In short, get your s**t together career-wise.

What if I’m just starting college?

Well hopefully you can ride anything nasty out.  Either way, plan accordingly and watch your debt.  That could be a real soul-crusher.

Any specific career advice?

  1. Make sure you research your career and know what to do, what you need, and where best to do it.
  2. Follow all my other job advice.

Basically, this next year or so it’s not just a time to do the right thing for your career but to do the hell out of it.  Up your game.

Sort of turn my career and job search up to 11?

I admire any disembodied questioner who can joke about Spinal Tap.

But seriously, this is the time to follow not just “some” job advice but all of it.  Get your act together – the most important thing I can reccomend if you do not have said act together is make a career plan and review your plan and progress monthly.

OK, I’m thinking of relocating to a different city or state for my job.  Any advice?

Pick carefully.  I’d pick a good “Megaregion” area or one with good connections to such regions.  Make sure there’s a functional economy and a reliable government at least on the City level.  Right now in this political climate local city and state issues are going to be very important – and an area of severe division.

A good guide to me is does the city/state you’re looking at have distinct, healthy identity, economic identity, and idea of itself.  New York is . . . well, New York.  Seattle is Silicon Valley II.  Silicon Valley is itself. Virginia has growing technical areas.

Also make sure you network immediately when you arrive, or have friends and family there.  Get connected, it’ll help you stay.

Act as if your move is probably permanent – but be open to doing it again.

Well I’m thinking of just leaving the country, I mean . . .

Yeah, well if you’re young getting some experience out of the country is a good idea.  However don’t go thinking leaving America is going to solve all your problems. Also don’t you think other countries are tired of being the “second choice” of Americans?

If you’re over 35, if you do want to work overseas, act like any move is permanent.  Because it may be after you’ve stayed out of the country for a few years.

OK, long-term.  Investments and retirement?

First of all I’d consult with financial professionals or train yourself to handle investments. I know enough to do simple investing (I use a portfolio of researched index funds), but you have to find what works for you.

Secondly, save the hell out of things.  I always keep a good buffer of non-invested money.

As for investments, *I* am sticking with my index funds and riding out any changes, but I’m looking very long-term.  Consider your risks when you do your research.

Man you sound pretty positive about all this! Are you?

Actually, no, I think Trump’s going to be a lousy president. I think we’ll get through it, but he’s going to be kind of like Bush II in that Republcians try and forget him.  It’ll then take 4-20 years to undo the damage, but we won’t fix all of it.

Its just my thing is providing advice. So I do what I can!

 

– Steve