Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:31 PM PDT

Faced with an unresponsive job market, grads decorated with degrees in everything from philosophy to engineering to French aren't giving up. They're just switching gears and channeling their energy into trades -- and benefiting from it, the Washington Post reports.

Take the story of Rateeluck Pauvpiromquan:

[Pauvpiromquan] decided to become an electrician when the only jobs she found after graduating from St. Mary's College in 2001 with a degree in the philosophy of religion were in coffee shops and hotels. Her friends, who have gone on to get master's degrees or doctorates, are proud of her.

"They tell me they're intrigued, amazed and proud they know a woman electrician," she said. "I don't understand the idea that if you go to college, manual labor is beneath you. The critical thinking and communication skills I learned in college are absolutely crucial to getting our work done. It's critical thinking, not just, 'I lift heavy objects.' "

Even though trade fields yield consistent, well-paying work, they have long existed with stigmas attached to them. As one economist told the Post, "It's hard to get high school counselors to point anyone but their not-very-good students, or the ones in trouble, toward construction."

But apprenticeships can pay healthy salaries -- more than one would make these days working in the field they studied in college -- and the currently economy could bring trades their due. Jarrad Taylor studied engineering and creative writing at Penn State University, but eventually took a job as a plumber. Seven years later, he's still at it -- and proud. And he told the Post that he has more discretionary income than many of his friends.

What do you think? Would you consider working in a trade? Leave a comment with your take.

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Germans refuse to get carried away as Loew's philosophy works - Monsters and Critics

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 05:34 AM PDT

\'We were very satisfied after the game. But there are stronger teams than Australia, more experienced and with better players - like Serbia and Ghana,\' Loew told a news conference at the team camp in Erasmia.

Germany play Serbia on Friday and Ghana on June 23, with Serbia entering the game coming off a 1-0 loss to Ghana Sunday.

\'Now we meet a hurt opponent which is very dangerous. Serbia can dominate a match. They must win. We must be on our guard,\' said Loew. \'I have seen some areas in which we can improve.\'

German football supremo Theo Zwanziger agreed, naming the now huge expectations in the team \'a chance and a risk.\'

Striker Miroslav Klose, who finally found the net again as he deserved his place in the starting 11, insisted that \'we have a great team but achieved nothing yet.\'

However, rarely has a German team shown such a display of attractive attacking football before as praise was heaped on them from all around the planet.

That must have been sweet in Loew\'s ears as the great showing in Durban proved his team selection right as well.

\'We are happy that we won, we didn\'t know exactly where we stood (after the pre-World Cup preparation),\' Loew said.

Loew said he stuck to his philosophy with a blend of youth and experience in which Lukas Podolski and the seasoned Klose have their place just as the gifted playmaker Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, who worked the defensive midfield along with Bastian Schweinsteiger.

\'My philosophy is a flowing attractive football with a certain degree of playing culture,\' said Loew.

The coach did not dispute a similarity with Bayern Munich\'s system under Louis van Gaal (which gave them a Bundesliga and German cup title and a place in the Champions League final).

The fact that Klose and Podolski scored, along with the newcomers Thomas Mueller and Cacau, only cemented Loew\'s ideas.

\'I never joined the Klose, Podolski discussion,\' he said of the two players criticised after a poor domestic season.

\'They fit my philosophy, that\'s why I have faith in them. I don\'t want a new one. I was always convinced of their quality,\' he said.

However, looking at the impressive 21-year-old Werder Bremen man Ozil, Loew also said the system can benefit from certain individuals.

\'I wouldn\'t change my plan if Ozil wasn\'t there, but he is the ideal player for this plan. He interprets it at a very high level,\' said Loew. \'His game doesn\'t stop, it continues flowing and he can play the deadly pass.\'

But Loew also said that Ozil still faces a \'long and rocky road\' to establish himself as a truly world class player.

Klose, meanwhile, was delighted with his 11th World Cup goal after months of frustration spent mainly on the Munich subs\' bench.

\'I never doubted myself. I know my quality and that I am fit when it matters,\' he said. \'I always felt needed in the team.\'

One name was also briefly mentioned, the regular captain Michael Ballack, 33, who is sidelined with injury, but was not missed at least on Sunday.

\'Michael Ballack was an important player with immense experience,\' said Loew. \'We had to find a solution that works without him .... Khedira plays like a young Ballack.\'

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Erasmia, South Africa - Germany are not getting carried away after an impressive 4-0 triumph against Australia as coach Joachim Loew on Monday set his sights on the next World Cup opponents. 'We were very satisfied after the game. But there are stronger teams than Australia, more experienced and with better players - like Serbia and Ghana,' Loew told a news conference at the team camp in Erasmia. Germany play Serbia on Friday and Ghana on June 23, with Serbia entering the game coming off a 1-0 loss to Ghana Sunday. 'Now we meet a hurt opponent which is very dangerous. Serbia can dominate a match. They must win. We must be on our guard,' said Loew. 'I have seen some areas in which we can improve.' German football supremo Theo Zwanziger agreed, naming the now huge expectations in the team 'a chance and a risk.' Striker Miroslav Klose, who finally found the net again as he deserved his place in the starting 11, insisted that 'we have a great team but achieved nothing yet.' However, rarely has a German team shown such a display of attractive attacking football before as praise was heaped on them from all around the planet. That must have been sweet in Loew's ears as the great showing in Durban proved his team selection right as well. 'We are happy that we won, we didn't know exactly where we stood (after the pre-World Cup preparation),' Loew said. Loew said he stuck to his philosophy with a blend of youth and experience in which Lukas Podolski and the seasoned Klose have their place just as the gifted playmaker Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, who worked the defensive midfield along with Bastian Schweinsteiger. 'My philosophy is a flowing attractive football with a certain degree of playing culture,' said Loew. The coach did not dispute a similarity with Bayern Munich's system under Louis van Gaal (which gave them a Bundesliga and German cup title and a place in the Champions League final). The fact that Klose and Podolski scored, along with the newcomers Thomas Mueller and Cacau, only cemented Loew's ideas. 'I never joined the Klose, Podolski discussion,' he said of the two players criticised after a poor domestic season. 'They fit my philosophy, that's why I have faith in them. I don't want a new one. I was always convinced of their quality,' he said. However, looking at the impressive 21-year-old Werder Bremen man Ozil, Loew also said the system can benefit from certain individuals. 'I wouldn't change my plan if Ozil wasn't there, but he is the ideal player for this plan. He interprets it at a very high level,' said Loew. 'His game doesn't stop, it continues flowing and he can play the deadly pass.' But Loew also said that Ozil still faces a 'long and rocky road' to establish himself as a truly world class player. Klose, meanwhile, was delighted with his 11th World Cup goal after months of frustration spent mainly on the Munich subs' bench. 'I never doubted myself. I know my quality and that I am fit when it matters,' he said. 'I always felt needed in the team.' One name was also briefly mentioned, the regular captain Michael Ballack, 33, who is sidelined with injury, but was not missed at least on Sunday. 'Michael Ballack was an important player with immense experience,' said Loew. 'We had to find a solution that works without him .... Khedira plays like a young Ballack.'

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Griffith: Political focus is smaller - Times Daily

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 01:48 PM PDT

Griffith was voted to represent the 5th District as a conservative Blue Dog Democrat. He lost his election bid after switching to the Republican Party less than two years later.

Now, his political focus is smaller and more local, including rescuing the axed manned space project important to Huntsville and bringing broadband Internet to rural regions that flank the district.

As for the future, Griffith only gave hints of what he might do after Congress.

"It certainly won't end my career as far as public service is concerned," he said. "As good as the 5th Congressional district has been to me and my family, I would certainly continue with my foundation supporting early childhood education."

The Parker Griffith Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization incorporated in 2005, awards grants for school reading programs.

"Representing the 5th Congressional district and its constituents and getting to know them has been one of my greatest accomplishments, if you can consider that an accomplishment," Griffith said. "The philosophy of borrowing money or printing money to do programs that do not create jobs or support small business has been one of my greatest frustrations."

Mo Brooks, a Madison County commissioner, won the GOP candidacy for the 5th District. Brooks won 51 percent of votes to Griffith's 33 percent.

The Shoals remained supportive of Griffith whereas Brooks' stomping grounds of Madison and Limestone counties overwhelmingly supported the commissioner.

Steve Raby, chief of staff for former Sen. Howell Heflin, will be the Democratic candidate on the November ticket.

"We've got two good people running, and the constituents will be able to decide without me weighing," Griffith said. "Come January, I wish my successor the best; I stand ready to help him in any way, regardless of the party

affiliation."

Griffith switched to the Republican Party in December, which gave the congressman national attention.

"The Republicans were so thrilled for a convert and welcomed him with open arms," said Bill Stewart, political professor emeritus at the University of Alabama. "Since the numbers of Republicans have grown, people aren't just accepted to run for high positions. You don't join the Baptist church and get to be a deacon the next week."

Brooks is a longtime Republican who has held state house and county commission positions.

"Brooks paid his dues longer than Griffith in the Republican Party," Stewart said.

"The people that had been in the party, and worked in the vineyard so to speak, they had wanted this prize for a long time," Stewart said.

Sen. Richard Shelby switched parties in 1994 during the Contract with America Republican takeover of Congress. The difference between Shelby and Griffith: seven years of experience in Congress plus the fact that Shelby switched after, not before, an election, according to political analysts.

"(Shelby) had done so much for the state already," Stewart said. "Griffith was a novice, and Shelby was a veteran."

Throughout his congressional career, Griffith was critical of the executive branch and high-ranking Democratic Party members, which he said stemmed from the proposed cancellation of the Constellation project, the health care reform he voted against and the $20 trillion debt projected for 2018.

"Despite the stimulus program, we've added 3.6 million to the unemployment rolls," Griffith said.

"I don't believe that the Democratic Party and its philosophy of borrowing your way to prosperity is a sound philosophy. We are on the verge of chipping back into a double dip recession."

Griffith also was critical of the Blue Dog group of conservative Democrats that Bud Cramer, Griffith's predecessor, helped form.

"The Blue Dog group had gotten large with over 50 members (but) didn't speak with one voice," Griffith said. "It was not the original Blue Dog group and not financially responsible."

Griffith will next be in the Shoals for July Fourth festivities with his family, including 11 grandchildren, five children and his wife.

When asked what he needs to accomplish in the next six months to be successful in his term, Griffith replied, "I feel successful now. The party change was good. It sent a message that big government comes at the expense of personal freedom."

Trevor Stokes can be reached at 256-740-5728 or trevor.stokes@TimesDaily.com.

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Find out more about Terry: - Examiner

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 01:56 PM PDT

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