A college degree is America’s perceived golden ticket to living the dream, is it not?  If this is so, then why is the number of college graduates who find themselves either unemployed or woefully underemployed steadily on the rise?  If the statistics presented by sundry financial news outlets is to be believed, around 53% of all college grads from the last 3 years are having a rough go of it, often accepting, in the name of keeping the bills paid, the sort of inglorious employ their hard earned wall decoration was supposed to help them avoid.  I am guilty of being one of the many lemmings mindlessly obeying convention in my pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.  To date, my efforts have yielded 93 hours of college credit earned toward this goal, a metric shit ton of frustration, and enough student loan debt to make a nice down payment on a house.  As of this moment, I am not in school, and am uncertain if the achievement, once accomplished, will even be worth the trouble.

I work in retail.  I am a floor level sales associate for a fairly well known retailer, and my pay, while not spectacular, keeps the necessities of life covered.  If the lives of many of my college educated peers are any indication, having my degree would not be, at the moment, of much value in terms of increasing the quality of my life.  One man with whom I work has a master’s degree.  Two others in my store have multiple degrees.  Storewide, there are many degree holders who are folding shirts and cleaning out fitting rooms.  Their lives mirror mine, and I am doing at least as well as them without the benefit of having my wall bedecked with that illustrious sheepskin.  One friend of mine just recently found employment after a 6 month search, and it is a job that is decidedly beneath his station in life, but he is glad to have it because, as he concluded, some income beats no income.  This friend has education and credentials out the ass, and it has actually been to his detriment, as a growing number of employers admit a hesitancy to hire college grads.

At a recent job fair hosted in Little Rock, I attended a conference of sorts with a panel of advisors who were speaking to the nature of interviews and how to land a job in an increasingly hostile employment climate.  During the following q&a session, a young lady behind me stood up and asked what one is to do when one has education but no experience.  Her query encapsulated the driving force behind this noticeably increasing bias employers have toward the recently graduated.  Knowing all too well that fresh grads are seeking to get their feet in the door, work long enough to gain a little of that all important experience, and intend to move onto greener pastures within 3 years, employers are very skittish about hiring them.  Why would an employer want to sink precious time and resources into readying a college grad to work for someone else?  There is a growing desire among employers to hire established workers who have put in the years and paid their dues to establish themselves as reliable employees, often prizing dedication and experience over academic achievement.

To wit, a college degree may indicate one’s dedication to completing a task, but it does not confer ability or competence.  I have asked several grads what skills they possessed after gaining a degree that they did not before.  I got few concrete answers.  If a man goes to electrician, plumbing, hvac, or construction trade schools, he, upon completion of the course, leaves with a real and marketable skill.  He has a thing he can do with his hands that many cannot.  If a man gets a degree in business, what is his skill?  What is the thing that he can now do that he could not previously?  The answer is not as cut and dried as his trade school educated counterpart.  I am not making the contention that a business degree does make a person better able to thrive in certain fields, but my experience with pursuing that particular degree (I am a business admin major, for the record) is that it doesn’t teach a skill so much as a way of thinking that lends itself well to a business environment.  That said, much of what I’ve learned in college thus far could just have easily been learned on the job, and with far less stress and monetary commitment.

Yahoo Finance news posted, a few days ago, an article about the best paying jobs for which a college degree is not required.  The bulk of them were skilled trade positions and the article’s author reached the conclusion at which I arrive long ago, which is that the United States is steadily becoming a service based economy as our once considerable industrial might is being shipped overseas, and that there is a growing need for men and women in the skilled service trades.  I will concede that maybe being an electrician or mechanic isn’t sexy, but more and more the trades pay on a scale equal to and in many instances well exceeding those requiring a college degree.  As my son draws closer to graduating from high school, my fatherly advice to him will be greatly divergent than what I was fed at his age.  I will tell him simply “Son, learn to do something.  Learn to use your hands.  It’ll cost you far less in the short term and benefit you greatly in the long term, and if later you decide you want a degree, then by all means go and earn one.  But, if the degree doesn’t help you find a great job, you have a well paying skill to fall back on.”

by Chance White

Fingernails often go unnoticed by others unless they’re nasty and in poor condition.  Nothing makes people cringe like shaking a hand, or being touched by someone with dirty, untrimmed, raggedy nails.  I know none of you want to be that guy, so by following a few simple steps, you’ll never have to worry about what people see or think.

Trim your nails weekly.  Whether you use a fingernail clipper, scissors, or nail file –keep them short.  1/8th inch in length is a good length for men.  If you go longer, just make sure they don’t extend past the tip of your finger.  Make a straight cut along the tip of the nail, versus trimming them in a semi-circle.  You can then shape them with a nail file.  Doing it this way avoids the risk of cutting them too short on the sides, which can open up the cuticle area and invite bacteria.  Gentlemen, please refrain from biting your nails.  I understand this is a difficult habit to break, but do what you can to avoid it.  Bitten nails are always noticeable and look really foul.  Nail clippers, scissors and files can be found in grocery stores and pharmacies.

File nails after you cut.  The reason for this is to shape the nail, and smooth out any rough or sharp edges that cutting typically causes.  Whether you choose a metal file, which nail clippers usually come equipped with, or an emery board (a file made of sand paper), always file in one direction.  Start at one corner and do two short strokes towards the middle, and then one long stroke to blend.  Repeat the process until you achieve your desired results, then move to the other corner and repeat the action until your nails are smooth and nicely shaped.  This will make the nail smoother than if you go in both directions.  Emery boards can be found in any store that sells other nail care items and are very inexpensive.

Keep your nails clean.  I recommend this task be done at a sink and not in the shower for the sake of water conservation.  Regardless, just do it!  The best tool to use for the job is a nailbrush.  The bristles are firm and able to reach hard to get dirt that often gets trapped under guys’ nails, especially those hands who do dirty jobs.  The tip of a metal file has a point to it, designed to scrape dirt away, also.  Be careful not to get too rough and stab yourself, since finger tips are sensitive.  Worse yet, punctured fingers can become infected and that’s really no fun.

Groom the cuticles when needed.  The cuticle is the outermost layer of skin found at the base of the nail.  Healthy cuticles prevent bacteria from entering the nail area, which could cause inflammation and infection, known as paronychia: so it’s best not to remove them completely.  The cuticle naturally grows up the nail and isn’t pretty, especially if it’s dry and cracked.  There are various techniques to grooming cuticles.  The first step should always be moistening the cuticles, so they’re easier to work with.  This can be done by soaking your fingers in water, or applying lotion or oil to the cuticles for several minutes before you get started.  Once the skin is soft, using the blunt end of a cuticle pusher, gently push the cuticle back towards the finger’s first joint.  (The cuticle pushing tool also has a curved pointed head at one end, which does a great job of cleaning dirt from under the nails.)  Then, using either a cuticle remover, or cuticle scissors (both found wherever nail care products are sold), trim the excess skin away.  Trimming the cuticle will make the nail bed appear longer and prevent hangnails.  There’s no doubt about it – groomed cuticles definitely make a manicure look better.  You can find videos online demonstrating cuticle trimming if you’re unsure of how to do it.

Pushing the cuticle back and not trimming the excess skin is also an option.  This is usually done to avoid the increased risk of infection that trimming cuticles can cause.  It’s up to you – just don’t let them grow wild.

Buff nails for a healthy shine.  Buffing takes a few extra minutes, but puts a nice shine on nails without the use of polish.  Nails often get ridges, especially as we age, and buffing will eliminate them.  Buffers are not expensive and are in the nail care section.  Follow the instructions and you’ll have younger looking, more attractive hands.  Buffing makes your nails look professionally manicured, which always looks good, and adds a nice touch to any occasion a suit is worn.

Occasionally, I still see men wearing clear polish.  This is a personal preference – one I don’t care for at all – so, I suggest buffing instead of polishing if you want your nails to have a sheen.  Those who wear black or colored nail polish as part of their style…  that, too, is up to you.

Two common fingernail problems are fungus and stains, which should be addressed, since both look awful, and will defeat any and all efforts you put into nail grooming.  Stains, often caused by cigarettes burning too close to the fingers, chemicals, and nail polish, turn nails a dull yellow color.  Some illnesses, like psoriasis, can cause nails to yellow, also, but I’m referring to actual stains.  Fingernail fungus is no different than toenail fungus, except you can’t hide it with a pair of shoes.  It’s unattractive and unhealthy, so take care of business.

Stains:

1. A simple solution to stains is to squeeze the juice of a fresh lemon into a glass bowl; then add one half cup of water and stir.  Save the squeezed lemon for later use.
2. Soak your nails in the lemon water for five minutes.  The lemon’s acid will bleach the stains, and should remove, or, at least, lighten them.
3. Remove hands from lemon mixture and dry.  Grab that squeezed lemon you saved and rub it on your nails.
4. After about one minute, wash your nails and hands with soap, dry, and apply some hand lotion to moisturize your skin.
5. This procedure can be performed every few days if needed, but don’t do it so much that your skin becomes compromised from the lemon’s acidity.

Fungus:

Nail fungus is not easy to eradicate.  Early treatment will always be more effective than waiting until you have a full blown infection – so don’t wait!  Nail fungus can easily spread to the surrounding skin, making your hands red, inflamed and peel; basically the same as athlete’s foot.

Treatment options include both topical and oral medications.  Although oral medications are generally more effective than topical treatment, topical therapy avoids possible side effects associated with oral medications.  It’s best to try topical medications first, especially if the infection is new or minor.  There are several types of medications available, which can be found in a pharmacy.  Some require a doctor’s prescription, but others can be bought over-the-counter.  Natural products like bleach, povidone iodine, tea tree oil, and oregano oil are some options that can be effective, but are not a guarantee.  Unfortunately, no topical remedy is a guarantee; including pharmaceuticals.  Regardless of what you use, topical agents are usually the first line of defense for early nail fungal infections.  For severe fungal infections, seek the advice of a doctor.  A general practitioner or dermatologist are doctors who treat nail fungus.

It doesn’t take long to make your nails looks good.  We all know in order to do a job right, we need to have the right tools.  You can normally purchase everything you need in one store and probably for less than $20.00.  Take your time and pay attention to details for the best results.  If trimming and buffing aren’t your thing, find a salon that gives men’s  manicures.  There are plenty!  Making nail care part of your grooming ritual will pay off big time.  It’s one more way to up your image and show the world you truly are an alpha male with superior standards.  Now, make me proud!

by Aaron Marino