A LOOK AT THE WEEK AHEAD December 1 - December 8, 2000OFFICE OF NEWS AND MEDIA RELATIONS (215) 204-7476 Fax: (215) 204-4403
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BUY THIS CHRISTMAS? RELAX! -- From tabletop relaxation fountains to audio tapes of the ocean, scented candles, and massagers of every kind, malls and department stores are packed with gifts to help us relax and unwind. But do they work? "I don't think most of these kinds of products are innately good or bad, but what works for one person won't work for everyone," says Jay Segal, director of Temple's Stress Research and Biofeedback Laboratory. "If you don't know if a person needs to let go, open up, relax muscle tension or is in need of emotional balance, it's a crap shoot," Segal says of buying stress-relieving products. If you want to buy someone a gift to help them relax that won't end up in the attic or stuffed in a drawer, Segal suggests giving gifts that divert people's attention from the tension and stress of the holidays.
"Gifts of music, tickets to a show or a ballgame, and books would be quality gifts with the greatest potential for stress relief and life management during the holidays."
Reach Dr. Segal through the Office of News and Media Relations, 215-204-7476.
PRESENTS FOR THE TEACHER -- If you wish to give your child's teacher a holiday present, look beyond the "No. 1 teacher" mugs and Christmas ornaments that are crowding retail stores, says Christine Woyshner, a Temple education professor. "Teachers do get many mugs and ornaments. But gifts from the heart, handmade gifts, are really wonderful," says Woyshner, herself a former elementary school teacher. "I still treasure the homemade things I received as a teacher. And I think what's really neat is having a child make their teacher a gift." With many teachers dipping into their own pockets to furnish and decorate their classrooms, Woyshner also suggests buying the teacher a gift for the classroom or banding together with other parents to purchase something special. When all else fails, says Woyshner, "gift certificates, especially to bookstores, are perfect." Reach Woyshner through the Office of News & Media Relations.
MYTH OF THE ONE-PAGE RESUME -- You've decided to start the new year with a new job. But with all your schooling, technical training, and special skills you have to shrink your resume down to six-point type to fit everything onto one page. Not true, says Kathy Gallagher, acting director of Temple University's Career Development Center.
"The one-page resume was the best format back in the '80s when unemployment rates were high and employers were inundated with resumes, but it's not that way anymore," she says. "If someone has an extensive work history, more than one college degree, or is very active in the community, they typically need more than one page. If someone belongs to SAM (scientific, academic, or medical careers) then a curriculum vitae is needed."
Gallagher says a one-page resume may do the job for recent grads, but for anyone who's been in the workplace for a number of years the most important thing is highlighting all you have to offer. "Use two pages if needed, but the best thing to do is get advice from a career counseling professional."
Reach Gallagher through the Office of News and Media Relations.
LOW OIL INVENTORIES COULD MEAN EVEN HIGHER FUEL BILLS --High fuel prices should not change much over the coming holiday season, unless there is some shock to the system, such as a crisis in the Middle East or several refinery fires in the United States, says Dr. Frederic Murphy, a Temple professor of management science.
"OPEC 's recent decision to leave oil output fixed means they want a longer-run higher price," says Murphy, who adds that gas prices are at current highs because of low inventories. A cold winter, he says would present problems in New England because of deliverability issues with home heating oil. "There are not enough ships to deliver crude oil because the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 forced the early retirement of many vessels," Murphy says. He points out that natural gas may also be a problem because of lower volumes in storage.
"San Diego has already been hit with several power plants losing natural gas and having to switch to oil. Gas heated homes in Philadelphia won't lose heat if it is a cold winter, but industries may be forced to shut down."
Contact Dr. Murphy through the Office of News and Media Relations.
This Week at Temple...
Friday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 3: DON GIOVANNI -- The Temple University Opera Theater will present Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "opera of all operas," Don Giovanni. Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. (Tomlinson Theater, 1301 W. Norris St.)
Cheryl AfonsoTemple UniversityOffice of News and Media Relations[email protected]
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