5 of the Best Cities to Find a Job in Right Now

5 of the Best Cities to Find a Job in Right Now According to experts, the economy that began to slide in 2007 hit a low in 2009 is rebounding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported job openings nationwide now exceed the peak experienced before the recession. In fact, in June 2015, 5.2 million job opportunities were available. While the the nation as a whole is on this upswing, some cities  are ahead of the pack. That’s useful news- learning where jobs are plentiful may be useful when looking for employment.Criteria Used to Determine RecoverySix years after the official end of the recession, economic indicators show that while the nation as a whole is recovering, some cities have not kept pace. Conversely, others are experiencing a robust economy with a healthy job market. Parameters including  a lower unemployment rate since 2009, along with increased wages and an overall growth in jobs, gives some cities a better economic standing than others.Cities With the Highest Job GrowthWhile the best cities to get a job are sp read across the country, certain regions have shown growth as a whole. Four of the top cities are in Texas, three are in North Carolina and one each is in Florida, California, Utah, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Looking at some of these cities over the period 2009 to 2012 provides a glimpse into their favorable economic picture.Texas CitiesUnemployment in Midland decreased by 35.71 percent since 2009, and average home values increased by 21.67 percent. Disposable income grew by 13.84 percent. Jobs here  are centered in the oil industry.Odessa showed a 43.4 percent decrease in unemployment along with a median home value increase of 5.87 percent, and median income here grew by 20.39 percent. Jobs in Odessa are found in mining, construction and retail services. San Angelo had a 35.48 drop in unemployment with a corresponding 11.45 percent rise in income. The medium home value here increased by 20.92 percent. Employment in San Angelo is linked to trade and transportation, health care,   jobs in education, and business service jobs. Overall, the Air Force base and schools are the top employers.Fargo, North DakotaUnemployment in this northern tier state fell by 34.48 percent, and median income grew by 18.71 percent. Median home values grew by 13.30 percent from 2009 to 2012. Top industries here include health care, education, transportation, manufacturing, and food processing. Two large employers include the state university and health care jobs with Sanford Health.Chattanooga, TennesseeThe city of Chattanooga has seen a 29.89 percent decrease in unemployment since 2009. Household income has jumped by 13.54 percent while the cost of housing has jumped by 14.04 percent. Retail sales have grown during the years 2009 to 2012.While recovery is happening in cities and towns across the country, a robust location may be a deciding factor if you’re searching for a thriving town in which to plant to your roots. Depending on your situation and ability to move, look ing at job growth from this perspective might  help you narrow (or change!) your desired industry and consider a life in a new town.Using TheJobNetwork to find your next job lets you put in criteria limiting or widening your search. Entering your qualifications, job sector and geographic location makes it possible to target the job you want in an area where jobs are plentiful. This job search platform does the rest and alerts you by email when jobs become available. Doing research into the top employers in an area and the job outlook may help you find what you need.

The Role of Bamboo in Japanese Culture

The Role of Bamboo in Japanese Culture The Japanese word for bamboo is take. Bamboo in Japanese Culture Bamboo is a very strong plant. Because of its sturdy root structure, it is a  symbol of prosperity in Japan. For years, people were told to run into the bamboo groves in the event of an earthquake, because the bamboos strong root structure would hold the earth together. Simple and unadorned, the bamboo is also symbolic of purity and innocence. Take o watta youna hito literally translates into a man like fresh-split bamboo and refers to a man with a frank nature. Bamboo appears in many ancient tales. Taketori Monogatari (Tale of the Bamboo Cutter) also known as Kaguya-hime (The Princess Kaguya) is the oldest narrative literature in kana script, and one of the most beloved stories in Japan. The story is about Kaguya-hime, who is found inside a bamboo stalk. An old man and woman raise her and she becomes a beautiful woman. Although many young men propose to her, she never marries. Eventually on an evening when the moon is full, she returns to the moon, as it was her place of birth. Bamboo and sasa (bamboo grass) are used in many festivals to ward off evil. On Tanabata (July 7), people write their wishes on strips of paper of various colors and hang them on sasa. Click this link to learn more about Tanabata. Bamboo Meaning Take ni ki o tsugu (putting bamboo and wood together) is synonymous with disharmony. Yabuisha (yabu are bamboo groves and isha is a doctor) refers to an incompetent doctor (quack). Though its origin is not clear, it is probably because just as bamboo leaves rustle in the slightest breeze, an incompetent doctor makes a great to-do about even the slightest illness. Yabuhebi (hebi is a snake) means to reap an ill fortune from an unnecessary act. It comes from the likelihood that poking a bamboo bush may flush a snake. It is a similar expression to, let sleeping dogs lie. Bamboo is found all over in Japan because the warm, humid climate is well suited to its cultivation. It is frequently used in construction and handicrafts. Shakuhachi, is a wind instrument made of bamboo. Bamboo sprouts (takenoko) also have long been used in Japanese cuisine. The pine, bamboo, and plum (sho-chiku-bai) are an auspicious combination symbolizing long life, hardiness, and vitality. The pine stands for longevity and endurance, and the bamboo is for flexibility and strength, and the plum represents a young spirit. This trio is often used in restaurants as a name for the three levels of quality (and price) of its offerings. It is used instead of directly stating quality or price (e.g. the highest quality would be pine). Sho- chiku-bai is also used for the name of a sake (Japanese alcohol) brand. Sentence of the Week English: Shakuhachi is a wind instrument made of bamboo. Japanese: Shakuhachi wa take kara tsukurareta kangakki desu. Grammar Tsukurareta is the passive form of the verb tsukuru. Here is another example. Passive form in Japanese is formed by the verb ending changes. U-verbs (Group 1 verbs): replace ~u by ~areru kaku - kakarerukiku - kikarerunomu - nomareruomou - omowareru Ru-verbs (Group 2 verbs): replace ~ru by ~rareru taberu - taberareumiru - mirareruderu - derareruhairu - hairareru Irregular verbs (Group 3 verbs) kuru - korarerusuru - sareru Gakki means instrument. Here are different kinds of instruments. Kangakki - wind instrumentGengakki - stringed instrumentDagakki - percussion instrumenttake - bambookangakki - a wind instrumentWain wa budou kara tsukurareru. - Wine is made from grapes.Kono ie wa renga de tsukurareteiru. - This house is made of brick.