Tell It To Al

The old joke about psych majors is that they went into their field of study hoping to one day cure themselves.

So how’s that working out?

Only 26% reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their careers. That’s the lowest in a survey of popular majors explored in a Wall Street Journal study. Click here to read more in the Wall Street Journal.

The next least satisfying majors were economics, environmental engineering, marketing, communications, English and political science.

Business majors posted among the more satisfied with 48 percent saying they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied.”

New research from Notre Dame University labor economist Abigail Wozniak shows college graduates entering the job market amid economic downturns make 5% to 15% less their first five to 10 years.

Click here to read my column in The Sunday Wall Street Journal. I also talk about it with Eric Kahnert, anchor at Denver’ NBC affiliate, 9News.

Here are two things you rarely see in the same sentence: Four Seasons and fore-closure.

But the owner of the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas have defaulted on a loan and their bank is knocking on their doors like a stiffed landlord. A foreclosure auction is scheduled for Feb. 2. So what will happen? I turned to the hotel’s very own fortune tellers, Valentina Burton and David Alexandre, for some answers.

Click here to read column.

This pesky recession is a good time to call for an end to the abusive hospitality industry practice of gouging at the minibar.

That’s why I was glad to meet Mark Novota, managing partner of Wequassett Inn Resort and Golf Club in Chatham, Cape Cod, Mass.

When I opened the minibar during my vacation at Wequassett, I was amazed to see an array of fine beers – including Heineken – for only $1.50.  

This is the way it ought to be. What’s wrong with almost every other hotel chain in the world charging as much as $8 for a stale can of Bud?

Click here to read my column on the stand Novota has taken against hotel room extortion.

And if you’ve ever felt bushwacked by the box in your room, tell me your story on this blog. How much have you paid for a minibar item?