I've been talking a lot on this blog about the depressing state of the newspaper industry so, when I read David Carr's NY Times review of Gonzo, the new documentary about Hunter S. Thompson, I was kind of uplifted.

In the review Carr talks about the fact that Thompson has already been immortalized on film -- first with Johnny Depp playing him in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and then with Bill Murray in the role in the biopic Where the Buffalo Roam -- but this documentary, by Oscar winner Alex Gibney (and produced by Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter) seems to dig deeper at Thompson's legacy, warts and all. As Carr notes in the piece: "Thompson, who died in 2005 at 67, changed the way that much of America thought about itself, in part because his version of journalism threw a grenade at the bland convention of formal balance and straight reporting."

I've mentioned Thompson's books on a short list of great journalism books to read but, reading Carr's take on this documentary, made feel as though it's also worth a look.

photo credit: Getty Images / Frazer Harrison

If you're looking for a job full-time, make sure you're using this time off as best you can. Since it can take months to find a position, think about ways you can improve yourself as a candidate during this time.

To that end, think about taking a class. Online classes are often cheaper and less time consuming than traditional ones and they can be a good way to improve your skills. Also, if you take a class, you might be able to network with your professor and other people you "e-meet" there.

The main thing to do, if you're job-hunting full-time, is to keep busy. You need to stay positive and stay focused. And a great way to do that is to be proactive and find things that will help you land the job once you get the interview.