OT: Anyone else worried about being laid off?

[TOWOS]

[quote="Divemistress of the Dark"]
My husband was wondering last night when there'd be a populist revolt. AIG hands out money and veterans are asked to cover their own battle-related injuries.[/quote]

I have often asked myself what will it take to bring Americans to the streets - hunger, maybe?
AIG is becoming the new Osama Bin Laden, though. While the behavior of their management is despicable, singling them out as the sole responsibles of this dire situation is silly. There has been a domino effect in several fields, and all the parts responsible should put the money down and work to rebuild the system.

[empty]

Well, I wasn't worried, but it happened anyway.

Was let go in January. Luckily, I negotiated a decent exit package.It's been a very stressful time- but I have felt overwhelmingly positive. I have had so much support from colleagues all over, that it was reassuring. Except for the news every day!

So, I just went about my business, my search, and also spent time taking care of myself.

And viola- today I signed an offer of employment with a company I am proud and excited to be joining. I know, it's super- cheese, but I definitely feel this all happened for a good reason, and that things will actually be better for myself and my family out of all of this.

Sometimes you can't just jump- sometimes you need to be pushed!

*phew*

[TOWOS]

Congrats, Megs!!

[Throb]

^^^
You landed somewhere

Now you can afford those U2 tickets in the fall

[conroy]

Congrats Meg!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[quote]Thanks for the links, conroy. Seriously - you should read the new Paul Krugman book - it does provide a little perspective into the massive government spending and actually printing up new money, both of which are pretty classic government responses to recession. Also, many foreign countries sometimes peg their currency to the U.S. dollar, so when it tanks, well...[/quote]

Yeah, I've seen Paul's name mentioned a lot lately, so it's on my list as is "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins.

[animal]

Congrats Meg.

Bongonator, now that's a classic

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Way happy for Meg, although we all know she's too smart and awesome to be on the streets for long

Conroy, you'll be glad to know that in these penny-pinching times I checked that book out of the library. I've also had that hitman one on my to-do list....Krugman's is good because he describes the current morass in terms that are easily accessible, i.e. he keeps returning to the example of a baby-sitting co-op handing out coupons to explain concepts like the liquidity trap, etc. It's still pretty dense reading, but worth slogging through.

(Where IS Lynne?!)

[policerule]

Congrats on the job Meg!

[63falcon]

Glad to hear of some of the replacement jobs folks have found. My boyfriend went to the local grocer after his layoffs, and now the butcher dept there wnts to give him hours too. It wasn't his career path, but it is doing the job for him survival wise (and he can walk to work!).
Am trying to convince my folks to put in some chickens and raised vegetable beds, since they've got the room back in VA. Maybe some little potbellied pigs, too, although would most likely get too attached to turn into ham & bacon...

Am w/ TOWOS abt. AIG, esp. since that Chris Dodd just admitted today that he wrote in the Bill for them to get those bonuses, after saying/"misspeaking" that he didn't, and then throwing the Prez & Tres Sec under the bus about it all!!!
I mean, a little persona; honor here would be refreshing!!
Term limits, seems a better idea all the time!

[TOWOS]

"Term limits, seems a better idea all the time!"

Hear, hear! He is now going to return the $103K... too late (if not too little).

I'd like a rule that prevented people who earn more money than they would in their political role to run for office.

It's the Internet age: stop with the huge quantity of $$$ spent on balloons, parades, party parties etc. Running for office shouldn't cost THAT much to justify corruption.

[bella]

That's great to hear, Meg.

And to all of us. This seems like a good time to start that nutter commune talked about a while ago.

[Rusty James]

[quote="bella"]That's great to hear, Meg.

And to all of us. This seems like a good time to start that nutter commune talked about a while ago. [/quote]

Now that's the best idea I've heard of yet.
I'll gladly volunteer to be in charge of the herb garden.

[DrummerDaveF]

I've been made redundant, and several others will soon be the same where I work. Luckily my news came 2 days after a job offer which I have accepted.

Good luck to those still seeking a replacement job. Spend a day or two fixing your CV, contacting every recruiting agency in your field, and network hard (tell your friends, set your facebool status, etc.) so people know you're looking.

[Lynne]

Hi all,

Thanks Dive for missing me ! Sorry, I've been absolutely crushed with work; my research/policy work in in electricity regulation, new technology adoption, and smart grid, so ... if you've been following the federal so-called stimulus funding and seen some of the news stories about smart grid, you know why! And that's in addition to my usual teaching, grading etc.

I do have some thoughts on the topic, but I'm also out the door tomorrow at 6AM for a much-needed spring break trip to Colorado. And, believe it or not, I'm totally going off-grid -- not even taking my laptop! My husband doesn't think I can do it ...

I look forward to catching back up with y'all when I get back!

[patbateman]

[quote="bella"]I'm also kicking myself for not having gone back to school full time a long time ago. I could have been done by now. I have an associates degree in commercial art, but can't do poopy with that because right after I graduated (centuries ago) the world of design became computer based and my schooling was all old school with one primitive computer graphics class thrown in for good measure. I just never had the drive to work full time and go to school full time. I've taken one computer graphics class a couple years ago, but that's it. Always afraid to get a school loan, because for some reason they think I'm rich enough to not need financial aid, and I am scared of having that to pay off. I mean how do you do that? Anyone who has? How do you work full time and go to school full time? Or can you live on school loans and work part time? I'd do it if I knew it were possible. I guess I just need to actually speak to someone in financial aid and ask for help instead of trying to figure everything out on my own.

okay, now I'm just rambling, but I gotta say, it's good to get this out of my system.[/quote]

Hi Bella,
I wish you all the best. If it makes you feel any better, I have been laid off twice and each time I managed to get a better job than I lost. My job is shaky now that the econmoy has tanked but I keep telling myself that things will work out.
I was in a similar position with my education. I have an AA degree in art. In 2007 I decided to go back to school after a looong time. I never thought I'd go back for my degree (for many reasons) and it was the one thing that I felt nagging at me. Now the program is almost over and it flew by. I will graduate with a bachelors degree (boring but useful business psychology degree - not art, sadly) in July. I go to class once a week and have a lot of homework, but work full time and even have time for my hobbies. The two years have flown by and I am getting the best grades of my life now that I am more mature. A lot of the people in my class from all walks of life ( cop, aerospace worker) are getting financial aid. You could see what kind of programs your local schools have. It's a pain to have that to pay off, but it is really been a fun challenge. I hope that was useful...