Quote from: tekla on January 03, 2009, 10:52:00 AM
At the rate we're going we might skip that pay deal and go straight to barter.

Barter will probably be an interim measure, but it's really unwieldy, so I can't see it working for any regular trading. Big trades will most likely remain barter-based, but I'm thinking that communities will eventually come up with their own trading systems or forms of currency. As an example, something like a LETS might work nicely. We have a few up and running here in South Africa. They are all server-based, but I can as easily see a similar system in paper form, with the books that track these trades held by whomever the community trusts to do so.

Mina.

I'd like to barter my share of AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and all the other companies I now own due to the wall st bailout for something useful such as food, firewood, CDs (to listen to), gas for my car.....

Z

Quote from: Zythyra on January 03, 2009, 12:24:20 PM
I'd like to barter my share of AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and all the other companies I now own due to the wall st bailout for something useful such as food, firewood, CDs (to listen to), gas for my car.....

LOL. Somehow I don't see you being allowed to trade those shares sweetie.

Hugses, and here's a bit of commentary on the bailouts from Sinfest (easily my favourite comic ... *punt* ):





These take a while to load, but they're worth it:

http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2959

http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2966

Mina.

Iz zat a grasshopper in the bottom half corner of the last two comic strips?  Nows zats my bitch friend?

Cindy

Quote from: mina.m->-bleeped-<-ie link=topic=52511.msg327464#msg327464 date=1231047382

Quote from: Zythyra on January 03, 2009, 12:24:20 PM
I'd like to barter my share of AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and all the other companies I now own due to the wall st bailout for something useful such as food, firewood, CDs (to listen to), gas for my car.....

LOL. Somehow I don't see you being allowed to trade those shares sweetie.

Yeah Mina, my taxpayer shares in those corporations are basically worth bupkes (yiddish word for nothing), nada, no return, no refund! void where prohibited.... 

Quote
Hugses, and here's a bit of commentary on the bailouts from Sinfest (easily my favourite comic ... *punt* ):

Thanks, I needed that 

Z

hahaha Mina those are priceless...

Quote from: jamie lee on December 28, 2008, 08:50:28 PM
I too will be laid off in the middle of Feb. My company went bankrupt in June, and started to liquidate all their stores. My last day was to be Dec 31st but I got extended. I've been looking for a job since June sent over 100 resumes, and got only a few calls back, "Wow sounds really good and we'll get back to you " and they never do.
All of us left in the dept are having the same problem.
Hopefully thing will pick backup after the 1st of the year.

Jamie L

You should follow up on all the places you sent resumes. Give them a call. It shows your interest and keeps your resume near the top of the pile.

Karen

Quote from: KarenLyn on January 04, 2009, 11:56:08 AM

Quote from: jamie lee on December 28, 2008, 08:50:28 PM
I too will be laid off in the middle of Feb. My company went bankrupt in June, and started to liquidate all their stores. My last day was to be Dec 31st but I got extended. I've been looking for a job since June sent over 100 resumes, and got only a few calls back, "Wow sounds really good and we'll get back to you " and they never do.
All of us left in the dept are having the same problem.
Hopefully thing will pick backup after the 1st of the year.

Jamie L

You should follow up on all the places you sent resumes. Give them a call. It shows your interest and keeps your resume near the top of the pile.

Karen

I've done this, and what I'm getting now is sorry our company now has a job freeze,and we have pulled the position, or we have filled the position. (most likely it's with someone younger at 1/2 the rate). hopefully things will get a little better with many companies approving new budgets.

Jamie L.

Quote from: soldierjane on December 27, 2008, 01:44:03 PM
Like the Fuhrer, the company I work for is kaput and we are being laid off in the early days of January. Needless to say, this is a major bummer

Has anyone else been laid off recently? How are you dealing? (other than searching frantically for a job). I'm scared

Yep, I was laid off last month..  I'm doing fairly good, unemployment has finally kicked in and it is not so bad.   On the plus side is that I get to keep my house cleaned, and be with my children.   I've always tried to live within my means so I am not in debt, and I have most of my expenses covered at this time.  I consider this a bit of a vacation as my philosophy is, life is too short to be stuck in a cubicle 40 hours a week.  So it is not all too bad for me, near the end of my job it was getting tough just to come in every day, I could not stand it anymore. 

With all that said, I know not everyone is having it as easy and wish you all the best of luck.  My thoughts are with anyone struggling right now, and I hope you will be able to recover from any financial burdens you may be experiencing fairly quickly.  Best of luck to you all.

Sorry to hear that, Samara Glad to see you're managing though.

I'm emptying my desk today. My last day is Friday but I want to make sure I don't forget anything.

Feeling chipper though

I'm beginning to lose a little hope, I've sent out a few resumes since graduating in early December, yet despite having an AA and a BA degree, plus a lot of experience, most places haven't responded despite my follow-ups, and those that have give me the "sorry, we've found other candidates more qualified."  Seriously, WTH?

I don't want to be stuck working in a grocery store forever...I got 16 hours this week, a girl can't live off that. 

QuoteI don't want to be stuck working in a grocery store forever...I got 16 hours this week, a girl can't live off that

Ever think about starting your own business?

Quote from: lisagurl on January 06, 2009, 10:27:39 AM

QuoteI don't want to be stuck working in a grocery store forever...I got 16 hours this week, a girl can't live off that

Ever think about starting your own business?

It's crossed my mind, perhaps doing consulting work for businesses on glbt inclusion, or giving communities ideas on sustainability, but I don't have any capital to start a business and wouldn't know where to start even if I did. 

Consulting, and running your own deal in general, requires you to be beyond outgoing, you better be a hustler - and I mean hustle from morning to night, every person is either a potential sale or a stepping stone to a potential sale (also called 'networking').  The people I know who do it get up in the morning and check and send email while the coffee is being made, and then take that first cup of coffee and start doing the phone deal for the rest of the day - I swear some of them are not off the phone for more than a minute or two.  They also tend have some sort of qualifications that people can list, either professional or academic.  So its published papers, conference papers, research studies, writing policy, implementing policy and the like.  I think you ought to find out who is doing that kind of work, and try to work for/with them first.

Quote from: fae_reborn on January 06, 2009, 12:32:41 PM

Quote from: lisagurl on January 06, 2009, 10:27:39 AM

QuoteI don't want to be stuck working in a grocery store forever...I got 16 hours this week, a girl can't live off that

Ever think about starting your own business?

It's crossed my mind, perhaps doing consulting work for businesses on glbt inclusion, or giving communities ideas on sustainability, but I don't have any capital to start a business and wouldn't know where to start even if I did. 

Hello, Fae,

I have worked in a procurement and contracting office as a small business advocate and development officer (not to be confused with a corporate officer).  I might have some ideas for forming your own business.

Funding for a small business may be available from the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Such assistance won't happen overnight so I will share some ideas for the near term in the hope that they will be useful to you.

First, take stock of your qualifications.  Make a list of what you have done.  Everything!  You should have a nice list of verbs.

Next, do an informal market survey.  For this exercise a market is a group of people that can be identified as homogeneous within and homologous without.  You can "see" them in your mind's eye.  You can communicate with them to tell them that they have need of your services, and they have money to spend on what you are offering.

OK, now you know what you have to sell, and to whom you wish to sell it.  It's time to write a business plan.  You will do many iterations of your business plan before it is ready to present to the SBA or a potential buyer of your services.

If you intend to provide GLBT Inclusion Programs, have a draft program developed, complete with to whom the course material would be directed, course objectives, course text (Power Point, viewgraph slides, handbook, etc.) class size, duration of classes, feedback loops, quality control, and handout materials, if any.  You might start developing a rate structure, too.

Keep your business plan simple at first because it will become complex on its own, LOL!!!  Start with what you do, how you have identified your market, how you intend to make their need for your services known to them, your plans for quality control, your plans for growth, and a rough idea of what you will need as cash flow to stay afloat. 

You can chat with me by pm if you so desire.  I expect enough flak from the naysayers on this board for presenting what I know in this area.

Concerning finding work, have you considered offering your services as a contractor to a potential employer?  This would allow them to hire you with reduced benefits and lowers their costs.  In order to protect yourself you would need to find health insurance and life insurance.  Get an estimate of the prices of each coverage and add that to your desired salary.  The end result would be you working for salary plus paid holidays and vacation (or not, maybe), and a percentage above salary to help defray your costs for health and life insurance.

I have seen such arrangements between employers and employees, especially when the position being filled was of a temporary nature, 1 to 5 years.  You might also have a chance to move-up to a better position and become an employee with full benefits.

I am sure that this posting will attract its share of critics and nay-sayers so please send me a pm if you wish to discuss this further.

Wing Walker

You mean tire kickers and school yard bullies.

Cindy

QuoteFrom the perspective of an annual survey commissioned by staffing firm Manpower, these dynamics yield a number of occupations for which openings are hard to fill. Among white-collar jobs, the following positions make Manpower's 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill list: engineers, technicians, sales reps, accountants and IT staff. And on the blue-collar side, the list includes machinists and machine operators, skilled tradespeople, mechanics, laborers and production operators.

Starting your own business takes some research and someone that has a Bachelor degree should know how to do research. Start with the Better Business bureau, government programs business incubators, other people in small business. Interview those you find in the yellow pages and make new connections.

I moved to a new place to live and wanted to work in solar. I took the phone book and went to every one I could find. Non was hiring but I always asked if they knew of anyone in the solar business that might need help. I was given a name not in the phone book and told them I was interested in working in solar and I would work for cheap. I was hired that day in the middle if a depression.

Think outside the box. Take chances and do not worry about failure be aggressive and willing to work your way up.

WW is right about the reason that business hire consultants, they are cheaper in the long run, and those costs they are not paying - health care (huge), vacation, unemployment insurance - you're going to have to find a way to pay for on your own and build into your rate structure.

The tax advantages for having your own business, even if its only part time, are huge however.

Quote from: lisagurl on January 06, 2009, 01:46:37 PM

QuoteFrom the perspective of an annual survey commissioned by staffing firm Manpower, these dynamics yield a number of occupations for which openings are hard to fill. Among white-collar jobs, the following positions make Manpower's 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill list: engineers, technicians, sales reps, accountants and IT staff. And on the blue-collar side, the list includes machinists and machine operators, skilled tradespeople, mechanics, laborers and production operators.

Starting your own business takes some research and someone that has a Bachelor degree should know how to do research. Start with the Better Business bureau, government programs business incubators, other people in small business. Interview those you find in the yellow pages and make new connections.

I moved to a new place to live and wanted to work in solar. I took the phone book and went to every one I could find. Non was hiring but I always asked if they knew of anyone in the solar business that might need help. I was given a name not in the phone book and told them I was interested in working in solar and I would work for cheap. I was hired that day in the middle if a depression.

Think outside the box. Take chances and do not worry about failure be aggressive and willing to work your way up.

What a useful posting, Lisa!

In the U.S. it is the Small Business Administration that is the major source of start-up money and "hands-on" assistance in developing a viable small business.  Some states also have such programs but in my experience I have not seen any do actual start-up.  They concentrate on addind small and disadvantaged business to their roster of suppliers and consultants.

I agree with Lisa.  Thinking outside of the box will carry the day, IMHO.  And research is the key to replacing a dried-up cash stream caused by the economic mess.

I was always looking for new suppliers of goods and services so I started by leafing through through the Yellow Pages phone directory.  I  read the business names on the sides of cars and trucks, and I *networked* with others in my career field and suppliers and consultants.  They were great at giving me new sources.

Wing Walker

*pokes head in*

Well as of today I join the ranks of those laid off.