Top Diaries

That's - rough. Sorry to hear that.

I've had a few ideas for collaborative projects for a while now, but nothing that's going to start earning instantly.

I'll email them over later anyway, just in case.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 07:46:25 AM EST

I haven't figured out how long yet, but I can hold out for 6 to 12 months.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:04:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

If you moved out of London how much longer do you think it could last? (Thinking....yoga is a paying proposition in most towns/cities these days...Barbara could have time to set up her yoga classes...)

I expect you'll have an offer from a similar sector pretty quick, which would keep you in London. Hmmm. Your question: What will it take for the middle classes to wake up?

(Off to the West--or how about Wales?!)

Heh. Good luck with it! An adventure with a year's supply of cash in yer back pocket and the ever-wonderful Barbara, she needs you to be at home working on one of your many intriguing projects (one of which will be with ThatBritGuy...), and you saying, "You know, I don't know when it'll pay off, and I don't know if it'll pay off, and..."

"Migeru," she says. "I don't have time for that now. I'm running a top of the range internationally reknown yoga school and I demand that you complete that essay you were writing for [name of person/institution/other here] about [name of subject/concept/tech. aspect here]. And I need a massage. Have you signed up for the course yet?"

;)

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:24:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

If we moved to the Czech Republic I could hold out for at least 3 years.

Not having a job to lose I'm available to man the barricades. Bring them on!

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:34:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So we can look forward to seeing more of you on here?

every cloud....

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:37:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:47:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Where have I heard this exact reply before?

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 10:26:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

by Number 6 on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 06:10:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I was thinking a little closer to home.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 01:45:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think it's time our family started sun-gazing. The sun-gazing theory goes that you can get all your energy from the sun and don't need to eat at all, while maintaining radiant (heh) health and optimal weight. That might come handy. We might get really good at it in three years.

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:51:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

And if that dosent work, with his cycling muscles, there's always jobs going pedaling Jerome's wind generators (although I still havent worked out how he makes money out of making wind)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:52:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will work for food (4.00 / 9)

So the revolution has a 3 year window, or less if you find a job as chief mathematician on one of those funky submarines I've been hearing about?

(Or is that the plot of a Bond film?)

(....Johnathan price stroking his weasel. "So, Mr. Geru," he says, "have you finished calculating the, ah, projections?"

"Yes, Dr. Evil," you say. "But if I may just make a comment."

"Please, go ahead." (Dr. Evil's head twitches violently.)

"Well, I did notice something, in the column headed Last Week's Major Evilnessnesses, where, if we take X over ZP on a--hold on, what's that?"

[Sound of breaking glass.]

Dr. Evil: "Noooooo!"

Killer dolphins with spikes on their snouts have broken the glass observation window of the sub! And here comes Barbara on Snooky!

[Cut to desert island beach]

"My darling," she purrs (Barbara, not Snooky), "You're alive. We killed the bad guy. The world is safe, and now it's just....you and me," (as she starts unzipping her dry suit)

"My God!" shouts Migeru, leaping up. "You mean..."

"Yes darling...I mean--"

"We don't have internet access? Noooooooooooooooooo!")

Heh. As you can tell, I have an 'orrible "training script" I am attempting, in Good Douglas Adams style, to avoid by writing something else entirely.

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:43:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Outside London there is no question I could hold out for a whole year.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:00:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

All of a sudden, I realised I know a number of people doing credit scoring in Czech banks... not sure how they'd look at someone without any Czech whatsoever, though...

by Sargon on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 08:18:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Without any Czech whatsoever doesn't describe me. More like barely any Czech.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 08:23:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hahahaha, that's great, RG. I'm glad you have faith in me. But I need a bit more training before becoming internationally reknown. I do want Migeru to be happy, though. If that means writing essays in exchange for turnips for Jerome, so be it. ;) Although I have a feeling he'd grow a bit grumpy about it with time.

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:25:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Can you think of subject or situation where

he'd grow a bit grumpy about it with time != Migeru

Sirriously though, get out of the shmerk! (Lunnun, I mean.)

I could see Chris and Migeru doing some serious business, but I'm neither of them so I cannae say. Thing is, he's the kinda guy I can see being very useful for specific tasks, which sounds a bit like "travels quite a lot", so--and you do realise that I am doing all this typing to avoid continuing with THE WORLD'S MOST BORING TRAINING SCRIPT EVER--and, cough cough, it's not every day you have quite a few monies for re-location expenses and...

What's that? Did I hear someone say WRITE YER FECKEN MANUAL!

My word! I have amazing ears!

Anyone who has met me can concur.

But I mean, I can hear swearing from Geneva and environs!

So...er...I think I'll have to go away and write a book about...everything.

But first...yes! A training script. Joy!

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:36:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh crikey, that's rough although I suspect you aren't entirely surprised.

How long have you got before you leave ? I'm sure you said you had a rolling 6 months contract. Are you busted out on finance given the current situation ?

How are your DIY skills ???

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 07:55:56 AM EST

What DIY skills?

I don't really know what my prospects are right now in finance, but I'll find out soon (coincidentally I was recently contacted by a headhunter). The 6-months-plus severance payment and lack of debts means I don't have to panic. If we downshift we can live on it for a while.

It would have been a surprise had I not been paying attention.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:01:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You know Mig, if I remember right you do live in London.

Which has something like the largest concentration of nonprofits in the world. Speaking of opportunities for a change.

Not to mention that I'd bet that there's a fair number of local universities looking for contract faculty (better than starving).

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:00:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sorry to hear that Migeru. What was your work?

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:01:59 AM EST

If I told you I'd have to kill you.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:02:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

In that case, don't tell me.

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:06:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I exaggerate, but only slightly.

My employer is waiving my contract's non-compete clause, but not the confidentiality.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:08:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Seriously, though, not all of us know what you do. Can you give us some idea of what to look for, so we're not sending you random, unrelated ads?

by lychee on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:17:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sorry to hear this, migeru! Unemployed or under-employed, none of its fun. So, since you can't say what it was before...how about saying what you would like to do next? Someone may have some ideas or can give you referrals.

Also, it might be a good time to network and meet some different people in areas you might like to work. I have had some success in the past with contacting people I or friends knew and asking them for their advice - as generally, i found that people tend to hate rejecting people, so will avoid any situtaion where they might have to do that. But... if we don't put them in the position to do that...while at the same time discreetly giving them a 90 second pitch on our skills, while asking for any advice & referrals to people who they think might be helpful to talk with. You never know who might meet you and think: perfect for our organization!

A coach once told me that all a person has to do is meet 10-20 well-placed people, and a job can fall in our laps. What was the other thing I heard...oh, that in general, 90% of the people searching for jobs apply for the 25% jobs (the ones listed)...leaving those 10% to access the 75% of jobs not listed (or created yet). Anyway, you are too smart to stay unemployed long...someone will definitely snap you up! (Seriously!!)

<Just don't be stubborn like me!>

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:59:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I definitely agree with you last paragraph, and I wanted to point to Linkedin,a social networking tool, that's just beginning to get wide play that serves that very purpose. To capitalize on your links to former coworkers and colleagues.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:04:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You on linked in?

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 01:17:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, and all two of my links.

Yourself?

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 01:47:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'll email you my real name

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:26:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

http://www.linkedin.com/in/guerby

I'm also under a pseudonym on Linked in :

by Laurent GUERBY on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 04:26:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I´m on viadeo myself. Anyone else?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:16:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Just me I think.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 01:14:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

LinkedIn (none / 1)

Okay, people, we have to rationalise this a bit.

Currently I can see four people including myself who list a "position" at European Tribune. The problem is, it's like four blind men describing an elephant! We have:

Contributing Editor - European Tribune (Online Media industry)
Editor - European Tribune (Investment Banking industry)
Contributer - European Tribune (Media Production industry)
Associate - European Tribune (Oil & Energy industry)

Nothing wrong with everyone self-assigning a fancy title, but the problem with each of us picking a different "industry" is that the site can't tell we're actually "colleagues".

Oye, vatos, dees English sink todos mi ships, chinga sus madres, so escuche: el fleet es ahora refloated, OK? — The War Nerd

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 at 05:18:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LinkedIn (none / 1)

This is perceptive. It is much easier to be who you really are, because you don't have to remember your obfuscations. But there is a perceptive power in consistency.

Can we define ET overall in any useful way?

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 at 06:41:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's definitely the case, especially in academia, where despite claims to being a meritocracy and open hiring, who you know and where you went to school remains an extremely important method of finding employment.

And the world will live as one

by Montereyan (robert at calitics dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 12:13:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A coach once told me that all a person has to do is meet 10-20 well-placed people, and a job can fall in our laps.

Why do you think I wrote this diary? (Well, apart from letting it off my chest and making light of the situation with the title)

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:18:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So if we can't find you work, we're not as well placed as we think we are?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:24:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Don´t tell anyone, but we´re all a bunch of misfits.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:28:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sssh.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:52:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

well if you don't draw attention to it more we might get away with it.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:55:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I heard that (4.00 / 2)

busted.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:29:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I heard that (4.00 / 2)

Damn we've been rumbled ;-)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:32:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BUT ...

If we're all a bunch of misfits then we are not misfits since we fit as being a bunch of misfits.

Basic Category Logic.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:23:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Isn´t the internet a great invention?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:25:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hey Mig,

I don't know how often you check your ucr address, but sent you an email there a little bit ago re the top-level topic. :-)

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:30:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Got it, thanks.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 01:23:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the job hunting!

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm (m<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:04:11 AM EST

Oo, sorry to hear that. If I see anything in the U.S., do you want to know about it, or are you looking in Europe only? (I'm looking for work myself, so since I'll be reading the job boards anyway, I can keep an eye out for you if you'd like....)

by lychee on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:06:02 AM EST

What skills do you have?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:36:37 AM EST

OK, time to get serious.

Migy ... I'll need to know your skill set if I'm to be of any use. Plus, you've got this entire "fan base" of fellow bloggers around the world who can cooperate to assist you.

Question: Isn't there SOPs for this situation in the blogosphere? Isn't your situation a tailor-made problem to be solved/assisted by your personal blogging community given the extreme connectivity?

They tried to assimilate me. They failed.

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:48:24 AM EST

I don't think the blogosphere has had time to develop "Standard Operating Procedures", but at least in my case ET is the backbone of my social network.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:02:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Holy Crap!

If you are correct with "I don't think the blogosphere has had time to develop "Standard Operating Procedures"", what a flippin' opportunity.

Please don't get me wrong. I've been in your shoes more than once ... looking for employment ... didn't have a wife or kids to consider ... so I know the necessity for your mental health to get a few solid offers in hand. But, MY GOD, I thought the net was all about people networking to find employment. If not, and this isn't an immediate money maker but, why don't we start a central employment service, CENTRAL TO ALL BLOGS WHO WILL PAY TO JOIN, that will be a known central resource for employers? I really can't believe this hasn't been thought of already. But WTF do I know.

They tried to assimilate me. They failed.

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 03:46:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

There's always this place ;-)

That's tough, Mig. Now's the time to go off and start up ETopia? No, I really don't think that's a good idea.

Sorry I've nothing to suggest. Hope you find something.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:50:36 AM EST

Sorry to hear this (4.00 / 3)

I have no doubt you'll find something quickly.

If you're actually looking only for food, I think I can provide that, and I have work for you, on ET... ;-)

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:14:26 AM EST

Re: Sorry to hear this (4.00 / 3)

Migeru will work for food. Barbara and Johnathan will be looking for a nice apartment near a decent school in the centre of a major european city of their choice, with---hmmm--a negotiable amount of thousands of euros per month for living expenses.

If you can sort that out, I reckon I'd be much more use to you than Miguel and can I have the job, please?

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:18:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry to hear this (4.00 / 3)

If he does that he'll find a whole queue of us sitting on his doorstep tomorrow morning.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:57:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry to hear this (4.00 / 2)

Yep, I'm available if we need a specialist in California law as it pertains to Juveniles. It seemed a broad enough area when I entered it. Now that there are just a few more years left with the county it doesn't seem so broad.

Good Luck Migeru, The attitude that this is an opportunity is the right one. Find something you like and where you feel you are doing some good and the stresses of work are more tolerable.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 12:15:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry to hear this (none / 1)

I agree. "The attitude that this is an opportunity is the right one. Find something you like and where you feel you are doing some good and the stresses of work are more tolerable."

by PliniusVetus on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 06:54:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry to hear this (none / 1)

You know where to mail the boxes of groceries, don't you?

How many words per turnip?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:14:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry to hear this (4.00 / 3)

How about we all post you turnips, and you just start writing whenever you feel hungry.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 03:23:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Bummer (4.00 / 5)

I cannot imagine that a polymath data-mining analyst statistician with a Deep Blue brain would be out of work for long. Predictive skills are needed in all types of companies.

But you have some time now - take it, and think what you'd really like to achieve. It IS an opportunity. And, as you can see, there are advantages in being an upstanding member of a community. We'll help in any way we can.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:23:04 AM EST

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 4)

I'm glad Miguel's enjoying such wide support. I share your feelings, Sven, and I'm actually quite happy that Miguel will finally be able to sit down and figure out what he really, really wants to do instead of coming home every night with a long face and feelings of uselessness.

He seems strangely happy about all this, so I take this as a good sign. Or maybe, as he said, it's still a shock and he hasn't started writhing on the floor in circles yet. Time will tell. But yes, we are in a bit of a better position that we were when we first came to London.

There are many options... and now we are rethinking our opportunities Europe-wide. We are not convinced London is really it... so maybe Barcelona, Paris... I am willing to move, but probably for the last time, so it better be good. Any ideas as to where is a good place to live and where we could possibly make it without eating too many turnips?

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:40:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

We launched it yesterday.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:49:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

Sven. How come everyone's sitting on the floor? Don't you have chairs there?

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:57:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 3)

It's closer to nature ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:30:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

intriguing...there's work there?? (but...brr)

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:12:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

There's a lot of work here in research. Nokia employs psychologists for example, though of what type I am not sure.

Don't be a wimp - it's not that cold ;-) Oh yes, I forgot you are from SF. But on the other hand, you'd be moving to SF.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:20:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

Hmm. Might drop you a note to discuss further with you!! (it may be the sign of the times, my contract may run out in December, so am looking at what prospects exist myself, and starting to actively network...talk soon!).

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:44:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

Bob, please do.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:46:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

I don't suppose there's any need for ex-engineer, ex-photographer, currently business researcher-struggling-consultant types? ;-)

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 04:23:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

Sadly we have a surfeit of engineers and photographers, but business consultancy is still growing here - if you have a useful speciality there's demand. But not the old hierarchical theory that came out of the US in the late Fifties and Sixties. More networkish organization. It's the older consultants who focus on leadership - the younger ones are more interested in harnessing the underused power throughout organizations.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 05:48:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

Lateral communications is my thing, although I suspect my sub-culture stuff isn't as useful in Finland as some places.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 03:05:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

Why don't we all goto the UK meetup and put some joint project together?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 05:54:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

I was thinking more of a meta-project consultancy wrapper, personally.

More of the think, and less of the tank.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:16:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

There was this thing about an e-mail...

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 03:06:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

Hi Metatone! I've been keeping you in the back of my mind too, since our talks in Paris...we social scientists should do some project work together!!

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 07:16:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 4)

Do you prefer City living: or would you consider somewhere within easy reach of a City?

Somehow I don't see you guys buried in the countryside tending your smallholding - I might be wrong!

I think this is a fantastic opportunity btw: there are some big changes coming in the financial world and Migeru has the breadth and depth of knowledge - plus the right values - necessary to navigate those changes...

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:05:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The perfect place to live (4.00 / 3)

Easy reach of the city would not be bad. There is a problem with this, though, because that means we'd live in a suburb of some sorts. We don't really want to own a car (I am a very very bad driver, and an even worse back-seat driver), and Miguel likes to back up into fences and mow down innocent cyklists... plus there is the whole peak-oil thing looming over everyone's head. At the same time, I like nature and really quite suffer in the London crowds.

So, ideally, a place that provides a good combination of green spaces and urban living, decent education for Jonathan, where one can bike and buy a nice loaf of bread and also where we could both be successful as professionals. Hm...a lot to ask, I know. But I'm hopeful.

For those of you that don't know what Miguel was doing... well, don't feel bad, I don't know much more. I know the name of his title and that's almost it. He didn't want to kill me, you see.

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:18:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The perfect place to live (none / 1)

Correction: cyclists.

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:19:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The perfect place to live (none / 1)

A couple of links

http://www.european-city-parks.com/

http://green-journey.blogspot.com/

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:01:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The perfect place to live (none / 1)

Looks like Munich outskirts.

by alv on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 at 07:23:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

Are you suggesting we move to the outskirts of Edinburgh?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:07:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

When reading one of Barbara's posts, I said to Chris that the outskirts of Edinburgh sounds like the ideal place. Plenty of work for you here, I'm sure...and good schools too.

by Solveig (link2ageataol.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:45:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

Whatever gives you that idea?

Might you be interested in kick-starting Enlightenment 2.0 ?

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 03:10:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

When are you next in London?

Or... see you at the Falkirk Wheel?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 05:51:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

I'll be down there within a couple of weeks for a day or two.

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 03:13:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (none / 1)

I'm not so much happy as relieved - it's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. My friends know I wasn't exactly enjoying my job.

The lack of immediate financial pressures helps. I'm not going to just sit twiddling my thumbs for a year, but when we moved to London nearly 3 years ago we had very few contacts and ended up pretty much broke after three months (good thing we both found jobs). This time it's very different.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:06:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 3)

You know Miguel, if you're willing to look at Spain.

There's a large renewable energy sector, (particularly wind) and they need account specialists and the like who 1) Speak English. (Fluently) 2) Have experience in with finances. 3)Have the basic understanding of physics and math to know what is physically possible and not.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:30:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bummer (4.00 / 2)

I am willing to move, but probably for the last time,...

Famous last words.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 10:49:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What kind of job are you looking for?

Could you send me a CV by e-mail?

You can have a look at this site: EuroBrussels

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:56:04 AM EST

That's an interesting link, melanchthon! And Migeru is our resident EU specialist!!

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 11:13:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I doubt I can convince a prospective employer that I'm an "EU specialist".

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:13:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I can (none / 1)

give you a preliminary overview of what the examination rounds will look like. I doubt your doubt that they won't be interested in your qualities.

by Nomad (Bjinse) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:23:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will work for food (none / 0)

Melanchton, I don't think I have your e-mail address (I'm sure you've given me your card at some point, but I must have misplaced it). Can you drop me a line?

Oye, vatos, dees English sink todos mi ships, chinga sus madres, so escuche: el fleet es ahora refloated, OK? — The War Nerd

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Sep 21st, 2007 at 06:17:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Will work for food (none / 0)

It's melanchthon[-chez-]laposte[-point-]net

You can find it in my user's page.

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Fri Sep 21st, 2007 at 06:55:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yikes. Assuming you don't want to move to America, there's little I can do to help you in the job arena. But good luck.

Maybe now would be a good time to write a novel? :)

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:59:14 AM EST

Sorry to hear that. Hope you will find luck and job again, Migeru, I'm sure someone here will help you.
Little bit about me. I'm very busy at the moment and cannot participate here in full (no new photodiaries!) as some books pending and negotiations with several publishers are in full swing, I hope I will be lucky too. And one article about magic rituals in Himalayas need travel soon too, so this month my visits here will be random.
Good luck again!

by FarEasterner on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 12:08:11 PM EST

Good luck with it Far Easterner!

Now there's a job I would enjoy:

"Oh, by the way, I have to travel to the Himalayas for that travel article about magic rituals I was telling you about."

(sez the bloke who just finished writing THE WORLD'S MOST BORING TRAINING SCRIPT. Which I couldn't finish, coz some bit of the system was doing strange things which I'll have to ask someone about. So I'm a bit jealous, that's all.)

Right. Time for one mountain, then I must cycle 'omewards.

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 12:14:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

My hearty thanks, rg!
For travel in Himalayas - as I live here in Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalayas) it would be easy I think. Stunning scenery is all around but I and locals rarely notice it, such a pity. Article about magic rituals is about actually my long time friend, a Shaman, and his group. There are many frightening and strange things about them as these rituals involve some unidentified deadly spirits and one man already gone mad and was sent home, another broke his leg and fell out of the quest to gain mysterious powers. I was planning to do this article with one photographer from American magazine National Geographic (she came here for assignment in Kolkata) but she seemed to change her mind after knowing some disturbing details and difficulties in reaching them out there. So I don't know yet where this article will be published probably in Russian edition of National Geographic as its editor in chief was very interested.

by FarEasterner on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 12:29:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, good luck. I've probably got about 9 months left myself. After that a very long trip, then most likely off to the energy industry.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 01:54:47 PM EST

first to say .. .sorrryyyyyy

Really... back to academia?

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 01:56:15 PM EST

Is that a job offer? Barbara would love for us to move to Barcelona... after you guys manage to restore electrical power to the city, of course.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:08:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

First.. electricty problems are due to the lack of investment of the central government.. well actually it is private companies in this case... but they are in their madird tower... you get the point.. je jje

Regarding work... in Barcelona is not difficult..a ctually as a post-docs it should nto be difficult.. the problem is that I do nto know anyone in your past fields...

But in europe there are plenty of jobs.. I gues syou have the physicsweb link job already...don't you? I deleted yesterday a mail full of tens of work offers... do not miss it.

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:16:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If I wanted to go back to my past fields I wouldn't be asking you if you have a job offer ;-) Do you have a job offer?

Someone needs to write a diary about the Great Barcelona Blackout of 2007.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:19:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I was nto here.. so I do not know the gossip.. I do nto know anything about what happened in detail.. just a black out for lack of investment in redundances..

Ok.. then go to http://physicsworld.com/cws/home.

You should be able to find bunch of offers.. I do not have an offer for a post-doc here where I am.. but if I know someone looking for a post-doc I will tell you for sure!!!

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:55:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I take it then that Physics of any sort is a no-no?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 04:25:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

No, I mean that if to go back to what I did for my PhD I'll get in touch with my dissertation advisor. Who, coincidentally, is in London this week and next ;-)

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 04:36:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Who, coincidentally, is in London this week and next ;-)

Fate.

Some might call that.

Young polymath.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 04:46:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

In Barcelona, Jonathan -who speaks English, Spanish and Czech- will have to speak catalán. It is a serious problem to a boy. Barcelona City is very nice, but...

by PliniusVetus on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 07:01:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It is a joke.. isn't it?.. because foru languages is no different from three..a ctually the more languages the better... jonathan would be very lucky ... ..

but I guess it was a snark.. je je

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 at 10:45:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ouch (4.00 / 5)

Let me also pitch in - sorry to hear the news - at first. Because it was becoming increasingly clear you didn't gain that much satisfaction out of what (whatever it is/was!) you were doing. The financial straits are always the first thing I'd worry about - but that seems no problem now and I'm glad to hear that.

So it's brainstorm time. I've very little doubt that you will not be able to find another application with your prolific profile - I suspect that the biggest challenge now could be to figure out what you personally would like to concentrate on (and find out whether there's a job in it). Take your time now you can, and it will come.

by Nomad (Bjinse) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 02:25:49 PM EST

Re: Ouch (none / 1)

The first thing I have to do, financially, is Barbara´s taxes (we have a deadline coming up). Then I have to take a serious look at our finances and figure out how much money I need to be making, and how soon.

But yes, it´s brainstorm time. Ideally I would probably enjoy contract work the most because of the variety. The problem is to know who I can sell my services to: A lifetime of people rolling their eyes when I said I did math/physics probably distorts my perception of how well I could sell myself.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:11:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ouch (4.00 / 3)

Ideally I would probably enjoy contract work the most because of the variety.

Have you already done some contract work ?

Typical assignments last over a year, often 2-3. There isn't so much variety. And your sales agent (you always need one to get through the purchasing department, unless you are Bill Clinton or Ben Bernanke) is always an asshole and shafts you for anywhere between 30 and 60% of the business you generate.

I'm sick of contract work.

Tell you more in e-mail

Pierre

by Pierre on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 01:09:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

start a photoblog of what it's like being a blogging househusband!

you could take some weekend massage courses, and practice on barbara(!).

one or two would get you started, and you may find, as i did in my late 30's, that i was made for this.

it would get you out of your head, too, though not in a too-much-guiness way...

different kind of physics-

you are being paid to take a break and dig down into yourself and your environment to manifest an occupation that more accurately represents the person you aspire to self-actualise.

i heard someone say that in an esalen hot tub...so it must be true.

go on a shamanic quest with far easterner, but not after saying to barbara that you're just popping down to the store for some milk.

beat of luck , migeru, perhaps translator?

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 08:03:37 PM EST

I could translate - the trick is to convince someone who needstranslating that I can do it. And that´s the problem with a lot of the stuff that I know I can dö: I don´t have the qualifications to prove it.

I can hear the call of the Mongolian steppe already...

On the massaging - no, I don´t think that´s for me. Barbara had a good friend in California that she traded massages with (he did it for a living, and was very good at it). I don´t think I have it in me.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:07:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

What a pain in the ass!

"Welcome back from your honeymoon ....

You're fired."

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 09:25:10 PM EST

Not sure how I can help from 4,000 miles away, Mig, but, knowing my email address, please (please please) don't hesitate to ask if there's anything I can do.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 at 10:16:13 PM EST

Yikes, Migeru, I hated being unemployed.

One of the books I read to get a job (but didn;t in the end) is: What colour is your parachute. It is by an American and it is quite an interesting approach to finding a job. I could give you my copy under the Falkirk wheel....

However that wasn't what made me employed again. I just walked into a job agency and I had a job three days later - never been paid that much before - in a area that I have never worked in. Contract: yes, not for ever, yes, but at least something - One of the reasons why I call myself an ecomoic migrant. Britain makes it easier (crap employment laws) to get onto the job ladder that way.

And a third. Friend of mine in Germany PHD in Physics, wored at Los Alamos, coming back to Germany is now working for a big consultancy company. They always look for brainiacs, that can communicate well. And you most certainly are and can.

So, light on the bushel and get out there!!

You have the support net here where you can bounce off when you feel to depressed about being out of work, but with some careful planing and thinking it oughtend be to long before you are making money again with what you do!

by PeWi on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:44:03 AM EST

What colour is your parachute (none / 1)

Barbara owns that book... and she's been telling me to read it for months now ;-)

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:00:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What colour is your parachute (4.00 / 2)

Well, listen to her for once (-:

by PeWi on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:04:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What colour is your parachute (4.00 / 3)

Things I liked from the book.

Finding a job is a full time job, not to be taken half heartedly. It is depressing and exhausting. With lots of setbacks and utterly, utterly frustrating.

You are interviewing your employer as much as you are being interviewed.

Small employers are often more able to employ you than big ones, so you have to go out and offer your service to them. Show them, how your skill is missing in their company, and how your skills can improve their enterprise and bring their company forward.

Lots of jobs with small companies are not being advertised, since that is very expensive, and a boss might have different priorities and cannot think about employing someone right now, but would desperately need someone. so you have to hone your skills at social contacting, working the grid - opening your ears and just ask. (I had a job interview with the father of my Latin pupil once, didn't work out, but I tried...)

by PeWi on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:18:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What colour is your parachute (4.00 / 3)

Well, I never read the book, but I did take a popular course from a real wiz of a guy who offered much the same fare (of that era). My take is that it's not bad advice but requires a lot of work or luck to actually land a good job. The best, and only, way I know of is networking. Either you know someone who has a job or they know someone and can vouch for you.

By the way, the wiz ended up committing suicide a few years back rather than being arrested for hiring someone to kill his creep of a son-in-law. So much for common sense.

So happy to be retired. I would burn all my books on how to get a job if I had any.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:19:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Jeez, that sucks. I know you were less than satisfied but going this way is a lot less satisfying and uncertain than leaving on your own terms.

I'm sure you'll find something soon, and I hope it's a better fit than the hedge fund.

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:19:01 AM EST

Re: Will work for food (3.66 / 3)

Well, as a matter of fact, my severance package is better than what I would have gotten had I left of my own initiative, not also monetarily but also they are waiving the non-compete clause in my contract.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 11:01:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You see what happens when you marry - things start to fall apart :-)

Seriously, it seems absurd that anyone with your qualifications and range of skills should have to worry about finding work. But of course it's also finding the right work.

If it's at all possible and economically viable, go for something that gives real satisfaction. Lecturing didn't pay anything near as much as advertising - which I did for a few months after art school - but not only could I look at myself in the mirror in the morning, I really felt I was doing something worthwhile, which I really enjoyed AND they paid me for it! Education may not be your thing - though you sound as if you'd be a good teacher/lecturer - but anything that pays reasonably well AND you feel good about is a nice combination.

Montserrat just said more or less the same thing (not knowing what I'd written); she lost a very high-level, well-paid job in Paris due to a take-over, and said it made her think seriously about her priorities in life. She turned down a similar job in Paris, to change her life and move here to Nice and look for something which won't take over most of her waking hours and which she doesn't really care about.

I understand Barbara's interest in Barcelona - what are a few little power-cuts when you have all that sun, the Ramblas and the sea ? ! :-)

Good luck.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:58:02 AM EST

Dreams don´t lie (4.00 / 8)

Last night I dreamt my yoga teaching and interpreting was not enough to support us and I had to go and get a job at an awful petrol station. I guess it´s time for me to make a serious move into expanding my business. Things are going reasonably well but as my dream implies, there is room for growth.

Anyone interested in a yoga retreat in Southern Bohemia next summer? I´m serious. It won´t be that expensive, either, and I hope it will be lots of fun for everybody.

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon

by Barbara on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 03:35:56 PM EST

I hope Barbara didn't marry me for my money :-(

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:28:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

How about (4.00 / 3)

writing a book? Or several? You just need to put together a few ET posts/comments and you're set!

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:32:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The problem is not writing a book, or even publishing it. The problem is selling it!

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:50:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

well as long as your not aiming for a price like this you might sell a few.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:31:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's extremely annoying.

Those are not the most expensive books of 2006.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:36:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What were they then?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:42:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How about (none / 0)

the most expensive books in 2006? They are not "of" 2006. They were neither written nor published nor even reprinted in 2006.

The is a big difference between creating a product and selling it for profit and ancient pieces exchanging hand within antiquarian circles. Two entirely different markets.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:02:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

that was what I was actually looking for, but had to settle for that in a quick trawl of the net.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:04:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

With a price like that you only need to sell one!

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:48:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

but you wouldn't be selling it to any of us (Unless Jeromes wages are more than he ever lets on)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:58:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, not to me per se, but I do manage to get ahold of such things on a ... daily basis.

I'm dying to know who bought those. The wildest thing I've seen in a while was a first edition of Don Quixote.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:15:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

With a price like that you'll also need to have been dead for several centuries too...

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:05:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Are you willing to have (4.00 / 2)

Russian millionnaires as investors?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:31:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Are you willing to have (4.00 / 2)

Oh no, I'm having flashbacks to The Russian Debutante's Handbook.

Despite Vladimir's meek and melancholic propensities, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In a naive attempt to collect a little extra cash with which to impress his American girlfriend, he manages to offend a Catalan drug dealer and is forced to flee to Prava (Shteyngart's inexplicably coy pseudonym for Prague). There, he goes to work for a Russian gangster nicknamed the Groundhog, who sees great financial promise in Vladimir's ethnicity ("All you need is three Yids to rule the world").
Galvanized in some mysterious way by finding himself amid the ruins of his Soviet Eden, Vladimir launches a successful plan to bilk gullible Americans in a pyramid investment scheme comprising a chimerical "brand-new high-technology industrial park and convention centre," "modernized" Uzbek film studios and "a vocational school for the Yupik Eskimo in Siberia." There's also an actual nightspot dubbed the Metamorphosis Lounge, where intimate services and ample quantities of horse tranquilizer can purchased. Oh, and a literary magazine, too.

Hey, wait, there are at least 5 career choices for you there, Migush.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:41:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Are you willing to have (4.00 / 2)

Who said this wasn´t the right time to think about ETopia?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 04:51:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Just seen M. Moore's "Sicko" - in it a woman says she has three jobs, and Bush says isn't that unique to America ! and the audience applauds - as if that was something to be proud of ! Work yourselves to death fellow Americans - and fund a 3 trillion (?) attack on Iraq - while the top 0.1% profit from it and the Bush tax cuts.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:54:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wasn´t there recently an article measuring productivity per person instead of per hour worked, because that way the US comes out on top.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 05:57:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-76QNBU

As I recall it, to be fair, this time the US came out in the study as being more productive per hour too. But on the other hand middle class wages in US have declined in real terms so that it's more necessary for both parents to work - sometimes at more than one job, and for single parents to do more than one job.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:14:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dreams don´t lie (none / 1)

That means it's more productive per dollar wage, and also per household.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 01:23:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dreams don´t lie (4.00 / 5)

Now there's a book for you to write.

How the Right and the MSM use statistics (lies, damn lies, and...) to manipulate economic debate.

Deconstruct their meaures, and work though the implications.

Think of the earlier diaries by Colman about the discrepancies in the unemployment rate across countries.

On a more esoteric level, you could could off on the lose of the M3 money supply measure.

When were are involved in what we believe to be positivistic, emperical arguments, we often miss that in the operationalization of concepts we introduce normative presumptions.........

There's a book there, Mig.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Thu Sep 6th, 2007 at 06:19:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

humanitarian jobs (4.00 / 3)

Here's a link to a humanitarian jobs website, with jobs in just about every country, including in Europe & UK, called ReliefWeb (which you can subscribe to):

Here's another related website, from UN-OCHA too:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwc.nsf/doc427?OpenForm&query=VAC

Lots of jobs with a variety of skills requested...

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 08:17:27 AM EST

Re: humanitarian jobs (none / 1)

speaking of Charity jobs.

http://charityjob.co.uk/seekers/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=88168

Senior Economic Justice Advisor- Development Finance

Christian Aid
Waterloo, London

by PeWi on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 at 06:11:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]