Unemployed and Lovin' It

while the stereotype of the jobless man or woman is usually one of a lazy, shiftless no-account, there is alot of anecdotal evidence that points otherwise.
Tired of the rat race, many people who are out looking for work right now are relieved in a sense from having to batter the workplace forces of injustice, corruption or downright discrimination.
The new face of the unemployed is in fact the face of the upper-middle class. Many of them are college-educated, professional and, well, laid off.
They have a little money but not much. They enjoy the finer things but make do with the nice things. They are unemployed, and loving it.

Are You Boring and Uninteresting?

Beleive it or not, TV-watching has reached an all-time high in America. And while joblessness can explain some of the increase, there may be a more troubling answer for our entertainment-craved selves: We boring.
Now, don't get me wrong, we're all individually talented, blessed and endowed with unique abilities ... but if we measure our lives' fulfillment by what we do? Um, it ain't much (Surfing the Web does not count).
Ninety percent of women I have ever asked the simple question "What do you like to do?" will say, Spending time with family, friends oh, and, going out to eat."
But think about it: Is going out to eat really supposed to be a hobby, a specific box we check on our "things to do" list?
Is spending time with family and friends - of course it's enjoyable - an event? Is it supposed to be one? Do we have real hobbies, interests that we do that fulfill our lives and - sometimes - take us out of the house? Just a question.

Getting Married in a Recession: Feasible?

I know of two people who are gearing up for big weddings amidst the worst economic times any of us can remember. One of the wedding will cost upward of $20,000 and that doesn't include the honeymoon. This is the one who's fiance just got laid off. The other one, I hear, may skip out on the reception because of the high cost. An expensive wedding these days. Is it worth it? Or do we even have a right to advise someone how they should get married?

5 Things NOT to do if You're Unemployed

Let's face it: It's real in the field, aka it's sooo tough to find a job right now. The unemployment rate is surging with every week that goes by. If you are jobless there are things to do, and there are things NOT to do. However, by simply letting the time pass by we could be making things alot worse. So, here's how not to get the winter doldrums as your job search lengthens:

DON'T PANIC: Take a deep breath, and breathe ..... Okay, losing your mind will not make a job magically appear. Now is the time to remain calm, collected and think through your plans.

DON'T TURN TO THE BOTTLE: Yeah, we know, it's so so easy to go to the corner liquor store and get a bottle of what ails you, but it's not the answer. When you sober up, your job situation will still be there, only you will have lost time, money, and possibly gagged on yourself. HOwever, if you've got to have a drink, we'd suggest an Atomic Cocktail (vodka) as the drink of choice.

AVOID THE POLE: Making ends meet as a stripper is fast-money,
big money and easy money, but it's also a vicious trap and dangerous as heck. To the vast majority of women who strip, they are propositioned by countless con-artists, scary geeks and pedos that try to lure them home, prostitute them or just plain rob them. The strip club is a den of thieves. Don't ever think it's an option. HOwever if you want to
install a pole in your house there are resources available.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK: The adage "it's who you know," is never more true than when it comes to employment. Network in your social circle. Get out and meet people at the social hangouts that you frequent. If not in person, then do it online. There are countless job resources online that can help you, including a ton of job sites (monster, indeed, yahoojobs, etcs.).

REALIZE YOU'RE NOT ALONE: Don't be depressed because you can't find a job. Millions of people are just like you. Millions don't have the skills, experience or schooling that you have. Don't give up.

The End of the White-Bread American Dream

If you've been leaving in a cave in Tasmania somewhere you might not have caught it, but, the American Dream is dying. Whether it was spurred by high gas prices, two wars at the same time or just good ole fashioned corporate greed, the A.D. (American Dream) is on the way out. But what's interesting, is that it's not just any ole American Dream, specifically the white-bread American Dream: The nice truck, late-model minivan, husband-wife, 2.5 kids and dog from the terrier genus, plus home with white picket fence. Nope, outta here. Been replaced by overworked manager with suicidal teen, wife who "friends" strangers on Myspace while Daddy's at work, and the single-car family. The people we know are increasingly colorful: Indians, Mexicans, Nigerians, and less and less from ... say, Idaho. Jobs are scarce; the employed are just as scared as the unemployed; what's happening? TO BE CONTINUED.