Comments for ham blog

Comment on 5 Things People Need to Stop Saying About Unemployment by aspoonfulatatime

aspoonfulatatime — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:18:47 +0000

As a defense contractor, feeling the hits of the cuts as we approach possible sequestration cuts for civilian employees, I am about to go through unemployment (second lay off) in almost as many years. The temporary nature of my work has helped me keep an emotional distance from my job while also pressuring me, given the short time I have, to prove myself even harder with the hope of continuing employment or being considered for the next contract. I have an English degree, and with all the “technical documentation” we produce, with clarity of policy/instructions in the Army IT environment being so “critical,” you would think they could piece things together or at least not be such jerks, but I am routinely told and made to feel how little my skills matter. (The Army’s labor category for me is the very non-descriptive “documentation specialist,” a title that has bit me in the ass for years and I just HATE it — I was vulnerable to chopping on that front alone, nevermind I have done every job on my 3-person team, including leading it at various times on the contract because every high-falutin’ IT guy making 6 figures stomped off citing despair with the Army culture). I mean, if anybody’s in desperate need of a critical thinker with creativity, problem solving, and writing/editing skills, it is the U.S.MF Army. *whew.. a rant leaked out!* My town is so small and Defense-reliant, that the cuts we’re facing is going to decimate my community. The supporting outlying community really only provides low-wage service jobs (that I was too overqualified for in college!) because mostly old retired people (like my poor old folks, who I want to help) live here and don’t want to pay much tax or allow any growth (curmudgeonly attitudes). Most bright younger people want to move away or are simply forced to due to limited opportunities and little feeling of inclusion/hope for being a part of this community.

Everything you have so aptly (and humorously!) described in this blog is something I can relate to — I have lived through exactly what you are describing (love Ehrenreich’s books too, btw!) and it is a source of comfort for me to hear your candid thoughts — I dislike the incredible pressure to censor them because you are right, the problem is something bigger and more systemic. Unemployment is the symptom of a greater disease.

Because I have lived through this before, I am better prepared to endure this along with all the stupidity from well-meaning people and not-so-well-meaning/indifferent people alike; the conventional wisdom and prescription for how to solve this problem, really is terribly futile and that’s part of the frustration you’re expressing. In my case, I am prepared to not only ignore it this time, but I’m ready to try some unconventional things and take some risks — as far as I’m concerned, it is risky and there’s no guarantee either way; the only difference is the perception of others. I just stumbled upon your blog by accident and have yet to read your others, which I look forward to, but no matter what’s happened since you wrote this post that I have yet to learn about, I wish you the best luck (does that sounds stupid?). Thanks specifically for your candor and insight. I wish you great luck and thanks for writing this post! Cheers, R.

Comment on Yule gift guide 2012, part 2: Cosmetics & Beauty/Health items by Annaham

Annaham — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:49:27 +0000

Thanks, Lauredhel! Glad you’re enjoying these–I actually don’t wear nail polish and thus will not be doing a guide for that, but I have heard really good things about Illamasqua’s nail polish (http://www.sephora.com/nail-varnish-P241720?skuId=1194083), particularly the variety of colors and the wear time. I am not sure if the brand’s available in places other than the UK and US, but it may be worth checking out.

Comment on Yule gift guide 2012, part 2: Cosmetics & Beauty/Health items by lauredhel

lauredhel — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 03:19:09 +0000

I must say, I’m enjoying your gift guides! Even if postage is usually too expensive. Don’t suppose you’ll be doing a nail polish edition?

Comment on Yule Gift Guide 2012, part 1: Accessories by Yule gift guide 2012, part 2: Cosmetics & Beauty/Health items « ham blog

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:06:03 +0000

[...] Previously: part 1. [...]

Comment on Everything’s better with (Francis) Bacon by sydneycool

sydneycool — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:55:27 +0000

Agree – Bacon’s paintings particularly this series are as much as the inner experience

Comment on 5 Things People Need to Stop Saying About Unemployment by linmirianjoyrex

linmirianjoyrex — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 18:03:38 +0000

YES. This is a MASTERPIECE. IT IS BRILLIANT. IT IS WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR.

Comment on 5 Things People Need to Stop Saying About Unemployment by Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:22:31 +0000

This is such a phenomenal piece! Great job.

Comment on 5 Things People Need to Stop Saying About Unemployment by Hannah

Hannah — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:14:26 +0000

The comedian Mark Steel wrote a wonderful piece on unemployment (it’s in his book Reasons to be Cheerful) noting that it is, in many ways, harder than having a job: at least when you’re employed you’re allowed to moan about it, and there are people around making sure you do it, whereas being unemployed, you just slip off the radar and it begins to feel like no one would notice if you just stopped breathing. I was unemployed for nearly a year after finishing my degree, and it was, without doubt, the most depressing period of my life: both in the colloquial sense and in that it made my clinical depression about ten times worse.

Good luck – I really hope you find a decent job that you enjoy as soon as possible.

Comment on 5 Things People Need to Stop Saying About Unemployment by Nicholas Kiddle (@ksej)

Nicholas Kiddle (@ksej) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:18:21 +0000

“Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten a degree in Women’s Studies/English/Art History, then!”

Meanwhile I have a degree in the hardest of sciences and I’m unemployed too. Wow, almost looks like the job market sucks for everyone, doesn’t it?

Too many people want to find something you’ve done wrong, because of Just World beliefs, because they want to feel that they themselves are protected, whatever. As if being unemployed and broke wasn’t hard enough, there’s the added complication of an aching jaw from having to grit our teeth through so much would-be helpful advice. Bleh

Comment on Everything’s better with (Francis) Bacon by Alex Jones

Alex Jones — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:00:29 +0000

Nightmarish images of meat, appropriate for the name Bacon. I reckon the paintings are a reflection of the inner experience of Bacon.