Matt Simmons predicts the next financial meltdown will make what is happening now seem insignificant.....the current economic mess was triggered by peak oil and high oil prices....what is coming will be worse---and will involve massive energy shortages and food shortages.
Joined: Sep 25, 2004 Posts: 4524 Location: Boston, MA
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: What Advise For My 18 Year Old Son?
Grifter wrote:
I don't think a business degree is very useful even if there was no such thing as peak oil. Business is just about common sense along with a bit of knowledge about money and.....well......growth!
Clearly you did not major in business administration, accounting, finance, etc.
General Education Requirements
* Core Requirements
* CBA U 101-Introduction to Business
* MTH U 131-Calculus for Business (pending on placement)
* MSC U 201-Business Statistics
* ECN U 115-Macro-Economics
* ECN U 116-Micro-Economics
* Category Requirements
* Social World
* Arts and Humanities
* Historical, Ethical, and Aesthetic Perspectives
Those are the Gen-Ed requirements at Northeastern University for a degree in international business.
One must also take the following classes:
ACC U 201-Financial Accounting and Reporting
ACC U 301-Managerial Accounting
MKT U 201-Introduction to Marketing
FIN U 201-Financial Management
MIS U 301-Management Information Systems
MSC U 401-Operations Management
HRM U 201-Organizational Behavior
MGT U 501-Strategy In Action
INB U 201-Global Environment of International Business
INB U 301-Living and Working Abroad
INB U 501-Advanced Global Management
"It's a hard, hard way to make an easy living."
As for PenultimateManStanding's kid, we will still need businesspeople in the future. If he has some kind of unique insight, he might be able to start a successful small business.
Working for 35 years in the payroll department at Citigroup might be an unrealistic goal but there's no reason why a smart, motivated, creative businessman won't have a job in the future. There have always been and always will be managers, accountants, and financiers.
Watch the TV show Jericho. A series of nuclear bombs destroys civilization but they still have an extensive network of trading posts. Why? Because it's the natural state of free people to trade with each other. _________________ "www.peakoil.com is the Myspace of the Apocalypse."
Joined: Dec 02, 2005 Posts: 6375 Location: Oil-addicted Southern Californucopia
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:11 am Post subject: Re: What Advise For My 18 Year Old Son?
128shot wrote:
then how come engineering jobs aren't being exported ?
Because the engineers are all coming here and working dirt cheap. _________________ "Thank you for attending the oil age. We're going to scrape what we can out of these tar pits in Alberta and then shut down the machines and turn out the lights. Goodnight." - seldom_seen
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:58 am Post subject: Re: What Advise For My 18 Year Old Son?
PMS,
Could your son work with the Harbour police and do a college course at nights or by distance learning just to keep his options open. He could also perhaps learn a trade, plumbing carpentry or electrician - These are the most important trades.
I sometimes think if I lived in the US with my 2 young sons (3 & 4), I might actually encourage them to go to Westpoint. They stay there for 4 years and get a degree. If a draft comes in, then they are already in the army as officers their situation would be slightly better than being in the army as privates.
The ideas about studying agriculture or permaculture are also good ideas IMO. I type this sitting beside my 4 year old and I really empathise with your concerns. My 4 year old wants to be anastronaut - didn't we all at one stage? - don't we feel cheated? _________________ www.askaboutenergy.com
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
Hey didn't you know ? We were all just kidding about it being a good idea to have kids.
We didn't really expect you to take us seriously !
Congrats. Now comes the hard part. Consider it doomer training - no good night's sleep for the next 2 years ... _________________ "People are just bastards - bastard covered bastards with bastard filling."
Joined: Feb 23, 2005 Posts: 501 Location: Winnipeg
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
congrats Chuck. Peak Oil is no reason to not have children. I was reading something about how material goods have a diminishing return on happiness. So even if you probably wont be able to give your kid an SUV when she turns 16, it means nothing to her quality of life.
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
I never post, but I read alot,
I got mine, on her way, she's coming in october, Bless her; my little child to be.
Now I believe that the crap is going to hit the fan, and nothing I think or do is going to stop my only natural reason for being here. We are here to procreatate and procuce, she will inherit all of the earth and everything that I teach her. So lets hope I teach her well, or Fark her up.... either way, if they can do it africa, starving and with no western upbringing; then I can do a better job in richsville (by 90% of the worlds standard) and teach her what is to come, and prepare her for what is to be, this will put her above 90% of the plebs who think that mere existance is everything...
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
rwwff wrote:
AmericanEmpire wrote:
Just like my mother and father in law. We've watched end of suburbia with them and what did they do. They went out and have bought a brand new vehicle.
I don't understand this need to evangelize.
I don't understand this need to preach, oh mighty self-proclaimed holy one.
It seems to me quite understandable that folks here at PO.com mention the trials of trying to approach their loved ones about the hard times coming.
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
My suggestion is to go for it, have one child - while you
1) still have good medical back up care (but use a qualified good midwife) for birth and pregnancy (which may be lacking years from now)
2) you can still find good cloth diapers & wonderful wool covers (and there are tons out there that are excellent, it's quite amazing what is out there these days - and after the first kid uses them, they are still quite a good trade item or 2nd hand gift for friends/family!)
3) you still have opportunity to stock up on clothing, shoes etc. for the child.
4) Random advice - do be sure your wife breastfeeds your baby, then it's food supply is assured (vs nasty cow milk formula with possible availability problems) and your baby's health is getting the best possible start; pratice more "primitive" parenting - co-sleeping (everyone stays warm, makes nursing easier, everyone gets more sleep), sling that baby in a Maya wrap (wonderful overlooked future trade items, too!) etc. Babies need boobs, a few dozen cloth diapers, some clothes and a sling. That's IT! Seriously. They are not expensive until you add in daycare, health insurance, and lots of useless plastic crap (toys, too many clothes, disposable diapers etc).
Having a child really does change your life, in good and difficult ways. It's made me even more aware of the dangers, yes, but also the beauty and possibilities. It has motivated me like nothing else could to do all I can to make the world a better place. I say give your wife a baby before she leaves you and has one anyway with someone else if it's "make it or break it" type deal!
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:05 am Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
Congratulations!
I believe that despite the future hardships (which may not turn out quite as doomerish as you said you expect), a child will probably be a blessing, not a curse. Careful mental and material preparation for a much reduced living standard will help a long way. It's good to contemplate your location at this point, too.
We have two children, soon perhaps three, and I'm planning to stay alive long enough to be assisted by them when I'm too old to work. _________________ "A devastating error is to set up a political system based on [individual] desire... the best dictatorship would be one where the government prevents any economical growth."
"Only scarcity and effort make life worth living."
-Pentti Linkola
Joined: Dec 02, 2005 Posts: 6375 Location: Oil-addicted Southern Californucopia
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Wife wants KIDS! I DON'T!
Congrats, Chuck!
Some advice: Savor these early years. Concentrate on how much fun you have with her when she's little. Focus even more during the prime years: 6 through 10 or so. That's when kids are at their best.
I'm telling you this because it will all change in 11 or 12 years. Things will be very different from then on, so enjoy the time leading up to that to its fullest. _________________ "Thank you for attending the oil age. We're going to scrape what we can out of these tar pits in Alberta and then shut down the machines and turn out the lights. Goodnight." - seldom_seen
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