Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
i am 39, female, unmarried, no kids. may or may not be considered disabled, we'll see what SSDI has to say. BA in world cultures, most of MA in english lit (critical theory), worked for 5 years as a tech writer until the last recession, have been chronically under or unemployed since. now working on MA in mental health counseling, at which i am damn good.
i have always been jack of all trades, master of none. wide background in academic and amateur study physics, chemistry, biology, history, world culture, economics, political science, critical theory. was pre-engineering at one point. guess i'm a tad ADD BUT you know many great independent thinkers probably fall into that category! they think most entrepreneurs do! and that's what we are right? in a very real very microeconomic sense!
i think if i'm going to develop a marketable skill it will have to build off what i am most current in and physically able to handle. i *can* sew. i plan to join a farming coop, maybe i will learn some things about food production. also due to various medical conditions i enjoy, i am fairly smart about medicine and can build on that, but assuming pharmaceuticals are not available, can learn and approach it from an herbalist perspective.
i am getting a motorcycle, i have no car. i'm hoping this will turn out to be an advantage. i plan on learning small-engine repair and have taken steps in that direction. i also hope this will be useful.
i read in one of these threads about the idea of simplifying technology and lifestyle until we reach ecological/nomical balance with our environment. i think that is right on. everything i've ever studied about biological systems, ecological systems, physical systems, chemical systems, revolves around the idea of a homeostatic balance between varying pressures. personally i hate the way i live my life now. i hate it because there is no way to participate in the larger social, economic, political system of american culture without being sucked dry materially, physically, spiritually, while simultaneously being pressured to buy and achieve. i have been working for the last four years to break free of the system so i can decide my own future, hoping to start a private practice, get into some community organizations. only ten years ago i was telling people that rather than trying to change the existing, faulty system, we should be trying to build up a separate infrastructure so that when the old system collapses, there will be something viable to replace it. i get some satisfaction and a certain amount of uncanny fright knowing i actually apparently was right and it's not coming later - it's coming right now.
Joined: Jun 18, 2004 Posts: 806 Location: Western North Carolina
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject:
37. Married, two kids (3 & 2)
BS Industrial Engineering.
Telecom Engineer specializing in Fiber Optic and Copper (telephony) distribution, network design, installation etc.
Have done network design, sys administration (UNIX/windows), sales, production engineer in clothing factory (pre-NAFTA), bike mechanic, masonry contstruction.
Post PEAK skills:
salvage and repair of anything mechanical, poultry farming, gardening
I like fixing stuff, and restoring old gadgets/tools/guns. "If its mechanical I can make it work!" Automobile restoration and drag racing were my main insterest prior to my "enlightenment". Of course, I'm changing focus now.
New project is grandma's old Singer Treadle sewing machine. And learning how to survive at a lower energy level.
Joined: Nov 24, 2004 Posts: 75 Location: West Lafayette, IN U.S.A.
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject:
24 yrs old, bachelor's in physics. One of my hobbies is languages, which got me the nice job I have for the moment producing braille books. (shameless plug: http://www.ghbraille.com/ ) I will return to school in 2 yrs or so when student and consumer debt are paid off and I get a fellowship (they pay me to go to school ^_^). Have 7 rabbits and no kids.
Joined: Jul 07, 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Nevada, USA
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:25 pm Post subject:
early 30's
Geologist by training and first love but now tied to the electronic ball-and-chain doing GIS (read: I make pretty maps) but will soon be liberated by becoming a Civil Engineer.
I've also formally studied Geological Engineering, GIS and Criminal Justice and who knows what else later on as long as night school is still around...
Joined: Nov 17, 2004 Posts: 215 Location: Atlanta - GA - USA
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:37 pm Post subject:
I'm 25, have various computer certifications (A+, Net+, MCP, etc) but dropped out of the IT market entirely almost 3 years ago due to job availability and more importantly dealing with that whole 'my job is pointless' syndrome.
Back in school now, hopefully out in 2 years with a degree in Urban Planning and Economic Development from Georgia State University.
Joined: Oct 25, 2004 Posts: 378 Location: Southern California Desert
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:01 pm Post subject:
I'm 21, still live at home for now,no kids, no relationship, and work as a security officer at a mobile home park.
I also hold a Class A commercial drivers license with all endorsements.
I'm taking courses in welding and alot of math classes at the local Jr College right now. Long term, engineering degree. Short term, an Associate of Science in Welding technology. Go to work for BNSF or UPRR railroads as a track/train car repairman.
I know crap will happen, but I'm going to do what I'm going to do.
Thats the reason I'm getting with the railroad to support myself.
This industry has been around before oil, it sure as hell looks like it will survive with little or no injury afterwards. I've even heard that the big railroads own their own oil reserves, as well as alot of agricultural fields to produce bio-fuels.
Joined: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 579 Location: ~170ft/lbs@0rpm (on my bike)
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:08 pm Post subject:
I'm 24 and one class away from my BS in Pure Math.
I've been thinking about going to grad school in a few areas (Math, Psychology, or maybe something else?), or I might try the job market. I'm thinking that staying in school a few more years might be beneficial...
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 1636 Location: Nez Perce Nation
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:12 pm Post subject:
I'm 54. I've been a Software Engineer for 30 years.
In 5 more years and I'm out, at which time I'll become a fulltime country squire. _________________ "Modern Agriculture is the use of land to convert petroleum into food."
-- Albert Bartlett
"It will be a dark time. But for those who survive, I suspect it will be rather exciting."
-- James Lovelock
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 215 Location: New Zealand
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:02 am Post subject:
29 (almost 30) - Mother of a 2 year old boy and full time office manager in advertising (have just quit to move to the country YAY!) - also Hubby -
34 years, PHD in biological sciences (he doesn't post but reads over my shoulder!) Thankfully residing in New Zealand! House on the market - heading for the hills (well 28 acres down country!)
Joined: Nov 09, 2004 Posts: 1257 Location: Big Rock Candy Mountain
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:42 pm Post subject:
56. Jr. college dropout. vietvetUSArmy68-71 RA18867095. Divorced, 1 kid 22, widowed. Logging and sawmill worker most of my life. Now make furniture from beetlekilled pine and recycled lumber. Avid reader, amateur naturalist/horticulturalist. INTJ
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 612 Location: The Pit of Despair
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:53 am Post subject: me
I am 29, and I work for IT contracting company as a Systems Admin.
I have worked in various IT roles. I have a B. S. in Computer Engineering, and have worked as an integrated circuit designer, but was laid off in 2001.
I graduated high school ranked #1 in math & science out of 270 students. I was also president of the math club, and once took third place in national computer programming competition. I also won prize money in the county spelling bee a couple times.
Now I create user accounts and occasionally write visual basic scripts. I would consider myself an underachiever at this point.
I am really disappointed with the current job market and have been thinking about pursuing another degree, but can't make up my mind which way I want to go... I am married with two children, and have no desire to relocate.
My interests include math, science, writing, economics, and politics. I am also handy with cars, and can even fix problems of the "check engine light" nature.
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BUT you know many great independent thinkers probably fall into that category! they think most entrepreneurs do! and that's what we are right? in a very real very microeconomic sense!
