Call it a bailout or whatever you want. . . . .but in-action is not an option

I keep listening on TV and reading on the Net how so many people are against the bailout plan.  Most say they don’t want to pay for it. . . . . . I tell you something neither do I.  HOWEVER, “in-action” is not an option here!

I find it a waste of time rehashing WHY were in this problem.  The reality of the situation “WE’RE IN THIS PROBLEM” and now we have to find a solution to get out.  I listen to all the pundits and politicians proclaim the bailout plan bad or good, but what truly frustrates me is those who say its bad tend to offer no better solution. . . . .or NO SOLUTION at all!  My god if you don’t like something you had then better offer a solution.  Oops my bad, we’re talking about politicians and talking heads. . . . . .oops!

1.  We need to protect the people. . . . . . ALL THE PEOPLE! The banks cannot be allowed to fail.  To my mind banks are failing because of HORRIBLE Loan policies which are creating FORECLOSURES.  The first step is to stop the foreclosures.  How do you do that?  You find a way to negotiate with the people closest to foreclosure to find what they can pay.  Paying something is better than nothing, and I realize there needs to be guidelines around this.  You need a timeframe for accomplishing this task, 60 to 120 days is a nice timeframe.  The mortgages are not forgiven.  The principal owed does not change.  The interest and timeframe are modified to keep some responsible level of cashflow.  Over time each affected mortgage client if reviewed and based on their current situation the plan is left as is or a modification to increase payment is made.  No. . . . .you don’t get to go down again. . . . fool me once ok. . . . fool me twice NO WAY!

2.  For those who have lived up to their responsibilities and continue to pay their bills on time we need a tax credit, or write off. If you handled yourself responsibly you should you get credit for that?  I believe that’s fair.  The term “bailout” evokes benefit for removal from a crisis, those who are responsible deserve a benefit for doing what was expected of them. . . . . in this case at the very least.  I hear so many rail against the banks/investment firms for there foolish behavior but I rarely hear anyone say. . . . . . HEY, the takers of those crazy mortgages bear some responsibility.  Ya know what “They do”!  We live in a society of allowing ignorance to be bliss.  That has to end.  And I know there are many who’ve had bad luck come around and cause their problems.  Unfortunately they’re affected.  As Spock said “The good of the many out weighs the good of the one”.

3.  ALL EXECUTIVES AT THESE “FAILED” BANKS/COMPANIES ARE FIRED WITH 2 WEEKS SEVERANCE. I don’t care what the republicans say these execs are criminal and deserve NOTHING.  I’m being nice and giving them 2 weeks.  I’m being even nicer in that I’m not saying file criminal charges against them.

4.  I like the idea of the government getting a stake in these companies. Many knowledgeable financialestas are saying its a good deal (Suzi Orman and Jim Cramer).  I agree.  Economies run in cycles and whether it looks like it now this economy will rebound at some point.  The profits from these investments (made in the name of the American people) will be used to payback the bailout.  No questions, no loopholes, nothing but paying back the bailout.  I’m serious NO Exceptions!  You pay down debt which benefits all Americans!

5.  De-regulation as we’ve known it has failed!  Its over! These high flying executives need to be watched because they cannot be trusted.  Is that Un-American. . . . . . I say HELL NO!  Its un-American to allow our economy to be driven into the ground because of a groups GREED!   Executive salaries, tax breaks, community responsibility have to be reviewed and in some cases reeled in . . . . . . country wide.  I believe this is simple too. . . . .get rid of Golden Parachutes, make executive salaries a function of company success not to exceed 250% of the lowest paid company associate (and I don’t me the janitor).  Don’t let tax breaks exceed some level of an index derived for the area (remember its tough to compare New York City to Topeka Kansas on an equal level) of the country.

Hey you may not agree with any of this, and I’m ok with that.  So you tell me your plan.  I believe sometimes our politicians over complicate things because they’re POLITICIANS!  Just look at the voting for the bailout plan.  Its a fact that most if not all who voted no are in tough re-election fights. . . . . Its political!  Yeah no what “IT’S NOT POLITICAL. . . . . . IT’S CRITICAL!”

DSK

2 jobs on the table – Now we wait. . . . .

My recruiter has got me involved in 2 jobs, one in PA and the other in NJ.  The PA job pays more and is a less stressful atmosphere (so I’ve been told) while the NJ job is farther from my home but can give me exposure to automated testing tools.  I’m waiting to hear if I’m getting an interview on each, and at this point the job in NJ looks more promising from an interview perspective.

At this point I’d like the PA job because of more money and less stress but beggars can’t be choosers!  In the end it really doesn’t matter as long as I interview this week.  The job boards are pretty stagnant right now.  The economy is in real turmoil, how much of it is real can be debated. . . .  but people are nervous.  None of this is good for those of us on unemployment and more importantly ME!!!!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

DSK

SCD #5 – Well its football season now

I waited to make this post because I wanted to be clear headed.  The METS blew it again this year.  Now in NYC they’re is much talk about this second collapse. . . . . is it worse than in 2007. . . . . .should Omar Minaya be fired, should Jerry Manuel be fired.  With all this, some people talk of breaking up the team and they believe that either David Wright or Jose Reyes should be traded. . . . . ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

This season was lost because of a terrible bull pen. . . . . I realize Wright and Reyes didn’t hit in the clutch but they are way to talented. . . . and way to young to give up on.  Fire the bull pen pitchers. . . . . . Fire the coach . . . . . fire the GM.  No way do you get rid of the cornerstone young players on this team.  Wright tied a club record with 124 RBI.  Reyes led the National League with 204 hits.  That’s to much talent to give up on.

Thank god my NY Football Giants are around to bring balance to the force!

DSK

Doom and Gloom Monday…..but no one is talking about unemployment! – Part 2

Wow!  When I posted part 1 this morning I had no idea my heading would be so prophetic.  The days events bring the potential problem unemployment will be even more to the fore front.  We’re heading into a time of complete unknowns. . . .the analysts, the pundits, and most of all the politicians really don’t know whats going to happen.  From my perspective “in-action is not an option”.   The people we’ve put in Washington need to get themselves together and get a plan done, and stop all the partisan bickering!

As a side note – interestingly over the past few days I’ve had a bunch of potential positions come my way.  Seems bizarre given whats going on but since Friday I’ve had 3 more additional positions come to my table.  I guess it goes to show . . . . . .you can never tell whats going to happen!

DSK

Doom and Gloom Monday…..but no one is talking about unemployment!

Boy listening or reading the news today can really bring a person down.  The economy is in some real trouble but what I find interesting is no one seems to be talking much about the unemployment issue.  With all these bank/investment firm failures thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of people are being sent to unemployment.  With the economy contracting (due to the credit squeeze) companies are being very careful about hiring or not hiring at all.  I say careful in the fact that I see jobs, but requirements for employment are very specific.  That means many folks don’t qualify for the jobs that are out there.  I’ll give you an example:

Below are specific job requirements for a current job posting that appeared in my Quality Assurance search  on a popular job search site.

Competent administrative skills working with Linux/Unix and Windows servers and Windows Terminal servers. (Must have Linux/UNIX admin experience – e.g. loading/configuring a server from scratch, networking, etc).

A good working knowledge of networking protocols such as UDP, TCP/IP, HTTP, Ethernet, SSL. Experience with tools such as Wireshark, TCPdump, etc.

Competent skills working with networking products such as routers and firewalls.

Knowledge of scripting and/or programming languages a plus

Knowledge of Apache web configuration and proxies desirable

Previous QA/System test experience – writing and performing the test cases

Experience with test traffic/load generators desirable.

Hands on experience with Cisco IOS CLI

Previous customer facing experience desired

Who is going to meet the requirements outlined above?  They want an Network admin, a QA specialist, an engineer, and a programmer. . . . . and, it’s seems, someone who’s worked at MACY’s. . . . . ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!   I don’t know anyone who could meet those requirements.  I would hope if there are folks out there who do. . . . . .they make alot of money!

Congress is going to pass the “so-called” bailout plan and go off to get re-elected.  While their away many of us will continue to stay in the whirlpool of unemployment. . . . . . . I pool that is taking on water and getting more and more difficult to stay afloat in!

DSK

My job search – When it rains. . . . .it pours!

The weather is really lousy here on the Jersey shore today.  It’s pouring. . . . . .actually and figuratively!  I’ve received 4 calls about jobs today.  Now 2 positions were asking that I become a user of a piece of software I’ve tested.   Since I only had limited experience “using the software” those positions were non-starters.  However, the other two were for testing jobs.

I got a bite from my Craigslist add and as always my recruiter came through with the other job.  I feel like my job search is all about me being a “fisherman”.  I wait for the little bites so that I can “HOOK” the big one!  The recruiters job looks to be the best job but has the least potential of falling my way, they’re interviewing 2 folks on Monday and if they don’t go well “I’m in”.  Hey I’ll keep my fingers crossed.  Again, it is nice to have some positive stuff.  This week has been so rough, only 7 apps all week that is a new low.

DSK

Rough week for QA jobs

Its Thursday afternoon and I’ve only applied for 7 jobs this week, and 4 of them were Business Analyst positions.  This economy is wreaking havoc on the job market.  I’ve found this is especially true for QA work.  Employers with positions are looking for very specific skills, and they can do it because so many people are in the market.  Very competitive. . . . . Very finite market.

DSK

Unemployment desperation doesn’t mean making a bad job decision

I received a call this morning from a recruiter who pulled my resume from the web based on my work over the summer with a particular piece of software.  Now she didn’t want me for a testing position, she wanted me for a position USING the software.

QA staff are in a particularly good position to move into jobs using a software they’ve tested.  One thing that happens when your in QA for a period in time is that you do develop an intimate knowledge of any particular software you test.  This knowledge can be valuable in that QA staff can sometimes become a regular staff persons backup.  This happened to me in my last full-time job.  I was so adept with the software that when the clients staff person was on vacation or got sick I was asked to run the software for the ‘business’.    Now I’m not going to get into the issues involved with this from a client or training perspective.   Yes there are some problems with this methodology (if you can call it that).  My point is that it puts the QA staff in a good position to add value.

The recruiter this morning found that I had experience with the software as stated on my resume.  This is true.  I did have some experience with the software, about 9 weeks worth of testing experience.  What the client wanted was a person to come in and create for the business using this software. . . . . no testing. . . . . using the software to move the business.  Not exactly my field but I could do it.  But here in lies the problem, I had 9 weeks experience with the software. . . . .I knew it but was in no way an expert in its use.

I very much need a job. . . . . .things are getting very very tight!  However, there is no way I could come in and meet the clients expectations based on 9 weeks of use.  Not as a USER of the software.  As a TESTER of the software I could kick some serious butt!  But these two functions are not the same thing. . . . . . . not after 9 weeks of use.   There was no way I could give the client what they wanted, no way to be successful.  I am not so desperate that I would mis-represent my abilities.  That would not be good for anyone.

Interestingly the software involved has a substantial training program done by the software creator.  Also, my experience was with a very specific version of the software.  I mentioned to the recruiter that they need to understand what version of the software is involved because that will affect the knowledge needed for the position.  I also question how much support this person would get from the software company.  The recruiters client, to my mind, is side stepping the training program.  This position may void the licensing agreement for the software.  Can you see all the issues surrounding this position.  Way to much noise, not a good fit for me.  I need a job. . . . . but I need the right job. . . . a position I will succeed in.  This position just wasn’t that job.

On a positive note I made a good impression with the recruiter.  Maybe that will push some interest my way from a Quality Assurance perspective.  I still need a job. . . . . quickly!

DSK

SCD #4 – The Mets are driving me insane!!!!

My son and I went to the Mets game on Tuesday night.  Father and son bonding and it was fantastic.  Johan Santana pitched his heart out and the Mets won.  Last night the pitching reverted back to its “can’t hold a lead” ways.  What hurts is that the offense (which played well) had several opportunities in the last 3 innings to take the lead and didn’t come through.  Most painful was the fact that they had a man on 3rd with none out and failed to score.  FAILED TO SCORE with a man on third and ZERO outs!

Hey this game was a failure of the pitching, not a even a question.  However: FAILED TO SCORE with a man on third and ZERO outs!  And now they’re tied for the wild card!

DSK

Impacts of unemployment

I’ve been unemployed for going on 9 months now and the money is running out.  I’ve heard financial folks on TV say have 3 months available as back up if you become unemployed, that’s so wrong, 6 months isn’t even enough.  In today’s world you need at least a years worth of money in reserve.   My advice. . . . . if you haven’t started that fund yet (and your working) START SAVING NOW!  Hey and thats gonna just suck for the economy but you must protect yourself and your family.

I made it for about 7 months (given I worked as a consultant for 2 months in the middle of this nightmare).  Unfortunately the money is running out.  My extended unemployment will run out in November.  The amount I personally get is relatively small since I have child support garnished from my check.  I’ve been paying for COBRA medical insurance since January.  However I’m running out of money and even though I can continue on COBRA until June 2009 I’ll run out of money to pay for it after making my October payment.

I’ve been making calls inquiring about my options for medical insurance.  For my son, because he’s under 18, there is an option in NJ but my ex-wife will have to apply for it because my son doesn’t live with me.  For my 20 year old daughter the only option seems to be Medicaid, which may also be my only option.  Its humbling to have to rely on the state but that’s what these programs are for. . . . .I just never thought they were for me.

I’ve been out looking for a part-time job.  Even this isn’t that easy, mostly because these folks know that if I can get a “regular” job in my field I’ll be leaving.  Everyone I’ve spoken to has been sympathetic and I expect to be working again on some level very soon.  This will help but won’t solve my financial problems.  The only thing that will solve my financial problem is a full-time job.

DSK