How far we've come!

Avast! Arrrgh, it be the pirate blogger... back from the murky depths of the offline world. No, really, it has been over half a year since I've kept my promise to readers that I would maintain this blog. But, the shipwreck of unemployment has washed me ashore. Yes, I walked the career plank... my job got scurvy... my paycheck was plundered. Argh, it is true. To any of the readers who know the author, I shall save you the painfully repetetive regurgitation of how it went down. Let's just say I am now on month #3 of no job, and it's gotten me wondering-- which is worse-- Working or Not Working?

Now, now, before all of you EMPLOYED types (yeah, you know who you are!) start spouting off about how great it must be to collect benefits while sitting at home eating bon bons and reading trashy magazines. I ask that you take an open minded and open hearted, fair and balanced (not FOX-style) look at the pro's and con's of employment vs. unemployment. Let us begin:

Employment = Steady Paycheck - Commuting Costs
Unemployment = Steady Paycheck - 40% of what you used to make

Winner: Unemployment if Commuting cost more than 40% of your disposable income.

Employment = Social network of talented professionals, upward mobility
Unemployment = Finding something to do on that Monday night... and the next Monday...

Winner: Employment, hands down.

Employment = Keeping your mind sharp doing many tasks with deadlines
Unemployment = Keeping your mind sharp enjoying books, articles, and job searches

Winner: Unemployment.

Employment = Hitting on coworkers with risk of sexual harassment lawsuit(s)
Unemployment = Hitting on other peoples' coworkers with risk of trespassing charge(s)

Winner: Unemployment.

Employment = Dissatisfaction with your current rung on the career ladder.
Unemployment = Dissatisfaction with having fallen off the career ladder.

Winner: Employment


Yes, I'm being facetious... clearly employment is better than unemployment. But it's almost Summer, and the job market is as healthy as Keith Richards' diet of cigarettes, vodka and cocaine... so to all of you who are newly unemployed, not-so-newly unemployed, or expect to be unemployed soon... rejoice! At least we can get paid to write crappy blogs.

Until tomorrow (now you know I don't have an excuse)...


Pun of the Day:

Where do pirates relax after a long day?
In their ARRRmchair!!

Some said that Barack Obama would be president "when pigs fly"... behold-- 100 days into his presidency, Swine Flu!!

"Remember two things- love your mother, and leave nothing but footprints"