I wanted to let you know that, ultimately - and two-years after losing my job - I found another, in a similar industry, paying more, for a better company, doing something I *actually* enjoy doing. Thanks for the pat on the back. While it may seem small, it definitely helped. I owe you a tall beer.

You don't do anything with it. It's like being a philosophy major, only instead of thinking about being unemployed you talk about how unemployment affects brain chemistry.

Correspondence course...

Where does a Neuropsychology major, working in education, as a process engineer fit? With a liberal arts background?

I love the visceral reaction people have when they learn the cost of cycling. Like many hobbies, the price jumps sharply once you leave the realm of "casual user" and become one of the indoctrinated. The first road bike I bought cost me 1200.00$ and I was appalled at the price. Two months later, I didn't even bat…

My bike.

@TheUnicornQueen: I think you hit the nail on the head with one thing: "That, not your belief in creationism..." shows the major hole in both the perception of creationism and evolution. One cannot believe in evolution. It's a theory supported by a wide base of empirical data. There are holes to evolution, just as…

@TheAnglerfish: Furthermore, creation, however simplistic its appeal may be, is not science. It's a religious argument, and as such, is exposed to the worst of the worst in statistical research: selection bias.

@TunaFish3: Don't ever let your fears make decisions for you. And don't let your station dictate who and what you are. The old adage "dress for the job you want, not the one you have" applies to so many other facets of your life.

@chtaea: If you're 'cleared', then focus on job fairs or job boards that specialize in cleared individuals. Even in this economy, there is a glut of jobs available for cleared people. Even a 'Secret' clearance is worth more than you think.

@huh989: IPA!!!!

@Hasteur: I get in ruts like the one you described more often that I would care to admit, but I always find that refreshing myself in someway works well. Some things I do:

I'm unemployed. I had to move home with family. I apply for jobs, go to networking functions, write letters, make phone calls, but I that is still only a few hours of each day. The rest of the time I spend being 'busy' in front of my laptop. I've never before scheduled three or four hour games of civilization. …

@TheFu: TheFu's got it. It's ridiculously expensive to use your own phone outside of this country.

@Sandeep Gonsalves: I live north of you, in the Mid-Atlantic and road, mountain, and cyclo-cross.

@DanBroChill: Nook. Hands down. Battery life is fantastic.

@Raiderboy23: Beer really is an acquired taste, so stick to the less "offensive" American fare, like Bud, Miller, Coors, etc. They tend to be more water, less alcohol, and sweeter. As you start to drink more beer, you'll begin to appreciate the flavors more, so explore.

I agree that email needs to be more concise, but often it is impossible.

@hudey123: I use a 40" LCD HDTV as a secondary monitor on my desktop, mainly so I can run boxee in a decent environment. I wouldn't choose what I have if I had to 1) use it in a small space, or 2) use it up close. Between 24" and 36" it's quite easy to see the pixels and can be disorienting after a few minutes. Not…

Know which providers to go to as well. I went to school in a small town where the local hospital's reputation was abysmal. It was worth the hour-thirty drive for a major university teaching hospital, and it probably saved my friends life when his appendix burst.