Job Bleg

I'm kind of at the end of my financial tether

I have been wondering whether your financial tether includes medical coverage. If it doesn't, and if you get a serious chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease, then you'll really be in the drink. You'd have to limp along, if you can, until you're eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. Anyone can craft fine opinions about the stupidity inherent in socialized medicine. But if you end up broke and sick, that will show you how much idle opinions are worth.

Or, if you end up there, you could die like a broke libertarian. That is what happened to another libertarian blogger, Rob "Acidman" Smith. He couldn't get medical coverage because of a prior medical condition, which his obituary suggested was diabetes. Whatever it was, he went to the emergency room a few times, but in the end he died without regular medical care.

I certainly hope that your opinions don't hit you that hard.

As for getting a job, it makes little sense to just ask for one in ten words. You should post a resume and explain what kinds of jobs you'd take.

[ignoring idiotic comments about health insurance]

As for getting a job, it makes little sense to just ask for one in ten words. You should post a resume and explain what kinds of jobs you'd take.

I have many readers in the aerospace industry. Most of them are familiar with my history, capabilities and interests. If they want a specific resume, they'll ask.

Ah, the sweet smell of simulated sincerity! Jim shouldn't you be compensating Mr. Smith for using him as both a strawman and as a convenient guilt repository? People make bad decisions and sometimes bad things happen to them as a result.

Jim,
it's one thing to make idiot remarks about items posted here, it's quite another to just comment when IT MEANS NOTHING. You, like the rest of the BDS crowd, find some way to throw around the same stupid crap at every opportunity. If it's so terrible here, why do you stay? If you want gub'ment controlled health care, transportation, energy, TV, radio, and ideas, then move.

You complain about GWB and yet you can't see that your beloved DEMOCRAT controlled Congress has done nothing for 19 months.

Why don't you go play on the freeway and stay out of adult conversations.

Jim shouldn't you be compensating Mr. Smith for using him as both a strawman and as a convenient guilt repository?

He isn't a strawman because there are millions of Americans in his situation. Nor is he a "guilt repository", because there is no reason for anyone to feel guilty. It's not about feeling guilty, it's about what kind of society you want.

Now, I understand the libertarian position: it was his own damn fault for not signing up for a lifetime of continuous medical coverage just in case he got diabetes. Maybe he thought so too. I respect libertarianism, but I can only agree with it up to a point. I don't think that the government should watch people die just because they're broke. Of course, if Smith's condition had cost a monstrous amount of money, like 30 million dollars or something, then it would have been silly to blow that much on one person. But that's not what happened. On the contrary, compared to Medicaid and Medicare, private medical coverage is gilded and inefficient.

Anyway, Rand is under no obligation to answer the question, of course, but it would be interesting to know whether he is making the same "mistake" of skipping medical coverage. I personally see it as only partly as a mistake; partly it's just the short end of the stick.

Anyway, Rand is under no obligation to answer the question, of course, but it would be interesting to know whether he is making the same "mistake" of skipping medical coverage.

Not that it's any of your business (and I doubt if you care, other than to make an idiotic political point) but my health, and health insurance is just fine. I won't thank you for asking.

Rand,

Despite our disagreements, (including the most recent one concerning the plausibility of certain people :D ), you've always offered a kind word with regard to the current situation with my grandparents, and for that I thank you. I wish I knew of something that would work for you, but I will admit to having no idea. But I wish you the best, and hope you find something soon. I know how difficult things can get, when things get financially tight.

My thoughts are with you.

Ferris Valyn

You could save some money by cutting back on commenters.

You could save some money by cutting back on commenters.

Well, aggravation, anyway...

Not that it's any of your business (and I doubt if you care, other than to make an idiotic political point) but my health, and health insurance is just fine.

I'm glad to hear it, although that does suggest that you're not quite at the end of your tether yet.

You're right that I don't really care at any personal level. I also wouldn't want anyone who doesn't know me to cry for me. But I do have some abstract respect for strangers.

If they want a specific resume, they'll ask.

This is a strange answer in the networked age. Public resumes are one of the most important uses of the Internet. Sure, some people might know you well enough, but why not advertise? You want to advertise Amazon.com for a few chits, but not your own career?

I'm glad to hear it, although that does suggest that you're not quite at the end of your tether yet.

I'm as far out as I prefer to get. I don't want to wreck my credit.

Denver hmmmm, You could go to work for the evil empire (Lockheed Martin) building the even more evil death star (Orion).

You cannot resist the power of the dark side of the force Rand.

You could go to work for the evil empire (Lockheed Martin) building the even more evil death star (Orion).

Wouldn't be anything new. I was working on it in El Segundo, before NGC/Boeing lost.

But I'm actually hoping to work on a manned Atlas, which I think has a lot more future...

Jim, I find your comments here unusually repulsive. First, why can't you observe common etiquette and keep posts on topic? You repeatedly grind that political ax in threads that nothing to do with Rand's political beliefs. There's plenty of places to post since Rand routine posts political stories. I see this as a harassment technique not as some legimate pursuit of debate.

Second, concerning Mr. Smith, why can't you respect that he chose to follow his beliefs over personal gain (namely, his health)? And it's unwholesome to use someone's death to score a few cheap debate points.

Third, I can't imagine what you think you're accomplishing here. It's like you have some compulsive need to bring out your political beliefs at every opportunity. Personally, I'm starting to lean to the idea that Simberg should ban you (and all future incarnations of you) on the grounds that you are an ass. But perhaps we should consider your needs too? After all, you spend way too much time on this site. We'd be helping you with your personal life too. I can only hope you'll use that free time for good.

Jim, I find your comments here unusually repulsive.

I think you're being too hard on Jim. They seem pretty typical to me.

I'm straining to think of any time that he's said anything light hearted, or not trolled to twist any topic to his own attempt at political gain. He seems to have no sense of humor at all, or proportion. I suspect that it really sucks to be him. We should probably pity him, seeing as he doesn't seem to have a life, or if he does, it's a very unhappy one, considering how much America sucks, in his demented opinion.

First, why can't you observe common etiquette and keep posts on topic?

It's a connection between two topics. As such, it wouldn't strictly fit as a comment in either thread alone. I suspect that if you agreed with it, you wouldn't have deemed it to be such a big violation of etiquette.

Second, concerning Mr. Smith, why can't you respect that he chose to follow his beliefs over personal gain (namely, his health)?

Because he didn't. If he had been eligible for Medicare, he might well have gotten better treatment. Most people in that situation do, even those who are libertarians. He was forced to follow his beliefs over personal gain.

Third, I can't imagine what you think you're accomplishing here. It's like you have some compulsive need to bring out your political beliefs at every opportunity.

It's not at "every opportunity" and it's not more than other people who comment on this blog. It only stands out when my position goes against the local consensus. After all, Rand has already made two political posts today in which he declared that large groups of people are idiots. He cast aspersions in several other posts today too. I didn't comment on any of it.

If Rand doesn't want political disagreements in his comments, or maybe only disagreements that are much more obsequious than his own posts, that's his choice. I think that his blog is more honest without that kind of filtering, but I'm not claiming any rights in saying so.

Well, now we know beyond any reasonable doubt that (and exactly how) Jim wants Rand to die. Charming. I'm sure Jim will be careful to remain about a millimeter short of something that could be established as an actual death threat in a court of law.

No, Jay, I think that it's regrettable and avoidable when people get sick and die without medical coverage, regardless of their political views. I certainly don't want it to happen to Rand. And it probably won't, because even if he did cancel his medical coverage to save money, he will probably make it to Medicare age.

The point is that it's a way to see what armchair opinions are really worth. It's not a lesson specific to health insurance or to libertarians. If you're an animal rights activist and your health is going down the tubes from a severe vegan diet, then you should cave and eat some meat. In that situation, you deserve to lose face and save your health. You don't deserve to save face and lose your health.

(I would also defend an alt.space person who loses face but saves his career by applying to NASA. And I don't even disagree with Rand about NASA. But that's another discussion.)

I would also defend an alt.space person who loses face but saves his career by applying to NASA.

I'm assuming that this is not just a theoretical, but is discussing me. I am not "losing face," nor am I applying to NASA. That won't solve my problem, for a number of reasons, at least if you mean becoming a NASA employee and civil servant. I am, however, willing to take whatever consulting contracts are on offer, as I always have.

I'm amused that you foolishly fantasize that, in looking for work in the industry, I am somehow compromising my principles.

If you willing to work in Huntsville, the Jacobs Contract at MSFC is always looking for people. Unfortunately most of the work is on ARES. Here is a link to the openings, occasionally they have some positions that are contract/Term and may be willing to let your work remotely if they need something bad enough.

https://www.cytiva.com/jacobs/ext/cojobs.asp?From=1&UseCust=True&appid=&Keyword=&Location=Huntsville|AL||181&Category=&DaysBack=

No, Jay, I think that it's regrettable and avoidable when people get sick and die without medical coverage, regardless of their political views. I certainly don't want it to happen to Rand.

Hey, that's good! Now I'll tell one ...

What's next, Jim? Solicitous concern over whether Rand has tightened the lugnuts on his car, or checked for booby traps around the house?

brian d, but if he turns to the dark side he may have an opportunity to throw Mike Griffin down a convenient air shaft! Silver lining.

Good luck, Rand. I wish I could be of some help, but alas, aerospace isn't even close to what I do, and I don't know anyone who does.

Best wishes,
Brock

I could point you to non-space engineering employment in the Denver area, but it sounds like you're not quite that far down the tether.

Best of luck either way...

This is probably a stupid post, but its on topic...

For an Alt spacer there are the obvious
Well funded alt space SpaceX, Blueorigin, Bigalow, Scaled etc....

If you want to try and draw to an inside straight
you could try the next tier down, Rocketplane etc....

In any Case Unreasonable is not in a position to be hireing yet....;-)
Good luck with your search.

"If it doesn't, and if you get a serious chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease, then you'll really be in the drink. You'd have to limp along, if you can, until you're eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. Anyone can craft fine opinions about the stupidity inherent in socialized medicine. But if you end up broke and sick, that will show you how much idle opinions are worth."

Well.

I went and did a google search about the history of diabetes treatment. Here's what I turned up:

"http://www.diabetes.ca/Section_About/timeline.asp"

Of particular note:

"May 30, 1922: Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly & Co. of Indianapolis and the University of Toronto enter a deal for the mass production of insulin."

As a result of commercial (not government) activity, insulin was moved from a research result into mass production. I can't absolutely prove it, of course, but I think that if we had always had a socialized medical system, you wouldn't have to worry about diabetes treatment simply because there wouldn't even be one widely available. If medicine was available, you'd have to wait a really long time to get the diagnosis, a really long time to get your medicine, and you'd probably have to be really far gone before you actually got your medicine (and lucky if you didn't die first). Everybody saw how well socialized farming in the USSR worked compared to (comparatively) free market farming works in the US. I don't want to do health care as efficiently as the USSR did farming.

Interestingly, the a lot of the research mentioned in the article was done by professors at universities. Does this suggest that government support of research makes sense but government handling the means of production does not? Or does most research funding really come from non-government sources (drug company investements, university endowments, venture capitalists, rich entrepreneurs...).

Rand, I hope something to your liking comes through, preferably something that will also lead to benefits for all humankind. Wish I knew something to offer, but after all the snark above just wanted to send some positive waves. Hope you can keep TTM going also, but that's just a selfish wish on my part.

Rand, I'm saddened by your situation. This sort of thing makes me think, though, of those who say one of the positive things NASA does is attract people into aerospace careers. Shouldn't the prospect of sufficiently non-tenuous, well paying careers be what does that, not misleading glitz?

This sort of thing makes me think, though, of those who say one of the positive things NASA does is attract people into aerospace careers. Shouldn't the prospect of sufficiently non-tenuous, well paying careers be what does that, not misleading glitz?

Thanks, Paul. Yes, the dirty little secret of the modern aerospace industry is that by and large, with occasional exceptions, it sucks to work in it. This is another consequence, I think, of the way it developed in the Cold War. You have to really be motivated to put up with a lot of the BS in the business, much of which is driven by the nature of the FAR and how government contracts are run.

Paul Breed, my problem with working for a NewSpace firm is that they can't afford to pay me what I need to earn in order to keep my creditors in the lifestyle to which I have accustomed them.

Actually, what I could really use (besides more reliable income) is a non-usurious loan to pay off the current sharks and get my payments and interest down to a rational level. My problem is that I've run up a lot of debt in my serial entrepreneurship, and the interest on it isn't even deductible (one of the huge injustices of the 1986 tax "reform").

Rand, have you thought of applying to SpaceX? Or Scaled Composites? I would think your skill set would be valuable to either.

one of the huge injustices of the 1986 tax "reform"

The loss of income averaging still ticks me off, as someone for whom 4x swings year to year haven't been unusual.

The loss of income averaging still ticks me off, as someone for whom 4x swings year to year haven't been unusual.

Only 4x? I could tell you stories that would make you cry. That one's killing me, too.

Paul Breed, my problem with working for a NewSpace firm is that they can't afford to pay me what I need to earn in order to keep my creditors in the lifestyle to which I have accustomed them.

As Jerry Pournelle has said a few times (paraphrased), "If you're going to work in this business you need to get used to being poor."

-MM

First, Jim Harris, that was a real immature dickhead comment. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Second, Rand, I'm real sorry to hear this. I thought you were doing well, and I hope very much things look up soon. Job anxiety is murderous. I wish I could help concretely, but I have zero contacts in the field.

FWIW, here are a few random thoughts:

(1) Put up a tipjar and have a little fundraiser. Sure, TT can't pay the bills, but there's no reason it can't pay it's own bills. I'd throw in a few clams.

(2) Your short-form resume is not going to work, I think, because it's schizophrenic, unsure if it's a engineering manager's resume or an aerospace writer/blogger's resume. I realize you can wear both hats, but employers tend to look for people who wear one very well. I would make two versions, one that emphasizes the big aerospace firm management stuff, and one that emphasizes the New Media and/or IT stuff.

(3) Any chance you can make money writing about the "new space race," SS2, SpaceX and all that? You know everything about it, and you write well. (You'd have to tone down the cynicism a bit, of course.) It may be a bit beneath you, but maybe someone would pay you, on a contract or regular part-time basis, to cover the new industry, the changes in the old industry, and so on, in terms that the average USA Today reader can grasp. Maybe a series of columns in the WSJ examining the interplay between engineering and economics in this field, which you already know very well, and which would be of interest to some in the investing class?

(4) Or...can any of the new firms afford you as publicist/PR guy/web site manager? Maybe you could do that on a part-time, off-site basis, just to supplement the kitty?

(5) A pretty far out thought -- I'm grabbing straws here -- is that there are a few small firms starting up that specialize in realistic physics CG for games and movies. Some guy in fluid physics started up a firm simulating water for Hollywood movies, for example. I only mention this because (1) they'd want people who know both mechanics and programming, and (2) they have unusual amounts of money, the demand for CG being what it is.

Anyway, good luck to you. Put up the tipjar, and I'll throw in something more useful.

I've collected unemployment insurance in the past and I've been self employed so had no such benefit. I think the way the government runs that stinks. If you pay for the insurance out of your paycheck they should just give you a lump sum equal to half the months you've worked up to six months.

I got a letter last week saying that today I should expect my economic stimulus check. Talk is cheap. May I send you one hundred dollars and suggest that others that have enjoyed your blog do what they can? If the check doesn't come as promised I can still send you a hundred at the end of this month. If enough people join me this should give you the time you need to find another position.

Please email me with details for how to send the money.

I know you'd prefer a connection that leads to a fulfilling position. Over the years I've lost touch with any such connections. You have my best wishes.

As for Jim, I would not recommend banning him. We need bad examples as well as good. Bad manners may be another story, but lacking in social graces myself I leave it to others to ponder.

Good fortune, Rand.

Yes, the dirty little secret of the modern aerospace industry is that by and large, with occasional exceptions, it sucks to work in it.

My late father worked in the defense industry his entire career. While I have the greatest respect for what he was and what he did there, some of the experiences he and his coworkers had, particularly in the lean years in the 1970s, led me to look in other directions.

The last ten years or so before he retired he went into consulting (forming a subchapter S corporation), and was never happier. I have no idea if that is at all relevant to your current situation. He was lucky enough to get some long term contracts, particularly for analysis on the Aegis radar system.

I'm actually hoping to work on a manned Atlas

I could probably pull a few strings. Of course this is a real rocket, not a picture of the shuttle ET with some crap on top.

for the mose part, they don't seperate the work between "manned" and "unmanned" except for a small group of BD types.

Given you've done columns for Fox News, why not go
full bore and work as a columnist there, or
as a writer at the White House office of communications.
Lots of people are leaving, and they need someone
who can come up with an explanation for why the
stock market decline is good for working americans.

Rand, I'm sorry to hear about your employment troubles. Wish I could help, but my only connection with space is interest.

Do put up a tipjar, though. (PayPal, please - it's what I have, & many others do too.) Or send me an e-mail with an address and I'll send you a check. I really appreciate your blog.

Jim Harris, you're a disgusting jerk and a complete asshole. You should be ashamed, but I'm sure you have no grasp of the concept. >:-(

Ah, the Amazon tipjar has re-appeared. I've sent in my subscription to TT, Rand.

Another thought, Rand - it doesn't appear you accept ads (at least I didn't see any).

Why not sign up for ads? I doubt most folks would mind; I can ignore them here just as I do on other blogs (other than clicking on everything at least once to trigger the income for you), and I'm sure others could too.

In fact, sometimes the juxtaposition of particular ads and posts is downright hilarious. ;-p

Regarding the "dirty secret" of the aerospace industry: I guess I've been fortunate; I've been in the industry (mostly on the endoatmospheric side) for 24 years next week, and I've made only one job change and that one was totally my choice - I could have stayed where I was with no problem. On a bit of a lark, I sent Blue Origin a resume last year and got invited up to Kent for an interview. I was impressed in many respects with their setup (the steampunk mockup of Verne's "Columbiad" in their lobby has to be seen to be believed), and the money would have been a not-insignificant bump, but my spouse and I decided that we really really like where we live now and I concluded that I prefer working on what I'm currently working on. But if you don't mind the SeaTac area and want to do space work, they might be an option.

Hi Rand,
I currently work for one of the big 'evil empire' that is Lockheed Martin, supporting HST. I know there is a huge need for System Engineers in Houston (and soon in Denver as well).

Also, there is always GOES-R to consider. It is down to EE1 (LM) and EE2 (Boeing). As far as I know, the award is scheduled for the end of the year.

I would be happy to look into some opeinings for you if you wish. Please e-mail me (you have the address that I gave when I posted this) and let me know.

I really like this site and hope you can find a job AND keep this going.

By the way, it seems Jim has his own 'pre-existing condition', unfortunatley no insurance companies that I know of pay for the full cranial removal from rectum that seems to plague him.

Sorry I'm late to the party, but if you read this, Raytheon in Tucson is hiring. Maybe not as nice as Colorado or California and the housing market is kinda all jacked up but it is a nice place to live. Email me if you want more details. Basically we make a bunch of stuff that goes whoosh, some into space, some not. I can get you connected with the right people and maybe get a head hunter bonus out of you ;-)

Oceaneering International is hiring for their Constellation Space Suit program.

"Our Team anticipates career opportunities beginning in June in all areas of spacesuit development, production, test, and program management, mostly in the Clear Lake, Houston area near NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Opportunities may also exist in Florida, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Connecticut."

http://csafe.oceaneering.com/

Humm.. this is what I get for being behind no your blog.

;)

HS is hirnig for Orions Life support system, but its mainly up in CT and IL(though in my case they wanted DOORS and Comp sci and Mech eng background). I can pass on info to folks up here in the CT sys eng group if thats acceptable? Also I can forward to contract houses I've been working with or getting called by?