Endangered species

Jobs are disappearing from every sector of the economy, from engineering to health care workers, forcing hundreds of thousands of families into unemployment and low-paying jobs. Jerry Costello

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 It is difficult to believe it, but I worked 35 years for the same company. I am (sigh) a dinosaur, and everybody knows what happened to dinosaurs.
Today, due to rapid technological innovations, many jobs are on the path to extinction.

As a young adult entering the labor market, you might want to think very carefully (much more carefully than yesteryear) about your professional path, for many contemporary jobs will soon disappear.
Before engaging in any professional activity, you need to read the writings on the (wailing) wall and draw the conclusions. And if you are observant the writings are everywhere, in bold characters.

If you did not realize it, your foes are robots. They are here, they are queer and they want your job. As far are salaries and social benefits are concerned they are very accommodating and can be trained in a matter of minutes.
Their only concern is medical care. They want to be assured of quick and reliable organ transplants when needed, and employers regardless of the cost are more than willing to oblige. They know that a robot is far more reliable and much less demanding than its whining human counterpart and they will treat it with greater care and respect.

The only task that robots cannot handle (yet) is creativity. But don’t bet the farm on that. I venture to say that books and movie scripts will soon be handled by made up androids.

Blue-collar workers have the most to lose in this tectonic struggle. They voted for Donald Trump to save or resurrect their jobs, but there is very little that the Donald can tweet in this matter.
Robots have a very strong lobby that knows which strings to pull to get satisfaction.

One of the most obvious endangered professions is that of postal worker.
With the advent of e-mail and messaging, the demand for postal workers is in a death spiral and many mail carriers might indeed go “postal” when their job vanishes.
If you are still young and working in this sector, it might be a good idea to think about a career change.

Similarly, if you are a travel agent, your glory days are numbered. With digital devices doing the footwork for you, any schlemiel can now organize his travels in a matter of minutes.

If you are driving a cab, start looking for another way to make a living. Self-driving cars are here and they are more agreeable and reliable than most cabbies.

So, if you still have time on your side, evaluate your line of work and if you can, attach yourself to a more resilient profession (like fireman or politician) as soon as possible.

Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt. Herbert Hoover

Alain

The Big Squeeze

“Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”
Sir Walter Scott

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All the experts agree: there is now credible evidence that Russia hacked its way into the DNC and released damaging information about Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff.

But what has not been widely publicized is the fact that Russia (an equal opportunity scoundrel) also hacked the GOP and collected equally damaging information about Donald Trump and his campaign.

Like Edgar Hoover, the Russians have now the power to blackmail just about anybody of importance in America.
If anything goes wrong with the Vladimir and Donald bromance, there is a very good possibility that Russia’s Darth Vader could coerce and blackmail his gullible pal.

And what juicy stuff the GRU (Russian Main Intelligence Agency) must have collected! Womanizing and dirty money. That’s the stuff that blackmailers are after.
Since Mr. Trump steadily refused to release his Tax Return for public scrutiny, we don’t know what economic interests Mr. Trump has in Russia, and they could be substantial.
But Mr. Putin does! And this leaves the Donald wide open to blackmail and experts don’t think that he is a match for a veteran spook steeped in espionage and dirty tricks.

And what is exactly the definition of blackmail by the way?

“The act of threatening to harm someone or someone’s reputation unless the person does as you say.”

Here you go. Blackmail always works, unless you come clean. But few people have the gumption to air their dirty laundry in public. That’s why so many would-be politicians abstain from running for office. Too many foul smelling documents and snickering skeletons in their closets.

Now if president-elect Donald Trump does not play ball with the Russian autocrat, things could get nasty. And I believe that it would be the first time that a US president would be held hostage by a foreign power.

Again, 2017 will be a bumpy ride. It is time to fasten your seatbelts and gulp a few Dramamine tablets!

Alain

Freaking out on Facebook

“It’s always better to be the dumper than the dumpee.” Lauren Conrad

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So your girlfriend just broke up with you. Good riddance!
In ancient days (pre-iPhone) you would mope around for weeks, even months before regaining your balance and sanity.

Today, no worries mate.
Instead of crying in your beer you will turn to social media and publicize your newfound availability. You will let everybody know that you are alive and well and ready to party. You are going to show your ex that you are not a pathetic wreck but an attractive individual who won’t have any problem finding another mate.

To make her jealous (yes) you will start by getting fit (diet, jogging and Cuba Libres) and transforming yourself into a sexier, more attractive fellow. Not that you were not pleasant looking before, but you can always do better when the situation demands it. And this situation absolutely demands it!

Then you will flaunt selfies of the new you on Facebook. Especially in company of attractive girls. Pay them to pose with you if you have to. You cannot be penny-pinching in cases like this.

You will also update your status (“not in a relationship anymore”) and make your ex regret ever breaking up with you. Because there is absolutely no doubt that she (who refuses to talk to you) will scrutinize your status on Facebook.
And (to be frank) you will probably also check hers.

It is going to be a contest to see who will first manage to “hook up” (I absolutely hate that expression) with another partner and flaunt a newfound felicity. Psychologically, it is essential to succeed first because you were the dumpee, the loser.

To that effect, you cannot be too choosy about your new relationship. You have to move fast. You left me, so I will show you. I can find somebody better than you… and faster.

But if she succeeds first, there might be a problem. She dumped you and she found a new lover first. She cannot have it all. It would be too unfair.

You might slightly alter the game in your favor by convincing some co-worker to pretend to be your new inamorata. You will ply her with favors to pose with you in different provocative situations. You might even convince her to stand next to you twirling a pair of laced panties… and immediately post the pictures on Facebook.
That will show her!

“If you feel the need to insult your ex or their new lover, you obviously still have feelings for them.” – Alexis Rose

Could it be? Damn it to hell!

Alain