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I took this video to show that there are good things going on in local communities and states regarding alternate energy, particularly solar. This is the Solar 4 All initiative taking place in Nj that is placing solar panels on light (utility) poles throughout 300 municipalities that bring energy straight through the grid to over 12,000 homes and businesses. The panels can be seen in both business and residential areas and are placed in a way to get the most benefit from the sun, while saving money and helping to decrease carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. The equivalent of taking 3,800 cars off the road a year will be the benefit of these panels.
This is what can be accomplished even in a small way when municipalities, cities and states work to do the right thing for our environment. What is ironic, is that while walking up the main street after shooting this I noticed one right across the street from the BP station. So I couldn't help myself, and I walked over to the BP station and said as loud as I could, "solar panels didn't kill the Gulf." And at four dollars a gallon to a cost of .10 a month per customer to have these solar panels put up, it's pretty clear what direction we need to be going in.
This is the future. It's time to embrace it for the good of our planet and our lives.
Thanks,
JanI took this video to show that there are good things going on in local communities and... more
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Author Nickolaus Pacione talks about his social networking nightmares, someone stalking him website to website, blog to blog, and message board to message board. This was supposed to be a day where Pacione had a photo shoot with a model for his magazine. The article is posted with the video. Some of the cyberbullies harassing him would take his private facebook postings and post them on a troll's blog.
The actual article is with the video so if you want the play the video you can play it here and read the article over there too. Discussions with the articles can be done via Pacione's website, Writings From The Grave on the message board Seven Points Of Insanity. Pacione been bullied by a good number of people and one of them impersonated him then added a few of his friends and relatives from the bloodline.Author Nickolaus Pacione talks about his social networking nightmares, someone... more
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Ascetics with Cameras is a seva (volunteer service) organization providing multimedia services, tools and training to Shiva's Army – the sadhus & sadhvis of Juna Akhara – since 2004. It is our mission to not only provide multimedia tools to document and preserve the living-histories of these followers of Sanatan Dharma, but more importantly to train the members (of the oldest and largest order of Dasnaami Hindu ascetics) to document it for themselves. Giving them the skills to share with the world the stories and aspects of their culture they find important, will empower these ascetics to participate in the process of media-making to which their Akhara has been subject for centuries and enlighten audiences to the sacred, ancient paths and esoteric traditions of truth seekers.
www.asceticswithcameras.org
When you are on the outside looking in, it’s sometimes difficult to get the story, much less get the story right…
To support our mission we run various types of Community Outreach Programs & Projects geared towards both Cross-Cultural Exchange & Experiential Multimedia Education.
PROJECTS & PROGRAMS:
• Photo Giveaways • Multimedia Archives • Photography Training Program • "Her-story" Video Production Program • Juna Akhara Documentary Project • Seva Services Program
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
producer/director/editor:
Nicole Jaquis
photography (video & stills):
Daya Bharti
Devi Giri
DeWitt Davis
Durga Giri
Ekadasi Giri
Gita Giri
Haridwar Giri
Hem Giri
Jaganani Giri
Kedar Puri
Kotwal Shyama Puri
Mahant Durga Giri
Mahant Hare Ram Giri
Mahant Hari Giri
Mahant Ishwar Giri
Mahant Jamuna Puri
Mahant Maina Giri
Mahant Man Giri
Mahant Meera Puri
Mahant Yem Giri
Mahant Yem Giri
Mamarta Giri
Manta Puri
Maya Giri
Meena Giri
Narvada Giri
Nicole Jaquis
Om Dat Giri
Oma Giri
Pragya Pallavi
Prem Giri Mai
Radha Giri
Rajrajeshwar Giri
Rita Giri
Santi Giri
Shri Mahant Aradhana Giri
Shri Mahant Hira Giri
Shri Mahant Meera Puri,
Shri Mahant Uma Giri
Sonal Argawal
Tejaswini Giri
Tila Giri
Music:
Dream Temple from the album Jadur Madur
by Dream Tree Project, w/ Adham Shaikh
Sanskrit Chanting:
Mahant Jamuna Puri
Audio Mix:
Nicole Jaquis
Intern:
Bleue LiverpoolAscetics with Cameras is a seva (volunteer service) organization providing multimedia... more
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In one fell swoop, the mainstream media/banking/military complex not only managed to distract the nation from critical issues by hyping these two insignificant stories ( Cordoba Initiative AKA the “Ground Zero Mosque” proposal and the proposed burning of the Quran) , they managed to re-ignite the flag waving, pro-war, faux patriot sentiment that many Americans had after the terror attacks of 9/11.
They’ve also re-introduced the idea of a Zionist-inspired “clash of civilizations;” a hate-fest where through the influence of the media and black propaganda, Christians and Muslims are pit against one another in hopes that they will fight each other to the death. But most importantly, the anti-Muslim hysteria was key in reinforcing the thoroughly discredited, 585 page science fiction bestseller known as the Official 9/11 Commission Report, which upholds that 19 Muslim hijackers carried out the 9/11 attacks.
Cont.In one fell swoop, the mainstream media/banking/military complex not only managed to... more
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Oriana Saportas of KPFA radio conducts an interview with Abby Martin, creator of MediaRoots.org at Berkeley Community Media's public access on August 4th, 2010. Abby discusses the creation and evolution of Media Roots, a grassroots media project she created to help inform and connect the community.
www.MediaRoots.org
Please send all art, music, video, writing and research submissions to info@mediaroots.orgOriana Saportas of KPFA radio conducts an interview with Abby Martin, creator of... more
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Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities (rippd) attended New York City's First "Communities and Justice: Partnership & Challenges for the 21st Century" Conference held at John Jay College July 27th-28th, 2010. Determined to present a solution, that not only will increase public safety, save millions of dollars, and improve community relations between community members and the nypd as these trainings has the potential of making them more susceptible to becoming more compassionate in their interactions with fellow community members whether overwhelmed mentally or not, by implementing crisis intervention teams within the nypd.
Affording individuals in need of immediate assistance an opportunity of receiving it while reducing the incarceration rate tremendously. Rights for Imprisoned People has been pushing NYPD for years to implement the life saving Community Crisis Intervention Teams that have been successful through out many states even in Rochester, NY . Here Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities attended the conference to present “alternative solutions to decrease the NYPD high rates of tasering and deaths of those with mental illness”.
Lisa Ortega and Mary Dougherty, members of rippd, spoke with Judge Judith Kaye along with Commissioner Ray Kelly and gave them packets filled with details of successful CITs and provided suggestions for it's implementation even at the rate of pilot CITs in one precinct in each borough. Commissioner Ray Kelly mentioned the successful model he was aware of in Memphis, TN. and stated his willingness to meet with rippd members to discuss their plan.Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities (rippd) attended New York... more
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Red Soul of redlight area of Karachi Pakistan. A tale of 60 years old prostitue and the envirnoment of redlight area A story based over the most ancient trade of mankind .Red Soul of redlight area of Karachi Pakistan. A tale of 60 years old prostitue and... more
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Kazim
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In the USSC case Monsanto vs. Geertson Seed lies the future of food as we know it. In this case lies the environmental effects of transgenic contamination of land, water, soil, and the food we eat. In this case rests the future of food freedom and sovereignty not just for the U.S but for the world. This is the case that will set the precedent for domestic and foreign seed markets as well as the fate of organic farming.
That is why the Sustainable Agriculture Group is going to be keeping track of this case until its conclusion. I will do my best to keep up with current news on this landmark trial that more than likely will get no play in our national media.
And just as a sidenote: Some say Current has gone flat of late, well, I say that may well be true to a point, but the site and station are only as good as the people who stay here and report the news. So I hope others will discuss this and join in disseminating the important information we need to know regarding this important issue for our environment, biodiversity, sustainability, economy, and health.
Thank you.
http://current.com/groups/sustainable-agricultureIn the USSC case Monsanto vs. Geertson Seed lies the future of food as we know it. In... more
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One of the higher-profile participants at the Cochabamba climate conference was the former president of the United Nations General Assembly, Father Miguel D’Escoto. A Roman Catholic priest from Nicaragua, D’Escoto served as foreign minister in Daniel Ortega’s government from 1979 to 1990. He joins to talk about the failures of the UN, the importance of the Bolivia climate summit, why Latin America doesn’t need the United States and much more.Then, we pay a visit to Radio Gente 94.7 FM, the Cochabamba radio station that airs Democracy Now! in Spanish. "Democracy Now!" is broadcast on more than 250 stations across Latin America. "Democracy Now!" is a daily independent newshour.One of the higher-profile participants at the Cochabamba climate conference was the... more
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This is the sixth volume of the Sustainable Agriculture Group's Monsanto Roundup, where I try to bring you up to date on GMO/Monsanto news and what it means to you. In this ediiton we have the DOJ investigation into seed monopoly and American farmers speaking out. Then, Bulgaria saying no to GMOs, one million standing up to ban GMOs in Europe, illegal GMO imports in Kenya and their implications, and pushing Smartstax on South Africa. I also mention PLA and composting bags, and something I have coming up.
Please take some time to read the news and use it for your own empowerment.
It is the only way we will ever take back our food.
Thank you!
http://current.com/groups/sustainable-agriculture/This is the sixth volume of the Sustainable Agriculture Group's Monsanto Roundup,... more
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As I was looking through a friend's pictures from last weekend's Halloween festivities, I came across a photo of a guy dressed in a cap and gown with a cardboard sign around his neck that just read: "F*cked". How very apropos. If the past couple of years have taught us anything, it's that the value of a college degree has diminished, and having one certainly doesn't guarantee finding a job.
But it's not just the lack of jobs and heavy competition that contribute to the dire state of our economy. Our spending habits and how we manage our finances also have a lot to do with this crisis. Last year, I produced a show with Vanguard producer/editor Sean Puglisi about how people in our generation are living in these current financial times:
Maxed Out (Video)
And this past spring, fellow Vanguard producer Lauren Cerre and I went to Argentina to see how the country came out of its own financial crisis not too long ago:
Thank You, Recession
It's now November 2009, and just a couple days ago we hit the one-year mark since Barack Obama was elected President. I still have the newspaper that Vanguard producer/editor Yasu Tsuji and I bought at the corner store near our office the day after he won the election:
President Obama just signed a measure that provides aid to the unemployed and expands a home buyer tax credit to stimulate economic growth. But at the rate things are going, we're going to need much more than that: the country's unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent in October--reaching double digits for the first time in 26 years. In the last month alone, employers dropped 190,000 workers from their payrolls. With numbers like that, it's no wonder we're applying for unconventional jobs that are very far from what we studied for in school. Every week, Christian Science Monitor contributor David Grant compiles a list of the week's top jobs, and below is last week's collection. My favorite is #1: I wonder if there will ever end up being a course for THAT in college:
1. E-mail Czar
Employer: Village Voice Media.
Wages/salary: Not listed.
Details: Needs a candidate who will “eat, sleep and drink email” and
increase Internet subscriptions from 750,000 to 2 million. Ideal candidate
will be a “goal driver, possess strong creativity and revenue producing
marketing ideas and the strongest of communication skills.”
Location: Phoenix, Dallas, Denver.
2. Entry Level Sales - Master Cutlery
Employer: Master Cutlery.
Wages/salary: $40,000-$50,000
Details: Salesperson will be challenged to identify new accounts, reactivate
inactive accounts and grow existing business for a company best known as a
manufacturer and distributor of “top quality swords, tactical and hunting
knives.”
Location: Secaucus, N.J., (pop. 15,931, median family income $72,568) hosted
the 2009 WNBA draft in April.
3. Deputy Columbia/Snake Salmon Recovery Program Manager
Employer: Bureau of Reclamation
Wages/salary: $80,402-$104,525
Details: Responsible for assisting in “administering and implementing the
Pacific Northwest region’s endangered species activities.” The position’s
primary responsibility is to “oversee implementation of actions required by
Biological Opinions and related documents for Endangered Species Act listed
species, particularly anadromous salmonids
Location: Boise, Idaho, (pop. 203,818, median family income $64,519) is home
to the Basque Museum, the only one of its kind in North America.
4. Animal Food Preparer
Employer: San Diego Zoo
Wages/salary: $11.42-$12.93 per hour
Details: Essential functions of this position include the preparation of
food for the bird collection, chopping various fruits and vegetables,
handling insects, fish and other food items as well as washing bird trays.
Selected applicant will be required to maintain live forage items such as
mice, lizards and insects.
Location: San Diego (pop. 1,264,263, median family income $72,407) is home
to the University of California - San Diego, whose mascot is the “Triton.”
5. Auto Dismantler
Employer: Tolpa’s Auto Parts
Wages/salary: Not listed.
Details: After the “cash for clunkers” program, auto parts store needs
immediate assistance to meet government required mandate of 180 days to
crush all vehicles.
Location: Remsen, N.Y, (pop. 1,958, median family income $41,042) is the
home of world-class luger Erin Hamlin, who won the 2009 World Luge
Championship, the first American to have done so in 16 years.
6. Brain Trainer
Employer: Learning Rx
Wages/salary: $15-$20 per hour.
Details: Are you sharp, smart and quicker than your peers? Need trainers to
work with adults and kids 4-5 days a week during afternoons and evenings.
Location: Chester, N.J., (pop. 7,282, median family income $133,586) was
once known as “Black River,” although the Chester Historical Society attests
that no one knows when the name was changed.
7. Professional Superhero
Employer: 7 Promotions Inc.
Wages/salary: Not listed.
Details: Looking for an Account Manager to add to an “illustrious team of
overachievers” at one of the “fastest growing privately owned sales and
marketing firms in Westchester County,” Conn.
Location: Danbury, Conn., (pop. 78,575, median family income $76,492) was
where singer Tracy Chapman spent her youth and graduated from high school.
If any of these jobs pique your interest, here's the Monitor page with full links, as well as links to past weeks' lists.
This week on The Real Recovery - a Current News investigation into unemployment and the end of the recession - the focus is on college graduates. If you have a story to tell - come get involved.
Recently on the Vanguard Blog:
- What Transformers 2 has to do with Japan's falling population - Adam Yamaguchi
- Why Should You Trust Us? - Mitch Koss
- My Second Tour of Sri Lanka - Mariana van Zeller
- Chinese Mobsters and Megacities - Joanne Shen
- The world: A dangerous place for do-gooders - Kaj Larsen
- The world: A dangerous place for reporters - Darren FosterAs I was looking through a friend's pictures from last weekend's Halloween... more
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tchang
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It's the first day back at work in the New Year and the question on my mind is "Are things finally going to get better?" Well, unfortunately, a year's end is a pretty artificial time marker. And it seems the economy knows that.
According to speakers at the annual American Economic Association conference prospects for a big recovery anytime soon are bleak. "'It will be difficult to have a robust recovery while housing and commercial real estate are depressed,' said Martin Feldstein, a Harvard University professor and former head of the National Bureau of Economic Research." Additionally, national unemployment is still at 10% (as of the end of November, albeit with a slight dip from the previous month).
But come on, it's the first Monday of the New Year. Let's not get all pessimistic yet! Wall Street (though I don't think it's a good economic indicator) jumped 1.5% today.
What other signs are you seeing out there? Optimistic or pessimistic? Give us your 2010 predictions and the small signals you're seeing where you live. Leave your comment over on Current News.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- Get to know Yemen: The new hot front in the war on terror
- China executes British national, flexes its diplomatic muscle?
- Five years since the tsunami
- Holiday news video round-up: Iran protests, British skiing and drinking, mud races
- How do you help Sebikotane, Senegal - Global Citizen YearIt's the first day back at work in the New Year and the question on my mind is... more
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Yesterday we found out that there was going to be some leftover money from TARP and that Obama wanted to put it to job growth. He gave a speech today outlining some plans. Among the highlights? Assisting small businesses, putting more money to infrastructure and encouraging investments in clean energy. He also called on businesses to do their part for job creation as well, saying there was only so much government could do.He'll meet with lawmakers tomorrow to get some of these plans rolling.
Here's the President in his own words.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- Photography in conflict: Jeff Antebi covers the Afghanistan election
- Iran students' day of protest
- Copenhagen backgrounder - A roundup of pre-conference reading
- Will TARP cuts mean a jobs program? - Real Recovery
- Obama loses fans in Turkey over AfghanistanYesterday we found out that there was going to be some leftover money from TARP and... more
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The Treasury is estimating that the original cost of the TARP program for banks (estimated over ten years) can be revised down by about $200 billion. Does that mean the President will want to use that money for jobs?
The White House has been under pressure to tame the $1.4 trillion budget deficit, which has ballooned as the U.S. borrows vast sums of money. But with unemployment at 10%, the administration is also under pressure to find ways to create new jobs. Lowering deficit projections could help alleviate concerns that a new jobs bill would further inflate the deficit.
November saw the unemployment rate fall slightly (an estimated .2 percent) and though that was a welcome surprise for economists, it still means a lot of folks need jobs. That said though, it's not like the TARP money was already spent - it was just an estimated cost. It's likely any jobs program will face a lot of criticism from those worried about a bulging federal deficit.
The President is expected to make an announcement tomorrow.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- Obama loses fans in Turkey over Afghanistan
- Meet Zouhair al Jezairy, my new Iraqi journalist friend
- Bhopal: 25 years later
- What's news in Turkey?
- 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan: The right choice?The Treasury is estimating that the original cost of the TARP program for banks... more
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I flew into Istanbul, Turkey a few hours ago. Coasted above the Mediterranean along the coastline from the European side as the city grew to our left. And grew. And grew. (PS - Istanbul is huge. LA huge.) The rolling hills of the city are carpeted with buildings and punctuated every now and then by minarets. That was the most striking feature of the skyline for me. These little spikes jutting up higher than their surroundings. (It's exactly the sort of skyline the Swiss just voted to avoid.)
Pictures to come, I promise.
What am I doing in Turkey? I was invited to come speak at a conference by Internews, an organization that describes itself as "an international media development organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard." So you can see where the connection to Current is.
I'm speaking (tomorrow) about recent developments in journalism, both good and bad. How, in the US, the business of journalism is in crisis but within that crisis is great opportunity. Using new technologies that open media up to a wider range of voices we could actually save/improve/fix/better journalism. It's actually why Current was founded and it's what I spend a lot of my time thinking about.
I'm going to focus on my favorite examples of new directions in journalism. Here's a few of them:
- ProPublica's Reporting Network which asks you to help them report their stories
- Demotix, a photography citizen journalism site
- Spot.us which works to "crowd-fund" journalistic work
If you have any favorite sites you think I should include, let me know. Otherwise, I'll let you all know how the speech goes over. And, hopefully, I'll be able to introduce you to some folks from around Asia and Europe who are here for the conference (the list of countries represented boggles the mind: Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, etc, etc).
Also - what about Turkey? Any burning questions you'd want asked of the Turks? I'll ask 'em!
Stay tuned!
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- 1 in 4 US children on food stamps - Real Recovery
- While you were feasting: Swiss minarets, bin Laden blunders, Iran nuclear enrichment
- Hasn't this just been a whole year of Black Friday? - Real Recovery
- The recession visualized - Real Recovery
- California's education crisis - Join the group on CurrentI flew into Istanbul, Turkey a few hours ago. Coasted above the Mediterranean along... more
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A sobering statistic from this New York Times article about the stigma fading from food stamps: 1 in 4 children in the US get food thanks to food stamps. Additionally, 1 in 8 adults use food stamps. It's perhaps unsurprising, seeing as we saw that nearly 15 percent of Americans couldn't afford enough food in 2008 (and that included those who use food stamps).
The New York Times also has a great interactive feature that breaks down food stamp usage by county across the US. Leading the race for highest number of people on food stamps are Hidalgo County, Texas and The Bronx, NY.
What's your county look like? Have you been on food stamps during the recession? Tell us on The Real Recovery.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- While you were feasting: Swiss minarets, bin Laden blunders, Iran nuclear enrichment
- Hasn't this just been a whole year of Black Friday? - Real Recovery
- The recession visualized - Real Recovery
- California's education crisis - Join the group on Current
- Update to Philippines story: 46 deadA sobering statistic from this New York Times article about the stigma fading from... more
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The end of this week will see the venerable American holiday tradition of Black Friday, when on the day after Thanksgiving, Americans rush to consume as many retail deals as possible. And if you're serious about Black Friday, then you're probably already looking for the deals. Online there's blackfriday.info, bfads.net (that's Black Friday Ads), black-friday.net, theblackfriday.com. But honestly, with nearly a fifth of Americans out of work (according to the broadest unemployment calculation), hasn't this just been a whole year of Black Friday deal-hunting?
I spoke with Loren Bendele of Savings.com a site that focuses on bringing their community together with savings and discounts. He said their site, which started in March of 2007, has definitely seen a big increase in users because of the recession. And as more people move online to find deals in tough times, more companies are looking to find them. "We're seeing aspirational brands that are offering deals now," Bendele said. "Consumers are more aware and merchants are embracing deals."
Savings.com has selected some users to be what they call "Deal Pros" - people who know how to find the best deals and share them with the rest of the community. Some of them, said Bendele, are people that are fine with money. But as the recession has gotten worse, many of them are people who are maintaining their quality of life through saving money.
Is that you? Have you been scraping by by clipping coupons? Tell us about on The Real Recovery.
So should you rush out and try to trampled this Friday? Though there are plenty of deals to be had one of the DealPros offers some sage advice on the savings.com blog:
For me it has become a day to stay at home or look for alternative ways to enjoy the day. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good deal. But Black Friday has become that day that turns every mall in America into some lost scene from the movie Dawn of the Dead. It's just too much chaos to deal with in-person. So join me in giving in to the post-turkey daze and just saying no to the zombie hordes running wild through the aisles of your local Wal-Mart.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- The recession visualized - Real Recovery
- California's education crisis - Join the group on Current
- Update to Philippines story: 46 dead
- Who killed 30 people in the Philippines?
- Unemployment, Debt: How will we dig ourselves out? - Real RecoveryThe end of this week will see the venerable American holiday tradition of Black... more
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This amazing visualization of unemployment growing in the US has been making the rounds today. It's chilling to watch, really. It looks like two great jaws of job loss slowly closing on the I-35 Corridor.
The project was posted by LaToya Egwuekwe a journalist based in DC. It seems to be part of a larger piece called Losing Middle Ground: Defining what it means to live in today's "middle class". And it has a wonderful profile of a 41 year old wife and mother named Marina Mathews, laid off from a position as Senior Marketing Manager of a moving and storage company.
Upon receiving her walking papers, the family's total income of just over $100,000 a year was now dependent upon the $55,000 a year paycheck her husband, Vada Mathews, brought home as a restaurant manager, Marina's one month's worth of severance pay and the $380 she now receives each week in unemployment benefits.
Read more here.
Great work LaToya! Get in touch - we'd love to hear more about your reporting!
Have a recession story to tell? Post it to The Real Recovery, Current's investigation into unemployment and underemployment in the recession.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- California's education crisis - Join the group on Current
- Update to Philippines story: 46 dead
- Who killed 30 people in the Philippines?
- Unemployment, Debt: How will we dig ourselves out? - Real Recovery
- World Cup soccer is tearing the world apart!This amazing visualization of unemployment growing in the US has been making the... more
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John Henion is a freelance video producer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was laid off from a staff position in 2008 (full disclosure: at Current) and entered into the freelance world. He blogs about unemployment at Unemploymentality.com. We spoke yesterday for The Real Recovery.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="178" caption="John Henion and Dog"][/caption]
Life for a freelancer can be tough - especially at the beginning. John Henion moved out to California from Michigan where he'd already established himself with freelance work. In California he had none. He said the move made him "take a step back and do things I didn't want to do." For example, John was about 30 when he moved here, had already produced his own independent documentary, but found himself taking a production assistant role on "Wife Swap" just to be working. "I was beyond the point where I wanted to pick up trash on the set and being told to go get lunches," he said. "After that experience I realized I didn't need to lower the bar that much."
The goal as a freelancer is to have steady work. There are some great benefits - like being your own boss and scheduling your own time off - but there are somethings that are definitely not benefits - like not having benefits. John was lucky to have insurance through a domestic partnership with his girlfriend, but he said for many freelancers the decision about whether or not to get insurance is just whether or not you want to take your chances.
After being laid off, John said it took him about 6-8 months before he was getting steady work again. These days, he has about 5-6 return customers and pulls in a lot of one-off projects. He's been able to work himself back up to an income level comparable to having a full-time staff position. But that comes with a lot more work than just the actual time spent working. "The worst part is...I have to deal with chasing down money. Some people wait until the last minute to pay you or wait until you raise a stink. You know, they want to keep that money on their books as long as they can."
The most important thing John has found to remember freelancing is that no matter how much time he spends at an office, no matter how many new friends he makes in a workplace, being a freelancers puts him in a different position. "As a freelancer they can just stop calling. First time that happened I thought I did something wrong....When they stop calling it's not personal....They're not supposed to roll over and kiss you in the morning, just leave some money on the bedstand."
Michael Spafferty's Video Resume from Unemploymentality on Vimeo.
Are you a freelancer? Have a recession story to tell? Post it to The Real Recovery.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- UK considers Pirate Finder General
- Why 14.6% of America can't afford enough food - Real Recovery
- The last Supreme Leader of Iran
- Problems facing California prisons: Cell phones
- US, China to work on clean energy - No bill this yearJohn Henion is a freelance video producer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was laid... more
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Here's a math problem for you: The national unemployment rate hits its highest point since the 80s in October: 10.2 percent. According to a report released this week last year 14.6% of Americans couldn't afford to buy enough food. How does that add up?
Well outside of the various nitpicks that can be done to both of those numbers, one big culprit is "underemployment". We've been talking about underemployment a lot in The Real Recovery because I think it's a more accurate measure of how many Americans have been affected by the recession. If you "get discouraged" and stop looking for a job, you no longer count as "unemployed". Or, as we're talking about this week: if you go freelance part time.
The official measure of underemployment is called the U-6 and the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes it in breathtaking terms:
Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers
In October, when we saw that big 10.2% unemployment number, the U6 number was at 17.5% Nearly a fifth of the population!
You know what that does not include though? All the Americans who've taken pay cuts or reduced hours in the recession. (More digging through numbers to come).
Want to get involved with The Real Recovery? Here's two easy things you can do:
- Post your story to the group. How have you been affected? Are you underemployed? Have you taken a pay cut?
- Help me find some other numbers to look at. How many Americans have taken pay cuts?
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- The last Supreme Leader of Iran
- Problems facing California prisons: Cell phones
- US, China to work on clean energy - No bill this year
- Did airport slaughter scene get Modern Warfare 2 banned in Russia?
- America's Christmas present: JobsHere's a math problem for you: The national unemployment rate hits its highest... more
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