Sheldon | Unexpected Leisure

January 27, 2011January 28, 2011

Meditations on the Abyss at the Urgent Care Clinic

I was sitting at my computer when I was hit by a sudden headache. It came on within seconds; the worst headache Iâ€™d ever had. Exquisite, excruciating pain; to borrow from Gibsonâ€™s Neuromancer, â€œâ€¦pain beyond anything to which the name of pain is given.â€ A quick Google search served to suggest that this could be very serious and I needed to see someone right away. Read more [...]

January 26, 2011January 26, 2011

Get a Deduction for College Tuition

Quick Tip: If you're thinking of going back to school to acquire or improve job skills, you can deduct the cost of tuition and books from your taxes. This applies to both college-aged and older students. Read more [...]

January 26, 2011January 26, 2011

The Ranks of the “99ers” Continue to Grow

Earlier this month I crossed a rather depressing threshold: I became a "99er" which means I have been effectively out of work ... for 99 weeks or longer. That is the point at which all unemployment benefits end, forever. Read more [...]

January 26, 2011January 29, 2011

A Prescription for the Opiate of the People

Talk of truly epic economic upheaval invariably brings to mind who is to blame or who isn't helping the situation very much. Love him or hate him, Marx had a lot to say about this subject and even hard-core Read more [...]

January 26, 2011

Eating Cheap From a Roast Chicken

Rendering a chicken carcass is a time-honored way to get the last savory bits off of a chicken, and it's not as hard as it might sound. Read more [...]

January 25, 2011January 25, 2011

Remaking the Definition of Community

I've said it in other posts here and on the Unexpected Leisure Facebook page, but it bears repeating: if you are looking for a job or a better job, you can't do it alone.Â You need a network, but more Read more [...]

January 22, 2011January 25, 2011

The Myth of Skills That Deteriorate During Unemployment

A common meme that you find in any discussion of long-term unemployment is that over time critical job skills deteriorate. This is used to explain why people have a hard time finding a job if they've been Read more [...]

January 21, 2011

Tip: Taxes and Unemployment Benefits

If you are one of those who has no job and is fortunate enough to still have unemployment benefits, you have the option to have 10% of your check withheld for tax purposes. Read more [...]

January 21, 2011

Do-It-Yourself Community

One of the more interesting responses to our economic nightmare is the rise of "common security clubs." No, this is not a emphamism for forming local militias, although in the long run it's probably a better idea. These are groups of people who form their own community for mutual support, sharing information, and working to effect change. Read more [...]

January 19, 2011January 20, 2011

Taking Care of Yourself

Two interesting items have been in the news lately. One is the move by Blue Shield of California to raise their premiums by 59% and blowing off calls by the California Insurance Commissioner to hold off Read more [...]