What made me unhappy today ?
- Thread starter big soft moose
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It always pains me to hear stuff like this. It shouldn't be allowed. I hope your severance pay was at least good.
GenAI isn't doing as well as the tech giants are saying it does. Here is an MIT report on it. The truth of the matter is, it isn't a magic potion, and it absolutely isn't ready to completely replace humans.
I think you will be okay, honestly. It's just another hurdle that you'll overcome.
Sorry to read about this. The timing, not that there's ever a good time, is terrible, considering the upcoming holiday season, etc.
I hope you find other employment soon.
My employer is very frank about layoffs. They will happen in the first quarter of 2026.
I've been a working journalist. Before AI, I imagined working as a reporter. It's probably a character flaw, but I enjoy technical writing.
Both those jobs are endangered by lazy companies in hellish consort with AI.
The best option for me is something I can do as a consultant, where I can decide to do things the old-fashioned way.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure what that would be.
I've been a working journalist. Before AI, I imagined working as a reporter. It's probably a character flaw, but I enjoy technical writing.
Both those jobs are endangered by lazy companies in hellish consort with AI.
The best option for me is something I can do as a consultant, where I can decide to do things the old-fashioned way.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure what that would be.
Yes. I think you might be surprised by what's not covered by the province. For example, prescriptions.
I guess I'm lucky to live in Australia, and even luckier to have private health insurance.
Here in Australia, we have a thing called Medicare. Every citizen has one (NO exceptions), and if they have a family, their children are covered too, under their Medicare card. That means they can see a GP if they need to (after making appointments, of course); they can get many common medicines at a discount; and if they need to go to a public hospital, they can, and it's usually free (within reason).
Yes, it's socialized health insurance, but honestly? It's the best thing I can say about socialism.
I also have private health insurance, because I've been paying for it since I was 18. Back then I was a college student, so it was cheaper (say, $30-40/month). In return, I was covered for dental, optical, and general. I still have it now, and I'm glad I got it. Two years ago, I had to be treated by a specialist in a private hospital, and it would've cost a bomb without it.
Do you have such things where you are, Set2Stun? Or is health insurance prohibitively expensive where you are?
I've heard that in the USA, private health insurance is VERY expensive, and a lot of folks are against socialised health insurance because they think "Socialism?!? GAH!!! Get away from me, you commie pinko!" Etc. 
(Yes, I know that socialism and Communism are very different things, but that's how they think). *shrug*
Here in Australia, we have a thing called Medicare. Every citizen has one (NO exceptions), and if they have a family, their children are covered too, under their Medicare card. That means they can see a GP if they need to (after making appointments, of course); they can get many common medicines at a discount; and if they need to go to a public hospital, they can, and it's usually free (within reason).
Yes, it's socialized health insurance, but honestly? It's the best thing I can say about socialism.
I also have private health insurance, because I've been paying for it since I was 18. Back then I was a college student, so it was cheaper (say, $30-40/month). In return, I was covered for dental, optical, and general. I still have it now, and I'm glad I got it. Two years ago, I had to be treated by a specialist in a private hospital, and it would've cost a bomb without it.
Do you have such things where you are, Set2Stun? Or is health insurance prohibitively expensive where you are?
I've heard that in the USA, private health insurance is VERY expensive, and a lot of folks are against socialised health insurance because they think "Socialism?!? GAH!!! Get away from me, you commie pinko!" Etc. (Yes, I know that socialism and Communism are very different things, but that's how they think). *shrug*
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We have universal health care, but it doesn't cover everything. For example, prescriptions and dentist visits. But I still have benefits through a private insurer through my husband's employment, and have them until I die. When I retired from teaching, all my personal health benefits through my employer (the government!) were cancelled.
I can sort of see the government's POV, but it sucks that you give them so much of your life and they give you nothing when you retire.
Now I'm not looking forward to retiring.
Not driving it home?
I remember in the '80s, when you'd have kids who'd say, "What? Paul McCartney was in another band before Wings???"
Confessing my sins more than anything. Monday and Tuesday, I went in to sub teach after only three hours of sleep per night. I'm sure I was drifting off last period yesterday, and I'm pretty sure the kids noticed. Dangerous, because there are those who will fink to the principal.
This morning at 6:27, I get a call offering me a job at the same school. It's a gig I normally would take. But again, I hadn't gotten the light out till 3:00 AM and I could see myself falling asleep in class again. And there was no way I could get ready and arrive on time.
So I skipped it and went back to sleep. Even though I badly need the money. Even though I ended up sleeping till nearly 2:00 PM. Even though my mattress needs turned and I rolled out of bed with two sore hips.
And now I have to be at my night job at 5:30. Not what I call a productive day.
This morning at 6:27, I get a call offering me a job at the same school. It's a gig I normally would take. But again, I hadn't gotten the light out till 3:00 AM and I could see myself falling asleep in class again. And there was no way I could get ready and arrive on time.
So I skipped it and went back to sleep. Even though I badly need the money. Even though I ended up sleeping till nearly 2:00 PM. Even though my mattress needs turned and I rolled out of bed with two sore hips.
And now I have to be at my night job at 5:30. Not what I call a productive day.
My dear, it was the sixties. One flew one's car home after concerts.
Oh. I didn't have a car till the mid-80s.
Finished up my jury duty this morning and the case I sat for was so heavy. It was a criminal case, and while we didn't find the defendant guilty on all counts, we did on most of them, and so lives are changed forever now. I learned things while sitting on this jury, and I also felt a lot of disappointment for humanity. But at least a victim has a semblance of justice.
I'll have to look into it, but I'm guessing that there won't be enough of a difference to go to all the trouble since iirc my monthly prescriptions cost about $150. Since you mentioned it, and I need to know my options soon, I checked and it looks like for Ontario there's a program that will cover all prescription costs that exceed 4% of your income when unemployed. Even once I am on employment insurance, the amount one way or the other will be negligible.
The only way to get fully covered prescriptions in this province is if you go on welfare.
Hmm. Over here, when I lost my job once, I tried to go on welfare -- only to support myself while looking for another job -- and I was told I had to wait three months before my application would be even considered. (It's a good thing for me that I learned early in life how to manage my budget and rarely overspent, so I never had to live paycheck to paycheck, and had enough savings to live on).
Is that what welfare is like in Ontario? Just curious. I'm sure that welfare isn't much (working for a living brings in much more), but at least it might help to keep the wolf from the door. At least, it did for me when I was jobless and seeking employment.
But yes, being unemployed sucks ... especially this close to Christmas, when everyone's thinking of their holidays. *sends hugs and good wishes to Set2Stun*
I would share a related anecdote but I see my mother staring down at me from my avatar in the corner. Let's just say there was more than one "joint" involved.
One wonders how one survived the Wild Child stage.
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