tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post9104968979982837861..comments2023-11-05T04:36:14.223-08:00Comments on The Mess That Greenspan Made: I quit my job one year ago todayTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530974968126497397noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-50354206780824806252008-03-01T09:32:00.000-08:002008-03-01T09:32:00.000-08:00Congratulations on your retirement and keep on pos...Congratulations on your retirement and keep on posting on this great blog.The Real Lizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06414954765158748135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-50657329211657934642008-02-29T21:31:00.000-08:002008-02-29T21:31:00.000-08:00Bill Gates has asked the following question in Lin...Bill Gates has asked the following question in LinkedIn.com:<BR/><BR/>How can we do more to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology?<BR/><BR/>There are 2280 answers.<BR/><BR/>http://www.linkedin.com/answers/technology/information-technology/computers-software/TCH_ITS_CMP/179866-21879399?goback=%2Esrp_1_1204330946472_inAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-62399678764696211802008-02-29T20:33:00.000-08:002008-02-29T20:33:00.000-08:00Hey Tim, congrats on your first year of freedom. ...Hey Tim, congrats on your first year of freedom. I just started mine, having sold a company 6 months ago but only now free at last. <BR/><BR/>Like you, I am in my mid-40's, and have managed to amass a mid-7 figure retirement fund. Now I just have to try and hang on to it. Infattion is running wild, and even a 'real' return could be quite difficult.<BR/><BR/>I have been enjoying your blog now for at least the past 6 months. And after having watched commodities run up over the last few years, I am finally becoming a convert to the process as well. Jim Rogers helped convert me. And now, even though I think the thought as an investment is ridiculous, I own quite a bit of it.<BR/><BR/>Your post of February 11 was a real eye opener. When I saw the grains gains YTD, I jumped into a few of the ETF's you listed, and get 6+% returns in no time. It won;t always be this quick and easy, but it sure is fun!<BR/><BR/>Keep up the great work. I hope to meet you some day.<BR/><BR/>-dAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-50886509928905425842008-02-29T20:32:00.000-08:002008-02-29T20:32:00.000-08:00There will be new opportunities for new engineers ...There will be new opportunities for new engineers - I hope the future will be good to them, kinder than right now.<BR/><BR/>Change will surely bring some good stuff soon. It just can't come soon enough. Those of us in this business for a while are quite fed up with the status quo, and, like Tim, quite eager to just step aside for now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-86610228347255882592008-02-29T17:12:00.001-08:002008-02-29T17:12:00.001-08:00hardwinterwheat and anon,Thanks.Matt,No it's not a...hardwinterwheat and anon,<BR/>Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Matt,<BR/>No it's not all bad - after twenty-some years it's easy to become jaded after taking it all in for so long.<BR/><BR/>I kind of feel sorry for young engineers with their entire career ahead of them because it is completely different than when I started out in the 1980s. There's lots more global competition now for everything.<BR/><BR/>Just keep your eyes and ears open and don't believe everything the suits tell you.<BR/><BR/>apachetrout,<BR/>Good for you too - best of luck in your new endeavor.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16530974968126497397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-83203405325243971142008-02-29T17:08:00.000-08:002008-02-29T17:08:00.000-08:00Congrats Tim. All the best for your future plans ...Congrats Tim. All the best for your future plans and activities. Having worked for a US company here in Australia, I think I understand your statements about 'talent drift'. I could feel the life force being sucked from my veins every day I spent with EDS. I also experienced the exit interview - an then novel experience here. At the time, Australian firms knew why you were leaving because your supervisors actually knew you. Now we have aimless HR departments like the US. I have two years to go before I 'officially' retire, but am certainly contemplating my next move. Thanks for the inspiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-37247529322727692342008-02-29T16:56:00.000-08:002008-02-29T16:56:00.000-08:00congratulations,Tim. I also quit my job last year...congratulations,Tim. I also quit my job last year on this date and founded my own company (www.vermontwetlandplants.com). Quitting the rat race working for a consulting firm was the best thing I did, and it sounds like you've accomplished the same. Good for you, and nice job explaining the economy to a simple aquatic ecologist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-5515313451444308242008-02-29T16:41:00.000-08:002008-02-29T16:41:00.000-08:00I can sort of understand your venom against corpor...I can sort of understand your venom against corporations of techno-toys and maybe some of the uselessness behind it all, but surely you don't think that technology is all just trinkets, do you?<BR/><BR/>I'm going to admit that as a new engineer, my viewpoint is going to be biased, but in my view, the chips that your company tests probably reaches a full spectrum of applications, and not just the latest cell-phone. Up here in Pullman, WA, there is at least one company here (http://www.selinc.com) that has revolutionized the power protection industry and seeks to minimize damage due to blackouts such as the florida incident this week or the 2003 blackout.<BR/><BR/>That can't be all that bad, can it?<BR/><BR/>MattAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978024172633861272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11719208.post-72342651855790026322008-02-29T13:01:00.000-08:002008-02-29T13:01:00.000-08:00Congratulations, Tim !Congratulations, Tim !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com