'Fraid I don't have any leads.

I'd tell you what I did once I finished my Ph.D., but it would be too depressing. Though here's a clue: to this day, I can write knowledgeably and convincingly about the procedures and the atmosphere of factory production line and warehouse work.

Things did get better for me, eventually. I trust they'll get better for you too, and soon.

nice to know i'm not the only one looking for work... and, as much as i hate to admit it, i love not just that song, but the entire album.

I live in a city where actual skills are frowned upon.

Sadly, you have education and credential levels that make a year long job search, or having to "settle" or do something as filler, not at all out of the question. Says the guy who with a BS in accounting delivered newspapers, did security work, did receiving, and finally worked his way up to tech support and finally made 6.3 years after graduating what would have been a reasonable pay for the year after graduating.

I'm in the same boat as Leopold.

Most of the employers in my area would die from a cold glass of water and an original thought

Right-winger from Caltech?

First of all, class traitors are hard to employ. Call me crazy, but someone with a lot of postsecondary education from one of the premier institutions of research who aligns with the platform of the freak show currently running the country will be ferreted out pretty immediately. Remember those people that edit research findings to promote the point of view paid for by corporations? Remember them? Is that you?

Remember, you have to do two (at least) $30K postdocs now (call it 7 years), and during that time not ONLY be a slave to your PI, but ALSO do enough independent research AND schmooze the program managers well enough to get some funding to work on your own ideas, and then MAYBE you'll get hired as an associate professor somewhere. And it's doubtful that by that time history will have looked kindly on the Rove/Cheney administration - better start that makeover if you want meaningful employment.

Much better to get hooked up with Horowitz and go complain about Liberals polluting academia. Instant employment for the perception of credibility that you'll bring to his ilk.

little bitter there, karl?