"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:c_M7c.61530$Cb.927821@attbi_s51...

snip
I don't know anything about Unix, other than it's an operating system.
My
knowledge of operating systems, as limited as it is, is Windows-based.
I
remember that the operating system at my engineering school was
Unix...but
that was more than 10 years ago. Is it still used a lot? Perhaps
that's
part of the problem? A change in technology?

Hmmm, it would seem that the zeitgeist of technology is not your strong
suit. It is a virtual certainty that your post came via a Linux or BSD
Unix
system. The bulk of ISPs currently use Linux or BSD as they are *bunches*
more reliable in production internet plumbing than anything Microsoft has
every produced. If you use google or Amazon you are using Linux. I have
noticed many reference to Linux use from members of this mailing list. The
bulk of supercomputers and mainframes are running some sort of UNIX
system.
It is far from behind the times, and Minneapolis is certainly not out of
the
loop when it come to IT technology. On my local TCLUG mailing list,
several
members who were IBM employees members have had their jobs outsourced to
India. I am not aware that any of them have found work yet.

You pose the question, "a change in technology"? I say a change in the
entire IT infrastructure. For the few that can find work there has been a
15% to 25% drop in wage rates. So much for my son training for a better
job - It's looks like it has been shipped off to a low wage country.

A few leeks later, my techno-geek son is still looking for suitable
employment.


As for your other son with a high school diploma...
What kind of jobs is he applying to? I find it hard to believe he can't
find "any" job. I can't blame him for not wanting a job at minimum
wage,
but what skills does he have and what makes him more "employable" than
somebody else that is earning minimum wage?

snip

Oddly, when I sit down with him and do the math, if he works 37.5 hours a
week he will *not* make enough to pay for rent, utilities, food and
medical
care. If he works two jobs he will not have the time to go to school and
get
more education to get a better job.

The answer isn't to work two jobs. The answer is to work *one* job to pay
*some* of the expenses...and get Stafford student loans to pay his school
and any additional expenses. He may need to meet a minimum number of credit
hours to maximize the the loans however. When he graduates, he can
consolidate any student loans and amortize them out to 30 years with a very
low fixed interest rate.