Middling Thoughts About 2010

I’ve been working on a social media project with a large software company which has, ironically, kept me away from my goal of a weekly blog post.

With 2010 coming to a close I just had to finish off the year with something…but what…? Perhaps noting the irony of the frontman for Boney M dying in St. Petersburg on the same day that Rasputin died (though probably not as violently). One of Boney M’s hit songs was about Rasputin.

Wikileaks had my attention in the sense that there was nothing earth-shattering about the content of the diplomatic cables except that it confirmed what the public knew or guessed about our relationship with allies and opponents. However, the over-the-top response from some politicians (Joe Lieberman) was unsettling. Instead of killing the messenger (the very strange Julian Assange who I think may be an Andorian…), focus on resolving our government security issues and not on stifling free speech.

The mainstream media seem to think that the economy is improving, voicing claims from economists that the recession officially ended in June of 2009. More of my friends are working than not so I guess that may be correct. Unemployment numbers are interesting when you take a look at them, though. Professional employees are seeing their lot improve but blue-collar workers are still suffering and I think this recession has created an underclass of permanently unemployed people (over 50, little or no education, and limited work experience beyond a single industry) that could become a long-term drag on the economy.

On that last note, this will be especially true of men who, unlike their female counterparts, are less likely to be flexible and accept the change forced upon them. Age is not the issue in so much as it is an issue of losing the spirit of youth which allows one to continually seek growth and new opportunities without looking backwards.

So with that, let’s all look forward to a 2011 filled with opportunities to grow, professionally and otherwise!