The word is getting out friends. Our voice is being heard. And THIS weekend, MY voice will be heard across southern California and broadcast to the entire world, via the internet. KBEACH.org in the Los Angeles area contacted me to do a radio/internet interview late last week to spotlight the website and the plight of the American jobless middle-class. The interview went just over 20 minutes and I certainly hope I did all of you, and this website, proud. When I was contacted to do the interview, I have to admit I wasn’t sure whether I should be flattered or embarrassed. With any luck we will begin to be heard by many more great people with great ideas, opportunities and suggestions!
I was also recently was contacted by The Huffington Post directly and asked to become a contributing blogger there. Ironically and sadly, this is a non-paying gig in Arianna Huffington’s, “Third World America” section of that site. Yet, again, it is getting the word out. People are reading and commenting and visiting here. I hope you all continue to get the word out yourselves by Tweeting, Facebooking, and whatever other form of social networking you use. We need all the exposure we can generate!
It is truly astounding to be in the position so many of us are in at this stage of the game. In all honesty, I have just found out that I have little time left with a roof over my head. Being on the streets during the winter is going to be life-changing, to say the least. With any luck, I’ll make an attempt to keep posting as my situation allows. It is, for me and so many others, a sad commentary on America to be just one job away from redemption. Over the next weeks, I will try my hardest to continue to get the word out about our website. The more eyes and ears here may very well translate into possibilities for us all. I will keep fighting for us. That’s a promise.
The IncomePOOP 
I saw your posts this weekend on HP. I have been sitting here for hours reading the stories. They are heartbreaking and inspiring. I am disabled and my husband has a good job but I see the trouble ahead. Many nights I can’t sleep because of worry for my family my kids and my country. I write to my Reps. in Congress and Senate and The White House and have found some solace and comfort on HP. We all need to stick together and not let the mean and the selfish pull us down anymore than they have. I fear many of us are going to be in your positions if something drastic does’nt happen. I saw a special on CNN about reclaiming the American dream that was very interesting and informative and ominous all at the same time. We need to fight and it makes me very angry the vitriol and blame heaped on good Americans like you. There are alot of lies and misinformation out there. The Republican Senate spurred on by The US Chamber of Commerce defeated 8 Made in America Bills . We need to fight the tide of The Tea Party and their anger and resentments being the onlt justifieable anger. They will ruin our country. Anyway I don’t want to make this about politics. I loved the book idea for you.I also have a few tips but I don’t know how good they are. First is a sight I heard about on MSNBC which is Tweetmyjobs.com. They tweet you when a job opens up that you might be qualified for and they will tweet out your resume. The idea is the speed gives you a leg up. I don’t know how effective it is. The second personal one is a youtube channel. I know that people do make a living at it if your popular. It’s pennies per view but people post alot of videos on a channel and make money at it. I thought with your photography backround that it might be a good fit. I gave a 99er on HP the idea of making a Youtube channel like “It gets better” but for unemployed people to tell their stories or have video resumes or something like that. People make money on youtube giving makeup tips. I don’t know what’s already on their. Anyway I know nothing I can say will change your situation but I really wish you the best.
I saw your post on Huffinton and came and checked out your blog. I have an idea for you that might generate some income as a small business.
Create photobooks for people, either of part of their live (like their house, boat) or from a party, etc. You can print them on lulu.com. So you would take the pictures and make the book (they don’t have to know its lulu). People would LOVE books of their own stuff. And they would probably buy multiple copies.
You could do private parties, meetings, weddings, as well as inanimate objects like houses, boats, collections, etc.
Julia,
I really, really like you’re train of thought here. You are a ray of sunshine and guidance that is the real reason we all are here. I will certainly look into this idea and go from there. You’re a neat person, I see, after looking at your site. I hope you come here often and give us all some feedback on how you are doing!
I want to personally thank you for taking the time to respond. It means the world to me……..
Thanks, what kind words! I always wonder how people will take my ideas just out of the blue, I do tend to get them often, and some of them are even good!
My business was actually started as a hobby and a way to help friends make money while they stayed home with the kids, and its grown quite a bit and now supports many people, including a few who lost better jobs and can’t get employed anywhere. Last year I went down to 50% pay and my husband was out of work for over a year, so it was really nice to have alternative income. When I would get stressed about money I would go cut out costumes. I at least felt like I was making progress and doing something.
I do not think our economy is going to get much better in the near future, and I encourage everyone (even people with jobs) to develop alternative sources of income. The best if if you can figure out how to make money from your hobby (like I did) so its more fun than work.
For your project, I really think there is a market for people to buy books of their own stuff, or books of pictures from a special event. You could get samples to show by asking people to sponsor you, have them buy you a few books if you take pictures of their stuff. Then you can figure out how to price it. Also, you could help people make their own cookbook, that’s something people may like.