Postdocs and VoIP

No, I'm not talking about some groundbreaking research done by some postdocs to invent VoIP. I'm talking about two great bargains. They're both cheap and provide excellent value for money. Harvard economist Larry Freeman writes about what a great bargain postdocs are:

The United States could hardly ask for a more cost-effective way to advance knowledge and ultimately improve our lives. In a world where former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay (an economics Ph.D.!) paid himself millions of dollars before bankrupting his firm, postdocs deserve a round of huzzahs for creating so much of value and charging so little that they themselves are the ones risking bankruptcy. Huzzah! Huzzah!

*Sigh!* Alas, if only I shared his enthusiasm. For you see, as I mentioned earlier, my graduation is imminent and I have no prospective source of income yet. One possibility (and I shudder to accept this) I might consider is to do a post-doc. "But you should be happy!" you say, enthusiastically. I suppose I should. But the thought of being grossly overworked for meagre pay yet again is, to put it mildly, quite distressing.

Still, being of the resident alien variety means that I need sponsorship. And if only I had the consolation of Sigourney Weaver whooping my ass, but us aliens are not even given that luxury. Companies are loathe to provide sponsorship while universities are not. Also, my advisor might have some good contacts in academia which would make it easier for me to get a post-doc position.

And that's the state of affairs as they are...