What can I say about the support from this board? Seriously the positive messages in public and in my private mail box were all extremely genuine, giving and heartfelt. Thanks.

So in the end, I was made redundant and am in negotiations with my company as to the exact nature of the package. The good news is that I have an excellent new business venture already forming and making great strides in a short period of time. In addition I had a 'traditional' job interview today and am quite positive that it may work out. I actually view this change as one that is very positive and the timing is really perfect for me and my family. I realize now how dreadfully unhappy the job made me... it was like a bad relationship way past it's sell by date.

The sad part of the story was the others who were let go that day. Some of the decisions were so beyond unethical it was painful. A guy with 6 kids and the sole income earner, another guy who was also the sole earner and was celebrating his new week old son, another lady with a serious sickness which has kept her out of the office for large portions of time etc. the list goes on. They kept staff who were single and in their 20's and only employed for 4 months... and alternately let go one guy who had been working as a rock solid, non-political manager for 12 years. When confronting some of the management, they simply stated... well we're not a charity. Got that right... not human either.

The scary thing is watching some of the middle management who were pumped up with their new authority, given the job of escorting good employees off the premises and taking to their role with relish. Holding bags for people and following them out the door insisting that they don't even say good-bye to colleagues. They even had armed security guards on the floors and in the parking garages... seriously warped. I have to say that my faith in humankind is often taken into the gutter when I observe behaviour like that. It was a bit of a reminder of how normal people can do totally unethical things.... it was a bit like watching the Gestapo controlling the crowds as they head into the showers... no expression, just doing their duty.

For my part, I accepted the news with a wry smile and delivered my envelope as planned. I thanked them for the opportunity of working there and made it clear that I had expected it... even having cleaned out my desk the previous day in anticipation. I walk away the better man.

Anyhow, as I said before, the recession has hit home... even if my home is OK, it's the effect on those I know (and I have to say those I don't). The thievery and lies of the last few decades will continue to haunt the working class... it has killed the retail investors in mining stocks and heck... lets be honest... every other investment tool out there. Pension funds slowly ramped up their participation in hedge funds... er gambling pools... and are now faced with severe depletion and sometimes ruin. I mean hell, as I said patience will win out on something as solid as ECU... but really wtf are we doing in the region of cents not dollars??? People are so scared, unwilling to put the last remnants of their cash back down on the markets as they know (they used to just think it) the markets are rigged and the house always wins.

When will it all change? Are we at the precipice of a massive current of real change in the way we do business?? Will people demand ethical and environmental capitalism??? Time will tell, but in the meantime I'm going to make a few donations to the local food-bank and implore you all to do the same. At least we are here on an investor website, we have something even if we lost a lot...

Thanks again to all of you - Soul