Actually, let's go back to that media notion there — that they're, or we're, or I'm, hoping things will go well so it'll mean a job at the end of the day to continue. That's certainly important to me and the rest of us in the "fourth estate," and even the few, peculiar (if you've ever been to an industry conference and seen us you know what I mean) press that dissects the EDA. You should know that right now, not unlike other employees, many of us press people are having happy conversations amongst our backstabbing (kiddin...) selves that are cut through with furtive glances around us (perhaps today's the day when the layoffs at Nortel will cause my job to end). We're really no different than the public relations associate walking through the parking lot with a box of stuff in hand, or the human resource or accounting professional toeing the dreary line toward their car. It's a fact that the media is the hardest hit in most economic slow downs — the observers (us) are found out. We're the codependents, not you (the designers).

But the electronics designer and/or EDA tool user. Aha. You do the layoff bounce better than all of us. Your knowledge has made you Teflon — if you're looking, you won't have to look far or hard because people want you. The press (hello) wants you that's for sure, especially if you can tell us which tools really work. C'mon out with it.

You are what a lot, if not most, of the electronics industry is based on. Not being overly obsequious here, but think of yourselves as the muse of the technology sector. Everyone courts you, writes for you, PRs for you. And this is a good thing, the way it's supposed to be. Just here to say, don't let the din of layoffs and poor economy slow you down.

In these trying times, I encourage you to unite and produce even more brilliant designs, ask even better questions of the tool vendors and the media that covers them, and stay excited about what you do. I know that I will, because reporting on passionate minds — not observing that Nortel, Intel, or CMP have cut jobs — is the whole fun of it.

For some fellow friends and those that like it, I leave you with this fine idea:

Motto — By Langston Hughes

I play it cool

And dig all jive.

That's the reason

I stay alive.

My motto,

As I live and learn,

Is:

Dig And Be Dug

In Return.