re: I heard layoffs happened at Schlumberger today

Which is why I don't understand your position. Does it suck yes. Am I advocating that people should lose their jobs cause they work in a certain industry, no? But this has happened and will happen to every industry throughout the course of history. Being fired because an industry is showing its volatility doesn't incapacitate people from working. Does it mean there may be some lifestyle changes, definitely, but not your ability to work.

I guess I am a little numb to it. My fiance's dad lost his job with Boeing for 10 months after they started cutting back. He swallowed his pride and worked at Home Depot for some of that time while doing contract work at night. When the rubber industry declined in Akron, my grandfather joined the navy and started a successful business after a 22 year career. There are millions of people with similar stories. Some are probably the same people who lost their jobs today.