I should have known better. About a month after the project was canceled, I got the word: The entire network engineering staff was being outsourced. That was me, Paul, and about six other guys. We learned, however, that there were a few openings in the project management group. Time to call in that favor! Paul and I called Grady and Dennis. And called. And e-mailed. And called some more. They never called back. A month later Paul and I were looking for new jobs.

What I learned: When politics trumps technology, expect the worst.