I like how Mr. Joegriner is considering taking a night job stocking shelves, so people wouldn't see him, but he'll do an interview with the WSJ. #funemployment
@cassandra: Why would you doubt it? People who were laid off were given severance. That severance is running out and people are starting to come to grips with real life. They probably expected to be back at work already. It's not really a stretch. #funemployment
@cassandra: Leaving aside the idea that - gasp - portions of the population might not all move in lockstep (CIP, the shorts will get rich in a crash), the point of Pilon's story is that there are SOME people who were able to continue living as they always did on severance - until that severance runs out. Not saying that they're going all out (by their standards) or that everyone is overspending (by our standards.) #funemployment
@Valerie Flame: The point seems to be that you can find at least five people, anywhere, doing something stupid and then call it a trend. #funemployment
@BettyCrocker: Of course, it's just a Navy town full of young sailors just back from months at sea and prowling the boardwalk looking for action. Frankly, what's the attraction there? #funemployment
@BettyCrocker: as Patti Smith sang: "can't you see the glitter, the glitter in their eyes?" then the little robots sing in unison: "Every night before I rest my head
See those dollar bills go swirling 'round my bed.
I know they're stolen, but I don't feel bad.
I take that money, buy you things you never had.
Oh, baby, it would mean so much to me,
Oh, baby, to buy you all the things you need for free.
I'll buy you a jet plane, baby,
Get you on a higher plane to a jet stream
And take you through the stratosphere
And check out the planets there and then take you down
Deep where it's hot, hot in Arabia, babia, then cool, cold fields of snow
And we'll roll, dream, roll, dream, roll, roll, dream, dream.
When we dream it, when we dream it, when we dream it,
We'll dream it, dream it for free, free money,
Free money, free money, free money, free money, free money, free money. " #funemployment
Since when was Virginia Beach considered tony? Everyone I know from VA speaks of it the way you speak of burned out Detroit - at your own risk. I even got food poisoning from one of the many all-you-can-eat seafood buffets on my last visit and was too scared to visit their hospital. #funemployment
Love how the WSJ keeps out high-earning execs out of their story to avoid fanning the populist flames against the $2m/year execs who'll be continuing to tauntingly wave at the proles on the way to play golf.
Instead, they focus on middle/upper-middle class execs, making it seem like the Severance Class is almost like Joe Sixpack. #funemployment
@Trai_Dep: BREAKING: Bourgeoisie acts in ways that affirm their standing as members of the bourgeoisie. Scandalous behavior such as Starbucks coffee and networking to ensue, and also continuance of a child's education. News at 11. #funemployment
Off topic housekeeping question: on commenter profile pages, I see the total numbers of friends and followers shows a wrong number, yet all the friends/followers are still listed. Weird. #funemployment
@nirreskeya: My personal favorite is this one: "Son, no one gives a shit about all the things your cell phone does. You didn't invent it, you just bought it. Anybody can do that."
What are these mythically long severance packages to which you refer? People I know are lucky to get 2 months severance. Nicer than nothing, but not enough to maintain your lifestyle through a recession-length job search. #funemployment
@Lymed: "Overall, companies have been eliminating or trimming severance packages. For those who do receive severance, the median pay allotted is 12.5 weeks' salary, down from 21.8 weeks a decade ago, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. #funemployment
@Lymed: I have some friends who worked at banks and other higher-profile jobs who got year-long (even 1.5 year in one case) severance packages. #funemployment
This will succeed. I can see it now, with Jerry Stiller starring as the dad. No, I literally meant I could see it now, in syndication, since this is basically George's dad in Seinfeld. #twitter
@MrInBetween: It'll be just like All in the Family. Except it will suck. After all, it automatically has to be Crap My Dad Says. It's all downhill from there. #twitter
@MrInBetween: I'm reticent to admit it, but you are probably right. The content of the Twitter feed would play truer on a cable channel. If they scrub the tweets down, it just won't be the same. Even Archie Bunker pushed the envelope saying "terlet" on network.
Also, Justin Halpern? Thanks for making me laugh my ass off repeatedly. Way to turn a negative into a good (moving home with the 'rents, that is). Congrats! #twitter
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
So which is it? Frugality? Overspending? Frugality? Overspending? Both? Neither? Whichever trend sells more papers? #funemployment
11/10/09
11/11/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
See those dollar bills go swirling 'round my bed.
I know they're stolen, but I don't feel bad.
I take that money, buy you things you never had.
Oh, baby, it would mean so much to me,
Oh, baby, to buy you all the things you need for free.
I'll buy you a jet plane, baby,
Get you on a higher plane to a jet stream
And take you through the stratosphere
And check out the planets there and then take you down
Deep where it's hot, hot in Arabia, babia, then cool, cold fields of snow
And we'll roll, dream, roll, dream, roll, roll, dream, dream.
When we dream it, when we dream it, when we dream it,
We'll dream it, dream it for free, free money,
Free money, free money, free money, free money, free money, free money. " #funemployment
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
Instead, they focus on middle/upper-middle class execs, making it seem like the Severance Class is almost like Joe Sixpack. #funemployment
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
As long as I'm posting here, I may as well link to my favorite of these: [twitter.com]
11/10/09
I bet he has an iphone. #twitter
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
Only for "important" people. Not little people like us.
Most of my coworkers got nothing when they were pitched out the door. #funemployment
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
A lot of us are headed there. #funemployment
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
Also, Justin Halpern? Thanks for making me laugh my ass off repeatedly. Way to turn a negative into a good (moving home with the 'rents, that is). Congrats! #twitter