If you have been following the news you would know that the Big 3 automakers in the U.S. are asking Congress for monetary assistance (Tax Payer Bail Out Part 2...equally as infuriating, but at least it is looking like it will be a loan as opposed to a complete handout...but I digress).  These bunch of guys flew into D.C. in corporate jets and some lawmakers took it to them...   OUCH!!!   BURN!!!

Articles regarding mass reductions in force are becoming commonplace in my reading lately so I thought I would shed some more light on the latest victims...Citigroup is planning on nixing 52,000 jobs between now and next year.  If the Big 3 Automakers aren't "Bailed Out", there are a potential 1,000,000 additional jobs which could be lost by 2010.  If you go to Google News, and search for "Lay Off", "RIF", "Reduction In Force" you will find heaps of articles about folk like these.  I am not sure if you are worried by this at all, but you should be.  With such a potentially large influx in folk looking for work, the prospects of keeping your current job and moreover, getting raises or bonuses diminish.  On top of that, if you lose your job, your ability to find employment becomes incredibly difficult.  I wish I had the answers, but I don't.  On the bright side, I have a funny feeling that employers and supervisors are beginning to see increased productivity from their subordinates as a result of the mass reductions in force...

Well, today is supposed to be the beginning of Eurotrip 2008.  For reasons beyond our control and moreover for reasons which take precedence, we have decided to reschedule our trip to May of 2009.  In doing this we are also adding 3 days to the agenda which is good all around...I will be in KC for Thanksgiving week, so if you are around...

Werd O' Da Day:

blithesome • \BLYTHE-sum\ • adj

: gay, merry

Example Sentence:

In The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day, Mark Twain's Laura, who had been struck by love, wondered why she had never before noticed "how blithesome the world was."

Did you know?

"Blithesome" comes from "blithe," a word that has been a part of English since before the 12th century. "Blithe" can mean "casual" and "heedless" as well as "joyful" and "lighthearted," but "blithesome" obviously makes use of only the "joyful, lighthearted" sense. "Blithesome" didn't show up in print in English until 1724, and is now relatively uncommon, but you'll find it in the works of such authors as Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Mark Twain, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Dear McDonald's:

Since I was a child, I can remember your Happy Meals bringing me...well...happiness.  As an adolescent, I thoroughly enjoyed your Chicken McNuggets and the Filet O' Fish...as an adult, I have tried to stay away from your food altogether.  Throughout my life, or at least as far back as I can remember, the McRib has ALWAYS been there for me.  DAMN!!!  I LOVE THESE THINGS!!!  Friends, women, presidents, wars and jobs have come and gone, and the McRib remains...One day I will be gone, but I can assure you, the McRib will remain...

With utmost gratitude,

DRM 

CNN is running an article (see below) regarding the multitude of job losses this country has had this year (Jan through Oct).  Another source estimated that around another 200,000 jobs will be lost in November and December.  I think a lot of times we take for granted our employment statuses.  There was a short time (6 weeks) back in March-April time frames when I was unemployed and it was not cool.  Savings and such disappear quickly and I am lucky that I was able to get back on my feet with little trouble.  I can't imaging how tough it would be to lose you job, that perhaps you had for years, and have to explain to your family what is going on.  I can't deal with huge uncertainties like that...I need to know where my next meal is coming from and that I have shelter and clothing...I don't know...anyway, please keep these 1.2-1.5 million people and their families in your thoughts and prayers as we close on Thanksgiving and Christmas....

Jobs lost in 2008: 1.2 million

Payrolls shrink by 240,000 in October, 10th straight month of cuts. Unemployment soars to 6.5%

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By David Goldman, CNNMoney.com staff writer

Last Updated: November 7, 2008: 11:51 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The government reported more grim news about the economy Friday, saying employers cut 240,000 jobs in October - bringing the year's total job losses to nearly 1.2 million.

According to the Labor Department's monthly jobs report, the unemployment rate rose to 6.5% from 6.1% in September and higher than economists' forecast of 6.3%. It was the highest unemployment rate since March 1994.

"There is so much bad in this report that it is hard to find any silver lining," said Morgan Keegan analyst Kevin Giddis.

Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a loss of 200,000 jobs in the month. October's monthly job loss total was less than September's revised loss of 284,000. Payroll cuts in August were revised up to 127,000, which means more than half of this year's job losses have occurred in the last three months.

September had the largest monthly job loss total since November 2001, the last month of the previous recession and just two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

With 1,179,000 cuts, the economy has lost more than a million jobs in a year for the first time since 2001 - the last time the economy was in a recession. With most economic indicators signaling even more difficult times ahead, job losses will likely deepen and continue through at least the first half of 2009.

"It's pretty clear that we're in a recession," said Robert Brusca, economist at FAO Economics. "There is reason for us to believe we'll see a drumbeat of heavy job losses for a while, and there's room for them to get even worse."

Brusca noted that separate readings on the manufacturing and auto industries indicated economic conditions are the worst in about 30 years.

"We may be in a severe recession, in which case these job numbers are not even big yet," he said, suggesting monthly job loss totals could grow in excess of 300,000 an unemployment could rise to around 7%.

Losses across the board

Job losses were spread across a wide variety of industries. Manufacturing lost 90,000 jobs, the leisure and hospitality industries cut 16,000 jobs, and construction employment shrank further by 49,000 jobs.

Terence O'Sullivan, president of construction workers' Laborers' International Union of North America, noted the construction unemployment rate rose to 10.8% - double what it was a year ago. He called the report an "urgent alarm sounding the need to halt our nation's spiraling job loss."

In an ominous sign for the upcoming holiday shopping season, retailers trimmed payrolls by 38,000 workers last month.

Professional and business services, a category seen by some economists as a proxy for overall economic activity, had a 45,000 drop in employment.

"Job loss has a big impact on the economy," Brusca said. "When people have no income, they spend less, businesses make less money, and they cut more jobs."

In another sign of weakness, a growing number of workers were unable to find jobs with the amount of hours they want to work. Those working part-time jobs - because they couldn't find full-time work, or their hours had been cut back due to slack conditions - jumped by 645,000 people to 6.7 million, the highest since July 1993.

The so-called under-employment rate, which counts those part-time workers, as well as those without jobs who have become discouraged and stopped looking for work, rose to 11.8% from from 11%, matching the all-time high for that measure since calculations for it began in January 1994.

Temporary employment, including workers employed by temp agencies, fell by 50,800 jobs last month. That could mean even more full-time payroll reductions to come, as employers often cut temporary workers before they begin cutting permanent staff.

But some industries were hiring last month. Government hiring has stayed strong throughout the downturn, adding another 23,000 jobs in October. Education and health services also grew payrolls, which grew by 21,000 employees.

In a somewhat encouraging sign, the average hourly work week did not fall last month, holding at 33.6 hours, in line with expectations. With a modest 4-cent gain in the average hourly salary, the average weekly paycheck rose by $1.35 to $611.86.

Trying to get back on track

Solutions are not simple. Support for a second stimulus package has grown in Congress, and President-elect Barack Obama has indicated that he would support such a measure. The prior stimulus package in the spring helped the economy grow in the second quarter, but it did little to stem the tide of job loss in the country. Many economists have also called on the Federal Reserve to cut rates to historic lows to encourage growth.

"These are all the right solutions, but the real question is are they enough to get the economy on the right path," said Anthony Chan, chief economist for JP Morgan private wealth management. "They're necessary, but we don't yet know if they're sufficient."

President Bush said Friday the government's plans to address tight credit and housing markets are the solution to rising unemployment.

"The Federal government has taken aggressive and decisive measures to address this situation," the President said. "It will take time for these measures to have their full impact on an economy in which many Americans are struggling."

Chan said the programs will work, and that the government needs to continue to "slug it out," perhaps putting even more stimulus programs in place to encourage job growth. 

This morning's Wall Street Journal had 3 articles I found infuriating and interesting.  I think it is HORRIBLE that executives and upper management at some of these firms which were "Bailed Out" can still get bonuses and enormous compensation packages.  It is almost like, no, it is EXACTLY like, the people who suffered the most ($700,000,000,000 / 305,543,922 [people in the US] = $2,291 for EVERY man, woman and child) are congratulating the perpetrators with bonuses and ridiculous compensation packages...WTF?  Personally, I have seen my portfolio take quite the hit over the past 2 months.  I can't imagine what it would be like to be on the verge of retirement and lose EVERYTHING...I think that any of these "executives" who take bonuses this year should hang their heads in shame.  Why are profits private and losses public??? 

Banks Promise to Use Rescue Funds for New Loans

Lenders Will Still Use Capital Infusions for Other Purposes, Citing Time Needed to Vet Borrowers and Falling Demand for Credit

By DAVID ENRICH and ROBIN SIDEL

As political pressure mounts, at least a few banks are promising to use capital infusions from the federal government's bailout program to swiftly make new loans. But it might not be enough to offset the lending shortfall that is threatening the economy.

Deploying the flood of cash dispensed by the Treasury has been a contentious issue, following the agency's move earlier this month to pump $250 billion into financial institutions. Some banks initially said they didn't expect to quickly use the capital, leading lawmakers to question the effectiveness of the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.

Slowing Down

Now, though, some banks are revving up plans to pour their new capital into loans. "We do expect to start deploying it almost immediately," said Doyle Arnold, chief financial officer of Zions Bancorp, a Salt Lake City lender that is slated to receive $1.4 billion through TARP. Two weeks ago, Mr. Arnold predicted the federal injections probably would have a muted impact on lending.

Zions, with $54 billion of assets and more than 500 branches, "basically shut down" its lending operations in the third quarter due to depleted capital levels, Mr. Arnold said. Its coffers replenished, Zions now plans to lend out "several hundred million dollars" by year's end. Next year, Zions expects to be able to make as much as $750 million worth of new loans each quarter.

Webster Financial Corp., a Waterbury, Conn., bank with $17.5 billion of assets, is waiting for the Treasury to approve its application for capital. When that happens, Webster will publicly vow "to lend every single dollar into the market," said Chief Executive James C. Smith.

Doing so is simply "the right thing to do," he said, not a response to outside pressure. Still, "we do understand that there is a backlash, and people need to hear this," he added. Even if the banks lining up for federal assistance plow government capital into loans, it won't necessarily be enough to overcome a drop in lending.

As of Sept. 30, total loans at 24 U.S. banks that are expecting to get $124 billion in combined infusions declined 0.3% to $3.8 trillion from three months earlier, the second-straight quarterly decline, according to an analysis of their financial data by The Wall Street Journal. The retrenchment threatens to knock the U.S. economy into an even deeper recession, regardless of the government's aid, as businesses and consumers struggle to get loans.

When Andrews Distributing Co., a Dallas beer distributor, recently needed to finance a big acquisition, Chief Financial Officer Joe Jernigan figured he would need four or five lenders. Instead, he wound up tapping eight lenders to participate in the $230 million loan, which was led by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. "It was challenging, and it was a more expensive bargain," Mr. Jernigan said. "Some of the banks we approached were in a precarious position from a capital standpoint."

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other federal officials argue that billions of dollars of fresh capital will allow banks that have been crippled by soaring defaults and other losses to reopen their lending spigots.

Even as lawmakers pressure bank executives to make more loans, some executives say it is too soon for that to happen -- in part because most institutions haven't pocketed any of government money yet. "We need to invest and lend to our customers and communities. The industry is ready and more than able to do that, but nobody can lend $25 billion in two days or two weeks," said John R. Koelmel, CEO of First Niagara Financial Group Inc. The Lockport, N.Y., bank, with 114 branches, expects to accept as much as $186 million. "It's going to take time," he said.

Other banks remain noncommittal about how much of their federal help will go toward new loans. Citigroup Inc. executives have said they plan to use $25 billion of taxpayer funds to take advantage of opportunities such as buying other banks, but haven't described plans for new loans. Spokeswoman Christina Pretto said Thursday that "we will do our part, as one of a group of institutions, to help expand the flow of credit in the economy."

Bankers say that stance is consistent with directives from the Treasury Department, which is telling them not to rush to use the capital or to make loans that aren't profitable or carefully vetted.

But that may complicate TARP's objective of jump-starting lending. At the 24 banks that expect to receive federal funding -- ranging from the largest, which got infusions this week, to big regional players, to smaller community banks -- loan portfolios generally shrank or posted sluggish growth in the past six months.

Indeed, TARP doesn't address some of the reasons why lending has stalled.

Some bankers say they are making fewer loans because fewer customers want them. Many businesses, bracing for a prolonged economic slump, have shelved expansion plans that would have required them to line up a loan.

"A lot of that is not related to banks not willing to lend. It's demand-driven," said William J. Reuter, CEO of Susquehanna Bancshares Inc., a Lititz, Pa., lender with more than 230 branches and about $14 billion in assets. "Customers are hunkering down more."

Economic jitters also are prompting some lenders themselves to pull back. Danvers Bancorp, a small savings-and-loan in suburban Boston, has cut the maximum amount it will loan to a single customer to $15 million from $20 million. Looming layoffs at Fidelity Investments and a quarterly loss reported by local manufacturer Teradyne Inc. are particularly worrisome signs for Danvers, which had pumped up its lending by 18% this year.

"We are still seeing great loan demand, but we are cutting back our efforts," says Kevin Bottomley, CEO of the 18-branch bank. He says Danvers isn't applying for TARP money because "we have excess capital by any measure."

Regardless of their capital levels, banks rely on deposits to finance their lending businesses. In recent months, stiff competition for deposits has made it harder and more expensive for banks to maintain a stable funding source.

At Zions, the dearth of deposits "is a constraint" on the company's plans to accelerate lending, said Mr. Arnold, the finance chief. "We can't raise the funding fast enough."

Lawmakers Want Strings Attached

By MICHAEL R. CRITTENDEN

WASHINGTON -- U.S. lawmakers are considering steps to alter the terms of the Treasury Department's financial-rescue plan, including forcing banks to lend funds they've received from the government and imposing new limits on executive compensation at firms that are part of the program.

In a growing number of letters, phone calls and public comments to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and his top officials, lawmakers are pushing Treasury to add strings to the $700 billion rescue plan. They complain that banks are using the billions invested by Treasury to fund acquisitions, repair their balance sheets and pay dividends, instead of increasing lending, the point of

Rep. Dennis Kucinich and other critics hope their concerns about the financial-rescue plan can be addressed in a lame-duck session of Congress.

With Congress expected to return to Washington in a little over two weeks for a lame-duck session, critics hope their concerns can be translated into action. "We have to force these issues out into the open," said rescue-plan critic Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D., Ohio) in an interview.

Treasury in recent days has put pressure on banks to fulfill the program's goals, even as it has argued that banks will start lending again because that's how they make money. Officials have balked at adding criteria, worried that such a move would reduce participation in the program. Currently, there are few stipulations on how banks use the funds.

Ed Lazear, chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, defended the implementation of the rescue plan at a press conference Thursday. He noted there is little hard evidence that banks are not appropriately using federal funds. "We have to make sure that banks have the appropriate flexibility to do those things that will get credit markets going," Mr. Lazear said.

Making major changes to the plan during a lame-duck session would be difficult, a fact acknowledged by top Democratic lawmakers. House and Senate leadership aides say it would be difficult to pass any controversial legislation, citing the difficulty lawmakers had in passing the financial-rescue package in the first place, as well as the limited Democratic majority in the Senate.

"There's not much we can do other than jawbone," Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) said in an interview earlier this week.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) offered a number of specific steps he is considering, including crafting a federal statute based on a New York state law that would allow the government to reclaim money from firms that accept federal funds but don't fulfill their commitments.

Current law would only allow the government, as a creditor, to take such a step if a company enters bankruptcy. Mr. Dodd said he wants to expand the government's right to address his concerns that companies may be using government funds to pay executives.

"We've got to make sure we deal with this," Mr. Dodd said, adding that he's tried lecturing firms "and it's not working."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), another critic, plans to introduce legislation as soon as Congress returns in November that would put caps on executive compensation at firms that accept federal funds. In an interview, he expressed frustration that the rescue legislation was originally supposed to be used to buy up illiquid assets, but has since morphed into a vehicle for direct capital injections that healthy banks may be using to acquire weaker rivals.

"The goal seems to be changing every single day," Mr. Sanders said. "Are we comfortable that a handful of bankers are literally alone in a room deciding which banks get what?"

On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) sent a letter to Mr. Paulson raising concerns about lucrative "golden parachutes" at financial firms enrolled in the program.

Lawmakers are stepping up pressure on Treasury and the Bush administration through a series of hearings expected to occur in the coming weeks. House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D., Mass.), who has said he is open to imposing limitations on the program, has already scheduled a Nov. 18 hearing on efforts by the Treasury and Federal Reserve to address the financial crisis.

Mr. Dodd likewise said he wants to hold a series of hearings. "The intent here certainly wasn't for healthy banks to buy healthy banks -- it's infuriating," he said.

If a day makes a difference, what do 4383 days make?  I will tell you...about 30 pounds heavier and with less hair, I still kind of resemble my young self...LOL...Thanks for the old photos, Mike!!!  JERK!!!

As October comes to an end, I wanted to put one final post up regarding breast cancer.  Breast cancer is a life changing disease not only for the patients, but for their families and friends as well.  Early detection is integral in fighting breast cancer.  Below are some warning signs to look out for (Courtesy of the Susan G. Kohmen For The Cure):

Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Due to the increased use of mammography, most women are diagnosed at very early stages of breast cancer before symptoms appear. However, not every breast cancer is detected through mammography. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. These are described below:

A change in the look or feel of the breast.

• A change in the size or shape of the breast.
• A lump or thickening in the breast, the area surrounding the breast or the underarm.
• A warm sensation in the breast.

A change in the look or feel of the nipple.

• A nipple turned inward or sunken into the breast.
• The shape of the nipple becomes irregular.
• A rash on the nipple or areola.
• Nipple tenderness, increased sensitivity or pain.

Nipple discharge.

• Blood or fluid other than breast milk secreted from the nipple.

A change in the look or feel of the skin on the breast, nipple or areola.

• Dimpling of the skin on the breast (appears like the skin on an orange).
• The appearance of irritated, red, scaly, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola.

Breast pain.

• Although breast pain is usually associated with benign breast conditions rather than breast cancer, it can be a symptom of either condition.

It is important to discuss any of these symptoms with a health care provider as soon as possible so that if breast cancer is present, it is more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage when it is most treatable.

On a final note...October has come to an end, but that doesn't mean breast cancer awareness or dedication towards the fight need to be far from our minds.  Please perform self-examinations and consult your doctor should you have the slightest inclination that there may be something going on.  Additionally, make time to volunteer and fundraise for events which sponsor the search for a cure.  I believe that one day in the immediate future, breast cancer will be something that is only discussed in the past tense....

Last week while in Atlanta, I was sick.  I had thought I got over my cold and went out this weekend with an old friend.  Come Monday morning, I was back to being sick...Tuesday was not much different...I am now back in the office (first time in a while) and am feeling OK.  Not much has changed in the office, save there is one new person in accounting.  I am looking very forward to the next few months in the office...

AMY!  Thanks so much for coming out to Chicago this weekend!  It was GREAT to see you again and I had a blast...I promise to have more planned the next time you come out...

As you may know, I was supposed to be traveling with a dear friend of mine to Europe.  She has since found out that she need some brain surgery (I have been saying this for years...J/K) and with cannot travel with me.  That being said, this year's European vacation has been cancelled...I am not mad because there is really nothing either one of us can do about it...I am looking for something else to do during that time, as I am under the impression that I must use the vacation days...Perhaps a road trip...anyone interested???

Today is the first day I got to use last year's winter coat.  When I left the house this morning it was 34 degrees...BRRRRRR...anyway, I guess this is goodbye, fall...Although we didn't spend much time together, you will be deeply missed...Now for some cold ass months...

superficies • \soo-per-FISH-eez\ • noun

1 : a surface of a body or a region of space

*2 : the external aspects or appearance of a thing

Example Sentence:

Although there have been changes in the superficies of our lives, many of the human dilemmas faced by our ancestors are still quite recognizable.

Did you know?

Look below the surface of "superficies" and "surface" and you'll find the very same Latin roots: "super-," meaning "on top," and "facies," meaning "face" or "aspect." English speakers plucked "superficies" right from Latin -- it means "surface" in that language. Our word "surface" came to us by way of Middle French, where "sur-" (which comes from "super " and also means "on top") was combined with "face" (meaning "face"; from "facies"). We added "surface" to our crop of borrowed words around 1600, and the first known use of "superficies" is from 1530. One tricky thing to keep in mind about "superficies" is that it can be singular (even though it ends in an "s"!) or plural. There is no "superficie" or "superficy."

I have some small and perhaps stupid questions regarding campaign rallies.  I am home sick today and awoke to CNN first showing the Obama PA rally and then the McCain PA rally.  Question 1.  These rallies serve what purpose?  Some have said to sway the swing votes...or get the undecided folk to make a stand.  It seems to me that the supporters at the rallies are already diehard fans of the candidate speaking.  That being said, there does not seem to be anyone at these things who is not already set in their decision.  Question 2.  How many times do the candidates need to say the same thing to make me hate politics more than I already do?  I feel like at these events the same thing, almost verbatim, is being said every time...SOOOO does CNN need to keep showing them?   And honestly, McCain, you and Palin need to be on the same page strategically.  Sending your attack dog out makes your insecurity in this race much more visible than it was 2 weeks ago.  Additionally, her saber rattling against BO and his ideas (specifically "socialism" [are you kidding me?], and his ties to "a terrorist" [you have really got to be kidding me?  so what you are trying to say is...the Democratic Presidential Candidate is indeed a terrorist...???  The part that kills me is your dumber that the average Joes are eating this shit up.] makes me want to puke (not just because I am home sick).  WTF???

I started my new job in April and have visited the following cities:

• Atlanta, GA
• Cincinnati, OH
• Buffalo, NY
• Los