Happy Saturday!

We just had some good news on the job front -- right?

Don't worry, "Some Assembly Required" has just what you need to counteract that.

Go there (follow link)

But first - a little sample:


Balancing Acts: Wisconsin isn't the only state trying to bridge budgetary shortfalls. Pennsylvania has cut 40,000 from its low-income health insurance program – which already had a 505,000 long waiting list. Washington state dropped 17,500 from a program for the working poor. Arizona has proposed eliminating Medicaid coverage for 250,000 people.

Bizarre Bazaars: Big box retailers are re-examining their business model, looking for (more) profitable ways to fill their underutilized caverns. When they try to get by with less inventory, they look like failures, going out of business. Some are trying to turn their excess space into rental units for small businesses and 'lease' operations like the jewelry and makeup counters in the department stores. One size, it seems, does not fit all.

On the Job: In the last two months US employment has increased by about 125,000 a month – the bottom end of the number needed to keep even with the growth of the labor market. At this rate the 7.7 million jobs lost during the recession will be replaced... never. The BLS reports the unemployment rate as essentially unchanged at 8.9%, but Gallup says it's more like 10.3% The same discrepancy exists with U6 – the combined un- and underemployed, with BLS reporting 15.9% and Gallup 19.9%. The average workweek was unchanged at 34.2 hours and average hourly earnings grew 1 cent. Job openings remain 30% below December 2007.


Now, enjoy the rest of your day.