Jobbed

Behold, today's happy good-time assortment of the newly unemployed. Personally, I blame God for making Jesus' Birthday and Presents Galore Extravaganza (NYSE: XMAS) so close to most fiscal year-ends. Wouldn't it make more sense to balance the books by laying off people after they, having assumed continued gainful employment, blew a shitload of money at Christmas? Better for short-term stimulus, anyway.

The Honor Roll:

AT&T: 12,000 (4% of workforce)
Viacom: 850 (7%)
NBC: 500 (3%)
Avis: 2,200 (7%)
DuPont: 2,500 (4%)
Carlyle: 100 (10%)
RealNetworks: 130 (7.5%)

All-told? About 30,000 in the last 24 hours. But remember, the Public Relations people (who, of course, still have jobs) want to remind you that these are not layoffs, firings, long walks, shitcannings, or dismissals. They are Cost-Savings Initiatives.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...