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26 Feb 2009 10:14

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Biz, U.S.: Here’s some, um, rosy unemployment numbers

  • 667,000 first-time unemployment applications last week; that the highest it’s been since 1982 source

26 Feb 2009 10:08

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Biz: How is it possible to lose this much money, GM?

  • $9.6 billion loss in the 4Q alone; WTF guys? That isn’t cool. source

25 Feb 2009 22:51

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About: Editorial statement from the ShortFormBlog staff: Sigh.

  • Dear economy, Why do you have to suck so much? Why do you have to ruin so many lives? Why is it that good people are losing their jobs? This is not funny anymore. It never was, but now it’s reaching a point where we can’t be irreverent about this. We’ve been trying. But you make it hard. And it’s affecting us just like everyone else.
  • Dear economy, Why do you have to suck so much? Why do you have to ruin so many lives? Why is it that good people are losing their jobs? This is not funny anymore. It never was, but now it’s reaching a point where we can’t be irreverent about this. We’ve been trying. But you make it hard. And it’s affecting us just like everyone else.
  • Dear Newspapers, We think you’re awesome. We think that media is important to a good society. You know journalists? They keep us informed: People chasing after the story. People editing it and organizing it. People informing the society at large. Why aren’t you looking out for them? Don’t lay them off, you stupid stupids. That’s an order!
  • Dear economy, Why do you have to suck so much? Why do you have to ruin so many lives? Why is it that good people are losing their jobs? This is not funny anymore. It never was, but now it’s reaching a point where we can’t be irreverent about this. We’ve been trying. But you make it hard. And it’s affecting us just like everyone else.
  • Dear Newspapers, We think you’re awesome. We think that media is important to a good society. You know journalists? They keep us informed: People chasing after the story. People editing it and organizing it. People informing the society at large. Why aren’t you looking out for them? Don’t lay them off, you stupid stupids. That’s an order!
  • Dear Readers, Time to level with you: We can’t pretend that it’s good times and nothing but. And as a blog that’s made approximately $19 in advertising before expenses, we’re obviously not in it for the money. So, if we make jokes about how bad this is, it’s because sad funerals suck. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

25 Feb 2009 22:36

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Biz: This newspaper industry quote just made us cry. :(

  • Newsrooms become like families, but companies in every industry reach a point where they face fundamental, sometimes harsh change in order to preserve their viability. We are at that point.
  • Robert Rivard • Editor of the San Antonio Express-News, in a memo to employees. The Express-News just laid off 75 people in their newsroom today. Seventy-five. Seventy-five. Seventy-five. Do I need to write it again? Seventy-five. It’s not even the only news-industry layoff today. • source

25 Feb 2009 22:12

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Biz: So, how much does the stock market suck right now?

  • -9.1% this month; should we form bread lines? :( source

23 Feb 2009 20:39

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Biz, U.S.: Our economy sucks as much as Third Eye Blind

  • 1997 the last time the stock market was this low source

18 Feb 2009 09:51

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Biz, U.S.: So, builders are building fewer houses. Who saw that coming?

  • 17% dip in housing starts in January – that’s a record source
 

17 Feb 2009 10:01

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Biz: Profits fall at Wal-Mart … well, at least they still have some.

  • -7.4% their decline in profits in the 4th quarter source

15 Feb 2009 23:12

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Biz, World: Japan’s economy goes down the toilet :(

  • -12.7% decline in gross domestic product in the 4th quarter of 2008 source

15 Feb 2009 12:55

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Biz, U.S.: My, isn’t this auto industry quote dramatic

  • If we don’t beat the second half of 2008 this year, then it could be all over. We’re all going to be peeling bark off trees and go back to being an agrarian society.
  • Erich Merkle • An independent auto analyst, on the auto industry’s need to beat its dismal 2008 in 2009. Personally, we like farming. Give us a good mule and a way to cut through the soil, and we’re set for life! • source