Friday, April 30, 2010

Why Unemployment Will Remain High


Worker productivity is at an all-time high. Off the charts.

So, as our creaky, cranky economy slogs forward, companies will stretch overtime before hiring more employees. Given their increasing experience with "contingents," companies will consider contractors, consultants and temps before hiring more employees with all the burden.

How do we make a living? We stop thinking about "job" and start thinking about "work" to seize the second option.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

"Fergie Toe-Job"


To me, UK daily journalism peaked on Aug. 20, 1992 when The Sun ran the above front-page headline and photo of the Duchess of York and her then-paramour, Texas rich guy John Bryan.

As reporters Robert Jobson and John Kay wrote, "This is the sensational picture of Fergie having her toes kissed that will finish her marriage for good."

I just found a copy of the original in my basement. Cool.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Three More Reasons Why Aliens Don't Visit Earth



Wisconsin has adopted an official state microbe -- lactococcus lactis, a bacterium used in the creation of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

A 25-year-old man was beheaded in a sacrifice to the Hindu goddess Kali during a ceremony in a remote Indian village. Most Kali worshippers nowadays substitute pumpkins for heads, officials said.

Party girl Laura Hall, 20, has become the first person banned from every pub, club and liquor store in the UK.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

How the UK Stifles Innovation


Paul Hutton wondered if his daughter's Barbie car might travel faster than its usual top speed of 4 mph if he added larger wheels. Unfortunately, he never found out because he was busted by Essex, England police during the the first test drive. For drunk driving.

The relative lack of threat to public safety prompted the judge to place him on probation for a year and nick him for £85 court costs rather than send him to jail. However, Hutton lost his driving privileges for three years because it was his second DUI conviction inside 10 years.