Today's lunchtime news chum brings together a collection of articles, all exhibiting signs of our economic times:

• 12 Days. Let's start with the obvious one. The price to buy all the items in the "12 Days of Christmas" song has gone up to $101,119.84", but cheaper if you buy on the internet. Me, I prefer Green Christmas:
  On the fourth day of ( Read more... )

An article in today's New York Times seemingly berates the "Super Committee" (Deficit Reduction Committee) for doing its work in secret. It appears those not on the committee want a window on the committee's work, while the committee is still forumulating its proposal. Those on the outs say that they want visibility into the choices being made; ( Read more... )

If you read the news at all, you are reading about budget crisises at all government levels, due to unexpected (or expected deficits). Alas, where this may be taking us is best illustrated by this article from the Denver Post about Colorado Springs:More than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark Monday. The police helicopters ( Read more... )

Thanks to underpope for this lead: Borders may be closing all stores on 12/22 (http://tinyurl.com/ycy2gsm). I find this odd that they wouldn't have a going out of business sale, so I'm guessing they are close on a buyer... but still... We're regulars at the Borders at the Northridge Mall ( Read more... )

Some interesting articles from the lunchtime reading to start your week off right:

• From the “Leaving On A Jet Plane” Department: The LA Times has an interesting article about a colony of pilots and flight attendents who live in a motor home colony in Lot B, near the Proud Bird. Interesting approach: reduces commuting fatigue for the airline ( Read more... )

• From the “Now We Know Who To Blame” Department: The news today brought word of the death of Norman Brinker. Never heard of him? Let me jog your memory. Ever gone to a restaurant and been greeted with “Hi, my name is Babs, and I'll be your waiteress tonight.” Blame Norman. Ever visited a salad bar? Blame Norman. Ever dined at Chili’s, Macaroni ( Read more... )

A late lunch today, but I still have a few gleanings for you:

• From the “A Dolls Life” Department: The economy appears to have claimed yet another victim. The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum in Arcola IL is closing. Blame a downturn on tourism and member support... as well as the fact that fewer kids know from Raggedy Ann & Andy. After all, they have no ( Read more... )

The economy is on everyone’s minds these days, and thus the lunchtime perusal of the news is finding mostly economic stuff:

• From the “A Rising Economy” Department: According to CNN, one thing that is growing in this economy is the number of men wanting vasectomies.
  
  
• From the “Let’s Go Out Tonight” Department: According to USA Today, struggling ( Read more... )

Boy, the signs and portents of our economic spasms are strong in today’s lunchtime perusal of the news:

• From the “Feeling Remorseful” Department: Remember how, in the “good ol’ days”, one might get buyers remorse after a big purchase. Nowadays, in these frugal times, there are increasing reports of “saver’s remorse”. Yup. People are feeling remorse ( Read more... )

Sometimes the lunchtime news review just aligns with a theme:

• From the “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before” Department: Yet again, a large computing company is being accused of stifiling the competition. No, not Microsoft. IBM. That’s right, IBM is accused of using problematic (yes, that’s the word) tactics in order to continue to dominate the ( Read more... )