AB.com Hot Topics 12.2.11

Here's the daily rundown, with headlines taken from links you sent in/suggested.

US Unemployment Rate Drops To 8.6% - The devil, it obviously in the details here. Fewer people looking + 120k new jobs + revisions of prior months = drop. Still, most people will only see the final number, which is the first time we've been below 9% since I can personally remember. While this obviously bodes well for the White House and the President's re-election bid next year, it's hardly an indication that we're out of the woods. Sidenote: if state and local governments weren't busy laying off so many workers over the past 3 years, the rate would probably be in the low 7's. Is this reason enough for another costly stimulus? Probably not, but you could also argue that without the first one, we might still be in the 10's. Soooooo....

Newt Just Can't Help Himself. - I'm just as puzzled at Gingrich's rise atop the polls as everyone else. Sure, the Cain Train Derailment, and Rick Perry "going Rick Perry" probably contributed to it more than Newt himself, but still. If "douchebag" was in the encyclopedia, a photo of this megalomaniac would surely be somewhere on the page. Yesterday, in explaining his rationale for using child labor to fix urban poverty, he dropped this gem. "Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and nobody around them who works to earn money — unless it's illegal". Seriously, is this the guy we want anywhere near 1600 Penn Ave? And BTW Tea Partiers, are you seriously getting behind a guy who was King Of All Lobbyists and made millions off defending Fannie and Freddie? Really? Because if so, I'm sorry, you officially have no principles. Other than getting Obama out of office, of course.

The Eagles Are Toast- Hey Philly fans, how does it feel? You followed the Dan Snyder Plan For "Winning The Offseason" and now you won't have a postseason, as your playoff hopes officially croaked last night in Seattle. Andy Reid, it's been real, my man.

Question: What do you think about these issues?

The Most Hilarious 20 Minutes Of Cable News You'll Watch This Year.

Wow, give it to this guy, he's got some brass balls, that's for damn sure. I guess I should also give Neil Cavuto credit for not tossing a bunch of softballs at Cain, but he probably could have followed up on some questions a bit more. Then again, who am I kidding? Cain's going to be his co-worker in a few months, so why bother with the agitation.



I'll be honest though, White's story isn't adding all the way up. There's no way you spend a decade of your life getting smanged by someone on the regular, and have no proof other than a couple of cell phone bills. Where are the bank statements? The vacation photos? The inevitably disgusting VHS tape of them gettin' busy? I'm just sayin', she doesn't have anything but a Verizon bill, after 13 years with a man? Really?

Sorry, sista girl. We don't (quite) believe you. You need more people. Where are the receipts!

As for Cain, I'm not sure what he's still doing in the race. He says he's most concerned about his wife/family, yet he's still shilling for campaign donations by painting himself (yet again!) as the victim of a left-wing swear campaign. If his family is his biggest concern, why the heck isn't he at home with them right now, explaining his a$$ off?!?

Negro, please!

Does he really think President Obama is scared of facing him, and thus he needed to be "destroyed"? Really? I didn't realize Herman Cain was so delusional, but Herman Cain apparently is just that delusional because Herman Cain refers to himself in the 3rd person even more often than Herman Cain does.

Go sit down. Please.

Question: What's up with Cain's accusations of a left wing conspiracy? Does his logic for explaining away those 4am text messages make any sense at all? Why is he still running?!?

WorkPlace 101: Legal Side-Hustles.

"Children grow, some women produce, Some men they work, and some steal. Everybody's got to make a livin'."[1]

Unless you have a sugar daddy like Herman Cain, or are a repeat guest on Maury[2], there's a good chance you've got to wake up every morning, and head off to somebody's job. Despite what anti-Obamabots would like to suggest, we still do live in a capitalist society, which means you've gotta earn money to keep a roof over your head, food in your stomach, and pay for NBA League Pass. Everybody's got to make a living. Ain't no way around it.

Of course, in this economic recession, there are fewer jobs to go around. The government officially says about 9% of us are unemployed, although you could certainly argue that the actual number is probably twice that. Some of these people are getting unemployment benefits, but many have seen their benefits expire. Thanks GOP.

I consider myself a prideful and resourceful man. I work hard on my Day Job, and pray every morning that I get to keep my gig, in spite of how bad the economy gets. Should something happen though, I have a handful of ways to make money and feed my family until I find another Day Job, without having to take penitentiary chances.

This blog makes money, although obviously not enough to feed a family of four. I would/could also teach French lessons[3], tutor kids for money instead of free, do yardwork, paint houses, do basic electrical repairs, design websites, wash and detail cars, design club flyers, do photography/videography, pickup freelance writing gigs, and cut hair if the need arose. While I think college is great because it opens doors to great career opportunities, any man worth his Lawry's has gotta have a hustle on the side. It's all about survival.[4]

I can't say there's any particular reason for asking, but I'm wondering what you guys would do/have done to make ends meet should The Big Check™ stop coming.

Question: Got any legal side hustles?

[1] Cyber CapriSuns to the first person so can tell me the origin of the quote above.

[2] Think about it.

[3] Oui, vraiment.

[4] Yes, I would also collect unemployment. And yes, I'd use the technical skills developed on my Day Job to do contract work.