Since 75% of my billable day is spent playing on Twitter, watching YouTube, and reading blogs (jealous much?), I come across burgeoning Internet sensations all the time.  This latest satirical site (video above) may not end up in the Internet meme timeline, but its wry message embodies the state of our economy while imparting a special Christmas lesson.

It’s also a bittersweet reminder that, as we punch another hole in the leather to tighten our belts, some of business’ biggest pillars of greed and excess are getting the Bob Cratchit treatment, too.

Yes, Virginia, that’s the kind of schadenfreude money just can’t buy.

When he’s not here, M.M. McDermott is here.  Email him at mmcdermott@getrenegade.com or follow him on Twitter.

Huffington Post Co-Founder, Arianna Huffington {AP photo}

The Huffington Post, purveyors of (some) original and (mostly) linked news content just received a $100 million valuation, sparking investors to immediately plunk down $25 million to get a taste of the action.

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As I was driving to 98 Rock at 4:00 this morning,  sitting in judgement of the world (as I do every morning),  I thought about the Walmart security guard in New York who was trampled to death by a mob of 2,000 lunatic shoppers.  As far as we know, nobody among that group has come forward to say,  “hey,  I saw what happened” or “hey,  my friend was one of the bargain hunters whose quest for a cheap TV led to manslaughter”.   Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been thinking about what people are thankful for at this time of year.  Family?  Friends?  A job?  Health?  I’m thankful for none of those things.  Read the rest of this entry »

So I’m in D.C. (my fav city aside from Bmore) for a political reporting conference.

I’m excited to be here with friends, excited about talking politics, and also at the prospect of making new friends with whom to talk politics.

I’ll be here til Sunday the next to last day of my four day weekend.

Being able to do this conference meant a lot of juggling, and it also means my work week starts on a Tuesday and ends on Sunday (with another day of rest somewhere in there.)

So even when you’ve managed to escape work there it is, ruling your life.

My friend says, “Every job wants to play you before you go somewhere.”

Or in my case, come back, therein lies the inevitable trade-off.

In a couple of days I’m going to write the first check to begin repaying my undergraduate student loans. You know it’s one of those things you do because you must. This event serves as yet another sign that I’m not in college anymore. Admittedly, I miss it. I feel that way every time I go to write an e-mail versus a text so I can meet up with a friend in a dining hall or somewhere near campus. I feel that way every time someone asks about work or how life after graduation feels. A few times a week I think back to the days where what I thought about was much more simple. Read the rest of this entry »

A few days ago a friend asked how I ensure that I have a pretty good week. So, as we prepare to enter yet another work week I think about the things which I need to have or need the ability to do in order to have a pretty good week.

1. Clean Clothes: I am not a fashionisto, but I generally do like the flexibility to pick my clothes out the night before. Now that I’m a professional I do know there’s something to be said about looking

2. Lunch Money: My latest fave standbys are a caesar salad, or Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Cajun Style Chicken & Shrimp.

3. A Good Book: Generally I try to get somewhere in a good book. My life is pretty busy between working, eating, the occasional social outing, researching, writing, and sleeping.

4. A Great Blackberry Convo: So last night I was going through the Blackberry deleting old messages and read through some pretty funny yet ridiculous conversations. Those convos however I could remember made my go just a little bit faster.

5. A Good Intellectual Convo: Sometimes though rarely these happen at work, sometimes it happens in the comments section of a friends blog, and sometimes there’s an hour long phone conversation at the end of a long day. Yet, it’s the ability I have to be stimulated via conversation which helps me feel like my life hasn’t gotten boring, monotonous, and gone to S.ugar H.oney I.ced T.ea.

How has the economic downfall affected you most so far?

From today’s b, the paper

It seems as though the presidential race has been going on for about seven years. So for those of you (i.e. most) with ADD, b wants to help. Here’s our look at the A-Z of the 2008 election, from the ACORN controversy to the zzzzz’s most Americans were letting out during the first two presidential debates. Just call us the Webster’s of democracy.

A — ACORN:
Short for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, the liberal group, founded in 1970, hired more than 13,000 part-time workers to register voters in minority and poor neighborhoods in 21 states. AP reports some of the 1.3 million registration cards submitted to local officials used the names of cartoon characters or pro football players, leading to allegations of widespread misconduct. Must avoid urge to make blind squirrel joke …

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From today’s b, the paper:

You don’t have to understand how derivatives work to recognize that the economy is ailing — even with government help and a shot in the stock market’s arm this week. Though the economy’s health isn’t good, it’s not on its deathbed. In fact, some opportunities await. Here’s a quick primer on how the mess affects you — and how to make the most of it.

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