Here’s a nifty little chart showing what job losses in the current recession are like, compared to the recessions of 1990 and 2001 (click the picture for a bigger version):

In other news, Todd Palin (husband of, well, you know who) has now been found to be in contempt of Alaska State Senate for ignoring a subpoena in the investigation of his wife the Governor’s abuse of power. This means, well, it means absolutely nothing, since the AK Senate also voted not to inflict any penalties on the Toddster. No word on whether this shame will hurt corporate sponsorship of his snow machine racing enterprise (my guess, probably not; it isn’t like he got caught smoking dope or anything).

Oh, and KP, my advice to you re: the right-wing boss’s e-mails (for what it’s worth, which aint much)? Ignore them. No good can come of talking politics with family or acquaintances, let alone the people who pay you. You’ll never convince the ditto heads that they’re misguided, no matter how many facts and how much common sense you throw at them.

As long as he doesn’t mention it at work, just hit the old delete button – that’s what it’s there for. If he asks you if you got them, just say yes. And if he asks what you think, chuckle a bit as you say, “oh, that stuff’s been going around the Internet for years,” subtly implying that they’re right up there with the guy from Nigeria and those “this really happened to a guy a friend of my next door neighbor’s cousin knows” e-mails you get (without actually coming out and saying it).

It’s supposed to be up in the 40’s here today, which will feel mighty nice. Have a good Saturday.