We’ve tried, but we just can’t take it anymore!

Today is a sad day in LA.  Homeboy Industries laid off 300 of its employees, due to the company's current financial problems.  For those unfamiliar with Homeboy Industries, they are a business that employees former gang members.  They have done great things in the LA community and this is just a tragedy. I found this article in the LA Times that explains everything.

I ran across this article the other day and was disgusted.  Now I can understand that companies have to make money, but this was just ridiculous.  I don't think I can support KingVision Pay-Per-View and J&J Sports Productions (the sad this is that I love boxing).  Anyway, here is the story from the LA Times...

The other day while I was in my car driving I had a chance to check out Planet Money's Economy Explained show.  It was awesome listening to how how we got in this whole economic disaster.  So if you were confused about everything that has been happening with the banking system check out this videocast.  It is really enteraining (a little long though).  It is totally worth sitting through the whole thing. 

Over the past few months we have watched bank after bank fail, people's retirement accounts go down the crapper, and jobless rates climb.  To make matters worse we hear every now and again that we have given AIG another  (insert billions of dollars here).  Where in the hell is all of that money going???  No one has been able to say where the money has gone.  So here is a partial list of some of the banks that have been helped by the AIG funds list. 

I think we can all agree that times are tough at the moment.  A lot of "stable" companies laying off people by the thousands, which has everyone a little scared.  Here is the latest list of companies speculated to not make it through the year.  I am sad that some of these companies are on this list, but what are you going to do really.  

We all saw the writing on the wall.  Today Circuit City announced that it will close its remaining 567 remaining stores.  Circuit City had been seeking a buyer or a deal to refinance its debt, but the hobbled credit market and consumer worries proved insurmountable. Negotiations for an acquisition extended past midnight Thursday before finally falling through, Circuit City lawyer Gregg Galardi said.

Thinking to taking a trip in the spring?  Trying to figure out how to pay for airfare?  Try giving blood.  The Red Cross is starting its "Live Life, Give Life" program again.  They are awarding three blood doners with round-trip tickets on Delta Airlines.  Now through March 31st, each person who attempts to donate blood or platelets will have a chance to win the tickets.  To find the nearest Red Cross center go to www.givelife.org

I had this article sent to me and it definately breaks down the past year's screw ups perfectly.  I hope that 2009 will not be as bad as 2008.  I guess it can always get worse though. 

There are at least three long-standing background influences that contributed to the financial debacle that dominated the US economy in 2008:

220 groups nationwide are facing losses after an online payment company Count Me In Corp stopped handing over dues and other funds it was collecting.  Most of the groups are are out of money are School, Little Leagues, Campfire Clubs... The missing payments, which Washington-based Count Me In Corp.