Fresh Loaf

Number of counties in Georgia: 159

Number of Georgia counties with an unemployment rate in the double digits, as of March 25: 87

Percentage of working-age Americans who are jobless: 8.1

Percentage of working-age Georgians who are jobless: 9.3

Percentage of working-age Georgians who were jobless this time last year: 5.4

Number of consecutive months Georgia’s unemployment rate has been higher than the national average: 16

Jenkins County’s jobless rate (in percentage), the state’s highest: 21.3

Oconee County’s jobless rate, the state’s lowest: 6

Number of Georgians unemployed and looking for work: 445,500

Sources: Georgia Department of Labor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Capitol Impact

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Mauricia: I’m drinking more to forget what’s going on. I’ve been unemployed for almost two years. But when it gets better, we’ll all be in a better place. Until then, I’ll continue to live life in a loving, fun way so that I don’t miss a day of appreciation and gratitude for what I have. Everything happens for a reason. I understand I’m on a path, and I’m not going to be bummed out about whether I have money in my pocket. And by drinking more, I eat less, so I’ve lost weight.

Clay: I work in a bar. The only way to make money right now is to network with other bartenders. So I’m constantly going out and drinking at other places to encourage them to come into my bar, so I make money off of them. It’s all one big family. I’m trying to build a clientele with service-industry people, so I’m always out drinking. It’s the not greatest thing. I also attempt to have a little bit more fun to encourage people to come by so they see my personality as a bartender. You’re constantly selling yourself.

Julie: It hasn’t affected me at all, because I’m a stripper. I make too much money for it to affect me. It’s just a working girl’s way of making it through without a man. People spend more during a depression on stripping and drinking, because they want to feel good. The naked body is an expression of life. You’re supposed to celebrate it. But I drink only on a select occasion because my body is what I live off of. I love to party, but I work hard on my body and keep it in pristine shape.

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From this morning’s press release:

The High Museum of Art announced a series of budget cuts today, including across the board pay cuts and a 7% reduction of its staff. These reductions, combined with previous cost-cutting measures, will result in $1.4 million dollars in savings and will reduce the operating budget for fiscal year 2009 to $23.7M. These measures will enable the museum to continue to provide high quality and meaningful art and educational experiences to the community.

The High has instituted a series of pay cuts across the board, starting with the Director’s office. Michael Shapiro will take a 7% pay cut and other Director-level employees will take a 6% pay cut. All other employees will take a 5% pay cut. These cuts will extend through May 31, 2009. Beginning June 1 and extending through fiscal year 2010, salaries will be reinstated but employees will be required to take 2.6 weeks of unpaid leave. The staff reductions have been achieved through hiring freezes, redistribution of staff responsibilities and the elimination of five full-time positions and three temporary positions.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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On Sept. 15, 2008, the stock market’s death rattle was amplified by Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers’ decision to file for bankruptcy.

One mysterious man named “Reinhardt” predicted the date and details of the collapse on a Google finance message board months before the fact. He also explained — in great detail — that the crash was caused by an organization with Catholic ties. And that one of the group’s founders was Tom Monaghan, the brains behind Domino’s Pizza. So there’s that.

Yesterday, Gawker reported that “Reinhardt” has revealed his identity on his blog. He says another financial asteroid is approaching and will strike on Feb. 9. Thank God people are buying pitchforks and learning Tae-Bo!

What’s the local angle, you ask? Well, according to his blog, “Reinhardt” lives in Atlanta. The “Real Housewives” don’t have anything on this dude.

(more…)

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Sonny must read the Loaf.

In a speech today in Athens, the governor told reporters he’ll propose a state budget that includes significant spending aimed at giving Georgia’s struggling economy a shot in the arm. The state will use its strong bond rating to borrow a wad of cash, he said. Perdue didn’t mention specific figures or how the money would be spent, but in past years, Georgia has typically issued about $1 billion in bonds for capitol projects.

The borrow-and-spend approach is one that was offered by Alan Essig, executive director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, in my article in this week’s paper. Perhaps the governor was paying attention.

But more likely, it’s commonly accepted wisdom that the state government needs to act to help shore up Georgia’s economy. House budget chief Ben Harbin had told me he thought Perdue was considering a big bond package. No word yet on whether Sonny is thinking about raising taxes, as the experts I talked to suggested…

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1) Gentleman Jesse and His Men, Beat Beat Beat, Poison Arrows and the Terrible Twos play the Drunken Unicorn.

2) Rabbi Salkin teaches you how to cope with the economic crisis at Winter Companies.

3) DJ Dookie Platters serves it up at the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge.

4) Rachael Ray brings her Big Orange Book to the Borders in Marietta.

5) The Plastic Lennon Band pays tribute to John Lennon at Smith’s Olde Bar.

(Photo by Laura Hull)

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