dooms du jour, July/2000
[Commentary] ©2000 Phil Hyde, The Timesizing Wire, Box 117, Harvard Sq, Cambridge MA 02238 USA (617) 623-8080

7/30-31/2000
weekend roundup per NY Times & Boston Globe:
• 1 corporate fine/settlement mentioned ($4.5m)
• 15 downsizings this past week, costing over 22,781 lost jobs
• 49 takeovers reported this past week, worth $82.42B + $undisclosed
• 1 bankruptcy mention - bankrupt Sands Hotel granted to Carl Icahn
vs. 6 UPsizings reported (2713+ new jobs), and 7 UNtakeovers reported ($103m+)
< YTD:  315 dnsz (378,446+  jobcuts) +1424 takov ($1654.96B+) vs. 93 upsz (63,536+=17%) +102 untak ($109.61B+) >
2 weekend takeovers, totalling $192m + $??
vs. glimmers of hope: • 4 prez hopefuls in Globe menu & Nader tops est. performance of personal finances  • French Greens protest McDonald's with feast of local food & organic wine
+ Features:  • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Kennedy name & $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, & their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/29/2000 sat
- self-mutilation by sadistic "strategy" continues -
4 more downsizings reported, totaling 10,401 lost jobs:
• another 6.7% workforce cut (10,000 jobs) as post-merger Bank of America seizes upon the Internet & the wealthy, vs. 6.7% workweek cut for all (to 37.3 hrs)
• 193 jobs to go as leftist paper, L'Unità, a 76-year Italian tradition, halts publication
• 13% staff cut (140 jobs) as post-merger Church & Dwight household cleansers throws out baby with bathwater, instead of just a 13% hours cut (to 7-hr day)
• 34% staff cut (68 lost Mass. jobs) as post-merger Roxy.com electronics retailer shifts to Florida (so much for Internet panacea)
+ 6 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $11.19B + $undisclosed
+ 1 bankruptcy mention: • Sands Hotel & Casino, 1/98 filing, granted to Icahn
+ omens - the dumbing of America rolls on:
• Scopes monkey trial reruns in Kansas
• birth-choice interference kept as GOP plank
• 'dubya' kills overhaul of GOP primary season
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 2 UPsizings - Pinault-Printemps-Redoute creates 900 new jobs in France,
LG&E Energy plans up to 10 natural-gas-fired turbines in Ky. & Ga.
• 1 UNtakeover - Welch Allyn can't finance 6/07 purchase of PSC Inc.
• sheet & towel reuse returns to U.S. hotels to save washwater & $$
• French unemployment down again from May's 9.8 to June's 9.6% - 35-hr/wk worksharing at work
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/28/2000 fri
- sign of the times? - over 5000 layoffs & only 13 jobs created -
4 downsizings reported, totaling 5,260 jobcuts:
• 2,000 cuts as Conseco Finance tries meet payments by selling 5 units & closing offices
• 6.7% workforce cut (1,940 jobs) as First Data overreacts to cancelled WorldCom contract by closing call centers in Tucson & Pensacola & trimming its Omaha HQ, vs.
6.7% workweek cut for all (to 37.3 hrs/wk) & everyone keeps working & earning
• 12% staff cut (860 jobs) as Delco Remy autoparts reorgs to save money (& kill morale),
instead of just doing a 12% hours&pay cut & everyone stays together
• 400 + ?? jobcuts as Guilford Mills fabrics moves operations to Mexico (thus taking
another little chunk out of its own best markets)
+ 8 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $2.1B + $undisclosed
+ omens: • new greenhouse gas discovered, 18,000 times more efficient than CO₂
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 2 UPsizings, totaling 13 new jobs - FM&C opens 6-employee agency in Paris,
ex-Artustry exec Bill Perna opens 7-employee agency in NYC
• 1 UNtakeover - Reliant Energy files to 'cell divide'
• reader hilites need for exact dem'y transition design vs. assume automatic if no Internet censorship
• Common Cause & Dem21 urge Justice to probe 2 major parties' fundraising for TV commercials
• heroic Dorchester resident goads Mass. AG to do his job & make Home Dept price everthing
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/28/2000 fri
- sign of the times? - over 5000 layoffs & only 13 jobs created -
4 downsizings reported, totaling 5,260 jobcuts:
• 2,000 cuts as Conseco Finance tries meet payments by selling 5 units & closing offices
• 6.7% workforce cut (1,940 jobs) as First Data overreacts to cancelled WorldCom contract by closing call centers in Tucson & Pensacola & trimming its Omaha HQ, vs.
6.7% workweek cut for all (to 37.3 hrs/wk) & everyone keeps working & earning
• 12% staff cut (860 jobs) as Delco Remy autoparts reorgs to save money (& kill morale),
instead of just doing a 12% hours&pay cut & everyone stays together
• 400 + ?? jobcuts as Guilford Mills fabrics moves operations to Mexico (thus taking
another little chunk out of its own best markets)
+ 8 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $2.1B + $undisclosed
+ omens: • new greenhouse gas discovered, 18,000 times more efficient than CO₂
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 2 UPsizings, totaling 13 new jobs - FM&C opens 6-employee agency in Paris,
ex-Artustry exec Bill Perna opens 7-employee agency in NYC
• 1 UNtakeover - Reliant Energy files to 'cell divide'
• reader hilites need for exact dem'y transition design vs. assume automatic if no Internet censorship
• Common Cause & Dem21 urge Justice to probe 2 major parties' fundraising for TV commercials
• heroic Dorchester resident goads Mass. AG to do his job & make Home Dept price everthing
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/27/2000 thu
no downsizings reported
but 11 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $3.22B + $undisclosed
+ 1 corporate fine cited: • Compaq fined $4.5m for pre-merge creative acctg by DEC
+ omens: • reader sounds off on technical (non!)support
vs. glimmers of hope: • 2 UNtakeovers - Cabot spins off its microelectronics, Kroll-O'Gara splits in 3
• Ford to raise mileage of SUVs  • Clinton orders disabled hirings
• 50 MNCs sign UN pact on environment & workers' rights
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/26/2000 wed
3 downsizings reported, totaling 6,525 jobcuts:
• 2% workforce cut (6000 U.S. jobs) as Kmart closes 3% of its stores
to strain for More Profit, instead of doing more training & paying for it by trimming
workweek 2% (quit 9½ mins earlier each day) for everyone, incl. top execs, &
keeping everyone together training, working, earning & shopping normally
• 1.7% staff cut (1000 U.S. jobs) as Circuit City stops selling appliances, closes 8 distribution centers & remodels superstores, instead of a 1.7% hours+/-pay cut for all (quit 8 mins earlier/day), & keep all employed, earning & spending, free of anxiety
• 12.5% staff cut (525 jobs worldwide) as Kodak Polychrome Graphics revamps (e.g., closes 260-employee plant in Mass.) instead of 12.5% hours cut to 35-hr workweek & keeping its own best markets & marketers together & employed
+ 12 takeovers reported, totaling $2.68B + $undisclosed
+ omens: • France's pride, the strained supersonic technology of La Concorde,
finally crashes, 113 dead (= omen for world economy?)
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 1 UNtakeover - Qualcomm spins off mfg unit
• Turkey decides to stay clear of nuclear power
• Cohen says Star Wars needs allies' support (& they'll never give it, so let's DROP IT)
• Clinton plans 'surge protector' on cheap steel imports (= step toward smart overall fair trade
policy rather than free trade naivete?)
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/25/2000 tue
- so long & hard to build, so quick & easy to destroy -
4 downsizings reported, totaling 595 jobcuts + unspecified:
• 18% workforce cut (400 Que. jobs lost) as Alcoa aluminium closes
plant to cut annual costs, instead of just trimming workweek 18% to four 8.2-hr days
for all (incl. top exex) & keeping everyone working, earning & buying aluminum products
• 195 Baltimore jobs to go as Ralcorp food 'shellgames' work to NY & Kan., thus trashing a tradition from 1811 (CEOs have only one short-term value = moneymoneymoney)
• unspecified May jobcuts when Ford stopped assembly work at Minsk plant
• unspecified jobcuts as the FAA automates weather observation in
the nation's rural airports (we'll be taking the train from now on)
+ 10 takeovers reported, totaling $5.23B + $undisclosed
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 2 UPsizings - Nortel adds 1800 new jobs in Mass., Ralcorp adds unspecified new jobs in NY & Kan.
• 2 UNtakeovers - Williams Co. energy & communications to 'cell-divide',
Ziff-Davis to spinoff Key3Media tradeshow biz ahead of absorption into Cnet
• WTO finally sides with environment & clobbers Canuck asbestos suit vs. French ban
• one oil company (BP) finally generalizes into sustainable energy e.g. solar
• 2 readers boost Ralph Nader vs. columnist's brickbats
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/23-24/2000
weekend roundup per NY Times & Boston Globe:
• 2 corporate fines/settlements mentioned ($2m+)
• 8 downsizings this past week, costing over 7,050 lost jobs
• 63 takeovers reported this past week, worth $46.65B + $undisclosed
• 3 bankruptcy mentions ($4.8B+ in debt), such as a domino effect from Sogo to Seiyo in Japan, PageNet in America
vs. 4 UPsizings reported (unspecified new jobs), and 4 UNtakeovers reported ($??)
<< YTD:  300 dnsz (355,665+  jobcuts) +1375 takov ($1572.54B+) vs. 87 upsz (60,823+=17%) +95 untak ($109.51B+) >>
2 weekend takeovers, totalling $58B
+ weekend omens: • recent wage hikes just a brief blip
vs. glimmers of hope: • another voice for using technology not to replace people but˙to
facilitate them - to stimulate critical thinking, not quell˙it with glitzy graphics & quick answers
+ Features:  • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Kennedy name & $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, & their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/22/2000 sat (on fri biz)
2 downsizings reported, totaling 380 jobcuts:
• 2.4% workforce cut (200 Wis. jobs lost) as Rock-Tenn boxes closes plant in
overreaction to biz slowdown, instead of just trimming workweek 2.4% or 1 hr for all
(incl. top execs) & keeping everyone working, earning & shopping near-normally
• 180 W. Tacoma jobs to go as Abitibi paper tries to improve profit the myopic
way, instead of trimming hours&pay for all & keeping all employed & spending
+ 8 takeovers reported, totaling $454m + $undisclosed
+ omens: • fearing disunity, Kuwait nixes political parties,
but at least has a parliament, but no vote for women
• "Messy" Helms keeps the U.S. out of another
good international development = war crimes court
• judge bars Web watchdog from calling a spammer a spammer
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 1 UNtakeover - Carlton + UN&M kill UK wedding
• CN & CP finally share choochoo tracks
• post-Chinatrade & Elian, US finally lightens up vs. Cuba
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/21/2000 fri
13 takeovers reported, totaling $9.73B + $undisclosed
+ 1 downsizing reported: • 470 Mo. jobs lost as Salton appliances cuts costs (& its
own best markets & marketers) by shifting production to low-cost overseas vendors
+ 1 corporate settlement mentioned: • RBC's pension fund fined $2m for stock rigging
+ omens: • US House votes to raise own pay 2.7% - for doing what? - just existing
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 3 UPsizings (unspecified new jobs) - 50 new WalMarts in Germany in next 3 yrs,
new GM car plant in Brazil, new Basketball Hall of Fame hotel in Springfield MA
• 7 MA congressmen side with freelancers for extra pay from˙Globe for using material on Web
• Canadian indians gearing up to run parliamentary candidates
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/20/2000 thu
7 takeovers reported, totaling $2.57B + $undisclosed
+ 2 downsizings reported, totaling 700 jobcuts + unspecified:
• 10% workforce cut (700 Wisc. jobs) as Consolidated Papers tries to be more competitive, instead of a 10% workweek cut for all (to 36-hr wk) & keeping everyone working & spending near-normally
• unspecified British jobcuts as Alliance & Leicester mtg co. cuts costs (& mkts)
+ 1 bankruptcy mention: • PageNet in Ch. 11 gets $1.5B offer from Metrocall
+ omens: • trade deficit now up to $31B
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 1 UPsizing (unspecified new jobs) - Calpine to build $430m powerplant in Tenn.
• 1 UNtakeover - Leucadia cancels purchase of Reliance
• unemployment-crime link confirmed
• 29,000 W. Tx. homes to get wind power
• effort mounts to block Frankenfoods in U.S.
• a Republican laments his party's drift out of the mainstream
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/19/2000 wed
3 downsizings reported, totaling 2000 additional jobcuts + unspecified:
• 5% staff cut (1800 NJ jobs) as Merrill Lynch manages to spend 10%
more than it takes in - despite this broker's market, instead of doing a 5%
hours&pay cut for all (to 38-hr wk) & keeping everyone working & playing the market
• 4.7% staff cut (1800 Ill., ND, Wis. & German jobcuts, 200 more than previously announced) as CNH Global farm machinery slams or sells 7 plants, instead of just trimming its hours&pay 4.7% for all (38.12-hr wk) & keeping everyone working & food-shopping normally
• unspecified jobcuts as Aetna closes unprofitable Medicare HMOs
+ 11 takeovers reported, totaling $6.53B +$??
+ 2 bankruptcy mentions: • new - Seiyo property development in Japan ($4.8B debt)
• old - defunct Toysmart.com promised boy a scholarship, Disney opts to pay it
+ omens: • just what we need - another taxbreak for the rich
• EPA proposes gutting Clean Water Act - NYT squawks
vs. glimmers of hope: • 2 UNtakeovers - Ceridian to 'cell divide',
Dupont de˙Nemours backs out of buying R&D unit from Aventis
• US House hits spam
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/18/2000 tue
2 downsizings reported, totaling 3,500 lost jobs:
• 3000 jobcuts worldwide as Seagram-owned Universal's
domestic music operations merge with Polygram's international presence
• 3.7% staff cut (500 jobs lost worldwide) as Sony Music over-reacts to e-commerce
& Napster, instead of doing a 3.7% hours&pay cut for all (to 38½ hrs/wk), including
top execs, and keeping everyone employed & buying music
+ 19 takeovers reported, totaling $16.87B +$??
+ 1 corporate settlement mentioned: • Cendant
settles over racist slur vs. Muslim client for $??
+ omens: • reader nails problem with 'welfare to work' = training gap
vs. glimmers of hope:
• Japan retains zero% interest rates
• Fed report affirms community lending
• op ed sounds alarm on open immigration
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/16-17/2000
weekend roundup per NY Times & Boston Globe:
• 1 corporate fine/settlement mentioned ($147m)
• 12 downsizings this past week, costing over 11,863 lost jobs
• 57 takeovers reported this past week, worth $77.06B + $undisclosed
• 7 bankruptcy mentions, such as Frederick's of Hollywood, Pathmark
supermkts, Innovative Chemical Solutions & Sogo dept. stores (Japan)
vs. 6 UPsizings reported, totaling 4,905 new jobs, and 6 UNtakeovers reported ($??)
<< YTD:  292 dnsz (348,615+  jobcuts) +1312 takov ($1525.89B+) vs. 83 upsz (60,823+=17%) +91 untak ($109.51B+) >>
5 weekend takeovers, $10.5B + $??
+ 1 downsizing mentioned this weekend:
• unspecified jobcuts as Ebony South Africa ends publication
vs. glimmers of hope: • variable pricing extends from air travel to electricity supply
+ Features:  • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Kennedy name & $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, & their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/15/2000 sat (re fri biz)
no downsizings reported
but 6 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $733m +$??
+ 2 bankruptcy mentions: • Innovative Chemical Solutions files Ch.11
• even more on big Sogo bust in Japan - straining for positive spin
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 3 UNtakeovers - 3Com spins off Palm, BN Santa Fe blocked
from gulping CNR, Leucadia chickens out of Reliance deal
• big tobacco slammed with $145B in smokers' damages
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/14/2000 fri
15 takeovers reported, totaling $9.72B +$??
+ 2 downsizings reported, totaling 273 lost jobs:
• 260 Tenn. jobs cut as VF Workwear shuts down a shirt plant in mid-Sept.
• 62% Chicago staff cut (13 jobs) as eBay cuts back its live auction businesses
= fraud risk fades the online auction fad?
+ 1 bankruptcy mention: • more on domino effect of big Sogo bust in Japan
+ omens: • USA trails rest of developed world in wellbeing of children
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 2 UPsizings, totaling 1,460 new jobs - 1150 at Corning in Mass., 310 at Juniper Networks in Cal.
• 1 huge UNtakeover - Worldcom & Sprint cancel $115B merger plans
• economist breaks ranks & questions obsessive-compulsive inflation-
quashing & resulting harm to employment (& consumer base)
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/13/2000 thu
- drifting toward depression instead of facing flaw & debugging -
10 takeovers reported, totaling $7.53B +$??
+ 4 downsizings reported, totaling 4445 lost jobs:
• 1000 jobs cut & 900 moved to Miami & Ireland, as Boston Scientific tries to
"streamline mfg & release more money for research" - despite demoralizing its workforce
• 25% workforce cut (1400 US & Can. jobs) as Hush Puppies parent, Wolverine, consolidates plants, products (& mkts), vs. 25% workweek cut for all (to 30 hrs) & keeping all working & shoe shopping
• 1.9% staff cut (900 Euro jobs) as Delphi cuts costs (& its own best markets & marketers), instead of doing a 1.9% hours&pay cut for all (incl. top execs) & keeping everyone employed & buying auto parts
• 245 NC jobcuts as Wachovia closes a check processing center in Raleigh
+ 1 corporate fine mentioned:
• Mylan Labs hit for $147m for drug mkt & price fiddling
+ 3 bankruptcy mentions: • Sogo stores in Japan ($4.5B debt)
• Pathmark suprmkts in US  • 440 bankruptcies in today's Delaware list
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 2 UPsizings, totaling 3400 new jobs - 2500 at HP, & 900 at c-h-u-r-n-i-n-g Boston Scientific
• judge bars the Big Apple from dumping mental patients at subway stops with $3 in their pocket
• Greenspan offers more warnings & preachments for others (but still no deep-structure prescription for his own economy)
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/12/2000 wed
- remember win-win capitalism? remember 'work smart, not hard'? -
1 downsizing reported: • undisclosed senior
mgmt jobs cut as GenRad electronic testing reorgs
+ 11 takeovers reported, totaling $13.49B + $undisclosed
+ 1 bankruptcy mentioned: • Frederick's of Hollywood goes Chap. 11
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 1 UPsizing - 45 new Chicago jobs as Leo Burnett USA ad agency forms healthcare-focused LeoHealth
• 2 UNtakeovers - Applied Power spins off APW, Fleet spins off Fleet Equity Partners as 'Navis'
• Greenspan glimpses the obvious - twice (but still toddling around 'square one')
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/11/2000 tue
5 downsizings reported, totaling 7,145 lost jobs: • 6000 jobcuts at Honeywell
• 525 cuts at Alcoa due to electricity prices • 350 cuts at Montana Resources, same reason
• 200 Rhode Is. jobs lost as bankrupt Monet Group moves jobs to Asia
• 20% staff cut (70 Calif. jobs) as ScanSoft tries for profitability by subtracting
employees from its American markets & moving jobs to Budapest, instead of doing a 20%
hours&pay cut for all (to 32 hrs/wk) & keeping everyone working & spending near-normally
+ 13 takeovers reported, totaling $43.69B + $undisclosed
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 1 UPsizing - unspecified new Mexican jobs as Wendy's plans 100 new restaurants
• Robert Reich moves toward an all-out push for training • US trade rep's office for ecology
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/09-10/2000
weekend roundup per NY Times & Boston Globe:
• 1 corporate fine/settlement, totalling $82.2m
• 7 downsizings this past week, costing over 1,341 lost jobs
• 46 takeovers reported this past week, worth $9.25B + $undisclosed
• 4 bankruptcy mentions, such as APBOnline, Stone&Webster, Master Graphics
vs. 1 UPsizing reported - 3000 new jobs to be created over 5 yrs (but no UNtakeovers reported this wk)
<< YTD:  280 dnsz (336,752+  jobcuts) +1255 takov ($1448.83B+) vs. 77 upsz (55,918+=16%) +85 untak ($109.51B+) >>
+ 2 weekend takeovers, totalling $1.9B + $??
+ weekend omens: • our media are foolishly losing interest in the economy
• America is forgetting the needy already here & the hard lessons of its own history
vs. glimmers of hope: • Globe columnist sounds the alarm about American workoholism
• Massachusetts to update Dark-Age child labor laws
• reader pushes for need-based Social Security
• op ed unmasks America's Luddism
• reader slams our spending priorities
+ Features:  • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Kennedy name & $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, & their websites
• bibliography page• lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/08/2000 sat (re fri biznews)
no downsizings reported
but 7 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $1.49B + $??
+ 1 corporate fine mentioned: • Stedt Hydraulic Crane to pay $120k fine for defrauding USAID
+ 2 bankruptcies mentioned: • Master Graphics 14-state commercial printer goes Chap. 11
• Stone & Webster assets go to Shaw Grp in bankruptcy auction for $600m
vs. glimmers of hope: • China backs Linux  • Hillary admits job shortage
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/7/2000 fri
11 takeovers reported, totaling $435m + $??
+ 4 downsizings reported, totaling 1,047 lost jobs + unspecified:
• 1.5% workforce cut (425 Ottawa jobs) as Warnaco apparel closes a plant, instead of doing a 1.5% workweek cut for all (just 36 mins/wk) & keeping everyone employed & buying 'threads'
• 382 people dismissed as TicketMaster shuts Dallas call center
• 100% staff cut (240 U.S. jobs) as Zebco fishing reels moves production to
China, thus saving money & losing its best market & marketers = its own employees
• unspecified jobcuts surface as Brooks Automation buys assets-only of Mitex Solutions
+ 1 corporate fine mentioned: • EU court upholds VW fine for not letting
foreigners buy cars cheaper in Italy, but reduces it 12% to $82.2m
vs. glimmers of hope: • reader sees thru US' latest PR hustle
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/06/2000 thu
14 takeovers reported, totaling $2.78B + $??
+ 1 downsizing reported: • unspecified jobcuts as Pacificare Health closes Medicare HMOs next yr
+ omens: • bleak earnings forecasts hit tech stocks  • US now messing with Frankenfungus to clobber coca in Colombia  • global warming is accelerating while our 'representatives' nap on
vs. glimmers of hope:
• Brits retain their strong pound vs. weak Euro
• here's something we haven't seen for awhile - concern for customers
• Ellen Goodman tackles our ambivalence about unlimited wealth & inheritance
• Warren Tolman tackles state Dem leaders for obstructing public will on campaign finance reform
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/05/2000 wed
- happy 4th recovery! -
no July 4th takeovers or downsizings reported
but third dot-com bankruptcy reported: • APB Online goes Chap.11 with $7m debts
+ omens: • misery panel rates Africa lowest (Canada highest)  • case in point, Zimbabwe - 50% joblessness (needs timesizing!)  • Europeans targeting US for takeovers (will not help their stability)  • students shift from MBAs to law degrees (like we need more lawyers!)
vs. glimmers of hope:
• ingenious new Indonesian president disarms villains by playing dumb
• French gear up to snoop on our snooping on them
• teachers' pay inches ahead
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/04/2000 tue
- happy 4th! -
11 takeovers reported, totaling $4.54B + $??
+ 2 downsizings reported, totaling 294 lost jobs:
• 220 Calif. jobs cut as Tickets.com "reorganizes" to justify top exec pay
• 40% workforce cut (74 Texas jobs) as Micrografx software reorgs in response to straitened capital resources, instead of 40% workweek cut for all (to 24 hrs/wk) to retain its skill set & keep everyone working & buying software
+ 1 bankruptcy mention: • 22% of Texas nursing homes are broke, heading for est. 45%
vs. glimmers of hope:
• women's pay inches ahead, surpasses men's in some fields
• Nader slams pathetic Times editorial, updates Ted Kennedy's random grocery list of liberal issues
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/02-03/2000
weekend roundup per NY Times & Boston Globe:
• 7 corporate fines/settlements, totalling $301.4m
• 11 downsizings this past week, costing over 10,289 lost jobs
• 60 takeovers reported this past week, worth $43.81B + $undisclosed
vs. 3 UPsizings reported (6700+ new jobs created) and 2 UNtakeovers ($175 million+)
<< YTD:  273 dnsz (335,411+  jobcuts) +1209 takov ($1439.08B+) + 80 bkrp + 5 homlss + 8 prisn + 4 suic
vs. 3 timsizng + 76 upsz (52,918+=16%) +85 untak ($109.51B+) >>
<< 7-12/99 totals:  286 dnsz (398,123+  jobs) + 1315 takov ($1177B+) + 56 bkrp + 2 homlss + 16 prisn + 7 suic
vs. 9 timsizng + 57 upsz (52,026+ =13%) + 67 untak ($225B+) >>
fiscal-year roll-up
= 12-mon roll-up, based on NYT & BG, jul/1999-jul.2/2000, our 1st year of tracking:
12 timsizng (?? new or sav'd jobs) + 133 upsizngs (104944+ new jobs) + 152 untak ($110B+), total 104944 = 14% of cuts
VERSUS 559 dnsz (733534+ jobcuts) + 2524 takv ($2616B) + 136 bkrp + 7 homlss + 24 prisn + 11 suic
+ 2 weekend takeovers, totalling $??
+ weekend omen: • with all the erratic stock behavior, most portfolios worth same as Jan.1
vs. glimmers of hope: • 1 weekend UPsizing - Turner to expand Atlanta HQ, 3000 new jobs in 5 yrs
• Mexico ends PRI party's 71-yr rule
• recall *The Other Economic Summit? - now there's the other Dem & GOP conventions!
+ Features:  • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Kennedy name & $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, & their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question

7/01/2000 sat (re fri biz)
no downsizing reports, but...
5 downsizing-inducing takeovers reported, totaling $1.6B + $??
+ omens: • weak Q2 depresses yr's stock performance • US farmers still planting "Frankencrops"
vs. glimmers of hope:
• 1 UNtakeover - investor groups backs out of ResCare buyout
• South Africa tries to learn from Zimbabwe's mistakes in land reform
• more good economic news from France "despite" (or because of) their work&wage-spreading shorter workweek (& longer vacations)
+ Features: • "Mr. Timesizing" challenges Ted Kennedy & his $4m warchest in Y2K Senate race 
• campaign central highlights Phil, Ted, and all challengers, and their websites
• bibliography page • lost key to small government • website reactions
• embryonic legislation page  • 30-hour bill page  • opus errata
• Newly edited - Popping the big question