So Cynicism is Dead

Aloofness is out, warmth is in. Flaming is out, gushing is in.

A story in this week’s New York Observer proclaims that we’re faceing the New Nice, even — perhaps especially — in nasty old New York. Entered into evidence: Tina Fey on the cover of Vogue, the Academy Awards including more best picture nominees, Lady Gaga expressing gratitude to her fans.

That’s this attitude shift due to? In part, the recession…

36 Hours in Philadelphia: Recession Edition

Every so often, the New York Times publishes a travel feature called “36 Hours in —-,” featuring a weekend-long itinerary for a specific city. We think they may have missed a few things in the recession – a look at Philadelphia, for one.

When Ben Franklin first arrived in Philadelphia, he only carried a spare change of clothes and a loaf of bread under each arm. If being poor in Philly is good enough for America’s Founding Father, it’s good enough for you. It would be so much fun to see Independence Hall, or the Philadelphia Museum of Art, an Eagles game or even a skyscraper, but we’re going to be responsible about our vacation and stick to West Philadelphia, home of row houses, the Market-Frankford Line and some of the most dangerous street corners this side of midnight…

Screwed: 1,600 at Davie Yards

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

Today’s Total: 2,354

Davie Yards Inc., a Canadian shipbuilder, is planning 1,600 employee layoffs to begin on Monday while it files for creditor protection… Chicago Public Schools will be laying off 500 employees by mid-March… Las Vegas faces 171 city layoffs by July 1 unless labor unions agree to concessions… In another round of layoffs, Sunrise Senior Living Inc. will terminate 30 jobs this year…

Recession Briefing: Museums Benefit from Downturn (Sort Of)

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Many museums across the country saw a spike in visitors during the economic slump last year, even as they experienced increasing financial stress, according to results of a study released Thursday. (Associated Press)

One thing employment-services firm Manpower has got better at during the recession is figuring out quickly which job-hunters can be helped, and which to send elsewhere rather than risk leading them on. (Economist)

It cost more than $500,000 in stimulus funds to create a single highway construction job, largely because of building materials, an analysis of stimulus reports shows. Education aid and research funding are among the cheapest ways of creating or saving jobs at less than $60,000 each, the analysis shows.( USA Today)…

Downturnaround Deals: HauteLook, Lock & Mane, Urban Outfitters, Travelocity, Old Navy, HP

We make it easier to keep your spending in check, with weekly deals hand-picked for Recessionwire readers by the nice people over at Savings.com.

Get $10 off $50 or more at HauteLook. (See more HauteLook coupons.)…

Ways to Help Haiti and Your Tax Deductions, Too

Great news, both for you and for the Haiti relief effort: Donations to help the impoverished, earthquake-stricken country can count for your 2009 tax return.

(If you haven’t contributed already, read the LearnVest article for ideas to help Haiti.)

Background On The Haiti Tax Provision.

Enacted toward the end of January, the US government passed a special provision to give you tax relief if you helped this cause. In order to count on your 2009 tax return—instead of waiting to itemize the deductions next year—you need to contribute between January 11, 2010 and March 1, 2010…

Recession Briefing: Older African Americans Get Hit Worst

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The recession has had a “devastating impact” on African-Americans age 45 and up, according to a new survey by AARP. The survey found that over the last year: 33 percent of African-Americans age 45 and older said they’ve had problems paying rent or mortgage, and 44 percent had problems paying for essential items, such as food and utilities. (Chicago Tribune)

Sign of the times? General Motors will shut down Hummer, the brand of big sport utility vehicles that became synonymous with the term gas guzzler. (New York Times)

JP Morgan Chase, the nation’s second-largest bank, expects the number of delinquent home loans to skyrocket over the next year, echoing analysts’ expectations of a gloomy housing market that is nowhere near recovery. (Huffington Post)…

Screwed: 52 at Pfizer

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

Today’s Total:

In New York, Pfizer announced yesterday a job cut of 52 employees by April 21…The Oregonian gave pink slips to 37 workers yesterday, primarily from the news department…At the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, all 35 teachers may face unemployment for not meeting qualifications required by federal law, and the state has asked the school to submit a new staffing plan by June 1…In Wildwood, NJ, 30 city employees received layoff notices yesterday…Meanwhile, in Ithica, NY, Steuben Glass will layoff an undetermined number of employees by this summer as part of their restructuring plan.

Cashmere Toilet Paper, and Other Ways to Ignore the Recession

If obsessing about unemployment figures, market drops, and inflation rates hasn’t helped improve your financial situation over the past year, it might be time to try something else. Like, say, ignoring the recession entirely and pretending it doesn’t exist.

It’s not hard to do. With the swipe of a credit card and the purchase of a $2,500 Swarovski-embellished handbag, you can be right back where you were before the recession began—deep in debt and surrounded by shiny luxury goods.

After the jump, a round-up of our favorite ridiculous items and goods that might help take your mind off of the country’s financial crisis, at least until your next credit card statement arrives in the mail….

How to Land a Law Job

Like most professional fields, law has taken a big hit in the recession. Law firms, once considered safe havens, have laid of employees in droves. And, of course, new jobs are hard to come by — especially for law students.

That means once a student (or recent grad) lands an interview, she has to be ready to nail it. Looking for interviewing advice last year, I found many websites and blogs had the same old rules — show up early, dress impeccably, ask good questions. We go beyond the standard protocol, with tips will push your interviewing skills to the next level and will help you land the job.

Talk about Your Non-Legal Experience

Just because you are interviewing for a legal job does not mean that you can or should only talk about your legal experience. Discuss your non-legal experience that relates to the work you will do at the firm. Since I worked as an executive recruiter before law school, I would talk about the parallels between recruiting and practicing law.