Life Lessons from a Laid-Off Lawyer

Earlier this year, just out of knee surgery, with a wife in school and just a few thousand dollars in the bank, David Koller got booted out of his job.

That night, the Philadelphia lawyer asked himself the kinds of questions that (we’ve learned) bubble up after you’ve been forced out of a job: Was he happy? Did he really see himself choosing the traditional company for the long term? Was what seemed so impressive to other people — a good salary, a respectable company — actually satisfying?

On Law.com, Koller explains how he turned around and started his own law firm. Sound snoozy? I can’t remember the last time I read every single word a lawyer wrote. I’ve been asked several times how someone who has just been get kicked out of a job can have the confidence and pluck to start a business. Well, here are a few lessons from his account…

The US and China–Who’s Screwing Who? (Video)

Aren’t treasury bills hilarious? And what about that national debt? Bwahahaha..

Well, Saturday Night Live hasn’t been this funny in years, as it sends up Washington’s attempt to ignore the fact that China kind of owns us…

Social Lives Giveaway Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered our book contest. This morning we randomly selected two winners, and they are Rita M. and Jason P. We’ll be contacting them directly so we can ship Wendy Walker’s totally fun book out.

We’re Big in France. Seriously.

Finally, we can say we have something in common with supermodels — and all it took was losing our jobs.

Recessionwire was on a tear in the French press this fall, making it into French Elle (click for the whole shebang), business magazine Capital (download the PDF here), and onto Radio France Internationale (listen here). Along the way, we learned a few things:

1. The dot-com suffix hasn’t caught on in France. They use the word for “period” instead — point. So when you wear your French accent, we are Recessionwire-pwah-com.…

Downturnaround Deals: Gap, Aeropostale, Bebe, Wine.com, Children’s Place, Kodak

Every week, we post online coupons for food, clothes, books, gadgets and more, hand-picked for Recessionwire readers by the nice people over at Savings.com. This week, check out their Black Friday deals, too.

Get 50% off the entire site at Aeropostale. (See more Aeropostale coupons.)…

Recessionwire Book Giveaway: Social Lives

If you’re expecting “recession lit,” a book about triumphing in difficult times, look elsewhere.

If you’re looking for a light, fun read about how rich people’s lives aren’t perfect, Wendy Walker’s new book, Social Lives, hits it….

Lemonade Maker: April McCray, from Real Estate to Cardboard Houses

Two years ago, April McCray, 38, got the feeling it was time to change careers. She’d been helping sell homes for a real estate developer in Palm Springs, California, but the market was fizzling and sales were getting scarce. She and her husband took their savings and started Color Me House, which makes cardboard forts for kids. She talked to us about how she came up with the idea, why they moved in with his parents, and how she got her products into Costco.

Did you quit your job or were you laid off?
My job pretty much quit itself. The builders were letting everyone go. People weren’t closing. I knew in three months there would be nothing left to be made. I’d left the office and was looking for a new place to go, but everywhere I went there was nothing. I knew that I was not a desired commodity any more and I was going to have to recreate yourself…

Recessionwire Discount: Wine and Charcuterie Friday Night

Already hungry for Friday night? (We are.) This will really set your mouth watering: St. Francis Winery is having a wine-and-charcuterie pairing event in New York tomorrow night. It features the Sonoma winery’s Wild Oak wines and cured meats from Salumeria Biellese, which stocks top chefs, including meat-loving Mario Batali.

Plus, it’s educational, with a discussion of wine-making and meat-curing, in case you needed inspiration for that new career.

Recessionwire readers get $5 off the $35 ticket…

Downturnaround Deals: Gap, Red Envelope, HP, GameStop, BackCountry.com

Some of us are starting to spend again (a little). Every week, we post online coupons for food, clothes, books, gadgets and more, hand-picked for Recessionwire readers by the nice people over at Savings.com.

Take 25% off sitewide at Gap. Expires Sunday…too good not to post though. (See more Gap coupons.)…

Kill the Recession with Your Brain

Tom Cruise tries to scootch ashtrays with his mind. Why not put yours towards something more…um, less freaky?

Over at her site, Escape from Cubicle Nation, Pamela Shim lays out ten ways you can stimulate the economy in your corner of the world. It’s straightforwad, non-Scientology stuff…