Most costly hurricanes/storms

Sad, indeed

Lawrence Mischel (see here) expresses my sentiments over the claim (by Jack Welch, among other conspiracy nuts) that the BLS manipulated the data:

This controversy is not funny at all. BLS career staff has been inundated with calls from people attacking them, the predictable consequence of these conspiracy charges. BLS staff should not be facing this type of harassment. This whole episode makes me angry—at the disrespect for facts and the professionals at BLS—and it also makes me sad about the state of discourse in our nation.

Big Bird on the dole

From Salon (see here) Big Bird may be joining the unemployed.