The global recession manifests itself in big and small ways, most gloomy, some quirky and often reflecting the inventive human spirit. Here is a look at some signs of the times.
* The crash in global property prices has even affected the Moon -- sort of. An official at Prague's "Lunar Embassy," a private enterprise that sells plots on the Moon, said prices for the patches of Moonland it sells have fallen by 20 per cent. The outfit is now selling patches of the moon for 799 Czech crowns instead of 999 crowns, down 20 per cent. U.N. member states signed a treaty in 1967 that bans countries from claiming ownership of space matter, but a loophole still allows individuals or firms to do so. Since 1980, some 18 "lunar embassies" have been offering property on the moon, Venus and Mars.
* The US Olympic Committee is cutting its 2009 operating budget by $7.1 million, or more than 10 per cent, in response to the economic downturn. Management salaries are being frozen for this year and strict limits on expenses are going into effect. The group is also eliminating 54 positions in its professional staff, including some of the most senior management jobs.
* A spoof website, www.pochkapochka.ru, which at first sight seemed to offer legitimate information on kidney transplants, posted a splashy ad in Russian and English on its main page: "Crisis? Crisis's running over the planet, but you've got a chance! Cost of human kidney is $70-80 K and it could be enough to pay all fees, credits and much more. You can help yourself right now: just sell your kidney." The "about us" section said the site was a hoax: "This site is a kind of black humor. We don't provide any services related to organ transplantation," it said.
* Want a new suit but not sure how long you'll need it? US retailer JoS. A. Bank is allowing customers who recently bought a suit to claim a refund but keep the suit if they lose their job. "We want to help the customer look good at work, and if he loses his job, to be dressed appropriately as he meets with his next employer," said Chief Executive Officer R. Neal Black in a statement. "It's like giving all of our customers a bit of unemployment insurance." But only jobs lost between April 16 and July 1 qualify for the maximum $199 refund.
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* One unlikely side effect of the recession has been a surge in applications to US law schools, The Wall Street Journal reports. Despite widespread layoffs and salary cuts at many law firms, the number of applicants at law schools is up 2 per cent. At Washington and Lee University in Virginia, that figure is up 29 per cent over last year, while Yale Law School and the University of Texas School of Law have had increases of 8 per cent, the Journal said.
* The nasty economy is leading to more cursing, Los Angeles psychotherapist Nancy Irwin told MSNBC. "There are a lot of elements that are out of our control right now and as a result, there's a lot more frustration, a lot more fear and anxiety," she said. "When people feel that, many cuss. Swearing is something that gives us an instantaneous release." Timothy Jay, professor of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, agreed. "People feel better when they swear. I was just back in Dayton, Ohio, where they've closed a lot of General Motors plants and if you went into a bar, you could hear the frustration."
* The US government is recruiting Wall Street talent now that so many are jobless. The Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will be looking for employees at a job fair next month. "The whole industry is going through a transformation right now, so working for the Fed could be interesting for some," said Michael Karp, CEO of Options Group, an executive search and consulting firm. "But will the government compensate accordingly compared to Wall Street? The answer is no."
* There are some compensations for being out of work. If you need a clean suit for a job interview in New York, you can go to First Professional Cleaners on the Upper East Side where a sign says: "If you are unemployed and need an outfit clean for an interview, we will clean it for free." * And Spain's Villarreal soccer team is offering unemployed season-ticket holders free passes for the coming season. Club President Fernando Roig said a fund would be set up to subsidize the plan. "We are keen to get involved because it seems like a good idea considering the times we are in," said striker Joseba Llorente.
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