Saturday, January 17, 2009

New Jolts Data


Job Openings continue to slide. Nearly at all time low for the time series.
Wonder how the WIA consultants explain this decline in job openings given their silly labor shortage ideas?
Any comments, Ed?
DD

Big Surprises in State Employment Coming?

Hearing rumors that the BLS may be putting new review procedures in place regarding state employment numbers. This change could cause some states to see large downward revisions in employment for Nov and Dec. Could also cause these same states to see unemployment rate increases.

DD

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

How much did you give to this lady?



A few of you will no doubt recognize Miss Lottie Moon, the faithful servant of the Lord who spent her life as a Southern Baptist missionary to China.

As you also know she is the namesake of the SBC's international missions offering held during the Christmas season.

On Sunday, I found out that our church fell well short of our giving goal to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. Well short of the goal and well short of last year's giving.

Not sure when the national numbers for the offering will be announced but I hope other local bodies did better than we did. However, given that our state is still doing better than much of the nation in terms of the economy and labor markets I am worried.

DD

Monday, January 5, 2009

Red Light, Green Light (Nov employment)


The map shows how each state has fared in terms of year over year employment growth. States in red are seeing significant employment declines, yellow shows states around zero, while the greens are still growing well - well kinda well.
DD

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Billy Graham & Chruch Membership

Happy New Year!

I saw earlier this week that Billy Graham is moving his church membership from FBC, Dallas to a church in SC, about 90 miles from his home. I think I knew that he was a member in Dallas but had forgotten.

Question. Did he ever live in Dallas? I don't recall him ever doing so. Of course with his ministry he had limited time at home anyway but how could he really be an active member of a church several states away from his home?

On the surface at least this seems to be a pretty casual and nearly meaningless type of church membership.

DD