The pattern of job cutting that we saw in the third quarter mirrors what we have been seeing almost daily in the various economic and corporate earnings reports, which is to say one report suggests the economy is headed toward recovery while the next seems to hint that we are stuck in recession,

It is a favorable sign that retailers have not joined in the job-cutting spree,

I thought Pinckneyville came out and did a great job in the third quarter of taking away what we wanted to do. We always talk about the first three minutes of the second half is the most important part of the game. I just think we didn't match their intensity. ... And, I think Matt (Buren) getting in foul trouble in the third quarter really hurt us.

The union has done a good job in negotiating a buyout package that at least seems to me to be unparalleled. At the same time, it's bittersweet. What they are negotiating is an end game.

But, as it has been our wont this year, we have one bad quarter and it came in the third quarter.

Job-cut announcements have been on a roller coaster ride this year. The lack of any discernible trend in corporate downsizing is indicative of the uncertainty associated with the current economy.