Another sign of the times: the Postal Service considering its first layoffs ever, perhaps 40,000 of them.  Here's a report from KLSA, way down south near New Orleans (actually in Shreveport, LA).

Why?  "We lost 2 billion dollars and like any other business we have to stay afloat."  The Postal Service employs about 685,000(!) people nationwide.

So who' s at risk?  According to the linked report, the first to go will be low-seniority non-union workers.  The USPS reportedly is also considering offering early retirement packages to senior workers over age 50 who have 20 years of service.

Some reports suggest that these cuts won't hit until after the traditionally profitable fourth quarter.  We'll stay on top of this and report on further developments.