The Twilight Zone.

• Author: Rundles, Jeff
• Position: RUNDLES wrap-up - Economic conditions - Editorial

Working on a project the other day, I had the occasion to peruse the "Vows" column--wedding announcements--in The New York Times, and I was struck by how many of the entries, while discussing the bride's and groom's professional lives, said things like "until recently a senior vice president ... "This was particularly true of the announcements for people over 40. Who knew that unemployment was such a grand time to say "I do"?

Right in the middle of some of that research, a friend of mine at the Rocky Mountain News called, and I asked how things were going down there, what with the imminent collapse of the paper. He said that when he sees people in the corridors he nods and says, "Dead man walking." Newspaper people always did go for black humor.

Also recently, I was at a neighborhood Super Bowl party, and pretty much everyone there was discussing their own layoff, downsizing, severance, pay cut, furlough, new part-time status, and the wonders of older cars. I don't think I've ever been in a room with more "consultants," at least not since the oil bust of 1984.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Then I was doing some Web surfing, window shopping (is there any other kind these days?) at the mall, and other connections with businesses, and I happened to search, walk by or otherwise come into contact with, in the span of a couple of days, these firms: Blockbuster, Sbarro, Six Flags, Krispy Kreme, Rite Aid, Claire's, Dollar/Thrifty, Sirius Satellite Radio, Chrysler, and Landry's Restaurants. Not two days later I saw a news story on Yahoo titled" 15 Companies That Might Not Survive 2009," and wouldn't you know it, all these companies were on the list.

"Twilight Zone" theme music played in my head.

Like everyone else, I suppose, I have had my moments of doubt, and once or twice I have wondered whether or not I will make it through this economic haze. But then I reminded myself that I have been through some very rough times before, that as a reporter over the years I have covered some near-depression times in certain industries (commercial real estate, oil and gas), and somehow it all worked out, for the better.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Having that...