Northwest Airlines cares about their employees. Even the ones they're about to let go. Instead of a swift kick to the backside, Northwest gave workers valuable advice on navigating life in the unemployed lane. A few highlights: +If you do not have a savings account to fall back on, don't despair. However, this is a good example of a situation where an emergency savings account would be helpful. [Zing!] +Use the phone book instead of directory assistance. [You fat cat, you.] +Buy software at... READ ON

I adored the Quizno's spongmonkeys. I was even willing to laugh, uncomfortably, at the chain's infamous "raised by wolves" ad. But the new ad it's running for its Smokehouse Beef Brisket sandwich is a little hard to digest. Watch it and judge for yourself, or take my word for it -- the ad opens with a series of local BBQ restaurant owners, all of whom are upset that Quizno's is poaching their customers by "encroach[ing] on our long-established recipes and intellectual property." Ha, ha, intellectual... READ ON

Sick and tired of how American universities operate, professor Gary Hull is setting out to launch a new, for-profit university. Dubbed Founders College, Hull hopes to do away with "publish or perish" atmospheres and tenured professorships, focus on education, and provide a "classic" liberal arts curriculum. It sounds like a gutsy experiment (he's also cutting the sports teams). Hull hopes to mold great communicators out of his students, and he's definitely talking big: The... READ ON

According to the New York Times, Hong Kong authorities are relying on Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and "nine other uniformed groups" to turn in anyone trading or downloading pirated songs or movies off the net. Dubbed the "Youth Ambassadors," 1,600 vigilantes age 9-25 will pledge their allegiance and willingness to reveal offenders in a giant stadium ceremony.  Of course, there is some incentive. Not only will government ministers be in attendance, but Hong Kong film and pop... READ ON