Free Republic

<p>Marsha Adams says the unemployment checks are paying her rent. The rest of her money comes from selling off pieces of her extensive Alice in Wonderland collection, including this snow globe, on eBay.</p> <p>For thousands of unemployed workers, the end of the federal extension of unemployment benefits last week is a political issue made intensely personal. For some, it creates an almost immediate financial crisis. Others find themselves one step closer to life-changing decisions, such as selling the house and leaving Silicon Valley.</p>

Microsoft recruits EU investigator loaded with competitors' secrets Trustworthy initiative By Paul Hales: Thursday 28 November 2002, 11:43 AN EU OFFICIAL who was involved in gathering evidence from Microsoft's competitors in the on-going European Commission anti-trust investigation into the software company's monopolistic behaviour is taking time off from his day job to go work for, erm, Microsoft. Detlef Eckert, promised not to reveal confidential commission information to Microsoft during stay at the company, Commission spokesman Per Haugaard told Bloomberg. For its part, Microsoft says Eckert will be involved in developing the company's "trustworthy computing" initiative. He is to enter Voledom...