Row upon row of long faces trudge into the meeting room knowing the outcome is pre-ordained. The economic devastation wrought by the Wall Street mavens coupled with the cavalier treatment of debt by us consumers has finally rocked our little pond…

Management is just as solemn, there’s downcast gazes coupled with minute amounts of lint removed from sleeves, toes scuffing on carpets, and tacit admiration of ceiling tiles.

The Big Cheese clears his throat, ” … well the Governor has decreed we’re taking a 10% cut of your paychecks across the board…unless it’s an emergency – in which case you’ll work for free …”

Groans and teeth gnashing follow…

” The way it plays out, each of you will have the first and third Friday of the month off and will receive no pay.”

… and to the astonishment of the crowd, some portly, middle aged idiot in the back of the room exclaims, “Sweet!” – just a wee bit too loud, and as absolutely everyone swivels in their seat to stare holes through the offending SOB, he manages one last weak bleat, “Oh, I guess I’m the only fisherman in the room…”

The golfers were just as happy, only a “golf clap” makes less noise.