On the Record

Boy, it seems as if every day brings fresh chatter about the downward spiral of the legal industry.

For instance, today the NLJ had an article on whether law firms will conduct pre-Christmas layoffs. It contains this ulcer-maker from Altman Weil consultant Ward Bower:

I’ve been working with some firms that will be laying some people off, but the announcements probably won’t be made until early January,” Bower said. “The decisions have already been made, but I think that’s in consideration of the holidays.”

Now, go try and enjoy your eggnog with that on your mind.

You know, as I read these kinds of stories, I can’t shake a nagging feeling of déjà vu. Big layoffs, dire predictions, general malaise — where have we seen that before? (Thanks to Romenesko for the links.)

Oh, yeah. Right.

CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer

The Winston-Salem Journal has a cute leap day story today: they asked readers to share their tales of the woman’s being the one to “leap” into love. And for those who wrote in, writes Reporter Kim Underwood, “taking the lead paid big dividends.”

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

How about this: last weekend, I saw a feature story about up-and-coming grooms-to-be hiring a proposal planner to craft an elaborate marriage proposal.

Those in the wedding business are psyched about this extension of the almost $50 billion-dollar industry. (Except for maybe this party pooper).

With Valentine’s Day on Thursday, I wonder if people in the proposal-planning profession are swamped with swooning suitors? Or are most men turned off by the idea of another (admittedly unnecessary) nuptial expense?

If I were a wedding planner, I might seriously consider switching to proposals, given the option. Having a nervous male client seems like it’d be a lot easier than dealing with the “Bridezillas” of Baltimore.

For men desiring a simple V-Day solution that’s a bit… cheaper, one of our sister blogs has an idea: BokayMe.com, an offshoot of 1-800-FLOWERS that will send “animated, scent-less bouquets to that special, but not completely special, someone, for way less than a dozen long-stemmed roses.” (By “way less,” they do mean waaay less: most of the bouquets are 2-3 credits, which I can only assume are interchangeable with dollars.)

If anyone sends an animated bouquet to their sweetie on Thursday, I’d love to know how it was received.

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

If you haven’t been outside of your home since Christmas, you may not have realized that Valentine’s Day - the next Hallmark-sanctioned holiday - is only one month away. Egads! It’ll be here before you know it.

If you’re a woman who needs suggestions for your significant other, you may be glad to hear that our Assistant Business Editor has a lead on “the perfect gift for any man.”

In an email Ben Mook received from a PR rep for a popular Brazilian steakhouse on Pratt Street, Ben was assured that “Men everywhere will fall in love all over again when they are given an evening [here]… a place where they will be showered with 15 savory cuts of delicious meat, carved tableside by request with no limit to their hunger-driven desires.”

It may sound wacky, but it’s not as extravagant as the radio advertisement I heard earlier this week, which said that one dozen roses was no longer acceptable on Valentine’s Day — 50 is the new amount that symbolizes “eternal love.”

Have you heard any other business’s offbeat ad for V-Day?

JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor

To those of you who cringe at the holidays’ blinding consumption of precious energy, you’ll be glad to hear that the 100 year-old Times Square ball is celebrating its centennial by going green.

Almost 10,000 energy-efficient replacement bulbs will use only about 10 toasters’ worth of electricity - and they are twice as bright as the previous lights.

And that’s not all: in the spirit of collaborative content, this year you can submit a wish to a Web site and have it printed on the multicolored confetti that is released at midnight.

Maybe Marylanders will ask that the jump in sales tax scheduled for Tuesday will magically disappear?

JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor

More than a few desks are empty in The Daily Record’s editorial room today. I guess that short week between Christmas and New Year’s is just too perfect of a time to take vacation days.

I’m going to take a wild guess and say we’re not the only office in this state.

We’re interested in what’s going on in your office this week. Is work getting done, or are people just trying to fill the hours between the holidays? Do you have any interesting stories of office productivity – or lack thereof?

Email us at response@mddailyrecord.com and we’ll have a reporter get back to you.

JOE BACCHUS, Web Specialist

To those back at work — welcome back to work! To those still on holiday — I am insanely jealous! Just wanted to take a moment this morning to direct you to the first installment of our “Helping others at the holidays.”

“The holiday season is an especially appropriate time to recognize outstanding work on behalf of those in need. Starting today, The Daily Record is doing just that. This year we asked Maryland businesses and law firms that have contributed significant amounts of money, time or other support to tell us about it.”

Read and enjoy.

JOE BACCHUS, Web Specialist

MAXjet Airways, an all-business class airline based in Dulles, Va., said today it would file for bankruptcy - leaving jets on the tarmac and stranding passengers on Christmas Eve.

In October, the airline halted flights from London to Washington, D.C., according to the BBJ. Earlier this month, it asked for trading of its stock on the London Alternative Investment Market to be stopped. And today, it cited high fuel prices and the deteriorating credit market for its “drastic measure.”

An airline consultant told the AP that “while business class service can be very profitable to airlines, it’s also a very “thin” market,” [Robert] Mann said. Serving, typically, “40 to 70 seats per flight, depending on the route and aircraft.” Any loss of market share to a competitor can be devastating, particularly to an all business-class carrier like MAXjet that didn’t have revenue from economy passengers — or a robust route system — to fall back on.

Rival business class airlines Eos and Silverjet claimed Monday to be enjoying continued success in the business travel market.

JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor

We’ll be posting a bit less frequently over the next few days, as you might imagine, and want to wish you a happy and safe holiday.

If you’re in a reflective mood - or haven’t had a chance to read some of our latest posts - check out our audio slideshow from earlier in the week or comment on who should be named Maryland’s Legal Newsmaker of the Year.

Talk with you all next week!

JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor

Thursday is National Re-gifting Day (at least, according to Money Management International). After polling more than 1,000, MMI has drawn some conclusions about who you’re likely to re-gift and why.

1. Today, the majority of people (62 percent) say they re-gift because they think the gift is something the recipient would actually like. In 2005, just over half of respondents made that claim.

2. More than 4 in 10 people say they regift to save money - up from 33 percent in 2005.

3. 41 percent of re-gifters said coworkers were the recipients of their re-gifts (that’s right… the person sitting next to you). Only 12 percent of people said they re-gifted something for their significant other.

Alright, so we’ve realized maybe re-gifting isn’t the worst thing in the world. Curious about the etiquette? U.S. News & World Report says to make sure the gift is new, re-gifted to a different social circle than the one it came from, and most importantly: it will be liked.

Received a present that you don’t like? You can always host a re-gifting party (aka a White Elephant exchange) or “freecycle” it to people in your neighborhood.

JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor