Mom, please put the phone down and come to dinner!

Not the words you would expect to hear in this day and age, but according to ABC News the phone sex industry is flourishing with the help of at-home mothers.  ABC got its numbers form an organization called ratracerebellion.com, who are dedicated to finding mothers at home work.  According to them the phone sex industry has seen a 400% increase from at-home mothers.

The oldest profession goes High-tech! well not so high-tech.  With the explosion of the internet over the last 20 years, most at home sex workers have turned to video conferencing as their preferred way of making a buck.  The phone sex industry truly reached it peak in the 80′s and 90′s, back when 900 numbers were everywhere, but even though most phone companies give you the option of blocking calls to 900 numbers, anyone with a credit card and desire can still find an over the phone romp.

Chris Durst, CEO of Ratracerebellion.com, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that many moms who reach out to her for help procuring phone sex work are embarrassed that they have to do it, but that necessity overrides personal feelings towards the industry.

The phone sex industry is still a huge industry with over $1 Billion dollars annually spent on the phone.  They say it is more of a niche market now, for those not wishing to be seen over a computer line or in person, but the money is still there.  Mothers are reporting income of between $10- $50 dollar per hour as a phone sex operator, with certain nights averaging much more than that.

Where are the fathers in all of this?  You would be shocked to know most (albeit a bit begrudgingly) are supportive, realizing that if all that stands between them and paying their bills or their mortgages is a dirty phone call, there is a lot worse things that can be done.

One of the husbands interviewed by ABC News had this to say about his wife’s new profession “That she has the ability to bring in a little extra each month and sometimes a lot extra each month and be able to not have to worry about how and where we’re going to get food or if the electric bills are going to be shut off, that’s a big deal … That overrides any sort of other worries I might have.”

Would you be ok with your wife being a phone sex operator?

At-Home Sex Workers: Mothers Turning to Phone Sex for Cash is a post from: The Inquisitr

Like the first few crocuses poking their little crocus-heads out of the ground after winter, it seems that there may be a few signs of a demonstrably improving economy in the United States. (Well, that analogy only really works if we’re talking about a God-forsaken ten-year long winter, but still.)

Americans are starting to up their discretionary spending, splashing out on non-necessities like Halloween candy. And today came news of a slight drop in unemployment claims, perhaps a sign of an improving jobs outlook for the US? The October jobs report from Uncle Sam is due out tomorrow, and while unemployment is expected to hold steady at a still depressing 9.1%, claims have fallen five out of the past six weeks, meaning that perhaps fewer Americans require unemployment benefits.

As expected, the sustained bump is being treated with cautious optimism- on one hand, the past few weeks have been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal year for job growth. On the other, Americans will have to wait and see if added jobs can keep up with population growth- a rate we’ll need 100,000 new jobs every month to sustain. The Washington Post spoke to an analyst about what the figures mean and speculated upon whether companies have cut back on cutbacks:

Should the gradual decline seen in recent weeks continue, this would mark an important sign” that the job market is improving, Peter Newland, an economist at Barclays Capital, said in a note to clients.

The four-week average of applications, a less volatile measure, fell to 404,500, the fifth drop in the past six weeks. The declines indicate that companies are laying off fewer workers.

The bright spot follows bleak revisions from the Fed on the US economic outlook for 2011 and 2012. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke commented yesterday that growth is likely to be “frustratingly slow” following the “sharply” revised predictions for 2011 and 2012.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Unemployment Benefits: Fewer Claims, Improving Economy? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Markets took a battering across the globe on Monday as the worst US employment report in 11 months sparked fears that the U.S. economy is heading back into a recession.

Global market problems were exacerbated when the official US employment report showed the worst employment numbers in 11 months and ongoing debt issues in Europe sparked further financial turmoil. Analysts had expected the U.S. jobs sector to add 93,000 jobs.

Britain’s FTSE dropped 100 points (1.6 percent) to 5,206.56, while Germany’s DAX was down to 5,391.24 a 2.7 percent drop. France also witnessed a steep drop in their own financial system which fell 2.4 percent to 4,074.47.

Other declines were witnessed in Asian markets including the Japan Nikkei which fell 1.9 percent and South Korea’s Kospi market which fell 4.4 percent.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to take action during their September meeting to support the economy, possibly by releasing a third round of bond purchases known as quantitative easing III or QE3.

In the meantime there was some good news for U.S. customers today as oil fell to $86 per barrel, a move that occurred as analysts believe a weakened U.S. economy will lead to less demand for crude.

On the U.S. side the Dow Jones industrial lost 253.31 points to close at 11,240.26, the largest decline in two weeks, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell by 2.5 percent to 1,173.97 with the Nasdaq also taking a tumble to 2,480.33, a 2.6 percent decline.

Global Markets Tumble As US Recession Fears Continue, Gas Prices Also Down is a post from: The Inquisitr

Home prices are down, stocks are down and it seems that while the recession marches on, everything is somewhat depressed.

To add to the bad news, it seems that in some areas, the tough financial climate has had an impact on sexual behavior- so much so that the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has increased significantly. An Ohio epidemiologist commented on the reason behind the troubling statistics:

“The more poverty increases, the more divorce rates increase, the more bad things happen on a social level and that certainly would contribute to the transmission of STDs and other diseases as well,” said Donald Brannen, epidemiologist, Greene County Combined Health District.

In some Ohio counties, rates for two common STD rose sharply in the past half decade or so. In Miami County, Chlamydia rates shot up from 167.6 per 100,000 to 230.5 per 100,000. In Greene County, the rate shot from 198 to 316.6 per 100,000. In Warren County, the rate increased from 103.6 to 171.7 per 100,000.

STD prevention program manager for the Ohio Department of Health Jen Keagy cited reduced resources as a contributing factor in the findings.

STD Rates Up During Recession is a post from: The Inquisitr

Many have argued since it became clear the Great Recession was not a blip but the sum of an entire generation’s economic experience that entrepreneurship might just save America’s economy.

It makes sense, to some degree. The advent of the internet has made starting up and running a profitable business often virtually cost free. Of course, not all businesses can be net-based- but the argument is there to aggressively explore the option of becoming an entrepreneur to avoid long-term unemployment and the stagnation of college skills earned at a massive expense.

An Urban Entrepreneur Summit was held yesterday at Rutgers University’s Newark campus, to discuss these very issues. Newark is an interesting choice for such a discussion, as there is one particular word I- a former Newark resident- associate with that location. (Potential.) In the brief time I lived there, it astonished me that such low rents, large spaces and vibrant culture existed a seven minute Path Train ride from the West Village- yet everyone I knew was clamoring on waiting lists to get into apartments in Brooklyn at literally three times the monthly rent of an average space in Newark.

Uber-awesome Newark Mayor Cory Booker spoke to this issue at the summit:

“We believe urban markets are a gold mine,” Booker said. “They are places where people can create an enormous amount of wealth. The future of our cities is entrepreneurialism.”

Forbes quoted a Newark entrepreneur who spoke at the conference and makes a compelling argument for the opportunities that await those with an entrepreneurial bent:

Conference attendee Peter Learmont, who has run a small Newark-based publishing company for more than three decades, said he started Porta-Print Publishing Inc. with just the $10 dollars required to open a bank account and family members as employees. He’s grown his business and weathered the recession, but went at the entrepreneurial summit to learn about applying for federal contracts and to see whether financial help was available to small business owners to provide better benefits packages for employees.

“After 35 years, one thing I tell people is you have to stick with it,” Learmont said, referring to the advice he gives other aspiring entrepreneurs. “If you love doing it, it’s not a job.”

Learmont’s point is compelling, and possibly holds the key to circumventing the effects of the recession for quite a few Americans. Have you considered the route of self-employment or a startup during these sucky economic times? Do you think small business is the route to job creation?

Can Entrepreneurs Shore Up a Struggling US Economy? is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Census Bureau released some grim statistics about poverty today, revealing that one out of every seven Americans is “living in poverty” in the United States.

In 2009, the poverty rate climbed for the third year running, shooting to 14.3% from 13.2% in 2008. Asian people were the only race as whole who did not see increases in poverty rates- all other races and ethnic groups experienced a higher level of financial duress. There were also increases in the number of Americans who lack health insurance, for the first time since the government began collecting those statistics in 1987.

Douglas Besharov, a University of Maryland public policy professor, said that due to high levels of unemployment in the US, “it’s the government safety net that’s keeping people above the poverty line.” Vickie Koth, the director of an outreach program in Loudoun County, Virginia, said that the profile of those in need has changed drastically in recent times:

“We have definitely seen many more individuals who are very well-educated, with high degrees, where it’s the first time to ever be in a situation to ever have to ask for help for food or shelter… We’re full all the time and we turn people away every day, and that’s always been true. But the types of people that call have changed,” Koth said. “Time after time I’ve heard individuals say, ‘I’ve given to shelters, I’ve volunteered at food pantries. I’ve never thought I’d be here myself.’ “

[Washington Post, Image]

1 in 7 Americans living in poverty in ‘new, unhappy world’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hal Varian, Google’s chief economist, has noticed some significant, promising changes trending since March.

Unemployment searches are down, real estate searches are up, and temporary employment (which often is a pre-indicator for a recovery in the permanent kind) is improving, for starters. Varian, who joined Google seven years ago to help design their now $21 billion yearly ad business, was in Washington last week to entice the government to use Google to “better draw current snapshots of consumer sentiment, corporate health and social interests.” Which would be incredibly useful if they’re not doing it already- people are notoriously poor at providing accurate information about themselves, whether through intentional means (lying), misunderstanding questions, or optimism, for example. But Google doesn’t lie. Statistical data drawn from user search trends and habits are much less likely to reflect prejudice or misinformation provided by those being profiled based on that criteria.

Varian points to the “cash for clunkers” short-sightedness that has drawn much critique. Had the government used data from Google metrics to gauge interest in the program, he says, perhaps they may have known the money would run out as quickly as it did. While Varian’s conclusions may not differ all that much from those being drawn by non-Googling economists, the mere fact that the statistical data mined from Google is so rich and nuanced is reason alone that the search engine’s data is valuable to show us what is and possibly, what is to be.

In perhaps the most reassuring prediction I’ve seen so far, Varian believes recovery is coming. He Googled it.

With more stability in the economy, Varian said more help for private companies, such as tax incentives, could help spur an earnest recovery.

“On the other hand, I would hesitate to say we need any more major initiatives at this point,” he said. “The die is cast and things seem to be moving in the right direction. Let’s stay the course.”

[Source: The Washington Post]

Google searches indicate economy is recovering. Slowly. is a post from: The Inquisitr

Unemployment in New York State is skyrocketing, and one city resident isn’t taking it lying down.

Trina Thompson attended Monroe College in the Bronx and since her graduation with an Information Technology degree in April, Thompson has been unable to find gainful employment. So is she brushing up her resume, taking more classes, trying to remain competitive?

Nah. Thompson opted to take the litigation route, hauling her college into court in the Bronx and suing for a refund of $70,000 in tuition. Thompson insists that the school was not aggressive enough in assisting her job search and that she did not receive “adequate job leads.” And she’s gonna tell her mommy on you, too!

Thompson’s mother, Carol, agreed Monroe College officials simply did not equip her daughter for gainful employment following her graduation.

“She’s angry,” Thompson’s mother told the Post. “She’s very angry at her situation. She put all her faith in them, and so did I. They’re not making an effort.”

A spokesperson for Monroe College calls the lawsuit “without merit.”

[Via Snopes]

Bronx girl Trina Thompson sues college because she can’t find a job is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jessica Pressler over at the Daily Intel blog has a really cool story about an outdoor ad campaign that is being run across the country but no-one has any idea who’s behind it, or paying for it. Well Jeff Golimowski from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America knows but he isn’t telling. According to him the ad are running on donated space by the association because they think it’s a really cool idea.

As you can see from the picture they are all headlined with “Recession 101” and as they say at the website for the campaign – "Recession 101 isn’t selling anything other than the American spirit,". The billboards were design by Florida-based designer named Charlie Robb on behalf of “an anonymous East Coast donor who was depressed about how the country was reacting to the economy’s tailspin”, and now number around 2,000.

The only other thing we know about them comes from Robb as well

"I’m not trying to be coy about this but I have a responsibility to honor my client’s wishes," he said."The client wants to remain anonymous out of a belief that you don’t do public service for recognition. I found that commendable. Altruism, apparently, isn’t dead."

Everyone from the Obama Administration to Goldman Sachs has been cleared out of the way of being responsible for the campaign. I almost hope we don’t find out.

The Recession 101 ad Campaign – who’s paying for it? is a post from: The Inquisitr

…it would command a pretty hefty price tag.

The last few years have been rough financially, and for many, the opportunities to enjoy oneself via the presence of discretionary income have dwindled significantly. (Which is a “remember when” style bummer for those of us old enough to recall the halcyon days of the late 90s where everyone had money. I lived in Manhattan then, and it was awesome.)

But take heart, oh ye youth of still-limited means. Pricey pleasures may not have been entirely out of your reach as you’ve slogged through the recession that won’t die. Have you ever been gifted with those three terrifying usually post-coital magical words?

A recent study polled a thousand British people to assign values to “significant life events” in an attempt to create an alternate system of valuing things since, like, no one has any money anymore. From the article:

This gripping survey was commissioned by Steve Henry, author of You Are Really Rich: You Just Don’t Know It

“People are looking for something to replace money as a general criterion for value,” explains Mr Henry. “The book is about a new alternative to a purely financial system.”

So while related pleasures are as expensive as a starter home in some parts of the US- “making love” (ew, lame!) rings up at an impressive £105,210, while being in a “stable relationship” is worth about £154,849- hearing the words “I love you” is valued at £163,424.

The other person sleeping in the wet spot? Still priceless.

Love don’t cost a thing, but if it did… is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although Goldman Sachs is predicting record bonuses will be paid out in their best year ever, the rest of the world is not going to be as lucky.

The LA Times is reporting that the global economic downturn is even worse than originally thought, with an expected contraction of 2.9% in the world’s economy. The previous prediction was 1.7%. And growth is expected to be at 2%, down from an original prediction of 2.3%.

Developing countries saw 8.1% growth in 2007 and 5.9% in 2008. Poorer countries are also suffering from a delayed fallout, as economic aid falls in response to the ailing markets. From the LA Times:

“‘Unemployment is on the rise, and poverty is set to increase in developing economies, bringing with it a substantial deterioration in conditions for the world’s poor,’ the World Bank said. While the world is set to return to growth in the second half of 2009, a recovery will be subdued, the report said.”

Crude oil also fell sharply on Monday, down to about $68 a barrel, on news that the recession ”has been much deeper and broader than previous crises” and recovery is “unusually uncertain.”

Good news, everyone! World bank predicts worsening global recession is a post from: The Inquisitr

There, there. I understand. Times are tough and you need something to hang onto while your world crumbles, but those martinis aren’t cheap. No sir. But who, or what will save you from drinking yourself into the poorhouse?

Enter your savior, the magic recession antidote – The keyring Breathalyzer!

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the keyring breathalyzer is small enough to discreetly fit on a keychain and after your second martini, you just whip it out, blow into it and it’ll tell you that you’ve reached your daily spending limit.

Now you can leave the homeless shelter confident in knowing that your welfare check will stretch farther because you have something in your pocket that’ll tell you to stop wasting your kid’s food money on booze.

Ok, for those of you who don’t appreciate sarcasam, I’ll tell it like it is:

Exercise some responsibility and self control. Your lack of doing so is largely the reason why you’re in this mess to begin with.

Keyring Breathalyzer Perfect Example of what’s Wrong with America is a post from: The Inquisitr

CEO and founder Alan Meckler said in an internal memo that the company has been hit hard by the recession, with its job board experiencing a “huge decline” and advertising across its properties heading south.

Meckler did note that the “learn” area of the company and traffic to sites including Graphics.com, Internet.com and Mediabistro has been growing.

BusinessInsider has the full memo here. The remaining headcount at the company is now 165 people.

WebMediaBrands (formerly JupiterMedia) cuts 25% of workforce is a post from: The Inquisitr

Shoe companies aren’t immune to the global recession, with Nike set to announce layoffs of 4%, of 1400 people of form its 35,000 strong global workforce.

Nike is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and employs 7,000 people in the city. There is no announcement yet as to where the jobs would be cut.

Nike previously instituted a hiring freeze and cut travel spending late last year.

Nike said in a statement that it would consult with employees on where cuts would be made, with a final announcement on which jobs would go to be made before the end of the financial year.

Just Do It: Nike Layoffs will see 1400 people go is a post from: The Inquisitr

The ruling orthodoxy on socio-economics is that difficult times drive a rise in crime, but maybe as a sign of how bad things may have become, at least one crime is decreasing: car theft.

In Baltimore, the number of cars stolen went from 6,662 in 2006 to just over 5,100 last year, and through Jan. 10, car theft dropped 35 percent this year, compared with the same period in 2008.

According to the Baltimore Sun, one reason is improved security in later model cars, but the other driving factor is demand: like the rest of the car industry, people aren’t buying cars, and that includes stolen ones.

“If no one can buy a car, no one can buy a car,” Baltimore County Police Sgt. Robert Jagoe told the paper “if you can’t afford to buy a Corvette off the lot, you can’t afford to buy one from a criminal. With no place to sell their goods, thieves have stopped stealing as many cars.”

See, there is a positive side to a recession.

Recession Causes Car Thefts To…..Decrease is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Dow futures also dropped by 550 points even before today’s opening, triggering a temporary trading halt in stock futures contracts to slow the decline. If the Drop drops by 1,100 points before 2pm, the New York Stock Exchange is expected to temporarily shut down the market. With fear all over, this is not a long shot. This has not been done since 1997.

Am I scared? Of course. I have a family to feed. My kids are ready. Yesterday they were taught the topic of Great Depression in Social Studies. In any case, we can always repent and be saved.

Repent! Recession is at hand! is a post from: The Inquisitr