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

The above pic has been making the rounds, and has been strangely divisive in this worker unfriendly economy.

Originally spotted on Reddit, the screengrab was posted by a co-worker of the guy who supposedly wrote it with these comments:

He believed he was in a temp-to-hire position, and after three months of extra hours and butt-kissing, turns out it’s just a temp position. He was a good worker too. I’d have recommended him. Too bad he burned his bridges… Obviously he had contemplated quitting long enough to make this thing, but still refused to speak to anyone about his feelings. Ironically, he complained about the ‘divas’ at his last job.

Veracity aside, is it that shocking that someone who was lead to believe they might be in the clear job-wise is spitting mad after realizing they’ve been mislead for months? Jumping through hoops for employers taking advantage of a terrified labor force is pretty rage-inducing. Do we really need to be grateful for the opportunity to be abused by these kinds of schmohawks? The OP seems to think so:

I’m literally in the same position he is, just one of a small team of temps, trying to survive until the next paycheck. I haven’t made over $30K in three years, last year I made $20K, year before that I made $17K, so yeah I’m a little callous when somebody walks off a decent-paying job because he’s not getting hired this time around.

[via Gizmodo]

Your design monkey has quit unexpectedly is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NYT featured a nifty little startup for web-savvy thin girls who want to wear the latest looks without investing in them.

“Investment pieces” have long been the blessing and curse of a girl who wants to have a few chances to wear designer things but doesn’t have a trust-fund baby’s bank account. Of the moment pieces fall to the wayside for well tailored, timeless pieces that never have that whole “right now” thing going for them. And when all your college friends are getting hitched, you don’t want to show up in the same LBD every time.

Following on the heels (heels? Is there a shoe one, too?) of Bag, Borrow, or Steal, two enterprising clotheshorses have started-up a Netflix-like dress rental service that allows women with champagne tastes and really quite convincing and well made Target purses to own a piece of their Cinderella dress, at least for a night. The site has some great, built-in safeguards against disappointment in cultivating the tricky relationship between a girl and her dress. Execution, says the Times, is “crucial.”  On-call stylists, 24 hour exchange turnarounds, and an extra size included on the house may knock out initial qualms about the service.

Even the designers whose pieces feature in the collection (including Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger, Lela Rose and Proenza Schouler) dig the idea:

“In challenging economic times, it’s important for brands to reach a larger audience and age demographic that you wouldn’t normally because of the price,” she said. “This is a great way to do it without jeopardizing the brand.”

Rental pieces range from $50-200 for a four night rental and include dry cleaning.

RentTheRunway.com lets you- well, rent the runway, essentially is a post from: The Inquisitr

YouTube user Rockerchic4God, also known as Arlene from True Blood Ann Minch, couldn’t get any Bank of America employees pay attention to her when she had problems with her account.

So she turned to YouTube. After being laid off, Ann had her interest rate jacked up from 12.99% to 30%. Bank of America refused to negotiate the rate that she said would have been more reasonable if offered from a loan shark. Accusing the bank of “raping and pillaging” American public and destroying the middle class, Minch calls for a debtor’s revolt. Ann gives the CEO of Bank of America two choices: restore her interest rate or make her a payoff offer she can’t refuse.

The strategy worked. The video, now at nearly 350K views, got the attention of Bank of America’s senior VP of “existing credit card accounts”- as well as media outlets like Fox and Friends. The man, Jeff Crawford, allowed her to say her piece and allowed her to “negotiate some sort of agreement.” Crawford said that he blamed the high interest rates on two late payments, although one was in response to the rate hike. He tried to get her to agree to 16.99%, but Minch angrily pointed out that the Fed is giving the banks a 0% interest rate, so 12.99% is more than enough for her to be paying.

Minch reports that as of the second video, her interest rate is showing online as 23.99%. She also notes that Crawford didn’t even request that she stop her media assault. Minch says in her follow-up video that she will continue in her efforts, starting a website called Debtor’s Revolt to help people who are currently being overburdened by skyrocketing interest rates.

Watch Ann’s videos, below:

YouTube user gets B of A to respond with calls for “debtor’s revolt” is a post from: The Inquisitr