Show today!

Show today! Lake City Farmer's Market, in the stage tent, hopefully both in theory and practice. I'm going in expecting a stage tent, hopefully they actually mean it. 4pm-6pm, next to the Library at NE 125th and 28th Ave NE in Lake City, Seattle.

Show today!

Show today! Lake City Farmer's Market, in the stage tent, hopefully both in theory and practice. I'm going in expecting a stage tent, hopefully they actually mean it. 4pm-6pm, next to the Library at NE 125th and 28th Ave NE in Lake City, Seattle.

does anybody know

Everybody's going on about the drop in continuing unemployment insurance claims this week, but I'm wondering about something. Specifically, I'm aware that there are two ends to this line, not just one. Allow me to explain.

Unemployment insurance, unless extended, runs for six months. Unemployment started spiking up pretty hard in January this year; that was the only month even the BLS's crazy birth/death model showed lost jobs. That's six months ago. My question: is the weekly continuing-claim purely a matter of people running out of unemployment insurance? If so, that's not better. That's worse.

Now, unemployment insurance often gets extended in downturns. Has there been a Federal extension that I don't remember? I do know that some states have provided extensions (e.g., Washington State) but I'm also aware that few states are able to do that right now because of their drained unemployment insurance funds. (Unlike most states, we have a substantial surplus.)

That's the question in my mind today. The next U-5 and U-6 reports will be extremely interesting.

Also, I started a news post last night but didn't get far enough along to post it. And now I have a show! Maybe tonight.

eta: interactiveleaf has it: there has been an extension, but they changed the rules to make claim-filing more difficult. Rules went into effect this week - and lo, claims dropped. It's like magic.

eta2: No, wait, it's more complicated than that. People on extended unemployment don't count in that figure. So it is people wrapping off six months of eligibility - but only "extended" eligibility, not off entirely. In other words: the number is bullshit. (Source NPR.)

I love it when a plan comes together

Okay, so when Lake City market says they have a stage tent, they mean it! And it has seating for an audience and a signboard and everything, like you'd expect, and like I expected in Boston. They also have an alert market manager, awfully nice vendors who apparently give all their musicians a big sack o' produce and fruit! Yay!, and a large and friendly crowd who will hang out in the seating and on the grassy commons beyond to listen and just hang out.

Honestly, I thought it was a pretty good show. I felt really relaxed and in control, so I could have good banter with the audience and really talk to people and have improved vocal and mostly good tempo control and everything. (I have a tendency to go Too Damn Fast when excited; did that a little on Stars and on Where is your Heaven? but that's mostly all.) People were asking where and when I was playing next and were sad that I had to quit, so yay! I even remembered to hand out cards, for once.

Maybe they'll have me back again! That would be excellent. ^_^ I still need a vocal mic and amp, tho'. I'm just not loud enough against the instruments!

I love it when a plan comes together

Okay, so when Lake City market says they have a stage tent, they mean it! And it has seating for an audience and a signboard and everything, like you'd expect, and like I expected in Boston. They also have an alert market manager, awfully nice vendors who apparently give all their musicians a big sack o' produce and fruit! Yay!, and a large and friendly crowd who will hang out in the seating and on the grassy commons beyond to listen and just hang out.

Honestly, I thought it was a pretty good show. I felt really relaxed and in control, so I could have good banter with the audience and really talk to people and have improved vocal and mostly good tempo control and everything. (I have a tendency to go Too Damn Fast when excited; did that a little on Stars and on Where is your Heaven? but that's mostly all.) People were asking where and when I was playing next and were sad that I had to quit, so yay! I even remembered to hand out cards, for once.

Maybe they'll have me back again! That would be excellent. ^_^ I still need a vocal mic and amp, tho'. I'm just not loud enough against the instruments!