It's a 21st century thing
Yesterday was the official going-away ceremony at the Harrisburg Patriot-News for the first nine journalists to take the buy-out and head out to make new lives. This was sort of like my Holland High School graduation back in 1971 when right-thinking parents tried to force all the seniors to attend an "official" graduation party instead of some unofficial orgy of drinking and rutting organized by students. We went, but ended up out at the Lake Michigan beach anyway, doing one if not the other. Editors at the ceremony yesterday said nice things, some nicer than others, about us nine departees. They didn't invite any speeches from us, probably for good reason. It was long enough as it was.
Although we leave with decent severance--I'll relax when the money actually arrives--we are still eligible under state rules to obtain unemployment compensation. So this morning, as my wife Lisa drove me and my two daughters west on the Ohio Turnpike in the direction of Holland, Michigan, I applied for unemployment via my iPhone. Called up the form over the iPhone's Internet connection, filled it in, and hit 'send' somewhere near Youngstown, Ohio. By Cleveland, I had an e-mail back from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry telling me my claim was being proccessed.
I'd like to say the money was in the bank by the time I hit Holland, but it takes a week or two and you don't get paid for the first week you're off. What's up with that? I guess they figure you can de-mummify some Ramen noodles for seven days if you don't have severance.