When there was single-digit unemployment under George W. Bush you’d have thought the United States was the Weimar Republic and the end of life as we knew it was near. But, amazingly, when unemployment reaches almost Carter-like dimensions under a Democrat, it’s suddenly not such a bad thing. In fact, it’s acquired a cute moniker: funemployment.
Most of the “funemployed” use their new free time for reading, gardening and contemplating their navels. But in Durham, the funemployed have the opportunity to work on those sagging pecs and gluts, and learn a little martial arts to take out one’s frustrations at being made redundant, as the Brits say. I just saw this on the Trinity Park listserv, from Miriam Catron, director of Infuzion gym:
As the country and region grapple with the effects of the global financial crisis, Infuzion is trying to help pump up the morale and health of the area’s unemployed. We are taking some of the burn out of unemployment by offering laid-off workers free use of our gym. If you are not already aware, Infuzion’s gym offers state-of-the-art weight machines, cardio equipment, and televisions in a clean environment.
In order to take advantage of this offer, unemployed people need only show proof of their unemployment status and they can begin working out that very day.
