I wanted to save this one for The Scanner, but it was too bizarre to pass up.

How bad is the economy? How about "so bad it's strange."

In the world of journalism you could argue it's getting worse. Take the example of Brayden Simms of the Miami Herald.

He got laid off ... and then the paper said, "Not so fast, my friend!"

Simms was a copy editor for the Herald, who went from freelance to full-time early this year. He also started up a blog for them on how to cut back your spending and save a little money.

And then the company, like many newspapers these days (this one included), announced layoffs and Brayden made the list.

And then they said, "actually, you know what, we could still use some of that blogging."

So now the soon-to-be jobless 26-year-old is using the blog to chronicle the ups and downs of joining the ranks of unemployed journalists. (Not to mention the many other unemployed folks around this country.) Also - irony, you can be a real crank sometimes.

There's soooo many questions with this, like the big one Brayden is grappling with -- why stay? And what does it say that the Herald sees the value in his blog (no pun intended.) but not his copy editing.

The situation seems so unique, but I have to wonder, are there other parallels? Brayden realizes he's young, flexible, and mobile, which makes the prospect of job-hunting not entirely frightening. He also points out that there are plenty of people looking for jobs now -- factory workers, airlines, investment banks...the list goes on.

It's not entirely strange for people to get laid off and then re-hired in some jobs; you see it sometimes in manufacturing work.

But to get asked by the company that's letting go of you to write about what it feels like to be without a job?

Like I said, so bizarre I couldn't pass this up.

I struggled to think of parallels, and the only one I could come up with is this: It's like a brutal break-up with your girlfriend, only to have the EX come back and say "actually, let's be friends with benefits. Except minus the friendship and with really, really lean benefits. Sound good?"

All I can say is, best of luck, Brayden.

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