COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.

ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 9%.

COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?

ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: You just said 9%.

ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 16% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that's 9%.

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or 16%?

ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.

COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed.
You have to look for work to be unemployed.

COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!

ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.

COSTELLO: What point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work can't be counted with those
who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.

COSTELLO: To whom?

ABBOTT: The unemployed.

COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.

ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those who are
out of work stopped looking. They gave up. And, if you give up, you are
no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment rolls, that would count as
less unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!

COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for
work?

ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how you get to 9%. Otherwise it
would be 16%. You don't want to read about 16% unemployment do ya?

COSTELLO: That would be frightening.

ABBOTT: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two ways
to bring down the unemployment number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT: Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a
job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down and the
easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like an economist.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!

Let me know when you grow up, too.

Or is that another headline with "hope" in it?

I'm just saying that the title makes no sense, not even when adding that. I tried to explain it on my first post and asked for help/opinions; No luck.

What is blooming, the Jobs, the Hope, or the Recovery?

The answer to something seems to be: "The headline is about the optimism offered by the new Labor Dept. numbers."

That or what? Poetry?

If a headline said, "The red car is red.", would you be unclear as to what color the car is, or to which car the headline refers?

Thank you for the Head-On-Desk Moment of all Head-On-Desk Moments.

I'm criticizing a headline from The New York Times.

"Job Gains
Reflect Hope
a Recovery
Is Blooming"

Jibberish that ultimately says
Job Gains; Hope; Recovery Blooming;

Blooming. Like a garden?; Propaganda…

Lemme know when you're done digging and I'll throw down a rope.

In the meantime, here's another news headline for ya:
Man found beaten and dazed after brutal attack by metaphor-wielding newspaper editor!

LOL...

Veddy interesting. You can't tell what the heck the title is about... but from that indecipherable title.. you are able to discern the gist of the whole article.
You would be a great archaeologist.

Are you saying he's got rocks in his head?

Thank you drjohn, that sentiment reflects my scepticism also. Both sides play the same fake math game.

As to headlines, my favorite - Headless body in topless bar