Oscar the Grouch must work in Northwest's HR

Northwest Airlines must have a big set of balls on them. As part of preparing an expected wave of layoffs, the airline distributed a booklet on how workers could prepare for hard financial times, including the suggestion that workers can take "a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods." It also says they should not be "shy about pulling something you like out of the trash." If I worked for Northwest I'd arrange for about 100 dumpsters to be dropped on the lawn of whoever came up with this shining example of corporate sensitivity. Nice to know the airlines are prepared to their workers like their customers: like crap.

Also among the tips: No. 48: Move to a less expensive place to live; and No. 59: Never grocery shop hungry.

Northwest Airlines, which has slashed wages and jobs and is looking to lay off more workers as it exits bankruptcy, has apologized for distributing a booklet of money-savings tips for workers that includes advice that they go dumpster-diving.

The fifth-largest U.S. carrier put the tips in a booklet handed out to about 50 workers and posted for a time on its employee Web site. The booklet was part of a 150-page packet to ground workers, such as baggage handlers, whose jobs will likely be cut after their union agreed to allow the airline to outsource some of their work.