Olympics for the Unemployed

Everybody loves a heart warming story about unemployed people challenging other unemployed people for a $40 gift certificate for vegetarian food. So today I proudly bring you that story. I am not however, bringing you the "heart warming" forwarded email my mother sent me entitled "it will make you cry" about a sparrow mourning his dead mate smushed in the road. You will have to look that one up on your own- or rather just click here. (Are you happy with yourself?) Ok, now on to the REAL story about human dignity and smashing piñatas with an office phone.



Registration was taken at the "Unemployment Office" for the Unemployment Olympics, which took place in Tompkins Square Park on Tuesday. The event was organized by Nick Goddard, a 26-year-old unemployed computer programmer who hatched the idea because he yearned for the chance to "battle all the unemployed people for stuff."

Events included the "You're Fired" race -- a sprint across the playground to see who would first get to the "unemployment office."

A man attempted to smash a piñata with a telephone.


Some 50 Olympians came from all over the city and beyond to participate. Christopher Dawes, an e-commerce product manager who was laid off earlier this year, tossed a phone during the competition. (I see a lot of anger directed toward phones, I wonder how much Verizon has to do with this)


An awards ceremony for the race took place atop cardboard boxes, and the winner, Alex Mermelstein, center, won a $40 gift certificate to Curly's Vegetarian Lunch on East 14th Street. Mr. Goddard, the organizer, noted that it is not a bad time to be unemployed. "There is no stigma associated with it now," he said.

See, this is a feel good story and the kind of thing you want to read while eating pop tarts and drinking your coffee. The only event I felt they lacked was the "destroying of the copier" but maybe that can be added to next years events. I only hope that all of you who clicked on the "bird snuff link" are satisfied. Who wants to cry in their pop tarts? Not me.