The Globe reports on his speech this morning.

Most city unions are refusing to accept wage freezes, so Tom Menino plans to announce specific layoff and service cutback plans next week, the Globe reports.

Aside from that tiny voice inside her head warning the money's going to run out fairly soon, Sassy Sundry reports she's just like those people in that Globe story: She's enjoying her forced time off:

... My life has a natural rhythm to it these days. I get up without an alarm clock. I stay in my jammies long past when it is proper. The Great American Novel this blog ain't, but these scribbles represent the first writing I have done in over a year. I've been cooking real food again, with joy instead of begrudging necessity. I made bread this week! Last week I cooked dinner for Date, and yesterday I had my sister and nephew over for lunch. Sure I also spent Tuesday working on my resume and sending out applications (I can't be completely impractical), but I've also spent a lot of time imagining how my life could be. Because if I am really honest with myself, if I could get away with it, I would never work in an office again. ...

The Boston Business Journal reports on staggering losses at the parent companies of Massachusetts's second-largest retail bank and big hits to Fidelity's bottom line.

Nancy Pearl Wannabe is a school librarian in a Boston-area town that is, like everybody else, grappling with budget issues:

... During the day I am usually pretty calm about it but there's no stopping my subconscious from horrible anxiety dreams where I am at a town meeting and they tell all the teachers to line up and then yell "HA HA, THAT'S THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE!" and then all the townspeople turn into zombies and eat our brains. ...

Hire somebody to proofread your press releases before you post them, because otherwise, somebody who wants to read what you wrote to the state's new stimulus czar might get too distracted by all the mistakes to pay any attention. Also? When talking about large sums of money, it might make sense to provide some specifics on how you'd spend it, rather than just saying the state should give Boston lots of money because schools and crime fighting are good. But maybe that's just me.

The Crimson reports that one way academic departments are trying to cut costs is to eliminate catered meals at department meetings. In response, the Harvard dining-services division that caters many of these meals has begun slashing the prices it charges departments:

... Faculty members were advised in an e-mail to bring their own lunch, "but some people didn't read to the bottom of the e-mail," she said. Those who did not pack a lunch found themselves sharing a banana with their colleagues, Cohen said. ...

The union representing emergency-medical workers will forego raises this year, making it the third municipal union to agree to Tom Menino's plan for avoiding layoffs, the Globe reports.

Mass. high-tech execs most depressed in 18 years, Mass High Tech reports.

Hey all, Radio Boston, is looking at the federal stimulus package this week, and asking, what should we use our share for in Boston? Give us your ideas early at www.radioboston.org.