These days it seems everyone and every company are in need of a government bail-out. That is, everyone except Google, who continues to rake in the cash at figures us mere plebians can only dream of. While Google continues its upward climb, another industry - the newspaper industry - continues to hasten its downward slide, and is now looking towards the Mountain View, CA company for a rescue plan. If Google CEO Eric Schmidt has anything to say about it though, they'll need to look elsewhere.

Google will undoubtedly continue to over search on newspapers' websites, and even broker ads for them, but that's about it. When asked why they don't just buy up the newspaper industry, Schmidt told Forbes

"I don't think our purchasing a newspaper would solve the business problems. It would help solidify the ownership structure, but it doesn't solve the underlying problem in the business. Until we can answer that question we're in this uncomfortable conversation.... The fundamental question you're asking is, Why does Google not write large checks to newspapers? We're careful at Google with our money. We write large checks when we have a great strategy. And we don't yet have that strategy.

13,500 Jobs Will Be Cut

Pittsburg-based aluminum producer Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) announced Tuesday that it will be cutting 13 percent of its global work force. Spending and output will also be drastically reduced, all due to the crippling economic downturn.

1,700 contractors will also be cut, and Alcoa will implement a global hiring and salary freeze.

Due to these actions, Alcoa is expecting fourth-quarter charges between $900 and $950 million. Quarterly results will be reported January 12.

Struggling Mall Will See 5 More Stores Close at Month's End

Shoppers in Elyria may have to find another place to spend their money as the Lorain Morning Journal is reporting that 5 more stores are closing at the struggling Midway Mall. The report also says that the Cleveland Clinic is reportedly interested in the vast property,

Neither the property owners of Midway Mall or the Cleveland Clinic would comment on the story. Among the stores that are set to close at the end of the month are Hallmark, Pac Sun, Dairy Queen, and New York & Company.

Rumors have been swirling for months about Apple CEO Steve Jobs and his rapid weight loss. Jobs, who had a battle with pancreatic cancer, said in a statement today:

"I have been losing weight throughout 2008...doctors think they have found the cause: a hormone imbalance that has been robbing me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy."

Jobs is staying on as Apple CEO with full support of the board. The company's stock has been hit hard with people unsure which direction the company may go without its founder if something was to happen to the 53 year old mastermind.

Here is his full letter that he posted on Apple's website:

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

After 35 years in the business, it is rumored that the Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, Ohio will soon be shuttering its doors. Employees indicate that they were given the news on New Year's Eve that the theater would be closing, at least temporarily.

The Carousel Dinner Theatre has been in its current location at 1275 E. Waterloo Road in Akron for the past 20 years. Prior to that it was located in Ravenna, Ohio, before relocating in 1988. Over the years it has played host to thousands of actors and dozens of musicals.

Over 150 people are employed by the theater, which has been owned by Joe Palmer and David Slaght for the past six year. The owners have not disputed the rumors, and said that an official announcement will be made on Monday.

''Until someone hears it from me, it's all speculation, it's all rumors, and that's all I can tell you at this time. I understand there's a lot of rumors going on, and I will be addressing the Carousel situation on Monday," said co-owner Palmer.

Palmer also said that the theater will remain open through Saturday, where "All Shook Up" is currently ending its run. It debuted November 5 and is scheduled to end this weekend.

Spongebob Squarepants fans rejoice! You will will be able to watch the popular Comedy Central show on TimeWarner Cable after the companies reached a last minute deal after months of bitter negotiations. The deadline had been set for the 1st of the year and the deal was made just in time to avoid TimeWarner pulling Comedy Central, CMT: Pure Country, Logo, Palladia, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick 2, Nicktoons, Spike, The N, TV Land, Vh1, Vh1 Classic, and Vh1 Soul from their lineup.

The agreement was announced in a joint press release that stated:

"We've been partners with Time Warner Cable for a long time, and we're happy to be renewing that partnership for the benefit of their customers and our loyal viewers. It's gratifying that we could reach an agreement that benefits not only our audiences but that is also in the best interest of both of our companies."

Dispute between Viacom and Time Warner means some channels will go dark.

Tonight as the clock strikes midnight, millions of Time Warner Cable customers across the U.S. will lose access to some of their most beloved cable TV channels. Due to an on-going dispute between Time Warner and Bright House Networks with Viacom over rate increases, 19 Viacom channels will be pulled off the air tonight.

Amongst the channels slated to turn to fuzz tonight are:

Comedy Central, CMT: Pure Country, Logo, Palladia, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick 2, Nicktoons, Spike, The N, TV Land, Vh1, Vh1 Classic, Vh1 Soul.

So why are the channels being pulled? Viacom's licensing agreement with Time Warner Cable will expire at midnight Wednesday. If a deal is not reached, Time Warner must take the Viacom channels off its cable systems and instead use alternative programming. Considering that Time Warner serves more than 12.3 million homes in the U.S., there's bound to be quite a few pissed off customers.

Moms find removal of breastfeeding photos "offensive".

Facebook has sparked off a huge debate and online protest after the removal of photos deemed to have exposed too much of a mother's breast. The social networking site with over 120 million members angered mothers after removing photographs of mothers breastfeeding their children, claiming that the images violate the site's terms.

Facebook added further insult by warning that users who continue to post photos deemed inappropriate may face losing their access to the site.

Facebook will learn the hard way the wrath of angry moms. The "Motrin Moms" incident was apparently never on their radar. Angry protesters claim that Facebook's decision is "offensive".

Barry Schnitt, spokesman for Facebook, said that they take no action over most breastfeeding photos because they fall in line with the site's terms of use, however, others are removed to ensure that the site remains safe and secure for all users, including children:

"Photos containing a fully exposed breast (as defined by showing the nipple or areola) do violate those terms (on obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit material) and may be removed. The photos we act upon are almost exclusively brought to our attention by other users who complain."

Ohio's minimum wage will increase with the start of the new year, increasing from $7.00 to $7.30 per hour. Restaurant servers and those who earn tips will also see their minimum pay go from $3.50 to $3.65 per hour.

These 4.3 percent cost of living adjustments are being implemented January 1, 2009 under an Ohio constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2006.

While the extra pay couldn't come at a better time for Ohio's lowest paid workers, businesses struggling to survive in these tough economic times could feel the pinch.