So long, Santa

Santa Claus joined the ranks of high-profile new economy casualties Tuesday. He was laid off without notice or severance pay as part of the continuing dot-com downturn. A spokesperson for Buy.com, aka "the Grinch," said that the firing of all workers over 40 in the North Pole office was part of its "path to profitability." Old St. Nick is pictured here during happier days -- the heady summer of 1999 -- with Buy.com CEO Greg Hawkins.