Across America, from seak to shining sea, cubicles are filled with constant grief and bright halogen lights that defy morality but instead pry into your brain like a dull blade.

Except at Google..

People across the world look at Google as the Heaven of the workplace.. massages during your shift when you're stressed.. the cafeteria open full time.. working on couches, naps in between.. Gourmet food and coffee...fresh fruit and beautiful people filled with joy and happiness.

However, the economic challenge facing the globe has finally caught up with Google.

The company is scaling back its spending--and cutting out Christmas parties--in 2008!

Google ad revenue has slumped, and calm massaged excutives gathered around their gourmet Starbucks and decided: Time to reduce the hours of the free Google cafeteria service and suspend the traditional afternoon tea in its New York office..

Traditional afternoon tea!?

This while other office workers watch the clock in the afternoon, craving quitting time, only to go home and lament the fact that work will only be a few hours and a terrible tossing and turning night of sleep away.

Pinkies up. The tea is gone..

Google's decision to reduce many from its 10,000 contract worker staff have led to jokes within the company that it's beginning to get a lot easier finding parking spaces.. .. In the free lot.

One interesting new rule at Google: Hiring only when needed, not just when talent is available. Something different from its mentality as we knew it.. Cutting back on talent to make sure the bottom line doesn't go red.

Google argues that its core culture is not changing even with the changes in company giveaways like the free food and tea ..

But the biggest change comes during the season of giving: Google previously ran large Christmas parties for groups of up to 10,000 people. This year, they're on their own. Google's axing the company Christmas party.. Instead, it's "team based get-togethers" for the 2008 holiday season..

Last year, Google took workers to a holiday bash at Rockefeller Center's legendary Rainbow. This year the skies are gray..

The recession is fast becoming the grinch that is stealing Christmas..

Google: Google Christmas party. Even if you're 'feeling lucky' you won't find a thing..

BRYAN SMOLOCK SCHMUCKRAKER.COM SATURDAY DECEMBER 6 2008 10:42 AM EDT

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