REPORTS ON THE INTERWEB have it that AMD denied it is laying anybody off. Sorry, that's not entirely accurate. It denied yesterday that has already laid anyone off. As to the future, like the next few days or so, the outfit couldn't possibly comment.

The reports seem to have begun with the impressively-monikered Scott M. Fulton III who said two AMDers had offered somewhat feeble denials of our story.

"AMD confirms that it has not had a reduction in force," said one. "While AMD cannot comment on speculation about what may happen in the future, we confirm that we have not had layoffs at this time," he added. A second spokesperson said it it was "official" that "we have not had a workforce reduction."

As we're used to the ways of spinners, we might suggest that the omission from first statement of the word "work" could have been deliberate. We do like the bit about being unable to speculate about what may happen in the future. Cough!

As far as the evidence for the prosecution is concerned, we haven't heard a dicky bird from the chip maker since the story went up. And since we usually get a nudge if we even make a typo in one of its product names, for example, we suggest the silence speaks volumes.

We called AMD's spinners in Blighty today but it seems the bunnies are tucked up with their Easter eggs. It may be a Bank Holiday here, but don't they know the Interweb never sleeps?

Of course, announcing lay-offs is a bit of a double-edged sword. While we mere mortals are struck by the thought that hard-working folk, or indeed, plain old working folk, may be tossed on the scrapheap unable to feed bairn nor babe, sharp-suited investors lick their lips at the thought of all those costs dropping off the bottom line. And invariably the stock price creeps up as a result.

These layoffs are one way AMD can demonstrate to investors that it's doing something constructive. And they'll happen, take our word for it. We have had some sketchy reports that they're happening already, but we won't mention those, as we haven't confirmed them as we go to press.

Meantime, let's take this opportunity to wish you a happy Eostre, whether you're employed or otherwise. And should you have recently been employed by AMD, you know who to call. µ