MSNBC's Dan Abrams got a lot of flack for his announcement that he'll be opening up his own consulting agency to help clients deal with PR crises, armed with a staff of out-of-work media types that usually fan the flames of these sort of stories. Though it seems a silly ethical question: how will Rachel Sklar, Bonnie Fuller, or Steven Brill report on any of their new-found clients when there are no paying gigs left to dish to?

That's what Abrams is banking on, anyway. Being one of the last refuges of the media world, he's hoping the 650 who've already applied as experts to his new company will keep their traps shut out of a sense of self-preservation in order to keep the jobs of the one place that will still pay them. So how hard is it to become an "expert" for Abrams Research?

Um, not really that hard at all.

The same day he announced his plans, he launched a Web site where anyone can pretty much apply to become an “expert” for the firm by simply submitting one’s background information and by checking off areas of media-related expertise, ranging from politics and sports to pharmaceuticals and video games.

Video game expert! I know at least 20 out of work video game experts right now, off the top of my head. And don't worry about the ethical dilemma here: most of these guys have no interest in telling the blogosphere what they learned about the Ron Perelmans of the world…since they have no idea who he is.