peHUB First Read

* Damn, it's still good to be a banker * Silicon Valley's unemployment rate hits 11.8%, causing many of the region's jobless to unplug from tech. * Humans prefer cockiness to expertise. Guess that explains how some VCs with lousy track records keep being able to raise new funds... (h/t Felix Salmon) * U.S. futures point higher ahead of the GDP data, London falls early, European shares dip in choppy trading, the Nikkei hits a 10-month closing high and Chinese stocks are up 15% for the month. * How pricey Whole Foods is surviving the recession (obviously that cash injection from Leonard Green helped a bit). * Fenway Park food service workers have reached a $1.5 million settlement with Aramark, a PE-backed provider of ballpark concessions that was accused of pocketing tips and service charges.